BELIEVERS DIGEST SERIES 3

BELIEVERS DIGEST (SERIES 3)
A PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL
“FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS AND THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.”
Believers’ Digest contains series of messages that can be copied
and use freely for edification of the body of Christ.
Email: info@cping.org; christianpubint@yahoo.com,
Tel: (+234)-8036121781; (+234)-08051109976).

3.1 GIVING TO GOD

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ecause you have not withheld from me your son, your only son, I will surely bless you” - Gen. 22:12-17.
It took Abraham 25 years after God called him out of his Father’s house into the ministry to get the promised child (Isaac) from God at the age of hundred. God tested Abraham by requesting for that child as an offering for sacrifice: to be slaughtered and burnt by fire. Abraham did not withhold his son from God; he rose up and went for the sacrifice. God, who would not accept human sacrifice, replaced Isaac with a ram. Then God re-affirmed his promise of blessing unto Abraham. Do you believe that if Abraham had indulged in an attitude of grumbling and complaining to God who gave the boy and who can take him back, he would have missed the promises of God? He would have failed to have his faith credited to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6).
What has God requested from you: your resignation from your lucrative job to take up the work of the ministry, the leaving behind of your beloved wife/husband and children to “a land that I will show you”, giving off your savings towards a particular family project as an offering to God? Donating your vehicle for the work of God? Or going into the Seminary as against your becoming a professional in the secular field? Whatever God’s request from you, He is putting you to a test to see if you really fear Him and ready for His promised blessings. God swore by Himself to Abraham to bless him because he acted promptly to His request.
Your prompt action of obedience to God’s leading in any area of your life is what God looks for in your giving to His cause. It is not a part but the whole of your giving that God wants. Abraham believed God to provide Himself a ram for the sacrifice as he was going to sacrifice his son; and God really did.
Whatever you are trusting God to do for you, as you promptly obey Him, be sure you will have it from Him. It is then you will know God as “the Lord that provides”. Jehovah Jireh.
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3.2 12-YEAR STOMACH ULCER CURED

PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF REV DAVID AREMU (cparemu@yahoo.com)
Founder of Christian publishing International, Nigeria.
I grew up to realize at the age of 11, that there was a kind of problem in my stomach that is symtomized by frequent hunger, spitting and scratching pain at the upper part of the stomach. All these happened concurrently. I would immediately look for something to eat as to calm me down only for sometimes. The sickness persisted despite all forms of medication from the hospital. I became a regular hospital attendant wherever I happened to be within two months. Valium had no more effect on me due to regular intake. By then, I come across drugs and I spent a lot on them. All to no avail.
At the age of 23, I got saved. God granted me the grace to grow in faith through His word. I held unto God’s word claiming that, “if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away” - II Corinthians 5:17. I held unto God’s word concerning my healing. I did not give up claiming and confessing God’s promises about my healing: “and with his stripes we are healed”. Several times the symptoms would strike for days but I kept speaking the word of faith and telling the devil that my body is the temple of God, Christ died for me on the cross, and that I have been healed through the stripes of Jesus. My confessions were backed up with prayers and fasting: a thing I never did before my conversion due to the attack of the ugly spirit of ulcer. By faith, I do engage myself in fasting. Jesus took part of the flesh and blood so that “through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” - Hebrews 2:14.
God strengthened me to overcome a problem known be to aggravated by hunger, through frequent fasting. The last time I purchased a drug in line with ulcer problem was before my conversion in 1995.
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3.3 THE UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE

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od instituted covenant of circumcision with Abraham by telling him to circumcise every male child who is eight days old. Not only born by him, but whosoever male living with him whether bought with his money or whatever. They all must be circumcised. “This is my covenant with you and your generation after you¡­ My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people, he has broken my covenant.” Abraham was commanded to keep this covenant and his descendants after him must do likewise, even generations to come (Genesis 17:1 - 14). It was at this time that God changed the name of Abram to Abraham (A father of many nations) and of Sarai to Sarah (the mother of nations). Abraham was ninety-nine(99) years old when he was circumcised along with Ismael (who was thirteen) and every other male in his household.
Circumcision is the cutting off of the male foreskin. It is to be done physically on the flesh using surgical knife. It brings out blood. It is a surgical procedure. It was a mark of consecration to the LORD. A covenant with blood. Moses failed to circumcise one of his sons and God wanted to kill him after he was called to speak before Pharaoh. His wife, who was the one opposing the boy’s circumcision, seeing that Moses’ life was in danger quickly performed the circumcision on the young son, and “the LORD let him alone”- (Ex. 4:21-26). Other nations also practiced circumcision, but not for the covenant reasons that God instituted with Abraham.
This fact of circumcision became a faith lifting inspiration to such a one that understand and recons with it at the time of battle with the uncircumcised enemies. God must arise to help fight the battle for he was held in honour: his people recognized him and affirms this covenant. Jonathan, the son of King Saul, said to his armor-bearer when he was about to attack the Philistines. “come let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows: Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf” - I Sam. 14:6 NIV. This is a statement of contempt which draws attention to Israel’s covenant relationship to the LORD, and by implication to the illegitimacy of the Philistine presence in the land. That battle was won that day. God fought for his covenant people.
David said of Goliath when he was boasting of his power and gods: “who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
David sees the issue clearly. This sets him apart from Saul the King of Israel and all the other Israelites on that battlefield. Goliath disdained David and took him for a dog chaser. But David continued to build upon faith in the LORD: “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, who, you have defile”- I Sam. 17:45. It was a double attack on Goliath: to classify him as uncircumcised Philistine and to tell him boldly that his (David’s) weapon of war is in the name of the LORD Almighty. Goliath had already been knocked down at that point. He only needed a slight physical touch which David did with his sling.
If physical circumcision is so powerful that it can be used as a foundation of attack in battle (offensive weapon), how much more powerful is the stand on circumcision by faith which is of the heart by the Spirit, and not by the law?
“For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the Glory of that which lasts” - II Cor. 3:10- 11.
The circumcision of our hearts by faith in Christ has superceded the circumcision by surgical knife through the law. The true sign of belonging to God is not an outward mark of circumcision on the physical body, but the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit within. Has your heart been circumcised by the Holy Spirit? Are you regenerated? Has your old life style passed away? Then you have a better stand of circumcision before the uncircumcised Philistines than David and Jonathan of old. If you have your stand of circumcision, the uncircumcised Philistines (the unbelievers) around you would have no ground to embarrass you and cause you to shake. Unless you don’t know your right or position, or you have not been regenerated, they cannot prevail against you. God will open your eyes to see and know your rights that is by faith in Christ Jesus, Amen.
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3.4 THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S

