A generation that does not know God is easily fooled—they seek God’s peace by singing of His peace! Yet, His peace stays far away from them as far as the east is from the west and even further. See those His peace is reserved for in Isaiah 26: 1-3, Prov 25:28 and James 1:21.
A generation that knows nothing about the foundation of the faith neither the importance to know it will certainly enjoy ecstasy—that is to say it will float! The life of Christ, the Chief Corner Stone (Isaiah 26:4) in man does not make him float. Rather, He lays man down on His foundation which He predicated on the Apostles and Prophets (Eph 2:20). Because this glory He has bestowed on the Apostles and Prophets many times carries a death sentence (Luke 11:49), there is always the temptation for man to evade it. Some do so by going into business and the academic world—yet, many more go into hiding.
If you are gifted as an Apostle or Prophet, look at the Church and the world with your natural eyes—what do you see? What you see, where is it coming from? Is it not from the spiritual realm?! Remember, you are gifted by God to perceive the origin of things and to exhort, warn and teach His implanted word that saves souls. Do it fearlessly now—we who are not Apostles and Prophets, are waiting to hear what God is saying to us from His word by the mouth of the Apostles and Prophets. We are not waiting for what the Pastors are saying; they too, are confused though they pretend a whole lot. They need direction much more than anyone else I know! They need someone to help them transit from Pastor to Shepherd so they can know true peace.
The Holy Spirit speaks to every Christian and yes, He is speaking expressly but, God’s wisdom has also gifted some of His people who we can see physically to echo the Voice. God knew there would come a time when the world would come into His body and His body would find it difficult not to be part of her though aware that partaking of her is suicide.
God uses and will use men who are “beside themselves” so to speak, to address the Church in our time or else, the casualty the new age multifaceted doctrine that has taken firm root in the church will not be gotten rid of. Why men who are beside themselves? Because some may lose their lives and it takes only men who care less for their lives to confront the religious spirit that wages war against the spirit of Christ in His body (the Church)! It has always been so. The sweetest exhortation from true Apostles and Prophets is fiercer and far more life changing than the harshest admonition from the rest of the ministries and spiritual gifts put together. I am not speaking of senseless fleshy accusers and condemners but, those gifted with the grace of Apostleship and Prophets. If you say they don’t exist, close your bible and go on vacation!
We have too many people who have made names for themselves among God’s people who hardly know the Holy Spirit! How did they gain their reputation in the first place—they are smart! They have a good grasp of S.M.A.R.T. Or else, how is it to be explained! Those who were physically with Jesus for three and half years who did not have the Holy Spirit could not gain any reputation until the Holy Spirit not only empowered them with speaking in tongues but also with power to deny themselves. By that, they took up their cross daily, lived in Christ and worked only to the measure to which they lived in Him.
It’s different from our day, when we have rough and filthy talking folks with huge reputations even before they seek to understand and have the Holy Spirit. Their lives in Christ are like 20% but, their works for Him is 90%. Where is the extra strength for the 70% coming from? Self! This wrong example is what is being set before the younger generation.
Young people like us need to pick our bibles, sit down, read and chew upon—it will humble us! We will understand that talking it and writing it in social media or blog is good but, its author—the Holy Spirit wants to direct us and that, means increasing death to our “self” and, it takes time. He gives us barrel of water to carry first and then, barrel of oil. It takes time to distinguish or discern their differences and weight. Young people like us mostly fail to recognize that though both are liquids the oil contain particles which makes it heavier than the barrel of water.
The life of Christ and His body are not random as it is increasingly being presented to us today. It is precepts upon precepts, word upon word, step upon step and glory upon glory as we behold His glory or image increasingly presented to us by the Holy Spirit. It’s not; I started or planted Church just yesterday and within xyz time, see the impressive growth (number). Don’t be deceived! Gal 6:8.
God neither leaves nor forsakes us—we should neither leave nor forsake Him too! To forsake Him is to walk into darkness and no amount of singing and praying for peace can make peace abide in darkness. Peace; takes people out of darkness and brings them into light.
John 10:10a, highlights the tactics the devil impores in an attempt to achieve his aim. The tactics are, “to steal, kill and destroy” but, we are not to let him succeed 1 Pet 5:8- 9NLT. However, if we are honest, he succeeds often times with his mischief concerning the things we own that are temporal or perishable e.g., ill health, death of our loved ones, divorces, failures of various kinds etc. The boat Paul the Apostle was travelling in was destroyed Acts 27:22 and eventually he was killed by the hands of wicked people as were Peter, Stephen and others. But, these things are not what matters the most in believers lives. He steals, and kills and destroys but, see Matt 10:28NLT.
