Monday, July 20, 2015
Friday, July 17, 2015
How can a Christian avoid falling into the trap of legalism?"
"What does the Bible say about legalism? How can a Christian avoid falling into the trap of legalism?"
The word “legalism” does not occur in the Bible. It is a term Christians use to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of rules and regulations for achieving both salvation and spiritual growth. Legalists believe in and demand a strict literal adherence to rules and regulations. Doctrinally, it is a position essentially opposed to grace. Those who hold a legalistic position often fail to see the real purpose for law, especially the purpose of the Old Testament law of Moses, which is to be our “schoolmaster” or “tutor” to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
Even true believers can be legalistic. We are instructed, rather, to be gracious to one another: “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters” (Romans 14:1). Sadly, there are those who feel so strongly about non-essential doctrines that they will run others out of their fellowship, not even allowing the expression of another viewpoint. That, too, is legalism. Many legalistic believers today make the error of demanding unqualified adherence to their own biblical interpretations and even to their own traditions. For example, there are those who feel that to be spiritual one must simply avoid tobacco, alcoholic beverages, dancing, movies, etc. The truth is that avoiding these things is no guarantee of spirituality.
The apostle Paul warns us of legalism in Colossians 2:20-23: “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” Legalists may appear to be righteous and spiritual, but legalism ultimately fails to accomplish God’s purposes because it is an outward performance instead of an inward change.
To avoid falling into the trap of legalism, we can start by holding fast to the words of the apostle John, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17) and remembering to be gracious, especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ. “Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4). “You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat” (Romans 14:10).
A word of caution is necessary here. While we need to be gracious to one another and tolerant of disagreement over disputable matters, we cannot accept heresy. We are exhorted to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3). If we remember these guidelines and apply them in love and mercy, we will be safe from both legalism and heresy. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Jesus loves you
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make?"
Question: "What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make?"
Answer:The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?
Common New Year’s resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily. These are all good goals to set. However,1 Timothy 4:8instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”John 15:5declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.
So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory.Psalm 37:5-6says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Lessons To Learn From The Life Of An Eagle. by stephen ponti
1.
Eagles fly alone at a high altitude and not with sparrows or mix with
other smaller birds. Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird
goes to the height of the eagle. Eagles fly with eagles. Never in a
flock. Even when Moses (Old Testament Bible) went to commune with God on
the mountain, he left the crowd at the foothills. Stay away from
sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly with eagles.
2. Eagles have strong vision, which focuses up to 5 kilometers from the air. When an eagle sites prey- even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.
3. Eagles do not eat dead things. He feeds on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well always.
4. The Eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wing of the storm, the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles, trouble, etc) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.
5. The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her.
Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground, then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough, and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment, then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her! Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.
6. Eagles prepare for training. When about to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach; the
male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff, then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns, and then flies back to pick rugs to put on the grass. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass and rugs and lays them on top of the thorns, then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly, the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest and because they are scared, they jump into the nest again.
Next, she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest, leaving the thorns bare. When the scared eaglets jump into the nest again, they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next, mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air.
As they shriek in fear, father eagle flies out and picks them up on his back before they fall, and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this new found knowledge that they can fly and not fall at such a fast rate.
The father and mother eagle supports them with their wings.
The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes;
The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners leads to success;
The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life, not progressing and not learning at all. The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow, get out of the nest and love on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns;
The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.
7. When the Eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out. We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives…
“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:” -Deuteronomy 32:11
2. Eagles have strong vision, which focuses up to 5 kilometers from the air. When an eagle sites prey- even a rodent from this distance, he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.
3. Eagles do not eat dead things. He feeds on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well always.
4. The Eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wing of the storm, the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles, trouble, etc) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.
5. The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her.
Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground, then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough, and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment, then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her! Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.
6. Eagles prepare for training. When about to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach; the
male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff, then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns, and then flies back to pick rugs to put on the grass. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass and rugs and lays them on top of the thorns, then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly, the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest and because they are scared, they jump into the nest again.
Next, she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest, leaving the thorns bare. When the scared eaglets jump into the nest again, they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next, mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air.
As they shriek in fear, father eagle flies out and picks them up on his back before they fall, and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this new found knowledge that they can fly and not fall at such a fast rate.
The father and mother eagle supports them with their wings.
The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes;
The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners leads to success;
The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life, not progressing and not learning at all. The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow, get out of the nest and love on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns;
The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.
7. When the Eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out. We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives…
“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:” -Deuteronomy 32:11
Saturday, October 4, 2014
A Voice in the Night
A Voice in the Night
Sit up!" The voice in the night said, "And take a deep breath."
"It was a stormy
night," a personal friend shared, "and we were awakened by an
extremely loud clap of thunder. After the initial fright, checking the kids and
the house, we went back to bed and to sleep.
"Then came the
voice. I was certain I heard someone speaking. "Sit up and take in a deep
breath," it said.
"I only half-awoke
and thought I must have been dreaming, so rolled over and went back to
sleep."
"The voice spoke
again with more insistence, 'Sit up and take in a deep breath."'
