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Tag: God

  • 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 (20)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The Spirit of Truth

    What is the way out for someone who is saved but still finds himself/herself falling into his old sinful ways?

     

    Apostle Paul’s analogy of the struggle between the old sinful nature and the new life, and his counsel will be of great help to us.

    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 continuous 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 that Jesus gives and no longer obey the old evil nature within us.

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

    Following after the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, but following after the old nature leads to sin and death because the old sinful nature within us is against God. It never obeys God’s laws.  That’s why those who are still under the control of their old sinful selves, who want to follow 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 forever.  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, you are not bound to do what your old sinful nature 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. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption into the family of God and you can call God, “Father, Father.”  For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we really are God’s children.”

     

    Not until Paul took the focus away from himself “the I factor” as seen several times in his narration above, and focus on Jesus who had delivered him from his bondage to sin, and had given him the Holy Spirit to help and empower him to put under control his sinful nature as it rises, did he become victorious. Knowledge Is Power; know that Jesus has delivered you from the bondage of sin and given the Holy Spirit to help you live a righteous life. In your strength you cannot prevail over your sinful nature, only by the power of the Holy Spirit can you prevail. When someone does not know and put into remembrance all that Jesus has done for him to live in victory over sin, then he will still be under the control of sin and this will eventually lead him to hell fire- this you have to prevent from happening.

     

    When the sinful nature controls your life, your life will produce these sinful/evil results: impure thoughts, fornication, adultery, lack of self-control, idolatry, hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, division, wrong teaching, envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, Spiritism(that is, encouraging the activities of demons),etc.

     

    When the Holy Spirit controls your life, He will produce this kind of fruit in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

     

    Those who belong to Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to the cross and crucified them there. They crucify every sinful desire that rises up and put it to death every day by the power of the Holy Spirit.

     

    The cross of Jesus is still active to grant victory from sin and gives eternal life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all who believe in Jesus.

     

    To be set free from sin and live in complete victory over your old sinful nature, all you need to do first is PRAY, telling Jesus to set you free and asking Him for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit- your helper. You also have to be in constant personal fellowship with God (through daily Bible study and prayers) and fellowship with other believers, so you can grow in your faith. It is equally very important that you constantly remind yourself all that Jesus did to deliver you and keep you in victory over your old sinful nature, just like Apostle Paul did in the narration above.

     

    Renew your mind daily with the victory Jesus has granted you and you will remain victorious over sin.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 14:15-18, John 3:16, Romans 7: 15-25, Romans 8:1-17, Galatians 5:16-25.

     

  • ‘God will move through Bonnke’s farewell crusade’

    ‘God will move through Bonnke’s farewell crusade’

    Chairman Central Working Committee (CWC) for Reinhard Bonnke’s Farewell Crusade, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, speaks with Dorcas Egede on the significance of the crusade. Excerpts: 

    How did you become chairman of the farewell crusade?

    I’m always called on by God for every job He wants me to do. I am the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lagos state and I never solicited for it. I was called upon to do the job.

    Before that for five years, I was the chairman for Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Lagos state. I was also called upon to do the job. So, it’s God who always sends for me when He needs me to do a job.

    When I was called upon to be chairman of CWC, I got the message that all the Christian fathers and mothers in a consensus, decided that I should be chairman at the crusade when Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke informed them that he was going to have his last crusade as the Lord led him. So, that’s the way it came; it came from God.

    How has it been organising the crusade within a very limited time?

    Ah! It’s really tough. A crusade of this magnitude would normally take about a year or a minimum of nine months to organise. But because of the time the Lord spoke to Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke about the first quarter of the year and the time it took for him to come and inform the Christian leaders in Nigeria.

    This crusade has been planned in the shortest time possible but you see with God all things are possible and there is nothing impossible for God. It doesn’t take God years to do anything. It takes Him one minute to do whatever He wants to do.

    For as long as God is involved, you can be sure that the whole thing is about Him, it’s to glorify His name and so even the things that look difficult or impossible, He’s there to handle them.

