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THE WOMEN GOD USED

The Heavenly Church

PART 4 — THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN: THE WOMAN WHO BUILT HER HOUSEHOLD

Theme: Wisdom, Diligence, and Responsibility in the Home

Main Scripture: Proverbs 31:10–31

Key Verse: Proverbs 31:27
“She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”

INTRODUCTION
The Proverbs 31 woman is one of the most celebrated women in the Bible. She is known for her wisdom, diligence, strength, kindness, and fear of God. Her life shows us that a woman can make meaningful contributions to her family and society through her character, decisions, skills, and responsible use of resources.

This passage is not a demand that every woman must do everything described in it. Rather, it presents qualities that women can learn from and apply according to their abilities and circumstances.

Our main lesson is that a wise woman builds her household through godly character, diligence, wisdom, and love.

1. SHE WAS A WOMAN OF GREAT VALUE

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”

The value of the Proverbs 31 woman was not measured only by her wealth, appearance, or achievements. Her greatest worth came from her character. She was trustworthy, responsible, and committed to doing what was right.

A woman's value is not determined by how much money she earns or the possessions she owns. A woman who faithfully cares for her family, teaches her children, supports her husband, and contributes to her community is also valuable.

Lesson: Build your character because godly character is more valuable than material possessions.

2. SHE WAS TRUSTWORTHY AND KIND
Scripture: Proverbs 31:11–12

The Bible tells us that her husband trusted her and that she brought him good, not evil, throughout her life.

Trust is essential in marriage. A wife should be honest, faithful, and dependable. Her words and actions should promote peace and confidence in the home.

However, trust must be mutual. A husband must also be faithful, loving, and responsible. Marriage becomes stronger when both partners treat each other with respect and sincerity.

Lesson: Let your words and actions strengthen trust in your marriage and family.

3. SHE WAS DILIGENT AND PRODUCTIVE

Scripture: Proverbs 31:13–19

The Proverbs 31 woman was willing to work. She used her hands and abilities productively and did not allow idleness to control her life.

Her example reminds us that responsibility is important in building a home. Some women contribute through paid employment or business, while others contribute through childcare, cooking, teaching their children, managing the home, and supporting family members.

All these contributions have value. Not every woman must run a business or earn an income to be considered responsible.

Lesson: Identify your abilities and use them faithfully to contribute to your household.

4. SHE MANAGED HER RESOURCES WISELY

Scripture: Proverbs 31:14–16, 24

The woman described in Proverbs 31 considered opportunities, acquired a field, planted a vineyard, and made useful products to sell. These activities show her initiative, planning, and wise use of resources.

She did not simply wait for things to happen. She thought carefully about what she could do and acted responsibly.

Today, a woman may use her education, professional skills, business ideas, or available resources to support her household. However, financial decisions that significantly affect the family should be discussed and handled with wisdom.

Lesson: Be a good steward of the resources, skills, and opportunities available to you.

5 SHE WAS STRONG, PREPARED, AND WISE

Scripture: Proverbs 31:17, 21, 25–26

The Bible describes her as strong and dignified. She prepared for the needs of her household and faced the future with confidence. She also spoke with wisdom and kindness.

A wise woman does not depend on physical strength alone. She develops emotional strength, spiritual maturity, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions. She also recognises when she needs help.

Her words can encourage her family, correct mistakes, and settle disagreements. Instead of using insults or constant complaints, she seeks ways to communicate with wisdom and love.

Lesson: Develop inner strength, prepare responsibly, and use your words to build rather than destroy.

6. SHE CARED FOR HER HOUSEHOLD AND THE NEEDY

Scripture: Proverbs 31:20, 27

The Proverbs 31 woman extended her hand to the poor and paid attention to the affairs of her household.

She understood that responsibility includes caring for those within her home and showing compassion to others. She did not ignore the needs of her family, but neither did she close her heart to people who needed help.

Her example teaches us the importance of balancing family responsibilities with generosity toward others.

However, caring for the household should not mean that the entire burden rests on the wife. Husbands and other family members should also participate in maintaining a healthy home.

Lesson: Care for your family faithfully and show kindness to others within your means.

7 HER GREATEST FOUNDATION WAS THE FEAR OF GOD

Scripture: Proverbs 31:30
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

The Proverbs 31 woman was not praised merely because she worked hard, managed resources, or possessed useful skills. Her life was founded on reverence for God.

Physical beauty fades, and material possessions can disappear. But a life shaped by faith, integrity, wisdom, and obedience to God leaves a lasting impact.

A woman who desires to build her household must also pay attention to her spiritual life through prayer, the study of God's Word, and the practice of godly principles.

Lesson: Let your relationship with God guide your decisions, relationships, and responsibilities.

PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR TODAY

From the Proverbs 31 woman, we learn to:

1. Develop godly character and integrity.
2. Be trustworthy and dependable.
3. Work diligently with the abilities we possess.
4. Manage available resources wisely.
5. Speak with wisdom and kindness.
6. Care for our families and show compassion to others.
7. Put God at the centre of our lives.

Husbands should also recognise and appreciate their wives' contributions. Ephesians 5:25 calls husbands to love their wives sacrificially. A strong household is built through love, respect, and shared responsibility.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What qualities of the Proverbs 31 woman do I need to develop?
2. How can I contribute more positively to my household?
3. Am I using my resources and abilities wisely?
4. Does my relationship with God influence my daily decisions?

CONCLUSION
The Proverbs 31 woman teaches us that building a household requires more than money or physical effort. It requires godly character, diligence, wisdom, kindness, and faith.

Every woman can learn from her example according to her own circumstances and abilities. A woman does not need to be wealthy or perfect to build a good home. She needs to be willing to grow, act responsibly, and allow God's wisdom to guide her life.

Let us remember Proverbs 14:1:
“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

May we become women who build our homes through love, wisdom, responsibility, and faith in God.

CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of the Proverbs 31 woman. Help us to develop godly character, work diligently, manage our resources wisely, and speak with kindness. Teach us to care for our families and support others without neglecting our own well-being. May our homes be built on love, mutual respect, and obedience to Your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

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THE WOMEN GOD USED
PART 3 — RUTH: THE WOMAN WHO WAS WILLING TO WORK
Theme: Diligence, Initiative, and Faith in Difficult Times
Main Scripture: Ruth 2:2
“And Ruth the Moabite said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.”
Supporting Scriptures
Ruth 1:16–17 “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.”
Ruth 2:2–3 Ruth asked Naomi for permission to glean grain in the harvest fields. She went out and found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz.
Ruth 2:11–12 Boaz acknowledged Ruth's loyalty to Naomi and prayed that the Lord would reward her for seeking refuge under His wings.
Proverbs 14:1 “A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.”
Proverbs 31:13–17 The virtuous woman works diligently, plans for her household, invests wisely, and strengthens herself.
2 Thessalonians 3:10–12 Those who are unwilling to work should not live in idleness but should settle down and earn their living.

INTRODUCTION
In Part 1, we studied Eve and learned that God created woman to be a helper suitable for man.
In Part 2, we studied Abigail and learned that a wise woman does not merely identify problems; she seeks responsible ways to address them.
Today, we will study Ruth, a woman whose life teaches us responsibility.
What should a woman do when life becomes difficult, money is insufficient, or the future is uncertain?
Should she give up and wait for someone to rescue her, or should she ask God for strength and begin with what she has?
Ruth chose loyalty, diligence, initiative, and hard work. God used her faithfulness in ways she could never have imagined.
1. RUTH'S LIFE DID NOT BEGIN WITH COMFORT
Ruth was a Moabite woman who married one of Naomi's sons. Unfortunately, Naomi lost her husband, and Ruth and Orpah also lost their husbands.
When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, she encouraged her daughters-in-law to return to their families. Orpah returned, but Ruth remained with Naomi.
Ruth 1:16 records her words:
“For whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”
Ruth left her familiar surroundings without knowing what the future held. She had no guaranteed job or assurance of how their needs would be met.
LESSON 1: DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT HAVE TO DESTROY OUR SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.
We cannot control every disappointment, tragedy, or economic challenge. However, with God's help, we can decide how to respond.
Sometimes, we cannot choose our circumstances, but we can choose our next responsible step.
2. RUTH DID NOT WAIT FOR LIFE TO BECOME EASY
When Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem, they needed food and the means to survive.
What did Ruth do?
Ruth 2:2 says:
“Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn...”
Ruth did not sit down waiting for a wealthy relative to notice their situation. She identified an available opportunity and asked Naomi for permission to gather leftover grain.
She did not allow widowhood or hardship to destroy her willingness to act.
LESSON 2: WHEN YOU CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, DO WHAT YOU CAN.
If your family is struggling financially, consider what you can contribute. If you are unemployed, consider learning a skill. If you have time or abilities that could help your household, use them wisely.
You may not solve every problem immediately, but you can begin somewhere. Never despise a small step towards progress.
3. RUTH WAS WILLING TO DO HUMBLE WORK
Gleaning involved collecting grain left behind by harvesters. God's law provided for the poor and strangers through this practice (Leviticus 19:9–10).
Ruth was not ashamed to do humble work. She did not demand a comfortable position before beginning.
Sometimes, people reject small opportunities because they believe the work is beneath them or the reward is too small.
There is a difference between seeking better opportunities and refusing every humble beginning.
LESSON 3: THERE IS DIGNITY IN HONEST LABOUR.
Teaching, trading, farming, cooking, sewing, cleaning, caring for children, and managing a household are all valuable contributions.
Some family responsibilities are unpaid, but that does not make them worthless.
Do not measure your entire worth by your income, but do not use your worth as an excuse to avoid responsibility.
4. RUTH TOOK INITIATIVE
Ruth did not merely recognise a problem; she proposed a solution.
Initiative means recognising a need and taking a reasonable step towards addressing it without always waiting for instructions.
A responsible woman does not have to wait helplessly when she can safely and appropriately contribute.
She can help organise household expenses, guide the children, develop a skill, or explore a useful opportunity.
Of course, important family and financial decisions should be discussed with one's spouse.
LESSON 4: A RESPONSIBLE WOMAN DOES NOT ALWAYS WAIT TO BE TOLD WHAT SHE CAN ALREADY SEE.
She looks for appropriate ways to contribute to her family's wellbeing.
5. RUTH DID NOT ALLOW HER SITUATION TO DEFINE HER FUTURE
Ruth was a widow, a foreigner, and a woman with limited resources. Yet she could still work, learn, make decisions, care for Naomi, and trust God.
Some people allow past disappointments to convince them that their future is hopeless.
You may have experienced business failure, unemployment, marital disappointment, or limited education. These challenges are real, but they do not automatically mean you have nothing more to contribute.
LESSON 5: YOUR PRESENT DIFFICULTY DOES NOT CANCEL YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE A RESPONSIBLE STEP.
You may need help, training, or time to recover. Begin at a reasonable pace, and do not assume that a difficult past has ended every possibility of a meaningful future.
6. RUTH WORKED WITHOUT KNOWING THE FULL OUTCOME
Ruth 2:3 tells us that Ruth went out to glean grain without knowing that the field belonged to Boaz or how her day would end.
She simply took the opportunity available to her.
FAITH DOES NOT MEAN REFUSING TO ACT UNTIL YOU KNOW THE WHOLE FUTURE.
Sometimes, we want to know every outcome before beginning. But faith also involves taking responsible steps with the knowledge we have.
Pray, plan, seek advice, count the cost, and act wisely.
Proverbs 16:3 says:
“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
Ruth trusted God while doing what she could. We should do the same, even when we cannot see the entire picture.
7. RUTH WAS LOYAL TO NAOMI
Ruth's story is not only about work; it is also about love and loyalty.
She refused to abandon Naomi when Naomi could no longer provide the support she once had. Ruth worked, gathered food, and shared it with her mother-in-law (Ruth 2:18).
She was not thinking only about herself but also about Naomi's wellbeing.
LESSON 6: RESPONSIBILITY IN A FAMILY INCLUDES CARING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
A healthy family should not be a place where everyone thinks only about themselves.
Husbands, wives, parents, and adult children should consider how they can appropriately support one another.
A strong family develops a culture of love, cooperation, and mutual responsibility.
8. RUTH WAS NOT ASHAMED TO LEARN
Ruth entered a new environment and adapted to the opportunities available to her. Her willingness to glean demonstrated humility.
Pride can prevent people from learning, while humility helps them develop new abilities.
If you want to start a business, learn how to calculate costs and profits. If you want to sew, teach, or sell products, develop the necessary skills. If you want to return to work, identify the knowledge you need to refresh.
LESSON 7: HUMILITY TO LEARN CAN OPEN DOORS THAT PRIDE KEEPS CLOSED.
Be willing to ask questions, accept correction, learn from experienced people, and begin with basic tasks when necessary.
9. RUTH'S DILIGENCE BECAME VISIBLE
When Boaz arrived, he noticed Ruth and asked about her. His servant explained that she had come with Naomi and had been working in the field (Ruth 2:7).
Boaz instructed his workers to treat her kindly, protect her, and leave extra grain for her. He also provided access to water and food.
Hard work does not guarantee immediate rewards, but diligence develops skills, experience, discipline, and reliability.
LESSON 8: BE FAITHFUL IN THE WORK THAT IS IN YOUR HANDS TODAY.
Do not work only when someone is watching or when you expect a reward. Develop a reputation for honesty, reliability, and diligence at home, in business, at school, in church, and in the workplace.
10. RUTH'S WORK WAS NOT A SIGN THAT SHE HAD NO VALUE
Ruth did not go to the field because she was worthless. She went because she recognised her responsibilities and was willing to use her abilities.
Her poverty, widowhood, and foreign background did not make her inferior.
Dear woman, whether you are a homemaker, unemployed, widowed, or rebuilding your life, your circumstances do not determine your worth.
Your dignity comes from being created by God, not from your salary, job title, or marital status.
Recognise your worth and use your abilities responsibly.
11. WHAT DOES RUTH TEACH A WIFE ABOUT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY?
Not every wife must have a paid job. Some women earn income, while others care for children, manage households, or face circumstances that prevent them from working outside the home.
Ruth's story teaches a broader lesson: A wife should consider how she can contribute to her family's wellbeing according to her abilities and circumstances.
She can contribute by:
• Managing household expenses carefully.
• Avoiding unnecessary waste.
• Planning purchases.
• Teaching children good habits.
• Supporting her husband's legitimate work.
• Developing useful skills where possible.
• Discussing financial goals honestly.
• Exploring appropriate opportunities when additional income is needed.
Husbands also have responsibilities and must not use this message to escape their duty to care for their families.
A wife should not be shamed because she cannot earn money. The goal is responsible partnership, not placing every burden on women.
12. RUTH TEACHES US TO RECOGNISE OPPORTUNITIES
Ruth recognised an opportunity in the harvest fields. It was not glamorous, but it provided a means of obtaining food.
Today, opportunities may include learning a trade, teaching, selling farm produce, preparing food for customers, bookkeeping, or developing digital skills.
However, not every opportunity is genuine or safe. Therefore, combine initiative with research, planning, and wise counsel.
Ask yourself:
What will it cost? What skills do I need? Who are the customers? What risks are involved? Can I start small? How will I measure progress?
Ruth's story encourages us to identify and wisely use available opportunities.
13. RUTH DID NOT USE HER DIFFICULTY AS AN EXCUSE TO ABANDON OTHERS
Ruth could have focused only on her own suffering, but she remained with Naomi and helped care for her.
Her story challenges selfishness.
In marriage, both husband and wife should consider each other's needs. Parents should care for their children, and adult children should support ageing parents where appropriate and possible.
However, caring for others does not mean accepting exploitation or carrying every burden alone.
Healthy care requires love, wisdom, boundaries, and shared responsibility.
LOVE ASKS, “HOW CAN I HELP?”
14. RUTH'S STORY LEADS TO BOAZ
Ruth eventually met Boaz, a relative of Naomi's late husband. He recognised her loyalty and treated her with kindness.
Later, Boaz acted as a family redeemer, and Ruth and Boaz married.
Their story became part of the family line of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1).
Ruth could not have known the significance of her ordinary day of work when she entered the field.
LESSON 9: DO NOT ASSUME THAT A SMALL, FAITHFUL STEP HAS NO SIGNIFICANCE.
Today's lesson may help your child tomorrow. A skill you develop today may benefit your family in the future. A small act of kindness may change someone's life.
Do what is right, remain faithful, and trust God with the outcome.
15. WE MUST NOT TURN RUTH'S STORY INTO A GUARANTEE OF WEALTH
Ruth's diligence eventually led to marriage and security, but we must not conclude that every hardworking woman will become wealthy or marry a wealthy man.
Some diligent people continue to face hardship, unfair treatment, and limited opportunities.
Ruth's story encourages faithfulness, initiative, loyalty, and diligence. It also reminds us of God's concern for the poor and vulnerable.
Leviticus 19:9–10 instructed landowners to leave some of their harvest for those in need.
Boaz's kindness reflected not only personal generosity but also the responsibility to treat vulnerable people with dignity.
A godly society does not merely tell the poor to work harder; it also provides compassion, fairness, and practical assistance.
If a woman cannot work, she needs compassion rather than condemnation. If a family is struggling, we should consider how to help rather than merely criticise.
16. A WORD TO HUSBANDS
Husbands should also learn from Ruth's story.
Recognise and appreciate your wife's contributions. Do not assume that only money matters.
If she manages the household, cares for the children, helps with planning, contributes financially, or learns a skill, appreciate and encourage her.
If she is struggling or carrying too much, support her.
A wife is not a machine created to serve everyone without rest. Marriage is a partnership in which both people should seek the good of the family.
Do not demand contribution while refusing to contribute yourself.
17. A WORD TO WIVES
Dear wife, ask yourself:
Have I stopped looking for ways to contribute? Have I neglected a useful skill? Have I allowed fear or pride to prevent me from learning? Have I rejected opportunities because they seemed too small? Have I been waiting for my husband to solve every challenge?
These questions are not intended to shame you but to encourage honest reflection.
You may already contribute greatly through childcare, household management, and other unpaid work. Recognise that contribution.
Where there is room for improvement, do not be afraid to grow.
You do not need to compete with your husband or prove your worth through money.
Simply ask yourself:
“What can I faithfully do with the abilities and opportunities available to me?”
18. SEVEN PRACTICAL LESSONS FROM RUTH
Let us summarise what Ruth teaches us.
1. BE LOYAL: Value the people God has placed in your life.
2. BE DILIGENT: Take your responsibilities seriously.
3. TAKE INITIATIVE: Do not wait unnecessarily for others to identify every need.
4. BE WILLING TO LEARN: Humility helps you develop new abilities.
5. START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE: Use the resources and abilities available to you.
6. USE OPPORTUNITIES WISELY: Plan, seek advice, and take reasonable action.
7. TRUST GOD: Work faithfully without assuming that you control every outcome.
19. QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION
Take a few moments to consider these questions.
QUESTION 1: When I face a challenge, do I look for a responsible next step or immediately give up?
QUESTION 2: What skill or ability do I possess that could benefit my family?
QUESTION 3: Have I rejected an opportunity simply because it appeared too small?
QUESTION 4: Do I appreciate the contributions of other members of my household?
QUESTION 5: What can I do to become more diligent and resourceful?
QUESTION 6: How can I contribute to my family's wellbeing without placing every responsibility on myself?
That last question matters. Responsibility should not become an excuse for other family members to neglect their duties. The aim is cooperation, not the exhaustion of one person.
20. THE RUTH CHALLENGE: TAKE ONE RESPONSIBLE STEP
During the coming week, choose one practical action.
It could be:
• Learning a new skill.
• Improving how you manage household expenses.
• Starting a savings plan with your spouse.
• Exploring a realistic income-generating opportunity.
• Organising something neglected in your home.
• Helping your child develop a useful habit.
• Assisting a family member in need.
• Returning to a goal you abandoned without good reason.
Do not try to do everything at once.
Choose one reasonable step, make a plan, begin, and review your progress. Pray for wisdom and keep moving forward.
Small beginnings can lead to meaningful progress when guided by wisdom and sustained by diligence.
CONCLUSION: THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP
Ruth's story began with grief. She lost her husband, left her homeland, and faced an uncertain future.
Yet she remained loyal to Naomi, took initiative, worked diligently, used available opportunities, and trusted God.
She did not know how her story would end when she walked into the field. She simply took the next responsible step.
You may not be able to change everything about your circumstances today, but you can ask God for wisdom, use your abilities, learn new skills, seek help when necessary, and take one practical step.
Trust God with what you cannot control.
OUR BEAUTIFUL WIVES
Do not allow difficult circumstances to convince you that you have nothing to contribute. Do not allow fear to stop you from learning, pride to make you despise humble beginnings, or comfort to destroy your willingness to take responsibility.
At the same time, do not believe that you must carry the whole family alone.
Your husband has responsibilities, and you have responsibilities. Together, build a home of love, faith, wisdom, and cooperation.
Remember Ruth. She did not wait until life became perfect before acting. She began with what she had, did what she could, and remained faithful.
A wise woman does not wait for every difficulty to disappear before taking responsibility. She takes the next faithful step with what God has placed in her hands.
Ruth's story does not mean that every woman must earn money or that hard work guarantees wealth. It teaches us that faithfulness, initiative, loyalty, and diligence matter even in difficult circumstances.
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the life and example of Ruth. Teach us to remain faithful in difficult seasons and give us courage to begin again when life disappoints us.
Help us recognise the abilities You have placed in our hands. Deliver us from laziness, pride, fear, and unnecessary dependence. Give us wisdom to recognise good opportunities and discernment to avoid harmful ones.
Teach husbands and wives to appreciate each other's contributions and share responsibilities with love.
Remember women who are widowed, unemployed, struggling financially, caring for children, or facing difficult circumstances. Provide the help, encouragement, opportunities, and strength they need.
Help us support vulnerable people rather than condemn them. May our homes become places of diligence, compassion, cooperation, and faith.
Teach us to work faithfully while trusting You with the outcome.
In Jesus' name,
AMEN.

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.
If you would like to be part of this online family, join our WhatsApp group through the link below.
GOD BLESS YOU!

https:///IC6HmR6bDqJ4RrXzaBo6mZ?mode=ac_t

Kobojunkie:
This isn't a new trend... it dates back to the period around the 80s. 🥱🥱

2. Such women are not victims; the vast majority of them willingly submit, against reason and common sense, to being treated like baby-making machines by such fraudsters. 🥱🥱

3. Women are responsible for their actions and decisions, even in relationships.🥱🥱

You're beginning yo change
My prayers for you are working. Keep this honesty up

The Heavenly Church

THE WOMEN GOD USED

PART 2 — ABIGAIL: THE WOMAN WHO USED WISDOM

Theme:

When Wisdom Becomes a Woman’s Greatest Contribution

Main Scripture:

1 Samuel 25:32–33

“Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood.”


INTRODUCTION

In Part 1, we looked at Eve.

We learned that God created woman as a helper suitable for the man.

We also established something very important:

Being a helper does not mean being inferior.

A wife is not merely someone who waits to receive.

She is someone who can contribute.

She can contribute wisdom, strength, ideas, faith, work,

She can encourage her husband and also contribute to the wellbeing of the family.

Today, we are going to meet a woman who demonstrated one of the most powerful contributions a wife can make:

WISDOM.

Her name was Abigail.

And her story is found in 1 Samuel 25.


1. ABIGAIL LIVED IN A DIFFICULT MARRIAGE

1 Samuel 25:3 introduces us to Abigail and her husband, Nabal.

The Bible describes Abigail as:

“a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.”

But her husband was described as:

“churlish and evil in his doings.”

Being churlish means behaving in a rude, unfriendly, bad-tempered, or unpleasant way, especially toward other people.

In other words, Abigail was a woman of understanding, while Nabal had a difficult character.

This immediately teaches us something.

A godly woman can find herself married to a difficult man.

Being a wise woman does not guarantee that everyone around you will be wise.

Being responsible does not mean your husband will always be responsible.

Being peaceful does not mean your home will never experience conflict.

Being prayerful does not mean there will never be a crisis.

Abigail lived in a difficult situation.

But she did not allow her husband’s foolishness to destroy her own wisdom.


2. ABIGAIL DID NOT ALLOW HER HUSBAND’S CHARACTER TO BECOME HER CHARACTER

Nabal was foolish. But Abigail was wise.
Nabal was harsh. But Abigail was discerning.
Nabal acted selfishly. But Abigail acted responsibly.

