THE SHUNAMMITE WOMAN

THE SHUNAMMITE WOMAN

HER CHARACTER: Generous and hospitable, she was a wealthy and capable woman who showed great kindness to one of God's prophets. 

HER SORROW:

To lose the son that had been promised her.

HER JOY:

To experience just how deep God's faithfulness goes.

KEY SCRIPTURES:

2 Kings 4:8-37; 8:1-6

HER LIFE AND TIMES

HOSPITALITY

Elisha stayed for a meal at the Shunammite woman's house after she "urged" him to do so. He felt so well taken care of, so comfortable, and so at home that he made a habit of coming to her home whenever he was in the area - often enough that the woman asked her husband to have a special room added just for Elisha.

Hospitality played an important role in the lives of the people of the Middle East. Desert travel was strenuous, and Holiday Inns hadn't yet been invented. When travelers came to a town at the end of the day, they would stop in the town's center or near the town gates and wait for an invitation for the night. If no invitation came, they would spend the night outside.

Hosts were responsible not only to feed and provide sleeping arrangements for their guests but also were expected to ensure the safety of the guests, protecting them from robbery and harm (Genesis 19:8). When meals were served, the host acted as a servant, serving the guests and watching over their needs. If one guest was particularly favored over another, he or she would be served an extra large or extra special portion of the food (Genesis 43:34).

Examples of hospitality are plentiful in the Scriptures. Abraham made a sumptuous meal for the three strangers who visited him (Genesis 18), preparing bread, a tender calf, curds, and milk. Rebekah practiced a basic form of hospitality when she offered water to Abraham's servant and his animals (Genesis 24:15-21). Solomon fed everyone in his palace, plus aliens and visitors to the region. His list of daily provisions in 1 Kings 4:22 provides a picture of what was required to feed a staggering number of people. Nehemiah not only refused to demand "the food allotted to the governor," he also generously fed at least 150 people each day (Nehemiah 5:17-18).

Six times the New Testament exhorts believers to be hospitable. There's no talk of fatted calves or extravagant dinners in these passages, just a simple exhortation to make sure you care for those around you. As Romans 12:13 puts it, "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." You never know, you just might entertain angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2)!

HER PROMISE

The Shunammite woman knew there was hope even in the most devastating of circumstances. She had been promised a son when she was barren, and now she tenaciously held on to that promise even though her little son lay dead on Elisha's couch. "It's all right", she said to her husband, knowing full well that their boy was gone. The God who had given her the promise wasn't gone. She knew he wouldn't forsake her.

"It's all right." Can you express that sentiment even when your world is crashing in on you? Perhaps not. Remember, however, that even in the most agonizing of circumstances, even when you feel abandoned, even when tragedy strikes - God is there. Trust his word and gain assurance from the Shunammite woman who, in the midst of appalling circumstances, could say, "It's all right."

Promises in Scripture

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?-NUMBERS 23:19

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.-2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ.

-2 CORINTHIANS 1:20

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful -HEBREWS 10:23

HER LEGACY OF PRAYER

"About this time next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms. 2 Kings 4:16

REFLECT ON: 2 Kings 4:8-37

PRAISE GOD:

That he never overlooks even a small kindness performed out of love for him.

OFFER THANKS:

For the kindness you have experienced at the hands of others.

CONFESS:

Your tendency to overlook others' needs because you are so focused on your own.

ASK GOD:

To make you jealous for opportunities to care for

others in basic and practical ways. 

Lift Your Heart

The Shunammite woman is a wonderful example of someone who anticipated Jesus' words to his disciples to "seek first his [the Father's] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). Like the lilies of the field, she didn't worry about God's provision and so experienced it abundantly. Ask for an opportunity this week to perform an act of practical kindness or hospitality for someone else. Consider lending your prayers, your gifts, and your energy on a regular basis to a group or ministry working to bring justice to those most in need of it.

Father, show me someone's need today. Then help me break out of my own small world and find a way to show your love to that person.

THE WIDOW WITH THE TWO COINS

THE WIDOW WITH THE TWO COINS

HER CHARACTER

Though extremely poor, she is one of the most great hearted people in the Bible. Just after warning his disciples to watch out for the teachers of the law, who devour widows' houses, Jesus caught sight of her in the temple. He may have called attention to her as a case in point.

HER SORROW:

To be alone, without a husband to provide for her.

HER JOY:

To surrender herself to God completely, trusting him to act on her behalf.

KEY SCRIPTURES:

Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4

HER LIFE AND TIMES:

MONEY

Two tiny coins. Mark identifies them as two Greek lepta, tiny copper coins worth less than a penny.

Coins didn't come into use in Israel until after the people returned from exile between 500 and 400 BC. Before that time people bartered, exchanging produce, animals, and precious metals for goods and services. A woman might barter a flask of oil for a new robe or the wool from a lamb for a new lamp.

By Jesus' day, a large variety of coins had come into use in Palestine. New Testament Jews used coins from Rome and Greece as well as their own Jewish form of coinage. The temple tax had to be paid in Jewish currency - in shekels. Money changers set up their businesses in order to change other coinage into shekels for temple worshipers, then, adding insult to injury, cheating their customers. Jesus was not opposed to the operation of such businesses, but to their dishonesty and to their operation within the temple itself. He furiously scattered them, declaring that his Father's house was a house of prayer, not a business site (Matthew 21:12-13).

While money is necessary for life in most cultures, the Bible warns against placing more importance on it than it should rightfully have. The widow who gave all she had furnishes us with the best example of recognizing the need for money - she had money, although very little - but also the need to hold it lightly - she willingly and lovingly gave it away. Peter warns us not to be "greedy for money" (1 Peter 5:2), and the writer to the Hebrews admonishes us to keep our "lives free from the love of money and be content with what [we] have" (Hebrews 13:5). When writing to Timothy, Paul penned those famous, and often misquoted, words about money: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:10).

The pervasive lure of money and what it can provide - the need to have more and do more and get more - is probably more prevalent in our culture than in any other in history. Christians are just as susceptible to its enticements as anyone else. Money drives an effective and forceful wedge between our Savior and us. Jesus knew that and pointedly reminded us with these words: "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money" (Luke 16:13).

HER PROMISE

Earlier, God had promised Abraham he would spare the city of Sodom if he could find only ten righteous people in it, but not even ten could be found. So God sent his angels to Sodom to rescue Lot and his family (Genesis 18) from the coming destruction. Hesitant to the last minute, the angels had to take Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand and lead them out of the city.

Did God know Abraham was thinking of Lot when he begged for the cities to be spared if fifty, forty-five, thirty, twenty, only ten righteous people could be found? Was God's mercy extended to Lot for love of Lot or for love of Abraham? We don't know. But we do know God's mercy was available for Lot and his family. And his mercy is available to you as well, even in the worst of times, the most difficult situations, the hardest of circumstances. He's there, stretching out his hand to lead you to safety.

Promises in Scripture

The men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them -GENESIS 19:16

He will show you mercy [and] have compassion on you.-DEUTERONOMY 13:17

Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

-PSALM 25:6

"I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful," declares the LORD, "I will not be angry forever,"-JEREMIAH 3:12

HER LEGACY OF PRAYER

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."-MARK 12:43

REFLECT ON: Mark 12:41-44.

PRAISE GOD: For judging not by outward appearances but as one who sees the heart.

OFFER THANKS: For blessings of money, time, energy, and emotional resources.

CONFESS: Any tendency to act as though your security depends more on you than it does on God.

ASK GOD: To make you a generous woman with the faith to believe that even small gifts are worth giving.

Lift Your Heart

This week, think of an area of your life that feels particularly empty or impoverished. You may be lonely, financially stretched, or worried about the future. Whatever it is, pray about it. Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Is God inviting you to do something to express your trust? What kind of offering would be the most pleasing to him? Once you hear his voice, go ahead and give him what his heart desires.