What does the devil really intend to achieve by stealing, killing and destroying given that believers in Christ are admonished in the scriptures to hold loosely (not carelessly) to perishable things including their mortal life? Mark 8:35, Luke 12:15, 17:33. The rendition of these passages ties our earthly possessions to our mortal lives—that’s to say, they’re intertwined. It’s somewhat scary when examined closely. It means that, no matter how much we read the bible, fast and pray, the loss of material possessions can affect our mortal lives to the extent of threatening our incorruptible life if we’ve not been detached from them in our souls! This intertwinement sheds light on why we must surrender our earthly possessions at God’s feet just as we’ve done with our lives; and bless Him as we’re prompted in our hearts. All our earthly possessions are gotten with the life and grace he has given to us and the Spirit of grace is the spirit of generosity.
Therefore, the more grace we get, the more our minds are circumcised, renewed and devoted—resulting to us becoming more generous (more willing to and actually parting with temporal things whether with joy or pain). And we can be at peace even when the devil steals from us. So, the worship of God involves not just giving of ourselves but also, our time, money or produce (fruit of our labour). Those who practice the Old Testament now, give as those under the law (their choice) while those in the New Testament now, give as those under grace.
To scripturally answer the question as to the aim of the devil in destroying the perishable possessions of believers, we need to contrast it with the core of what Jesus came to give to those who will believe in Him—see John 10:10b. We recognize that he also destroys the possessions of those who’re not believers. He does it in order to keep them blinded, unconcerned about their souls, occupied only with the affairs of this present life and possibly grieve their spirit to force them to exhibit his nature of cruelty, bitterness, hatred, and jealousy towards others. And even murder and suicide. Also, to prompt them to worship him for protection—unwise move! Seeking protection from the one whose nature is to steal, kill and destroy.
But, for believers, much more than trying to resurrect their sinful desires which belonged to their Old nature Eph 2:3 that has died and buried with Christ, he seeks to rob them of the very Life of Christ which is their hope of glory 1 Col 1:27.
While it is indisputable that God protects the life and possessions of believers Job 1:10, we know that their properties can be destroyed and they can even be killed irrespective of them having received life in abundance from Christ Jesus. When this happens, God does not consider it that the devil has accomplished anything significant and this should be the attitude of all who believe in the gospel. This is the maturity God is calling all believers to!
The thing that is valuable in a believer’s life in God’s sight is what the devil is targeting by coming to steal, kill and destroy. And it’s the Life, yes; the abundant life of God that Christ came to give man.
Job’s story sheds light on this. Unfortunately, to Job’s wife, like many of us today, she equated “God’s life” in her husband as a mere thing not worth fighting for with all he has got and even with his very own life Job 2:9. Everyone who shares in Job’s wife’s low view of God’s life will have nothing but empty or fair weather Christianity which is rampant today! The devil seems to know the value of this “Treasure of God” in us better than many of us. And if this remains the case, our worship will remain a mere religion which is earth bound 1 Cor 15:19. This explains the attractive prosperity false gospel derailing multitudes today!
The devil wanted to use stealing, killing and destroying of Job’s physical possessions and his temporal body to reach his immortal life or Faith (life of God) in him. And, the devil has not changed his tactics and will not! Ouronly safeguard is to love Christ above all else Matt 10:37-38.
So, how much value do YOU place on this “Treasure” you’ve freely received? Eph 2:8, 2 Cor 4:7. Hold your answer in your heart with great humility and if there is need to repent, let us do so and go to the throne of grace with a fresh determination to bear His yoke and enjoy His light. We need to constantly remind ourselves that, though our salvation has been freely given, its cost to God is staggering—He paid for you and me with His blood. In economics, we say, “The cost of a thing indicates its value” Selah!
If indeed, you have the Treasure (Christ), remain or abide in and with Him no matter what comes your way. The Faith is not for getting things though He gives us things— His core purpose is to secure and lead we believers back safely to our creator. But, be aware! Some will fail to return back home (Heaven) but will lose their way or stray away and end in the prison designed for Satan and his cohorts. God preserves but we must persevere to the end of our mortal lives or till Christ’s return. The grace has been given to all believers and more is readily available at His throne of mercy and grace for when we’re in need.