This is a powerful lesson.

You are responsible for your own character. Your husband may be angry. You don’t have to become angry. Your husband may be careless. You don’t have to become careless. Your husband may make foolish decisions. You don’t have to abandon wisdom. Your husband may be irresponsible. You can still choose responsibility.

This does not mean ignoring serious problems. It means refusing to allow another person’s weakness to determine your own character.


3. THE CRISIS BEGINS

David and his men had been protecting Nabal’s shepherds and livestock.

When the time came, David sent messengers asking Nabal for provisions.

It was a reasonable request based on the protection David’s men had provided.

But Nabal responded harshly.

He essentially asked: “Who is David?” Nabal refused to help. He insulted David. And David became angry.

David decided to attack Nabal and everyone belonging to him. The entire household was in danger. And Abigail heard about it.


4. ABIGAIL DID NOT WAIT TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO

This is one of the most powerful parts of the story.

Someone came and told Abigail what had happened, she immediately understood the seriousness of the situation, she did not say: “Go and call my husband.” She did not say: “It is my husband’s responsibility.” She did not say: “I am only the wife. There is nothing I can do.”

She acted. 1 Samuel 25:18 says:

“Then Abigail made haste.” She acted quickly, she gathered provisions: Bread, Wine, Sheep, Grains, Raisins, Figs. And she went to meet David.


5. WISDOM KNOWS WHEN TO ACT

There are situations where waiting is wise. But there are also situations where delay makes the problem worse.

Abigail understood the difference.

She did not spend the whole day discussing the problem. She acted.

This gives us an important lesson: Wisdom is not only knowing what to say. Wisdom is knowing what to do and when to do it. Some people know the right thing but never act. They see the problem. They discuss the problem. They complain about the problem. They pray about the problem. They tell everyone about the problem. But they never take responsible action.

Abigail teaches us: When God gives you the opportunity to prevent unnecessary damage, act wisely.


6. ABIGAIL USED WHAT SHE HAD

Notice something else.

Abigail did not have unlimited resources. She used what was available. She had food. She had servants. She had access to the household’s resources. And she used them wisely. This is a lesson for every woman.

Sometimes we say: “If only I had more money.” “If only I had a bigger business.” “If only my husband earned more.” “If only we had better opportunities.”

But Abigail teaches us to begin with what is already in our hands. Wisdom begins with stewardship.

Ask yourself:

What do I have What skills do I have? What resources do I have? What relationships do I have? What knowledge do I have? What opportunities are available? What can I do with what God has already placed around me?


7. ABIGAIL DID NOT CREATE ANOTHER CRISIS

Imagine the situation. Her husband had insulted David. David was angry. The entire household was threatened. Abigail could have made everything worse. She could have approached David aggressively. She could have said: “You have no right to threaten my family!” She could have defended her husband’s foolishness. Instead, she chose wisdom. She approached David respectfully. She spoke carefully. She acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. She appealed to David’s conscience. She reminded him of God’s purpose for his life.


8. SHE KNEW HOW TO SPEAK

This is one of the greatest lessons from Abigail. A wife may be right about an issue and still handle it wrongly. You can have the correct information but the wrong attitude. You can tell the truth in a way that creates unnecessary conflict. You can correct someone without wisdom and make them more defensive.

Abigail shows us that: Wisdom is not simply having the right message. Wisdom includes knowing how to deliver the message.

Proverbs 15:1 says:
“A soft answer turneth away wrath.”

Abigail understood this principle.


9. WISDOM IS NOT WEAKNESS

Some people think that speaking gently means being weak. It does not. Abigail was courageous. Think about what she was doing. She was approaching an angry man with hundreds of armed men. That required courage. Her gentleness was not cowardice. Her humility was not weakness. Her respectful speech was not fear. She was strong enough to remain wise under pressure. That is real strength.


10. ABIGAIL TOOK RESPONSIBILITY WITHOUT TAKING CREDIT

One of the beautiful things about Abigail’s response was her humility. She did not come saying: “Look at how foolish my husband is.” She did not publicly humiliate Nabal. She did not use the crisis as an opportunity to expose him. Instead, she focused on stopping the danger. This teaches us something about marriage. There are times when a spouse makes a mistake. The goal should not always be: “How can I prove that I was right?” Sometimes the better question is: “How can we prevent this situation from becoming worse?”


11. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CORRECTION AND HUMILIATION

A wife may need to tell her husband when he is wrong. But there is a difference between: “I believe this decision is dangerous, and I think we should reconsider it.” And: “You always make foolish decisions. Can’t you ever do anything right?” The first opens the door to discussion. The second attacks the person. Wisdom addresses the issue without destroying the person’s dignity.

The same applies to husbands. A husband should be able to correct his wife without humiliating her. Marriage requires truth with grace.


12. ABIGAIL UNDERSTOOD THE BIGGER PICTURE

Abigail did not only think about the immediate crisis. She thought about David’s future. She told David, in effect: “Do not allow this incident to become something that will later trouble your conscience.” David was angry. He wanted revenge. But Abigail helped him step back. She helped him see beyond the immediate emotion. This is another important quality of a wise wife. A wise wife can help her husband see beyond the moment. When he is angry, she may help him think. When he is discouraged, she may remind him of God’s promises. When he is rushing, she may encourage him to slow down. When he is making a decision emotionally, she may ask: “Have we considered the consequences?”That is partnership.


13. YOUR HUSBAND DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER ENEMY

A husband already faces pressures outside the home: Work, Finances, Business, People, Responsibilities, Failures, Expectations. Sometimes the home becomes the only place where he can find peace. This does not mean a wife should hide serious problems. It means the home should not become a battlefield unnecessarily. A wise wife should ask: “Am I helping my husband become better, or am I constantly tearing him down?” And husbands should ask the same question: “Am I helping my wife become better, or am I constantly tearing her down?”


14. ABIGAIL DID NOT ENABLE FOOLISHNESS

This is important. Being a peaceful wife does not mean covering up every wrong. Abigail did not pretend Nabal had done nothing wrong. She knew he had acted foolishly. She simply chose to deal with the crisis wisely. There is a difference between: Peace-making And Pretending problems don’t exist. There is also a difference between: Forgiveness And Enabling destructive behaviour. Wisdom knows the difference.


15. A WISE WIFE THINKS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES

One of the strongest qualities we see in Abigail is her ability to think ahead. She understood: If David attacks, people will die. If people die, there will be consequences. If David takes revenge, he may later regret it. Therefore, she acted before the situation became irreversible.This is something every family needs. Think beyond today. Before spending money, think about tomorrow. Before speaking harshly, think about the consequences. Before making a major decision, think about the children. Before entering a debt, think about repayment. Before starting a quarrel, ask whether the matter is worth the damage. Before making a business decision, count the cost. Wisdom always asks, “What happens next?”


16. ABIGAIL’S WISDOM SAVED HER HOUSEHOLD

Her actions prevented disaster. David himself recognized this.

1 Samuel 25:33 says:

“Blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood.”

David acknowledged that Abigail had prevented him from making a decision he would later regret. Think about the impact of one woman’s wisdom. Her husband was foolish. But she did not become foolish. Her husband created danger. But she acted to prevent destruction. Her household was threatened. But she stepped forward. One wise person can influence the direction of an entire household.


17. WHAT DOES THIS TEACH TODAY’S WIFE?

A wife should not underestimate the power of her wisdom. Your husband may be the head of the family. But that does not mean you have no voice. Your voice can carry wisdom. Your observations matter. Your perspective matters. Your prayers matter. Your ideas matter. Your character matters. Your choices affect your children. Your decisions affect your household. Never underestimate the influence God has placed in you.


18. WISDOM CAN BE FINANCIAL

A wise wife does not necessarily need to earn the most money. But she should understand stewardship. She should know what comes into the home. She should understand what goes out. She should avoid unnecessary waste. She should plan. She should distinguish between: Needs And Wants. She should be able to say: “We cannot afford this right now.” And she should be comfortable saying it. Because wisdom is not: “How much can I spend?” Wisdom is: “How can I manage what we have?”


19. WISDOM CAN BECOME AN ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION

A woman may discover that she has a skill that can benefit her family.

Perhaps she can bake. Perhaps she can sew. Perhaps she can teach. Perhaps she can trade. Perhaps she can farm. Perhaps she can provide a service. Perhaps she can sell online. Perhaps she can manage a small business. Perhaps she can learn a digital skill. The question is not: “Can I become rich immediately?” The question is: “What can I develop?” Start small. Learn, Improve, Save, Reinvest, Grow.

The story of Abigail teaches us to recognize the resources already available to us.


20. WISDOM CAN BE SPIRITUAL

A wise wife also thinks about the spiritual condition of her family. She asks: Are we praying? Are our children being taught God’s Word? What values are we teaching them? What kind of example are we giving? What kind of atmosphere are we creating at home? A wife can help establish a spiritual atmosphere in the home. She can encourage prayer. She can encourage church attendance. She can teach Scripture. She can model forgiveness. She can teach children responsibility. A woman’s influence can reach generations.


21. WISDOM CAN BE EMOTIONAL

Sometimes your husband does not need a lecture. He needs encouragement. Sometimes your children do not need shouting. They need guidance. Sometimes a problem does not need anger. It needs calm discussion. A wise woman learns to recognize what the situation requires.

There is a time to speak. There is a time to listen. There is a time to correct. There is a time to encourage. There is a time to act. There is a time to wait. Wisdom knows the difference.


22. BUT WHAT IF MY HUSBAND WILL NOT LISTEN?

This is where we must be realistic. Not every husband will respond positively to wisdom. Not every marriage has the same circumstances. A wife cannot control another person’s choices. You can communicate. You can advise. You can pray. You can set healthy boundaries. You can seek appropriate counsel. But you cannot force another adult to change. And where there is abuse, serious danger, violence or coercion, wisdom does not require a woman to remain in immediate danger simply to prove that she is submissive. Godly wisdom includes seeking safety and appropriate help when necessary.


23. ABIGAIL TEACHES US ABOUT INITIATIVE

Some people wait until they are instructed before doing anything. “Nobody told me.” “My husband didn’t ask me.” “It isn’t my responsibility.” But Abigail saw a problem and responded. There are situations where initiative is necessary. If the children need something, don’t always wait to be instructed. If the house needs planning, participate.If there is a financial challenge, think. If your husband is struggling, encourage him. If there is an opportunity to improve the family, explore it. Initiative is one of the qualities of a mature helper.


24. BUT INITIATIVE MUST BE BALANCED WITH WISDOM

There is a difference between initiative and impulsiveness. Initiative says: “I see a need. Let me think about how I can help.” Impulsiveness says: “I will do whatever I want without considering the consequences.” Abigail’s actions were not reckless. She assessed the situation. She gathered resources. She approached the right person. She spoke carefully. She acted with purpose. Good initiative is guided by wisdom.


25. A LESSON FOR HUSBANDS

Men should learn from Abigail too. If you have a wife who gives you wise counsel, don’t automatically dismiss her because she is a woman. Listen, Consider, Pray about it, Discuss it, You may still make the final decision in matters where you carry that responsibility, but leadership does not mean refusing counsel.

Proverbs 15:22 says:

“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.”

A wise husband does not fear a wise wife. He values her wisdom.


26. A LESSON FOR WIVES

And wives should learn this: Don’t use wisdom as a weapon. Do not say: “I told you so.” Every time your husband makes a mistake. Do not constantly remind him of past failures. Do not use your intelligence to humiliate him. Do not compete with him. Do not make him feel that he is foolish because you are knowledgeable.

The goal is not: “I must prove that I am smarter than my husband.” The goal is: “How can my wisdom help our family?” That is the difference.


27. ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1

When there is a problem in my home, do I complain first or think first?


QUESTION 2

Do I bring solutions or only problems?


QUESTION 3

Can my husband safely receive advice from me?


QUESTION 4

Do I know how to correct without humiliating?


QUESTION 5

Do I use our resources wisely?


QUESTION 6

What skill or ability do I have that I am not currently using?


QUESTION 7

When my husband makes a mistake, do I help him recover or make him feel worse?


28. THE ABIGAIL CHALLENGE

This week, I want every wife to do something practical.

STEP 1 — IDENTIFY ONE PROBLEM Look around your home. What is one problem that needs attention?

STEP 2 — DON’T START WITH COMPLAINT
Instead of saying: “Why hasn’t this been done?” Ask: “What can I do about it?”

STEP 3 — USE WHAT YOU HAVE
Look at the resources already available. Your time, Your knowledge, Your skills, Your relationships, Your household resources., Your creativity.

STEP 4 — BRING A SOLUTION
Don’t simply tell your husband: “There is a problem.” Where possible, say: “I have thought about it, and I believe we can try this.”

STEP 5 — PRAY FOR WISDOM
Before acting, ask God: “Lord, help me to know what to do and how to do it.”

29. THE DEEPER LESSON FROM ABIGAIL
Abigail teaches us something very powerful: A woman’s value in the home is not measured only by what she receives. It is also seen in what she contributes. She contributed wisdom, courage, resources, initiative, diplomacy., protection, peace. And her contribution affected an entire household.

CONCLUSION
Eve taught us: God created woman to be a helper suitable for the man. Abigail shows us what that helper can look like in practice. A helper can be: Wise, Courageous, Resourceful, Responsible, Initiative-driven, Peaceful, Strategic, Respectful, Strong.

Abigail did not wait helplessly for someone else to solve the problem. She saw the danger. She assessed the situation. She used what she had. She acted wisely. She spoke carefully. And she helped save her household from disaster.

FINAL THOUGHT
A wise woman does not simply ask, “Who will help me?” She also asks: “Whom can God help through me?” A wise wife does not only wait for provision. She thinks about stewardship. She does not only wait for instructions. She develops initiative. She does not only point out problems. She looks for solutions. She does not use her wisdom to compete with her husband. She uses her wisdom to strengthen the family. That is the woman God can use.

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

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THE HEAVENLY CHURCH

THE WOMEN GOD USED

PART 1 — EVE: CREATED TO HELP AND COMPLEMENT

Theme:

Understanding God’s Original Design for Woman

Main Scripture:

Genesis 2:18

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

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OPENING

Today, we are beginning a series called:

THE WOMEN GOD USED

And our question throughout this series is:

What does God expect from a woman, particularly a wife, in the home?

We are going to look at women in the Bible.

Not because every woman in the Bible had a perfect life.

Not because every woman made perfect decisions.

But because their stories reveal principles that can teach us about:

- Wisdom.
- Responsibility.
- Faith.
- Work.
- Courage.
- Partnership.
- Resourcefulness.
- Influence.
- And the purpose God can accomplish through a woman.

Today, we begin with the first woman:

EVE.

1. BEFORE EVE WAS A WIFE, SHE WAS GOD’S CREATION

Genesis 1:27 says:

“So God created man in his own image... male and female created he them.”

This is where we must begin.

Before Eve became Adam’s wife, she was God’s creation.

Before she became a mother, she was God’s creation.

Before she became a homemaker, she was God’s creation.

Before she became known as Adam’s wife, she had value because God created her.

This is important because a woman’s identity should not be completely dependent upon her husband.

Your husband is important.

Your marriage is important.

Your children are important.

Your family is important.

But ultimately, your life belongs to God.

You were created by God.

You have gifts from God.

You have responsibilities before God.

And one day, you will give an account to God for how you used what He gave you.

2. GOD SAID, “IT IS NOT GOOD THAT THE MAN SHOULD BE ALONE”

Genesis 2:18 says:

“It is not good that the man should be alone.”

Notice something.

God did not say:

“Adam needs somebody to serve him.”

God said:

“It is not good that the man should be alone.”

There is something about God’s design for marriage that involves companionship, partnership and mutual support.

Then God said:

“I will make him an help meet for him.”

This is where many misunderstand the biblical role of a wife.

Some people hear the word helper and immediately think:

“A woman is inferior.”

That is not what the passage teaches.

3. WHAT DOES “HELPER” MEAN?

The word translated “helper” does not mean an inferior person.

It refers to someone who provides necessary help or assistance.

In fact, similar language is used in Scripture to describe God as a helper of His people.

For example, Psalm 121:2 says:

“My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”

Nobody would say God is inferior because He is called our helper.

Therefore, being a helper does not mean being inferior.

It means being someone who contributes to a purpose.

So when God created Eve as a helper suitable for Adam, He was not saying:

“Adam is important and Eve is not.”

He was saying:

“Adam needs a partner who corresponds to him and contributes to the purpose.”

4. A WIFE IS NOT AN ORNAMENT

This is important for wives to understand.

A wife is not simply decoration in the home.

She is not merely someone who occupies a room.

She is not simply someone who waits for her husband to provide everything.

She is not merely someone whose only question is:

“What will my husband give me?”

God designed woman with the capacity to contribute.

She can contribute wisdom.

She can contribute labour.

She can contribute ideas.

She can contribute emotional support.

She can contribute spiritual strength.

She can contribute financial resources when appropriate.

She can contribute skills.

She can contribute to the raising of children.

She can contribute to the stability of the household.

She can contribute to the future of the family.

That is part of being a helper.

5. HELPER DOES NOT MEAN SLAVE

We must also establish this clearly.

A wife being a helper does not mean she is a slave.

A husband does not have biblical permission to abuse his wife.

He does not have permission to humiliate her.

He does not have permission to silence her.

He does not have permission to exploit her.

He does not have permission to treat her as property.

Ephesians 5:25 says:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

Think about that standard.

Christ loved sacrificially.

Christ served.

Christ gave.

Christ protected.

Christ put the good of others before Himself.

Therefore, biblical marriage is not:

“The husband commands and the wife suffers.”

It is:

“Two people accepting their responsibilities before God.”

6. GOD GAVE WOMAN A PURPOSE

When God created Eve, He did not create her empty.

She had purpose.

She had the capacity to participate in God’s plan.

She had the ability to make decisions.

She had influence.

She had responsibility.

She had the ability to obey God.

And unfortunately, Genesis 3 shows us that she also had the ability to make a wrong decision.

That itself tells us something.

God did not create a robot.

He created a woman with the capacity to choose.

Therefore, a wife should understand:

“I have responsibility before God for how I use my choices.”

7. YOUR HUSBAND CANNOT LIVE YOUR LIFE FOR YOU

A husband can provide.

A husband can advise.

A husband can encourage.

A husband can protect.

A husband can love.

But your husband cannot make every decision for you.

He cannot pray every prayer for you.

He cannot develop your character for you.

He cannot use your gifts for you.

He cannot make you wise.

He cannot make you disciplined.

He cannot make you responsible.

At some point, you must stand before God as an individual.

Therefore, marriage should not produce:

“My husband will do everything.”

Marriage should produce:

“How can we do this together?”

8. DEPENDENCE IS NOT THE SAME AS PARTNERSHIP

There is nothing wrong with depending on your husband.

Marriage naturally involves dependence.

There may be times when the husband provides most or all of the family’s income.

There may be times when the wife cannot work because of pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, illness or other circumstances.

That is not the problem.

The problem begins when dependence becomes an attitude of helplessness.

There is a difference between saying:

“My husband provides for our family.”

And saying:

“My husband must do everything for me.”

There is a difference between:

“My husband carries the greater financial responsibility.”

And:

“I have no responsibility because he is the man.”

The first can be a healthy arrangement.

The second can become unhealthy.

9. THE QUESTION SHOULD CHANGE

Instead of asking:

“What is my husband supposed to give me?”

Ask:

“What can I contribute to my family?”

Instead of:

“When will my husband solve this?”

Ask:

“What can I do to help?”

Instead of:

“My husband should pay for everything.”

Ask:

“How can we manage what we have wisely?”

Instead of:

“That is my husband’s responsibility.”

Ask:

“Is there something I can do to make this responsibility easier?”

This is the mentality of a helper.

10. LOOK AT THE HOME DIFFERENTLY

Imagine a wife entering her home and seeing something that needs to be done.

She could say:

“My husband should handle that.”

Or she could ask:

“Can I help?”

She sees a financial problem.

She could say:

“My husband needs to find more money.”

Or she could ask:

“Is there something I can contribute?”

She sees her children struggling.

She could say:

“Their father should deal with them.”

Or she could say:

“How can I help guide them?”

She sees her husband discouraged.

She could criticize him.

Or she could encourage him.

That is the difference between merely occupying a home and helping to build a home.

11. GOD GAVE WOMEN DIFFERENT GIFTS

Not every woman will contribute in the same way.

One woman may be an excellent businesswoman.

Another may be an excellent teacher.

Another may be skilled in agriculture.

Another may be a gifted cook.

Another may be skilled at sewing.

Another may be good with children.

Another may be a professional.

Another may be a homemaker.

Another may have strong administrative abilities.

Another may have spiritual gifts.

Another may have creative abilities.

Another may be excellent at managing finances.

Another may be skilled at caring for people.

The question is not:

“Why am I not like another woman?”

The question is:

“What has God put in me?”

12. DON’T BURY YOUR GIFT

Jesus told a parable about servants who were given talents.

One servant received five.

Another received two.

Another received one.

The issue was not how much each person received.

The issue was:

What did you do with what you received?

The same principle can apply to our lives.

Perhaps you don’t have much money.

But what skills do you have?

Perhaps you don’t have a business.

But what can you learn?

Perhaps you don’t have formal employment.

But what can you do?

Perhaps you have little education.

But what ability can you develop?

Perhaps you are already managing your household.

How can you become better at it?

God is not asking you to use someone else’s gift.

He is asking you to faithfully use yours.

13. THE HOME IS A PLACE OF CONTRIBUTION

A family should not operate like a hotel.

One person pays the bills.

One person does everything.

One person makes all the decisions.

And everyone else simply receives.

A healthy home should have a culture of contribution.

Children can contribute.

Wives can contribute.

Husbands can contribute.

Everyone should learn:

“I have something to give.”

This is how responsibility is developed.

14. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “BUILD” A HOME?

Proverbs 14:1 says:

“Every wise woman buildeth her house.”

Notice that the Bible says:

“buildeth.”

Building requires effort.

Building requires patience.

Building requires planning.

Building requires wisdom.

Building requires sacrifice.

Building takes time.

You don’t build a house by sitting down and waiting.

You build by doing something.

A wife builds her home through:

Her words.

Her decisions.

Her wisdom.

Her work.

Her relationship with her husband.

Her relationship with her children.

Her management of resources.

Her faith.

Her character.

Her example.

15. A WIFE CAN BUILD OR PULL DOWN

The second part of Proverbs 14:1 says:

“But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

That is a serious warning.

A woman can build her home.

But she can also damage it.

Constant criticism can damage a home.

Wastefulness can damage a home.

Dishonesty can damage a home.

Uncontrolled anger can damage a home.

Disrespect can damage a home.

Unnecessary competition can damage a home.

Refusing to take responsibility can damage a home.

A wife should therefore regularly ask:

“Am I building or pulling down?”

16. WHAT DOES A HUSBAND NEED FROM A HELPER?

A husband does not only need someone who cooks his food.

He needs a partner.

Someone who can encourage him.

Someone who can advise him.

Someone who can tell him the truth respectfully.

Someone who can help him think.

Someone who can manage some responsibilities.

Someone who can stand with him during difficult seasons.

Someone who can pray with him.

Someone who can help raise responsible children.

Someone who can contribute according to her abilities.

That is much bigger than domestic service.

17. BUT WHAT IF THE HUSBAND IS WRONG?

This is where wisdom is important.

Being a helper does not mean agreeing with everything your husband says.

Abigail, whom we will study in Part 2, is a perfect example.

Her husband made a foolish decision.

Abigail recognized the danger.

She acted wisely.

She prevented disaster.

Therefore:

Respect does not require foolishness.

Submission does not mean abandoning wisdom.

Partnership requires honest and respectful communication.

A godly wife should be able to say:

“My husband, I respect you, but I believe there is another way we should consider.”

That is not necessarily rebellion.

It can be wisdom.

18. THE HUSBAND HAS RESPONSIBILITIES TOO

This message is directed to women, but husbands must hear this.

A man cannot neglect his responsibilities and then use:

“My wife is supposed to be my helper.”

As an excuse.

No.

Ephesians 5:25 calls husbands to sacrificial love.

1 Timothy 5:8 teaches the seriousness of providing for one’s household.

A husband must also ask:

Am I responsible?

Am I providing?

Am I loving?

Am I protecting?

Am I listening?

Am I leading by example?

