calgaryFriend:

I am terribly disappointed with the kind of advise we have given this poster.
What is wrong with us Christians ? Why are we doing this to ourselves ?

If someone is dealing with issues of sexuality the first thing you ask is the age ?
If this man is a youth, apparently he needs to get married.
The bible tells us that in order for a man not to burn in lust, it did not say pray or fast.
It says to get his own wife..

We like to over spiritualise everything which isnt so good.

@op please look for a good woman to marry then you wont burn in lust again

2ndly if there is any christian sister on this platform please let me know or reach out to me via pm, I am looking for female christian sisters as friends.

You are mis-interpreting Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthian 7 where He encouraged people to get married instead of burning in sexual-lust however you fail to understand that it was only a *partly solution to sexual-lust*
Many married people are still sexually promiscuous till date in fact marriage is an umbrella for most people to express their sexual-lust.
Gomerh as a prostitute continued prostitution even after getting married to Hosea *the prophet of God*
(Hosea 1:2-11)

Any person who wants to stop sinning should go the throne of grace; the Cross of Calvary *to receive the GRACE-LIFE that Jesus Christ released upon every human being both born and unborn* when he expired/died thus "as many as received Him, who believed in his name, He gave power to become sons of God" (John 1:12)

"His name shall be called Jesus because He will *deliver* his brothers and sisters from *sin*" (Matthew 1:21)

Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore *He is able also to save them to the uttermost/completely that come unto God by him*, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to *those Jews which believed on him*, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 8:32 And *ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free*. 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, *Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin*. 8:35 And the *servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever*. 8:36 *If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.*

Great Grace Brethren!!!

Isaiah 30:19-26 Living Bible (TLB)
19 O my people in Jerusalem, you shall weep no more, for he will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. He will answer you. 20 *Though he give you the bread of adversity and water of affliction, yet he will be with you to teach you—with your own eyes you will see your Teacher(Jesus Christ Crucified)*. 21 And if you leave God’s paths and go astray, you will hear a voice behind you say, “No, this is the way; walk here.” 22 And you will destroy all your silver idols and gold images and cast them out like filthy things you hate to touch. “Ugh!” you’ll say to them. “Be gone!”

23 Then God will bless you with rain at planting time and with wonderful harvests and with ample pastures for your cows. 24 The oxen and young donkeys that till the ground will eat grain, its chaff blown away by the wind. 25 In that day when God steps in to destroy your enemies, he will give you streams of water flowing down each mountain and every hill. 26 The moon will be as bright as the sun, and the sunlight brighter than seven days! So it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people and to cure the wounds he gave them.

His Death and Resurrection: The Cross is carried by *those who have been condemned to die* under the *roman rule and empire*
Taking up one's cross as a Christian does not relate to the temptations, labours, trials, difficulties of our individual lives
rather
*accepting that you have died with Jesus Christ* inside his body on the tree of Calvary and have *received the new life of Christ Jesus Crucified* as a replacement of *our old-dead-self/flesh inside Christ on the Cross*
As long as we are Christians, there is only one Cross.
That Cross is the Cross upon which Christ Jesus died, paid the full prize of sin *once and forever* to the Father and gave out *a new life/flesh* which is his own to *anybody who will believe that what He did on Calvary is for him/her*
This new life was breathed-out on the tree of Calvary when He *expired*. It is this new life that tore the temple curtain from top to bottom, opened the tombs of the righteous who died before Jesus Crucifixion after his resurrection, went down to the unrighteous who died before His Crucifixion and were held down in the prison of Hades then proclaimed the gospel to them thereby setting the captives of the tyrant free, opened the grave on resurrection morning, revealed his resurrected being for forty days towards His disciples, ascended to the Father and pleaded for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church and continues to abide/manifest within the Church till date in each Christian even group of believers as He will continue till His second glorious coming.

Anybody who has not accepted what Jesus Christ Crucified did on the Cross of Calvary for *every human being both born and unborn* as the only means of salvation and is not *willing to receive the LIFE; He gave-out when He died on the Cross* is not a Christian and is not *carrying his/her Cross* no matter the amount of trials, difficulties, challenges, persecutions, sicknesses, diseases e.t.c he/she is facing currently.

