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Tag: Amour

  • THEME: THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (22)

    Sub-Theme: The Breastplate of Righteousness

    The second armour of God is the breastplate of righteousness. After Jesus the Truth sets one free from the bondage of sin and the kingdom of darkness, He fills such with the Spirit of Truth who empowers one to live as a true child of God. To be victorious in the battles of life one needs to live righteous. Hence, righteousness is a shield in warfare. It is God’s armour given to His children to be able to stand strong in all battles.

    Your righteousness is a protection against all evils. Note that it is impossible to live this righteous life without faith in Christ Jesus, for He makes us righteous and empowers us to live righteous. This is the reason the first armour is the strong belt of Truth, the Truth being Jesus Christ whom we must first believe in, in order to obtain this full protection against all evil forces, rulers of darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness.

     

    Satan strikes and defeats an unrighteous person because such has no protection/shield from God; protection from ungodly means surely fails. Satan uses all sorts of tricks, strategies, and schemes to get someone to live continually in disobedience to God’s word, so he will have free access to the person’s life for chaos and destruction, this we must be sensitive to guard against. Again, only in Christ Jesus is our victory sure, as we willingly follow in His teachings.

     

    The man Job is a good example of God’s unfailing protection over the righteous. At the time, the Lord asked Satan, “Satan, from where do you come?” Satan answered, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

    When Satan says this, know that he does not just go to and fro the earth doing nothing, he is on an aggressive mission to destroy. The scripture admonishes us, saying, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him…” Satan roams about all the earth looking for victims, people he will destroy.

    He is a thief whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy using all kinds of tricks to accomplish his goals; his chief aim is to disaffection one towards God and godliness, making such an easy prey for him. We have to resist him and to do this we need to put on the Full Armour of God.

     

    Then the Lord said to Satan, “have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” Satan answered, scoffing “does Job fear God for nothing?” “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?”

    “You have blessed the works of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land…” From Satan’s statement it is clear that he had tried several times to hurt Job but all his efforts continually failed, this made him very frustrated; he tried to hurt his household but he could not, he tried to destroy his possessions he could not, he tried to attack other areas of Job’s life, still he could not, why?

    This is because God had built a hedge round about Job, his household and all that he had, so Satan could not hurt him in any way. Hmm, this is what God does for the righteous; He builds a hedge round about them and all that concerns them, making it impossible for Satan to break through. Note also that the righteous is blessed with earthly riches.

     

    If there is one thing a person should desire in life, it should be to live righteous, for such gets God’s attention just like Job, nothing happens to such without God’s knowledge and approval. God’s ever-abiding presence is with the righteous, they never need to fear any evil. Therefore, the weapon over evil is righteousness. Job understood this truth; he knew righteousness is his weapon against Satan’s attack and righteousness makes him acceptable before God.

     

    We are not to fight back our enemies with physical/carnal weapons, Jesus taught saying, “you have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. That you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” When you are the son of your Father in heaven then you definitely have His protection. As you give your life to Jesus Christ, He gives you the Holy Spirit who helps and empowers you for righteous living that is acceptable before God.

     

    I have had all sorts of hurtful false accusations laid against me, but I found out that I did not have the stamina to defend myself, unlike my old nature who never lets go, who would argue, quarrel, and use all aggressive means of self-defence to prove my innocence even in the simplest of matters. Thank God, for delivering me from such a lifestyle of strife, it drains one’s energy, it is time consuming, and one will live in constant bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness, and be revengeful. This is Satan’s trick to defocus, demoralize, and defeat a believer. God wants us to forgive genuinely and let go of all hurts, the word of God says that I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I that live but Christ lives in me. More things that are hurtful will be said and done to you but you need to keep forgiving and keep loving just as Jesus did, this is being broken and it the believers armour against evil attacks. It is very possible to live this way if you so desire, as you walk with God He gives the needed grace.

     

    Jesus rightly said that those who follow Him shall not walk in darkness. As we submit to His shepherd/sheep relationship, we will not hear the voice of the hireling but only hear and obey the voice of the good shepherd. In Him alone lies our victory. When you hear God and do as He instructs you in total obedience then you are righteous and He will protect you, and grant you victory in battles.

    Put on the breastplate of righteousness!