Father, you are the source of every blessing. This week, help me to give, not only out of my wealth, but out of my poverty. Remind me that I belong to you, body and soul, heart and mind, past, present, and future.

How To Identify A False Prophet/Religious Leader and False Religious Sects!

How To Identify A False Prophet/Religious Leader and False Religious Sects!

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In this turbulent end times, it is necessary to always be spiritually discerning in order to identify false prophets/religious leaders who are pretending as genuine servants of Lord Jesus Christ. Don't be deluded by false prophets/religious leaders.

A religious sect refers to a group of people with different religious beliefs typically regarded as heretical from those of a larger group to which they belong. 

A religious sect may share some overarching beliefs with other Christian denominations but has its own beliefs, traditions and rituals as well.

A religious cult or sect can be broadly defined as formal religious veneration or a system of religious beliefs and its body of adherents or a religion regarded as unorthodox (spurious).

A religious cult or sect also refers to great devotion to a particular person, object or idea as well as group of people united by devotion or allegiance to an artistic or intellectual movement or figure.

A typical religious sect or cult has a charismatic, unaccountable religious leader, persuades by coercion and exploit its members, economically, sexually or in some other ways.

What are the most common features shared by religious cults or sects?

1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability

A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power. 

That is a living religious leader, who has no meaningful accountability and becomes the single most defining element of the group and its source of power and authority. 

2. A process of indoctrination or education is in use that can be seen as coercive persuasion or thought reform commonly called brainwashing. 

The culmination of this process can be seen by members of the group often doing things that are not in their own best interest, but consistently in the best interest of the group and its leader.

3. Economic, sexual and other exploitation of group members by the false religious leader and the ruling coterie. 

The destructiveness of religious cults varies by degree, from labor violations, child abuse, medical neglect to, in some extreme and isolated situations, calls for violence or mass suicide.

¶ What are the warning signs of a potentially unsafe religious group or false religious leader?

1. Self-Righteousness: There is a general tendency for dependence on gifted spiritual leaders, who by claiming to speak for “God” put themselves above question and perceived to be “holy” perpetually. 

Also, view of truth changes from what is honest to what is in the interest of the deluded religious group. 

In essence, the false religious group or false prophet/religious leader is always right or perfect without any blemish (self-righteousness).

2. Loss of Freedom and Perversion:

Through gradual manipulation, individual thoughts, feelings and choices are increasingly replaced by group thoughts, feelings and decisions. 

Also, there is a tendency for loss of conscience as the deluded religious group and its leadership draw the new members into perverted behaviors (often sexual) that destroy moral courage.

3. Bait-and-Switch Tactic: The grand delusion of deceptive religious sects is usually the adjustment of expectations from what was originally promised to what is received. 

This pervasive tendency end up in betraying the trust of the deluded followers. 

4. Manipulative Dependence: Through chanting and singing, new members are manipulatively subjected to constant repetition, which blocks their rational thought processes. 

The false prophet/spiritual leader demands absolute submission to his control and the deluded followers are taught to accept without question the revelations and interpretations of their false spiritual leader.

5. Induced Fear: The pervasive tendency of deceptive religious sects is that negative thoughts or doubts about the particular religious group or its false spiritual leader are said to be soul-threatening. 

Therefore, anyone leaving the false religious group is warned about harsh consequences, loss of eternal life and reward or untimely death.

6. Manipulative Mind Control: New members are tactically conditioned to stop thinking and to accept without question the revelations and doctrines of their false spiritual leader. 

The self-respect of the new members is manipulatively broken down through persuading them to share their innermost secrets with the group.

7. Intense Love Bombing: Committed sect members tactically give new prospects an overwhelming sense of acceptance, belonging and significance by “bombing” them with flattery, touching, hugging and false feeling of communal love. 

Through removal of privacy, new recruits are not left alone to discover their own thoughts.

8. Isolation Strategy: New recruits of deceptive religious sects are usually isolated from their real family members, close friends and News media in order to screen out opposing points of view. 

9. Family Perception: Within a deceptive religious sect, there is often an intense sense of identity and “family” perception. 

Perceived “family members” are viewed as “brothers and sisters,” united against the outside world.

Their unity is not found in Lord Jesus Christ, however, but in their false spiritual “father,” mentor and sole teacher.  

10. False Biblical Emphasis: Some deceptive religious sects give much attention to Bible study. However, their biblical learning is often carefully orchestrated by clever leaders who provide their own false interpretation of Scriptures. 

The deluded members are warned about reading authors who are outside of their secluded religious group.

11. Religious Exclusivism: Deluded members of deceptive religious sects often develop the false belief that they alone have been entrusted with the truth. Therefore, the opportunity to be a part of a select group of God’s chosen servants is attractive.

12. False Indoctrination: A distinct mark of many deceptive religious sects is their use of sophisticated methods of recruitment and coercive persuasion. 

This ensures the breaking down of individual thinking rather than allowing new converts to make decisions of faith based on their own sense of good judgment. 

Through peer-group pressure, potential converts are subjected to intense persuasion by fellow sect members.

13. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.

14. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget or expenses, such as an independently audited financial statement.

15. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions. 

16. There is no legitimate reason to leave the false religious group. Former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.

17. Former members of false religious groups often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.

18. There are records, books, news articles, or broadcast reports that document the abuses of the false religious group or false religious leader.

19. Deluded followers of a false prophet/religious leader feel they can never be good enough or perfect if they leave the false religious group.

20. The false religious group or false religious leader is the exclusive means of knowing perceived “truth” or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.

In conclusion, it is vital not to fall victim to hypocritical spiritual leaders who describe themselves as something they are not, as they try to deceive many people with persuasive words. 

As ravening wolves in sheep clothing, they often disguise themselves as representatives of Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), however, later on, they show themselves to be serving the grand deceiver known as Lucifer or Satan (2 Corinthians 11:4).   

 Author: Evangelist Olusola Awolaja

YOU CAN REGAIN YOUR VIRGINITY:

YOU CAN REGAIN YOUR VIRGINITY:

◾There Is Hope For You:

One of the greatest gifts that God gives to all girls and boys from birth is "Virginity" 

....for girls, their virginity is more obvious because it can easily be established by physical examination — but that of boys is less obvious .

Virginity is a precious gift and it deserves to be preserved  — Whoever is able to persevere his or her own and safely hands it over to his wife or to her husband become a highly rated husband or wife . 

Most men and women will like to marry a virgin — To marry a virgin is like getting a new car that nobody else has used 

.....such a car is far above any second-hand car — It's fresh from the maker - undefiled, untouched and clean .

That is why even the most wayward man  wants to marry a virgin and the worst corrupt girl wants a man that is purely for her alone .

Although virginity is precious.......

It has proved very difficult for many boys and girls to preserve. If you kept your own until now — well, thank God for your life.

▪️You are a special girl or boy.

▪️ you are fortunate and I pray that God will help you to continue to keep it to his glory, in Jesus name.

Now, many have lost their own even before it was time for them to marry — In case you are one of them — I have good news for you ! 

Dear, you can still regain your virginity!

I will tell you how but before I Evangelist  Paulinus Paul do that, .... let us find out who is a virgin and see various types of virgins.

🚦WHO IS A VIRGIN ?

The Oxford Dictionary defines a virgin as "a person (especially, a woman) who has never had sexual intercourse — It's also means untouched and not yet used.

From this simple definition we can deduce that a boy can also be a virgin though it's more commonly used for women.

Generally, anybody who has not had sexual intercourse is a virgin — But, this isn't the only types of virgins .

There are basically two types of virgins in the sight of God — a person can become a virgin in two ways namely :

♻️ Virgin By Birth (Physical Virgin) and.. 

♻️ Virgin By A New Birth (Spiritual Virgins)

Now, you can be a virgin by any of these means... 