Trials, tribulations, temptations and sicknesses can still affect any human being whether you are a Christian or not thus John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. *In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.*"
As a Christian when these issues come your way *submit to the NEW LIFE dwelling inside you now, He has overcome them before and He will continue to overcome them at his own time and method but those *issues are not cross or crosses* rather *they are temptations and tribulations*

There is only one-cross for Christians; the Cross of Jesus Christ which *defines our death inside the Crucified body of Jesus Christ and the replacement of our old-dead-self/flesh by His New Life* thus Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3:3 *For ye are dead*, and *your life is hid with Christ in God". 3:4 When *Christ, who is our life*, shall appear, then shall *ye also appear with him in glory*.

This is why any human being who claims to be a Christian cannot be producing any fruit that is *contrary to the lifestyle of Christ Jesus Crucified while he was inside his own mortal-body on earth* whether you are a baby Christian, growing Christian or adult Christian. Your babyhood *must* reflect the babyhood of Jesus Christ,
Growing Christian *must* reflect the growing phase of Christ and our adult Christian *must* reflect the adult phase of Christ Jesus Crucified.

Any gathering of human beings were the Cross, its meaning and effects as well as the encouragement to carry the Cross of Jesus Christ is not given *a major time-frame* is not a Christian gathering/fellowship/study/prayer/activity.

It is the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary for human beings to *atone for our sins*, destroy the old-body of sin, erase all the written ordinances standing contrary against us, defeat the demons and devil *permanently* as well as *replace our old-dead-flesh with his own new flesh* that makes *Jesus* different and unique from *all the prophets of old*, other religion and every other religious leader in this age and in the age to come. This is why Paul said I share the gospel in the language of the Holy Spirit so that I do not *reduce the efficacy/power of the Cross* 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, *lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.*
And
That all he wants to share with any group of human beings as long as the gospel is concerned is not just any type of Jesus (Miracle Jesus, Healing Jesus, Deliverance Jesus, Packaged Jesus e.t.c) but *Christ and Him Crucified*
1 Corinthians 2:2 For *I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified*.
It is the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ Crucified on the Cross of Calvary that brings about Salvation, Miracles, Deliverance, Healing, Prosperity, Holiness-as-a-consistent-lifestyle, Genuine-believers, Sound-teachers, Committed-brethren, generous-family, practical-loving/selfless-persons as a community of Jesus Christ followers
Thus Mark 16:20 "And they *went forth*, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and "confirming the word with signs following*. Amen.

Acts 4:33 And with *great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.* 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

When those who claim to be Christians stopped preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ death on the Cross of Calvary and His resurrection as *an incorruptible seed* then shifted towards human doctrines, leadership-tussle/politics, quest for arbitrary power/stage-drama, fame/popularity, preference-to-structural-buildings-over-human-souls, motivational-psychology, spiritualized-lust-for-money/mammon e.t.c;
The fruit of *genuine christianity* became rare however we thank God for His *current revival through the sudden upsurge of the gospel of Jesus Christ death on the Cross and His resurrection* in this our generation.
Great Grace Brethren!!!

ochibuogwu5:

You are mis-interpreting Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthian 7 where He encouraged people to get married instead of burning in sexual-lust however you fail to understand that it was only a *partly solution to sexual-lust*
Many married people are still sexually promiscuous till date in fact marriage is an umbrella for most people to express their sexual-lust.
Gomerh as a prostitute continued prostitution even after getting married to Hosea *the prophet of God*
(Hosea 1:2-11)

Any person who wants to stop sinning should go the throne of grace; the Cross of Calvary *to receive the GRACE-LIFE that Jesus Christ released upon every human being both born and unborn* when he expired/died thus "as many as received Him, who believed in his name, He gave power to become sons of God" (John 1:12)

"His name shall be called Jesus because He will *deliver* his brothers and sisters from *sin*" (Matthew 1:21)

Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore *He is able also to save them to the uttermost/completely that come unto God by him*, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to *those Jews which believed on him*, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 8:32 And *ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free*. 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, *Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin*. 8:35 And the *servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever*. 8:36 *If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.*

Great Grace Brethren!!!

You are the one that needs to wake up and stop using spirituality where you only need common sense.
This is the problem with majority of Africans, we tend to abuse everything.
Despite that I gave you a scriptural backing you still found a way to want to confuse yourself.
There is a reason why God gave us common sense and faith and prayers will never be a substitute for common sense.