A wife should not be expected to carry the responsibilities of two people while the husband claims biblical authority.

19. CULTURE MUST NOT REPLACE SCRIPTURE

In many African societies, including Nigeria, we have strong cultural ideas about what a husband and wife should do.

Some are helpful.

But culture is not automatically Scripture.

Therefore, we should not say:

“This is how Nigerian women are expected to behave.”

And stop there.

We should ask:

“What does God’s Word say?”

The Bible should be our standard.

Not social media.

Not tradition.

Not what our neighbours are doing.

Not what our parents did.

Not what our friends expect.

God’s Word must remain the foundation.

20. A PRACTICAL CHALLENGE FOR EVERY WIFE

This week, sit down privately with yourself.

Ask five questions.

QUESTION 1

What am I currently contributing to my home?

QUESTION 2

What am I capable of contributing that I am not currently using?

QUESTION 3

What responsibility have I been leaving entirely to my husband that I could help with?

QUESTION 4

What skill can I develop that could benefit my family?

QUESTION 5

Am I building my home or simply living in it?

Take those questions seriously.

Pray about them.

And then choose one area to improve.

21. A WORD TO THE WOMAN WHO HAS NOTHING TO GIVE FINANCIALLY

Perhaps someone is listening and saying:

“But I don’t have money.”

This message is not saying that your value depends on money.

You can contribute without earning a salary.

You can contribute through:

Wisdom.

Prayer.

Childcare.

Household management.

Encouragement.

Teaching.

Hospitality.

Planning.

Emotional support.

Faithfulness.

Good stewardship.

Developing your children.

Supporting your husband’s legitimate efforts.

There are many ways to contribute.

Contribution is bigger than income.

22. A WORD TO THE WOMAN WHO HAS A SKILL

Perhaps God has already placed something in your hands.

Don’t bury it.

Maybe you can cook.

Learn to improve it.

Maybe you can sew.

Develop it.

Maybe you can teach.

Use it.

Maybe you can sell.

Learn business.

Maybe you can make crafts.

Explore the opportunity.

Maybe you can provide a service.

Start small.

You don’t need to become wealthy before you become productive.

Start with what you have.

23. THE FIRST WOMAN’S LESSON

Eve’s story begins with a beautiful truth:

God intentionally created woman.

She was not an accident.

She was not an afterthought.

She was not created without purpose.

She was created to be a helper suitable for the man.

Therefore, wives should not see themselves merely as dependants.

And husbands should not see their wives merely as servants.

God designed marriage as a relationship in which two people contribute to a shared purpose.

REFLECTION

Take a moment and ask yourself:

What kind of wife am I becoming?

Am I becoming wiser?

Am I becoming more responsible?

Am I becoming more productive?

Am I becoming more spiritually mature?

Am I becoming more supportive?

Am I becoming more resourceful?

Am I becoming more trustworthy?

Am I becoming a builder?

Or am I becoming increasingly dependent on someone else to do everything for me?

FINAL MESSAGE

The question is not:

“What can my husband do for me?”

The deeper question is:

“What can God do through me?”

The question is not:

“How much can I receive?”

It is:

“How much can I contribute?”

The question is not:

“Who will solve this?”

It is:

“What can I do?”

The question is not:

“What am I entitled to?”

It is:

“What responsibility has God entrusted to me?”

FINAL DECLARATION

I am God’s creation.

I was created with purpose.

I was not created to be helpless.

I was created to contribute.

I will use the gifts God has given me.

I will seek wisdom.

I will build my home.

I will support my husband.

I will nurture my children.

I will manage what God places in my hands.

I will develop my abilities.

I will not allow dependency to become my identity.

I will not despise small beginnings.

I will become a woman who helps, builds, strengthens and blesses her family.

By God’s grace, I will be the helper God designed me to be.

CLOSING PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for creating women with purpose.

Help every wife to understand that she has a meaningful role in her family.

Give her wisdom to know how to contribute.

Give her strength to use her gifts.

Give her courage to take responsibility.

Give her humility to work with her husband.

Give her wisdom to speak when necessary.

Give her grace to build rather than destroy.

Help husbands to love their wives sacrificially and responsibly.

Help husbands and wives to work together in unity.

Let our homes become places of love, wisdom, responsibility, faith and purpose.

Help every woman to discover what You have placed in her hands and use it faithfully.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

https:///IC6HmR6bDqJ4RrXzaBo6mZ?mode=ac_t

The Heavenly Church

FROM BEING REMINDED TO BEING RESPONSIBLE (Part 3)

We have talked about responsibility.

We have talked about time.

But there is something even deeper.

A person can appear responsible while nobody is watching.

But what happens when nobody is watching?

That brings us to the heart of Part 3:

CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY.

PART 3 — INTEGRITY, CHARACTER AND PURPOSE

Theme:

“Become the Person God Can Trust”

Main Scriptures:

• Galatians 6:7
Galatians 6:7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

• Proverbs 12:22
Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.

• Luke 16:10
Luke 16:10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

INTRODUCTION
There are two versions of many people.

The person everybody sees.
And the person they are when nobody is watching.

Character is revealed when there is no audience.

Integrity means doing what is right even when doing wrong would be easier.

You may be able to deceive a teacher.

You may be able to deceive your parents.

You may be able to deceive your friends.

But you cannot deceive God.

1. PLAGIARISM IS AN INTEGRITY ISSUE

Academic dishonesty is more than a school problem.

Plagiarism teaches the wrong lesson:

“I want the result without doing the work.”

That attitude can become dangerous if it continues into adulthood.

A person who becomes comfortable with dishonesty in school may eventually become comfortable with dishonesty in business, employment or relationships.

That is why integrity must be developed early.

It is better to receive a lower mark honestly than a higher mark dishonestly.

If you don't know something, learn it.

If you make a mistake, admit it.

If you fail, learn from the failure.

If you need help, ask for help.

Do your own work.

2. GOD CARES ABOUT HOW YOU GET THE RESULT

Sometimes society focuses only on results.

“Did you pass?”

“How much did you make?”

“Did you win?”

But God also cares about the process.

How did you get there?

Did you lie?

Did you cheat?

Did you manipulate?

Did you steal?

Did you deceive?

Proverbs 12:22 says:

“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”

God values truth.

3. YOUR CHARACTER IS YOUR REAL REPUTATION

Your reputation is what people think about you.

Your character is who you actually are.

You can build a good reputation temporarily.

But eventually, character comes to the surface.

That is why we must ask:

“Who am I when nobody is watching?”

4. RESPONSIBILITY MEANS DOING RIGHT WITHOUT SUPERVISION

A child often behaves because someone is watching.

Maturity means developing an internal standard.

You don't need someone standing over you to study.

You don't need someone standing beside you to work.

You don't need someone checking your phone every five minutes.

You don't need someone threatening you before you do what is right.

Eventually, responsibility must move from external control to internal discipline.

The goal is to develop an internal alarm clock.
Not:
“Someone will wake me.”
But:
“I know when I need to wake up.”
Not:
“Someone will remind me.”
But:
“I know what I must do.”
Not:
“Someone is watching.”
But:
“God sees me, and I choose to do what is right.”

5. YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Galatians 6:7 teaches that we reap what we sow.

If you sow discipline, you will eventually see its fruit.

If you sow laziness, it will produce consequences.

If you sow dishonesty, it can damage your reputation.

If you sow learning, you develop knowledge.

If you sow responsibility, you develop trust.

If you sow good habits, they eventually become part of your character.

Your habits are seeds.

What are you planting?

6. BECOME A PERSON PEOPLE CAN TRUST

Imagine someone saying:

“I can trust this young person.”

That is powerful.

Trust opens doors.

People want to work with trustworthy people.

Employers want trustworthy workers.

Businesses need trustworthy partners.

Families need trustworthy members.

Churches need trustworthy servants.

God can use trustworthy people.

So don't only ask:

“How can I become successful?”
Ask:
“How can I become trustworthy?”

7. DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

Responsibility becomes easier when you understand that your life has purpose.

You were not created merely to:

Watch movies.

Listen to music.

Scroll endlessly.

Play games.
Sleep.
Eat.
Repeat.
There is more to life.

God has given every person abilities, opportunities and responsibilities.
Ask:
“What am I good at?”

“What do I enjoy doing?”

“What problem can I solve?”

“How can I serve others?”

“What skills can I develop?”

“How can I use my gifts for God's glory?”

Purpose gives direction to discipline.

8. PARENTS: PREPARE THEM TO STAND

Parents, your responsibility is not simply to provide for your children.

You must also prepare them for life.

Teach them:
• responsibility
• honesty
• work
• discipline
• financial wisdom
• respect
• faith
• service
• problem-solving
• perseverance

Don't just ask:
“Have you eaten?”
Also ask:
“What are you learning?”

“What are you building?”

“What responsibility are you carrying?”

“What kind of person are you becoming?”

The ultimate goal is not to keep children dependent.

The goal is to prepare them to become responsible adults.

9. TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS: YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS

Your parents can advise you.

Your teachers can teach you.

Your pastors and church leaders can guide you.

Your friends can encourage you.

But nobody can live your life for you.
Eventually, you must make your own choices.

You must decide what kind of person you will become.

You must decide what you will do with your time.

You must decide what values will guide you.

You must decide whether you will live by discipline or impulse.

THE TURNING POINT

Perhaps today you realize:

“I have been waiting for people to remind me.”

“I have been wasting too much time.”

“I have allowed entertainment to become more important than responsibility.”

“I have not been giving my education the attention it deserves.”

“I have not been contributing enough at home.”

“I have not always been honest.”

“I have not been thinking seriously about my future.”

Today can be different.

You do not have to remain the same person.

You can begin again.

THE 5 DECISIONS
From today:

1. I WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

I will stop blaming others for everything.

I will recognize my responsibilities and carry them.

2. I WILL USE MY TIME WISELY.

I will not allow entertainment to consume the time I need for my responsibilities and growth.

3. I WILL DEVELOP DISCIPLINE.

I will learn to do what needs to be done, even when I don't feel like doing it.

4. I WILL CHOOSE INTEGRITY.

I will tell the truth.

I will do my own work.

I will not cheat or plagiarize.

I will do what is right even when nobody is watching.

5. I WILL LIVE WITH PURPOSE.

I will discover my gifts, develop my abilities and seek to use my life in a way that honours God and benefits others.

FINAL CHALLENGE
To every teen and young adult:

Don't wait until you are older before you become responsible.

Start now.
Start with your room.

Start with your schoolwork.

Start with your phone.

Start with your time.

Start with your attitude.

Start with your honesty.

Start with your relationship with God.

Start with one responsibility.

Then another.

Then another.

Eventually, responsibility becomes character.

THE DAY THE REMINDERS STOP

One day, your parents will not be there to remind you.

One day, your teacher will not chase you to complete your work.

One day, nobody may ask whether you studied

One day, nobody may ask whether you kept your promise.

One day, you will have to manage your own time.

You will have to make your own decisions.

You will have to face the consequences of your choices.

That day is coming.

The wise person prepares for it before it arrives.

So don't wait until life forces you to become responsible.

Choose responsibility now.

FINAL DECLARATION

I AM GROWING.

I AM LEARNING.

I AM BECOMING RESPONSIBLE.

I WILL USE MY TIME WISELY.

I WILL DEVELOP DISCIPLINE.

I WILL HONOUR MY FAMILY.

I WILL PURSUE MY EDUCATION.

I WILL DEVELOP MY GIFTS.

I WILL WALK IN INTEGRITY.

I WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN WHEN NOBODY IS WATCHING.

I WILL NOT ALLOW ENTERTAINMENT TO CONTROL MY LIFE.

I WILL NOT WASTE MY OPPORTUNITIES.

I WILL LIVE WITH PURPOSE.

I WILL BECOME A PERSON THAT GOD CAN TRUST.
I WILL MOVE ......

FROM BEING REMINDED...
TO BEING RESPONSIBLE.

LET US PRAY
OUR Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of life and for the opportunities You have given us.
Help our teens and young adults to understand that growing older must be accompanied by growing in wisdom, discipline and responsibility.
Help them to use their time wisely.
Help them to develop good habits.
Help them to value education and learning.
Help them to use technology wisely rather than becoming controlled by it.
Give them the courage to reject dishonesty, cheating and plagiarism.
Teach them to tell the truth and to do what is right even when nobody is watching.
Help parents to guide their children with wisdom, patience and love.
Help families to become places where responsibility, discipline, honesty and faith are taught and practiced.
Give our young people vision for their future.
Help them discover their gifts and use those gifts to bless others.
May they become people who can be trusted by their families, their communities and, most importantly, by You.
Help all of us to move from simply being reminded to becoming responsible.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

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mvphenryeto5:
Please who will build a 12v 200ah with lifep04 battery and how much

Which state are you

There is nothing like hell with fire. Hell is filled with dead bodies

Revelation 20:13-14 kjv

The Heavenly Church

FROM BEING REMINDED TO BEING RESPONSIBLE (PART 2)

OVERALL SERMON OBJECTIVE

This message is intended to help teens and young adults understand that growing older must be accompanied by growing responsibility.

We will examine how we use our time, handle our education, use technology, relate to our families, respond to correction, and maintain integrity

Our goal is not simply to stop bad habits, but to develop the character, discipline, wisdom and sense of purpose needed to become responsible adults who can be trusted by God, their families and society.

Taking responsibility is the first step.

But there is another major area where many young people struggle:

TIME.
You can know what you should do and still spend your entire day doing something else.
That brings us to Part 2.

TIME, TECHNOLOGY AND PURPOSE

Theme:
“What Are You Doing With Your Time?”

Main Scriptures:

Ephesians 5:15–16
“See then that ye walk circumspectly... Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Supporting Scriptures:
• Proverbs 6:6–11

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work,
They labour hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up?
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
Then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
What are worthless and wicked people like? They are constant liars,

• Luke 16:10
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

• Ecclesiastes 12:1
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honour him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

• Ephesians 5:15–16
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

INTRODUCTION

Everybody has the same 24 hours or 86,400 seconds in a day.

The difference is what we do with those hours.

Some people use their time to learn.
Some develop skills.
Some work.
Some study.
Some serve.
Some pray.
Some build businesses.
Some exercise.
Some develop relationships.
Some simply consume entertainment.
And increasingly, our phones can consume enormous amounts of our attention.
The problem is not that phones, movies, music or entertainment are automatically evil.
The question is:
“Who is controlling whom?”
Am I using my phone?
Or is my phone using me?

1. YOUR PHONE SHOULD BE YOUR TOOL, NOT YOUR MASTER

A phone can be extremely useful.
You can:
• learn a skill
• study
• communicate
• research
• create content
• find opportunities
• take courses
• read the Bible
• listen to educational material
• develop a business

But the same phone can also consume hours without producing anything useful.

One video becomes another.
One song becomes another.
One movie becomes another.
One social media post becomes another.
Suddenly, several hours have disappeared.

Ask yourself:
“What did I gain from the last three hours?”
Entertainment has its place.
Rest has its place.
Relaxation has its place.
But entertainment should not become a substitute for responsibility.

Remember:
Entertainment should refresh you, not replace your purpose.

2. TIME DOES NOT COME BACK
Money can sometimes be replaced.
Opportunities can sometimes return.
But yesterday cannot return.
Once an hour has passed, it is gone.
That is why Paul says:
“Redeeming the time.”
In other words:

Make good use of the time God has given you.

Teens and young adults have a valuable season of life.
This is a season for learning.
A season for developing skills.
A season for discovering gifts.
A season for building character.
A season for preparing for the future.

Do not waste the preparation season expecting success to appear later.

3. WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING?

This is a powerful question:
“What am I building with my daily habits?”
Every day, you are building something.
You may be building:
• knowledge
• discipline
• skills
• relationships
• faith
• confidence
• laziness
• distraction
• dependence
• poor habits
Your future is being constructed from your daily decisions.

You cannot consistently practice irresponsibility and expect responsibility to suddenly appear when you need it.

4. THE ANT AND THE LESSON OF PREPARATION

Proverbs 6:6-11 points us toward the ant.

The ant prepares.
It works.
It gathers.
It does not wait for someone to command it.

The lesson is not that human beings should work without rest.

The lesson is about initiative and preparation.

A wise young person asks:
“What skill can I learn?”
“What can I improve?”
“What can I prepare for?”
“What can I do today that will help me tomorrow?”

5. YOUR FUTURE IS NOT BUILT IN ONE DAY

Nobody suddenly becomes successful.
It usually happens through small decisions repeated over time.
Reading one book.
Learning one skill.
Practicing one ability.
Improving one weakness.
Saving a little money.
Becoming more disciplined.
Praying consistently.
Studying consistently.
Serving others.
These things may look small.

But small things repeated become habits.

Habits eventually shape character.
And character influences destiny.

6. WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?

This is not only about the amount of entertainment.
It is also about what you are feeding your mind.

Ask:
“What am I watching?”
“What am I listening to?”
“What ideas am I allowing into my mind?”
“What kind of person are these things encouraging me to become?”

Your mind is being influenced every day.

Be intentional about what you consume.

7. MAKE A SIMPLE TIME PLAN

A responsible person should know how to divide time.
For example:
DAILY PRIORITIES
God: Prayer, scripture and spiritual development.
Education: Schoolwork, reading and learning.
Responsibilities: Household duties and commitments.
Development: Learning a useful skill.
Rest: Proper relaxation and sleep.
Entertainment: Enjoyment within reasonable limits.

The goal is not to eliminate entertainment.

The goal is to put entertainment in its proper place.

REFLECTION
Ask yourself:
1. Where does most of my free time go?
2. How many hours do I spend on my phone?
3. What am I learning from my phone?
4. What useful skill am I developing?
5. If I continue my current habits for five years, where will they take me?

CHALLENGE
For the next seven days:
Before entertainment, complete your important responsibilities.

Use this simple rule:

“RESPONSIBILITY FIRST, ENTERTAINMENT SECOND.”

Study first.
Work first.
Chores first.
Prayer first.
Important duties first.
Then relax.

LET US PRAY

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

https:///IC6HmR6bDqJ4RrXzaBo6mZ?mode=ac_t

The Heavenly Church

FROM BEING REMINDED TO BEING RESPONSIBLE

A 3-PART SERMON SERIES FOR TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

OVERALL SERMON OBJECTIVE

This message is intended to help teens and young adults understand that growing older must be accompanied by growing responsibility.

We will examine how we use our time, handle our education, use technology, relate to our families, respond to correction, and maintain integrity.

Our goal is not simply to stop bad habits, but to develop the character, discipline, wisdom and sense of purpose needed to become responsible adults who can be trusted by God, their families and society.

PART 1 — GROWING UP AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

Theme:
“Growing Older Is Not the Same as Growing Up”

Main Scripture:
Galatians 6:5 “For every man shall bear his own burden.”

Supporting Scriptures:
• Proverbs 6:6–11

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work,
They labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up?
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
Then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
What are worthless and wicked people like? They are constant liars,

• Luke 16:10
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

• Ecclesiastes 12:1
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”

• Ephesians 5:15–16
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

INTRODUCTION
There is a difference between getting older and growing up.

Every year, a person becomes older.

But becoming responsible does not happen automatically.

A child may need to be reminded:

“Wake up.”
“Go and take your bath.”
“Do your homework.”
“Clean your room.”
“Wash the dishes.”
“Read your books.”
“Stop playing and do something useful.”
“Don't forget what you were told.”

But as a person grows, something should change.

There should come a time when the person begins to say:

“I know what needs to be done, and I will do it.”

That is part of growing up.

The goal of parenting is not to produce adults who must be controlled forever.

The goal is to raise people who eventually develop enough wisdom, discipline and responsibility to manage themselves.

The question is:

Am I simply getting older, or am I actually growing up?

1. MATURITY IS MORE THAN AGE

A person can be 15, 18, 20, 25 or even 30 years old and still behave irresponsibly.

Age gives us more years.

But maturity gives us better judgment.

A mature person begins to understand:

“My choices have consequences.”

“My parents cannot make every decision for me.”

“I cannot spend all my time entertaining myself.”

“I have responsibilities.”

“My future depends partly on what I do today.”

The Bible says in Galatians 6:5:

“For every man shall bear his own burden.”

This does not mean we should refuse help from others.

It means that there are responsibilities God expects each person to carry.

2. STOP WAITING TO BE REMINDED

One of the signs of growing maturity is the ability to recognize what needs to be done without someone constantly telling you.

Imagine someone who knows that the house needs cleaning.

Nobody tells him.

He sees the mess.

He walks past it.

Someone eventually says:

“Please clean this place.”

He does it reluctantly.

Then another responsibility comes.

Again, someone has to remind him.

Again and again.

The problem is not necessarily that he cannot do the work.

The problem is that he has not developed the habit of taking initiative.

Ask yourself:

Do I only do what I am told?

Or:

Can I see what needs to be done and take responsibility for it?

A responsible person does not always wait for instructions.

He observes.

He thinks.

He acts.

3. RESPONSIBILITY STARTS AT HOME

Sometimes young people think responsibility begins when they get a job.

It doesn't.

Responsibility begins at home.

If you cannot responsibly manage your room, your books, your clothes, your time and your duties at home, getting a job will not automatically make you responsible.

Home is a training ground for adulthood.

When parents ask young people to:
• clean
• wash
• organize
• help siblings
• run errands
• study
• attend church
• keep appointments
• care for belongings

they are not simply giving them work.

They are helping them develop responsibility.

Important principle:

Chores are not punishment. They are training.

4. RESPONSIBILITY MEANS CONTRIBUTING

A family should not have one or two people doing everything while everyone else simply enjoys the benefits.

If you live in a home, you should contribute to the home according to your age and ability.

Ask:

“What can I do to make life easier for my family?”

Not:

“What can my family do for me?”

That is a major change in thinking.

Instead of saying:

“Why didn't they remind me?”

Say:

“What responsibility belongs to me?”

5. GOD VALUES FAITHFULNESS IN SMALL THINGS

Jesus said in Luke 16:10:

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”

We often want big opportunities.

We want success.

We want money.

We want recognition.

We want important positions.

But God watches how we handle small responsibilities.

If you cannot manage small things, why should greater things be entrusted to you?

Your character is being developed in ordinary situations.

When nobody is clapping.

When nobody is watching.

When nobody is rewarding you.

6. PARENTS ALSO HAVE A ROLE

This message is not only for young people.

Parents also have a responsibility.

Parents must teach responsibility without creating unnecessary dependence.

Sometimes parents do too much for their children.

They remind them about everything.

They clean everything.

They solve every problem.

They make every decision.

They rescue them from every consequence.

But eventually, the child must learn to stand.

Parents should guide young people toward independence, not permanent dependence.

Parents should ask:

“Am I helping my child become responsible?”

Or:

“Am I doing everything for my child because it is easier?”

Love sometimes means allowing a young person to experience appropriate consequences and learn.

REFLECTION ON THESE

Ask yourself:

1. What responsibilities am I currently avoiding?
2. Do I usually act only after someone reminds me?
3. How do I contribute to my family?
4. What small responsibility can I begin handling without being told?

THE CHALLENGE
For the next seven days:

Choose three responsibilities at home and do them without being reminded.

Don't announce it.

Don't wait for praise.

Just do it.

Let your actions demonstrate that you are growing.

LET US PRAY

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

https:///IC6HmR6bDqJ4RrXzaBo6mZ?mode=ac_t

nlfpmod:
😂 🤣

NA THAT TYPE NAIRAJUNKE LIKE

Beautifulday:
There is nothing like a deadly sin. All sin are the same. There is no sin that is bigger than the other.