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he enemies of Israel usually come out in large numbers that the scripture always says “as numerous as the sand of the seashore”. The Philistines came against Israel with great number of Chariot and Charioteers while the Israelites hid themselves trembling without a single chariot! The Bible recorded that, “So it came to pass in the day of battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan” - I Sam. 13:22.
Jonathan summons courage in the Lord of Host, and called his armour - bearer to come up to battle against the uncircumcised Philistines for ¡°Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving whether by many or by few” - I Sam. 14:6. It was only Jonathan and that young man that attacked the Philistine and “panic struck the whole army,­ and the ground shook.” It was a panic sent by God: The Philistines struck each other with their swords and God granted victory to the Israelites.
At the battle between the Midianites and Gideon, God told Gideon to reduce the number of his fighting men “in order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her” - Judges 7:2. At that battle, only three hundred Soldiers of the Israelites army were used. They were blowing their trumpets and saying “the sword of the LORD, and of Gideon”. The host of Midianites that were “like grasshopper for multitude”. The Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow. That was how God granted victory to the Israelites. God fought the battle himself and not by the hands of men.
At the time of Joshua, it was by the shout of Victory that the wall of Jericho fell flat after the Israelites went round the city seven days as directed by God.
It was God who fought for Israel when five kings of the Amorites gathered their host against them. God cast down great stones from heaven upon the enemies. It was God who fought for Israel When King Ahab, who was wicked in the sight of God by setting up foreign gods, faced Benhadad the King of Aram. God fought for his people. The Bible recorded that, “the Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans convered the country side”. But the Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day. The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek, where the wall collapsed on twenty-seven thousand of them-I King 20:27-30.
The battle is not your, it is of the Lord God Almighty to fight. God said this concerning you, as he told the Israelites at the Red Sea: “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you: you need only to be still”- Exodus 14:13-14. That is the word of God to you: for whatever the battle that confronts you belong to the LORD to fight. You only need to tell God about it in earnest prayers. There is nothing physical you can do about those battles, they are to be fought Spiritually: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” - II Cor. 10:4. That is, your earnest prayer of faith has power through God to pull down strongholds of the enemy. The battle is not yours, but it is of the LORD: “if God is for us, who can be against us”- Rom. 8:31.

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3.5 THE COMMON SALVATION

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eloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation”- Jude 3.
The Collins English Dictionary defines common as something “Shared by or belonging to all, or to several”. Salvation is common: that is, it is the same for man or woman, rich or poor, white or black. Whoever that believes in Christ. Salvation is the same everywhere as water is available and is the same everywhere. Without water, there is no life. So also without salvation, there is no life beyond your living on this earth: “but he that believe not is condemned already” - John 3:18.
This common salvation is what Jesus is calling every man and woman into: “come to me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls” - Mattew. 11:28 AMP.
This is a call to rest from worries and cares of this world. A call into real joy, peace, happiness and victory. It is a call into a life of meaning; a break form a life of no purpose and direction. It is a call into a life of fulfillment. A call into miracle experiencing life. It is a call into a life of true prosperity. A prosperous man has all needs met - (Psalm 34:10). It is a life of separation from worldly influences, a call to be special for God’s use. It is a call to surrender to Christ everyday and to be obedient to His words- (John 14:15). Salvation is a call into a life eternal; away from the wrath of God and to reign with Christ forever. Salvation is happening everywhere, it is so common. It is that which brings joy into the presence of the angels of God in heaven -Luke 15:7.
As common as salvation in Christ is, DO YOU HAVE IT?
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3.6 THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD
God refuses to answer us many a times when we make requests because such a request may not be His will for us. A times if God permits such a request to be granted because of man’s persistence, it may be God answering permissively: something man gets out of God’s perfect will.
The Israelites lustfully asked for meat in the wilderness: “if only we had meat to eat! We remembered the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost¡­ But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!- Num.1: 4 - 5. They complained about the daily provision of manna. This grieved God. But God granted their request. God gave them quail in abundance for meat. But while they were enjoying their lustful desire, God plagued them: the meat came out of their nostrils as they ate. God granted the lustful desire permissively, and that became the source of their death.
Had not the Israelites livestock with them in abundance out of which they made sacrifices to God? Could not they slaughter some of them for meat? They must have been eating from their animals, but the lust of their hearts prompted them to provoke God concerning meat.
“There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it are the ways of death” - Prov. 16:25 AMP. If God allows your worldly lustful desire to come by, they may be snares unto you. Lustful desire can lead to Spiritual and physical deaths. “For if you lives according to (the dictates of) the flesh you will surely die. But if through the power of the (Holy) Spirit you are habitually putting to death-making extinct, deadening - the (evil) deeds prompted by the body, you shall (really and genuinely) live forever Rom. 8:13 AMP.
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3.7 THE BEARER OF GOD’S MESSAGE