A healthy fit man is having sexual urge and you are telling him to pray, when you are thirsty or hungry do you pray ? Dont you drink water ? Dont you eat food instead ?

You are mis-interpreting Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthian 7 where He encouraged people to get married instead of burning in sexual-lust however you fail to understand that it was only a *partly solution to sexual-lust*

And where did you get the heresy in the bolded frrom ?

You guys need to stop spreading false teaching and encourage the use of both the bible and the common sense cos there is a reason why God gave us one.

If a man is feeling sexual urge making him to want to release that urge through other means the right thing to do is to encourage him to marry according to the scripture... Which kind of prayer is he going to be praying , for God to take away his sexual urge ?

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
(1 John 2:6)

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

calgaryFriend:

You are the one that needs to wake up and stop using spirituality where you only need common sense.
This is the problem with majority of Africans, we tend to abuse everything.
Despite that I gave you a scriptural backing you still found a way to want to confuse yourself.
There is a reason why God gave us common sense and faith and prayers will never be a substitute for common sense.

A healthy fit man is having sexual urge and you are telling him to pray, when you are thirsty or hungry do you pray ? Dont you drink water ? Dont you eat food instead ?

You are mis-interpreting Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthian 7 where He encouraged people to get married instead of burning in sexual-lust however you fail to understand that it was only a *partly solution to sexual-lust*

And where did you get the heresy in the bolded frrom ?

You guys need to stop spreading false teaching and encourage the use of both the bible and the common sense cos there is a reason why God gave us one.

If a man is feeling sexual urge making him to want to release that urge through other means the right thing to do is to encourage him to marry according to the scripture... Which kind of prayer is he going to be praying , for God to take away his sexual urge ?

Please can you explain whether Christ Jesus Crucified was a man?
As a man did he have sexual urge?
How did he take care of his sexual urge?
The disciples who did not marry did they have sexual urge?
How did they take care of their sexual urge?
I will also want you to explain why I have met wedded persons with children who claim to be Christians yet into adultery, pornography and masturbation?

Please what is your *understanding of this teaching of Jesus Christ* Matthew 19:12 "For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." ?

Luke 3:8 *Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance*, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

If any human being receives Jesus Christ Crucified as a *seed* then Christ Jesus manifests *his lifestyle as 'a fruit' consistently* in him/her
Nobody can produce a fruit when he/she has not *received a seed*.
There is nobody who receives *a tomato seed and produces a guava-fruit*
"We are born-again by the *incorruptible seed* of the living word of God..." (1 Peter 1:23)

"Jesus Christ Crucified is the *only way*, the *only truth* and the *only life*, no human being can come to the Father *except through HIM"
(John 14:6)
Great Grace Brethren!!!

And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God’s set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul). Amen. (Acts 20:32 amp)

THANK YOU JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED; MY CONSISTENT AND PERMANENT INTERCESSOR!!!

Jesus Christ life inside us now which has replaced our old-dead/crucified-life/flesh prays consistently and permanently within our hearts and with our mouths were necessary.

Hebrews 7:23-25 Living Bible (TLB)
23 Under the old arrangement there had to be many priests so that when the older ones died off, the system could still be carried on by others who took their places.

24 But Jesus lives forever and continues to be a Priest so that no one else is needed. 25 He is able to save completely all who come to God through him. Since he will live forever, he will always be there to remind God that he has paid for their sins with his blood.

Hebrews 7:23-25 King James Version (KJV)
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Those born of the Spirit of Jesus Christ Crucified will continue to produce the fruits of Jesus *consciously or unconsciously* till eternity while those born of the flesh will continue to produce the fruits of the flesh *consciously or unconsciously* till they repent and believe in Jesus Christ Crucified or until their biological death (John 3:6)

Those seed that fell along the traveled road are the people who have heard the gospel; then the devil comes into their mind and carries away the message out of their hearts, that they may not believe (acknowledge Me as their Savior and devote themselves to Me) and be saved [here and hereafter]. (Luke 8:12)

And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50)

And those upon the rock [are the people] who, when they hear [the Word], receive and welcome it with joy; but these have no root. *They believe for a while*, and in *time of trial and temptation fall away (withdraw and stand aloof)*. (Luke 8:13)

If you/I die now;
Are my going to heaven or hell-fire?
Are you going to heaven or hell-fire?
If the trumpet of the arch-angels blows now;
Are my going to heaven or hell-fire?
Are you going to heaven or hell-fire?

