₦airaland Forum

malvisguy212: Romans 7:7King James Bible. What shall we say then? Is the law sin?
God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but
by the law: for I had not known lust,
except the law had said, Thou shalt not
covet.

Satan takin advantage through the law.

Are you sayin prayer dosent count? How do we communicate with God?is it not by prayer?wither you raise your voice or not, it what comes out from your hearth that matters the most.

My brother, the verse you just quoted was about how the law enslaves by creating sin-consciousness in the life of a believer because without the law, sin is dead (1Cor.15:56), iRomans 7:7 has nothing to do with children of God being the kingdom of God as you wrote up there!

However, we pray to God in order to maintain line of communication with Him, but a Christian should strive to turn his christianity into a relationship whereby you approach Jesus like you approach earthly partner. Grace be multiplied to you in Jesus' name (Amen).

drstan: please tell them my brother, is because of this grace thing many christian are suffering, they just cant pray their way out violently from situation they find themselves.

But Jesus was not even referring to prayer when He spoke those words...it is the African hardship, the rigour of growing up and how we have been taught in our various churches that has made us to believe until we pray violently, shake head like handfan, pray loudly and disturb our neighbours, that is only when we can pray violently and God will answer.

Bros, there are some wrong doctrines we need to seriously "unbelieve" so we can believe the truth which the Gospel of Jesus is all about. God is not out there to punish any sinner, neither is He awaiting Christians to falter so He can deal with them, scarcely will anyone want to die for a good man, but Christ died for us while we were not yet born (even though we will be born sinners)..what manner of love is that? My point is that law came thru Moses, but Grace and truth came thru Jesus Christ, beit under or under grace and truth, the choice is ours to make, but don't be unwise by mixing the two!

malvisguy212: when you pursue a sheep and he reach to the extent that the sheep has no where to run to, if the sheep is brave HE WILL TAKE THE VIOLENCE BY FORCE,he will take the challenge ,that what the verse mean.is like satan taking advantage of the law to make man fall,the weak ones will fall BUT THE BRAVE ONES WILL TAKE THE VIOLENCE BACK TO SATAN THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.the children of God are the kingdom of heaven.

Scriptural references please, especially the one that validates children of God being the kingdom of heaven. Meanwhile, you cannot redo what Jesus has done, even if while praying your sweat became like God, it won't move God neither will it move the devil one bit!

Ohial: Absolutely! we need more of those who will interpret Scripture in it's proper context. Keep it up!

More Grace bro. The devil almost succeeded in "conning" the body of Christ when the text in the scripture is being removed from it's context. God be praised.

Dux01: even Jesus The SON OF GOD was violent In prayer or else how do you think that he prayed and his sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground .

You are right bro, the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for your sake, He took the punishments, the beatings for you and I. It wouldn't make any sense for you to now shed your blood because you want to please God. You don't want to make Jesus' finished works void over your life, would you?

drstan: Op, I stop coming to religion section because of wrong interpretation of the bible from people like you, what connection do violent taketh it by force and operating in grace have, oh! We are in the era of grace, so no need of violent contending? When paul said contend for thy faith, what did he mean by contend?
when Jesus was casting out demon from the posses he was meditating right? i didn't read your post any further when i saw you relating violent with grace.

From the verse . ; And from the DAYS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST UNTIL NOW.

It Means even now you still use violent,.

Jesus use violent to chase those selling in the temple, how wish Jesus use calmness and warm tone, who will leave the temple, Jesus use violent to take back the temple from the money lenders, esther use violent to meet the king, she said if I die I die, that is a violent spirit,

Matthew 11:12 Amplified Bible (AMP)
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a [ a ] share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
Grace operate in a dimension when our physical strength can't help us, in as much am still growing in the faith, but on this. nah nah
This is how so many christian has been deceive thinking christianity is a bed of rose when adversity comes they start blaming God, waiting for grace to perform magic, the grace God gave us was to enable us not to faint in the days of our struggling and contending,

My brother, Grace is not to help your physical strength fulfill the law, Grace is absolutely void of your effort. It is God's effort plus none of yours, else it's no more Grace (Romans 4:4-5).

Watch out for the next thread distinguishing between what the Bible means by Flesh and Blood!

DrummaBoy: I endorse every word in the OP.

Please what are your plans towards a Grace Conference 2014 which you mentioned?

Start making plans to be at this upcoming Gospel Of Grace
conference!
Theme: ONCE AND FOR ALL!.
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2014
Venue: Sweet Sensation Hall, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.
Time: 11am.
Gate fee: absolutely FREE!
Ministering: Akinyera Damilola and Ola Joseph Kolawole
You will thank God you were there!

Sparklesebony: I am loving this! Op. Thank You. Christirans today love rituals: do not, touch not, eat not.

We sometimes render Christ's death baseless with our rituals.