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here are three categories of God’s messengers (The preachers). There are those that God actually called out of their people, out of their jobs, etc. to bear his message to his people. They are those that face hard times in the ministry but remain undaunted for they know that faithful is He who has called them. They always look ahead into the future for the work of God to progress in their hands. They have visions for God’s work. When you meet with such a preacher, you will know that God sent him. God’s word from such a one is always confirmed with signs following. They are ready to leave all and follow the cause of the gospel. Nothing can hinder them, Yea, they have the message.
The second categories of God’s messengers are those that the church, parents or friends called or appointed: “We have seen how God is using you; why don’t you go to the Seminary? We shall assist you”. The man immediately concluded that, “the voice of man is the voice of God”. These ones will carry on for sometimes and later remember the cucumbers and garlic they left behind for “this manna”. They will grumble at the slightest hardship that comes their way: Am I called into the ministry to suffer? What of my wife and Children? These groups of minister have no message because God did not call them; their preaching would not lead a heart to repentance. They are full of stories. They may not have any Personal encounter with God to convince the hearers. They take up a passage only to end up with their favourite messages of caring for the men of God. At times they manipulate the minds of their invited guest minister to preach for them to win the hearts of the congregation. The Savour is lost many a times from the ministry of such “men called ministers” of the gospel. Actually, they have no message.
The third group of God’s messengers are the self-called ones. This group has the conviction that they are capable of ministering God’s word. They are full of pride in their hearts and sees themselves as able men to dish out the unique message of God. Many gets into this group when their papers could not carry them further in education or some of them sees the ministry as a way of making it. Pride is the number one factor for their “self call” into the ministry. They do not give up easily but looks for strategies that will make them continue in the ministry. But any one who is filled with the spirit of God would discern that God has not actually called the so - called “Man of God”. Such a person can do better if he had remained under a preacher and occupies a place as a Sunday School or Bible Study Teacher. He will prefer to invite others to preach in his Church because it is obvious that he has no message. The oil of the anointing he came in with has dried up! Since God had not called him, how can He readily provide a fresh supply? He will be occupied with plans and strategies of how to run the ministry. Yea, there is no message. All is mechanical.
Now let us consider two men from the scripture: Ahimaaz and a Cushite - II Sam. 18:19-32. At the dead of Absalom the son of David who drove his father out of throne, Ahimaaz said to Joab the commander of the army, “Let me run and take the news to the King that the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies”. Joab said to him. “You are not the one to take the news today”. Then Joab said to a cushite, “Go, tell the King what you have seen”. The cushite ran off to deliver the message. Then Ahimaaz again pleaded to be sent: “please let me run behind the Cushite” Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward. Ahimaaz said, “Come what may, I want to run.” So Joab granted him his request. Ahimaaz out ran the cushite and came first to the King but he had no message according to the King’s demand. The King said to him, “stand aside and wait here”. He had no option than to stand aside because he has no message. The cushite that was actually sent came and reported to the King the victory over the enemies in line with the King’s demand. The King got the message clearly from the cushite and acted upon it but Ahimaaz was forgotten where he was told to stand.
The Church-called and self-called ministers are just like Ahimaaz. They can outrun the God-called ones but they have no message. They are full of noise and does things in haste in the ministry. They can make big posters about themselves, yet God has not called them. But the God-called ones will walk with God to work for God according to God’s order. They don’t make much noise and the message come from them with power because they are anointed for the errand.

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TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your comments for possible publication will inspire us to do more. Let us hear from you what the Lord is doing through our efforts.