If you/I are(am) not sure of eternal life (Heaven) through faith in Christ Jesus Crucified, you/I are(am) sure of hell-fire!!!

Believe in Jesus Christ Crucified as Our individual God, Savior and Redeemer is *the only certainty into the kingdom of Heaven*

Repent *now and believe in Jesus Christ Crucified on the Cross of Calvary to save every human being from sin, the flesh, evil-world-systems, death, demons and satan as well as replace our crucified flesh with the new flesh of Jesus Christ which manifests holiness as a lifestyle consistently till eternity* so that you/me will not say "Had I known" after *biological death or the archangel trumpet sound*

There is *Grace to believe in Jesus Christ Crucified inside every human being whether born into Christian-family or any other religion*

The new life in Christ Jesus Crucified also enables any human being to live a complete sane/fulfilled life in this world within any righteous business, career, vocations or engagements; the Holy Spirit leads you through in this earthly existence.

Let us use the grace of God actively working inside us now we are still breathing to believe in Jesus Christ Crucified now before it is too late not minding the persecutions, temptations, enjoyments, pleasures, miracles, favours, promotions and distractions in our earthly surroundings because there will be no opportunity for any excuse at-all!!!

1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Great Grace Brethren!!!

TGregg:
Greetings,.(Julivas).
It indeed has been a long time.
She is doing very well.
How's the family?
Hope you are doing well also.

Good evening bro. Please can i send a message to you? Thanks.

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that *we might live through him*.

1 John 4 Living Bible (TLB)
1 Dearly loved friends, don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around, 2 and the way to find out if their message is from the Holy Spirit is to ask: Does it really agree that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, actually became man with a human body? If so, then the message is from God. 3 If not, the message is not from God but from one who is against Christ, like the “Antichrist” you have heard about who is going to come, and his attitude of enmity against Christ is already abroad in the world.

4 Dear young friends, you belong to God and have already won your fight with those who are against Christ because there is someone in your hearts who is stronger than any evil teacher in this wicked world. 5 These men belong to this world, so, quite naturally, they are concerned about worldly affairs and the world pays attention to them. 6 But we are children of God; that is why only those who have walked and talked with God will listen to us. Others won’t. That is another way to know whether a message is really from God; for if it is, the world won’t listen to it.

7 Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. 8 But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God—for God is love.

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. 10 In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. 12 For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us, and his love within us grows ever stronger. 13 And he has put his own Holy Spirit into our hearts as a proof to us that we are living with him and he with us. 14 And furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now tell all the world that God sent his Son to be their Savior. 15 Anyone who believes and says that Jesus is the Son of God has God living in him, and he is living with God.

16 We know how much God loves us because we have felt his love and because we believe him when he tells us that he loves us dearly. God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him. 17 And as we live with Christ, our love grows more perfect and complete; so we will not be ashamed and embarrassed at the day of judgment, but can face him with confidence and joy because he loves us and we love him too.

18 We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. 19 So you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first.

20 If anyone says “I love God,” but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar; for if he doesn’t love his brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen? 21 And God himself has said that one must love not only God but his brother too.

Luke 10 Living Bible (TLB); DECEMBER 10TH
1 The Lord now chose seventy other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit later.

2 These were his instructions to them: “Plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers to help you, for the harvest is so plentiful and the workers so few. 3 Go now, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t take any money with you, or a beggar’s bag, or even an extra pair of shoes. And don’t waste time along the way.[a]

5 “Whenever you enter a home, give it your blessing. 6 If it is worthy of the blessing, the blessing will stand; if not, the blessing will return to you.

7 “When you enter a village, don’t shift around from home to home, but stay in one place, eating and drinking without question whatever is set before you. And don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, for the workman is worthy of his wages!

8-9 “If a town welcomes you, follow these two rules:

(1) Eat whatever is set before you.

(2) Heal the sick; and as you heal them, say, ‘The Kingdom of God is very near you now.’