 1️⃣ VIRGIN BY BIRTH (Physical Virgin) 

Every body is born a virgin. A Virgin by Birth is any girl or boy who has never had sexual intercourse from Birth — for a boy, this is difficult to determine but for a girl, who is a virgin, her virginity is established by examining the opening that leads to her Vagina.

A sheet of membrane called the hymen covers that opening from birth. It only has a little opening for the girl to pass urine or menstrual flow.

Once a girl has her first sexual intercourse, the hymen is torn or ruptured by the man's penis — from that time onwards the person stops being a virgin  — The hymen continues to tear, especially during childbirth.

The hymen also get torn when a girl masturbates — It can also be medically removed.

The tearing of the hymen during the first intercourse can cause minor pains and lead to drops of blood — a wife uses this bloodstain as evidence to prove her virginity.

In the old testament, any girl who could not prove this would be treated as a non-virgin — She would be stoned to death for being promiscuous (Leviticus 22:13—21)

To lose one's virginity is a disgraceful thing — It was punishable by death in the old testament. At that time it was only the actual act of sexual intercourse that can deflowered a person.

Now, The New Testament standard is higher . 

In the New Testament a person can be a virgin by birth technically but actually a non-virgin 

According to the New Testament, fornication can be committed by mere sight 

Jesus said " ... But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart — (Matthew 5:28).

If you want to be a virgin according to Jesus standard you must avoid all kinds of lust — You must avoid such things as kissing , pornography, caressing and other lustful act with opposite sex.

If you have engaged in these immoral living, even if your hymen is still intact, you are not a spiritual virgin because God still punish immorality.

⚠ Be Warned!

2️⃣ REGAINED VIRGINITY (Spiritual Virgin):

As I said, you could regained your virginity, even if you have had sexual intercourse before , even if you have lived a wayward life in the past, even if you are already married and have some children, and even if you have been a prostitute before now —you can regain your virginity.

Yes Sis, it's possible! 

Bro.. Did you know how I was able to found out?

Let see the confirmation.. ..

. ... "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible —("Mark 10:27)

......"I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me,  "son of man, can these bones lived?  I said, "O sovereign LORD, you alone know" ....Then he said to me... Says to them, "Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

 This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones .. I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD"

.... They came to life and stood up on their feet — a vast army 

— (Ezekiel 37:2-6 & 10)

Now, if God can make dry bones to lived again and add tendons, does, skin and breath to the bones — then he can restore your virginity if you want him to because with him nothing is impossible.

He has restored multitude of others and he can do the same to you today. 

Now, let me tell you how? 

You can regain your virginity by the new birth. This is called "BORN AGAIN"

When a person is Born Again, he goes into Christ and Christ goes into him,  The person becomes regenerated and totally transformed. He or she becomes a new person entirely . 

The scriptures explained what happens to such a person... 

...." Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new — (2nd Corinthian 5:17)

....."Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently ..... Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever — (1 Peter 1:22-23).

🚦 HE IS A NEW CREATION

When a person is Born Again, he is a completely new person. 

Although he still bears his or her former name and his height and complexion remain the same... He or she is changed.

A new person enters his former body. That person is CHRIST .

God recreates that person and gives him a new beginning. That person's opinion about life will change.  His desires change and his character changes — he becomes completely new inside .

🚦OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY 

When a person is Born Again his or her old life is gone. God changes his or her records — He or she stops living in his or her past sins. If he used to be a thief he would stop stealing. 

If she was a harlot she would stop prostitution — Once this change takes place  God says.. 

....." For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more — (Hebrews 8:12)

......" old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new — (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

If you have lost your virginity in the past, it's one of the old things that have passed away — Your hymen that was broken is already broken, but spiritually you are a newborn child .

As a new born child you are therefore a spiritual virgin. God treat you as a virgin.

Thank God for giving us the opportunity for a new beginning — Each new day, each new week and each new month is an opportunity for a new beginning.

Since a Born Again person is a new Born baby because of the new birth — if the person is able to keep himself pure from the date or time of being Born Again he becomes  a virgin spiritually.

Even now, you too can become a Spiritual Virgin if you decide today to keep your body pure for Jesus and for your spouse — Keep your virginity! 

Do not lose it for any reason because very soon you too will be glorified.

Spiritual virginity is the highest and the best level of virginity.

....Two Things Makes It Special.

1️⃣ Firstly,.... this is the type of virginity that qualifies you for Heaven — being a Spiritual Virgin means you have kept your body pure and undefiled (or by women)

It makes you part of the Bride of Christ — You will be a part of the Heavenly wedding called "The Marriage Supper Of The Lamb"

......" And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ..... Let us be gladden and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready — (Rev 19:6-7)

....."For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie — (Rev 22:15 ).

Spiritual Virginity makes you a part of a great multitude — The Bride Of Christ .

In fact, it's better that a person isn't a physical virgin but a spiritual virgin instead of being a physical virgin without being a spiritual virgin  — if you are physical Virgin but still commit others sin's, you are classified as dog's — You have no part in the wedding above.

2️⃣ .....Secondly, spiritual Virginity cannot be taken away by marriage or by age — You can remain a spiritual virgin even after you are married .

Sexual relationship with your spouse will not make you a non-virgin 

 — This is because it's God who has approved that enjoyment.

It's written... 

....." Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun — (Eccl 9:9).

....." Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth..... Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love — (Prov 5:18-19)

A man who has properly married a wife cannot defile himself by enjoying life with his wife — A woman cannot defile herself by enjoying life with her husband, provided they are properly married — God approves such!

Thus, a married person may not be a virgin physically, but he can still be a virgin spiritually — A person who married 10 or 20 years ago can still be a virgin today, if he keeps himself undefiled by the world.

However if you certainly knew, you are engrossed or already entangled into below sinful  lifestyles.

... Dear, you need to earnestly do something about your life today because you are "HAVE BEEN DEFILED AND NO LONGER A VIRGIN before the sight of the Almighty Creator 

 🚦SALVATION MESSAGE AND REPENTANCE:

If you wish to become a Virgin and remain a Virgin in the sight of God  to make HEAVEN — you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal saviour today because tomorrow is never promised — You must restitute and confess all your sin unto God and also ensure you joined “ A Bible Believing Church for more spiritual growth”

However, if you are a Christian and still indulges into various kinds of sins such as......

Envy, anger, unforgiveness, lying, hatred, malice, murmuring, gossiping, stealing, taking or giving bribe, exams malpractice, fraud, smuggling and robbery.

Perhaps you into masturbation, fornication, adultery, prostitution, Lusting after Money and sexual immoralities, abortion, lesbianism, homosexuality, kidnapping, ritual killings and assassination — You must confess and repent today.

Perhaps you into drunkenness, fighting and quarreling, alcoholism, smokers, divorcee, polygamous marriage, occultism —Consultaton of native doctors for charms making — Praying in the name of Mary or any Saints or Angels, Bowing Down or Honouring Them — You must renounce all these abominables and plead for God's mercy because you have already been defiled.

Sister's who are given up into vile affection "Changing The Natural Use Of Their Body Into That Which Is Against Nature" Therefore indulging themselves into......

▪️Makeups 

▪️Earrings

▪️Hair Attachments.

▪️women trousers 

▪️ nails polished 

▪️eyes lashes

...... (Romans 1:26).

Dressing nudity, short skirts, exposing cleavage with transparent dresses to Seduce men..

You must repent, dispose and burnt  them off and ensure you maintain your natural beauty because unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Please repent now before it becomes too late!

Remember; your soul is precious and was costly purchase by the Blood of Jesus Christ and you can't afford to lose "yours" in Hell for the next billions and trillions of years in Eternity with eternal sorrow, tears, anguish and hopeless of ever coming-out due to mere pleasure and fashion of this world that PASSETH-AWAY which you can easily forsakes NOW and run to Heaven.

Oh Heaven —  a place of an everlasting joy, without tears, sorrow and neither pains but rather filled with happiness and God's glory.

