1. God is NOT in control of the world. This may surprise you, but think: why is there sooo much suffering if God is in control? How is God glorified when a little baby dies of hunger and war? Actually Satan is in control. Remember that Adam had control then gave it to Satan. That’s why we pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Matt 6:9-10 (NKJV)
And also,
We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
1 John 5:19 (NLT)
You’ll see that God can only take control over his people, and only as much as they let him.
And as for Job,
And he said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Job 1:21 (NKJV)
Job had ZERO idea about what was happening to him. Read and you’ll see that Satan struck him.
And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job 1:12 (NKJV)

2. NO ONE has an appointed ‘time’ to die. The Bible has a lot of info on things you can do to lengthen or shorten your lifespan. The Bible also says you die once, not that your death day is set in stone. Besides, as a true Christian, you don’t have to be afraid of death.
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation."
Psalms 91:14-16 (NKJV)

3. Believing in a God is not enough to make you a Christian. Just loving God is also not enough. Accepting Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is though.
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
James 2:19 (NKJV)

…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)

4. You’ll notice from no. 2 that being saved does not have anything to do with confessing and repenting of every single sin. In fact, all you need to do is confess Jesus AS LORD, not your sins.

5. Before you assume that Christianity and Islam are the same, you should know that both of them say totally different (the Bible and Qur'an). We can respect each other, live in peace and harmony, but it is wrong to believe that they are the same thing. They’re worlds apart...so make YOUR choice.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 (NLT)
It may sound narrow-minded, but it’s better to know the hard truth than having false comfort.

6. The same thing goes for Christians (in no. 4). You don’t have to admit to every single sin you’ve committed from this moment. Going to look for past sins is in fact, a VERY good way to condemn yourself. If a sin is nagging you, repent and be free, but if the devil tries to bring a past ancient sin, just thank God that Jesus blood is enough, and that his mercy NEVER goes out.
And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
Romans 5:16 (NKJV)
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV)

7. You can never atone for sin with good works. Not even lifetimes could cure your sin. That’s why you need Jesus.
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:23-26 (NKJV)

8. Worry, unbelief, fear and doubt are sins. This is why its RIDUCULOUS to say that if you don’t confess all your sins, you’ll go to hell. There are also sins of omission i.e.
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
James 4:17 (NLT)
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
Matt 6:25 (NKJV)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Tim 1:7 (NKJV)

9. Jesus was a very free, fun, agile, happy, easy-going person who knew how to party. So Jesus was NOT a stiff-neck who declared that everything good was sin. We should be like that, not forever—frowning and boring. We should be laughing and being active, not disruptive OR boring, in churches. We can have fun and still live holy. Also, being stiff—necked and following useless traditions is not holiness.
..., for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 (NKJV)

I would really like to hear people's thoughts.

10. "A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.”
Deut 22:5 (NKJV)
And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.
1 Tim 2:9 (NLT)
There are some very interesting controversies about these verses. Let’s break ‘em down:
a. Deut 22:5 (NKJV)—
• Who said trousers are only men’s clothing? The ONLY people that determine that are the CURRENT designers, who if you ask, they’ll probably say the clothes are unisex. Besides, trousers didn’t exist by this time. Men wore long flowing robes or gowns.
• The way the law works, you can’t obey one law; you MUST obey ALL of them. Let’s magnify:
"You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again.
"A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.
"If a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.
"When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it.
"You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.
"You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
"You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together.
"You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself.
Deut 22:4-12 (NKJV)
I’m not gonna talk about everything just that you’re breaking at LEAST 2 of these, one way or the other. And these are JUST a few. You have to obey ALL, and I mean ALLLL, from Genesis to Deuteronomy and any extras. You can see that it’s better for you to leave the law alone and turn to grace.
For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.
James 2:10 (NLT)
• If you’re a girl, you know what breezes do to skirts. So, is it more appropriate to let a breeze come along and involuntarily flaunt what you shouldn’t flaunt? Or is it better to wear loose fitting trousers which cover everything and don’t give room for exposure?
• There are good Christian Scotland men who wear kilts (‘skirts’) go and try to attack them.
• If you see a man wearing woman’s clothes, what comes to your mind? God didn’t want people giving a hint of homosexuality which is why he told them to stick to their own clothes. Just like tattoos, which aren’t a sin, but were used to worship ‘gods’ back then. It’s probably a GOOD idea not to get a tattoo anyway, FOR HEALTH REASONS.
It all boils down to the fact that some Christians should use their BRAINS, along with the BIBLE.
b. 1 Tim 2:9 (NLT)---
• God doesn’t mind anyone showing their inner beauty, just as long as you make sure that isn’t your sole objective. Read the story of David. He was ruddy (handsome) but God didn’t need his beauty. No offense, but there are in fact many people that NEED makeup. God likes weave-on, makeup and modest trousers.
• READ IN CONTEXT. If you read all of 1 Tim, you’ll gather that many of the women were misbehaving in this way. You’ll notice that Paul may have emphasized on something in one letter, but not so much in another.
But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'
Matt 18:16 (NKJV)
• Paul was particularly talking about dressing in a way that distracted others from the service, whether wearing too much or too little. And he was talking to CHRISTIANS. That’s why if an evident unbeliever enters a church, or even a Christian, you have no right to criticize their dressing. People learn.
• If you look at some versions, they say ‘clothes’. So it’s better for a woman to move around naked than wear good modest clothing? You decide.
• If a pastor and his wife are in tattered and ragged clothes, how does that speak of serving God?
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matt 6:33 (NKJV)