Not just that, Christianity has been reduced to religion, plus man love to do, to do, and to do in order to qualify for what they have been qualified for thru the finished work of Christ.

Emusan: So who pray to God before He remember His promise?

Where you miss it is from the angle you took the definition of prayer from whereas prayer simply means Communication with God (for Christian). You'll agree with me that you don't communicate/talk to your biological father just because you need something from him. So likewise God, you communicate with Him always that's why the Bible says pray without ceasing but this might not entail shouting.

@Emusan, true, prayer is not just meant to be a request platform like painted in our churches today where we are even instructed to come to church with "prayer requests". However, my previous comment didn't mention reminding God His promises..but His word.

For instance, when we sing His praises, are those praises not contained in His word? Even when we make requests based on His promises, didn't He instruct us to do so in Is.43:26?

More so, pls give a supportive scripture that regards prayer as communication/talk with God as my Father responds to the thoughts of His children!

Goshen360: @ my brother, damilarelr,

We connect in the grace revelation. People think the letters of Paul and other Apostles are mere just ink letters that doesn't make sense but I tell you what, they're powerful REVELATION of CHRIST teachings and finished works.

I have much to teach also and share which will unveil the messages of grace in the teachings of Christ. You, damilarelr also carry the truth and revelation of God's grace and we'll be here together to do the work of this ministry.

Weldone again my brother. You will offend the religious people though anytime the message of grace and of the cross is preached.

You're blessed graciously! !!

God bless you too my brother. The Gospel of Grace shall be preached to the end of the world!

Yinkatolu: Has he forgotten his words?

Not that He has forgotten His words, just that He loves reminders. A suitable example is the case of the Israelites that were almost forgotten in Egypt, God remembered the covenant He had with their fathers when He heard their groanings..

Yinkatolu: then why do we still pray?

We pray in order to talk to the Father..to remind Him of His words..

@Goshen360
@Christembassy
@Drummaboy
sorry I mentioned you, but you are going to love this topic.

Goshen360: What are you talking about? Do you not know that IN THIS GOSPEL OF GRACE OF GOD is the love, Holy Spirit, faith, miracles, etc REVEALED? One gospel, all wrapped in it.

Threads on love, Holy Spirit, faith, miracles will be drawn soon..GRACE is infinite. You will be amazed, pls check the latest thread I created on Matt.12:11

Yinkatolu: @op who told u we can't still be violent in this era of grace in our prayer life? y did d Bible says pray without ceasing? y did d Bible says the effectual n fervent prayer of d righteous availeth much?

@Yinkatolu, effectual, fervent, and violent prayer life is not a substitute for what has been freely given unto us through the finished work of Christ..they are simply unmerited for, we don't deserve them, because Someone received the punishments He did not deserve.

'...the kingdom of God suffereth violence; and the violent taketh it by force'! (Matthew 11:12)

Some believers understand the above verse to mean that a believer has to pray and fast VIOLENTLY in other to overcome the evil powers disturbing their lives!

Some even think it is about shouting at God to release blessings on them!

Now listen carefully: the VIOLENCE referred to in the above verse has nothing to do with shouting or shaking or attending violent prayer meetings or engaging in several days of fasting, etc!

Not at all!

When you take a verse of scripture out of its context, you end up allowing yourself to be deceived!

The VIOLENCE referred to in that verse refers to a quick and serious shift from LAW to GRACE!!!

The verse actually reads thus:

'And from the DAYS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST UNTIL NOW...hmm...the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN suffereth violence,...and the VIOLENT take it by force'! (Matt 11:12 emphasis mine)

Wow!

This verse is one of the sweetest verses on GRACE!!!

Matthew 11 is a chapter about John the Baptist sending his disciples to Jesus to question if Jesus is truly the Messiah!

But Jesus gave John's disciple a very intelligent answer and began to make some interesting comments about John!

In vs 13 (which is the next verse), Jesus said:

'For all the prophets and the LAW prophesied until John'! (Matt 11:13)

This is what Jesus was saying:

John is the last prophet of the Law! The proclamation of the Law ended with John! Anybody who got a miracle @ the time of John, was supposed to ONLY get it by fulfilling the LAW of the Old Testament!

After the Law comes GRACE (which Jesus described as the Kingdom of God)!

But the dispensation of Grace had not begun yet because Jesus had not yet died!

Now Jesus said:...'From the days of John the Baptist until NOW....the kingdom of Heaven (Grace dispensation)...suffereth violence....' (Matt 11:12)

Wow!

Did you get that?

Jesus was saying that...in between the time that John lived and the time that He would die on the cross....GRACE is NOT supposed to be manifested yet!!!

But the wise people of that time did not wait for Jesus to die before they started receiving healing and blessings from God by operating the covenant of GRACE which does not judge them by their works!!!

(I really hope you get this)!

That is what Jesus meant by the VIOLENT taketh it by force!