    Crusades have been held in this country which ended in controversies. How sure are you this will not end up like one of those controversial crusades?

    Well, one thing about Reinhard Bonnke’s crusades in all the nations and in Nigeria is there are never marked by crisis. His first crusade in Nigeria was in 1985; since that time he held in Lagos 2000 and later in 2006.

    He was in Owerri, Calabar, Port- Harcourt. The only one that so far witnessed any problem was in Kano, following the one in Kaduna where there were a lot of healings, where the cripples were rising up and walking.

    And so in Kano they were scared that if there was a repeat performance of what happened in Kaduna, Muslims would begin to follow Bonnke and that why they rose up then to attack the crusade.

    Granted, there have been crusades marred by controversies. The Benny Hinn crusade is a classical example. Controversies arise because of money but by the grace of God that cannot be heard in this crusade.

    This time around, as the chairman of the crusade, I’m being very careful. I’m not being hypocritical here. People in the church know my background and they know the kind of man I am. I was Managing Director of two different banks.

    I was also Vice President of the sixth or so largest bank in the world in the ’70s in America. I’m very strict with everything that I do and I brought that discipline into the things of God. Everything about this crusade is being monitored; financiers are monitored so critically. The work is being done.

    Moreover, prayers are going on very aggressively; the devil is always against souls being won for the kingdom of God. We are talking souls being won in millions in Lagos and beyond. We know what we are faced with but our trust is in the name of our Lord God Jehovah.

    Our country is beset with too many problems beyond understanding. Is it not a tall order to expect that this crusade will address all of these problems?

    No. This crusade cannot address all the problems, only Jesus can address all the problems. But this crusade is brought about by God to impact the nation and continent of Africa. We believe with the presence of God in this crusade – since it’s the last crusade the man of God will hold and hundreds of thousands of people are coming from all over Africa and all over the world – there would be a healing in the land and that healing may be unseen physically.

    But we believe from this crusade Nigeria would be permanently healed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The vices we complain about to God, it takes God no time to cleanse this nation and we believe He will.

    The absence of unity has always dogged the ranks of churches. How united are churches for this crusade?

    The good thing about Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke’s crusades is that from the time the Lord called him, his crusades have always been for the church in any nation. It’s not sectional and he has always insisted on the entire church coming together in any nation he goes.

    The crusade is not for Pentecostals or for Catholics or for Methodists. It’s the church crusade. That’s his vision and he’s very strict about it. That’s why whenever he goes to any nation to talk about his crusade all the church groups, the denominations rally around. The Lord has used him to strengthen the unity of the church in Africa and in Nigeria.

    In some crusades the motivating factor has always been money. How much do the organisers of this crusade intend to make?

    Profit? There is none. Any nation (especially African nations) Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke hosts crusades, offerings are raised but he leaves the offering in that nation.

    In 1985, the offerings raised were used to start the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) as far back as then. From Lagos to Calabar, to Port Harcourt, everywhere he goes, Reinhard Bonnke doesn’t touch the money raised in offerings. He leaves it for the church in that state.

    For this crusade however, we have decided not to raise offerings. You will see that not one penny would be raised from anybody, so that it wouldn’t become a problem.

    Wherever Bonnke goes for his crusades, he brings the resources. He has sponsors supporting him and they are all coming. They are billionaires and multibillionaires. They’re coming because it’s the last crusade in his life.

    A lot of money goes into publicity, security and other details. Several millions have been paid for the land being acquired for the crusade opposite OPEC near Spark Light Estate.

    Like previous crusades, the land will be sand filled to make it good for the crusade and after the crusade it will be handed back to the owners. So, a lot of investment goes into the crusade.

    What measures have been put in place to address security, transportation and welfare?

    Of course, we have very strong committees saddled with different responsibilities. There is a committee handling transportation, welfare has its own committee. We are expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors in this country and there are committees working to take care of every detail.

    We just believe God that all will be well. Security is so crucial because of the situation in our nation and around us in Africa. We believe God is the security Himself and we believe that He is taking charge but all the security agencies have been brought in and every possible human effort for security is in place. Above all, Jesus is the ultimate security.