11. The whole point of this document: Use your brain to decipher things in the Bible; don’t just throw your mind away, although you may need to shut it down for a time. There’s a BIIIIG difference between faith and foolishness.

12. “Read as if you’ve never prayed and pray as if you’ve never read”. I have heard statements like this all over in 9ja. It would surprise you to know that this message is flawed, REALLY flawed. ‘Read as if you’ve never prayed’ shows you have no trust in God to help you, especially if you use most of the time not reading to study his Word. ‘…pray as if you’ve never read’ is also unbelief, because praying over and over for the same thing in this case is unbelief.
BOTTOM LINE: A better saying would be, “Read because you prayed and pray because you read”.

13. To enjoy life the way God intended, you put God first. Not second, not last, FIRST. It may surprise you, but you should put God before, yes BEFORE your studies. You should spend more, yes MORE time reading your Bible than your textbooks/other books. Don’t see God as a backup; see him as your FIRST choice. Believe me, when you do this, he WILL honor you.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matt 6:33 (NKJV)
Oh, how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditations.
I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep your precepts.
Psalms 119:97, 99-100 (NKJV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8 (NKJV)
But if you haven’t been spending time with God regularly before, don’t just start all at once. Gradually start spending more time in God’s Word and day after day, you can start increasing your time.
BTW— Most academics ONLY help you doing school, but learning about God lasts a lifetime.

14. ‘If you don’t have anything good to say, keep your mouth shut’. Paraphrasing of course, but at least this is a relevant and valid piece of advice. Whether saying something about Nigeria or your brother, learn to control your mouth. Continually insulting and complaining does not change anything.
But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
James 3:8-10 (NKJV)
This also includes backbiting, slandering, gossiping etc.

15. Read the book of James.

16. Read the book of Romans.

17. God is not going to kill anyone for you. He does not kill people. Imagine a child telling his loving parent to kill his brother. Even if the brother is rebellious, it is not going to happen. God wants everyone saved and none to perish. So drop your ‘fall and die’ and ‘Holy Ghost fire’. PS - The Holy Ghost fire supposed to fall on you, not burn other people.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Tim 2:3-4 (NKJV)

18. Just because someone says he/she had a vision doesn’t mean the person did. Just because someone says he/she saw hell doesn’t mean the person did. Don’t just believe everything you hear, check it against the infallible Word of God. Read the Bible for yourself.
19. In God’s kingdom, titles don’t mean a THING. So don’t follow someone because they have ‘Prophet’ or ‘Evangelist’. Indirectly you’re exalting yourself over Jesus if you add those titles to your name by yourself. Jesus had all those ministry gifts yet he did not place them on his name.
Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
John 13:16 (NKJV)
20. For the love of my hairbrush, don’t say ‘Journey Mercies’. What does that mean? Say ‘Have a safe trip’ instead.

21. You’ve seen people speaking in tongues? Don’t mock it. It probably looks hilarious to you, but it is one of the best ways to pray. Of course some people fake it, but it is truly meant to be of a Christian as a sign that you’ve been filled with the Holy Ghost.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:26 (NKJV)

22. Focus on the New Testament/NT; it’s addressed to the church. Leave the Old Testament/OT; it was for people living under the law. Read it, but don’t focus on it.