Thanks for your contribution

THE HEAVENLY CHURCH
LUST: One of The Seven Deadly Sins
This week, we come to the close of our study of the Seven Deadly Sins as we take a look at the sin of lust.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28
THE RABBIT IN THE CAGE
Let me tell you about a family that owns a little rabbit named Hoppy. Hoppy lives in the backyard in a cage made out of chicken wire. The cage has four walls and a roof. Hoppy can move around quite a bit, but his freedom is obviously restricted.
Naturally, Hoppy would love to get outside and explore the neighbourhood. But the family doesn't let him out because they know something he doesn't know. There are cats in the neighbourhood that would love to catch him and turn him into food.
The family doesn't keep Hoppy in the cage because they are mean or want to deprive him of fun. They do it for his protection.
The same is true of human sexuality and the boundaries God has placed around it. The guidelines and restrictions we find in the Bible aren't there because God is a killjoy who doesn't want us to have fun. God made us and knows how powerful sex is. He knows what can happen when sex is removed from the context of marriage.
Therefore, God's rules are not meant to deprive us but to protect us because He loves us and wants what is best for us.
Unfortunately, throughout history, some Christians have taken unbiblical views about sex. Because of its great power and the damage it can cause, some concluded that sex itself is evil and should be condemned.
Origen, who lived during the early third century, strongly taught that sex was evil. Augustine, a respected church leader around the beginning of the fifth century, said that sex was part of the fall in Genesis 3. But they were wrong.
Sex is good because God is the author of sexuality.
Hebrews 13:4 says:
“Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled.”
God made us male and female. He created sexuality, and young people especially need to hear that sex is a gift from God. They are going to hear about sex anyway, so they should also hear the truth that it was God's idea.
THE SIN OF ADULTERY
God gave us the gift of sexuality to be enjoyed fully within marriage. When the Bible speaks of sex outside marriage, it uses terms such as adultery and fornication.
In its technical sense, adultery means sexual intercourse involving a person who is married to someone else, while fornication is a broader term for sexual immorality.
Jesus said:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’”
This commandment goes back to the seventh of the Ten Commandments. Throughout the law of Moses, adultery was regarded as one of the most serious sins and was punishable by death.
The New Testament is equally clear. 1 Corinthians 6:9 lists those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, including fornicators and adulterers. Hebrews 13:4 says that God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
Sexual purity therefore requires restraint in our actions. For a Christian, the biblical choices are simple: sexual fulfilment within marriage or complete abstinence.
Scripture is clear—there is to be no sex outside marriage.
Someone may ask, “Why would God say that?” Again, it is because He wants to protect us. God knows that when sex is used improperly, it can destroy us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Consider David and Bathsheba. David's adultery cost Uriah his life, brought the death of Bathsheba's husband and child, and caused David a painful break in his relationship with God and the loss of a son.
The damage did not stop with those directly involved. David's army, palace servants and eventually the whole nation saw their king willing to sacrifice obedient subjects to satisfy his selfish desires. Trust was broken, loyalties were damaged, and relationships suffered.
Even when we are not directly burned by sexual immorality, its smoke can spread far and wide. Sexual abuse, affairs and sexual immorality can tear apart families, churches and communities, and the consequences may remain for a long time.
Therefore, God has placed limitations on sexuality to protect us. Within marriage, it is a wonderful gift; outside marriage, it is sinful.
PRESSURE FROM SOCIETY
Our society puts tremendous pressure against sexual purity. This pressure is especially strong on young people because we live in a culture where sexual indulgence is promoted through television, movies, music, advertising and the Internet.
Promiscuity has become normalised, while chastity and moral purity are sometimes mocked.
Young people can feel that “everybody is doing it,” and may feel left out if they choose to remain virgins until marriage. Statistics are often used to reinforce this impression.
Older Christians sometimes give young people the right behaviour for the wrong reasons:
“Don't have sex before marriage. You might get pregnant. You might get an STD. You might get a bad reputation.”
But birth control can reduce the fear of pregnancy, condoms can reduce the fear of some STDs, and society's changing views have reduced the fear of rejection.
So why should Christians remain sexually pure?
Not simply because we are afraid of consequences, but because we love God and desire to please Him.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:14-17:
“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.”
Paul reminds us that we belong to Christ. Our bodies are members of Christ and are committed to following Him.
He continues:
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Our bodies are temples of God's Spirit. Because of what we have become in Christ, we cannot use our bodies immorally.
HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?
Some Christians ask, “How far is too far? Where is the line? As long as we don't actually commit the physical act, isn't everything else acceptable?”
Jesus teaches that sexual sin is not merely about what happens physically. It begins in the mind and heart. A person can sin without committing the physical act of adultery.
THE SIN OF LUST
Jesus said:
“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Jesus speaks specifically about men here, but women can also struggle with lust. The important point is that the problem begins in the heart.
We often blame our failures on outside influences, but Jesus tells us to examine what is happening inside us.
We need to guard against making lustful desire a habit. At the same time, people who struggle with lust should understand that temptation itself is not the same as sin.
I love the story of two Christian men walking down the road—a 30-year-old and an 80-year-old. A young woman in a low-cut dress and short skirt walked past them. After a while, the 30-year-old said, “I'll be glad when I get old enough that I'm no longer tempted to have impure thoughts about women.”
The 80-year-old replied, “Me, too.”
Sexual desire is powerful, and we can underestimate its force until we are in the heat of temptation.
But what matters is what we do with the temptation.
Anger provides a similar example. Someone may punch you in the nose, and anger will naturally arise. The question is: What will you do with that anger? Will you allow it to become violence, bitterness and resentment, or will you deal with it in a godly way?
The same principle applies to lust.
When someone unexpectedly sees a sexually provocative image or person, temptation may arise. But the important question is: What will you do with that thought?
A Christian has two choices: allow the thought to remain, continue looking and feed the desire, or resist the temptation and turn the eyes and thoughts elsewhere.
There is an old saying:
“God doesn't keep the birds of temptation from flying over our heads. He only asks that we keep them from building nests in our hair.”
It is one thing for an evil thought to flash through our minds like an uninvited guest. It is another thing to welcome it, feed it and entertain it.
DAVID AND BATHSHEBA
David does not appear to have deliberately gone looking for Bathsheba. He saw her while she was bathing, apparently from his palace roof.
The problem was what David did after seeing her.
He dwelt on what he saw, had her brought to his chambers and committed adultery with her. He could have looked away and rejected the temptation, but instead he allowed the desire to grow.
A good way of understanding Matthew 5:28 is:
“Whoever looks at a woman for the purpose of lusting after her…”
That distinction is important.
Lust is not simply seeing a beautiful person and recognising that person as sexually attractive. Jesus is talking about deliberately looking in order to satisfy an immoral desire.
This can include deliberately watching movies, choosing television programmes or surfing the Internet because we know they will sexually stimulate us. It can mean deliberately putting ourselves in situations where we expect to be sexually stimulated.
A person struggling with lust will often seek opportunities to satisfy the eyes.
Sexual desire and pleasure are part of God's good design for marriage. Sexual desire has the power to bond a man and woman together in love and intimacy.
But lust turns sexual pleasure into self-gratification.
Lust makes everything about me.
In this way, lust is similar to gluttony. Gluttony takes food, which God designed to provide nourishment and pleasure, and turns it primarily into a means of self-gratification. Lust does the same with sexuality—it treats another person as an object for one's own pleasure.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
1. WE NEED TO STOP FEEDING OUR LUSTS
Lust often finds pleasure through the eyes. So we need to ask ourselves:
What kind of images are filling our minds and feeding our hearts every day?
Jesus said:
“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into gehena. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into gehena.”
Matthew 5:29-30
Jesus was not instructing us to mutilate our bodies. Some early Christians misunderstood this literally. Origen, for example, dealt with lust by castrating himself.
Jesus was using hyperbole—deliberate exaggeration—to show the seriousness and urgency of dealing with sin.
The point is that cutting off a body part does not cure a corrupt heart.
Think of a thief who had one hand cut off for stealing. When he stole again, the other hand was cut off. Yet he later stole using his teeth. The problem was not his hands; it was his heart.
So Jesus is telling us to take radical steps to remove things that continually lead us into sin.
In modern terms, if cable television is feeding your lust, get rid of it. If the Internet is causing you to fall into lust, limit or remove your access. If certain movies, websites, books or social media accounts continually feed your desires, remove them.
Whatever it takes to bring your mind and life into line with God's will, be willing to do it.
Getting rid of harmful influences does not automatically create a pure heart. Outward actions cannot produce inward purity. But removing what feeds sin is an important expression of a heart that desires righteousness.
I don't want to create specific rules about every book, movie or television programme. You know your weaknesses. If you are engaging in something that continually feeds your lust, it is like trying to put out a fire while pouring petrol on it. You cannot do both.
Job said:
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?”
Job 31:1
Job understood the importance of guarding his eyes. He made a decision in advance not to gaze at someone who might become a temptation.
A lustful heart seeks situations that satisfy lust. A godly heart tries to avoid those situations.
If we do not consciously control what we watch, read, where we go and what we expose ourselves to, those things can eventually control us.
The first step is to stop feeding our lusts.
2. REPLACE LUSTFUL DESIRES WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE
Paul teaches in Ephesians 4 that we must put off lying and put on truthfulness. We must not only remove the bad; we must replace it with the good.
Remember the story in Luke 11 about the person from whom an unclean spirit was cast out. The spirit later returned and found the house empty, swept and put in order. It then brought seven other spirits more evil than itself.
The lesson is that if we remove evil but do not replace it with something good, we leave an empty space for evil to return.
Therefore, don't simply try to remove lustful thoughts. Replace them with something positive: physical activity, good books, healthy relationships, prayer, Scripture, service, worship and a stronger focus on God.
The important question is not:
“How far can I go on a date without crossing the line?”
Instead, ask:
“How can my thoughts, choices, emotions, conversations and behaviour make me a person who reflects the nature of Jesus Christ?”
CONCLUSION
As we close, there is something all of us need to remember.
Christians can struggle with lust, just as they can struggle with other sins. God does not reject people simply because they are struggling.
The danger comes when we stop resisting and allow sin to take control of our lives.
Temptation may come, but we must choose what we do with it. We must guard our eyes, protect our minds, flee sexual immorality, remove what feeds sinful desires and replace those desires with things that draw us closer to God.
This week, may our prayer be:
“Search me, O God, and see if there is any lust in my heart.”
May God give us pure hearts, disciplined minds and the strength to honour Him with our bodies.

THE HEAVENLY CHURCH
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GOD BLESS YOU

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THE HEAVENLY CHURCH

GLUTTONY: One of the Seven Deadly Sins

The main reason I’ve dreaded this lesson is because there’s not really that much in Scripture that deals with gluttony. In fact, I can honestly tell you that I don’t know why gluttony is considered a sin, much less listed as one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Nowhere in the Bible is gluttony specifically listed as a sin. There are only a few verses in the New Testament that specifically mention gluttony, and two of those are actually talking about Jesus.

You may recall that Jesus’ critics said to Him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” (Luke 5:33).

The disciples of John the Baptist abstained from food regularly, but Jesus’ disciples were often eating. In Luke 7:34, the Jewish leaders accused Jesus of being “a glutton and a drunkard.”

Of course, Jesus wasn’t a glutton any more than He was a drunkard. But it is significant that Jesus was known for spending a lot of time eating with people. Many of His parables made reference to parties and feasts, the most famous being the celebration when the prodigal son returned home in Luke 15.

So, considering how much emphasis Jesus placed on food, fellowship, and meals in His ministry, it seems strange that gluttony would be listed among the Seven Deadly Sins.

What Does the Bible Say About Gluttony?

The ancient preachers who condemned gluttony often used Romans 16:17-18 as a proof text. Paul said:

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites…”

The King James Version says they serve “their own belly.”

Another passage is Philippians 3:19, which says, “their god is the belly.”

However, the context of both passages doesn’t seem to be specifically about food. Paul also condemned false teachers who required abstinence from certain foods, saying:

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” (1 Timothy 4:3-4).

Some preachers also refer to 1 Corinthians 6, where Paul says the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. But the context shows that Paul was more concerned with sexual immorality than overeating.

Gluttony in the Old Testament

There is a little more on the subject in the Old Testament.

Proverbs warns us not to associate with gluttons and drunkards (Proverbs 23:20-21; 28:7).

Proverbs 23:2 says:

“Put a knife to your throat, if you are given to appetite.”

This sounds drastic, but the idea is simply that someone who is controlled by appetite needs to exercise restraint.

Proverbs 25:16 says:

“If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.”

Ecclesiastes 10:17 warns against overindulgence, while Ecclesiastes 2:24 says:

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil.”

So, it seems strange that gluttony became one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

After all, if someone gets angry, they can hurt another person. If someone is envious, they can harm someone. If someone drinks too much, they can cause harm to others. But overeating seems different. Nobody usually gets hurt because somebody ate too much—unless perhaps there is a fight over the last piece of cake!

Food Is a Gift from God

The truth is that many of our favourite memories involve food—Thanksgiving, Christmas, parties, family gatherings, weddings and celebrations.

Life’s important moments are often marked with food: from a nursing mother’s bond with her child, to a wedding cake, to a meal brought to a grieving family after a funeral.

Eating nourishes us not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. Sharing food is at the heart of family and friendship gatherings, church fellowship, and Communion.

So why was Gluttony included when the first list of the Deadly Sins appeared at the end of the fourth century?

Perhaps those monks who lived in the desert and compiled the first list included the things that tempted them the most—including the desire for a good meal!

Some ancient church fathers went to great lengths to make gluttony appear to be a terrible sin. One claimed that the primary sin in the Garden of Eden was gluttony, and that gluttony caused God to flood the world in Noah’s day. He even accused the Israelites of being manna-grabbing gluttons in the wilderness.

But some of those arguments seem like a stretch.

So we return to the question:

Why is gluttony a sin?

To answer that, we first need to understand what gluttony really is.

WHAT EXACTLY IS GLUTTONY?

The dictionary defines gluttony as “excess in eating or drinking.”

But that raises another question:

Who determines what is excessive?

We know gluttony has something to do with eating and perhaps drinking. But, like other sins, gluttony is also a habit—a routine, a pattern, a groove that becomes part of our character.

Because we cannot see another person’s habits, we often identify gluttony by its symptoms. We may look at someone's weight and assume that an overweight person is a glutton while a skinny person is not.

But that is not necessarily true.

Our stereotypical picture of a glutton is an obese man stuffing large pieces of food into his mouth, loosening his belt after dinner and saying, “One more notch. I’ve got room for snacks.”

But gluttony is not simply about how much we eat.

I want to suggest that gluttony has to do with an excessive focus on pleasure—our own pleasure, especially immediate and tangible physical pleasure.

Eating is meant to be pleasurable. The enjoyment of food is a gift from God. One of the first commandments in the Garden of Eden involved eating, and Paul teaches that we should receive food with thanksgiving.

But when gluttony enters our lives, pleasure becomes corrupted. Our desire for pleasure gets out of control.

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul talks about not allowing ourselves to be mastered by our desires. Philippians 3:19 speaks of people whose “god is their belly.”

The problem with gluttony is that pleasure begins to dominate everything else that is important.

We become mere pleasure seekers.

Therefore, the question is not simply:

“How much food is too much?”

The better question is:

“How dominated by the desire for this pleasure am I?”

One way to find out is to ask:

“How difficult would it be for me to give it up or do without it?”

The problem is that gluttony reduces eating to an exercise in satisfying our desires. Instead of simply enjoying food, we use food to give ourselves a quick “pleasure fix.”

God wants us to enjoy the food He has given us. But when the pursuit of pleasure becomes our focus, it can dull our appreciation for the food, the people we eat with, and the God who created it.

Instead, everything becomes about one thing:

Our own pleasure.

THE FIVE FORMS OF GLUTTONY — F.R.E.S.H.

In the Middle Ages, Christians divided gluttony into five categories—two relating to what we eat and three relating to how we eat.

Someone later arranged these categories into the acronym F.R.E.S.H.

F — FASTIDIOUS EATING

“Fastidious” means difficult to please.

Those of you who are parents probably know fastidious eaters. Every day children ask:

“What are we eating this morning? What are we eating this afternoon? What are we eating tonight?”

A fastidious glutton may not eat enormous quantities of food, but they are determined to get exactly what they want.

Have you ever entertained someone for whom nothing is quite right?

“I don’t like that jollof rice.”

“Could I have the noodles without the seasoning and without eggs, but with a little vegetable instead?”

These are the people who may repeatedly send food back at a restaurant until it is “perfect.”

Fastidious gluttons are focused on obtaining a particular pleasure and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

They may not eat too much, but their pleasure becomes the focus of the entire experience.

If your eating experiences are constantly ruined because your food isn't exactly what you expected, you may need to examine whether this form of gluttony is affecting you.

R — RAVENOUS EATING

Ravenous eating is greedy eating.

This type of eater wants to make sure they get enough, especially when there is competition for food.

Think about meals at parties where people pile their plates high because they are afraid that if they come back later, their favourite food will be gone.

They fear that someone else might take the last piece of chicken or that the pot of moi-moi might become empty.

So they pile their plate high and may even rush back into the line before everyone else has had a chance.

Eating becomes an act of competition.

We become afraid that someone else will prevent us from getting all the pleasure we want.

This is dangerous because it makes us see other people as a threat to our own satisfaction.

E — EXCESSIVE EATING

This is what most people think of when they hear the word gluttony.

The excessive eater simply eats more than he needs.

He may choose a restaurant based on how much food he can get for his money. Free chips or unlimited portions become especially attractive.

Have you ever eaten a meal and said:

“I’m so full I could burst, but I just can’t resist one more bite!”

Then comes the chocolate cake.

Or perhaps at a fast-food restaurant, we “supersize” the meal because the regular size seems too small.

This is what Solomon warned about in Proverbs 25:16:

“If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.”

An excessive eater may not intend to harm their body, but they are willing to overlook the consequences in order to experience more pleasure.

S — SUMPTUOUS EATING

This type of gluttony is probably less common.

A sumptuous eater wants food to be “good enough”—and often that means expensive or luxurious.

They don't want simple okro soup and eba, or ordinary rice and beans. It has to be something special.

If they go to a restaurant, it has to be a fine restaurant where the best meals are served—sometimes at someone else's expense.

Think about the Israelites in the wilderness:

“Now the foreign rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.’” (Numbers 11:4-6).

Again, we don't normally think of this as gluttony. But remember that gluttony is about being controlled by the desire for physical pleasure.

H — HASTY EATING

Hasty eating can be described as “shovelling it in.”

You sit down to eat with other people, and your food is gone before everyone else has even started.

The hasty eater may put another spoonful into their mouth before finishing the previous bite. There is no patience to enjoy what is already being chewed.

They simply want the next taste.

Hasty eating can also appear in constant snacking.

You know a meal is coming, but you cannot wait. You need to grab some roasted or fried snacks because you need that pleasure now.

So these five categories show us that gluttony isn't simply about being fat or eating enormous amounts.

The real question is whether we are eating primarily to satisfy our own desires and whether our satisfaction has become more important than anything else.

God wants us to enjoy His creation, including food. But when our focus becomes the amount of pleasure we can obtain from eating, two major problems arise.

1. THE PLEASURE IS ONLY TEMPORARY

No matter how much we enjoy a meal, we will eventually become hungry again.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 says:

“All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.”

Our desires can therefore escalate. We need more and more physical pleasure to achieve the same satisfaction.

Gluttony’s insatiability is the opposite of godly contentment and gratitude (1 Timothy 6:.

2. FOOD CANNOT FILL OUR DEEPEST NEED

God has given us food and drink to enjoy. But what an insult it would be if we made food entirely about pleasure instead of allowing God's gifts to lead us to greater love and gratitude toward Him.

Paul describes people in Philippians 3:19:

“Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

We are more than physical beings.

Satisfying our physical appetite cannot satisfy our spiritual hunger.

Jesus warned:

“Man shall not live by bread alone.”

If our spiritual needs remain unfilled, we can gradually lose sight of them and become preoccupied with physical pleasures.

True and lasting joy does not come from perfectly cooked jollof rice with chicken, the biggest meal, or eating until we cannot eat anymore.

True and lasting joy comes from God through His Son.

When gluttony becomes a habit, we train ourselves to pay more attention to physical desires than spiritual needs.

That is why the traditional picture of a glutton is often animal-like. We sometimes call a glutton a “pig.”

Animals simply go after food without thinking about manners, conversation, health, or anything else.

The danger is that when gluttons feel empty, they turn to food for comfort instead of turning to God.

They reach for chocolate, a nice meal, or that bag of chin chin in the room.

Because they continually indulge their physical desires, they can eventually become so focused on physical pleasure that it is difficult to appreciate anything else.

SO, HOW DO WE DEAL WITH GLUTTONY?

We have seen that gluttony may not be as easy to identify in others as we thought. At the same time, it may affect our own lives in ways we didn't realize.

So how do we combat it?

BALANCE

First, we need balance.

We don't want to become gluttons, but neither should we approach food with guilt or deny ourselves what we genuinely need.

We don't need to feel guilty about enjoying food.

Calling gluttony a sin does not mean that food, eating, or enjoying food is sinful.

God made food good.

Eating and drinking were meant to give us pleasure.

The difficulty is distinguishing between healthy enjoyment and unhealthy attachment.

Our judgment can be distorted by our desires and by cultural influences. Sometimes self-gratification becomes such a deeply entrenched habit that we no longer recognize it as a problem.

So again, ask:

“How dominated by the desire for this pleasure am I?”

And:

“How difficult would it be for me to give it up?”

FASTING

One of the best ways to deal with gluttony is through fasting.

I don't necessarily mean completely abstaining from food. Fasting can also mean giving up something for a period of time.

If you think eating for pleasure has become a problem, try giving something up for a period—for example, sugary foods, snacks between meals, caffeinated drinks, or chips.

You may discover that it is surprisingly difficult to live without something that isn't necessary for your health.

That difficulty tells you something about how attached you have become to certain pleasures and comforts.

Fasting reveals the things that control us.

Fasting can benefit us in at least two ways.

FIRST: FASTING CAN RESTORE OUR APPRECIATION FOR FOOD

By giving up certain foods for a time and learning not to eat until we are completely full, we can learn to appreciate food again.

Who will appreciate a simple piece of cheese more—a person who eats large portions every day, or someone who has gone several weeks without cheese?

Some people think fasting devalues food or treats food as evil.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Fasting can actually heighten our appreciation for food.

Think about electricity. When do you appreciate electricity most? Usually after it has been unavailable for a long time.

In the same way, we can appreciate food more when we willingly give it up for a while.

SECOND: FASTING INCREASES OUR APPETITE FOR SPIRITUAL THINGS

Fasting also reminds us of our dependence on God.

When we always take our fill of food and drink, we can develop a false sense of self-sufficiency.

Gluttony isn't only about pleasure. It can also be about believing that we can provide our own happiness through things we can obtain ourselves.

With food, we can comfort ourselves, fill ourselves, and provide pleasure for ourselves—at least physically and temporarily.

But the Christian life teaches us to look to God to satisfy our deepest hunger.

A glutton's pursuit of happiness says:

“What can I give myself?”

Faith asks:

“What will God give me?”

CONCLUSION

So it turns out that gluttony really can be a sin—and a serious one.

The issue isn't whether we enjoy food.

The issue is whether food and physical pleasure have begun to control us.

God gave us food to enjoy, but He never intended food to become our god.

Let us therefore examine our hearts and ask whether our appetites are under our control or whether they are controlling us.

Let us learn contentment.

Let us practise gratitude.

Let us enjoy God's gifts without allowing those gifts to take God's place.

And when necessary, let us fast—not because food is evil, but because God is more important than our appetites.

Let this be our prayer:

“Search me, O Lord, and see if there is any gluttony in my heart.”

LET US PRAY

This sermon is organised by The Heavenly Church and produced once a week.

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GOD BLESS YOU.

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Call your two friends tell them what's on ground and then do lucky dip.

Go outside wrap like six papers you've written something on, one should say it's me or lucky me or I win others should be negative.

Get a container, put them in and tell them to pick, whoever picks the positive word gets the job.

Simple, love continues.

bassdow:
Nicely said.

The irony with Lithium batteries, like I have said from begining, Making low quality lithium batteries is easy and cheap because barrier to entry is low. Anyone can buy low-quality cells, cheap BMS, optionally watch a YouTube video, and couple them in a corner of their room.

Low quality lead-acid batteries cost more to make hence not everyOne can venture into it. You mostly might have to involve factories.

A lot of us still remembers quality of the power stations a lot of them were building and selling. Engineers come plenty like GNLD and TianShi people.

Also said in about 2 years time, complains for Lithium based batteries could increase astronomically.

Despite knowing the likes of mrReed and Valto wouldn't easily want to soil their brand on this thread as they would be called out, a lot of people still appear to act like they don't know where to purchase good enough Lithium batteries AND I do understand it's mostly due to costs.

Even in hosting, a longtime On & OFF client came few days ago wanting to host a website for peaNuts. When informed of fees, was quick to show receipt of just expired suscription with another provider. I repeatedly asked (because they kept dodging) why not continue with them and the client's words were moving like Palito radio's signal when breeze blow. They want more than the best BUT at a fraction of the cost of that competitor with shitty service.