10 “But if a town refuses you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom. Never forget how close you were to the Kingdom of God!’ 12 Even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a city on the Judgment Day. 13 What horrors await you, you cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did for you had been done in the cities of Tyre and Sidon,[b] their people would have sat in deep repentance long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 14 Yes, Tyre and Sidon will receive less punishment on the Judgment Day than you. 15 And you people of Capernaum, what shall I say about you? Will you be exalted to heaven? No, you shall be brought down to hell.”

16 Then he said to the disciples, “Those who welcome you are welcoming me. And those who reject you are rejecting me. And those who reject me are rejecting God who sent me.”

17 When the seventy disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Even the demons obey us when we use your name.”

18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning! 19 And I have given you authority over all the power of the Enemy, and to walk among serpents and scorpions and to crush them. Nothing shall injure you! 20 However, the important thing is not that demons obey you, but that your names are registered as citizens of heaven.”

21 Then he was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the intellectuals and worldly wise and for revealing them to those who are as trusting as little children.[c] Yes, thank you, Father, for that is the way you wanted it. 22 I am the Agent of my Father in everything; and no one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then, turning to the twelve disciples, he said quietly, “How privileged you are to see what you have seen. 24 Many a prophet and king of old has longed for these days, to see and hear what you have seen and heard!”

25 One day an expert on Moses’ laws came to test Jesus’ orthodoxy by asking him this question: “Teacher, what does a man need to do to live forever in heaven?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does Moses’ law say about it?”

27 “It says,” he replied, “that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.”

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you shall live!”

29 The man wanted to justify his lack of love for some kinds of people,[d] so he asked, “Which neighbors?”

30 Jesus replied with an illustration: “A Jew going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, and beat him up and left him lying half dead beside the road.

31 “By chance a Jewish priest came along; and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Jewish Temple-assistant[e] walked over and looked at him lying there, but then went on.

33 “But a despised Samaritan[f] came along, and when he saw him, he felt deep pity. 34 Kneeling beside him the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and walked along beside him till they came to an inn, where he nursed him through the night.[g] 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two twenty-dollar bills[h] and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the bandits’ victim?”

37 The man replied, “The one who showed him some pity.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem[i] they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. 39 Her sister Mary sat on the floor, listening to Jesus as he talked.

40 But Martha was the jittery type and was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing.

She came to Jesus and said, “Sir, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend,[j] you are so upset over all these details! 42 There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”

Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Ecclesiastes 11:8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Excerpts from *the pilgrims progress*:
Then I saw in my dream, that when they were got out of the wilderness, they presently saw a town before them, and the name of that town is Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept, called Vanity Fair. It is kept all the year long. It beareth the name of Vanity Fair, because the town where it is kept is lighter than vanity, Psa. 62:9; and also because all that is there sold, or that cometh thither, is vanity; as is the saying of the wise, “All that cometh is vanity.” Eccl. 11:8; see also 1:2-14; 2:11-17; Isa. 40:17. This fair is no new-erected business but a thing of ancient standing. I will show you the original of it. Almost five thousand years ago there were pilgrims walking to the Celestial City, as these two honest persons are: and Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion, with their companions, perceiving by the path that the pilgrims made, that their way to the city lay through this town of Vanity, they contrived here to set up a fair; a fair wherein should be sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last all the year long. Therefore, at this fair are all such merchandise sold as houses, lands, trades, places, honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures; and delights of all sorts, as harlots, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not. And moreover, at this fair there is at all times to be seen jugglings, cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every kind. Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, adulteries, false-swearers, and that of a blood-red color. And, as in other fairs of less moment, there are the several rows and streets under their proper names, where such and such wares are vended; so here, likewise, you have the proper places, rows, streets, (namely, countries and kingdoms,) where the wares of this fair are soonest to be found. Here is the Britain Row, the French Row, the Italian Row, the Spanish Row, the German Row, where several sorts of vanities are to be sold. But, as in other fairs, some one commodity is as the chief of all the fair; so the ware of Rome and her merchandise is greatly promoted in this fair; only our English nation, with some others, have taken a dislike thereat. Now, as I said, the way to the Celestial City lies just through this town, where this lusty fair is kept; and he that will go to the city, and yet not go through this town, “must needs go out of the world.” 1 Cor. 4:10. The Prince of princes himself, when here, went through this town to his own country, and that upon a fair-day too; yea, and, as I think, it was Beelzebub, the chief lord of this fair, that invited him to buy of his vanities, yea, would have made him lord of the fair, would he but have done him reverence as he went through the town. Yea, because he was such a person of honor, Beelzebub had him from street to street, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a little time, that he might, if possible, allure that blessed One to cheapen and buy some of his vanities; but he had no mind to the merchandise, and therefore left the town, without laying out so much as one farthing upon these vanities. Matt. 4:8,9; Luke 4:5-7. This fair, therefore, is an ancient thing, of long standing, and a very great fair. Now, these pilgrims, as I said, must needs go through this fair. Well, so they did; but behold, even as they entered into the fair, all the people in the fair were moved; and the town itself, as it were, in a hubbub about them, and that for several reasons: for, First, The Pilgrims were clothed with such kind of raiment as was diverse from the raiment of any that traded in that fair. The people, therefore, of the fair made a great gazing upon them: some said they were fools; 1 Cor. 4:9,10; some, they were bedlams; and some, they were outlandish men. Secondly, And as they wondered at their apparel, so they did likewise at their speech; for few could understand what they said. They naturally spoke the language of Canaan; but they that kept the fair were the men of this world: so that from one end of the fair to the other, they seemed barbarians each to the other. 1 Cor. 2:7,8. Thirdly, But that which did not a little amuse the merchandisers was, that these pilgrims set very light by all their wares. They cared not so much as to look upon them; and if they called upon them to buy, they would put their fingers in their ears, and cry, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity,” Psa. 119:37, and look upward, signifying that their trade and traffic was in heaven. Phil. 3: 20,21. One chanced, mockingly, beholding the carriage of the men, to say unto them, “What will ye buy?” But they, looking gravely upon him, said, “We buy the truth.” Prov. 23:23. At that there was an occasion taken to despise the men the more; some mocking, some taunting, some speaking reproachfully, and some calling upon others to smite them. At last, things came to an hubbub and great stir in the fair, insomuch that all order was confounded. Now was word presently brought to the great one of the fair, who quickly came down, and deputed some of his most trusty friends to take those men into examination about whom the fair was almost overturned. So the men were brought to examination; and they that sat upon them asked them whence they came, whither they went, and what they did there in such an unusual garb. The men told them they were pilgrims and strangers in the world, and that they were going to their own country, which was the heavenly Jerusalem, Heb. 11:13-16; and that they had given no occasion to the men of the town, nor yet to the merchandisrs, thus to abuse them, and to let them in their journey, except it was for that, when one asked them what they would buy, they said they would buy the truth.