23. God is your Father, your Daddy. Most people see God as some kind of super being they have to pay homage to, and that they cannot really be on his level. That was somewhat how the OT was. But as a Christian, you should be more comfortable with calling and talking to God as your father. Tell him about that girl you like at school and ask how you can just be a good friend to her. Ask him for wisdom on how to construct a rhombus in Math class. Thank him for helping you on that Chemistry/Basic Science test. Come on, he’s your Dad (respect goes without saying, hopefully)!
…For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
Romans 8:15 (NKJV)
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
Gal 4:6-7 (NLT)

24. People see fornication as one of the most serious sins. Newsflash: God sees many more sins as more serious.
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him…
Prov 6:16 (NKJV)
There should be a Bible here, so check it. Fornication is not here. Let’s cut to the chase: God sees unbelief, slander, lying, un-forgiveness etc. as more serious than fornication. It is really SERIOUS, but don’t think it’s the only one.

25. What people tell you (boys): ‘avoid’ girls; fornication is evil, do NOT have a girlfriend cuz apparently it’s a sin, focus on your studies. Being a boy, I find this little quote very annoying. Except for the second statement, the rest are vague and even somewhat untrue. It’s like they’re telling you to quell all your hormones and replace your desire with reading books, and if you’re the kind of guy that doesn’t feed your eyes, you may even get more confused. To get a good explanation, buy and read Every Young Man’s Battle, but basically
a. Hang out with girls and see them as people and WONDERFUL creations of God and NOT as a collection of body parts
b. avoiding relationships in secondary school is VERRRY profitable but not a sin if you don’t
c. focus on your studies all right, but don’t somehow take it as a substitute because when you’re finished with school, the issues will come again
d. Flee from temptation, and don’t feed your eyes with ‘images’. I’m pretty sure you know what I’m talking about. Don’t even joke about porn.
e. God forgives, so if you’ve fallen, repent from your heart.
f. Try to buy the book above. Seriously, it’s a good book.
My final advice here (once again) would be to read the previously mentioned book, which you can get at Lokay Christian Bookstores (address below).
And as for girls,
a. Boys are REEEALY affected by what they see and are sexually stimulated with their eyes. REEALLY. Many of you may have no idea just how extreme it is. So avoid stimulating boys by what you wear.
b. You are a beautiful person and your body is a jewel. If you had a N5000000 jewel, you wouldn’t just show it all over the place. Treat your body the same way.
c. You have self-worth. God made you and he said so. So learn to be satisfied with who you are. Don’t be self-obsessed or discontent because you want a different body part, or change to a body part.
d. There are some crrrrreeepy boys around, but there are also still many decent ones.
e. Your clothing sends a message. You could be in school or an office reading this, so you probably don’t get to dress anyhow here, but outside your clothes and body language could be saying ‘COME GET ME WHILE I’M STILL HOT!’ to boys. Whether you mean it or not, it’s not profitable for you to do so. As a Christian, listen to the Holy Spirit inside you, and also use common sense to make sure that what you wear and the way you behave isn’t sending the wrong message.
f. Look for the book, ‘What guys see that girls don’t…or do they?’ at the same address. Really good book, trust me.
26. Read the New Testament. Again. Then again. (Not just 3 times of course.)
27. REAL witches probably aren’t the witches you hear about. If you fail in life, blaming your problems on witches, especially family member ‘witches’, is a cause of laziness, lack of responsibility, pride and ultimately, foolishness.
28. Fasting anyhow is also foolish. When you know why you’re fasting, it can be very powerful.
There is a lot more I would love to say, and I could go on and on and on and on…but I can’t type forever. Any questions, requests, thoughts or objections can be given here, at icyblaze16@yahoo.com, or at the Facebook page TAKING A CLOSER LOOK. Watch out for a Part 2!!!

good one, but #4 though, u seem to be misrepresenting something there, did you say salvation has nothing to do with repenting from a sinful lifestyle? I think you are trying to be logical and simplistic but you over shoot the goal.

interesting

Good point man. Let me clarify. We should not go and look for every little thing we have done wrong in an attempt to redeem ourselves. Instead we should focus on Jesus sacrifice and making him Lord of our lives. Once we do this everything should fall into place. Repentance from a sinful lifestyle is essential though, as it is a product of us being saved. So basically, our focus should be Jesus, not sins, and when we do that, we will be ale to deal with sin.

Thank you for your contribution!!