If not for our Y of offering hosting services, would have adjusted to match fees charged by others. Me go just tell you our hosting ain't meant for everyOne. You're told that even before you make up ya mind.

When that time comes, the likes of mrReed and Valto would have to decide if to loose some/most sales or adjust.

If we have to adjust our fees to match competition, and end up offering subpar services, then we end up doing same thing that forced us to start our own in the first place.

Thank you.
Our challenge
Is to learn how to build good lead-acid batteries that can last 10+ years. But the DOD and weight is its major issues

THE HEAVENLY CHURCH

SLOTHFULNESS: One of the Seven Deadly Sins

Most of us love animals, whether domestic or wild. We enjoy watching them on NAT GEO WILD or at the zoo. But I doubt many of us enjoy watching the sloth. It sleeps 15–18 hours a day and is one of the slowest-moving mammals in the world. It moves so slowly that algae can even grow on its fur.

People enjoy watching restless tigers, playful monkeys and penguins, but the sloth seems to do almost nothing. It is slow and inactive.

This week, we come to the fifth of the seven deadly sins: SLOTHFULNESS—not the animal, but the character trait. Sloth means laziness, but as we shall see, it is much deeper than simply sleeping late or sitting around doing nothing.

A newspaper columnist once wrote that sloth whispers, “Do it tomorrow,” “Nobody will know,” “Don’t strain yourself,” “What’s the hurry?” and “Just give me five more minutes.”

Sloth hits the snooze button, uses the remote control, and gives up when things become difficult. It cuts corners, avoids responsibility, makes excuses and does slightly less than what is right. It does not return something that was found, correct a cashier who undercharged, write a thank-you note, send a birthday card on time, or show hospitality—because all these things require effort.

At first, laziness may not seem serious enough to be called a sin. We joke about it:

- “If there were an award for laziness, I’d have somebody else collect it for me.”
- “You know you’re lazy when cancelled classes or chores make you happy.”
- “If it’s more than five feet away, it’s unnecessary.”
- “I’ll sleep until the desire to clean the house goes away.”

But Christians have regarded sloth as one of the seven deadly sins for centuries. Why?

Because the opposite of sloth is diligence.

Diligence means responsibility, dedication to hard work, and conscientious completion of our duties. Scripture repeatedly calls us to diligence:

«Deuteronomy 6:17: “You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God.”»

«2 Peter 3:14: “Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish.”»

Sloth is therefore the opposite of diligence.

But sloth is more than inactivity. At its heart is apathy—a lack of concern. When we stop caring, we stop acting. Our lack of action can then cause us to neglect our responsibilities and the needs of others.

Therefore, sloth is not a sin simply because someone sleeps late. It becomes sinful because it can prevent us from being loving people. Love requires action.

Romans 12:11 says:

«“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”»

The New Living Translation says:

«“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.”»

The book of Proverbs has much to say about laziness. Solomon identifies four things that are true about a lazy person.

---

1. A LAZY PERSON HAS TROUBLE GETTING STARTED

«Proverbs 26:14: “As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.”»

The lazy person keeps turning over in bed like a door swinging on its hinges. You can push him for a while, but when you stop, he returns to his comfort.

Proverbs 6:9–11 asks:

«“How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber.”»

The lazy person says, “Let me sleep a little longer. I’ll do it eventually.”

This happens in homes, schools, workplaces and even churches. A parent asks a child to clean the room, and the response is, “In a minute.”

The snooze button is almost a perfect picture of this attitude: the alarm says, “Get up!” and we respond, “Just five more minutes.”

As someone wisely said:

«“The lazier a man is, the more he is going to do tomorrow.”»

And:

«“A procrastinator is one who puts off until tomorrow the things he has already put off until today.”»

We tell ourselves, “I’ll write that letter tomorrow. I’ll make that call tomorrow. I’ll start tomorrow.”

But tomorrow never seems to come.

One epitaph captures the tragedy:

«He slept beneath the moon,
He basked beneath the sun;
He lived a life of going-to-do,
And died with nothing done.»

Question: Is there something in your life you continually say, “Someday I’ll get around to it”?

A lazy person has trouble getting started.

---

2. A LAZY PERSON HAS TROUBLE FINISHING WHAT HE STARTS

«Proverbs 12:27: “Whoever is slothful will not roast his game.”»

The idea is simple: even if a lazy person manages to hunt and catch something, he may not have the discipline to prepare and cook it.

Many of us have unfinished projects:

- A diet we started but abandoned.
- A book we intended to finish.
- A garden we prepared but never planted.
- A spiritual goal we started but never completed.

Proverbs 26:15 gives an exaggerated picture:

«“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.”»

Solomon is not saying someone literally cannot lift food to his mouth. He is showing how absurd laziness can become.

The lazy person may start, but he lacks the discipline to finish.

He becomes a quitter.

---

3. A LAZY PERSON MAKES EXCUSES

«Proverbs 22:13: “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’”»

The excuse is ridiculous, but that is the point. Laziness can produce ridiculous excuses.

People invent all kinds of reasons for avoiding work, responsibilities, church attendance or service. Some excuses are so unbelievable that they become humorous.

One employee claimed his teeth flew out of the window while he was driving. Another claimed someone had glued her doors and windows shut. Another said she could not come to work because she woke up in a good mood and did not want to ruin it.

Someone even explained missing church by saying it was too close to drive to, but too far to walk.

The sad thing is that a person who constantly makes excuses can eventually begin to believe them.

For the lazy person, excuses come easily.

---

4. A LAZY PERSON WILL NEVER SUCCEED

«Proverbs 12:24: “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labour.”»

The principle is clear: diligence produces progress, while laziness prevents achievement.

A person may want to become a doctor or software developer, but without years of study, the desire is not enough.

Someone may want to become a great musician, but greatness requires years of practice.

Marriage also requires effort. Many marriages fail because people know what needs to change but are unwilling to work hard enough to change it.

There is a story about a man whose wife left him because he was more interested in sports than in his marriage. A counsellor told him he could change his priorities and give more attention to God and his wife. The man replied that although he wanted his wife back, he did not think it was worth the effort.

That attitude reveals the problem with sloth: we may desire the result without being willing to make the necessary sacrifice.

The same is true spiritually.

Many Christians want deep knowledge of God's Word, but they are unwilling to study. They want spiritual maturity without spiritual discipline.

There are brilliant people who remain ordinary because they refuse to make the sacrifices necessary for excellence.

Proverbs 21:25 says:

«“The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labour.”»

The lazy person may want wealth, athletic greatness, musical ability, a good marriage or spiritual maturity. But desire without effort accomplishes little.

---

LAZINESS IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN

These four characteristics can also affect our spiritual lives.

1. We have trouble getting started.

We intend to pray more, study the Bible, evangelize, fellowship and serve, but we keep postponing.

2. We have trouble finishing.

We begin spiritual projects with enthusiasm but fail to continue.

We may decide to read the Bible through in a year and stop around Exodus. Starting is easy; staying with it is harder.

3. We make excuses.

We find reasons not to worship, teach, serve, visit others or do the things God expects from us.

4. We become spiritually unfulfilled.

We genuinely want to become stronger Christians, but because we lack discipline, we become frustrated and unhappy.

That is why Scripture repeatedly calls us to diligence.

«2 Peter 1:5: Be diligent to add virtue and the other Christian qualities to your faith.»

«2 Peter 1:10: Be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure.»

«2 Peter 3:14: Be diligent to be found without spot or blemish.»

Hebrews 6:11–12 says:

«“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”»

Spiritual laziness is dangerous because it often happens gradually.

We procrastinate.
We make excuses.
We ignore opportunities.
We become increasingly apathetic.

We may not openly rebel against God; we simply drift away.

That is why we must be diligent in putting our faith into practice.

---

LEARN FROM THE ANT

Proverbs 6:6–8 says:

«“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”»

Ants are constantly working. They carry objects many times their weight. If their colony is destroyed, they begin rebuilding.

God says, “Consider her ways and be wise.”

The ant does not need someone standing over it every moment saying, “Do this. Do that.”

That is an important lesson for Christians.

Nobody has to tell us:

- How many hours we must read the Bible.
- How often we should pray.
- How regularly we should worship.
- How many people we should invite to church.
- How much we should give to those in need.
- Every place we should or should not go.
- Every type of entertainment we should avoid.

Christian living requires self-discipline.

Self-discipline means controlling what we do by principle and good judgment rather than by impulse and desire.

Our body may say:

«“I feel good staying in bed.”»

Self-discipline says:

«“I need to get up.”»

Our body may say:

«“I don't enjoy walking or exercising.”»

Self-discipline says:

«“I need to take care of myself.”»

Self-discipline means choosing what is right and necessary rather than simply choosing what feels comfortable.

---

THE DANGER OF COMFORT

One of the greatest dangers of sloth is our love of comfort.

Modern culture places enormous emphasis on relaxation and recreation: “Live it up. Have a good time.”

There is nothing wrong with rest or recreation. The problem comes when our desire for comfort becomes more important than our responsibility to God and other people.

For example, we may refuse to spend one evening visiting a fellow Christian or someone who needs help because it interferes with our entertainment or relaxation.

So we need to ask ourselves:

How important is comfort to me?

How often does my desire for comfort prevent me from demonstrating love?

But there is another important point.

YOU CAN BE BUSY AND STILL BE SLOTHFUL

Do not assume that because you are busy, you cannot be guilty of sloth.

A person can be constantly moving and still have a heart of sloth.

A renowned writer described it this way:

«“Sloth is not to be confused with laziness. A slothful man may be a very busy man. He is a man who goes through the motions, who flies on automatic pilot.”»

Such a person is like a spiritual zombie. He does enough to complete his duties so he can return to his comfort.

He may have a full schedule, but he does not want his schedule interrupted by someone in need.

The ancient Christian understanding of sloth is therefore deeper than simply being lazy at work. It can mean being lazy about love.

And that brings us back to the central question:

How important is being comfortable, and how often does our desire for comfort prevent us from showing love to others?

People often say:

«“I don't have time.”»

But we usually make time for the things that matter most to us.

The way we spend our time reveals what we value.

So the real questions are:

How important is serving God?

How important is showing love to others?

The answers will reveal whether we are becoming diligent or slothful.

If we struggle with sloth, we will have difficulty getting started. We will fail to finish. We will make excuses. And deep inside, we may discover that we care more about our comfort than about serving God and loving others.

---

CONCLUSION

Slothfulness is not simply about sleeping late, sitting on the couch or taking a rest.

Rest is necessary. Recreation is not sinful. But when comfort, procrastination, apathy and self-interest prevent us from doing what God has called us to do, sloth becomes a spiritual problem.

God calls us to diligence.

He calls us to work, serve, love, persevere, finish what we begin and make good use of the opportunities He gives us.

Let us therefore examine ourselves.

Are we having trouble getting started?

Are we failing to finish what we begin?

Are we constantly making excuses?

Are we allowing comfort to become more important than service?

Are we busy but spiritually indifferent?

Are we becoming spiritually lazy without even realizing it?

Let us pray the prayer:

«“Search me, O Lord, and see if there is any sloth in my heart.”»

May God help us to replace slothfulness with diligence, apathy with love, procrastination with action, excuses with responsibility, and comfort with faithful service.

LET US PRAY

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GREED: One of The Seven Deadly Sins

There is a fairy-tale story of a man walking along the beach who finds an old bottle. He picks it up, pulls out the cork, and POOF!—out comes a genie.

The genie says, "Thank you for freeing me. In return, I will grant you three wishes."

The man says, "I've always dreamed of this. I know exactly what I want. First, I want fifty billion Naira in five Nigeria major banks account."

POOF! A flash of light, and five pieces of paper with his account numbers appears in his hand.

Then he says, "Second, I want a brand-new red Benz4matic latest version ."

POOF! A beautiful red Benz4matic appears right in front of him.

Finally, he says, "For my third wish, I want to be irresistible to women."

POOF! Suddenly, he turns into a box of chocolates.

I guess the moral is: if you're going to be greedy, be a little more specific!

But beneath the humour is a serious truth. Greed is the desire for more—even when we already have enough.

The Root of Sin
This week, we come to the fourth sin in our study of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Some people may wonder why we spend so much time talking about sin when we could be talking about grace, love, and Jesus. But sin is an important subject because the purpose of recognizing our sins is not to make us depressed or hopeless. It is to help us recognize where we need God's grace and allow Him to lead us toward holiness.

The more closely we walk with God, the more aware we become of our shortcomings. Worship gives us an opportunity to confess those shortcomings, seek forgiveness, encourage one another, and move forward in a holier life.

So far, we have examined envy, vainglory, and anger.

What connects all seven deadly sins?

The ancient Christian teachers often identified pride as the root. But I believe we can also describe their common root as selfishness.

Each of these sins puts our own desires and welfare above what is best for others.

That is the opposite of love.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 that love "does not envy or boast," "is not irritable," and "keeps no record of wrongs."

When I give myself over to lust, envy, anger, greed, or any of the other deadly sins, I am essentially saying, "My desires matter more than everything and everyone else."

When everyone lives that way, the result is conflict, competition, resentment, and broken relationships.

Selfishness is therefore at the heart of sin.

What Is Greed?
Greed is so common in our society that many people no longer consider it a sin.

An advertisement about greed pictured a giver surrounded by letters beginning, "Dear Sir, I want..." The caption said, in effect, that although our list of desires may change as we grow older, it never seems to become shorter.

Our culture constantly tells us that we need more.

Movies constantly filters into our homes with the idea that "Greed is good."

But what does greed actually mean?

Greed is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or possessions.

In the traditional list of the Seven Deadly Sins, the word often used is avarice, meaning an extreme desire for wealth or material gain.

So, in this sermon, when we speak of greed, we are particularly talking about an excessive love of money and the things money can buy.

The Bible takes this subject very seriously.

In fact, Scripture speaks about money repeatedly—more often than it speaks about sex. That alone should tell us something about how seriously God takes our attitude toward possessions.

Consider some biblical examples.

King Ahab wanted Naboth's vineyard so badly that Naboth was eventually killed so Ahab could possess it.

Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. People sometimes try to find other explanations for Judas's betrayal, but Scripture gives us no reason to look beyond his love of money.

Paul warns in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is "a root of all kinds of evil."

Jesus gave perhaps the strongest warning when He said:

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
—Matthew 19:24

But does that mean being wealthy is automatically sinful?

No.

Abraham was wealthy. Job was wealthy. David was wealthy. Joseph of Arimathea was wealthy.

The problem is not simply having money.

The problem is when money has us.

Greed Can Affect Any of Us

It is easy to look at someone richer than us and say, "That person is greedy."

We might think, "When I'm a millionaire, then I'll worry about greed."

But Paul was writing to ordinary Christians when he told them that greed is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).

Greed is therefore not merely a problem for the wealthy.

The real question is:

How do we recognize greed in our own hearts?

Is it greedy to live in a comfortable home?

Is it greedy to own a nice car?

Is it greedy to have savings, investments, or credit cards?

We cannot answer those questions simply by looking at what someone owns.

Greed is ultimately a heart condition, but what is in the heart eventually becomes visible through our actions.

Greed and Generosity

One of the best ways to recognize greed is to compare it with its opposite: generosity.

John writes:
"If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?"
—1 John 3:17
So ask yourself:

Am I eager to use what I have to help others, or am I constantly trying to hold on to everything I have?

Thomas Aquinas called the opposite of greed liberality—a word connected to liberty.

That is significant because generosity gives us freedom from our attachment to money and possessions.

The more possessions we accumulate, the more time, money, and energy we often need to protect and maintain them.

We think more possessions will make us secure, but sometimes they produce the opposite: more worry, more anxiety, and an even greater desire for more.

Generosity loosens our grip.

The Macedonian Christians are a wonderful example. Paul says that despite their extreme poverty, they overflowed with generosity and even begged for the privilege of helping other believers (2 Corinthians 8:2–4).

They did not see giving as a burden.

They saw it as a privilege.

That is one of the marks of genuine generosity: giving becomes a joy rather than an obligation.

The amount we give is important, but the condition of our heart is equally important.

Jesus praised the poor widow who gave her two small coins because her gift demonstrated complete devotion to God (Luke 21:1–4).

Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, generously provided his own new tomb for Jesus (Matthew 27:57–60).

In both cases, the issue was not simply the size of the gift. It was the willingness to give.

How Much Should We Give?

This raises an uncomfortable question:

How generous must we be before we can say we are not greedy?

Aquinas taught that generous people should generally give away more than they keep.

Compare Bill Gates with Elon Musk

From the last list of the fifty richest people in the world, you’ll see that Elon Musk is up there with about 900billion dollars, bill Gates trails far back with 287billion dollars, but when you look at the giving index you see that Bill Gates has given away 385billion dollars of his wealth which represents about 60% of his total worth. Compare this to Elon Must that has given out only 95billion dollars of his possessions. If Elon Musk were to be as generous as Bill Gates, that means about 540billion dollars of his wealth would have been given to the poor and charities, which would have left him with only 360billion dollars. That’s what greed causes. If you have three cars and your relatives and acquaintances are looking for a car for business to feed their family and you still hold on to the three cars I’m sorry YOU ARE MORE THAN GREEDY.

Paul gives a similar principle in Ephesians 4:28. He says we should work honestly so that we may have something to share with those in need.

In other words, work is not merely about increasing our lifestyle. Our ability to earn also gives us the ability to help others.

This is difficult for us because we naturally think:

"I worked for this. It's mine."

Why Is Generosity Difficult?

Aquinas identified two reasons generosity is difficult.

1. We Earned It

It is difficult to give away something we worked hard to obtain.

Children can easily put their parents' money into an offering. But when that money becomes their own hard-earned income, giving suddenly becomes much harder.

We are also more comfortable spending someone else's money.

Our possessions become connected to our identity.

We say:

"It's mine. I earned it. I paid for it."

Greed is not simply about possessing more. It is about becoming attached to what we possess.

Even toddlers quickly learn the word "mine."

Unfortunately, many adults never grow out of it.

2. We Have Experienced Poverty or Fear of Poverty

Someone who has experienced serious financial hardship may find it difficult to let go of money.

The fear of poverty can remain even after the poverty is gone.

During World War II, many refugee and orphaned children were so traumatized by hunger that they could not sleep because they feared they would have no food the next day. Someone discovered that if each child was given a piece of bread to hold while sleeping, they could finally rest because they knew they had food for tomorrow.

Fear can make us cling tightly to what we have.

That is why generosity requires trust in God.

Paul told Timothy:

"Do not put your hope in the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share."
—1 Timothy 6:17–18

God says, Trust Me, not your money.

Greed and Trust

Earlier we said that the opposite of greed is generosity.

But we can also say that the opposite of greed is trust in God.

Proverbs 28:25 says:

"A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched."

Greed and trust stand on opposite sides.

So the question becomes:

Who or what do I really trust?

Do I trust God to provide for me?

Or do I feel that I must accumulate enough money so that I will never need to depend on God?

There is an irony in the words printed on American money: "In God We Trust."

But in America, many people trust the money more than they trust God.

Aquinas argued that wealth can give us an illusion of self-sufficiency. When we believe we can provide everything for ourselves, we can gradually lose our sense of dependence on God.

Greed says:

"I need enough so that I can take care of myself without needing anyone—including God."

That is why greed can ultimately become idolatry.

Money becomes our security, our identity, and our source of confidence.

How Much Is Too Much?

This is where things become complicated.

How much is enough?

How much is too much?

Early Christian communities sometimes lived extremely simple lives. Some monks made baskets, sold them, bought only what they needed, and gave the remainder away because they wanted to learn daily dependence on God.

But Christianity does not teach that every believer must live with bare walls, one meal a day, and two sets of clothes.

Augustine and Aquinas recognized that human beings have legitimate needs and that people should live in a manner appropriate to their circumstances.

Money and possessions are not evil in themselves.

Jesus fasted, but He also attended feasts.

The problem is not having possessions.

The problem is becoming possessed by our possessions.

Our possessions should serve us; our lives should not become servants of our possessions.

Greed makes it difficult to know what "enough" means.

Think about clothing.

Some people remember when they owned only two sets of clothes—one for school and one for church.

Today, many people feel they need closets filled with clothes and shoes.

The same is true of technology.

We may once have lived perfectly well without a computer. Today, we may say, "I absolutely need one—and it must be fast, powerful, and connected to the Internet!"

The line between need and desire can become very thin.

A luxury has been described as "something we absolutely do not need."

The challenge is that we have become very good at convincing ourselves that our desires are necessities.

What Does My Money Say About Me?

Here is one practical way to examine yourself:

Imagine someone had access to all your financial records—your bank statements, investments, purchases, bills, and spending habits—but knew nothing else about you.

What would your spending reveal about you?

What would they conclude that you love?

Where would they see your priorities?

Jesus taught that where our treasure is, our heart will be also.

Our spending patterns often reveal what our hearts value most.

Breaking Free from Greed

If greed has a hold on us, how do we break free?

1. Examine Your Spending

For one month, record everything you spend.

At the end of the month, divide your spending into categories—food, transportation, entertainment, clothing, household expenses, giving, and so on.

Then ask:

• What could I have lived without?
• Which purchases were unnecessary?
• How much did I spend on myself?
• How much did I give to others?
• Does my spending reveal trust in God or dependence on myself?
This exercise can reveal things about our hearts that we may not otherwise see.

2. Take a Break from Consumerism

For one month, deliberately reduce your exposure to things designed to make you want more.

Don't browse shopping sites simply because you're bored.

Don't walk through stores just to see what you can find.

Limit unnecessary exposure to advertisements, catalogues, shopping channels, and social media marketing.

We are constantly being told that we need something new.

The more we expose ourselves to that message, the more our desires grow.

3. Give

Perhaps the most powerful way to fight greed is simply to give.

I'm not saying that you must give away everything you own.

But deliberately become more generous.

Give to charity groups.

Give to people in need.

Help someone who is struggling.

Instead of spending everything on yourself and giving out whatever remains, put generosity into your priorities.

Giving loosens our grip on money.

It reminds us that everything we possess ultimately belongs to God.

We become stewards rather than owners.

And when we give, we demonstrate that we trust God to continue providing for our needs.

The goal is not simply to obey a rule about giving.

The goal is to allow God to re-form our hearts so that generosity becomes natural—something we do out of gratitude, joy, and love.

Conclusion
Greed is not simply having money.

Greed is loving money more than we love God and people.

It is not simply possessing things.

It is being possessed by things.

It is not merely wanting something.

It is believing that we will never have enough.

Greed tells us:

"More will make me secure."

But Jesus tells us to trust our Heavenly Father.

Greed says:

"Hold on tightly."

God says:

"Be generous."

Greed says:

"Everything I have is mine."

Faith says:

"Everything I have comes from God, and I am a steward of His blessings."

We do not overcome greed simply by getting rid of possessions. We overcome it by changing our relationship with possessions.

Let money remain a servant rather than becoming our master.

Let our possessions serve God's purposes rather than becoming the purpose of our lives.

And let generosity become evidence that our trust is in God rather than in wealth.

So this week, make this your prayer:

"Search me, O Lord, and see if there is any greed in my heart."

And when God reveals it, do not run from what He shows you.

Confess it.

Release it.

Give.

Trust God.

And allow Him to free your heart from the grip of greed.

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

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ANGER: One of The Seven Deadly Sins

Two brothers grew up sharing the same room, the same food, and the same dreams. One afternoon, a simple argument over money turned into shouting. One brother, blinded by anger, picked up a wooden stool and threw it. He never intended to hurt anyone. But the stool struck his brother's head. Within minutes, the laughter that once filled the house was replaced by screams and tears.
Standing beside the hospital bed, he whispered through his tears, "If only I had controlled my anger."

One moment of uncontrolled anger changed two lives forever.

Today, we will examine one of the seven deadly sins—anger. Is anger just an emotion, or can it become a destructive force that ruins families, friendships, and even our relationship with God?

I do not need to spend much time convincing you that anger is dangerous. We have all experienced moments when we became so angry that we said or did something we later regretted. We often say, "I lost it." That expression is revealing because anger often causes us to lose control of ourselves.

Many of the Bible's greatest tragedies were fuelled by anger. Cain murdered his brother Abel because of resentment. Jonah refused God's command to preach to Nineveh because he was angry with God's mercy. When Jesus preached His first sermon in Nazareth, His listeners became so enraged that they attempted to throw Him off a cliff.