    Are there any benefits for participating churches giving their time, human and material resources?

    Yes there are. And what they stand to gain is souls. This country, as you know in recent years has been bedeviled by many vices; even the church itself is under serious attack. Because of the way we are running the churches, so many people are leaving the church and going back to their traditional religion.

    Even many people inside the church still visit herbalists’ shrines. So, that’s one of the great things about the crusade to bring back the heart of men to God and all the participating churches will be involved in the evangelical effort because the crusade is for evangelism.

    The unbelievers around are going to be invited and every church will end up having souls in their areas as people who give their lives to Christ during the crusade will be added to the church. This is the main gain.

    Share with us your knowledge, thoughts and convictions about Reinhard Bonnke and what you expect God to do through him during the crusade and fire conference.

    Incidentally, I was back to the country in 1979 so from the first crusade in 1985 I have been following the things God has been using him to do in this nation. Though I was just a regular Baptist church goer when he started his crusades in Nigeria, you couldn’t but see it on the television.

    Many are in the faith today through Bonnke’s crusades. Someone like Pastor Sam Adeyemi gave his life to Christ in Ilorin at a crusade of Reinhard Bonnke. God has used him to multiply the church.

    So, personally I believe in his vision that God called him to be a great evangelist for the world. His ministry has been followed with signs and wonders, millions of souls come into the kingdom, people are healed of all manners of diseases.

    I believe in my heart that God is going to do great things in this nation through him. Whether you’re at the crusade venue or watching us from home, I believe that if you have faith you will receive your miracles. People will be healed in their homes; lives will be touched in homes.

  • God has plans for Nigeria – Osinbajo

    God has plans for Nigeria – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said God had a purpose for the Nigeria with the kind of persons He put in positions of authority in the country at this time.

    He stated this at the Kingdom Summit 2017 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Kings Court Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday.

    Osinbajo, however, said that the strategic position God had placed the leaders would be meaningless if they failed to live by His gospel.

    “I am so pleased and happy and I believe that the Almighty God has a plan for our nation by putting us in strategic positions in politics, business and everywhere.

    “But, the strategic positions He has placed us, we will be of no effect there unless we are prepared to live by His gospel.

    “There is no wisdom of man that can change men or change nations; it is the power and wisdom of God that can,’’ he stated.

    The vice president, who titled his remark “Neither Jew, nor Gentile’’ noted that the gospel of the Lord was transformational, meant to turn the market place around by uniting God’s people.

    According to him, the only way to transform the nation is to obey the gospel and to do so that citizens must free themselves from the canal and simply return to the gospel in their practices.

    Osinbajo noted that sometimes people thought that God did not achieve His purpose in man because God’s gospel contradicted the purpose of man.

    He said that many times, Christians interpreted the gospel to suit their purposes, which explained why it was easy for them to pray against their enemies that prayed for them.

    “This canal nature cannot save us; we are completely different from God because the gospel is not a canal word,’’ he stated.

    The vice president pointed out that the Bible was not just a book but the wisdom of God, which could not be trampled upon.

    He noted that the power of the church lay in its unity.

    He traced the history of creation where God made man in His own image, and that man fell apart because of sin, but salvation still came when Christ was born.

    Osinbajo said that at creation, there was no difference in the nature of man and everyone related in an atmosphere devoid of tribe or other differences.

    “The canal nature of man is that he places his tribe above others but the only basis for the power and unity of the church is that there is no Jew or Gentile.’’

    He advised the faithful to avoid divisive issues as much as they did to foolish disputes.

    He remarked that corruption in the country still existed because the church had failed to speak against it simply because those involved in graft had relationships with them.

    Osinbajo added that it was wrong to seek vengeance as the gospel did not give Christians the power to habour hatred.

    According to him, when the disciple, Stephen, was killed, if the Apostles had retaliated, there would not have been the gospel.

    “The gospel of the Lord says you must overcome evil with good.’’