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3.8 THE FOUNDATION THAT MATTERS
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herefore everyone who hears these words of mine and put them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the steams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who build his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the wind blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. When Jesus had finished saying these things the crowds were amazed at His teaching.”
- Mattew 7:24-28.
Every aspect of a man’s life has a foundation. The Church of God has a foundation; Jesus Christ. There is nothing on earth that has no foundation. The only thing is that there are always two types of foundations: the one on the solid rock and the other on sand. It is this teaching that Christ gave us in the above quoted scripture. The Bible concluded, “the crowds were amazed at his teaching”. The Crowds ought to consider and apply his teaching not only to be amazed. That is the problem with us. We know the teachings of Christ, we sing most of them in songs daily but we don’t consider and apply them. We would think we are building on the rock but behold, it is on the sand and later we would come up with strategies to make things work.
“If the foundation are destroyed, what can the (unyielding) righteous do, or what has he wrought or accomplished?” - Psalm 11:3 AMP. The problem with we children of God is that we always fall into problems because we do not consider and apply the teaching of Christ to build on Him (the solid rock), as our foundation. Why are many businesses, homes, even ministries in jeopardy? The answer is simple: they were not built on the rocky foundation; They were built on sand!
Can you consider how your marriage, business, ministry or church started? Was there any specific word from God backed up by the scripture in the beginning? Did you get into the ministry, marriage or whatever through another man or prophet’s vision? Is this the foundation upon which the building (marriage, business, ministry) was laid? If this foundation be destroyed at the beginning, what can you do; no matter how righteous you may be? Nothing. Because the foundation was broken from the very beginning; it was actually built on sand and not on a rock.
Do not be amazed at this teaching of Christ but consider your ways: have you built or are you trying to build your marriage foundation, etc on God’s revelation through prayer and scripture references? Know for sure that on whatever you build, the rain, stream and wind would come around to test it. It is the type of foundation it has that would determine its durability.
What of your call into the ministry or the take off of what you are doing at present for God? Remember that God is not a respecter of persons: Bishop and members are alike. Can you say God led you into it? How and on what foundation? The Psalmist says, “all the foundation of the earth are shaken” - 82:5. Does that include ministry task sent by God and with God’s approval? That depends on what foundation you have allowed the work of God to be built. If you fail, God is still God. The failure or success will only be with you, O man of God. The business you are pursuing or the one you are doing my brother or sister, is its foundation on the rock of God’s word? On honesty or fraud? How do you get the cash involved: loan from unholy sources or money through fraudulent practices? What of the car you have just bought or have been driving; how came the motor or its purchase? Are you encountering a problem about the vehicle? What was its foundation? Even the very food you eat with your family members, how did you come by it? What is the foundation of your income that you call blessing?
“If the foundation be shaken.” There would come a time for that foundation to be shaken, yea to be tried with rain, streams and winds: then what will become of you and your undertakings?
Do not be amazed at this message; Do not give credit to this writing. Consider your ways and apply the wisdom of God’s word to your undertakings. Always think and consider the foundation because it is the only thing that matters. There is nothing on the earth that has no foundation. Of what sort is that of your life or of your undertakings? Be the righteous that will always have an everlasting foundation (Prov. 10:25).
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3.9 WALKING WITH GOD AND WORKING FOR GOD
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nd Enoch walked with God.” - Gen. 5:22. The first man spoken of in the scripture that walked with God was Enoch: seventh generating from Adam. Adam and his succeeding five generations could not walk with God. They lived for so many years was the record against their names. It was in the seventh generation that we read of Enoch who walked with God. After him, two other generations passed before we read about Noah who also “was a just man and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God”- Gen. 6:9.
Walking with God is different from working for God. It is easier to work for God even if God has not called you. Many are working for God at least to safe others. And that is why their ministration never yield tangible fruit. They are full of work here and there in the service of God, but are actually doing nothing! No one can actually work for God without first walking with God. Walking with God makes you get acquainted with Him: you know who He is, what He likes and dislikes (His laws). You love and fear Him at the same time and you obey Him whole heatedly. That is the qualification for working for Him.
Paul entreated us in Romans 12:1 to first of all present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service. That is, it is unreasonable for you to be full of God’s service without first giving your life to God or first walk with God. The first qualification of Noah was that he was a just man and perfect in his generation, and walked with God. It was this stand he had with God that qualified him to work to save lives. All that were used by God or that worked for God in the scriptures were always found walking with God. They were chosen people due to what God saw in them.
Moses was chosen to work for God in bringing out the Israelites form Egypt because at first, Moses chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season” - Heb. 11:25. He refused to be identified with the Egyptians but with God’s people. If you are in close association with the Egyptians (un-regenerated), doing all that they love to do, you are not walking with God and so you cannot work for Him.
Whatever you do in the service of God without first giving your life to Him, you will only be found working for God and not walking with Him. It is our walking with God that qualifies us for His work and for heaven.
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3.10 BE A MARY
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esus visited Martha who has a sister called Mary. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet hearing His words. She was attentive to His teachings. But at the same time, Martha was busy in the kitchen preparing dishes to entertain Jesus. At a point, Martha could not bear the services alone and confronted Jesus to release Mary for an assistance. The unexpected answer came; “Martha, Martha¡­ you are worried and upset about many things; but only one things is needed, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” - Luke 10:38-42. What was it that Mary has chosen? To sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from Him. That is needed from us as children of God. All other activities that we do in church which takes greater part of our time are only worrying and upset about many things: going through rigorous practices of Songs and Drama, involving oneself in taking and counting offerings during services, cleaning and clearing of the church and its surrounding, etc. For “Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made”- Lk. 10:40 NIV.
The one thing that is needful must not be left out: sitting down and learning at the feet of Jesus. What profit is it for you to be so much involved in church activities and not able to get a message that will build you up, refresh, bless or set you free from bondage? Of what use are all your “Marthanistic” services? If you don’t get transformed at the end of a worship service, then all you have done to make that service a success is “Marthanism”. Do not be found entertaining people. Martha was said to be entertaining the Lord, and that is even better, but yet Jesus could not rate her action as “the one thing that is needful”.
Be a Mary; get settle to learn from Christ daily even in your home, apart from during services.
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3.11 RIGHT TIME FOR GOD’S BLESSING
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he Lord God assured the children of Israel that he would make them posses their land of promise only when their population was large enough to take possession of the land. The land they would posses is large and were occupies by their enemies. God said he would not drive out the enemies at once: “by little and little. I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased” - Ex. 23:30. This is to prevent wild animals from multiplying in the land and become another group of enemy. Their possessing the land shall be gradual until they were “mature” enough to possess it.
Coming to fulfillment of God’s blessing can take time. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it because it will surely come, it will not tarry” - Hab. 2:3. God knows the right (best) time you can handle what he has for you. A time you will be adequately fit and able to handle it. Be it position or possession, you need to be adequately mature (physically and spiritually) for it. Possessing something before God’s appointed time may cause envy against you which you may not be able to handle. Enemies can come up against you, and because you are not fully mature they may prevail. God’s design is to bring you up and make you possess your blessing little by little.
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3.12 GOD’S ANOINTED
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hy were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” - Num. 12:8.
Miriam and Aaron (the high priest), spoke against Moses for his marrying another woman probably after the death of his first wife. Miriam’s name coming first in the account suggests her being the principal actor or initiator of the arrogant challenge against Moses. Why could it be that it was on her, leprosy was found as a result of God’s judgment?
Whosoever that is truly called and anointed by God for service must not be spoken or acted against. This was the understanding David has when he was persuaded to kill Saul. He said. “The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed” - I Sam. 26:11. Remember that Saul was anointed by God as the king but because of his departure from God, he was later rejected. Yet, that did not give David a chance to act against Saul. As long as Saul was still living, David could not harm him despite Saul’s plot against him. The anointing and calling of God are irrevocable (Rom. 11:29). Despite Cain’s offence of murder against Abel, God still put a mark on him so that he who kill him will fall into judgment. There must have been a kind of anointing upon Cain.
Korah, Dathan and Abiran rose up in Number Ch. 16 and spoke against Moses and Aaron: “you have gone too far! The whole community is holy everyone of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then you set yourself above the Lord’s assembly?” Was it Moses that set up himself or Aaron had chosen himself for the service of leading and guiding the people? None of those men knew about God’s calling on Moses and on Aaron to be Moses’ spokes man. They never knew what sacrifice they made as to accept God’s call upon their lives.
Those that were called and anointed by God may not be recognized by men even in the church. But whether men recognizes them or not, God’s hand of anointing is surely seen in all they do. A doubter may later condemn himself. To this kind of anointed priest, you must be careful not to talk against them. Whether men accept them or not, God’s eyes are upon them until the fulfillment of their ministries.
Moses instigated the three rebels and their 250 men associates to act contrary to God’s order if they felt they can act for God. He told them to stand before God to burn incense: The service that belongs to Levites that fulfills certain fundamental regulations (Not all Levites can presumptuously burn incense). As stubborn as they were, they agreed to stand and burn incense before the Lord. God allowed the ground to swallow the three gang leaders and all that belonged to them. Their 250 men associate went ahead since they had put their hands unto the plow of destruction. As they were burning unauthorized incense before the Lord, God answered them with fire that consumed them. Fourteen thousand and seven hundred others died along with them by plague for grumbling against Moses and Aaron because of God’s judgment on those rebels.
God’s elects are not to be spoken against. Is it anyone that calls himself a prophet that is actually anointed by God? By their fruit you shall know them. What are their messages and what do they request from you? If they go against the law of God, no judgment shall come upon you if you go against them because such might not have been appointed by God. A true prophet of God should neither request for a personal gain nor for a sacrifice. He would fear God and honour Him, and teach people to do likewise. He is not a man-ordained prophet. Moses was God-ordained and so God acted immediately on his accusers as to prevent other people from falling into such an error. You will know God-ordained men by their works. Work along with them to get blessing rather than speaking against them and be condemned.