That is, people under Law ....saw Jesus....and recognized that He was not a Prophet of the Law....so they PRESSED into the FREE and UNMERITED favour which He carried and got their blessings totally FREE even though Jesus had not yet died to end the Law!!! (Romans 10:4)

Let me show you some examples:

1) When Jesus told a 'gentile' woman who needed healing for her child that He cannot give the children's bread to the dog....(Matt 15:26)...He was actually saying....Supernatural Healing is not meant for a 'non-Jew' as at that time because He hadn't died yet!

In fact, it was in this context that Jesus affirmed that before His death, He was sent only to the 'lost sheep of Israel'! (Matt 15:24)

But this woman was not an Israelite and she wanted Jesus to perform a miracle on her child!

This was why when Jesus healed her daughter, He said to her:

'O woman, GREAT IS THY FAITH! (Matt 15:27)

Wow!

This woman VIOLENTLY entered into GRACE when it wasn't time for GRACE to manifest yet!

Are you getting the picture now?

2) Another example was that under the Law, it is a 'SIN' for a woman with the 'issue of blood' to come into the midst of people! (Lev 15:25-27)

But the Bible says when the woman with the issue of blood 'heard of Jesus'....she PRESSED INTO THE CROWD...ah!....and touched the hem of Jesus' garment! (Mark 5:27)

Wow!

She broke the LAW...when she 'heard of Jesus'!

Can you see how the kingdom of Heaven suffered violence!!!

The Law was still in full force because Jesus had not yet died...but she broke the Law of Moses in order to partake of GRACE!!!

Hmm....what did she hear about Jesus?

(If you wanna know, then don't miss the upcoming GOSPEL OF GRACE CONFERENCE 2014 season 3)! -- PM for details.

Wow!

Can you now see what Jesus meant by '....From the days of JOHN the Baptist until now....the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN suffereth violence...and the violent taketh it by force'!

That is, the 'violent could not wait for Jesus to die before they started pressing into the realities of the kingdom of God (GRACE)!

Now to make it brief and help you understand what Jesus was really saying about John the Baptist, which led to the statement about the violent taking it by force, let's just check out the parallel verse which is found in the book of Luke.

Now follow carefully:

'The LAW and the PROPHETS (hmm...) Were until JOHN:....SINCE THAT TIME...the KINGDOM OF GOD (Grace) is preached....and EVERY MAN PRESSETH INTO IT (i.e the violent taketh it by force)! (Luke 16:16 emphasis mine)

Wow!!!

Do you now understand?

Listen: The violent taketh it by force does not mean....'Shaking your head violently when praying'!!!

It does not mean.....fasting 100 days!!!

It does not mean....attending 7 days vigils!!!

It does not even mean....giving all your salary as a sacrifice!!!

Now listen carefully: it only required 'violence' to bring in GRACE when Jesus had not yet died!

Now Jesus had ALREADY DIED!!!

You can now LEGALLY PARTAKE OF GRACE!!!

GRACE IS TOTALLY UNMERITED FAVOUR!!!

Stop living your life as if Jesus had not yet died!

Rest on the finished work of Christ and receive your miracle FREELY!!!

'He (God) that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, ...How shall He not with Him also ...FREELY...FREELY...FREELY...give us...ALL...ALL...ALL...things!!! (Romans 8:32)

I therefore leave you with the words of Paul to the Galatians:

'Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY wherewith CHRIST hath made us FREE,...and be not entangled again with the yoke of BONDAGE (law)! (Gal 5:1)

I'm sure your eyes of understanding has been enlightened to see what Jesus has done for you and what Jesus meant by ...'The kindom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force'!

Wake up to the realities of GRACE!

Hallelujah!

The GOSPEL OF GRACE CONFERENCE 2014 (season 3) shall be a 'Rhema-Unsual' conference where God has determine to remove every scale of darkness from your eyes and usher you Graciously into the supernatural realms of GRACE!

Hallelujah!

Never forget: The violent taketh it by force does not mean....'Shaking your head violently when praying'!!!

You have been redeemed by the BLOOD!

'Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY wherewith CHRIST hath made us FREE,...and be not entangled again with the yoke of BONDAGE (law)! (Galatians 5:1)

Amen

Paul once attended church service in a synagogue where the LAW was heavily preached!

He sat down gently listening to all that the 'pastor' was teaching. He never tried to combat what they were teaching. He was in the service the same way every other people were.

It was a sabbath day!

Hmm...

But the 'pastors' of the synagogue made a BIG 'mistake'!

Hmm...

Acts 13:15....'And after the reading of the LAW and the prophets, the rulers (pastors) of the synagogue sent unto them (Paul and his company) saying: ...Ye men and brethen, IF YE HAVE ANY WORD OF EXHORTATION for the people, SAY ON!!!

Ah!