    Osinbajo prayed for the country and the people and asked God to grant Nigerians faithfulness to Him and give everyone the grace to avoid every form of disunity. (NAN)

  • THEME: THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD (19)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The Spirit of Truth

    The Spirit of Truth testifies of Jesus as the Son of God; the Saviour sent of God to deliver humanity from destruction. The world’s need for the Holy Spirit can never be over-emphasized, for He gives life eternal.

    Jesus continued to admonish His disciples saying,

    “These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble.  They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.  And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (the Holy Spirit of Truth) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged”.

     

    Truly, with all the turmoil/battles in the world today, only the helper- the Holy Spirit is able to keep one from stumbling, He helps those who are followers of Jesus to endure in spite of all the persecutions. Thank God, that He did not leave us alone, but sent the Helper, with whom we are more than conquerors.

     

    The Holy Spirit reveals God to us, He convicts/convinces the world of its sin, the world’s sin is unbelief in Jesus Christ whom God sent to deliver and save mankind from the bondage of sin and the eternal destruction to come. The sin of unbelief in Jesus is the major cause of the unrest in the world today; for when you believe in Jesus genuinely, then will you be able to live right. True righteous living acceptable before God is impossible without believing and accepting Jesus as Lord- God made this so. There is no salvation, deliverance, righteousness, perfect peace in any other except in Jesus Christ. The fight against God’s command is causing the lawlessness, sinfulness, unrest, and confusion in the world today.

     

    The Holy Spirit convinces the world of the availability of Jesus’ salvation to all who call upon Him. No matter how far behind you may be in erroneous beliefs, or how dark your sins, know that Jesus is still saving people who accept and believe in Him, making them true children of God and empowering us all to live separated Holy lives even in the midst of the world’s sinfulness/lawlessness. With the persecution and tribulation that is ongoing, and will yet come upon the world; the Holy Spirit will give God’s children the grace to endure to the very end without stumbling, as He convinces us of our eternal home in heaven, and the need to look forward to this home in all readiness.

     

    Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit keeps reminding the world the truth about life after death which some do not also believe exists; of the judgment awaiting the unbelieving and the disobedient in hell, just as Satan received his judgement of eternal damnation in hell.

     

    My prayer remains that the whole world will accept God’s salvation in Jesus Christ and be saved, so we all can live right that none will go to hell where only Satan is destined to be.

     

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 14:15-18, John 16, 1-11.

     

  • ‘Judges are next to God and must be beyond reproach’

    ‘Judges are next to God and must be beyond reproach’

    John Olusola Baiyeshea (SAN) was called to the Bar 35 years ago. He handled the landmark case involving the sacked 49 University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) lecturers who were reinstated by the Supreme Court after a long legal battle. A cleric, he holds a Masters in Divinity as well as two others – in Law and Philosophy in Law. In this interview with ADEKUNLE JIMOH, Baiyeshea speaks on how to rid the judiciary of corruption, the need to rotate the presidency among the six geo-political zones, and why the anti-graft war must be sustained. He says those who have nothing to hide will not accuse the government of being selective.

    On corruption

    The judiciary in terms of the personnel and intellect ranks among the best in the world. The judgments are good, lucid and a lot of research is put into their work. Their work condition really is very poor because they still write in long hand. There are so many discouraging factors, but these people still find time to do good jobs. Unfortunately, the dark side of it is the issue of corruption and you know corruption in the judiciary affects all. I always tell people that if there is corruption in the judiciary, it is because there is corruption in Nigeria. Corruption is the most flourishing industry in this country, unfortunately. And the corrupt have quite a lot of money to throw around. Apostle Paul told us in the Corinthians that ‘anybody who thinks he is standing should be very careful so that he does not fall.’ It takes the grace of God for judicial officers in this country to resist the evil temptation of corruption. It is not all of them that are corrupt and I want to believe that the percentage of them is small. Unfortunately when we are talking about corruption in the judiciary, there is a tendency for people to generalise. For anybody who has been a victim of corruption in the judiciary, there is nothing you can tell him that he will agree that there is an exception. That is the major negative.