Please my beloved, "Don't Miss Heaven" and I pray to see you in that Glorious City very soon.

🚦CONFESSION AND ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST

Dear Lord Jesus Christ; I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself only. I am sorry, and I repent. I ask you to forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me.

You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life; I give it to you. From this day forward, help me to live every day for you and in a way that pleases you. I love you, Lord Jesus, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you in Jesus name i pray. Amen

18 Facts Every Believer Should Know About Intercession

THE HOLY SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR YOU CONTINUOUSLY

18 Facts Every Believer Should Know About Intercession

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1. The Holy Spirit Is On Earth Interceding For You To The Father. “He maketh intercession forthe saints according to the will of God,” (Romans 8:27). So, there is an incredible and beautiful scenario of intercession occurring 24-hours-a-day, every day of your life. You may feel alone. You may feel isolated. You may even have tormenting thoughts that nobody really cares for you at all. But, the opposite is occurring. TheHoly Spirit continuously talks to the Father about yourneeds and desires. While you are asleep, He is praying for you.While you are working, He is praying for you.When you have doubts, He is praying for you.

2. Jesus Is In Heaven Praying For You Also. "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us,” (Romans 8:34).

3. You Truly Are The Apple Of Your Father’s Eye. “For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye,” (Deuteronomy 32:9-10).

4. Your Father Has Committed Himself To Your Protection. “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings,

taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lordalone did lead him, and there was no strange god with

him,” (Deuteronomy 32:11-12).

5. Your Father Wants You To Experience Uncommon Success And Provision. “He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and He made him to suckhoney out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, andrams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of

kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure bloodof the grape,” 

(Deuteronomy 32:13-14).

6. You Cannot Even Imagine The

Magnitude And Greatness Of God’s Desires For You. That is why our prayers are often ineffective, incomplete and unanswered. “Eye hath not see, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that lovehim,” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

7. The Holy Spirit Has Searched Out, Photographed, Inventoried And Documented TheDesires Of The Father Toward You. “But God hath

revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spiritsearcheth all things, yea the deep things of God,” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

8. The Holy Spirit Is The Only Person In The Universe Who Knows The Heart Of The Father. “For what man knoweth the things of a man,save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God,” (1 Corinthians 2:11).

9. The Holy Spirit Is Given To Us To Reveal The Desires Of The Father Toward Us. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that arefreely given to us of God,” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

10. Your Natural Man (The Self Life) Con￾tinuously Rejects The Things Of The Holy Spirit.“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

11. Humans Simply Do Not Know How To Pray Effectively In A Way That Pleases The Heart Of God. “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought,” (Romans 8:26).

12. The Holy Spirit Is Our Committed Personal Intercessor Every Day. “Likewise theSpirit also helpeth our infirmities...but the Spirit itself

maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered,” 

(Romans 8:26).

13. The Holy Spirit Is In Total Agreement With The Desires And Will Of The Father For You.“And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God,” 

(Romans 8:27).

14. The Holy Spirit Is Passionate About Your Needs And Desires Being Fulfilled. “...but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us withgroanings which cannot be uttered,” 

(Romans 8:26).

15. The Holy Spirit Stirs Others To

Intercede For You, Too. He did this in Samuel's heart for the people of God. “Moreover as for me, Godforbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way,” (1 Samuel 12:23). The Apostle Paul experienced

the same kind of stirring to intercession by The HolySpirit. His protegé, Timothy, received this word fromhis mentor. “I thank God, whom I serve from my fore￾fathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night andday,” (2 Timothy 1:3).

16. You Are Never Alone In The Storms Of Your Life. Ever. Jesus promised it. “And I will praythe Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever,” (John 14:16). Your success is not limited to your efforts alone. Your future is not controlled by just your personal knowledge only. Your victories are not dependent on your personal abilities alone.

17. The Holy Spirit And Jesus Are Your Personal Intercessors Throughout Every TrialAnd Difficult Place Of Your Life. That is why the Apostle Paul could shout with joy and thanksgiving inthe midst of the most difficult, cold, damp prison expe￾riences: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these

things we are more than conquerors through Him thatloved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” 

(Romans 8:35, 37-39).

18. Your Survival Is Guaranteed Because Someone Is Interceding For You. “Wherefore He isable also to save them to the uttermost that come untoGod by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them,” 

(Hebrews 7:25).

MARTHA

MARTHA

HER NAME, THE FEMININE FORM OF "LORD," MEANS "Lady"

HER CHARACTER:

Active and pragmatic, she seemed never at a loss for words. Though Jesus chastened her for allowing herself to become worried and upset by small things, she remained his close friend and follower. 

HER SORROW:

To have waited, seemingly in vain, for Jesus to return in time to heal her brother, Lazarus. 

HER JOY:

To watch as Jesus restored her brother to life. 

KEY SCRIPTURES:

Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-12:3 

¶ HER LIFE AND TIMES 

WOMEN'S WORK

The work expected of a woman in Bible times was much more clearly defined than it is in our culture. There were things the women did and things the men did; things the female children did and things the male children did. 

Martha was just doing what she thought was expected of her. She had been raised to take care of her guests, to care for the people in her household. Mary was the one who stepped outside of the cultural expectations of her time, sitting at the feet of Jesus with the men rather than working with Martha in the kitchen. When Martha complained, Jesus responded with characteristic boldness, ignoring the dictates of his time and urging Martha to stop and consider the choice Mary had made. 

Women of that time kept busy from morning to evening with a daunting array of household tasks: 

• Grinding grain for bread, then mixing, kneading, and baking the bread for the day 

• Purchasing meat at a market or preparing an animal from the household's flock for meat to eat, then cooking that meat 

• Carding, spinning, and weaving threads of various kinds to make cloth for clothing, bedding, and other household uses 

• Sewing clothing for household members 

• Drawing the water for each day's requirements 

• Cleaning the house 

• Washing the utensils and dishes used in meal preparation and eating 

• Washing the family's clothing 

• Teaching, disciplining, and loving the children in the household 

The list could go on and on, and it is not so different from the lists many women today could make of their responsibilities as wives and mothers. The tasks may be overwhelming. They may seem tedious and exhausting. But they are never unimportant. 

Jesus' words to Martha should not be construed to mean that "women's work" should be ignored and left undone. That would be unrealistic. However, such work should never take the place of daily and intimate contact with the members of our families and the Lord of our lives.

HER PROMISE

Marta meets Jesus again in John 11 after the death of her brother, Lazarus. With characteristic forthrightness, she tells Jesus that if he had come earlier, Lazarus would not have died. Her statements open the way for Jesus to declare for all to hear including us today - that he alone is the resurrection and the life. If we believe in him, even if we die, we live. What a promise! What a comfort! Through Jesus, death no longer has any power over us.

Promises in Scripture

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

-JOHN 11:25-26

The saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

-1 CORINTHIANS 15:54-57

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

-1 PETER 1:3

HER LEGACY OF PRAYER

Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! -LUKE 10:40

REFLECT ON:

Luke 10:38-41

PRAISE GOD: For his patience

OFFER THANKS:

That God meets us where we are, rather than where we "should be."

CONFESS:

Any tendency to resent other women in your life.

ASK GOD:

For the grace to be completely honest with him.

Lift Your Heart: 

Martha took her complaint about her sister directly to Jesus. Is someone in your life causing you trouble - your daughter, mother, coworker, sister in faith, even a rival? Rather than expressing your grievance to anyone who will listen, take your complaint directly to God. Tell him everything that's bothering you. Ask him to give you understanding about how to respond to this person, even if it means that you, not she, are the one who needs to change.

Father, you know how difficult it is for me to relate to..... Please help me to know what you think of our difficulties. I ask you for the grace to let go of my own sense of hurt and grievance. If you want me to do anything at all to try to improve the situation, please make it clear to me. Help me to be sensitive and obedient to your guidance, I pray.