If these LAW pastors had known that Paul was a 'radical' GRACE teacher, they would not have made the mistake of inviting Paul for a 'short' sermon!

This is because the outcome of Paul's speech led to a serious revival which stirred up a serious 'controversy' between the LAW followers and those who believed in GRACE! (Vs 45)

I guess you are ready to see the full story! Let's dive straight in!

After the synagogue pastors asked paul to speak, Paul stood up and began his GRACIOUS sermon!

He started by taking them through the OLD testament and told them how God dealt with the people of the OLD covenant! (vs 16-23).

I'm sure at this point, those LAW pastors were nodding their heads and enjoying the sermon!

But in vs 23, Paul entered into the story of how God raised a SAVIOUR called Jesus!

Hmm....

He later continued by saying that the Jews that lived during the time of Jesus...because they knew Him not....they ended up condemning Him even though they found no fault in Him! (Vs 27-28)

Paul was wise in the construction of his sermon. He was actually going somewhere with his sermon.

Now let's go to the peak of this sermon!

Acts 13:38....'Be it known therefore men and brethren, that through this MAN (Jesus) is preached to you THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS'

Ah!

Paul is touching the DELICATE point!

He is now saying that forgiveness of sins is only through what Jesus did on the cross!

Hmm...

Let's see the next verse (which is one of my most favorite verses in the Bible)!

Acts 13:39....'And by HIM, ....ALL (how many?) THAT BELIEVE....are JUSTIFIED from ALL THINGS (how many things?)...from which ye could NOT be Justified by the LAW of Moses'!

Ah!

Did you read that!

Brother Paul has gone toooooo far!

Let's pause for a while. Look at the message Paul taught again!

Can you imagine hearing that being taught in your 'church' on a sunday morning!!!

Let me show you that verse again!

'And by HIM, ....ALL THAT BELIEVE....are JUSTIFIED from ALL THINGS...from which ye could NOT be Justified by the LAW of Moses'! (Acts 13:39)

Today, if a teacher of the word should teach that, many people will say he is teaching a WRONG doctrine and will lead many to hell!

BUT that is the REAL GOSPEL!

The real GOSPEL is the Gospel of FORGIVENESS OF SINS BY BELIEVING IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST!

It is not by the Laws of the Old Testament!

It is simply BY BELIEVING IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST!

Hmm...

And what was the effect of this serious sermon?

Vs 42....'When the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the GENTILES BEGGED that these WORDS might be preached to them again the next Sabbath!

Aba!

What a Transformation!

What a revival!

In fact, in the next verse, many of the Jews and proselytes (which means gentiles who had been converted to Judaism) followed Paul and Barnabas and persuaded them to CONTINUE IN THE GRACE (unmerited Favour) OF GOD!

Wow!

I hope you are enjoying this amazing story!

Vs 44.....'And the next sabbath day, ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY came to hear the word of God'!

Wow!

Did the Bible just refer to the Gospel of Grace as the WORD OF GOD?

Hmm...

This message has brought a serious revival!

People went to call their friends and neighbours not to miss the service next 'sabbath' because a GRACE preacher was in town!

GREAT REVIVALS ... ARE ... GRACE REVIVALS!!!

Now, what was the reaction of the 'Law addicts' to the message Paul preached?

Vs 45...the Jews were filled with envy, and spake against THOSE THINGS (grace) which were spoken by Paul, CONTRADICTING and BLASPHEMING'!

I hope you are seeing this with your Bible too!

In today's Christianity, a preacher is commended for contradicting the Gospel of Grace!

Hmm...

If only our eyes would be opened to see that the devil is the one making people to fight the preaching of the message of Grace!

In the next verse, Paul waxed BOLD and said to the LAW brethren: ..it was necessary that the WORD OF GOD (grace) should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and JUDGE YOURSELVES UNWORTHY OF EVERLASTING LIFE...lo, we turn to the Gentiles (sinners)!!!

Wow!

Rejecting the Gospel of Grace is equal to judging yourself unworthy of EVERLASTING LIFE!

Hmm....can you now see that 'narrow is the way that leads to LIFE'?

Isn't it really narrow....to believe you are forgiven TOTALLY -past, present and future- simply by believing in that one Man that gave His life for you?

Hmm...

Let us conclude this post.

In vs 48, the Gentiles were GLAD and glorified the WORD OF THE LORD: and as many were ordained to eternal life, BELIEVED!

Are you also ordained to eternal life?

Then you will believe the word of GRACE!!!

The Jews had to stir up the heart of people to raise persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and EXPELLED them out of their coasts! (Vs 50).

It was that serious!

And the chapter ended thus: ....'and the disciples were FILLED with joy and with the HOLY GHOST'! (vs 52).

Oh! Filled with the HOLY GHOST? Just by believing that you are justified by faith and not by the works of the Law?

GRACE is just so amazing!