So, no one should dare treat God like a rag because of their belief in “once saved, forever saved.” Satan entered Judas at some point John 13:27 and if you think it’s an isolated case, note that he also entered Ananias at some point Acts 5:3 and read carefully 1 Tim 5:11-12 & 15. These people mentioned, were they not believers in Christ?
This whole journey of salvation starts as a gift and will end only as a gift.
But, as a people given a gift, if only we’ll treasure Him as nearly as we carefully treasure our temporal lives and possessions, His abundant life will stop being just something to read in the pages of His book (bible) but, indeed, it’ll be His rich life to be tasted. It is in understanding and participating or experiencing all the good things (imperishable and invisible divine nature) wehavein Christ that we come to place Him in the highest place in our lives Philemon 1:6NLT. In it, we become immovable and always abounding in His work wherever we are.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'” Rev 3:22, Isa 55:1-13.
Persevere and hold on to the faith till the end! Heb 12:2NLT.
Give Attendance to Reading – From The Hyssop that Springeth Out of the Wall
In identifying with the Truth we mentioned that it was a case of pursuing God’s will, and seeking to walk in His ways. You do not really know the Truth until it becomes a part of your being. Honor the Word, the written Word. Read it much. But know of a certainty that it is not really yours until it comes alive within you.
I have read the Bible through many times, just as a matter of “reading” it… typed it out once along with footnotes and references for my own study Bible… memorized large portions of it in my earlier days… I honor the Word of God, as much as anyone. And yet many times as I read it I am keenly aware that at the time it seems to fall far short of meeting my basic earnest desire to know God. However, it has been a source of great encouragement to know that simply in reading the Word with an open heart one is exposing himself to the power and to the authority of that Word, unaware as you may be of this at the time.
Paul said, “Give attendance to reading…” But we would excuse ourselves on the basis that we do not understand it too well, or it becomes tiring and monotonous, and we do not get any particular blessing from it. We hope rather for the miracle that would make the printed page to shout at us with clarion call. I have personally never had that experience. And perhaps it is good that it has been this way so that I can encourage others. Many times we find ourselves reading some very beautiful Scriptures that carry with them a living Word; but its true benefit may not come to us until weeks, or months, or years later.
We have been speaking of God’s ways… the greatness of His ways… and how foreign God’s ways are to the ways of men. We sincerely trust that what we have said will not merely be received as good teaching and good doctrine; but that it will encourage everyone who reads this writing to “search and try their ways” as the Bible admonishes, For we are persuaded that if there is a genuine “search” in this area, God will be faithful to shew His people His way in this great hour, in this hour of impending crisis. Man’s day quickly draws to a close. God is looking for and preparing a people, who will come to know His thoughts and become acquainted with His ways. For of this present generation of the Church even of the evangelical and charismatic Church, it can rightly be said (as was said of the Israelites of old) “THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN MY WAYS.”
Jesus made a statement in Luke 10:20 and it will pilot the thought in this article. The spirits being subject to us is beyond just casting out demons. It includes the power and wisdom we received from heaven where our names are written to overcome their alluring and deceptive doctrines.
Countless times I have heard people say things like “there will be a lot of surprises in heaven” and by this, they almost always mean they may be surprise to see themselves in heaven and others they did not expect will be there. It is wrong to assume someone else will not be in heaven and the assertion that you will be surprised to be there is erroneous and needs to be humbly but firmly corrected.
Being admitted into heaven is not like taking an exam after you have read very well or poorly and now, you just wait passively for the outcome.
Admission into heaven takes place now while we are living not when we are dead. Everyone who is admitted there now is part of the bride awaiting the ceremony that will be graced with the presence of the bridegroom and the heavenly host with God the maker of all things visible and invisible.
Everybody hoping to be surprised then, is also already surprised now as to why the devil and sin is dominating them. In contrast, all who know they are already admitted into heaven now are giving thanks and pondering why God has so love them to deliver them from the dominion of the devil and the grip of sins.
The truth and reality of 2 Cor 3:17-18, is certainly happening in all who are admitted into heaven now and waiting for the marriage supper.
The “Lord’s Prayer” taught us by Jesus indicates that God’s will happening in heaven must happen in God’s kingdom on the earth. If you are part of His kingdom on the earth, wake-up and “let” His will be done now in you. The devil is not powerful enough to stop it unless you have imbibed doctrines that demons are teaching today via false teachers and prophets (Matt 6:9-10, 1 Tim 4:1).
The will of God that is being done in heaven is not the pursuit of earthly ambitions but ceaseless worship and reverence to God Almighty.