HELL & DEATH (Rev 1:18)

Min. Mimi 

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Seeking the Truth, let the Bible speak and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you 

END TIME SPIRITUAL AWAKENING.

¶ HELL & DEATH (Rev 1:18)

The word Hell didn’t exist before the 8th century. The NT describes the condition of the dead more than the OT. The words Sheol, Hades, Tartarus and Gehenna are used in reference to hell. (Deut 32:22 & Mat 5:22). 

• Sheol is the Hebrew word for  the place of the dead. It's used 65 times in the Bible. 3 times it referred to the pit. 31 times it referred to the grave and 31 times it referred to hell. 

• Hades is the Greek word for the unseen world. It's used 10 times for hell, and once for grave.

• Tartarus is the Greek word used once for the place of punishment for the most wicked angels in hell. (2Pet. 2:4)

• Gehenna is the Greek word

used 12 times in the NT for hell and the lake of fire. Gehenna in Hebrew is hinnom. It got it's origin from the valley of Hinnomis, outside the south walls of Jerusalem, where some Jews burned their children as an offering to the Ammonite god Molech. It had become a city garbage dump of animal carcasses where people burnt their trash. It has been burning since biblical times and the fire never went out. (Jer 7:31-33, 2Kin 16;3, 2Chro 28:1-3, Lev 18:21, 1Kin  11:5,7,33, Mark 9:43-48, Mat 5:22,29-30, 10:28, 18:9, 23:15,33, Luke 12:5, Jam 3:6).

Some Christians have falsely teach that sheol and hades only refer to the grave. This erroneous teaching leads to the denial of the existence of hell. The false doctrine of soul-sleep and others that teach the unconscious state of the dead before resurrection, spring from this error. 

Grave is a pit where lifeless dead bodies are deposited to corrupt and decay. It can be a hole in the ground, cave, specially prepared vault or other place used for internment. There is no consciousness of the lifeless body in the grave. Queber is the common Hebrew word for grave. In the OT it is used 64 times. 34 times it's used for the grave. 26 times it's used for sepulcher. 4 times it's used for the burying place. 5 times it's used for Kibroth-hattaavah, or graves of lust. (Job 33:22). 

¶ Difference between Sheol (Hell) and Queber (the Grave) as used in the OT

1. The Bible never said that the body goes to sheol. But 37 times the Bible speaks of the body going to queber. 

2. Sheol is never said to be located on the face of the earth. Queber is mentioned 32 times as being located on the earth.

3. An individual’s sheol is never mentioned. An individual’s  queber is mentioned 5 times

4. Man is never said to put anyone into sheol. Individuals are put into a queber by man 33 times.

5. Man is never said to have dug or fashioned a sheol. Man is said to have dug, or fashioned, a queber 6 times.

6. Man is never said to have touched sheol. Man touches, or can touch, a queber 5 times.

7. It is never said that man is able to possess sheol. Man is  able to possess a queber 7 times. 

8. Sheol is never used in plural form. Queber is used in the plural 29 times.

¶ Reference book: (Life and Death by Caleb J. Baker, Bible Institute Colportage Ass’n, 1941).

The above points clearly shows that sheol and queber do not mean the same thing in scripture. Queber is associated with words like quabar a verb meaning to bury or to be buried and Qeburah a noun meaning a grave or place of burial. Quabar and Qeburah shows the difference between Queber as the grave and a burial place and Sheol as hell. There is also Shah-ghath in the OT and  taphos, mnema, and 

mnemeion in the NT to mean grave, ditch, sepulcher, tomb, burial, burying place, destruction, pit, hole or a trap. (Psa 7:15, 16:10, 35:7, 49:9, 55:23, 94:13, Prov. 26:27).

Again the above points refutes the doctrine of soul-sleep, eradication of the soul, the universalism, Purgatory, No hell, Hell is not really that bad, a God of love and grace, Conditionalism and the annihilation of the lost. These are satanic doctrines to dishearten believers and blind the lost to the reality of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and subvert the truth of the immortality of the soul. The soul of man lives on and will always remain conscious after. (Phi 1:21-24, 2Cor 5:6-10)

• Hell is our righteous God's way of demanding absolute justice of the wicked. Hell is a spiritual realm located in the heart of the earth where the dead sinners soul and the wicked angels are thrown. Hell is pits of darkness, an underground location in lower part of the earth with continual terror. Going to hell is a choice not destiny. Souls in Hell are separation from God's kindness, mercy, grace, and goodness. Hell punishment is physical, mental, and emotional. 

Souls in hell are tormented day and night by unquenchable fire, burning, gnashing of teeth, melting away, weeping, chains of darkness, thirsty, covered by worms and maggots, pain, heat, bondage, cut in pieces, flogging, continuously awaiting judgment to the lake of fire. The Bible leads us to conclude that hell is real and even worse than we can imagine. Hell is different from the lake of fire. (Mat 12:40, 13:40-42, Mark 9:42-48, Luke 12:46, Eph 4:9, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Rev 20:10, 2Pt 2:4, Isa 14:4-20, 33:14, Eze 31:14,16,18, 32:18,21,24).

The Bible uses vivid, horrible, and fearsome language in descriptions of the punishment people will suffer in hell. Enough is revealed about hell so that every sane, right thinking person will keep out of that place. Those who protest the biblical doctrine of hell as being excessive betray their inadequate understanding of the gravity of sin against the purity of holiness of God. For sinners to be consigned to anything less than the horrors of eternal punishment would be a miscarriage of justice. Believing the truth about hell will motivates us to persuade people to be reconciled to God. (John 5:28-29, Mat 25:46).

The words hell, sheol, hades or gehenna do not simply refer to a grave. Heaven and hell are real and are sperated by a great fixed gulf preventing anyone on one side from going to the other side. The Bible clearly states that souls of the righteous and the wicked continue to exist in a conscious way after death. Both are alive spiritually and their experience in the intervening period is an anticipation of the different destinies that await them after resurrection and judgment. Abraham and Lazarus were not part of hell. The rich man's soul was in hell torment, but Lazarus and Abraham's souls were in paradise or Abraham’s bosom. 

Also, they were all conscious after death. Because there could not be a conversation between lifeless, decayed corpses if sheol/hades/hell is just a grave. (Luke 16:19-31). 

To those who argue that this is a parable Jesus Christ said that it did take place. Parable by definition is a true to life story used for illustration. Parables have meaning, and is a story that could have actually taken place whether it ever did or not. 

Souls in hell or heaven are aware of what is going on around them. They have memory, recognition, and able to speak there. (Mat 12:40, Psa 16:10, Acts 2:25-32, Isa 14:4-20). The souls of Samuel, Moses and Elijah were conscious and able to speak. (1Sam. 28:8,11-19, Mark 9:4). Jesus promised the thief immediate Paradise not future Paradise nor grave. (Luke 23:43). Jesus Christ's spirit after death was conscious and went to preach and freed captives from hell  prisons. (Eph 4:8-10, 1Pet 3:18-20, Acts 2:27, 31-32, Psa 16:10). Apostle John saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar in heaven speaking (Rev 6:9). Bible clearly states that death and Hell will empty the souls in them into the Lake of Fire. This tells us plainly that after death our lifeless body and the soul separate to different locations not together unconscious in the grave. (Rev 20:13-14).

Hell is different from the lake of fire where the fire is of burning sulfur and brimstone. It is the eternal condemnation of torment for the soul and the body of the wicked. It is a real place of outer darkness originally created by God for Satan and the angels that rebell against God. It's a place of unspeakable agony of an unrelenting eternal punishment for all souls and spirits who rejected Christ, both angelic and human. Every soul and spirit in hell will be thrown into the lake of fire as their final destination. The Lake of fire is bigger than Hell for both death and Hell will be cast there. (Rev 2:11, 19:20, 20:6,14, 10-15, 21:8, Mat 8:12, 10:28, 13:42, 25:30,41,46, 2Pet 2:17).