I hope you had a nice time going through Acts 13 with me.

In conclusion, never forget Acts 13:39...

'And by HIM (Jesus)....all that believe (including you) are justified from ALL things (including your future faults) ...from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (no matter how you try)!

Therefore, continue in the GRACE of God!

Amen

Pangea: Dell ke?
Avoid that brand at all cost!
Google 7 beeps of death and you will thank me later.
My dell inspiron is gathering dust under my table now!

May I suggest you buy ASUS products,
You will be glad you did!

You have just spoken my mind.
@Op, get an Asus laptop with 500/750gb hdd, screen size is negligible, 2/4gb RAM, be it Celeron processor, you're good to go but see if your money can hold a Core i3 processor and make sure the OS on it is windows 7 if you don't want to be restricted application-wise. If you're based in Lagos you should be able to get a good Asus product from one of these Online stores.

By the way, my Asus is clocking 6 years this April. it's been difficult finding a suitable replacement..

'Will a man ROB God? Yet ye have robbed me! But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? in TITHES and OFFERINGS'! (Malachi 3v8

Now listen carefully: if you are a BELIEVER, the above verse was NOT referring to you! (read further before you call for my head, or ask yourself if you're truly a BELIEVER)

The verse above is only applicable to ANYONE who is YET TO BELIEVE in the finished work of Christ on the Cross!

This is the shocker: A BELIEVER can NEVER rob God..whether he pays his 'tithes' or not!

Read intensely: The idea of "robbing" God comes from the fact that you've "taken" something which is NOT yours because under Law, whatever you have is NOT your own!
It belongs to God!

That is why you see the word "BRING" whenever God is referring to any form of offering especially tithe!

See few examples:

"BRING ye all the tithes into the storehouse.." (Malachi 3:10)

"..thou shall BRING forth all the tithe of thine increase..." (Deut 14:28)

'BRING' simply means......IT IS NOT YOUR OWN, therefore, Bring it!

Listen carefully, under GRACE.....you don't BRING an offering to God! You GIVE an offering to God!

See examples below:

"GIVE and it shall be GIVEN unto you.." (Luke 6:38)

"For God loveth a cheerful...GIVER" (2cor 9:7)

Hear this: One of the reasons Jesus died on the cross was so that a BELIEVER will never be termed a ROBBER of God anymore!

Under Law: your tithe is a DEBT you OWE to God! (Lev 27:30-32)

Under Grace: your tithe is a SEED you SOW to God! (2cor 9:7)

SHOULD a believer pay Tithe?.....the answer is YES!

But...

MUST a believer pay tithe?......the answer is NO!!!!

Under the new covenant, there is no class of GIVING which is a MUST!

Paul said:

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him GIVE; not grudgingly, or of NECESSITY.."! (2cor 9:7)

The word "necessity" there refers to a kind of giving in which you feel if you don't "give"...then you are either robbing God or offending God!

You are not OWING God! Give WILLINGLY and CHEERFULLY as you purpose in your heart FOR GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER!!!

In conclusion, there are only two places in Scriptures where Jesus talked about 'TITHING' and in those two places, He plainly referred to the PHARISEES who are UNDER LAW! (Matt 23:23 and Luke 18:10-14)

Jesus NEVER mandated tithing for a believer, because a Believer is not under Law, but under Grace (Rom.6:14). However, tithing to a believer is by the revelation of the Holy Spirit! and when He reveals it to you...He will empower you to give your tithe without struggles not because you are scared of God's annoyance but because you are THANKFUL for the assurance of His ever-flowing blessings on your life!

Abraham, as a man who lived under Grace GAVE Melchizedech tithe (remember there was NO law on tithing then) and neither did Melchizedech demand tithes from Abraham!

Listen: Abraham did not 'BRING' his tithe to Melchizedech! Abraham GAVE tithes to Melchizedech! (Gen 14:20)

It was a SPONTANEOUS reaction..and I'm sure! it must have been by the LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! (Gen 14:18-20)

No wonder the Bible says:

'But if ye be LED of the SPIRIT, ye are NOT under the LAW'! (Gal 5:18)

Melchizedech (a type of Christ) did NOT bless Abraham BECAUSE Abraham paid tithes!

NO!

Read the story carefully; Melchizedech Blessed Abraham BEFORE Abraham gave him tithes! (Gen 14:18-20)

Under Law, you MUST PAY your tithes in order to be blessed!

But thanks be to Jesus..under Grace: God's blessings are NOT DEPENDENT on your ability to do ANYTHING!

Open your bible with me to Rom.4:4-5
"Now to him that WORKETH (underline that word) the reward is not reckoned of GRACE but of DEBT!....But to him that WORKETH NOT (underline this one too) (but did what?) but BELIEVETH on Him that Justifies the UNGODLY his faith (belief) is counted for RIGHTEOUSNESS"! that's simple enough, isn't it?