Luke 11 Living Bible (TLB); 11TH DECEMBER:
1 Once when Jesus had been out praying, one of his disciples came to him as he finished and said, “Lord, teach us a prayer to recite[a] just as John taught one to his disciples.”
2 And this is the prayer he taught them: “Father, may your name be honored for its holiness; send your Kingdom soon. 3 Give us our food day by day. 4 And forgive our sins—for we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And don’t allow us to be tempted.”
5-6 Then, teaching them more about prayer,[b] he used this illustration: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would shout up to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I’ve nothing to give him to eat.’ 7 He would call down from his bedroom, ‘Please don’t ask me to get up. The door is locked for the night and we are all in bed. I just can’t help you this time.’
8 “But I’ll tell you this—though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you everything you want—just because of your persistence. 9 And so it is with prayer—keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep on finding; knock and the door will be opened. 10 Everyone who asks, receives; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
11 “You men who are fathers—if your boy asks for bread, do you give him a stone? If he asks for fish, do you give him a snake? 12 If he asks for an egg, do you give him a scorpion? Of course not![c]
13 “And if even sinful persons like yourselves give children what they need, don’t you realize that your heavenly Father will do at least as much, and give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for him?”
14 Once, when Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, his voice returned to him. The crowd was excited and enthusiastic, 15 but some said, “No wonder he can cast them out. He gets his power from Satan,[d] the king of demons!” 16 Others asked for something to happen in the sky to prove his claim of being the Messiah.[e]
17 He knew the thoughts of each of them, so he said, “Any kingdom filled with civil war is doomed; so is a home filled with argument and strife. 18 Therefore, if what you say is true, that Satan is fighting against himself by empowering me to cast out his demons, how can his kingdom survive? 19 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own followers? For they cast out demons! Do you think this proves they are possessed by Satan? Ask them if you are right! 20 But if I am casting out demons because of power from God, it proves that the Kingdom of God has arrived.
21 “For when Satan,[f] strong and fully armed, guards his palace, it is safe— 22 until someone stronger and better armed attacks and overcomes him and strips him of his weapons and carries off his belongings.
23 “Anyone who is not for me is against me; if he isn’t helping me, he is hurting my cause.
24 “When a demon is cast out of a man, it goes to the deserts, searching there for rest; but finding none, it returns to the person it left, 25 and finds that its former home is all swept and clean.[g] 26 Then it goes and gets seven other demons more evil than itself, and they all enter the man. And so the poor fellow is seven times[h] worse off than he was before.”
27 As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that gave you suck!”
28 He replied, “Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”
29-30 As the crowd pressed in upon him, he preached them this sermon: “These are evil times, with evil people. They keep asking for some strange happening in the skies to prove I am the Messiah,[i] but the only proof I will give them is a miracle like that of Jonah, whose experiences proved to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. My similar experience will prove that God has sent me to these people.
31 “And at the Judgment Day the queen of Sheba[j] shall arise and point her finger at this generation, condemning it, for she went on a long, hard journey to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; but one far greater than Solomon is here and few pay any attention.
32 “The men of Nineveh, too, shall arise and condemn this nation, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and someone far greater than Jonah is here, but this nation won’t listen.[k]
33 “No one lights a lamp and hides it! Instead, he puts it on a lampstand to give light to all who enter the room. 34 Your eyes light up your inward being. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. A lustful eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. 35 So watch out that the sunshine isn’t blotted out. 36 If you are filled with light within, with no dark corners, then your face will be radiant too, as though a floodlight is beamed upon you.”
37-38 As he was speaking, one of the Pharisees asked him home for a meal. When Jesus arrived, he sat down to eat without first performing the ceremonial washing required by Jewish custom. This greatly surprised his host.
39 Then Jesus said to him, “You Pharisees wash the outside, but inside you are still dirty—full of greed and wickedness! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 Purity is best demonstrated by generosity.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For though you are careful to tithe even the smallest part of your income, you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave these other things undone.
43 “Woe to you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets! 44 Yes, awesome judgment is awaiting you. For you are like hidden graves in a field. Men go by you with no knowledge of the corruption they are passing.”
45 “Sir,” said an expert in religious law who was standing there, “you have insulted my profession, too, in what you just said.”
46 “Yes,” said Jesus, “the same horrors await you! For you crush men beneath impossible religious demands—demands that you yourselves would never think of trying to keep. 47 Woe to you! For you are exactly like your ancestors who killed the prophets long ago. 48 Murderers! You agree with your fathers that what they did was right—you would have done the same yourselves.
49 “This is what God says about you: ‘I will send prophets and apostles to you, and you will kill some of them and chase away the others.’
50 “And you of this generation will be held responsible for the murder of God’s servants from the founding of the world— 51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will surely be charged against you.
52 “Woe to you experts in religion! For you hide the truth from the people. You won’t accept it for yourselves, and you prevent others from having a chance to believe it.”
53-54 The Pharisees and legal experts were furious; and from that time on they plied him fiercely with a host of questions, trying to trap him into saying something for which they could have him arrested.

TGregg:
Greetings,
(Julivas).
It indeed has been a long time.
She is doing very well.
How's the family?
Hope you are doing well also.

Good morning bro. Let us talk man to man bro.

Luke 12 Amplified Bible (AMP) for 12th December:
God Knows and Cares
1 In the meantime, after so many thousands of the people had gathered that they were stepping on one another, Jesus began speaking first of all to His disciples, “Be continually on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees [that is, their pervasive, corrupting influence and teaching], which is hypocrisy [producing self-righteousness]. 2 But there is nothing [so carefully] concealed that it will not be revealed, nor so hidden that it will not be made known. 3 For that reason, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.