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3.13 THE BLESSING OF GOD
“I
f you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” - Deut. 28:1-2 NIV.
God’s blessing are not automatic you don’t just receive them freely as you wish, they can only be received when you fulfill the conditions attached to them. Yea, God’s blessings are conditional. The basic condition to receiving God’s blessings is to fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands. That means if you refuse to obey and follow God’s commands and decrees, instead of blessings, curses shall come up (Deut. 28:15).
There is no human love giving that is without a condition. Why do you love him or her? Answers can be different from one person to the other but at the end, there is always a condition: at least “God puts the love in my heart, and I felt led”. It is only the love of God towards us for our salvation that is not with a condition. “For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son” Why or for what purpose? “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” - John 3:16 “Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:10 NIV. Does that imply that the whole human race for which Christ died will be saved? No. It is only whosoever that believes in Him. Then salvation is not automatic, there is a condition to be fulfilled, and that is to BELIEVE IN CHRIST.
God admonished us in the book of Joshua 1:8 that the book of the law (the Bible) “shall not depart out of thy mouth: but thou shall meditate there in day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written there in: for then thou shall make they way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success.” Your having good success and prosperity are not just without a condition. It is your studying (reading) the word of God, and your obeying what God instructed. It is until after you have fulfilled this conditions that you will be prosperous and successful. Reading or hearing and obeying the word of God is the pre-requisite, the condition or rather the basic for receiving God’s blessings. You don’t just wake up and found yourself loaded with God’s blessing. You have to work for it, believe the word of God and act on it. It is your believing and acting upon God’s word that proves your obedience and brings you success and prosperity.
Jesus said to Peter after he had worked all night and caught no fish: “put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” - Luke 5:4 Peter replied: “Master we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” Peter wanted bountiful blessing and worked hard all the night: but behold he got nothing, Jesus then intervened and instructed him on what to do. Peter let down his net with obedience: “when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake”.
What was their fulfilled condition? When they HAD ACTED ACCORING TO Jesus’ command. They believed the word of Christ and they acted upon it. Remember, “for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”.
Have you ever tried reading through the whole Bible? How would you know what God wants you to do if you don’t read His word? Do not only listen to messages, but also sit down to read and meditate (consider) upon the word of God. Take delight in studying and obeying the word of God more than your daily duties. Job said, “I have treasured the word of His mouth more than my daily bread” - Job 23:12. Let the habit of reading your Bible and obeying its words take the best part of your life. Even the Psalmist says that blessed is the man/woman who takes delight in the law of the Lord to meditate day and night upon it. Such a person is likened to “a tree planted by rivers of water, that bringeth froth his fruit in his season: his leaf also shall not wither and whatever he doeth shall prosper” - Psalm 1:3.
Your diligence towards bible reading would make you familiar with the whole Bible. Do not just read the Bible here and there, but follow a specific order of reading and you will grow in your desire to know the word of God. Believe what you read, pray about it and obey all that it teaches and commands “For then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”
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3.14 CHOOSING FOR YOUR SELF?
L
ot chose his safety place of Zoar at the destruction of Sodom. The angel told him to “escape to the mountain”. But he preferred to escape to the city of Zoar. There was no time for the angel to argue with him so, he was allowed to have his way: To chose his own “safety place”. Lot was used to making his own choice. He chose Sodom at first when Abraham allowed him to make a choice of settlement (Gen. 13:7-13). Whenever Lot was given the privilege of making a choice, he always chose wrongly. His choice always ended in error. It was Sodom (and Gomorrah) that God rained fire and brimstone upon for destruction because of their evil/wicked acts. That was where Lot chose! His wife also perished with the destruction.
Later, Zoar was no longer conducive to Lot and his daughters so he made another choice, a cave in a mountain. They were there alone for a long time. The daughters concluded that there were no men on the earth again except their father and something must be done to preserve seed of their father (Gen. 19:32). Lot was intoxicated for two days. Each of the daughters had their father in succession (an abomination: a sin of incense - Lev. 18:6. These led to the generations of Moabites and the Amorites the enemies of Israel! Remember that Lot always make his choice, but none ever favoured him. How do you make your own choice?
KING DAVID: One of the characteristics of David was his enquiring first from the Lord before taking an action: “therefore David enquired of the Lord saying shall I go and smite these Philistines?” - I Sam. 23:2-4). Several times before David attacked his enemies, he asked for God’s direction. Even when deciding to settle in a place, God was not left out. “And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord: saying shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up and David said, whither shall I go up? And he said unto Hebron” - I Sam. 2:1. Not only to any of the cities of Judah but to the particular one God intended for him.
Where has God intended for you to settle? In the Urban or rural place? Your abiding in God’s choice for you is what shall bring you blessings. Making your own choice, no matter how bright or benefitial that may look like, shall doubtless result in your ruin. How do you choose (or are making a choice of) your wife or husband, work, location, Ministry, e.t.c.?
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3.15 OF TITHE AND OFFERING