A police officer was once asked what frightened him most in his work. Surprisingly, he did not mention armed robbers or burglars. He answered, "Anger." He explained that the bloodiest crimes are usually committed by people who know one another—husbands and wives, relatives, friends, or neighbours. When anger controls a person, terrible things happen.

The officer admitted something else. He also feared anger in himself. He constantly reminded himself, "I'm only doing my job." He knew that the moment he allowed anger to control him, he could easily abuse his authority.

The Bible repeatedly warns us about anger.

Solomon wrote:

"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly" (Proverbs 14:29).

Again he warned:

"Make no friendship with a man given to anger... lest you learn his ways" (Proverbs 22:24–25).

And again:

"Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools" (Ecclesiastes 7:9).

Paul includes "fits of anger" among the works of the flesh that keep people from inheriting God's kingdom (Galatians 5:20), and in Colossians 3:8 he commands believers to put away "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language."

There is little doubt that uncontrolled anger destroys lives. Relationships have ended, families have been divided, and innocent people have been wounded because someone failed to control their temper. A few seconds of anger can leave scars that last a lifetime.

Is All Anger Sinful?

At first, the answer seems obvious. Yet Scripture presents another side.

The Bible speaks of the wrath of God against sin. Jesus Himself became angry. In Mark 3:5, He looked at the religious leaders "with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart." After entering Jerusalem, He drove the money changers from the temple, overturning their tables and declaring, "My house shall be called a house of prayer."

History also gives us examples of righteous anger. Mothers become angry when drunk drivers kill innocent children. People speak out against rape, injustice, human trafficking, and oppression because they care. Martin Luther King Jr. confronted racial injustice with righteous passion. Without that holy indignation, many great reforms would never have taken place.

Righteous anger reminds us that evil should never become normal. It awakens our conscience and moves us to defend the oppressed. As someone wisely observed, "I cannot follow a Messiah who never overturned tables."
Clearly, not every expression of anger is sinful.

Two Christian Perspectives

Throughout Christian history, believers have wrestled with this question.

Thomas Aquinas believed anger is a natural human emotion. By itself it is neither good nor evil. It becomes sinful only when it is directed at the wrong object, expressed wrongly, or allowed to become excessive. He based this on Paul's instruction:

"Be angry and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26).

According to Aquinas, anger can serve justice. When we witness evil done to others, anger motivates us to correct wrongs and defend the innocent.

John Cassian, however, took a stricter position. He believed anger almost always blinds our judgment. Once anger controls us, our concern for justice quickly becomes a desire for revenge.

James supports this concern:

"Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" (James 1:20).

Paul also teaches:

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves... for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

Cassian argued that all anger should be put away because it easily turns into bitterness, hatred, and revenge.

Although Aquinas and Cassian approached anger differently, they agreed on one important truth: sinful anger always turns our attention away from God's justice and toward satisfying ourselves.

The real question, therefore, is not whether we ever become angry. The real question is this:

When does righteous anger become sinful wrath?

That is the question we must answer.

When Righteous Anger Becomes Sinful Wrath

A wise saying puts it this way:

”A person who is angry on the right grounds, against the right person, in the right way, at the right time, and for the right length of time deserves praise.”

That statement exposes where most of us fail. Our anger is usually motivated by selfishness rather than righteousness.

1. We Are Often Angry for the Wrong Reasons

At its best, anger is rooted in love and motivated by justice. We become angry because someone we love has been hurt or because innocent people are being oppressed.

A mother fiercely protects her children because she loves them. The stronger the love, the stronger the desire to defend them. Thomas Aquinas even taught that genuine anger is ultimately rooted in love.

The problem is that this is rarely the kind of anger that fills our hearts.

We may feel sadness when we hear of terrorism, domestic violence, human trafficking, or children starving because of poverty. Yet many of us become far angrier when someone cuts us off in traffic, or in a queue, criticizes us, ignores our efforts, or asks us to do something we do not want to do.

Most of our anger is not really about justice—it is about ourselves.

We become angry because our plans are interrupted, our pride is wounded, our comfort is disturbed, or our expectations are not met. Then we convince ourselves that we are simply “standing for what is right,” when in reality we are defending our own interests.

Sinful anger says, “I didn’t get what I wanted, and someone must pay.”

Whenever our anger is driven by selfish ambition rather than love for God and others, it has already become sinful.

2. We Are Often Angry at the Wrong People

Another problem is that we often direct our anger toward people who are not responsible for it.

A customer insults a waitress because the cook prepared a poor meal.

An employee endures a difficult boss all day, then returns home and lashes out at a spouse or children.

A tired parent, exhausted by a difficult day, explodes over a child’s small mistake.

Sometimes we are even angry with God because of painful circumstances, but since we cannot attack Him, we release our frustration on the people around us.

The innocent often become victims of anger they did not create.

Before speaking in anger, we should ask ourselves, “Am I angry with this person, or am I simply taking out my frustration on the nearest target?”

3. We Often Express Our Anger in the Wrong Way

Even when our anger begins with a legitimate concern, we often express it sinfully.

Thomas Aquinas identified three common failures.

We Become Angry Too Easily

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:5 that "Love is not easily provoked." Love is not irritable or quick-tempered.

The Greek word Paul uses describes a sudden outburst or violent reaction. It paints the picture of someone who explodes at the slightest provocation.
Some people seem to have a very short fuse. Every inconvenience irritates them. A delayed appointment, a ringing phone, slow traffic, an untidy room, or an unexpected interruption is enough to ruin their day. Their words become sharp, sarcastic, or even abusive.
But love does not live on the edge of an explosion. Love is patient. Love gives people the benefit of the doubt. Love refuses to make every small offense into a major conflict.

If every little thing sets us off, our anger is controlling us instead of us controlling our anger.

We Become Angrier Than We Should

Another danger is that our reaction is often far greater than the offense.

A minor disagreement becomes a shouting match. A careless remark leads to days of silence. A simple mistake is treated as though it were a deliberate betrayal.

Why does this happen?

Often the immediate problem is not the real problem. Our anger has been building for weeks, months, or even years.

For example, an older child may explode when asked to wash the dishes. On the surface, the issue seems small. But underneath lies years of feeling overlooked, unfairly treated, or burdened with more responsibility than the younger children. The dishes are only the spark; the deeper resentment is the fuel.

The same happens in marriages, workplaces, and churches. We carry unresolved hurts until one small incident releases years of accumulated frustration.

This does not mean there was never a legitimate grievance. It means our response has become disproportionate because unresolved resentment has magnified it.

As believers, we must deal with offenses early before they grow into bitterness.

We Stay Angry Too Long

Some people explode in anger. Others never explode—they simply smoulder.

Imagine throwing a lit match into a room filled with petrol. The result is an immediate explosion.

Now imagine that firefighters extinguish the flames, but deep beneath the ashes, small embers continue to burn for days or even weeks.

That is what resentment looks like.

Some people express anger openly; others bury it deep inside. They replay old conversations, remember every insult, and quietly nurse grudges for years.

Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 13:5, saying that love "keeps no record of wrongs."

The phrase comes from the language of accounting. An accountant records every transaction in a ledger so nothing is forgotten.

Many people keep a similar ledger in their hearts.

They remember every insult, every broken promise, every betrayal, every disappointment. Years later, they can still recount the details as though they happened yesterday.

Such resentment poisons the soul. It destroys friendships, divides families, weakens churches, and robs us of peace.

Many Christians would never lose their temper publicly, yet they quietly carry bitterness for decades.

That, too, is sinful anger.

Wrath is no longer seeking justice; it seeks revenge. It no longer wants healing; it wants someone to suffer.

God calls us to forgive because He has forgiven us. We cannot claim His mercy while refusing to extend mercy to others.
The longer anger remains in our hearts, the more it hardens us and the more difficult it becomes to love as Christ loves.

The Difference Between Righteous Anger and Sinful Wrath
How, then, do we distinguish righteous anger from sinful wrath?

The answer lies in the heart.

Righteous anger has justice as its purpose and love as its foundation. It seeks to defend the innocent, protect the weak, confront evil, and restore what is right. Its goal is not to destroy people but to correct wrongs. Even when it speaks firmly, it is controlled by love.

This is the kind of anger we see in Jesus. He was angry at hardened hearts, religious hypocrisy, and the corruption of God’s temple. Yet His anger was never selfish. It was always directed toward God’s glory and the good of others.

Sinful anger is very different.

It is rooted in pride, selfishness, wounded ego, and the desire for revenge. Instead of asking, “How can this wrong be made right?” it asks, “How can I make this person suffer?” It is more interested in protecting personal honour than in honouring God.

Romans 12:19 reminds us:

”Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

When we insist on taking revenge into our own hands, we assume a role that belongs only to God.

The greatest danger of anger is not simply the damage it causes around us, but the condition it reveals within us. Angry words and actions are often symptoms of deeper sins—pride, selfishness, unforgiveness, jealousy, or a desire to control others.

Jesus taught that sin begins in the heart. Therefore, lasting victory over anger comes not merely by controlling our mouths but by allowing God to transform our hearts.

A Time for Self-Examination

How can we know whether anger has become a problem in our lives?

One helpful exercise is to keep an anger journal for one week.

Whenever you become angry, write down:

- What happened?
- Who were you angry with?
- How intense was your anger on a scale of 1 to 100?
- How did you respond?

Then put the journal away for another week.

When you read it again after your emotions have cooled, ask yourself:

- Was I angry for the right reason?
- Was I angry with the right person?
- Did I express my anger in the right way?
- Did I remain angry longer than I should have?
- What patterns or triggers keep appearing?

Perhaps you become angry whenever people disappoint you, interrupt your plans, criticize you, or fail to meet your expectations.

You may discover that many situations which seemed important in the moment now appear petty and self-centred.

Honest self-examination is the first step toward spiritual growth.

David prayed,

”Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23 and 24)

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, anger itself is not always sinful. There is a righteous anger that hates evil, defends the innocent, and seeks justice. But most of our anger is not like God’s anger. Too often, it is driven by wounded pride, selfish desires, impatience, and a thirst for revenge.

The question is not, “Do I get angry?” The question is, “Why do I get angry? At whom am I angry? How do I express my anger? And what is my anger producing?”

If our anger destroys relationships, wounds people with our words, causes us to hold grudges, or leads us away from Christ, then it has become sinful wrath.

The Holy Spirit wants to produce in us a different character. Instead of rage, He produces love. Instead of revenge, He produces forgiveness. Instead of harshness, He produces gentleness. Instead of impatience, He produces self-control.

The world tells us to follow our feelings. Christ calls us to surrender them.

Today, let us lay our anger at the foot of the cross. Let us forgive those who have hurt us, release every grudge into God’s hands, and trust Him to bring justice in His own perfect time.

May we all from this week, determined to be people who are slow to anger, rich in mercy, quick to forgive, and eager to love, just as our Heavenly Father has loved us.

Invitation

If there is someone you need to forgive, forgive them today.

If there is someone you have wounded with angry words, seek them out and make peace.

If anger has become a stronghold in your life, do not hide it. Bring it to Christ, for He alone can change the human heart.

The Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Let us leave here today as peacemakers, reflecting the character of Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray.
Our gracious and loving Father, we thank You for Your Word, which searches our hearts and reveals what is hidden within us. We confess that many times we have allowed anger to control our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Forgive us for every harsh word, every act of revenge, every grudge we have carried, and every relationship we have damaged because of uncontrolled anger.

Lord, create in us clean hearts and renew a right spirit within us. Help us to be slow to anger, quick to listen, and eager to forgive. Give us the wisdom to distinguish between righteous anger that seeks justice and sinful wrath that seeks revenge.

Teach us to love as Christ loved, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to leave vengeance in Your hands. Fill us with the fruit of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Where there are broken relationships, give us the courage to seek reconciliation. Where there is bitterness, replace it with forgiveness. Where there is hatred, plant Your love.

May our lives reflect the gentleness and holiness of Jesus Christ so that others may see Him in us. As this week unfolds, help us to be peacemakers in our homes, workplaces, communities, and churches.
We ask all these things in the precious and powerful name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen
This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

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Good morning brethren
Please who can recommend a good spot welding machine that can handle 0.3mm nickel strip, and where to buy.

Thanks

Please who can recommend a good spot welding machine that can handle 0.3mm nickel strip, and where to buy.

Thanks

THE HEAVENLY CHURCH

VAINGLORY: One of The Seven Deadly Sins

Imagine you are at a wedding reception. The church service has ended, and everyone is outside chatting. As usual, there are groups of young ladies talking and laughing together.

A well-dressed young man notices one of the groups. He walks close enough for them to hear him. He slips his hand into his pocket, brings out what appears to be a brand-new iPhone, and begins a loud conversation.

"Nduka, have you transferred the ₦10 million I asked for yesterday? Please don't make me angry. I gave you ₦50 million, and you promised to pay me back in four months. It has been over six months now. I need that ₦10 million to clear my five 40-foot containers from Customs. I have already promised the clearing officer I will pay today or, at the latest, Monday.

"I'm at a wedding right now. After the reception, I have to stop by my mechanic's workshop because all three of my cars broke down at the same time. I wanted to drive my Mercedes 4MATIC today, but it developed a fault just before I left. Please don't disappoint me. You know too much of my money is tied up in those containers."

The ladies exchange glances. Some are already impressed. Others are whispering, "This man is wealthy."

What they do not know is that the iPhone is dead. It was hurriedly assembled by a phone repairer just for this performance. There is no call in progress. The SIM card is actually inside the cheap Java phone hidden in his other pocket—and that phone is on silent. The entire conversation is a carefully rehearsed drama designed to create an image that does not exist.

Even the clothes and shoes he was wearing were all borrowed

The greatest tragedy is not that people can deceive others; it is that they can become so committed to pretending that they begin to deceive themselves. It is called VAINGLORY

Last week we talked about envy, which is not just wanting what someone else has, but wishing that they didn’t have it either. And we saw that most of us tend to struggle with that sin. I hope that our prayer this past week has been, “Search me, O Lord, and see if there is any envy in my heart.”

This week, we want to look at the second of the Seven Deadly Sins, which we called Vainglory. I had originally intended to use the word Pride because I think that’s a word that is much more familiar to us, but I think Vainglory is a better word to use to describe what this sin is, even though it’s not a word that we use very often.

So what’s the difference between Pride and Vainglory?

Summed up in just a few words, the difference is this. Pride says, “I think I’m someone great.” Vainglory says, “I want you to think I’m someone great.” Vainglory is all about the human desire for honour and glory, recognition and approval.

What makes vainglory different from pride is its concern about what others think. Proud people want more than anything else to be “number one”—they seek greatness and superiority. Vainglorious people, on the other hand, don’t really care if they are the best, as long as other people think they are the best. Vainglory will seek whatever will bring the most public applause, whether it’s deserving or not. Vainglory is a desire for recognition and acclaim.


In vainglory, we seek only the “appearance of excellence.” That is, we want more than anything else to be recognized, noticed.

And this is a strong temptation for us, because I think there is within all of us an innate desire, perhaps even a need for recognition. Someone has referred to recognition as “the cornerstone of self-esteem” and she says, “We all need to be recognized. It’s not a matter of pride, selfishness or immaturity. Human beings, from the earliest moments in their lives, absolutely need respect and affection from everyone around them.”

And we can see that that’s true in our own lives. We all know what it’s like to want our boss to recognize the hard work that we do, or to desire public acknowledgment and approval for who we are or what we have accomplished. A deep part of us that seeks approval.




And as the early church fathers pointed out, perhaps our greatest temptation from Vainglory comes when we have virtue and good character, because it seems to bothers us most when our virtue goes unnoticed, or when we deserve honour that is not actually given to us. while other vices find their abode in the servants of the devil, vainglory finds a place in the servants of Christ.

We see this in our churches, where our pastors climb the pulpit to tell us the miracles they performed 20 30 40year-ago. Some boast of the expensive shoes and suits they wear. One even had the impetus to tell the congregation he’s milking that he doesn’t wear one suit twice, some boast of the number of cars and land they have. What baffles me is that, most of this glory seeking is done in front of the people that contribute their resources for them to acquire those tthings.

When you climb the pulpit and start telling people the miracles, if genuine at all, that God did through you in the past what’s your aim. It’s like Paul going to Ephesians from Corinthians and telling the people in Ephesus, did you hear how many people that were death that I brought to life in Corinth? VAINGLORY

In fact, as we look to the scriptures for examples of vainglory, it is among the most religious that we find this sin most frequently. There are examples in the Old Testament. I think all of the people we talked about last week as being guilty of envy were also guilty of vainglory – Cain, Rachel, Haman. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it was vainglory that led them all to the sin of envy.

But I think the best example of vainglory is found in the New Testament. Jesus directly confronts vainglory in his Sermon on the Mount. And he warns especially against the religious form of vainglory. Because it is sometimes tempting for us to try to look like a better Christian than we really are, in order to win approval and acclaim from others.

Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.…


“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” (Matthew 6:1-2,5).

Jesus is obviously targeting the Pharisees here. He calls them out for the motivation behind their public prayers and their giving. He said they do this “in order to be seen by others.” They wanted people to whisper to one another, “Did you hear that prayer? That was awesome. I don’t know anybody else who can pray as good as that.” Or, “Look at how much he put in the collection plate! He’s one of the most important members of this synagogue.”

But Jesus makes it clear what the result of vainglory is. He says, “If you’re doing what you do so that other people will talk about how wonderful you are, then you’ll get what you want. But that’s all you’ll get. A life spent craving human glory and praise, full of empty-hearted acts for the sake of appearances and audiences, will bring only the fleeting applause the world can give.

Some of Jesus’ harshest words were for the Pharisees, because they were more concerned about the appearance and outward observances of religion than a heart truly dedicated to worshipping God. He said in Matthew 23,

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. (Matthew 23:25-26)


Imagine you were invited to a party, as you got to the hall everything was exquisitely arranged; nice decorations, wonderful background music etc, then when the time comes for entertainment, you asked for pounded yam and egusi soup, it was brought you washed your hands and quickly took a swallow, then you look into the plate of soup, behold a life cockroach was trying to crawl out from the soup.

This analogy may look extreme but it’s exactly the sort of image Jesus wanted to convey. And if that were to happen to you, I don’t care how nice everything else was, there is absolutely no way you’re ever going to attain that guys party again. Because the cleanliness on the inside is much more important than the cleanliness on the outside.

But Jesus said that was exactly what the scribes and the Pharisees had done. They went through all the right motions of religion, they gave the appearance of pious devo¬tion to God because that was the part that everyone could see. Everyone could see how they went to church every week and they fasted and they prayed and they gave lots of money during offerings. And people would be amazed at how righteous they were.

But on the inside, their hearts were absolutely corrupt. They had the appearance of being righteous, and they were recognized by everyone around them for their righteousness, but it was all just a show.

You see, we can criticize the Pharisees, and feel good while we’re doing it, but the truth is, we all struggle with the same thing. We all have a tendency to clean the outside but neglect the inside. Because it’s the outside that everybody else sees, and we want to make sure we make a good impression on everybody around us.

Then Jesus used another illustration. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beauti¬ful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-28).

Now, this isn’t a very familiar image to us, so allow me to explain what Jesus was talking about. Once a year, the Jewish people of the first century carried out a ritual. I suppose you could call it their rainy season cleaning. By that time of year, the rains had ended. And those rains had washed away quite a bit, including any whitewash that had been used on their walls and houses. So, as part of their cleaning, they would put a fresh coat of whitewash on their homes, on their walls and especially on the limestone caves and tombs where people were buried.

They began doing this just before the Passover feast when Jews would be traveling from all over the world to Jerusalem. There were a couple of reasons they did this. First of all, they wanted to make the community more attractive. But perhaps even more important, they wanted to keep a traveller on his way to Jerusalem from accidentally touching a tomb and becoming defiled.

So the Jews very carefully marked all the tombs with whitewash. Sometimes the entire tomb was painted and other times, bones were painted on it to mark it as a sepulchre. Because of all the whitewash, it is said that Jerusalem and its surrounding area glistened in the sunlight during the Passover season.

But even though the tombs were whitewashed and they may have looked beautiful, that didn’t change what they were. Today, you can go to any cemetery and you will find tombs that are absolutely beautiful, made of granite and marble, with intricate carvings and statues. But, on the inside, they’re all alike. They’re all full of rotting flesh and bones. Jesus said the same thing was true of the Jewish leaders. They may have looked good on the outside, but on the inside their hearts were corrupt.

One of the primary reasons that Jesus constantly warred with the Pharisees was that their religion was merely one of externals. Outwardly, they showed respect for their dedication and their commitment to the law. But they did it out of Vainglory. They only did it so that everyone would recognize what great men they were. But on the inside, they were as far from the spirit of God as they could possi-bly be.

The Pharisees were obsessed with their image. They wanted to be looked up to and respected. They loved the praise of men and the status that it brought. They were guilty of vainglory.

But that’s enough pointing of fingers at others. Let’s take a look at our hearts for a bit and see how vainglory can manifest itself in our lives.

How does vainglory manifest itself in our lives?

 Going along with the crowd just so that we will “fit in”

A man tells a story about his teenage years. One night he and some friends were hanging out with not enough to do. They decided to steal pears from a neighbouring farmer. They didn’t need the pears. They didn’t even want the pears. In fact, they ended up throwing them to the pigs. They took the pears just for the fun of stealing.

As he thought back on this crime, he tried to figure out what it was that fuelled his desire to sin. And he came to the conclusion that he wouldn’t have done it if he had been alone. He did it because he wanted to impress his friends. How often have we done the same thing, either as teenagers, or as adults? How often have we felt pressured to do something that we knew wasn’t right, just so that we could maintain our standing among our friends or co-workers?

 Exaggerating
It would be hard to find someone who has never exaggerated something he has done, or made up something about himself to impress those who are listening. A recent survey of business owners showed that 62% of them had caught applicants in lies, embellishing their skills or capabilities. We do it in the stories we tell. That’s why the fish we managed to catch last year grows bigger and longer every time we re-tell the story. We exaggerate because we think that doing so will make other people think more highly of us.

 Gossip
We all know we shouldn’t talk about people behind their backs, but sometimes we can’t seem to help ourselves. Whether we’re among family, at work or with friends, a few spiteful words shared in confidence can give us such a boost. Saying bad things about other people makes us feel good.

Part of the reason we gossip is to get our friends to think that we are funny or entertaining, or to think that we are someone important because we have information that nobody else has. It’s vainglory.

 Hiding our true self
It’s ironic that the art of impressing others and gaining applause involves carefully hiding ourselves just as much as it involves showing ourselves off to advantage. To be lauded by others, there are things we cannot let them see. Winning their approval and praise requires not only that we put forward a false facade, but also the flip side of the coin: that we carefully conceal the ugly truth about ourselves.

 Doing good to be noticed
Doing good is always a good thing to do. But we need to look at our motive. Do we do something good with the expectation that others will notice it? Or do something good that others didn’t notice, and feel disappointed by that? If nobody noticed, would we still do what we did? And If you don’t think this is something we all struggle with, then try this experiment – this week, do something nice for someone anonymously and see how hard it is to not want to tell someone, anyone. That desire is vainglory.


 Boasting
Boasting simply means “to talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.” It makes sense that this sin is connected with vainglory because the only way you can be impressed about what I’ve done is for you to know what I’ve done. And if nobody else is going to tell you, then I need to do it.

The apostle Paul quoted Jeremiah saying, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Corinthians 10:17 18). In order words, it doesn’t really matter how great we think we are. All that matters is what God thinks of us.


In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to his followers, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16).

And then just a few verses later, Jesus warned us, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.” (Matthew 6:1). So we should do our good works in a way that they will be seen, but we shouldn’t do our good works in order to be seen.

The point Jesus is making is that whenever people see what we are doing, they should not be led to say, “Look how great you are!”, but “Look how great God is!”


To give up vainglory means that we got to relinquish our place at the centre of attention — to admit that from beginning to end, “it’s not about me.”

How do we overcome the temptation to vainglory?
I think this is tough because it’s hard to even imagine living a life in which we care more about what God thinks of us than what others think.

One of the best things we can do is probably one of the hardest, and that is, we need to learn to be quiet. The best suggestion is letting our lives and actions speak for themselves by silencing away all our self-made “spin.” Instead of elbowing into the conversation to justify ourselves or reframe the situation to make ourselves look better, to simply be quiet.