4 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will point out to you whom you should fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority and power to hurl [you] into hell; yes, I say to you, [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Yet not one of them has [ever] been forgotten in the presence of God. 7 Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are far more valuable than many sparrows.

8 “I say to you, whoever declares openly and confesses Me before men [speaking freely of Me as his Lord], the Son of Man also will declare openly and confess him [as one of His own] before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit [that is, whoever intentionally discredits the Holy Spirit by attributing the authenticating miracles done by Me to Satan], it will not be forgiven him [for him there is no forgiveness]. 11 When they bring you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be worried about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Covetousness Denounced
13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or an arbitrator over [the two of] you?” 15 Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.”

Parable of the Wealthy Fool
16 Then He told them a parable, saying, “There was a rich man whose land was very fertile and productive. 17 And he began thinking to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place [large enough in which] to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my storehouses and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things stored up, [enough] for many years; rest and relax, eat, drink and be merry (celebrate continually).”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own all the things you have prepared?’ 21 So it is for the one who continues to store up and hoard possessions for himself, and is not rich [in his relationship] toward God.”

22 Jesus said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; or about your body, as to what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the crop]; they have no storehouse or barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add one hour to his life’s span? 26 So if you are not even able to do a very little thing [such as that], why are you worried about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies and wildflowers, how they grow [in the open field]. They neither labor nor spin [wool to make clothing]; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. 28 But if this is how God clothes the grass which is in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You of little faith! 29 So as for you, do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink; nor have an anxious and unsettled mind. 30 For all the [pagan] nations of the world greedily seek these things; and your [heavenly] Father [already] knows that you need them. 31 But [strive for and actively] seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33 “Sell your possessions (show compassion) and give [donations] to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Be in Readiness
35 “Be dressed and ready for active service, and keep your lamps continuously burning. 36 Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks they may immediately open the door for him. 37 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those servants whom the master finds awake and watching when he arrives. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will prepare himself to serve, and will have them recline at the table, and will come and wait on them. 38 Whether he comes in the second watch (before midnight), or even in the third (after midnight), and finds them so [prepared and ready], blessed are those servants.

39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he [would have been awake and alert, and] would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40 You too, be continually ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us [disciples], or to everyone else as well?”

Parable of the Faithful Steward
42 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward [of the estate], whom his master will put in charge over his household, to give his servants their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives. 44 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time in coming,’ and begins to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip], 48 but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating, will receive only a few [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Christ Divides Men
49 “I have come to cast fire (judgment) on the earth; and how I wish that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism [of great suffering] with which to be baptized, and how [greatly] I am distressed until it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division [between believers and unbelievers]; 52 for from now on five in one household will be divided [over Me], three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and that is how it turns out. 55 And when [you see that] a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! You know how to analyze and intelligently interpret the appearance of the earth and sky [to forecast the weather], but why do you not intelligently interpret this present time?

57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent [at law] to appear before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge does not [rule against you and] turn you over to the officer, and the officer does not throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you [absolutely] will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent

Thinking towards your *self*:
And he began thinking to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place [large enough in which] to store my crops?’ {Luke 12:17}
for any human being still living for himself/herself in this universe always thinking about his/her own good, family and acquisitions as well as how to please *the flesh*(Me, myself and my family alone every other person should go to hell-fire/perdition)...
there is *always a limit to what you can think about*
there is *always a limit to what you can acquire*
there is *always a limit to what you can offer to human beings around you*
This is the cause of frustration, depression, diminishing return and suicide amongst *unbelievers*

why not *use the grace of God* giving to every human being ("this is the grace of God that Jesus tasted death for every human being..." Hebrews 2:9) by the death of Jesus Christ to pay for our sin and the penalty of sin (eternal death/hell-fire) to surrender your whole being now to Jesus Christ on the throne of Grace; the tree of Calvary so that He will crucify you inside his body on the Cross once and for all as well as *replace your dead old-flesh/self* with His New Life.

The New Life of Christ Jesus Crucified inside any human being who has believed the gospel:
does not have any limit to thinking because in Him is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:1)
Christ inside us does not have limit to the storage of His goodness and the appropriate distribution of His gracious gifts.
Great Grace Brethren!!!

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Hi OAM4J
I saw a quote on my profile saying i believe in islam something like that.
I tried removing it but Kindly help me remove it
Cheers.