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 3:16, 1Peter 5:8-9, Job 1:6-10, Matthew 5:43-45, Galatians 2:20, John 10:10-14, 27-29, Hebrews 4:12.

     

     

     

  • THEME: THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (21)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The Spirit of Truth

    Jesus said to His disciples, “…the Helper, the Holy Spirit will teach you All things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you…” Indeed the Spirit of Truth knows All things for He is the Spirit of God, He teaches those who allow Him to lead them. Those who have the Spirit of God and are led by the Spirit of God are truly God’s children. One cannot receive anything from God without the Holy Spirit, God fellowships with His children through His spirit, for God is a spirit and those who worship Him must do so in Spirit and in truth. God ministers to us through His spirit, He will teach you anything you do not know or understand, anything is anything. I tell my students that the Holy Spirit will teach them and make them understand all their subjects, especially the difficult ones, making them excel. The Spirit of Truth is an excellent Spirit and we need Him more now in this day of great battles, He teaches you how to fight in a godly manner as it pleases God. He teaches you to live in ways God wants, all you need is to be full of the Holy Spirit and walk in the Spirit; be obedient to His leading. Ask Him to lead you and He will, ask Him to teach you and He will. The world would be a great place if people are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, how presidents and leaders of nations need the Holy Spirit to counsel, direct and teach them what to do, how to be good and godly leaders that will bring great joy to their people. No one can make right decisions continually and live righteous without the help of the Spirit of Truth.

     

    When the Holy Spirit is in a man, He changes him into a different person, for God’s Spirit will begin to manifest His life/fruit and gifts through the man, such that what he could never do, he will begin to do. When the Spirit of God came upon King Saul, he prophesied and was turned into another man, this surprised those who knew him and they asked, “Is Saul among the prophets?”

     

    Young boys, girls, men, and women who were filled with the Holy Spirit did great things in/for their generation e.g.

     

    • Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and he became a just and perfect administrator and also a powerful preacher who worked signs and wonders.
    • Saul of Tarsus who persecuted Christians was transformed after his conversion and when he received the Holy Spirit, he became a different man who had a better understanding of God and was used to do mighty work for his generation and generations after him; teaching deep truth about Jesus who encountered him, to the glory of God.
    • The apostles of Jesus whose lives and acts encourage us mightily were men who lived for God and served Him, they did many great things in their generation with the help of the Holy Spirit. Common/ordinary men became uncommon/extra-ordinary men who did uncommon/extra-ordinary things in/for their generation.
    • When a great persecution arose in Jerusalem against Christians, many of the disciples of Jesus fled the territory, but they did not stop preaching in the name of Jesus in the towns they fled to, rather they spread the Good News even farther. Meanwhile, the apostles remained in Jerusalem amid the death threats, they did not act based on fear, showing good leadership example; these were men who were fearful prior to the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave them boldness and courage; they died to self and were willing to die for the sake of the gospel.
    • Philip’s four unmarried daughters were filled with the Holy Spirit and they all prophesied. They must have been of great help to their generation.

    The Bible which is God’s word was inspired by the Holy Spirit and contains no error. God speaks to His children through it. God’s word is alive and powerful; changing souls.

     

    The acts of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers in Jesus Christ is inexhaustible….

     

    I became a totally transformed lady after my encounter with Jesus Christ, He set me free from the bondage of sin and filled me with the Holy Spirit, making me do things I could never have done and using me to save souls from hell, to no end is His work in my life daily. I recall my academic excellence after my conversion, I was honoured after my professional examinations as the best student in a course and also as the overall best graduating student of my set, this is me who was never known as an excellent student and had never received any academic awards. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, He worked in me excellence; He made me study tirelessly as He taught me and gave me an understanding that I can simply describe as awesome. The spirit of excellence made me excel academically.

    The Spirit of Truth teaches me God’s word, revealing deeper truth therein, He is the Spirit that is teaching and helping me to love where hated, He is the Spirit that gives me the courage and boldness to preach the gospel of life even in hostile environments; saving souls and delivering lives from the bondage of sin just as Jesus delivered me, I can go on and on. Without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing and will be nobody, the wealthiest man in the eyes of the world is one with the highest net worth in monetary terms, but this is wrong, for what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and losses his own soul (living for only money and material things is not wise at all), a wealthy man is one who is godly and Holy Spirit filled and controlled; for he is used to win souls for Christ, he delivers souls from the bondage of Satan, he helps people live right on earth and made ready for heaven, he himself is sure of eternity in heaven.