"This is
weird," I thought so again rolled over and went back to sleep.
"'SIT UP! Take in a deep breath!' the voice spoke
again with great urgency.
"So I sat up and
took in a deep breath ... and smelled smoke!" I was fully awake in an
instant ... awakened my husband ... rushed to wake the children ... we had the
oldest one phone 911 (for emergency) ... my husband took over the phone ... the
operator asked if the lights were working ... my husband said they were going
out one room at a time.
"Get OUT of the
house immediately," declared the operator. Your house has been struck by
lightning."
As quick as a flash the
family rushed outside ... immediately the house exploded and burst into flames.
It took firemen six hours to put the fire out. The house was totally destroyed
... but the entire family was saved. Talk about a wake-up call!
Surely this was a God
thing. Fortunately this family was committed followers of Jesus Christ and even
though they lost their house, their lives were saved.
God doesn't usually
speak to most of us with an audible voice. He doesn't have to because his
"wake-up call" is spoken to us repeatedly in his Word, the Bible.
"Wake up!" God says to every one of us, "Flee from the wrath to
come"1 (God's judgment of sin and evil for the world that has
turned from God will be judged and purified by fire). Wake up, "It is
appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment."2
Wake up, "I will come again," Jesus promised "to take all who
believe in me to be with me in heaven forever."3
"Wake up,"
Jesus is coming again ... it may be today. Are you ready? Again Jesus said,
"I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the
door, I will come in...."4
Whatever you do don't
miss God's wake-up call. Have you opened the door of life and invited Jesus,
the Son of God, to come into your heart and life as your God and your Saviour?
If not, may I urge you to do that today ... right now ... by praying a simple prayer
such as.
Dear
God, I hear your wake up call as faint as it may be. I confess that I am a
sinner and ask for your forgiveness. Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross
to pay the penalty for all my sins. I invite you to come into my heart and life
as my God and my Saviour. With your help I repent of and turn from my sinful
ways. Thank you for hearing my prayer, for forgiving me of my sins, and for
coming into my heart and life as my Saviour. Help me to live for you always in
all ways. Gratefully. In Jesus' name,
amen."
If
you prayed this prayer.
please let me know or you can send me a mail ajaloko4u@yahoo.com.
please let me know or you can send me a mail ajaloko4u@yahoo.com.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Message for The Day TIME TO USE YOUR AUTHORITY IS NOW
MESSAGE
TITLE: TIME TO USE YOUR AUTHORITY IS NOW
BIBLE READING: 1 Psalm 136
2 Exodus 14: 15-16.
INTRODUCTION
God gave Moses the order to use the
rod because it is time for the rod to work. God want you to use the authority
given to you so that you can part your red sea. Move forward is the command
from God. The problem with the children of God today is not prayer but they
have little faith.
They prayed, over-desperate prayers
but your faith is really low. God shouted on Moses; why he cried to Him, use
your rod!
Unbelief makes God angry, when you
receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour, Jesus gave you power to say
enough is enough.
The rod you have today is the name
of Jesus. As you command the red sea to part, they part in the name of Jesus.
POWER: The ability to
do something or act.
AUTHORITY: The power of God to settle issue, the right to control.
Some people do not know the power of God and authority they carry, that is why their neighbors or families push them around.
Command satan based on the authority given to us by God and not begging Him.
AUTHORITY: The power of God to settle issue, the right to control.
Some people do not know the power of God and authority they carry, that is why their neighbors or families push them around.
Command satan based on the authority given to us by God and not begging Him.
Why
does churches loses power and authority?.
This is because of sin,
disobedience, doubt.
There is mystery in the church which must not be contaminated. You can’t play with Satan and his toys and expect power and authority to remain. 2Timothy 3: 1-5:
There is mystery in the church which must not be contaminated. You can’t play with Satan and his toys and expect power and authority to remain. 2Timothy 3: 1-5:
In
other to work in the authority
Sanctify your life: read deeply of
the Apostle.
If you are not living right, the
demons will challenge you.
Disobedience to God has made man t
loose authority.
Stop Complaining and crying ; use
the authority and speak the world.
Jer. 1:10 – Wherever you find
yourself, you are expected to pull down destroy and to plant.
How
obedient are you to the command of God?
When God says do it, you submit to
His will, you’ll live above all odds, find power and authority in Him.
The authority given to you can turn
the kingdom of darkness upside down, it can turn it anywhere but you are not
using it.
What
to do to get back Authority
- Get born again
- Know your position in God
- Exercise the authority. Don’t keep the power, manifest it, exercise the authority.
PRAYER POINTS
- Fire of God, enter into my life, locate and destroy every darkness in my life.
- I take authority over every satanic power in my job, home and family in Jesus name.
- I take authority over every strongman of my father’s house.
- I take authority over every demonic failure in my life.
- I take authority over inherited problem in my life.
- I take authority over evil pattern of my father’s house.
- Every evil vow to reduce me to nothing backfire.
- Jesus, by your transforming power, move me from the back to the front.
- Blood of Jesus, weaken every power challenging the authority in my life.
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