God’s will that happens in heaven is happening IN His people’s lives today all over world in an increasing measure. Where each of us is now in Christ as parts of His Body is not the farthest we can go. Not believing you can break out into a new dimension will mean doubting God’s ability. And, if you doubt God’s ability to take you beyond your struggles, you will also doubt that anyone else is living beyond where you are now. This kind of unbelief (sin) leads to judgemental spirit, schism and multiplicity of erroneous doctrines that makes it impossible to live above sin and it impacts the fulfillment of Eph 4:13.
What is the secret for God’s will happening in some of His people? What are they “doing” to achieve this? The secret is simple! What they are “doing” is even simpler.
They trust and continue believing God! This may sound overly simple but ask yourself the question “how did I become a Christian?”.
You just believed in your heart and you were rescued from the kingdom of darkness and “translated” into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. For this reason, you are entitled to glorious inheritance in the kingdom of Light (Christ)
Now, if just believing in the finished sacrifice of Jesus Christ brought us wholistically out of the kingdom of darkness, think about how easier it is for the Spirit to give us victory over any besetting sin(s) which is only an integral part of the power of darkness. We must remember that the intention is to debar us from enjoying the inheritance but Mark 9:23 and Phil 4:13 NLT gives the key for consistent victory.
As we continue believing in the light God is reflecting in our minds Psalm 119:130, we are transformed from one degree of His glory to another. The word “another”, is not indicative of the totality of His glory that is available for us because 1 Cor 13:12 portrays another glory for the time when we see Him face to face. At the moment, He is moving us in the dimensions of His glory and this work being done in us by the Holy Spirit keeps us alive in Him, content, joyful, peaceful and demonstrating His glory to the world. This is the business of the gospel of Christ! Rom 14:17.
You may still ask what is your part to play? Well! Believe and submit to Him joyfully and any dark spot in you will be overtaken and snuffed-out by His glorious light. Note the heartwarming emphases at the end of 2 Cor 3:18, – The Lord who is the Spirit does the work.
Ours is to believe and that is the springboard to unimaginable degrees of glory in Christ.
You may be asking what about the other things a Christian should be doing! Like:
Reading and meditating on the scriptures
Praying, fasting, and being hard working
Preaching the gospel to the lost and exercising your gift
Admonishing and exhorting the brothers
Attending the gathering of saints regularly for fellowship
Giving to the household of faith and giving to the poor
Honouring your father and mother
Loving your spouse and loving your enemies
Training your children in the way of the Lord
Being Patient
Those are fallout from the change occurring inside of those the Holy Spirit is making more and more like Christ. Doing those things, is not what makes you “be” like Christ rather, Christ is absorbing you into who He is because you are believing and submitting, you are budding His nature and that is why it is Him working in you to will and to do His good pleasure (Gal 2:20, Phil 2:13 NLT).
Those good virtues can be natural just as plants do naturally bud but it is very temperamental and highly subject to vagaries of weather. This speaks of self righteousness. But, we seek after such thing which only the Lord does as evidenced with Aaron’s wooden-rod. That is not natural but spiritual. We as dead stick are taken by God, made alive and producing life (God’s nature and virtues) because of our belief and submission to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus by which, His will IS being done on our earth. I like what Jim Elliff once said, “No man presents himself to God perfectly, but all of us can tell when we present ourselves half-heartedly”. But, we do not glory in presenting ourselves half-heartedly while Christ gave Himself for us fully.
Therefore, we are invited to join Abraham the father of faith to be fully persuaded that God can and will bring us into His fullness as promised (Rom 4:21, Heb 4:1, 3:19). Committing our lives fully to God is not just the business of the dying like Stephen did Acts 7:59. Actually, he committed his life fully to God before that event of his death Acts 6:8 KJV, and so can we. Let us commit our lives fully to God by believing all He has promised Rom 6:14.
James 1:18, warns us against doubting. Let all fears be gone! It is God Himself that is accomplishing this impossible work in us. We can look at men and women like Apollos, Epaphroditus, Timothy, Priscilla, Phoebe etc and know He who has done it in them in time past, is doing it again in us in this generation.
To reiterate, our part is to love the Lord, submit and believe in His faithfulness.
Everyone who is becoming more and more like Christ know they have found such favour with God, they are aware God is changing them and the sheer joy of it gives amazing strength! Nehemiah 8:10 Psalm 28:7-8.
It is said, true godliness and spirituality is seen in simple things with amazing power!