     

    The most important need of man is spiritual not physical, when his spiritual need is met, his physical needs are added to him, then will they be best harnessed. Only Spirit filled men/women can meet the spiritual needs of people. The Holy Spirit led Jesus to pass through Samaria on His way to Galilee, to meet the spiritual need of a Samaritan woman, she became transformed after the encounter from the lifestyle of a prostitute to becoming an evangelist, through her Samaria became full of light and of course where righteousness reigns there will be progress. We need spirit filled and spirit controlled men and women in Nigeria especially as leaders.

     

    The Holy Spirit reminds us of God’s word stored up in our hearts. When overwhelmed, God’s word gives us victory over the battles of life….we need the Spirit of Truth to help us live victorious in this perilous times. When you are in constant fellowship with the God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, no battle will crush you.

     

    In this world of increasing deceit where Satan’s agents are parading themselves as angels of light, we need the Spirit of Truth to guide us into All truth, He helps us discern the truth, exposing the spirit of error.

     

    The Holy Spirit teaches us All things… I love this! God has given us all we need to live godly and victorious in this world, we only need to make use of all God has graciously provided for us and we will be victorious eternally.

     

    Jesus showed the importance of the Spirit of Truth when He instructed His disciples before ascending into heaven that they should wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, to be empowered for God’s service and for life’s battles.

    You and I are not exempted from this instruction. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to those who believe in Jesus. The qualification for this gift is genuine repentance from sin and believing in the Lord Jesus, then you can ask Him in prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit for He is yours to have.

     

    The Holy Spirit is our seal and guarantee of our inheritance as God’s children. Without the Spirit of Truth living in someone it is impossible to live victorious on earth and also impossible to make heaven, He is our guarantee of eternal life in heaven.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, john 14:26, John 8:32, John 14:15-18, John 3:16, Romans 8:14, 1 Samuel 10:6 John 4: 1-42, Acts 9, Acts 8:1-8, Acts 21:9,Hebrews 4:12, Mark8:36-38, Ephesians 1:13-14, Galatians 5:16-25.

     

    FROM: Faith Nwachukwu

     

  • THEME: THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (18)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The Spirit of Truth

    The Spirit of Truth is the Holy Spirit of God that indwells those who believe in God through Jesus Christ, His Son. We can do nothing right without the help of the Holy Spirit; we cannot truly know God without the Holy Spirit revealing who God is to us, and we cannot live a holy and acceptable life before God without the help of the Holy Spirit. God arranged for Cornelius and his household to receive this great gift of the Spirit. What a blessed family!

    God has graciously given you and me, all that we need to excel in life and make the world a better place, but unfortunately, the world is still in gross darkness because many people have chosen to live in constant disobedience to the Way and plans God set for us. They would not believe in the Truth- Jesus Christ, as the Son of God whom God sent to set the world free from darkness, by so doing, they reject God’s spirit whom He gave to be our helper. Yet, these rebellious people claim to know and worship God. Can one genuinely worship whom he disobeys? The rebellious say, “There are many ways to reach God and it doesn’t matter which way one chooses, we are all worshipping the same God.” While God says there is ONLY one-Way to reach Him, which is through Jesus Christ, this is the truth, much hated.

    Why is the world constantly against the truth, preferring to stick to error? The hatred for the Truth and followers/teachers of the Truth did not start today, didn’t Jesus rightly say, “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also, but all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works, which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father, but this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.”

    Why should people hate someone who is so peaceful and full of good deeds, whom God sent to help them?

    The unrest we have in Nigeria today is because people are rebellious, mischievous, evil, and violent in their ways, doing things only for ulterior motives. All these because they have refused the reign of the government of the Prince of Peace- Jesus Christ in their lives, and by so doing they also reject the helper; the Spirit of Truth and peace. This is taking us backward. Who/what you worship show in the way you live.

    God says that the weapon of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. These write-ups on the full armour of God reveal the weapons God gave us to fight battles, as recorded in the scriptures. Why are we neglecting/rejecting them? Choosing rather to fight our own way with carnal/physical weapons, the result of which is definitely defeat. The battle is more spiritual than physical, hence the need for spiritual/God’s weapon.