• Heaven, paradise, and  Abraham’s bosom are all in the presence of God. Jesus used the words Abraham’s bosom and paradise once as a synonym for heaven. Since the Cross, souls who die in Christ do not go to Hell, they go directly to the presence of God in paradise the 3rd heaven. It is a place of peace, rest, and joy. They join with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in consciousness awaiting judgment to their final destination the New Jerusalem.(Luke 16:19-31, 23:43, 2Cor 5:8, 12:2-4, Phi 1:23, Rev 2:7). 

• Death is a spiritual realm with an angel whose operation is due to the penalty of sin. It is the separation of man’s spirit from his body and separation of man from God. Death and Sheol/Hades/Hell are linked together at least 33 times in the Bible. Death shows the distinction between the body and the soul. Death and the grave claims the lifeless body of man and expose it to corruption and decay, while Sheol/Hades/Hell claims the soul for punishment after death. The grave represents the gates of hell. (Job 38:17, Psa 9:13, 16:8-11, 89:48, 107:18, Jer 2:6, 2Cor. 4:16, Acts 2:25-31).

¶ Death could be physical, spiritual and second death.

1. Spiritual death is death of the soul under the power of sin. It is being under the judgment and the condemnation of God. These are both living believers and unbelievers who are disconnected from God and grieving the Holy Spirit due to sin. It is the spiritual separation from Christ. (Gen 2:17, Rom 8:6, 6:23: Eph 2:1-3, Col 2:13 

2. Physical or Biological death 

 is the termination of life. It is the separation of the body from the soul or spirit. Agents of heaven and hell contend over the body then the soul is taken to heaven or hell temporary. (Psa 104:29, Eccl 12:7, Jude 1:9).

3. Second death is the eternal separation of a person from God. It is called the second death because is from the hell punishment to eternal severe pain. Anyone whose name is not in the book of life will face the second death. (Rev 21:8, 2:11, 20:6, 14-25)

To those who believe that God gives endless life even to the wicked should know that, the worms never dies and the fire never quenched both in hell and in the lake of fire. The objects that are being eaten by worms and consumed by fire are the souls of those who rebel against Christ. (Isa 66:24, Mat 10:28, Jam 4:12).

Esther - May Peace be upon Her

ESTHER

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HER NAME MAY DERIVE FROM

"Ishtar," the Babylonian Goddess of Love, or from the Persian Word for "Star" Her Hebrew Name, "Hadassah," Means "Myrtle"

HER CHARACTER:

An orphan in a foreign land, she was willing to conceal her Jewish identity in a bid for a pagan king's affection. Esther seemed willing to made moral compromises by sleeping with the king and then taking part in a wedding that would necessarily have required her to pay homage to foreign gods. Even so, she displayed great courage in the midst of a crisis. Prior to risking her life for her people, she humbled herself by fasting and then put her considerable beauty, social grace, and wisdom in the service of God's plan.

HER SORROW:

To learn that her husband, the king, had unwittingly placed her life and the life of her people in jeopardy

HER JOY:

To watch mourning turn to celebration once the Jews enjoyed relief from their enemies.

KEY SCRIPTURE:

Esther 1-10

HER LIFE AND TIMES

THE FESTIVAL OF PURIM:

When Haman threw the lot or the pur to discover what day would be the best day to annihilate the Jews in Xerxes' kingdom, he unwittingly established a festival called Purim, when, instead of annihilation, the Jews celebrated their deliverance. Esther and her cousin Mordecai jointly worked to overturn Haman's plot, and when they were successful, they sent out a proclamation to all the Jews living in Xerxes' kingdom to "celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration" (Esther 9.21-22).

Worship and fasting typically make up the first day of the festival. The entire book of Esther is read aloud, and the congregation responds with "Let his name be blotted out" each time Haman's name is read. The children in the group respond to Haman's name with noisemakers and rattles. On the second day of the feast, rejoicing and celebration break out. Food, music, dramas and plays, special songs, and recitals all add to the festive mood. People give gifts to each other and also make sure they don't forget to give gifts and food to the poor, as that was a special wish of Mordecai (Esther 9:22).

Like the Passover, the Feast of Purim celebrates divine deliverance. Saved from Pharaoh's rule and slavery in Egypt and delivered from the destruction planned by Haman, the Jews celebrated a deliverance that only God could have orchestrated. Previously doomed, they were now delivered. As believers, we too have something to celebrate. Instead of a Moses or an Esther, God sent his own Son to deliver us, saving us from the terrible destruction of sin and death. Surely, that's reason enough to celebrate!

HER PROMISE

God often uses the most unlikely characters to fulfill his purposes. He elevates a Jewish orphan to become queen of a great empire. Esther begins as a nobody and becomes a somebody, a woman who somewhat reluctantly risks her life to make a stand.

Again, God reveals his penchant for using the most unlikely, ordinary people to accomplish his divine purposes. But, you may wonder, could God ever use you to accomplish his purposes, with all your foibles and imperfections, your lack of talent or influence? Yes, he can! He isn't looking for people who are perfect or talented or influential. He is only looking for people who are willing.

Promises in Scripture

Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?

-ESTHER 4:14

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have -2 CORINTHIANS 8:12

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

-HEBREWS 12:1-2

HER LEGACY OF PRAYER

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?

-ESTHER 4:14

REFLECT ON:

Esther 5-8

PRAISE GOD:

That he turns the wisdom and the power of the world on its head, often using the most surprising tactics to accomplish his plan.

OFFER THANKS:

That God has an important purpose for your life. 

CONFESS:

Any tendency to view your life in isolation from God's people, to shrink back from some step of faith God may be calling you to take.

ASK GOD:

For the grace to act courageously and wisely.

Lift Your Heart:

Many Jewish girls celebrate the Feast of Purim by dressing up as Queen Esther. One way we can emulate her today is by fasting. Before Esther took action, she employed a time-honored spiritual discipline to expose her need before God. Fasting was a visible sign of her dependency and weakness, an eloquent form of begging God's help. This week, do a little eloquent begging yourself by choosing a day to fast. Perhaps you have a particular need or problem you would like to surrender to God. Tell God that you need him more than you need food, simply allow your weakness to emerge in his presence.

Lord, I need you so much more than food or water. Without your presence, your protection, your wisdom, your gift of faith, I would be lost. I'm hungry for you alone. Hear my prayer and give me everything I need to do your will. Use me in the church and in the world around me to accomplish your purposes.

TYPES OF PASTORS

12 TYPES OF PASTORS

As students of the Bible, we can see that there are at least 12 kinds of Pastors that are visible in the Church today. Though not a comprehensive list, but these twelve represent majority of Pastors leading Churches and ministries today. I hope we can individually find who we are among these twelve descriptions.

1. BUSINESSMEN PASTORS

(1 Timothy 6:35; Isaiah 56:10,11; 2:14).

Description: They are businessmen and women who see the ministry as avenue to make money. They function as the Chief Executive Officers of their Churches. The Church is run with business principles. Their major emphasis is money, finance, prosperity and how to make it. They are in absolute control of everything.

Basic Motive: Gain and profit. Their programmes are targeted at how much money is raised. They are using God’s name, the Church and the Bible to make money and enrich themselves.

Demerits: No sense of eternity, disciples and godliness. They breed Christians who are greedy of gain, profit-oriented, thieves and crooks. They engage in lying, fantastic promises and spurious prophesies. They apportion Church position to the highest bidder.

Way out: True repentance, freedom from financial lure and restoration of balanced truth to the church. Business Pastors have brought much bad image to the Church.

2. FUNKY PASTOR 

(2 Timothy 4:3, 4; Jeremiah 6:13)

Description: Worldly, carnal, ungodly Pastors who watered down the gospel to please people. They dress anyhow and they allow anything in the Church. They are immoral and sex-maniac who take advantage of people. Their messages are the Church liberty, ministry on the broadways, easy way to heaven and making you somebody in life.