    On curbing corruption in judiciary

    I am just praying and hoping that we will be able to isolate those who are corrupt so that we don’t lump them with those that are genuinely and honestly doing their work in a godly way. Let me tell that you that people who go to corrupt these judges and judicial officers are the people that come back to talk about it. Once you have the opportunity of sitting over the affairs of man, just as God is sitting on the affairs of the whole universe, it is a rare opportunity; you are not to be corrupt. To be corrupt is to be ungodly. It is sadistic and satanic. I just wish that some them who are engaged in it would avoid it.

    Judges changing mindset

    It is by encouraging themselves and believing it is a godly assignment. First and foremost, anybody whose heart is not circumcised to appreciate that he is doing God’s work has the tendency of doing something that is criminal or evil. If you are  true Muslims and true Christian, you have nothing to do with corruption. You will have contentment on whatever comes to you and you will have satisfaction that it is like God sending you on an assignment and you have executed the assignment properly; you have represented God truthfully, honestly, genuinely and soberly, knowing that your reward is with God. But if you are hell-bent on following the worldly affairs and mass acquisition of money that your generations yet unborn cannot finish, then somebody like that should not be in the judiciary. I always say that even though corruption is a horrible thing in the country and ravaging everywhere, judges still have a duty to live above board, because you are carrying out a special assignment. You are almost the closest person to God than any other person. It is God who sits in judgment over the affairs of man. Unless this mindset/attitudinal change of the corrupt is removed from some of these our judicial officers, they will still continue to soil their hands. Judges are even supposed to be extra-ordinary human beings. I wish they can just get to that level and things can get better.

    War against corruption

    I listen to people and I have heard them say that they are going after selected people. They cannot go after you, if you are not corrupt. Nigerians leave substance and begin to talk about things that are senseless. I think we should start from that basic pedestal. If you have no skeleton in your cupboard you have nothing to fear even if you are an opponent. If they pick you and they find nothing against you they will leave you off the hook. But for God sake over 99 percent of them have issues of corruption. So the ongoing exercise of the present government, as far I am concerned, is encouraging. People now know it is no longer business as usual. At least we have a president that we can say of a truth he is not corrupt. It takes somebody like him who has no dirty dealings to help us in this country to deal with these corrupt people. If you live in a glass house you cannot throw stone. The former president could not come out boldly like this. Nigeria is the only country in the whole world where corrupt people are worshipped. The system makes stealing lucrative. People see it as a lucrative business. People are not occupying public offices to render genuine and honest service; they are going there because they feel it will give them opportunity to steal and steal. The ongoing effort is salutary; of course there can be improvement.

    On looting and recession

    Every day we read about huge sums of money stolen; that is why I say that corruption is the industry that is flourishing in Nigeria. I am even thinking that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alone can no longer cope. The work of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences Commission (ICPC) is not strong enough. It will appear that we need a stronger and better EFCC to deal with the issue of corruption in Nigeria because the industry is getting larger, wider and more terrible. It is mind-boggling, it is sadistic. The recent example we are hearing is that of Deziani who is said to have about $90 billion cash and asset in America alone. We are not even talking about the ones she has in UK. She has about 56 houses and mansions here and there. She has broken the record of becoming probably the most corrupt woman on earth. They have lost compassion. There is nothing like conscience for them. I always tell people that a country that jealously, carefully and prudently manages and guides its economic resources cannot be hit by recession adversely just like we have been hit by the malaise.

    On Osinbajo, Magu

    Fortunately, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo believes in the course. Fortunately, too, the EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu, whom some people are castigating, is so committed to this course. I am just advising that the cases of corruption be heard faster. Let the people who are corrupt face judgment and the consequences of corruption more quickly. A situation in which corruption cases last for between 10 and 12 years is a mockery of our judicial and legal system. This is a country where the citizens are aiding and abetting corruption. These thieves will continue to take Nigeria for a ride unless something radical happens that will help us revamp, revive and reactivate our judicial and legal system in order to catch and deal with the thieves immediately. Nigeria is the only country in the world where these aberrations happen. I don’t know where we got our own brand of human rights from. Somebody will steal the country blind and still claims his fundamental human rights should be protected.