    Man just wants to live as he pleases without acknowledging God and the result is the chaos in the world today.

    Nigeria and the world at large need Jesus like never before, each individual needs to accept and believe in the Prince of peace, who will give us the Holy Spirit- the Spirit of Truth to help us; teaching and guiding us into All truth. Helping us to live in accordance to the will of God, in genuine love for God and our fellow humans, being used to bring about peace and justice, this will make us a developed nation.

    My daily prayer is to be a Holy Spirit-controlled woman, and I see the effect of this prayer in my life daily.

     

    We need the Spirit of Truth to rule our lives always.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 14:15-18, John 15, 18-25.

     

  • THEME: THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (16)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The Spirit of Truth

    There was a Roman citizen living in Caesarea, called Cornelius. Who is Cornelius and why talk about him?

    • He was an army officer
    • He lived a devoted life
    • He was a godly man
    • His household feared God too; he raised a godly family
    • He gave alms generously to charity
    • He was a man of prayer

    What a man to emulate, but the most important was still missing in Cornelius’ life. What could that be? We will get to know as we proceed.

    His actions drew God’s favourable attention.

    One day, while Cornelius was wide-awake, he had a vision; it was about 3 o’clock in the afternoon. In the vision, he saw an angel of God coming towards him and saying to him, “Cornelius!” He was afraid and stared at the angel in terror, and said, “What is it, Lord?” so he said to him, “your prayers and your alms giving have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you MUST do.” take note of the word MUST, for it is also a must do to all who desire to be accepted by God, live godly, win life’s battles and make it to heaven at last. As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a godly soldier, one of his personal bodyguard and told them what had happened and sent them to Joppa.

    God so loved this man and his household, He would not want them to miss the real life. God went ahead to supernaturally convince Simon Peter about Cornelius.

    The next day, as they were nearing the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray. It was noon and he was hungry, but while lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air (forbidden to the Jews for food). The voice said to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” A voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was pulled up again into heaven.

    While Peter wondered within himself what the vision meant, behold the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. They called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter was lodging there. While Peter thought about the vison, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Behold three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Peter went down and introduced himself to the men asking them what they wanted from him. They told him about Cornelius the Roman officer, a good and godly man, well thought of by the Jews, and how an angel had instructed him to send for Peter to come and tell him what God wanted him to do. He lodged them overnight and the next day, he went with them accompanied by some other believers from Joppa.

    They arrived Caesarea the following day, and Cornelius was waiting for him, and had called together his relatives and close friends (he always carried along his family, no wonder he had a godly family) to meet with Peter. As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell to the floor before him in worship but Peter lifted him up saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” As he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

    Peter told them, “You know it is against the Jewish laws for me to keep company with or go to anyone of another nation, but God has shown me in a vison that I should not call any man common, unclean, or inferior. Therefore, I came withou objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me what you want?” Cornelius then narrated his vision before everyone, concluding by saying, “…Now therefore we are all present before God, to hear what He has told you to tell us!”

    There are many lessons to learn from the narration above, but note that though Cornelius was a god-fearing man, something was still missing in his life without which he cannot please God. He did not yet know God’s plan for all humans, which qualifies us to be in a relationship with Him. God was seeking a relationship with Cornelius. Without this, his godliness, devotion, alms giving, and all his good deeds would come to nothing. What else must he do? To be continued next week…

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 14:15-17, Acts 10: 1-33.

     

  • THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (15)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The Spirit of Truth

    I hated the word ‘born again’ because I looked at the lives of those who say they were and did not want to be like them; I did not want to look like them. Another reason could be that nature in most humans that will make them disbelief/disregard those truths beyond their reasoning. We are to believe every word of God and focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith who is also our perfect example to follow. We should not let the lifestyles of people who claim to be Christians but are not, to discourage us. The word of God (the Bible) should be our reference point as rightly interpreted.

    It was after I read in the Bible, Jesus’ explanation to Nicodemus, on the meaning of the word born again, and the need to be born again if one desires to enter heaven, did I understand this truth. I understood that the new life Jesus gives to those who believe and accept Him as their Lord and saviour is a ‘BORN AGAIN” life; the life I now have and live, I began to proclaim this truth to those I love and to those who want to enter heaven.