“B
ring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saint the LORD of hosts” - Malachi 3:10-12.
It is a command for all children of God to bring into the Church (storehouse of God) their regular tithe and offerings. Tithe is not a matter of debate, it is one tenth of every calculable blessing a child of God receives. It may be on daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis depending on the type of blessing. If the blessing comes once in a year, then it would be yearly. But if it comes on daily or weekly basis as you do your businesses, your tithing would also be daily or weekly. Those of the salary earners would be monthly as they receive their payments. This is to let food be in the storehouse of God regularly. The important thing is to be faithful in tithing just as you are faithful and careful in removing the bile from
your slaughtered Fowl of Goat. You would not want to spoil your meat with the bitterness. Refusal to remove the WHOLE tithe from your income / blessing render ALL of your blessing to be affected with bitterness (Devourers). A little leaven that you refuse to remove would leaven the whole thing that you have. Your tithe is not to be used for any purpose than putting it in God’s storehouse as tithe: not as a special offering or harvest offering or whatever. It is not yours. You have no right to send it in fragment to places of your choice. This is an area where the devil gets most people who are even faithful in tithing.
Can Tithe be divided and given to men of God? NO. Tithe is not your own, you can only give that which belongs to you: “Now therefore perform the doing of it: that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that, which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not” - II Cor. 8:11-12. Except on very rare occasion by the leading of God, your tithe can be use otherwise. Do not let your mind lead you against God’s instruction. You can give gifts to men of God out of what belong to you, and not of tithe.
The first thing about Tithing is for you to remove the WHOLE, and not a part of it. If you like you may test God by putting in more than the actual tithe and paying everything as tithe. God says “Test me in this, and see”. It is fraud to pay less than the actual tithe. God says, “you rob me”. You say how? He says, “In tithes and offerings”.
Part tithing is no tithing. It is an ALL or NOTHING law. Paying part of tithe is just as not paying at all..
Secondly, you take the tithe to God’s storehouse. Where? The church of God. Which Church? The place where you receive God’s instruction. The Church to which you are identified: where you fellowship and receive God’s instruction and prayers. God says “into my storehouse” and not storehouses. Many put their tithes in storehouses. They divide the tithe into parts and pay it here and there. You are missing it. On very rare occasion would God accept that from you, yea by His leading. Normally, your regular tithing should be to your place of worship.
Can I send part of my tithe to the church in my Town so that I may have a good record at home? NO. There are worshippers in that Church of your Town, their responsibility is to pay their tithes into that church. Your responsibility is to tithe into the church in which you worship (in the Town where you live). But the Pastor of my Town do receive the tithe and prays for me. Yes, there is no man of God that would reject such an offer even if he knows it is your tithe. “Be very careful, then how you live not as unwise but as wise” - Eph. 5:15.
You are not a citizen of this earth to care so much (with your tithe) for the church of your Home Town. You are only a stranger and pilgrim on earth, your citizenship is not of this earth; you have a better country that is the heavenly one. Where you are today is where God designed you to be and therefore be faithful. Let the people in the church of your Town be faithful as well. You cannot give your tithe to another Ministry or Church in the town where you live either. It is for your church. You can only send gifts as offerings to these other places (including the Church of your town) and that is rewardable.
Your Tithe is your insurance-physically and Spiritually. Your tithe serves as a wall of protection around you. When your tithing is at fault, the wall gets crack-there is a broken hedge: “and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him” - Eccl. 10:8. God said and sealed it with an oath that if you test him by tithing faithfully, He will rebuke devourers for your sakes, that they shall not destroy the fruit of your labour, and your vine shall not cast her fruit before the time in the filed. Many of the problems people have are as a result of defrauding God in tithing: loss of money; attacks by the enemies or armed robbers, sicknesses, accidents (fire, motor, domestic, industrial or whatever type that takes away money (if not life) and leaves indelible marks), delay of blessings even of pregnancy, premature births and miscarriages (the vine casting off fruit before maturity), project uncompleted, and getting to a cross-road in life and not knowing where to turn. All these and many more devourers are allowed by God to afflict whosoever that defraud God in tithing. If only you can repent and pay your tithe regularly, God promised to “restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I send among you. And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God” - Joel 2:25-26.
OFFERINGS
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, where in have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings" - Malachi 3:8.
Not only in tithe can you rob God, but also in offerings. Offering is giving to God (through the Church or Ministry) out of what you have after tithing. It is usually a fragment of what remains. It is not calculable so you can give it freely as you wish. Only “Remember this: whoever, sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” - II Cor. 9:6-7 NIV.
Offerings are to be given cheerfully. May be that is why we give it along with singing and dancing. Offering is usually not announced. It is between the giver and God: “Do not be deceived God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” - Gal 6:7 NIV. The more offering you give, the more of blessing you shall receive.
There are different types of offerings: The first can be termed Regular Offering. This is the offerings we give in church regularly. It can be a fixed or unfixed amount. As you go to Church, you know you have to go with an amount of money for offering: “­and they shall not appear before the LORD empty. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee” - Deut. 16:16-17.
The second type of offering is spoken about in the book of Haggai Chp.1: “Go up to the mountain; and bring wood, and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified saith the LORD. Ye looked for much, and lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? Saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit” (8-10). An offering for specific work in the house of God; to build or equip, sending forth of Missionaries and Evangelist, Publishing God¡¯s Word, caring for the needy, etc. Such an offering has no fixed amount. You give it generously. When this kind of offering was not given at the time of prophet Haggai, God shut the heaven and there was no rain of blessing: “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye have not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm: and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes” vs. 6. God told them to consider their ways if only they will repent.
The third type of offering is a yearly offering. This is the type Elkanah and his household gave: “and this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto LORD of hosts in Shiloh” - I Sam. 1:3.
This can be Harvest offering, Christmas or New Year offering, Birthday offering, or offering for whatever you want to put in remembrance. All these will work together to make food available in the storehouse of God.
Offering is not compulsory; it should be done willingly. Not giving it, is robbing God.
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3.16 DO IT IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
“A
nd whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” - Col 3:17 NIV.
That is an injunction for us as Christians. The name JESUS is to set the tone for every thing a Christian does. What is it that you will do that JESUS would condemn? Or ask yourself: “This thing that I am doing, will Jesus give an approval of it? Can I say I am doing it in Jesus name?” Whatever a Christian does, it must be in line with what Jesus can approve. If you judge yourself rightly, God will not condemn you. But if your own heart or conscience condemns you, do away with such action. It becomes a sin unto you if you do it.
Always remember to ask yourself. “would Jesus approve this my action or doing?” Whatever you do in word or action, always do it in the name of the Lord.
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3.17 WRITE DOWN YOUR DREAMS