    Clamour for restructuring

    All the arguments about restructuring, when I discuss them with my friends, I tell them that as far as I am concerned, what we need in this country is removal of corruption from our system and everybody will be happy. The clamour for restructuring is because there is economic inequality, which is worse than political inequality. If you don’t have economic empowerment you cannot talk about political empowerment. What we need is good governance. My own alternative to the clamour for restructuring is to have a Constitution that will make the presidential seat rotational among the six geo-political zones in the country. With that each zone, we will have an equal sense of belonging. The issue of who becomes president is the major matter causing the clamour for restructuring. Many people who talk about restructuring do not even know what they are talking about. Many of them are thinking in terms of dismemberment of the country. I don’t think that is what need as a nation.

    On representing UNILORIN 49

    The most outstanding case in my years of practice is the case of 49 University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) 49 teachers that were sacked by the authorities of the university when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was president. They were sacked in 2001 and the lot fell on me to challenge their sack through the hierarchy of courts from the Federal High Court to Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. It was a very difficult, tough and turbulent journey for me and for the teachers. That was a case that not many lawyers wanted to touch because of the sensitivity of it – the government, the environment and, more importantly, the people had no money to pay. For nine going to 10 years they had no salary, but we weathered the storm together with them and by the grace of God, we won at the Federal High Court. But the Appeal Court by a split decision of two to one, overturned the Federal High Court by okaying their sack. But by unanimous decision at the Supreme Court we won and they were ordered to be reinstated and they were reinstated. There are other cases but that is the most outstanding one that people talk about and I thank God for it.

    On winning the case…

    First and foremost, I thank God for making it possible because anybody who knew the socio-political landscape at that time would agree that it was very tough and turbulent. President Obasanjo then swore that the lecturers would never be readmitted into the university. We said, after all, he is not God. It is only God that can pronounce finality when it comes to the affairs of men, nation or country. So, we continued and we were never discouraged. Although it was difficult, we were hopeful somehow and we return all the glory to God. Of course, it has remained in the annals of the history of Nigeria that once upon a time there was such an important case which affected the whole nation. Just as ASUU is on strike now, it was on strike several times over the issue but it was resolved through the judiciary and we thank God for it. I must say that by the grace of God, it increased my profile nationally and internationally. That case is a reference point; even on labour matters people from other countries get in touch with us to get the reference to use the case. There were other watershed cases before it, but this one also came to improve the quality of those former decisions.

    His early days

    I was called in the Nigerian Bar in 1982, meaning that I have done 35 years as lawyer. In our profession we call it post-call experience. After being called to bar in 1982, I did my National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme at the Kaduna State House of Assembly and I was at the legislative drafting department. Our head of department was one Mrs. Kujo who later became the Chief Judge of Kaduna State. She retired two years ago. While I was there during youth corps I needed to get myself really engaged and maximise the time and opportunities that came my way. So, I had the opportunity to teach also at the Kaduna Polytechnic in the School of Business and Administrative Studies. I taught company law. The former Governor of Plateau state Joshua Dariye was my student in his final year HND Accounting class in 1983. I was in the Chambers of Bayo Aluko Olokun and Co. I, then, tried to understudy the practical way of doing our work then. Chief Bayo Aluko Olokun really showed us the way to go. He exposed me to the way to go about legal practice. Most of things I got to know, that I also teach people. I got my foundation laid in his chambers and I am grateful to him. Unfortunately, he is dead. He also became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) before he died.