    The born again new life in Jesus Christ is a spiritual life, not a fleshly life. This spiritual life enables one to live a righteous life, without which it is impossible to be truly righteous. As you continually trust in Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will be able to love Him and obey Him.

     

    Not by your power nor your might but ONLY by the Spirit of God, can you and I live righteous in this corrupt generation.

     

    Apostle Paul relates his own experience as a Christian; his struggles with his sinful nature and the reality of God’s victory to him and us through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. He narrated thus, “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I cannot. I do what I don’t want to do, what I hate is what I’m doing.  I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, but I cannot help myself, it is no longer I who do it but It is sin inside me that is stronger than I am that makes me do these evil things.

    I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn I can’t make myself do right. I want to but I can’t.  When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.  Now if I am doing what I don’t want to, then it means that sin still has me in its evil hold.

     I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still in bondage to sin. So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible situation I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly sinful nature?

     

    Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. So there is now no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  For the power of the Holy Spirit which is mine through Christ Jesus, has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.  We are not saved from sin’s hold by knowing the commandments of God because we cannot and do not keep them, but God put into action a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours (except that ours are sinful) and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins.  So now we can obey God’s laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit and no longer obey the old evil nature within us.

    Those who let themselves be controlled by their lower natures (their flesh) live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God.  

     

    Following after the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, but following after the old nature leads to death(death comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter)because the old sinful nature within us is against God. It never did obeys God’s laws and it never will.  That’s why those who are still under the control of their old sinful selves, bent on following their old evil desires, can never please God.

    But you are not like that. You are controlled by your new nature if you have the Spirit of God living in you. And remember that if anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ living in him, he is not a Christian at all.  Yet, even though Christ lives within you, your body will die because of sin; but your spirit will live, for Christ has pardoned it. And if the Spirit of God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, lives in you, He will make your dying bodies live again after you die, by means of this same Holy Spirit living within you. So, dear brothers/sisters, you have no obligations whatever to your old sinful nature to do what it begs you to do.  For if you keep on following it you are lost and will perish, but if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and its evil deeds, you shall live.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. And so we should not be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God’s very own children, adopted into the bosom of His family, and calling to Him, “Father, Father.”  For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we really are God’s children.”

     

    It was when Paul began to look beyond his own ability in obeying the law and started looking to Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit within him, did he gain victory over his sinful nature. Knowing God’s provision for his deliverance through Jesus and the Holy Spirit he regained his strength and victory over sin.

     

    Though our old sinful nature will always want to rear its head; seeking to control us, we should always put it to death through faith in the victory Jesus obtained for us and in the power of the Holy Spirit choosing to obey the Spirit of Truth.

    My utmost heart desire is to be a spirit controlled woman, this is my daily prayer.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 3:1-21, Romans 7:15-25, Romans 8:1-17.

    FROM: FAITH NWACHUKWU

     

  • THEME: THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (14)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The word of Truth

    As a man thinks in his heart so he is, for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies and these things defile a man. This was the case with the Pharisees and the scribes, their heart was full of evil; hence, their evil actions. They were religious leaders who portrayed themselves as righteous; having an outward appearance of godliness, but they were brood of vipers as Jesus called them; they lived in hypocrisy and much wickedness. Isaiah prophesied of them saying, “These draw near to Me with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men”.

     

    While Jesus sought to make sinners free from the bondage of sin, they sought to punish and kill (as the case may be) those they find guilty of breaking their law. They ostracised from the temple anyone who does not agree with their hypocritical way of life and doctrines.

     

    They organized their followers and saw to the death verdict of Jesus, in whom no guilt was found, one whom God sent to deliver them from their blindness and bondage of sin; they were so blinded by their hatred and envy that they refused the Truth. Although Jesus’ death was God’s plan to put to perpetual death the power of sin over man, but the religious leaders should not have been the ones to mastermind this. Their action showed the true state of their heart despite their deceptive religious outlook.

     

    The Bible makes us to know that “a good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart; for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Therefore, your heart is who you are. The Psalmist knowing this truth, prayed saying, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me”

    No matter how much someone pretends and tries to deceive to be seen as a godly person, in the long run the real person behind the deceit will show. Anyone who wants to bring forth good fruits without pretence must then look seriously on how to keep his/her heart pure; to be full of light, man has a lot of part to play to achieve this.