Basic Motives: Keep the people happy. Don’t offend them by telling them the truth. They exert influence and power over people in order to get their money. Youth and young people enjoy these kinds of Pastors.

Demerit: No mention of sin, evil, hell or righteousness. Their focus is miracle, blessing and breakthroughs. Secular talk shows are allowed. Immorality, extra-marital affairs and pre-marital sex are overlooked all in the belief that God is a loving God. Funky pastors have brought much shame to the Pastoral ministry and their name.

Way Out: Genuine repentance and restitution, or else…

3. VOCATIONAL PASTORS

 (Ezekiel 34:2, 3)

Description: They are in the ministry, not as a result of God’s call, but by the call of men. They see pastoring as a hobby. They love the honour and respect being given to Pastors. Tribal sentiments, ethnic bias, connection to authority, wealth, status and oratory power are what was used to make them Pastors. Educational qualifications and greasing of palms also figure here.

Basic Motive: To rule over others and to be seen and respected by them. No vision, purpose and commission from the Lord. They therefore lord themselves over the people, using threats and position to oppress those who are genuinely called.

Demerits: They are not concerned with anyone or the Church once their position is secured. They lead Church backward through secular management systems. They don’t train, develop or empower anyone. The Church is always malnourished and spiritually weak under such Pastors. Their ministrations are always devoid of God’s power and their sermons always make people sick. Vocational or honorary Pastors have caused much havoc for the Church today.

Way Out: Seek the face of God as to His plan for your life, resignation and functioning where God wants you.

4. YESTERDAY’S PASTORS

Description: They are called by the Lord, but they are not in tune with the moves of God today. They are holy, godly and righteous but they are trapped in yesterday’s ways because they are ultra-conservative. Old tradition, dogma and doctrinal correctness is their forte. They spend only on their one gift to lead the Church, they detest learning and change.

Basic Motive: To survive and bring back old time religion. They are therefore prejudiced against growth, change and new strategies. They are good in hymnals, bell-ringing and order of service that has become routine and lifeless today. Their relational skills are weak and very low.

Demerits: Lack of vision, purpose and direction in the Church. The work is backward; they are confused because changes that have occurred have left them behind. They therefore experience crisis, breakaway, stagnation and backdoor losses.They do everything in the Church because they don’t trust anybody. They are skeptical of people and change. Pastors of yesterday usually don’t know the new moves of God for today; because they are too busy looking at yesterday.

Way Out: Change, personal growth, disabused mindset and new focus on the move of God today.

5. POLITICAL PASTORS

(Jeremiah 10:21; Jeremiah 23:11; Micah 3:11)

Description: They were once Servants of the Lord, but are now backslidden. They no longer have time to preach, pray, nourish people and prepare them for heaven. All their time is taken up with meetings upon meetings. They have become servants of the people. Bad friends, economic hardship and strange teachings have changed them.

Basic Motive: To make it, either by force or by fire. They therefore engage in Church politics. They become cunning, crafty, arm-twisting and they can speak from both sides of their mouth. Their strategic closeness to Church authority make them to determine the transfer, promotion, discipline and suspension of other Pastors that are many times better than them. Character assassination is their modus–operandi.

Demerits: Their Churches always suffer because they are not always around due to frequent meetings. They are spiritually dry, unable to get fresh insight from God and the Church suffers spiritually. They get involved in scandals which they use for their political manouvering to cover up. Political Pastors need to return back to the Lord, or else…

Way Out: Remember where you have fallen, repent and return back to the Lord. Stop Church politics and concentrate on the primary job of pastoring, leading, nourishing and preparing people for eternity.

6. OCCULTIC PASTORS

(Revelation 2:20,24: Revelation 3:9)

Description: These are the people who have no business being in the ministry, but they are there all the same. Some are former occult practitioners who claim to be born-again, while others are herbalists and magicians who decide to hood-wink people by modernizing as Pastors. They live double lives. They appear to eat at the Lord’s table but also deal with the devil in secret. They use means and demonic power to perform spurious miracles.

Basic Motives: Their motive is gain, power and control over people. They therefore use candles, coconut, incense, salt, sponge, soaps, special baths and native roots as “prayer support.” They engage in fake vision, false prophecy and spurious miracles. They read the sixth and seventh books of Moses. They are usually polygamous and womanizers.

Demerits: Using other means to ‘Jazz’ up the work so that crowds can come; people under bondage and oppression; making people, children of hell; immorality thrives; witchcraft and calamities in Churches; people dying and losing their destiny in such Churches. Oppressive air of bondage will be thick. No form of godly spirituality among the people. Occultic Pastors will always be exposed by their traits and they will lose their ministries sooner or later.

Way Out: True repentance and knowing the Lord afresh, turning away from company of Satan.

7. SHALLOW PASTORS 

(Zephaniah 3:4)

Description: These are proud, garrulous, self-centered and self-willed Pastors. They are islands; too busy to attend conferences or seminars or listen to anybody’s tape. They believe that everyone should learn from them but they cannot learn from others. Their anointing has grown to the extent that they don’t need to read the Bible everyday, have time of prayer and fast unto the Lord.

Basic Motives: Their motive is to succeed in ministry financially, materially and socially. They therefore spend Church money to buy expensive shoes, clothing, cars and properties. They have nothing to really give to people spiritually. They thrive on stories, noise, demonstrations, pushing people and mimicked styles and prophecies. Their sermon dwell on their worth, wealth and fame.

Demerits: People are fed half truths, lies, motivational talks. They are always on the move, have nothing really to share and give to the people. The people are therefore largely unsaved, carnal, sinful, ungodly and religious. They therefore move away to where the grass is green and the water is still. Shallow Pastors will always lose serious Christians to other Churches.

Way Out: Return to the Lord, load yourself and prepare to feed people with balanced diet of the Word.

8. MINISTRY PASTORS

Description: These are ministry-focused Pastors. They are committed to and consumed by the work of the ministry. In their order of priorities, ministry is number one and everything else takes secondary position. These Pastors neglect their families, children and personal lives in the name of doing ministry. Their children are wayward, bitter, uncatered for, angry and unconverted. Their wives are miserable, frustrated, neglected; feel cheated and lonely.

Basic Motives: To fulfill their ministry irrespective of anything or anybody. Their desire is to prove themselves and the readiness to neglect everything for the ministry. They move from crusade to revivals, from prayer mountains to special seminars. They are too spiritual to play, pray, enjoy and relax with their wives, children and family, because sinners are perishing. They are always in a hurry.

Demerits: They experience divorce, have wayward children, unsettled homes and unfulfilled ministry. Their wives become demonized or engage in extra–marital affairs due to frequent absence and lack of care. Pastors that give ministry the number one priority above their God, home and personal development will always experience crisis, breakaway and being forsaken by the Lord. Lack of peace, progress and tranquility, both in the Church and personal lives will always be the outcome of the mistake of putting ministry before God and your family. Ministry Pastors will always experience burn out and frustration in ministry.

Way Out: Return back to the Lord. Make your God and family as number one and two, and ministry as number three.

9. SICK PASTORS

(Revelation 3:14-19)

Description: physically okay but spiritually sick. Sick because they don’t know the Lord, they are sinful, ungodly, evil, immoral and wicked. Though they sometimes find themselves leading large congregations, yet, they preach the Jesus they have not met. They only use their spiritual activities to cover their spiritual nakedness.

Basic Motives: They don’t know why they are in the ministry. They want to be like others. They are copycats. They struggle with sin, evil and low self-image. They take out their anger, sin and frustration on the people. 

They are sick because they lack basic leadership skill. They are sick because they are not good examples and role model to follow. They are sick because they operate under curse and disobedience.