So, this transformation from one degree of glory to another shows itself in simple things such as:
Humility, putting away envy, quick to hear God, not in haste to speak, slow to anger and forgiving quickly.
Quick repentance (turn away from evil and not returning to it), and stability in the things God has already given victory.
Quickly casting down thoughts that exalt itself against God’s way and seeking and pursuing peace Increasingly needing private discussion with Christ before making decisions and interceding much for others
Increase in submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ and not judging people’s motive but their actions
Loving increasingly the Body of Christ, an unusual leap in patience and increase in the use of kind words in the face of even severe provocation
A healthy loss of interest in some legitimate things in order to travel light and painstaking for good conscience
Fearing God more than man
Eagerness and more deliberate readiness to reach out to the lost
Unabated peaceful expectation of the Lord’s return
Those simple virtues carry tremendous power, producing astonishing results in general and for the gospel in particular! If the activities of heaven is happening inside you both while asleep and awake and budding out from you visibly, appearing in heaven will not be a surprise but one of unspeakable joy and peace marinated in unfathomable everlasting love that is reserved for sons of God clothed with immortality through resurrection John 6:40. So, the real surprise in Heaven is that, there will be no surprise!
Make these seasons a time to believe God like never before and live by faith- it has no drawbacks only profits all the way!
May the grace, joy and peace of the Lord be with you.
What is Sin?
The scripture tells us that sin is the transgression of God’s Law 1 John 3:4 NKJV.
Looking closely at the word sin in the bible, we will discover that God actually places it into two categorizes; namely, Sin described as Fault and Sin described as Iniquity or evil. This runs contrary to what many false teachers are twisting in order to conceal the truth that God cannot bear with the sins described as iniquity or evil in anyone who names the name of the Lord 2 Tim 2:19.
In the main, there is sin that does not lead to death James 4:17 and there is sin that leads to death (separation from God) Gal 5:19-21.
It should interest believers to know that the devil’s mission is not just to get God’s people to sin. He understands that the once for all time sacrifice of Jesus and the continual propitiation of His blood that defeated him on the cross stands in defense of those rescued from his grip. So, sin is just the means by which he attempts to achieve his main aim which is this; to plant the “DECEITFULNESS OF SIN” in a believer’s heart.
What does the Deceitfulness of Sin Do to a Believer’s Heart
Deceitfulness of sin steals, kills and destroys the believers love for God and consequently other people Matt 22:37, 39. The phrase that captures its main effect on the heart is hardness of heart.
What is the effect of the Hardness of Heart in a Believer
When the heart hardens, a believer actually prefers to worship the sin nature than worship God because the person has fallen from grace Heb 12:15. It is not just sinning that makes a believer reject the Holy Spirit rather; it is the hardness of heart that is caused by the deceitfulness of sin Heb 3:13.
It is the deceitfulness of sin that causes a believer to start thinking or being mindful of the country from which God has delivered and is delivering the believer from. Hebrews 11:15 states, “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return“.
The experience of Judas holds a strong lesson for believers. The devil is still frantically looking for those who will betray and crucify Jesus the second time Luke 22:3, Heb 6:6, 1 Cor 10:12.
It is also because of this hardness of heart that the whole world has not been saved though the grace of God has appeared to all men and the gospel is for the benefit of all.
If you have been a Christian for any length of time, sadly you may have seen this extremely painful event happen to a believer you know.
They would usually confess to the fact that they have lost the enablement to live for God- they can talk about God enthusiastically but cannot stop deliberately continuing in particular sin(s) that fall within Gal 5:19-21 especially cultism or sorcery, immorality (homosexuality, adultery, fornication and pornography) and materialism. The sad thing is, it’s almost always a sin or sins they had gained mastery over after they became a Christian.
Our usual assertion that the person was never a believer is questionable, see 2 Peter 2:20.
Given room, some so-called theologians will deny that a believer’s heart can be hardened against God but anyone who teaches that is in a sorry situation!
When Peter and Barnabas went into hypocrisy, the Spirit did not leave them, but helped them repent by reproving them through another believer, Paul.
What would have happened if they insisted and persisted in living that way and claimed they were sealed by the Holy Spirit till the day of redemption?! Or, if Peter had reminded Paul that he (Peter) has more authority in the Church than he (Paul) and Barbanas remind Paul that he (Barnabas) was the one who helped Paul gain recognition when the Church was reluctant to accept him (Paul) as is the case today.