There are 2 kinds of rewards mentioned above!

1. Debt-rewards: ...that is, God has to bless you because you did something (such as you paid your tithes)

2. Grace-rewards:....that is, I am not presenting any EFFORT of mine to God as a reason why He should bless me! I don't DO RIGHT THINGS in order to be righteous, I do RIGHT THINGS because I AM RIGHTEOUS (thru the finished work of the cross)!

Wow!

Which reward do you prefer?

Do not be like the Pharisee in Luke 18:10 -14 who was telling God to "justify" him because he pays his tithes while the other sinner doesn't!

The Bible says: the sinner went to his house JUSTIFIED while the pharisee wasn't justified!

Remain under GRACE perpetually! (Romans 11:6)

Amen.

Justeenaleo: First of all d prodigal son story is NOT misleading nd second of all I was not prone to think dat d parable focuses only on d prodigal son and ur grammatical errors got me cracking.

I'm not perfect Ma.

Actually, the title is just to catch your attention.

Many people teach on the parable of the Prodigal Son but have no clue what Jesus was actually revealing by sharing this parable. This parable was actually to differentiate between categories of Christians! It is so funny that we are only prone to think that this parable was only an exposition on that prodigal guy, whereas Jesus was actually differentiating between a believer under 'Grace' and a believer under 'Law'!

Now let's go to the scriptures:

You remember how the prodigal son came back home and his Father ran to meet him and threw a party for him! (Luke 15:20-24). Now the Part 2 of this story commences from vs 25! The bible says:

'Now his ELDER son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing...'!

Wow! This is so interesting. You are about to see an hidden mystery which many do not teach on at all! This is not a 'separate' parable! It is still the so called 'parable of the prodigal son'! Hmmm...

When this 'elder' brother came, he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. Then the servant said to him: "Thy brother is come; and thy Father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound"! (Vs 27)

What should be the reaction of the elder brother to this news about his lost brother who had just been found? Now see what the next verse says:

'And he was ANGRY, and would not go in'!!! (Luke 15:28)

OMG! I hope you are following this exciting exposition! There must be something about this elder brother! Why should he be 'angry' at what was greatly delighting his Father's heart. The Bible says the Father had to come outside to meet him! (vs 28)

Ah! This elder brother actually refused to 'go inside' the house to join the party! What was really bothering this 'elder' brother that could make his Father come out to ask him?....hmmm....keep following..

Now, I'll like you to pay close attention as we read his response to his Father! -- "And he, answering said to his Father, Lo, these many years do I SERVE thee, neither TRANSGRESSED I at ANY time thy...COMMANDMENT (law): and yet thou NEVER GAVEST me a KID (small goat) that I might make merry with my FRIENDS (not with the Father)! (Vs 29)

Wow! Are you seeing this! It is so funny many teachers don't teach about this guy!!! He is the one we should lay more emphasis on and not the prodigal son!!! This guy was seriously UNDER LAW! He was 'serving' God 'perfectly'! He obeyed EVERY of God's commandments! but there was something wrong about this 'elder' brother! He was serving God in order to deserve God's blessings!!!

Hmmm....you need to hear that again!....He was trying to DESERVE what has been freely provided for him! That is what the LAW does! The Law makes you TRY to fulfil God's commandments in order to make God reward you! This guy was doing this in order to hear his Father say: "I can see your DOINGS, therefore take this KID and go and show-off to your FRIENDS that you are a 'diligent worker' in my house!!! ....hmmm......

Take a close look at the Father's response to this 'elder' brother! I really love this response:

"And the Father said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and ALL THAT I HAVE IS THINE!!! (vs 31)

OMG!!! Do you know what that statement means!....The Father was simply telling this guy that he is only trying to deserve what has ALREADY been given to him! He is trying to qualify for what is already his heritage! This is a true picture of a man under LAW!!!

So also, many 'christians' today are in the category of this elder brother! They are trying to DESERVE what Jesus has unmeritedly provided for them by dying on the cross!

Listen carefully: there is NOTHING that you cannot claim from the Father by simply 'asking'..I repeat NOTHING you cannot claim just by asking! (Matt7:7). Do you know why? Because ALL THINGS ARE YOURS! (1Cor 3:21). Don't hesitate to read that verse!

Today.....the church is fighting an army that has been DEFEATED!..trying to finish a work that is already in COMPLETED status!

It is not until you pray 10hrs a day, serve God in all your service units in your church, pay 30 percent of your salary as tithe monthly, go out for street evangelism......that you qualify for God's blessing!!! NO! It is simply by BELIEVING that Jesus has ALREADY qualified you! Because when you have this knowledge, you will be impressed to serve God as an APPRECIATION for what Jesus has done for you on the cross...and not serving God as a APPLICATION to qualify for God's favour!