    His pupilage

    After youth corps service between August and October 1983, Chief Bayo Aluko Olokun posted me the then Sokoto State. I was the counsel to the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) in the whole of that state. At that time in Nigeria the dominant political parties during the Shagari era were the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the NPP. Somehow there were some people who felt aggrieved as members of the NPN just as we have in PDP, so those ones moved from NPN to NPP and they posed a very strong threat to the NPN, which was ruling in Sokoto state. The NPN, then, resorted to oppression, suppression and intimation and many of the NPP’s supporters were put in jail. It was my duty to go to court, file applications and you know I was a new lawyer and I tried my best. I visited many in Sokoto, Gusau prisons and I also went to Brini-Kebbi. I was based actually in Gusau and I was travelling everywhere. When I finished that assignment, I came back to Kwara, my state of origin and joined the state Ministry of Justice as a state counsel. I was there for three years (from 1983 to 1986) when I came out to establish my own law office in Ilorin. I have been here since then. By the grace of God I became a SAN in 2007. I was ordained a reverend in 2015.

  • 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 (17)

    Sub-Theme: The Strong Belt of Truth

    Topic: The Spirit of Truth

    Then Peter opened his mouth and addressed the crowd, saying:

    “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. I am sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel- that there is peace with God through Jesus, the Messiah, who is Lord of all creation. This message has spread all through Judea, beginning with John the Baptist in Galilee, and you no doubt know that Jesus of Nazareth was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went around doing good and healing all who were possessed by demons, for God was with Him. We were witnesses of all He did throughout Israel, and in Jerusalem where He was murdered on a cross, but God brought Him back to life again three days later and showed Him to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him – not to the general public. He sent us to preach the Good News everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the judge of all- living and dead. And all the Prophets have written about Him, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.”

    “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. The Jews who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit would be given to Gentiles too, for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to my baptizing them, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” so he baptized them in the name of Jesus, the Messiah. Afterwards Cornelius begged him to stay with them for several days.”

    Cornelius is really a model to follow in this age of wide rejection of the truth and ordinances of God. Although, he was not a Jew, he heard about Jesus and believed in Him, God then gave him and his household the precious gift of the Holy Spirit.

    God is calling on people everywhere to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour. Many religious people are rejecting the way of salvation while evil and wicked men in the eyes of the world are repenting and accepting salvation – DAILY GUIDE DEVOTIONAL.

     Cornelius as an army officer would be the least expected to seek God in spirit and in truth. While the religious leaders at the time kept rejecting Jesus, challenging Him, putting up all kinds of arguments, and lies against Him, all in a bid  to reject His Lordship thereby disobeying God, and deceiving their ignorant followers to do same, but this ‘sinner’ man and a foreigner was different, he got saved and was filled with the Holy Spirit. The religious people, those from Jesus’ country whom God first sought to reach with the Good News and the gift of the Holy Spirit, missed such great gifts because of their arrogance. Cornelius and his family got that which is the most important in life- the gifts of salvation and the Holy Spirit. What a blessed family! This goes to confirm the saying, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled”, it does not matter who they are.

    Perhaps, they had heard the Good News of peace with God but had not fully accepted it, until Peter came and told them the need to believe in Jesus to have peace with God. This they MUST do, in order to have peace/fellowship/relationship with God. As they heard Peter preach to them, they believed with all their hearts and then God gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit – no experience is as awesome!

    Cornelius and family received the Spirit of Truth- the helper, comforter, teacher, counsellor, intercessor, revealer, guide, peace, the very life of all true believers; God’s life. What a glorious state!

    Stephen was in this state when he was being persecuted; full of the Holy Spirit, they saw his face looked like the face of an angel as he addressed them. Afterwards, he gazed into heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said to his accusers, “look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” They mobbed him, putting their hands over their ears, and drowning out his voice with their shouts; they dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death. Before his death, rather before he slept, he prayed for them saying, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin,” this is the Holy Spirit at work. Stephen departed this world never as a loser but as an inheritor of the everlasting kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit kept him happy, joyful, loving, and focused on God even at such a time. He was not seeing his pain he saw God’s glory. This made him a winner.

    God and Jesus are not physically present with us, but we have them with us, living in us in the person of the Holy Spirit and we need Him to win life’s battles.

    TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:32, John 14:15-18, Acts 10: 1-33, acts 6: 1-15, 7:1-60

    FROM: Faith Nwachukwu

     

  • 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