    No wonder the book of wisdom says, ‘guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life,”.

     

    How then can a believer make his/her heart pure? From my personal experience and other people’s lives and above all from the revelation of God’s word, I know that the only way to make one’s heart pure is by engaging in a deliberate and continuous daily STUDY OF THE WORD OF GOD with the intention to OBEY what God reveals to you. This is when a genuine transformation from within can take place, for The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Only the word of God can truly transform a man from inside out.

    The word of God as written out for us in the Bible renews our minds; it cleanses and transforms a man’s heart. Remember, the whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right.

     

    So anyone who studies and obeys God’s word is the man who brings forth good fruits, his/her show of righteousness is never a pretence but from a genuine transformation. God transforms his heart as he yields to God, studying His word daily and living by His teaching. This yields an amazing good result and I am a living proof.  There is NO end to the effect of the Word of Truth in the life of a believer in Christ Jesus.

     

    May the good Lord make us love to study His word, revealing the deep truth therein and helping us obey Him fully, so we can be truly transformed beings, who will do God’s will on earth and cause a true change to come upon this nation Nigeria and the world at large in Jesus name- amen!

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, Luke 6:45, Psalm 51:10, Hebrews 4:12, 2Timothy 3:16, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 23:7.

     

  • THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (9)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The word of Truth

     

    The word of Truth that you know, believe, and abide in will set you free from the fear of failure and builds you to know that ‘with God ALL things are possible’.

    The story of David in the Bible is still one that strengthens me always. Though a little boy, Bible scholars say he was about 15 years old when he gained victory for his nation; that which the King and the warriors of his country could not do, David, the youth did. His faith and trust in His God gave him victory.

    David had a personal relationship and fellowship with God. While in the field tending his father’s sheep, he killed lion and bear, with his bare hands just by trusting in God. The field was his place of training by God, where he also practiced alone with God. I believe that David meditated on the word of God while in the field. He declared the word of God as he faced Goliath- the giant of Philistines, who tormented his nation Israel. His faith and courage were from God’s word; the word he declared had power and was effective because he lived by it.

    Only David knew who God made Israel to be, he knew that they were the armies of the living God, none of Saul’s army knew this truth, not even Saul the King. They left God out of their battle and decided to trust in their own understanding; trusting in their sophisticated man made armours. No wonder they ran whenever Goliath confronted them.

    We need men and women who know the word of God to lead this nation Nigeria into God’s purpose, not people who trust only in their ability and expertise. God is the only one who will get us to our expected end. As Saul continually ignored God’s word, not willing to obey Him fully, God rejected him as king and sought David; a young man whose heart yearns for God, ready to do God’s will fully. God testified of him saying, “I have found a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” so God replaced Saul with David.

    Every nation belongs to God, we should submit to His Lordship and in our saviour Jesus, in order to experience good success. A success that will take us to heaven at the end of our pilgrim here on earth.

    David, though not born when God chose Israel to be the nation where salvation will come through to the whole world, knew the word of God concerning his nation Israel, because he studied to know it. See the words he spoke to Goliath when he faced him: He said to him, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. This day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.”

    With these words, David ran towards Goliath, put his hand in his bag, and took out a stone; and slung it and struck Goliath’s forehead and he fell on his face to the ground and died. David’s stone and sling did not kill Goliath; it was his strong faith in God Almighty that killed him.

    All the Goliaths frustrating Nigeria can be defeated, if only we have FAITH in the true and living God, and faith comes through the word of God.

    I was discussing with my mummy in the Lord, telling her that the reason people go from one ‘prayer’ house to another seeking solution to their problems is because they do not know God on an intimate level, this is so because they do not study His word to believe and live by it. We have the weapon (the Bible) in our hands, which our fathers of old gave their blood in gruesome persecution in order to make it available to us in the language we understand. Why should we not get our help from God’s word? Imagine having the word of God with you, yet you hardly open it. The Bible is the Word of God- the God who created the whole universe, the Almighty, the LORD OF HOSTS. When you abide in His word, you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free from every bondage and affliction. People rather choose to live by their own understanding and depend on fellow man for help. As we study God’s word, we will get to know who He is, His ways and how He wants us to live.