Let me conclude this post by letting you know that when Jesus was about to share this parable, these two categories of people were with Him! In this same chapter (Luke 15), the first verse reads thus: "Then drew near unto him ALL the publicans and SINNERS for to hear him"! -- these were the first category of people! They are the people under GRACE! They don't qualify to be in the presence of Jesus but they were! They represent the 'prodigal son' in the parable later shared in the same chapter!

Now let's see the second category of people! I will like to refer to them as the 'elder brother' association!

Let's read verse two of luke 15.

'And the PHARISEES and SCRIBES....murmured, saying, This man (Jesus) RECEIVETH sinners, and EATETH with them!!!

Can you see this group of people? They are always against Jesus! Not because they hated Jesus, but because Jesus loves to QUALIFY the UNQUALIFIED......while they love to QUALIFY for what they have already been QUALIFIED for!!!

Hmmm....I hope you had a wonderful time going through the book of Luke 15 with me.

Never forget these 3 statements....

--STOP TRYING TO QUALIFY FOR WHAT JESUS HAS ALREADY QUALIFIED YOU FOR!!!

--ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!!!

--DO NOT JOIN THE 'ELDER BROTHER' ASSOCIATION!!!....lol

Remain in His Grace. Halleluyah!

Many people teach on the parable of the Prodigal Son but have no clue what Jesus was actually revealing by sharing this parable. This parable was actually to differentiate between categories of Christians! It is so funny that we are only prone to think that this parable was only an exposition on that prodigal guy, whereas Jesus was actually differentiating between a believer under 'Grace' and a believer under 'Law'!

Now let's go to the scriptures:

You remember how the prodigal son came back home and his Father ran to meet him and threw a party for him! (Luke 15:20-24). Now the Part 2 of this story commences from vs 25! The bible says:

'Now his ELDER son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing...'!

Wow! This is so interesting. You are about to see an hidden mystery which many do not teach on at all! This is not a 'separate' parable! It is still the so called 'parable of the prodigal son'! Hmmm...

When this 'elder' brother came, he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. Then the servant said to him: "Thy brother is come; and thy Father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound"! (Vs 27)

What should be the reaction of the elder brother to this news about his lost brother who had just been found? Now see what the next verse says:

'And he was ANGRY, and would not go in'!!! (Luke 15:28)

OMG! I hope you are following this exciting exposition! There must be something about this elder brother! Why should he be 'angry' at what was greatly delighting his Father's heart. The Bible says the Father had to come outside to meet him! (vs 28)

Ah! This elder brother actually refused to 'go inside' the house to join the party! What was really bothering this 'elder' brother that could make his Father come out to ask him?

click below to read the remaining of the post
https://www.nairaland.com/1512024/prodigal-son-title-misleading

Bidam: @dami, while it is quite commendable to hear your revelations on doctrines which you perceive is an error,you should also note that certain immoral men that Jude talked about were perverting the grace of God. They claimed that the gospel frees Christians from moral obligation( Jude 4).

These false teachers have often been identified as Gnostics.

They professed to have superior knowledge, hence the name Gnostic, from the Greek word gnosis -- "to know". They probably said something like this to the Christians: "What you have is good, but we have additional truth. We can take you beyond the simple teachings and initiate you into new and deeper mysteries. If you are going to be full-grown and fulfilled, you need our teachings."

The Christian faith had been once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3) and anything that claims to be in addition to it is fraudulent.

James has already given us a sound reasonable advice.

James 3:1.Not many of you should presume to be teachers,my brothers,because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

I appreciate your observation bro. We're all learning from one another here..nobody is proving to be more knowledgeable than the other. My concern is just that we should open our mind and let the Spirit of God reveal that which is true.

One thing I know, there is more to what we think we've known all about..revelations will never cease.

Alwaystrue: when people do not even understand how love is fulfilled in sabath and what it really means, they will keep asking questions, it is no wonder the veil still remains on their eyes. Yet the truth is staring them right in the face.
Like I said people still do not understand what Grace and Truth means yet they claim to believe in Jesus....and do not keep and do not understand His words.

We will do another teaching on that topic of who a believer or born-again is, but can you explain this: Jesus said He who deny Him in this world He will deny such before His Father in heaven...but yet, Peter denied Christ, not once but good three times...do you think Christ will still deny him on the last day?

ayoku777: ..., the Holy Spirit is not given to help us obey the law, he came to do what the law couldnt do -make us Christ-like. That was what the law couldnt do.

God bless you for that point. It's a pitiable situation when you see a lot of Christians, especially believing Christians praying for grace to keep the law. but no, lots of people do not even know what it means to be born-again..they thought it's behavioural modification..or ability to work miracles, or ability to lead God's people in prayers and songs..explanation on that coming on in my next post/topic

christemmbassey: As Goshen360 will say, I'm Christ's Emmbassey, and i ENDORSE this message of the kingdom 100%. Grace b multiplied unto you bro.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of Grace. Thank You Jesus.