If we are silent, we can recognize this anxious seeking for others’ approval for what it is, we can acknowledge our need to constantly put ourselves in the best light and create an approving audience for ourselves, and meditate instead on God and ask him to take away our desire for recognition and acclamation.

We can start small, trying to take the spotlight off ourselves. What if we made the decision just for one day to let our actions speak for themselves, without defending ourselves when we think that others are being critical? What if we decide just for one day to listen to others, while refraining from conversation about ourselves, without telling stories about ourselves, without recounting our own set of events, or offering an account of our own feelings?

I challenge you to do this, because if you will make a concerted effort to do that for just one day, it will reveal how much mental effort and conversation and activity we devote every day to enhancing our image in the eyes of others or calling attention to ourselves to make others approve of us.

LET US PRAY
This week, may your prayer be “Search me , O Lord, and see if there is any vainglory in my heart.”

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

https:///IC6HmR6bDqJ4RrXzaBo6mZ?mode=ac_t

Good morning brethren
Please who can recommend a good spot welding machine that can handle 0.3mm nickel strip, and where to buy.

Thanks

THE HEAVENLY CHURCH
Envy: One of The Seven Deadly Sins

In Galatians 5:21, envy is listed as one of the works of the flesh.
Psalm 139:
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
Point out anything in me that offends you,
And lead me along the path of everlasting life.
In order for us to become more like Jesus Christ, we are going to have to figure out how to deal with the sin that’s in our lives.

1. What is Envy?
I think it’s important for us to draw a distinction between envy and jealousy. We tend to think of those two words as meaning pretty much the same thing, but there are two different Greek words found in the Bible – one which is translated “envy”, and the other which is translated “jealousy” – and they actually have different meanings. And envy is the worse of the two sins.

Here’s the difference. Jealousy says, “I’m jealous that you got a new iPhone.” What we mean by that is that I’d like to have one, too. And if I get one, I’m happy.

Jealousy says, “I want what you have.” But envy says, “Not only do I want what you have, but I also don’t want you to have it. I want it to have it instead of you having it.”

If I am jealous, then I can be happy as long as I can acquire this thing that I want. But if I am envious, I can only be happy if I can take that thing away from you. And if I can’t do that, I will at least be happy if you lose it.

What that means is that envy is not really concerned about that possession. Envy is more concerned with the honour or status or worth that goes along with having that possession. If an envious person wants something, it is because that object symbolizes or signifies its owner’s position.

For example, suppose you love cars. You especially appreciate the quality that goes into making certain cars. And you have your eye on a certain BMW that your neighbour is driving, because you love the driving performance of this particular model. You would love to have that car. That’s not envy. It’s jealousy, but it’s not envy.

But if you want the newest model of the BMW because it will make you feel superior to your neighbour, who just bought an older version of BMW, that would be envy. Anything but to be the only one in the neighbourhood still driving the latest and most expensive car.

But notice, it’s not the car that makes us envious, so much as what being the owner of that car says about who we are. It’s about the personal respect and admiration that we command when we drive up in that car. We don’t envy the car. Rather, we envy the superiority, the classiness of a person who drives that kind of car. Getting the car is just a way to be seen as the person we want to be seen as.

And not to have the car is not just to lack that thing, but it is to be less of a person, to be deficient in some way. To fail to receive that thing makes the envier feel less admirable, less worthy as a person.

Let me give you a biblical example, because we see this in the Jewish leaders and their attitude toward Jesus. Matthew 27:18 tells us that Pilate recognized that “it was because of envy that they had delivered him up.” You see, the Jewish leaders saw that Jesus had the respect of the people and they were envious of him.

They weren’t just jealous. It wasn’t just that they wanted more respect from the people. They were envious, because they saw that Jesus had the respect of the people and they wanted to take it away from him.

That’s why jealousy is sometimes a bad quality in the scriptures, but sometimes it’s a good quality. Jealousy simply means you want something very, very much. And as long as what you want is good thing, then there’s nothing wrong with wanting it. That’s why God is described as a jealous God. He wants a relationship with us more than anything else. So jealousy can sometimes be a good thing, but envy is always sinful.

Envy doesn’t like to see others achieve recognition or prominence, and it will do whatever it can to bring the other person down. An envious person is a lot like a crab. If crabs are caught by a fisherman in his basket and one starts to climb out, the other crabs will reach up and pull it back into the basket.
Envious people wants everyone else to be as unsuccessful as they are.
If I am envious, I can only be happy if I can take that thing away from you. And if I can’t do that, I will at least be happy if you lose it.

You may be thinking to yourself, envy is not one of those sins that I struggle with. That’s what I thought also until God revealed to me just how deeply ingrained envy is in our lives. Lets see if you can discover envy is your life as we go on.

2. Why Are We Envious?

At the very root of envy is the need to compare ourselves with others. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NCV), “We do not dare to compare ourselves with those who think they are very important. They use themselves to measure themselves, and they judge themselves by what they themselves are.”
And that’s what envy does. The bottom line for an envious person is how he stacks up against other people, because he measures his self-worth comparatively.
A good example of this comes from the story of Snow White. You remember how the Evil Queen stands in front of the mirror and wants to know, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who’s the fairest of them all?” And for a while, the mirror on the wall tells the Evil Queen that she is the most beautiful woman in the world.

But one day, the mirror informs her that Snow White has blossomed into the most beautiful woman in the world. And the Evil Queen goes into a rage. Because it’s not enough for her to be viewed as a beautiful woman. She can’t deal with being seen as less beautiful than someone else. It’s all about the comparison.

But it doesn’t just happen in fairy tales. Cain didn’t like the fact that God favoured Abel’s sacrifice over his own, so envy led him to kill his brother. Joseph’s brothers didn’t like the fact that Jacob loved Joseph more than he loved them, so envy led them to sell Joseph off as a slave. Rachel didn’t like the fact that Leah was held in higher regard because she had children, and so she got envious. King Saul couldn’t stand the fact that women were singing the song, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:7).

It’s not enough for an envious person to say, “I am good.” He feels the need to say, “I am better.” All of us have a need to be loved and found worthy, but an envious person makes attaining this love and worth a comparative game.

How many times do we see this in the apostles? Several times we read that “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” (Luke 22:24). They didn’t want to be viewed as “great”. They wanted to be seen as the “the greatest”. They felt the need to compare themselves with all of the other apostles and come out on top.

That’s why the strategy of envy is not just to get something for yourself, but to take down the person you envy. Envy’s view of the world is essentially antagonistic: it’s me-versus-you. If you are “up here” and I am “down here”, there’s only two ways I can get on the same level with you. I can raise myself up, but that’s a lot of work. Or I knock you down, which is a whole lot easier.

So what are some of the ways that we knock others down? Let me suggest some ways that envy can demonstrate itself. See if you can relate to any of these in your life:

• Envy feels offended at the talents, successes, or good fortune of others.
It’s very difficult to rejoice over somebody who does exactly what you do, but does it better.
• Envy feels a rivalry and competition.
Let me suggest that if you have a “competitive spirit”, you probably struggle with envy.
• Envy takes pleasure at other’s difficulties or distress;
A footballer is injured and his second takes his place on the pitch, the coach suddenly discovers that the one always on the bench is even better than his first choice, by the time the first choice returns from injury he realises that he has been replaced. He starts thinking a lot of terrible things in a situation like that as he sit on the bench. Even though he’s on your team, you want him to flub up and commit errors. Even worse, you wish that he would break his leg or something.
• Envy will assume the worst about others’ behaviours.
• Envy will belittle others and make false accusations;
• Envy will engage in backbiting (saying something bad behind someone’s back) or slander (saying something bad about someone in the open);
• Envy loves to gossip;
• Envy will arouse and foster antagonism against others;
• Envy will engage in teasing, bullying or ridicule.
• Envy will show prejudice against anyone whom we consider to be inferior, or those who consider us to be inferior, or those who seem to threaten our security or position.

There is a progression in this list, because sometimes envy involves what we think about, sometimes it’s how we feel, and sometimes it’s what we say and what we do. Envy tends to start out secretly (in fact, envy would prefer to accomplish its goal without being noticed), but if it is unsuccessful, the bitterness and resentment will grow. If it goes unchecked, envy will eventually lead to a full-scale hatred of a rival.

I Corinthians 13:4 says that “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast.” It should be obvious that the fundamental attitude of an envious person is directly opposed to love. If we love someone, then we want only good things for them and we rejoice when those good things happen.

As Paul tells us in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” But envy can’t bring itself to rejoice with those we view as our competitors. Envy weeps when good things happen to their rival, and envy rejoices when bad things happen.

And though it seems extreme, envy can eventually lead even to murder. You see it with Cain and Abel. You see it in the book of Esther where King Ahasuerus rewards Mordecai for saving his life. He puts Mordecai on a royal horse wearing a royal robe and leads him through the streets of the city. And that drove Haman absolutely crazy. He was so envious that he determined to do everything in his power to have Mordecai and all the other Jews killed.

And even if envy doesn’t lead to murder, it almost always causes strife. In fact, every passage in the New Testament that tells us not to be envious connects it with strife. “Let us walk….not in strife and envy.” (Romans 13:13). You see the same connection in James 3 and 1Corinthians 3.

But of all the things that happen as result of envy, perhaps the worst thing is what it does to the person who is envious.
When you think about it, it makes sense. Envy is probably the only sin that’s no fun. Think about it. If you lust after someone, it leads to some temporary pleasure. If you are guilty of gluttony, that can bring a lot of pleasure. But who enjoys envy, even for a moment? All envy does is make you miserable as you compare yourself to others and find yourself lacking. And the more envious you are, the sadder you become.

3. Who Do We Envy?
Let us consider who it is that we envy, because we aren’t envious of everybody, just certain people. And if we think about the people we envy, and why we envy them in particular, there’s a pattern that emerges.

Enviers don’t usually envy those who are very far removed from their own lives and lifestyles. That is to say, they don’t envy those who are vastly more talented or successful than they are. They tend to envy people that they think others will compare them to, people who are pretty much like them—only better.

Let me give you an example. When I read about Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo as the GOATS of football, you do not feel even a little bit of a twinge of envy. Because you’re inferior to them, you’re not envious because you don’t have to worry about anybody comparing you to them. Nobody has ever said, “Come on, Idahtonye, you can play better than these GOATS.”

Now if there’s another online preacher that people listen to and i hear them say, that guy is better than Pepple, his preaching is bomb. Now, the temptation to envy begins to take hold of me. Because the more they talk about how good he is, the more inadequate I feel by comparison. (I’m just using this to make example, my brethren, I envy no one, the gospel of Christ is to draw men to God, the more your gospel win souls for God, the happier I become. We are all workers in God’s vine yard).

If you read English and Literature in the university, you won’t be envious of a writer who wins the Nobel Prize for Literature, but you will very much be tempted to envy if you turn in a term paper that gets a B, but one of your friends gets an A.

If you are one of those people who defines yourself by your career status and your earning power, you will not find yourself being envious of Dangote or Siminialaye Fubara. But you will very much be tempted to envy the fellow who works in the same office with you who just got a salary increase. We only envy those whom we wish to rival or surpass in reputation.

William Willimon calls envy a “small town sin” because it’s a by-product of living so close to people with whom we make comparisons.

4. How Do We Overcome Envy?
Well, let’s close by looking at the most important question about envy. If envy is something that you struggle with, how do you overcome it? And the solution isn’t just to say don’t do it. Once we understand why we envy (to feel a greater sense of self-worth), then we realize that the only way to avoid this sin is to find a completely different foundation for our self-worth.

Someone has said that making the transition out of envy into love is like making the transition from courtship to marriage. The premise of courtship is that you have got to outdo the competition to win your fiancée’s affection and secure that relationship. But once you’re married, it’s no longer a competition. You know that you are loved, and you can feel secure in that love.

Envy depends on a comparative self-value. The worth of the envious—at least from their perspective—is conditional on out-doing their competitors. Envy is joined to the comparing of a man’s self; and where there is no comparison, [there is] no envy.

And so, to overcome envy, we need to develop a view of ourselves where our sense of worth and our value is not dependent on what other people think about us. God says in Isaiah 43, “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. . . . You are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:1,4)

We are loved already, unconditionally — not because of our moral worthiness, our attractiveness, our worldly achievements — but simply because we are God’s children. We all need that kind of love. And that is exactly how God loves us.

Jesus in the gospels—especially in Luke’s account—makes a point of affirming and lifting up those who lack status or worth, those who were considered low in the social rankings of that day. And his love for them wasn’t based on performance or special qualities. It was an undeserved gift given to them just as they were.

Meanwhile, the Pharisees continued to compare themselves. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus tells about the brother who goes off and wastes his inheritance, but then he come home and his father throws a big party. And, of course, the older brother is upset. He “was angry and would not go in” (Luke 15:28). Why? Because he was envious. His brother was getting all the attention that he deserved. He says to his father, basically, “It’s obvious you love him more than you love me. You never threw a party for me.”

And the response of the father is to say, “Son, you are always with me.” “You’re my son. I love you. This is not a competition. You don’t need to compare yourself with your brother. You are special to me.”

The message is that God loves me for myself — not for anything I have, not for my beauty or intelligence or righteousness or for any other “qualification, but simply in the way that a good mother loves the fruit of her womb. If I can get that into my head — or better, into my heart — then I won’t be grasping desperately for self-esteem at the expense of others.

Conclusion:
“when we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9)

So, I wonder, is there anywhere in your life where envy has taken hold? Is there anywhere that you feel the need to compare yourself with others to feel valued? Because the more you compare yourself with others, the more tempted you will be to have envy in your heart. Is there anything you do to make others look bad just so that you look better?

Let Us Pray
This week, may your prayer be: “Search me, O Lord, and see if there is any envy in my heart.”

This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.

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Purity is Possible

There’s a story about a preacher who had a conversation with a woman. This lady was in her early 30s, was very attractive. She had previously been married but at this point in time, she was very much into the singles scene. But she had just become a Christian, she had just started going to church.
On this particular occasion, she heard this preacher speak to a group of high school students about the importance of being sexually pure. After he finished, she went to him and said, “I need to ask you a question.” She said, “Now what you said, that’s for teenagers, right?”
The preacher said, “Excuse me?” She said, “You know, that whole ’no sex till you’re married’ thing, that’s for teenagers, right?” And she went on to say that she has a bed mate, she’s kind of out there in the world, and surely what he said about ‘no sex’, that didn’t apply to people in her stage of life, did it?”
The preacher said, “Let me ask you a question. Has sex outside of marriage made your life better or just more complicated?”
And almost immediately, she teared up and said, “More complicated.”
He said, “That’s why it’s not just for teenagers. It’s for everybody.”
You see, I’m absolutely convinced that what the Bible has to say about sex is not only true (because God said it) and it’s not only relevant to our day and time, but beyond that, it’s just good advice. Take a look at how views toward sex have changed over the years in our culture, and then ask yourself this question: “How’s that working for you?” As a society of people, are we better off with an attitude of having sex whenever you want it? Are we happier? Are more people staying together? Are marriages lasting longer?”
You don’t need a preacher to tell you that it just makes your life and your family and your soul and your relationships more complicated when you take this incredible gift of sex and you rip it out of the context that God designed it for. . . when you just put it out there and you say, “Just go with your feelings,” and “Who cares what I’m doing because I’m not hurting anybody else.” What we know when we’re being honest is that it’s not making anybody’s life better.
God makes it clear in the Bible that he intends for sex to be confined to the marriage relationship. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honour - not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, NLT)
I know that some of you will think to yourselves that I must surely be as old as Methuselah, because nobody thinks that way anymore. And so, some of you may leave the forum and go back into our sex-saturated culture and say, “Pepple just doesn’t get it. But what would you expect him to say. He’s the preacher!”
But God made us. And God knows how we are designed. He knows what’s best for us. And he wants what’s best for us. And so when God says, “Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4), it’s not because God wants to deprive us of something fun. It’s because he knows what is truly best for us.
Someone once said, “Sex is like fire. In the fireplace it keeps us warm. Outside the fireplace it burns down the house.” And I think that’s a good analogy.
The Bible makes it clear that sex is from God, and it’s a good gift. But it is a gift that God intended for us to enjoy within the commitment of a marriage relationship. And when we take it outside that fire pit and we run all over the place with it, it becomes very destructive.
So, I want us to take a look at the life of Joseph this week as we talk about the importance of maintaining a life of sexual purity before God. It’s an important message for our young people. But it’s not just for young people. There are older singles who are faced with the temptation to give in to sexual desire. There are those who are married who may be struggling with the temptation to be unfaithful to your spouse.
And there may be some of us who have already given in to sexual temptation and have committed fornication. I have something special I want to say to you toward the end of this lesson. But, first, let’s learn something from Joseph.
Genesis 39, beginning with verse 6: “Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, ‘Lie with me.’
“But he refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’”
“So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’
“But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.” (Genesis 39:6-12)
I want you to see how this young man was able to maintain a high standard of morality in a world that was very much like ours. I want you to see how Joseph was able to face a very difficult temptation and not give in. And hopefully, in the process, we can learn something that will help us.
But first of all, let’s look at some of the factors that made Joseph’s temptation so strong. There are a lot of excuses that Joseph could have given. For example, he could have said:
1. “Everybody else is doing it!”
Joseph could have said everybody is doing it. Joseph was probably the only God fearing person in all of Egypt. The Egyptians were religious, but they didn’t serve the true and living God, and they were an immoral people And even those people Joseph knew who believed in God sold him into slavery. Joseph could have said there was no point in following God when nobody else was following him. Joseph had to feel like “everyone else is doing it”.
I think our situation today may be even worse than it was in ancient Egypt. While it was the accepted morality of Joseph’s day, it is the promoted morality of our day. “Do whatever feels good to you. If it gives you pleasure, go for it. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” It’s not just that people are doing it, but if you have any sort of Christian moral beliefs, then you’re ridiculed as some sort of a weirdo or fanatic.
And what that means is that it can be very hard for us to stand up for what is right. It sometimes does feel like we’re the only ones trying to maintain our purity. I understand that.
But I also want us to understand that we shouldn’t use that as an excuse. Joseph could have, but he didn’t. Another excuse he could have given was:
2. “The temptation was just too great. I couldn’t help it.”
Some people will say, “I have a sexual desire, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about that. You’re asking me to control something that’s impossible to control.”
And Joseph certainly could have said the same thing. When Potiphar’s wife propositioned him, Joseph was about 25 years old. He was in the prime of his manhood. His sexual desire would have been very strong. Also notice the description of Joseph — he was “handsome in form and appear ance” (Genesis 39:6). In other words, he was muscular and good looking. To put it another way, Joseph was a hunk! A gym instructor!
And so, it’s no surprise that “his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, ‘Lie with me’ [Go to bed with me, have sex with me].” (Genesis 39:7).
Notice that this wasn’t just a one-time attempt to seduce Joseph. “So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.” (Genesis 39:10).
If it had just happened one time, then I think Joseph could have easily dealt with it. But it wasn’t just once or twice, but it was day after day after day. Time and again, she said, “Come on, Joseph, let’s go to bed together. Potiphar isnot here. He’ll never know. What could it possibly hurt?” Potiphar’s wife was determined to get what she wanted.
But Joseph refused to give in. He refused to say, “The temptation was too strong. I just couldn’t help it.” As strong as the temptation was, Joseph found the strength to resist.
Another excuse he could have given was:
3. “I’m lonely. I just need to be with someone!”
Potiphar was probably away from home much of the time, so I have no doubt that Potiphar’s wife was probably a lonely woman.
Joseph was. Also lonely as a slave in a foreign land. Here were these two lonely people: a handsome, lonely man and a beautiful, lonely woman. It’s important for us to understand that sexual temptation is never just physical. There’s always the good feeling that comes from being desired by someone else.
Because sometimes the most painful kind of loneliness is that of a married person who is physically in the same house with a husband or wife, but is emotionally miles apart. Communication has broken down, or the wife is too busy taking care of the children, or the husband is too busy in his work, and one partner fails to meet the needs of the other. And that’s when Satan puts that temptation in front of us.
It is a great tribute to Joseph that, as lonely as he must have been, he was able to resist the temptation to have an affair.
The Factors That Held Joseph Steady
When you put all these factors together — you have a lonely man who is handsome and with strong sexual desire, you have a woman who is ready and even anxious to go to bed with him tempting him day after day, and you have a society where everybody else is doing it. From a human standpoint, every signal said to Joseph, “Go for it”.
In our society today, young men are looking for such opportunity, I dey knack madam, anything I want she go give me; then they’ll justify the sin by saying, e dey like say oga no sabi knack madam very. Guy you no go find one rich banny where you go de knack make she de send you pepper? No time to dull guy.
So how did Joseph find the strength to say, “No”? Let me suggest three things.
1. Joseph made the commitment as a young man to live a life of purity
It seems to me that, long before this happened, Joseph made up his mind about lines he would not cross before the temptation came. Young people, one of the best ways to resist sexual temptation is to make the decision now that fornication is absolutely, positively out of the question for your life. To make a commitment that you intend to go into your marriage relationship with the knowledge that you have kept yourself pure.
I want you young people to have that dream. A dream of how wonderful that wedding day can be, knowing that you are able to offer your body in purity to that person you love. I want you to hold on to that dream. Those of you who are not yet married, keep that vision before you. Don’t sell that dream for a bowl of stew by compromising your standards. Let me explain what I mean by that.
In Hebrews 12:16, the Hebrew writer says that we’re to be diligent to remain faithful as Christians, “lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.”
I’ve always thought it strange that the Hebrew writer mentioned Esau when he talked about fornication because that doesn’t seem to have been one of his sins. But I think I see now the correlation between the two. Esau had something that was important to him — his birthright. That was his dream for a wonderful life in the future. But one day Esau got hungry. And he traded that birthright for a bowl of stew (Gen. 25).
Now, at the time, it seemed like the right thing to do. Esau was hungry; he needed to eat. And that stew smelled so good. But, before long, he realized what he had done. Esau made a terrible mistake. He gave up something very valuable, and even though he grieved for the rest of his life, he could never get it back. In exchange of just a few moments of pleasure, Esau lost one of the most important things in his life.
And I think it’s clear how that relates to the subject of fornication. A young person has a dream. A dream of a life of sexual purity. But one night, he or she makes a mistake. A few moments of pleasure and the dream is gone. And a lifetime of tears can never bring it back. The Hebrew writer is saying here, “Don’t let that happen to you. Hold on to your dream. Make the commitment now to be faithful to God, and keep that commitment.”
2. Joseph had a sense of loyalty and responsibility to others
The first time Joseph refused Potiphar’s wife, he reminded her that his master trusted him completely and had made him responsible for everything. “He has committed all that he has to my hand….How then can I do this great wickedness?” (Genesis 39:8b,9).
There’s an important principle here that we often forget in connection with sexual behaviour, and that is — we have a responsibility to other people. Now, I understand. We live in a selfish society that says, “If it feels good to you, then you do it. Don’t be concerned about others, just do what will make you happy.” But Joseph reminds us that, as the people of God, we have an obligation to consider others.
If you’re single and in a dating relationship, God has given you the responsibility of that person you’re dating. He or she has been entrusted into your care. You are responsible for helping them to maintain their relationship with God.
This principle is at the very heart of our marriage vows. To commit adultery is to break the commitment we have made and to betray the trust of the partner God has given into your care. And when that sex involves someone who is married to someone else, as was the case with Joseph, then it comes down to taking something that doesn’t belong to you.
Joseph realized that he had a responsibility to the people around him.
3. Joseph had a determination not to sin against God.
That was the main source of his strength. He said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). Joseph realized that committing fornication was more than just a sin against Potiphar, it was something that would offend God.
David realized the same thing after he committed adultery with Bathsheba. In Psalm 51, he said, “Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight.” (Psalm 51:4). Let’s not forget that all sin hurts God. Sexual immorality is a sin against other people, and it’s a sin against the body. But, above all, it’s a sin against God.
So, three things then that helped Joseph to do what was right — he decided early on to commit his life to purity, he was concerned about his responsi­bility to other people, and he knew in his heart that it was a sin against God.
The Result of Purity
I don’t want to leave you this week with the impression that making the right decision is an easy thing to do, or that if you make that right decision, everything will just go wonderfully for you. Again, the example of Joseph shows us otherwise.
In spite of every attempt to avoid her, one day Potiphar’s wife caught him by surprise and grabbed hold of his coat. When he tried to get away, his coat came off in her hands. When Potiphar returned, she showed him the coat and made up a story about how Joseph tried to rape her. So, Joseph did what was right, he resisted temptation and he maintained his sexual purity. And what did he get for all that? He was thrown into prison (Gen. 39:20).
Joseph was thrown into prison for maintaining his purity. But I would suggest to you that if Joseph had given into the temptation and had sex with Potiphar’s wife, he would have ended up in a worse prison — in the chains of lust and the bondage of a secret affair. As Jesus put it, “Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34). And nowhere is that any more evident than in the enslaving power of sexual sin.
What If It’s Too Late?
I’ve been talking this week about the importance of maintaining our sexual purity. But there may be some of you listening or reading this who are not at all encouraged by these words. In fact, you may find them depressing because you’ve already given in to the temptation of sexual desire. And so, the question for you is, “What do I do now?” Let me share two things with you.
1. Know that God is willing to forgive you
While there is no way to restore your virginity, there is a way to restore your purity. That may be hard for you to realize. There may be such a feeling of shame in your life that you feel like God could never forgive you. But I want you to know that not only is God able to forgive you, but there’s nothing in this world that would make him any happier than to have the opportunity to forgive you.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul lists those who will not inherit the kingdom of God and that list includes fornicators and adulterers. Then, in verse 11, Paul says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
The good news of the gospel is that you can be forgiven of your sin. I don’t care whether that sin is fornication or murder or drunkenness or whatever, God can forgive and God will forgive if you will repent and respond to him in obedience.
If you’re a Christian who has given in to temptation, remember the words of John: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9). Don’t ever get the feeling that God can’t forgive you or that he won’t forgive you because he can and he will.
2. Take hold of a new dream
Ezekiel said to the people of Israel who had fallen: “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.” (Ezekiel 18:31).
Whatever you do, don’t allow failures in your life to push you into accepting lower standards. Satan wants to fill you with despair. He wants you to say, “What’s the use? I’ve already messed up. I’ve fallen from my highest standards, so I might as well throw them all away.”
Don’t do that. Begin where you are now. Take steps if you haven’t done so already to seek God’s forgiveness and to be re-clothed with the purity of God. And from this day forward, set your sight on maintaining that renewed relationship.
LET US PRAY
This sermon is organised by “The Heavenly Church” and produced once a week.
If you’ll like to be a part of this online family join our WhatsApp group through the link below. GOD BLESS YOU

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CRACK YA RIBS

Mom: Junior

Junior: Mom

Mom: who took the big fish from the stew pot

Junior: it's not me ooo

Mom: what happened

Junior: I was passing my leg mistakenly hit the pot, it opened, I bent down to cover it, fish flew into my hand, as I tried to put it back into the pot, it flew into my mouth

Mom: so where is the fish

Junior: it has dissolved

Proposal for the Establishment of The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF)

Theme

“Connecting Men, Sharing Wisdom, Enriching Lives.”