“D
aniel had a dream, and vision passed trough his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream” - Dan. 7:1
Writing down your dreams and vision is biblical. We were not told whether Joseph wrote than his dream or not; but we have the record of his dreams that came to pass. Joseph never forget his dreams for he lived a life of separation unto God. This was a basis for the fulfillment of his dreams.
We are told in Habakkuk 2:2-3 to “write the vision¡­ for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Joseph waited (even in prison) for a long time before the fulfillment of his dreams. Though the dreams tarried, yet it came to pass.
You are to form the habit of writing down your visions along with your prayers. God can give a revelation of that which is months or years ahead. Write it down and pray along. Write down the date as well. As the vision tarries, go through your Write-ups and pray, expecting God to bring about the fulfillment of the dreams. Surely it will come to pass. You need to keep watching to see to the fulfillment of the vision. Habakkuk stood to watch: “I will stand upon my watch; and sent me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me” - 2:1. Keep watching to see the fulfillment of the vision. That means to have no peace day and night, not to keep silent about the vision in your prayers.
Prophet Isaiah said: “And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” - Isaiah 62:7. That Jerusalem can be you. Till He makes you a praise on earth, do not be silent given God no rest.
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3.18 RESOLUTION OF HEART

“B
ut Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the Wine which he drank”- Dan. 1:8.
Daniel and three others were among the captives from Jerusalem to Babylon. Babylon was a land of idolatry and all other vices. These four Jews led by Daniel recognized that even though they were in strange country, they had to hold unto the God of heaven and not go against his law. They purposed to keep themselves pure from contaminations in their land of bondage. All others could not realize that along with Daniel and his colleagues. As soon as they made that resolution, God was standing by them to make sure that they were not put to shame. They requested for pulses (herbs and fruits, parched peas and lentils) and Water. At the end of their ten days trial on this diet, they were found to be fairer and fatter in flesh than all those who fed on the portion of the kings rich dishes. Not only that, God gave them knowledge and understanding to supercede their colleagues in learning and discernment: and they were ten times better than all the magicians in the land. The special blessing of God was there: He made the trivial and despicable things a great deal better than the highly rated thing of this world.
You are always in the midst of the society, the world. How do you present yourself? To go in line with them? Conforming to their standard - the King’s meat to the detriment of your spiritual relationship with God? “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approved what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will” - Rom. 12:2.
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3.19 WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD?

“I
f we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand o king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, o king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” - Daniel 3:17-18.
Shadrach, Meshaek and Abednego faced one of the trials of life - to deny their God. But they stood and hold unto their anchor - The Lord Almighty. They believed that the living God is able to save them: and if and only if God allowed them to be killed by the King in the blazing furnace, they believed they were still safe in the hands of God. In other word, dead or alive they have nothing to lose. No bowing to the King’s god.
Man is liable to be confronted at any point in time by circumstances of life. These are normal storms of life. Without such storms, man cannot live a genuine Christian life. Storms of life are normal and necessary. The only question is whether your anchor, your connection with God, will hold? There are drivers kinds of storm: denouncing your faith silently in your place of work or among friends? Denials of your body of some “essentials” of life? Storm of barrenness? Of financial hardship? Storm in the Ministry, in the home, of health, e.t.c.? Whatever it may be, do you still hold unto God as your Anchor? Your denial of God will make you sink down into the ocean of life. But your holding tenaciously by faith unto God through His words will keep you floating and make you triumph in the circumstances of life. People of God passes through the sea of life on dry land but when the faithless ones try to do the same; they were swallowed up (Heb. 11:29).
“Will you anchor hold in the storms of life? When the clouds unfold their wing of strive
When the strong tides lift, and the cable stain; Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul; Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.”
- A Song by Priscila Owens.
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3.20 DANGERS OF THE LAST DAYS