    O Lord, please open our hearts to conceive this truth, that we may know the importance of your word, help us love to read and obey your word in Jesus name- amen.

     

    Jesus concluded His sermon on the Mount of Olives, with these words, “Whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall. For it was founded on the rock.

    “But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: “the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.

     

    Let him who has ears hear the word of God.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119, 1 Samuel chapter 15-17, Matthew 19:26, Matthew 7:24-26.

     

    FROM: Faith Nwachukwu

  • THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (8)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The word of Truth

    God chose Joshua to be the next leader of Israel after Moses, to him was given the overwhelming task of leading the Israelites to possess their promised inheritance. Joshua knew Moses’ shoes were too big for him to fill. Someone who understands what leadership entails will not be quick to throw a party and celebrate when chosen to be a leader in whatsoever capacity. Leadership positions call for sober reflection; it is huge and never to be taken lightly because everything has to be done according to God’s pattern. Joshua understood this truth, he desired to be a leader after God’s own heart who would lead and succeed God’s way. The task ahead of him was enormous and challenging; there were strong nations to be defeated, he would need the acceptance and cooperation of the people he is to lead, and for God to be with him as He was with Moses.

     

    Joshua waited to hear from God before embarking on his assignment. God told him to ARISE! from his fear and despair and get set for the work, He then gave him his job description and told him how he will prosper and have good success as the next leader of Israel. God said to him:

     

    • “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to ALL that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then have good success”

     

    Joshua will have to study and know the word of God (the book of the law). He will meditate on it day and night so it will become part of him; he has to live by the word of God; in total obedience to do what God tells him to do and He will teach it to the people. Then and only then would Joshua be sure of God’s presence, prosperity and good success during his reign. God’s word will also build his faith, dispel his fear, and make him strong and courageous.

     

    Note that before Joshua embarked on his task, he waited to get instructions from the God who made him a leader; he did not trust in his own understanding.  He is to commune daily with God to get full direction on how to carry out each task and obey Him fully in order to experience good success.

     

    There is good and bad success. Good success is God’s success; you get it through godly means. God gives good success when you chose to honour/obey Him in all your ways. Good success does not have expiry date; it is everlasting, it will lead you to heaven at last, while Bad success is the success acquired through ungodly means. It is the success attained without honouring God in one’s actions. Many call on God with their mouths but do not live as God wants them to; they do not obey God, they do not do the right things God wants them to do to succeed. Bad success has an expiry date and it will lead one to hell fire someday. Let us be warned!

     

    The fortified Jericho was the first city they destroyed, except for Rehab and her family who were saved because she believed in the God of Israel and His word.

     

    God gave Joshua an unconventional strategy to defeat Jericho. Jericho was a fortified city with a double stone wall of about 12-15 feet high and 14 feet wide. It was virtually unconquerable. God instructed Joshua to march around the city with his army once daily for 6 days with seven priests walking ahead of the Ark of God’s Covenant, each carrying trumpet made from ram’s horn. On the seventh day they were to walk around the city 7 times and the priests shall blow the trumpets. When the priests give a long, loud blast, all the people were to give a mighty shout and the wall of the city will fall down. To most people this strategy will sound foolish and unreasonable but this was a test of Joshua’s full obedience to God’s word. Joshua summoned the people and gave them the instructions, they followed God’s instructions, and wall of Jericho fell down flat. Jericho was defeated.

     

    The next city to be conquered is Ai, a small city. They confidently went into battle against Ai with few soldiers but they were soundly defeated by small Ai, they fled from them and 36 Israeli soldiers were killed. Why the defeat? God’s command to destroy everything in Jericho except that, which was reserved for the Lord’s treasury, was disobeyed. For Achan took some loot for himself and this brought trouble for Israel.

     

    Joshua cried out to God and God spoke to him, saying, “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have taken some of the accursed things and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore, the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.”

     

    It was when Israel destroyed the accursed in their midst they experienced peace and victory again. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, enemies will defeat someone who will not fully obey God.

     

    If you truly want to win battles, prosper, and have good success, then you have to study God’s word (The Bible) daily to know Him and His ways, to know how He wants you to live, so you can fully obey Him. By so doing, our nation too will prosper and have good success.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, Joshua 1:8, 6-8, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:11