It is strange and sad how modern theology is not helping us live a repentant life-style like the Apostles who are examples to us Phil 3:17, 1 Cor 10:11. Modern theology rather has helped many of us to TRIPLE JUMP God’s gracious warning in Eph 4:30a “…do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” to seemingly land safely and quickly to claim Eph 4:30b “by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” unwisely. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit does not leave a believer except, when rejected deliberately.
A believer who participates in the sins in verses 19-21 of Galatians 5, shuns God’s grace towards him or her as expressed 2 Peter 1:3-4 and as such, is walking in the midst of death and heading to damnation. So dangerous is the situation that Peter describes anyone in this situation as “blind” and forgetful (ungrateful) 2 Peter 1:9. Peter passionately exhorts believers that in the light of God’s grace in verses 3-4 of 2 Peter 1, we should yield to God’s nature as outlined in 2 Peter 1:5-8. Having pleaded and exhorted, he swings into firm admonition in 2 Peter 1:10 and tempers it down into strong exhortation to show believers the benefit of giving heed to his extempore.
Adding Peter’s warning to that of Paul in verse 21 of Galatians 5, we can see how serious neglecting the warning can be. It should serve to encourage us to be vigilant over our hearts to love and obey our savior and Lord Jesus Christ knowing that; exclusion from the Kingdom of God is inclusion to the Kingdom of hell. Our opinion is of no importance in this matter!
Our opinions are inconsequential because the one who sets the axe to the root ofevery tree is the only judge of all. Therefore, our judgmental opinions on the servants of God is unwise but we all must be wise and not deceive ourselves by ignoring the warning of our maker.
Let’s humble ourselves and take seriously the warning in Gal 5:21, “I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
We, as Christians, do RUN AWAY from sin and hold-on to a broken and contrite spirit which is a gift from God not because Christ’ blood is not sufficient to cover our sins if we fall, but because it’s deceitfulness can harden our hearts against Christ who laid down His life to save us 1 John2:1. He did not only lay down His live to save but, also, that we might worship the Father acceptably Heb 12:28.
The quickest way to get God’s people to sin is to sell them false doctrine. So, for many people these days who are quite offended just hearing the word doctrine it’s only wise that you reconsider and run back quickly to the doctrines of the Apostle in the bible.
For those of us who have manufactured our own thought, condensed it as dogmas but have presented it to the Church and the world as Christ’s doctrine, it is time to humble ourselves and repent for the Lord’s return for His bride is at hand.
The admonition to us in 1 Tim 4:16 NLT “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you” is paramount now than ever before!
Every doctrine gives birth to a life-style. False doctrine (bread) has an unseen hand (power) serving it though the seen hand may seem cute and ordinary Matt 7:15. The watch-word from God’s is this: Beware!
To practice “Beware“, these are inevitable essentials:
Avoid strife at all cost 2 Tim 2:24
Avoid evil company at all cost 1 Cor 15:33
Reading and meditating on the word of God Col 3:16
Consistent private fellowship with the Holy Spirit 1 John 1:3
Consistent fellowship with the body of believers Heb10:25
Under every circumstance keep your eyes on Jesus Heb 12:2
Respect all believers- all are anointed by God 1 John 2:20
Be prepared to lose your life than lose Christ John 12:25
Let love be your rock and watch-word in all situations Gal5:14
What is the remedy for sin/sins
Proverbs 16:6a makes it clear that, only mercy and truth can atone for sin. This truth plays out itself in Christ Jesus alone – the Lamb of our atonement Psalm 85:10. No structural adjustment of our behavior can atone for sin- it has never and will never!
But, Proverbs 16:6b, states without ambiguity that is by the fear of the Lord that man departs from sin or evil. So, anyone whose sin is atoned for but decides not to fear/reverence the Lord will drink sin like water, but, we need to hear Paul’s admonition in Rom 6:1-2.
Thanks for reading! May the love of our Lord Jesus Christ overwhelmingly fill your heart and mind leaving no room for any other lord. Amen.
John 10:10a, highlights the tactics the devil impores in an attempt to achieve his aim. The tactics are, “to steal, kill and destroy” but, we are not to let him succeed 1 Pet 5:8- 9NLT. However, if we are honest, he succeeds often times with his mischief concerning the things we own that are temporal or perishable e.g., ill health, death of our loved ones, divorces, failures of various kinds etc. The boat Paul the Apostle was travelling in was destroyed Acts 27:22 and eventually he was killed by the hands of wicked people as were Peter, Stephen and others. But, these things are not what matters the most in believers lives. He steals, and kills and destroys but, see Matt 10:28NLT.