Demerits: Destroyed lives of people under them; carnal, covetous, stinginess, unforgiving spirit, and readiness to curse and destroy people who dare question their ungodly activities. They usually kill Churches and cause stagnation by making the saints to sin and backslide. Sick Pastors will always produce sick Churches that will find growth very difficult and stagnation very easy.

Way Out: Repent, seek the Lord, apologize and do a new work.

10. WOUNDED PASTORS

Description: They have experienced back-stabbing, disappointment and calamities in ministry. Their work has dealt them a hard blow. Through some mistakes and ignorance, they have been wounded in ministry. They are therefore bitter, sad, hurting and hateful in the ministry.

Basic Motive: Vengeance, retribution and survival. They have been wounded by sin, devil, people, partners, colleagues and members. Some have lost wives, husbands, children, name, properties and health in the course of doing ministry. Some have deep pain due to betrayal by mentors, leaders, associates and spouses. And the wound is fresh and new.

Demerits: Bleeding hearts, hurtful feelings, lack of trust, discouragements, frustration and quitting the ministry. They don’t help anybody in the ministry and they are always skeptical of people’s intentions. The unforgiveness in their hearts hinder the flow of God’s spirit in them. As long as you don’t allow the Lord to heal you, your Church will always suffer the hangover of your wounded heart.

Way Out: Release the past; handover your hurts unto the Lord and march on in faith. Forgive and forbear.

11. TECHNOLOGY PASTORS

Description: They are Pastors on the move, who are always on the fast lane of life. Moving from city to city, nation to nation, making money at the expense of the souls under them. They spend weeks away from the Church. They travel from place to place in the name of doing ministry while the Church at home is dying and scattering. They monitor by means of audio and video messages of sermons.

Basic Motive: Money, pleasure and properties. They use God to better their lot in life. Their living standard is above the income of their Church. They always travel for ministration and business deals. While traveling, they continue to monitor the Church through phone, emails, websites, phone-in-conference. They use these technologies to conduct services on Sunday and at vigils. In some cases, they stay permanently abroad and control the Church from there.

Demerits: Their associates are not trusted; they are given responsibilities without authority. The Church goes through turmoil, murmuring and lack of care, nurture and empowering. Such Pastors lose their Churches, their people and they eventually capitulate to the God of mammon, pleasure and fame. They lose their God and their ministry. 

God usually replace them with capable people who have a heart for things of eternal value.

Way Out: Genuine repentance, restoration and rediscovering the basic purpose of ministry.

12. GROWING PASTORS

Description: Very few, but these are Pastors after God’s heart. They are called and commissioned by the Lord. They pursue a god-given vision. They display high integrity, character, godliness and a heart for things of eternal value. They are not perfect, but growing everyday. They are balanced, learning, open to change and full of the Holy Spirit.

Basic Motive: They desire to make impact for God. They want to see lives,  families, nations and cities transformed for the Lord. They have no personal empire to build; rather they want to extend the frontiers of God’s kingdom throughout the whole world. They see ministry as opportunity to serve, help and empower others. They de-emphasize money, gain and pleasure.

Strengths: They invest in people; sharpen their leadership skills; maintain good relational skills; work over their weaknesses, build godly character; empower, equip and enable others to rise up to their highest potentials. They are not threatened by the gift of others. They speak the truth with grace and seek to disciple everyone for the Lord. They ensure that the Church is built on the truth, undiluted and balanced Word of God. They Pastor growing Churches where the people are genuine Christians that continually grow in the things of the Lord. They raise leaders and equip them to carry on the work of God.

Results: Good, great and growing Churches that will go on to affect things positively for God.

CONCLUSION:

From these descriptions of twelve kinds of pastors, you can see that only one can really lead the Church to true and sustainable growth. This is the reason why majority of our Churches are sick, stagnant, crisis–ridden and are dying today because they are being pastored by the wrong kind of pastors.

Where are you? You can repent and change today to be a growing Pastor in all ramifications so as to lead the Church according to Perfect Will of GOD. Ministry is never about any of us, we are too small, it is about JESUS CHRIST ALONE. Matthew 17:5. 

Peace and kindness

The Woman Who Lived a Sinful Life

The Woman Who Lived a Sinful Life

HER CHARACTER:

She was a notorious sinner, possibly a prostitute or adulteress. Rather than trying to defend what was indefensible in her life, she admitted her sin and made a spectacle of herself in a passionate display of love and gratitude.

HER SORROW:

That she had offended God so grievously.

HER JOY:

That Jesus forgave her sins and commended her for her great faith and love.

KEY SCRIPTURE:

Luke 7:36-50

HER LIFE AND TIMES

WASHING FEET

The scene in this story is one of about thirteen instances in which Scripture talks about washing one's feet. The sinful woman in this story did the act reserved for the lowest, most inexperienced servant of the household. 

Most people in Palestine wore sandals or went barefoot, so their feet were constantly dirty from the dust of the roads and fields. When they went into a house, they removed their sandals at the door. A good host or hostess made sure guests feet were washed as soon as they entered the home. A basin of cool water and a towel were the only equipment required. After walking on hot dusty roads, the foot washing provided not only clean feet for entering a home but also a refreshing start to a visit.

The fact that foot washing was a task reserved for the lowest servant in the household makes Jesus' act of washing the disciples' feet (John 13) all the more poignant. His simple act shocked them and showed them in the clearest way possible how to be a servant leader. Washing, Touching feet fouled by dust and grime. Kneeling before those who by right should kneel before him!

Not always so easy, is it? Those unpleasant, humble tasks that require little expertise and gain little notice. Scrubbing the kitchen floor at church. Washing the greasy hair of an elderly man who cannot do it for himself. Folding laundry. Tending sick children. What menial chore is on your list of things to do today? It's not the task itself that's important, it's what's in your heart while doing it. Will you accomplish it with thoughts that you were meant to do greater things? Or with a simple love for the one you serve?

HER PROMISE

Let's be honest. Many of us would respond to this sinful woman just as the Pharisee did. It's so easy to look more with judgement than love at people whose lives have been devastated by sin. But Jesus looked at her and at Simon and saw the same thing: their need for forgiveness. And he gave it freely. We don't know what Simon's response to Jesus was, but the woman's response is evident in her tears and kisses.

This story isn't included in Scripture just so we can see the forgiveness given to one sinful woman; it's included so we can know that no matter how sinful, how broken, how entrenched in error we might be, forgiveness is available if only we seek it in faith - he's promised. 

Promises in Scripture

For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

-PSALM 25:11

When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.

-PSALM 65:3

Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

-ACTS 10:43

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us.

-EPHESIANS 1:7-8

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.-COLOSSIANS 1:13-14

HER LEGACY OF PRAYER

Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.-LUKE 7:47

REFLECT ON:

Luke 7:36-50.

PRAISE GOD:

For the power of forgiveness in your own life.

OFFER THANKS:

That God is still ready to forgive you, no matter how frequently or how seriously you have sinned.

CONFESS:

Any self-righteousness that has crept into your life.

ASK GOD:

To protect you against pride, to enable you to see your sins and believe in his desire and power to forgive you.

Lift Your Heart

How long has it been since tears of repentance have washed your soul? Do you find it easier to linger over others' failings than your own? Harsh attitudes toward the notorious sins of others - even the sins of unprincipled politicians or insensitive husbands - will only dry up your love for God.

No matter how long it's been since you committed your life to God, pride has a way of creeping back in, locking you into a black and-white vision of the universe. Remember that the Pharisee was forgiven little, not because his sin was inconsequential but because his repentance was so small. This week, search your heart for any judgments, large or small, you have made against others. Make a list of people who you feel have wronged you. Release your judgments against them and ask God to bless them. Then tear up the sheet as a sign that you are repenting of the judgments you made. The next time you are tempted to judge someone, quickly repeat this exercise in your mind.

Lord, when others rejected me, you embraced me. What was untouchable in me you touched. Make me a woman who loves much, a woman who is not afraid to fall at your feet, bathing them with tears.