Introduction

Across the world, many men above the age of 50 face increasing challenges such as loneliness, social isolation, retirement, declining health, financial pressures, grief, and a loss of purpose. Research has shown that social isolation and loneliness are associated with poorer physical and mental health and can increase the risk of premature death.

The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF) is a community-based, non-political, non-profit, and non-denominational fellowship designed to bring together men aged 50 years and above to build meaningful friendships, encourage one another, share experiences, mentor younger generations, and promote healthier, happier, and longer lives.

Vision

To create a global network of vibrant communities where men aged 50 and above enjoy friendship, purpose, good health, dignity, and meaningful relationships.

Mission

To reduce loneliness among men over 50 by fostering regular fellowship, mutual support, lifelong learning, healthy living, and community service.

Objectives

The Fellowship aims to:

- Reduce loneliness and social isolation.
- Promote emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
- Encourage healthy lifestyles and preventive healthcare.
- Provide opportunities to share life experiences and practical wisdom.
- Support members facing family, financial, or personal challenges.
- Promote lifelong learning and personal development.
- Encourage volunteerism and community service.
- Mentor younger men and boys.
- Celebrate the achievements and contributions of older men.

Membership

Membership shall be open to:

- Men aged 50 years and above.
- Men who support the vision and values of the Fellowship.
- Members of every race, religion, tribe, profession, and social background.

Core Values

- Respect
- Integrity
- Compassion
- Friendship
- Service
- Wisdom
- Confidentiality
- Inclusion

How to Establish a Local Chapter

Any interested person may establish a Wise Men Fellowship in their community by following these simple steps:

1. Identify at least five interested men aged 50 and above.
2. Hold an inaugural meeting.
3. Elect interim coordinators.
4. Agree on a convenient meeting venue and schedule.
5. Register members.
6. Organize regular fellowship meetings.
7. Maintain a simple membership register.
8. Encourage growth through invitations and community outreach.

Suggested Meeting Schedule

Members may meet:

- Weekly
- Bi-weekly
- Monthly

Meetings may last between one and two hours.

Suggested Meeting Format

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Opening reflection or prayer (optional)
3. Health and wellness talk
4. Member discussion and experience sharing
5. Guest speaker or educational session
6. Community project planning
7. Social interaction and refreshments
8. Closing remarks

Possible Discussion Topics

- Healthy ageing
- Retirement planning
- Managing chronic illnesses
- Mental health
- Family relationships
- Grandparenting
- Financial management
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Technology for seniors
- Preventing scams and fraud
- Estate planning
- Community leadership
- Entrepreneurship after retirement
- Spiritual growth
- Life lessons and personal experiences

Activities

Local chapters are encouraged to organize:

- Health screenings
- Fitness walks
- Birthday celebrations
- Hospital visits
- Community clean-up exercises
- Charity outreach
- Skill-sharing workshops
- Book discussions
- Educational seminars
- Family fun days
- Mentorship programmes
- Cultural events
- Excursions and picnics

Leadership Structure

Each chapter may elect:

- Coordinator
- Assistant Coordinator
- Secretary
- Treasurer (where applicable)
- Welfare Officer
- Health and Wellness Coordinator
- Public Relations Officer

Leadership should be voluntary and rotational.

Funding

The Fellowship may be supported through:

- Voluntary donations
- Membership contributions (where agreed)
- Sponsorships
- Grants
- Community partnerships

Transparency and accountability should guide all financial matters.

Code of Conduct

Members should:

- Respect one another.
- Keep personal discussions confidential.
- Avoid discrimination.
- Avoid partisan politics during meetings.
- Avoid hate speech.
- Encourage unity and mutual support.

Expected Benefits

Members can expect to enjoy:

- Strong friendships
- Emotional support
- Better mental health
- Improved physical well-being
- Increased sense of purpose
- Opportunities to serve others
- Lifelong learning
- Greater happiness and fulfilment
- Improved quality of life and healthy ageing

Long-Term Vision

As the Fellowship grows, local chapters can connect at state, national, and international levels through conferences, health campaigns, leadership training, online forums, publications, and collaborative community projects.

Together, these chapters can build a lasting movement that celebrates ageing, values wisdom, and ensures that no man grows older in loneliness.

Call to Action

If you are a man aged 50 years or above—or know someone who is—consider starting a Wise Men Fellowship chapter in your community.

Invite a few friends, meet regularly, listen to one another, encourage healthy living, share your wisdom, and build friendships that enrich lives.

A stronger community begins with connected people. Let us ensure that every man grows older with dignity, companionship, purpose, and hope.

The Wise Men Fellowship
“Wisdom Shared. Lives Enriched. Together We Thrive.”

For enquiries please:
DM 09059863924
or call 09040507448

Our Aim should be to register:

The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF) as a nonprofit organization so that chapters across Nigeria and eventually other countries operate under the same vision and guiding principles.

Proposal for the Establishment of The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF)

Theme

“Connecting Men, Sharing Wisdom, Enriching Lives.”

Introduction

Across the world, many men above the age of 50 face increasing challenges such as loneliness, social isolation, retirement, declining health, financial pressures, grief, and a loss of purpose. Research has shown that social isolation and loneliness are associated with poorer physical and mental health and can increase the risk of premature death.

The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF) is a community-based, non-political, non-profit, and non-denominational fellowship designed to bring together men aged 50 years and above to build meaningful friendships, encourage one another, share experiences, mentor younger generations, and promote healthier, happier, and longer lives.

Vision

To create a global network of vibrant communities where men aged 50 and above enjoy friendship, purpose, good health, dignity, and meaningful relationships.

Mission

To reduce loneliness among men over 50 by fostering regular fellowship, mutual support, lifelong learning, healthy living, and community service.

Objectives

The Fellowship aims to:

- Reduce loneliness and social isolation.
- Promote emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
- Encourage healthy lifestyles and preventive healthcare.
- Provide opportunities to share life experiences and practical wisdom.
- Support members facing family, financial, or personal challenges.
- Promote lifelong learning and personal development.
- Encourage volunteerism and community service.
- Mentor younger men and boys.
- Celebrate the achievements and contributions of older men.

Membership

Membership shall be open to:

- Men aged 50 years and above.
- Men who support the vision and values of the Fellowship.
- Members of every race, religion, tribe, profession, and social background.

Core Values

- Respect
- Integrity
- Compassion
- Friendship
- Service
- Wisdom
- Confidentiality
- Inclusion

How to Establish a Local Chapter

Any interested person may establish a Wise Men Fellowship in their community by following these simple steps:

1. Identify at least five interested men aged 50 and above.
2. Hold an inaugural meeting.
3. Elect interim coordinators.
4. Agree on a convenient meeting venue and schedule.
5. Register members.
6. Organize regular fellowship meetings.
7. Maintain a simple membership register.
8. Encourage growth through invitations and community outreach.

Suggested Meeting Schedule

Members may meet:

- Weekly
- Bi-weekly
- Monthly

Meetings may last between one and two hours.

Suggested Meeting Format

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Opening reflection or prayer (optional)
3. Health and wellness talk
4. Member discussion and experience sharing
5. Guest speaker or educational session
6. Community project planning
7. Social interaction and refreshments
8. Closing remarks

Possible Discussion Topics

- Healthy ageing
- Retirement planning
- Managing chronic illnesses
- Mental health
- Family relationships
- Grandparenting
- Financial management
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Technology for seniors
- Preventing scams and fraud
- Estate planning
- Community leadership
- Entrepreneurship after retirement
- Spiritual growth
- Life lessons and personal experiences

Activities

Local chapters are encouraged to organize:

- Health screenings
- Fitness walks
- Birthday celebrations
- Hospital visits
- Community clean-up exercises
- Charity outreach
- Skill-sharing workshops
- Book discussions
- Educational seminars
- Family fun days
- Mentorship programmes
- Cultural events
- Excursions and picnics

Leadership Structure

Each chapter may elect:

- Coordinator
- Assistant Coordinator
- Secretary
- Treasurer (where applicable)
- Welfare Officer
- Health and Wellness Coordinator
- Public Relations Officer

Leadership should be voluntary and rotational.

Funding

The Fellowship may be supported through:

- Voluntary donations
- Membership contributions (where agreed)
- Sponsorships
- Grants
- Community partnerships

Transparency and accountability should guide all financial matters.

Code of Conduct

Members should:

- Respect one another.
- Keep personal discussions confidential.
- Avoid discrimination.
- Avoid partisan politics during meetings.
- Avoid hate speech.
- Encourage unity and mutual support.

Expected Benefits

Members can expect to enjoy:

- Strong friendships
- Emotional support
- Better mental health
- Improved physical well-being
- Increased sense of purpose
- Opportunities to serve others
- Lifelong learning
- Greater happiness and fulfilment
- Improved quality of life and healthy ageing

Long-Term Vision

As the Fellowship grows, local chapters can connect at state, national, and international levels through conferences, health campaigns, leadership training, online forums, publications, and collaborative community projects.

Together, these chapters can build a lasting movement that celebrates ageing, values wisdom, and ensures that no man grows older in loneliness.

Call to Action

If you are a man aged 50 years or above—or know someone who is—consider starting a Wise Men Fellowship chapter in your community.

Invite a few friends, meet regularly, listen to one another, encourage healthy living, share your wisdom, and build friendships that enrich lives.

A stronger community begins with connected people. Let us ensure that every man grows older with dignity, companionship, purpose, and hope.

The Wise Men Fellowship
“Wisdom Shared. Lives Enriched. Together We Thrive.”

For enquiries please:
DM 09059863924
or call 09040507448

Our Aim should be to register:

The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF) as a nonprofit organization so that chapters across Nigeria and eventually other countries operate under the same vision and guiding principles.

Proposal for the Establishment of The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF)

Theme

“Connecting Men, Sharing Wisdom, Enriching Lives.”

Introduction

Across the world, many men above the age of 50 face increasing challenges such as loneliness, social isolation, retirement, declining health, financial pressures, grief, and a loss of purpose. Research has shown that social isolation and loneliness are associated with poorer physical and mental health and can increase the risk of premature death.

The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF) is a community-based, non-political, non-profit, and non-denominational fellowship designed to bring together men aged 50 years and above to build meaningful friendships, encourage one another, share experiences, mentor younger generations, and promote healthier, happier, and longer lives.

Vision

To create a global network of vibrant communities where men aged 50 and above enjoy friendship, purpose, good health, dignity, and meaningful relationships.

Mission

To reduce loneliness among men over 50 by fostering regular fellowship, mutual support, lifelong learning, healthy living, and community service.

Objectives

The Fellowship aims to:

- Reduce loneliness and social isolation.
- Promote emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
- Encourage healthy lifestyles and preventive healthcare.
- Provide opportunities to share life experiences and practical wisdom.
- Support members facing family, financial, or personal challenges.
- Promote lifelong learning and personal development.
- Encourage volunteerism and community service.
- Mentor younger men and boys.
- Celebrate the achievements and contributions of older men.

Membership

Membership shall be open to:

- Men aged 50 years and above.
- Men who support the vision and values of the Fellowship.
- Members of every race, religion, tribe, profession, and social background.

Core Values

- Respect
- Integrity
- Compassion
- Friendship
- Service
- Wisdom
- Confidentiality
- Inclusion

How to Establish a Local Chapter

Any interested person may establish a Wise Men Fellowship in their community by following these simple steps:

1. Identify at least five interested men aged 50 and above.
2. Hold an inaugural meeting.
3. Elect interim coordinators.
4. Agree on a convenient meeting venue and schedule.
5. Register members.
6. Organize regular fellowship meetings.
7. Maintain a simple membership register.
8. Encourage growth through invitations and community outreach.

Suggested Meeting Schedule

Members may meet:

- Weekly
- Bi-weekly
- Monthly

Meetings may last between one and two hours.

Suggested Meeting Format

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Opening reflection or prayer (optional)
3. Health and wellness talk
4. Member discussion and experience sharing
5. Guest speaker or educational session
6. Community project planning
7. Social interaction and refreshments
8. Closing remarks

Possible Discussion Topics

- Healthy ageing
- Retirement planning
- Managing chronic illnesses
- Mental health
- Family relationships
- Grandparenting
- Financial management
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Technology for seniors
- Preventing scams and fraud
- Estate planning
- Community leadership
- Entrepreneurship after retirement
- Spiritual growth
- Life lessons and personal experiences

Activities

Local chapters are encouraged to organize:

- Health screenings
- Fitness walks
- Birthday celebrations
- Hospital visits
- Community clean-up exercises
- Charity outreach
- Skill-sharing workshops
- Book discussions
- Educational seminars
- Family fun days
- Mentorship programmes
- Cultural events
- Excursions and picnics

Leadership Structure

Each chapter may elect:

- Coordinator
- Assistant Coordinator
- Secretary
- Treasurer (where applicable)
- Welfare Officer
- Health and Wellness Coordinator
- Public Relations Officer

Leadership should be voluntary and rotational.

Funding

The Fellowship may be supported through:

- Voluntary donations
- Membership contributions (where agreed)
- Sponsorships
- Grants
- Community partnerships

Transparency and accountability should guide all financial matters.

Code of Conduct

Members should:

- Respect one another.
- Keep personal discussions confidential.
- Avoid discrimination.
- Avoid partisan politics during meetings.
- Avoid hate speech.
- Encourage unity and mutual support.

Expected Benefits

Members can expect to enjoy:

- Strong friendships
- Emotional support
- Better mental health
- Improved physical well-being
- Increased sense of purpose
- Opportunities to serve others
- Lifelong learning
- Greater happiness and fulfilment
- Improved quality of life and healthy ageing

Long-Term Vision

As the Fellowship grows, local chapters can connect at state, national, and international levels through conferences, health campaigns, leadership training, online forums, publications, and collaborative community projects.

Together, these chapters can build a lasting movement that celebrates ageing, values wisdom, and ensures that no man grows older in loneliness.

Call to Action

If you are a man aged 50 years or above—or know someone who is—consider starting a Wise Men Fellowship chapter in your community.

Invite a few friends, meet regularly, listen to one another, encourage healthy living, share your wisdom, and build friendships that enrich lives.

A stronger community begins with connected people. Let us ensure that every man grows older with dignity, companionship, purpose, and hope.

The Wise Men Fellowship
“Wisdom Shared. Lives Enriched. Together We Thrive.”

For enquiries please:
DM 090. 59. 863. 924
or call 090. 405. 07. 448

Our Aim should be to register:

The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF) as a nonprofit organization so that chapters across Nigeria and eventually other countries operate under the same vision and guiding principles.

Proposal for the Establishment of The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF)

Theme

“Connecting Men, Sharing Wisdom, Enriching Lives.”

Introduction

Across the world, many men above the age of 50 face increasing challenges such as loneliness, social isolation, retirement, declining health, financial pressures, grief, and a loss of purpose. Research has shown that social isolation and loneliness are associated with poorer physical and mental health and can increase the risk of premature death.

The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF) is a community-based, non-political, non-profit, and non-denominational fellowship designed to bring together men aged 50 years and above to build meaningful friendships, encourage one another, share experiences, mentor younger generations, and promote healthier, happier, and longer lives.

Vision

To create a global network of vibrant communities where men aged 50 and above enjoy friendship, purpose, good health, dignity, and meaningful relationships.

Mission

To reduce loneliness among men over 50 by fostering regular fellowship, mutual support, lifelong learning, healthy living, and community service.

Objectives

The Fellowship aims to:

- Reduce loneliness and social isolation.
- Promote emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
- Encourage healthy lifestyles and preventive healthcare.
- Provide opportunities to share life experiences and practical wisdom.
- Support members facing family, financial, or personal challenges.
- Promote lifelong learning and personal development.
- Encourage volunteerism and community service.
- Mentor younger men and boys.
- Celebrate the achievements and contributions of older men.

Membership

Membership shall be open to:

- Men aged 50 years and above.
- Men who support the vision and values of the Fellowship.
- Members of every race, religion, tribe, profession, and social background.

Core Values

- Respect
- Integrity
- Compassion
- Friendship
- Service
- Wisdom
- Confidentiality
- Inclusion

How to Establish a Local Chapter

Any interested person may establish a Wise Men Fellowship in their community by following these simple steps:

1. Identify at least five interested men aged 50 and above.
2. Hold an inaugural meeting.
3. Elect interim coordinators.
4. Agree on a convenient meeting venue and schedule.
5. Register members.
6. Organize regular fellowship meetings.
7. Maintain a simple membership register.
8. Encourage growth through invitations and community outreach.

Suggested Meeting Schedule

Members may meet:

- Weekly
- Bi-weekly
- Monthly

Meetings may last between one and two hours.

Suggested Meeting Format

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Opening reflection or prayer (optional)
3. Health and wellness talk
4. Member discussion and experience sharing
5. Guest speaker or educational session
6. Community project planning
7. Social interaction and refreshments
8. Closing remarks

Possible Discussion Topics

- Healthy ageing
- Retirement planning
- Managing chronic illnesses
- Mental health
- Family relationships
- Grandparenting
- Financial management
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Technology for seniors
- Preventing scams and fraud
- Estate planning
- Community leadership
- Entrepreneurship after retirement
- Spiritual growth
- Life lessons and personal experiences

Activities

Local chapters are encouraged to organize:

- Health screenings
- Fitness walks
- Birthday celebrations
- Hospital visits
- Community clean-up exercises
- Charity outreach
- Skill-sharing workshops
- Book discussions
- Educational seminars
- Family fun days
- Mentorship programmes
- Cultural events
- Excursions and picnics

Leadership Structure

Each chapter may elect:

- Coordinator
- Assistant Coordinator
- Secretary
- Treasurer (where applicable)
- Welfare Officer
- Health and Wellness Coordinator
- Public Relations Officer

Leadership should be voluntary and rotational.

Funding

The Fellowship may be supported through:

- Voluntary donations
- Membership contributions (where agreed)
- Sponsorships
- Grants
- Community partnerships

Transparency and accountability should guide all financial matters.

Code of Conduct

Members should:

- Respect one another.
- Keep personal discussions confidential.
- Avoid discrimination.
- Avoid partisan politics during meetings.
- Avoid hate speech.
- Encourage unity and mutual support.

Expected Benefits

Members can expect to enjoy:

- Strong friendships
- Emotional support
- Better mental health
- Improved physical well-being
- Increased sense of purpose
- Opportunities to serve others
- Lifelong learning
- Greater happiness and fulfilment
- Improved quality of life and healthy ageing

Long-Term Vision

As the Fellowship grows, local chapters can connect at state, national, and international levels through conferences, health campaigns, leadership training, online forums, publications, and collaborative community projects.

Together, these chapters can build a lasting movement that celebrates ageing, values wisdom, and ensures that no man grows older in loneliness.

Call to Action

If you are a man aged 50 years or above—or know someone who is—consider starting a Wise Men Fellowship chapter in your community.

Invite a few friends, meet regularly, listen to one another, encourage healthy living, share your wisdom, and build friendships that enrich lives.

A stronger community begins with connected people. Let us ensure that every man grows older with dignity, companionship, purpose, and hope.

The Wise Men Fellowship
“Wisdom Shared. Lives Enriched. Together We Thrive.”

For enquiries please:
DM 0. 905. 98 6. 39. 24
or call 09. 040. 50. 74 48

Our Aim should be to register:

The Wise Men Fellowship (WMF) as a nonprofit organization so that chapters across Nigeria and eventually other countries operate under the same vision and guiding principles.

MaxInDHouse:
The true church has a mission which is to gather and unite obedient humans from all the nations of the earth {Isaiah 2:2-4} if you carefully read verse 4 that i cited you will see that these people from different countries throughout the world will become like one big and happy global family of peace loving worshipers.

How is that going to be possible?

Well that is the work of the wonderful counselor to be born among the Jews! Isaiah 9:6

So when Jesus sent his disciples out to preach and teach people throughout the earth {Matthew 28:18-20} the aim is to make love reign among themselves {John 13:34-35} as you are having hundreds of families anywhere you go {Mark 10:28-30} because you all share the same line of thought! John 17:22

So after Jesus' ascension to heaven the people seeing his disciples started calling the group by different names:

Nazarenes~ because Jesus is from a city called Nazareth.

The Way~ because Jesus claimed to be the only way to God's presence.

Christians~ because they are disciples of a young Jewish man whose followers are calling him Christ.

No matter what they say Jesus' friends were willing to be ridiculed for the love they had for their Master Lord and future King. Matthew 10:33

But is that the name God intended to call His worshipers?

The answer is NO!

WHY?

Because either The Way, Nazarenes or Christians is limited to followers of Jesus alone whereas there has been lots and lots of faithful servants of God before Jesus walked the earth. So what does God have in mind to call His worshipers?

Well God hid that for thousands of years allowing Satan's agents to misuse any group name fabricated by people who want to mock His worshipers so different religions with contradicting teachings and conflicting doctrines started claiming Christians until when God began separating sheep-like people from among goat-like ones.

This separation work took more than seventy years till the year 1931 when God declared the group name He wanted to call all His faithful worshipers from the time of Abel till today {Hebrews 11:4-34; 12:1} though God said He will destroy all false religions and their adherents but His own faithful servants He will call by another group name:
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES! Isaiah 65:15

That is why only this group perfectly fits in to all the descriptions Jesus gave regarding his future disciples and just as he foretold throughout the world all the people will hate them and whoever has to do with them! Luke 21:17🙂

BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM!

JWs ARE FAR FROM CHRIST

HATERS.

TWO COMMANDMENTS FROM OGA JESU

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOURS AS YOURSELF. Here JWS STORE ZERO.