“N
ow the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” - I Tim. 4: 1-3.
There is nothing that begins without an end. Only God abides forever because He cannot die. He created a season and a time for every purpose under heaven (Eccl.3: 1). God does not make us ignorant of the dangers of the latter part of our existence here on earth. The earth itself is gradually rolling away, and those dangers foretold are revealing themselves. They are dangerous things, hence, the children of God need to guide against them. We need to be watchful as not to allow any of those dangers to render us unprofitable at the end of this world. The spirit of God speaks expressly to unfold these dangers as to enable us stand against them. You have to constantly examine yourself daily as not to fall into any of these dangers. One can lead to the other. Only be watchful.
THE DANGER OF BACKSLIDING:
“­ That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith.”
This points to backsliding by an individual. When you find it hard to pray even in the spirit, and it becomes uneasy for you to study the scriptures, then it has stated. It will grow to make you stay off God’s people and their gathering, and that would end in neglect of Christian duties. Your type of Christianity would be cherished by the people of the world. Jesus says, “If you were of the world, the world would love his own” - John 15:19. Has your experience of the in-burning and in-filling of the Holy spirit deteriorated? You always feel guilty when listening to the striking and challenging sermons (although you may not show it)? You see it unnecessary and a shame to tell others about Christ? May be you now faint and doubt God when praying. You could not help smiling at the performance of any unfruitful work of darkness instead of your rebuking them. You even lust for sins! Your case has grown wings and it is only the word of God that can unfold your situation to you. This is the time you need to amend-consider your ways and go back to your first love. That is the only solution for your condition. Take hold of your first love and be thou faithful unto death, then you will have your crown of life when you depart from this earth (Rev. 2:10).
GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS:
Seducing Spirits are the ungodly spirit that entices anyone into doing that which is contrary to God’s word. These are spirits of the devil. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false Prophets are gone out into the world” - I John 4:1. Do not be carried away by the sayings of the false Prophets; they are lead by the spirit of the devil. Try every spirit that ministers to you in the light of God’s word. “Believe not every spirit”. Follow not every pretender to the spirit of God. Seducing spirits attempt to imitate the divine spirit that gives beneficial messages and inspirations. By their fruits and utterances you will know them. Giving heed to seducing spirits (Prophets) is a danger. If you hold fast to the spirit of God and give no heed to the seducing spirits, not denying your faith, you will be an overcome in the end. (Rev. 2:17).
GIVING HEED TO THE DOCTRINES OF THE DEVIL:
Doctrines of the devil are false doctrine. Believers are to take care as not to give heed in what so ever way to the devils doctrine. So many of doctrines of the devil have filled the earth especially in the area of dressing. The devil is fast winning souls at this latter days than ever through different styles of dressing. Should you as a believer be without a difference from the people of the world? Can you evangelize people with whom you are dressing in the same worldly fashion? Would your dressing not be stumbling block to such a person as to accept the Gospel? You always claim that your conscience is clear at any discussion in line of dressing even if your dressing does not give glory to God. You have hardened your heart. Christian dressing should be with “modesty and appropriately and sensibly in seemly apparel” - I Tim. 2:9 AMP. This should be a kind of moderate or simple dressing. You may read the vanity of a person’s mind in the gaiety and gaudiness of his habit. Extra time and money is spent on hair making rather than on meditation over God’s words and praying. Hair is fast becoming idol to many. Any extra make-up of women is likely to result in Jezebel affairs - men seduction (Rev. 2:20). Women adornment should be of “the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price”- I Pet. 3:4. As many as have not the doctrine of the devil, and he that overcomes and kept the works of God unto the end, shall receive power to rule over nations (Rev. 2:24 - 28).
THE DANGER OF SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY:
At the rejection of God’s doctrine, God himself shall send unto men, strong delusion that they should believe a lie (II The. 2:11). It is what you believe that you shall speak. Lies are of the devil, for he is the father of lies (John 8:44). If there is backsliding from the heart, it becomes easy to believe lies. It is God’s word that puts light into man, but when such is rejected, the lies of the devil comes in and man would walk in darkness. Since you are no more in the light, you will keep speaking lies that you acquire through the wisdom of the world. You’ll show yourself to the world as a believer and you will make confessions as a child of God in the public but really within you, it’s a lie. Consequently you become hypocritical, putting up a face in voice, action of prayers etc. especially among the children of God. Your Hallelujah is always at the top of your voice; your Amen alone is supposed to wake up the dead assuming it is from a sacred mouth; you are always eager to pray in the public but in your closet 5 minutes is okay for you to pray. Your facial expressions are unnatural but you put up the face to impress people that you are spiritual. This is a danger; beware! Give not the devil the chance to deceive you. Stop deceiving your own self. You are promised a crown of life at the end if only you abide faithfully (Rev. 2:10).
THE DANGER OF HAVING THE CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON:
The danger of giving heed to the doctrines of the devil would make man to be perfectly lost to the very first principles of virtue and moral honesty. The heart becomes hardened and the conscience becomes seared, then there is a departure from the faith. When the conscience is seared, there is not any glory that God would receive from such a heart; for man would be vain in their imagination and their foolish heart, shall be darkened. Then God will give them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient since God is no more retained in their hearts (Rom. 1:21-28). This is a terrible danger. It starts when your zeal to study God’s word and to pray fails. It is a gradual process, stemmed from backsliding in the heart. The devil would make haste in giving you delusions (lies) which you will receive since the word of God has little or no place in your heart. The conscience is already seared. You no longer feel guilty of sin. You have to hold on to faith and a good conscience (I Tim. 1:19).
Those that put away a good conscience will soon make a shipwreck of their faith. Hold fast unto the sound doctrine of Christ with a good conscience which thou has, that no man take thy crown (Rev. 3:11 ¨C 13).
THE DANGER OF FORBIDDING TO MARRY:
God instituted marriage and he blessed it: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whore mongers and adulterers God will judge” - Heb. 13:4. Marriage is first ordained by God in the Garden of Eden. Marriage wasn’t planned by man from the beginning. Apostle Paul gives a sound teaching on marriage in I Cor. Chp.7. There in, he makes it clear that one can remain unmarried only if such a person has a proper gift of God, and it is good for them if only they can abide. But it is better to marry than to burn with passion. It is better to marry than to remain single and live with impure and lustful desires. Any doctrine that teaches Celibacy is not of God. It is a danger. Impure thoughts and secret sexual practices leads to hell. God instituted marriage, and it is a good thing: “whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord” - Prov.18: 12.
THE DANGER OF COMMANDING TO ABSTAIN FROM MEAT:
Under the law, there was a distinction between clean and unclean meat. All this is now taken away by the new covenant through the blood of Christ. We are to look upon our food as that which God has created and provided. We have it from him, and therefore must use it for him. We must not refuse the gift of God¡¯s bounty, nor be scrupulous in showing a difference where God has made none: but receive them and be thankful. God’s good creatures are then good and doubly sweet to us, when they are received with thanksgiving: “Every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused, if it be receive with thanksgiving”¯- I Tim.4:4. The blessing of God makes every creature nourishing to us, and therefore we need to sanctify the creatures we receive by prayer.
CONCLUSION:
Any preacher that puts the brethren in remembrance of these last days dangers shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine (I Tim. 4:6). Believers are apt to forget, and slow to learn and to remember the things of God. The best way for ministers to grow in knowledge and faith is to put the brethren in remembrance: while we teach others, we teach ourselves.
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These series of messages are published by the CHRISTIAN PULISHING INTENATIONAL,
JEBBA, NIGERIA. Christianpubint@yahoo.com;cpi2009@live.com.
Tel: +2348036121781, +2348051109976.
Believers’ Digest contains series of messages that can be copied
and used freely for edification of the body of Christ.


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