Alwaystrue: Lol. I once made a post on this. The body parts were just means to commit sin for sin is conceived in the heart. It takes real understanding to understand what Jesus said there. It is not the hand or leg or eye that causes to sin, it is only the medium used. Else a thief or adulterer will just say it was his hand or privates that made him sin not actually 'him'. Lol.
Even with all those parts cut off the mind and the mind is not renwed and the heart circumcised, the person will still fester with lust, hate and bitterness. It still won't make the person sinless in actual sense except the heart is renewed. So the joke is still on the person really.

Jesus ministry on earth was on having the right heart and if any looks at Jesus words with veiled eyes, he will never understand the very life in Jesus words. He will keep thinking Jesus was preaching works or 'under the law' when Jesus was speaking the mind of God for believers.

Sister, your comments have not really being able to differentiate between Grace and law. You see, whenever Jesus is with the Pharisees and scribes, He preaches the law to them in plain words, because that's what they understand, but preaches Grace in parables..while when He is with the disciples, He preaches Grace to them in plain words.

For instance, Jesus preached that the greatest commandments are "Love your neighbour as yourself" and "Love God with all your heart"..meanwhile, under Grace, He said "Love each other as I have loved you" because He knows a certain time will come that you might not love yourself due to circumstances around you, as a result of which you might not "love your neighbour as yourself" at that point in time, but when you remember how much God loves you unconditionally..it will be easy for you to love others even when you don't love yourself.

I have heard some people say..'even though Jesus told the adulterous woman that He does not condemn her,..He still made sure He warned her to GO AND SIN NO MORE'!!! (John 8:11)

You see, when you look at the scriptures with a LAW mentality, all you will be seeing is DEMANDS! But when you humble yourself to view scriptures with a GRACE mentality, all you will be seeing is SUPPLIES!!! When a believer under Law reads the 'Gracious' words of Jesus in the bible, he will always term it as a 'warning'!

Now listen carefully: Jesus NEVER 'warned' that woman to...go and sin no more!!!...that statement....GO AND SIN NO MORE....was NOT a warning! It was an EMPOWERMENT!!!

It was NOT a demand on the woman! It was a supply of Grace! He NEVER meant He will condemn her if she falls into that sin again!

Now see: whenever Jesus heals a sick man, He often says...thy faith hath made thee whole; GO IN PEACE!!! (Mark 5:34, luke 7:50, luke 8:48)

Now tell me; the statement....GO IN PEACE....was it a warning or an empowerment? If the General Overseer of your church prays for you and ends with GO IN PEACE, is he warning you? Will you be fidgeting on your way home with extreme care..just because your pastor said 'go in peace'?...NO!!! I'm sure if trouble shows up on your way home, you will say: 'The man of God has said I should GO IN PEACE and I believe it, therefore I curse this challenge in the name of Jesus!..I really hope you are getting what I'm implying here!

In the same vein, when Jesus said to the adulterous woman,....GO AND SIN NO MORE, He was NOT warning her! He was simply ensuring that she understands and live in the consciousness that her sins are totally forgiven and He will NEVER condemn her!

Look at how He made the statement.John 8:10-11---...Jesus said to her, woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?...she said, No man Lord. And Jesus said unto her,....NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE: GO, AND SIN NO MORE!!!

It was a blessing! It was just like saying---THY FAITH (in Me) HATH MADE THEE WHOLE: GO IN PEACE!!!

You see, in the original greek translation, whenever Jesus says Go in Peace..it is actually translated as 'Go INTO peace'! It was a statement of perfection in which the sick person has his healing ESTABLISHED and PERFECTED! In the same vein, the statement Go and sin no more....was an empowerment in which the woman is declared to be ESTABLISHED in righteousness! (Isa 54:14). It means she can NO LONGER be judged as a sinner anymore!!! Hmmm....Can you see why the devil keeps misinterpreting this verse as a 'warning' to many people?

In fact, The statement..GO AND SIN NO MORE....has its full explanation in Romans 6:14! (Don't hesitate to read that verse now). Jesus simply moved that woman from LAW to GRACE!!!

Now, let it be settled in your heart that Jesus NEVER condemns believers!!! (Rom 8:1, Gal 3:13). If this statement annoys you....then you are a 'Pharisee'!!! You probably would have been among those who were eager to stone that woman but forgot they were also sinners!!!

Today, in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, I say unto you....GO AND SIN NO MORE! (Amen)

ayoku777: Fasting is a travailing tool, you don't fast to impress God or even recieve from him per se. Fasting is like a woman travailing to bring forth what she carries on her inside. Any grace doctrine that tries to expunge or remove fasting, prayer and the word study from the list of necessities under the new covenant is signing you up for stagnation in your walk unto perfection with the Holy Spirit.

There are glories deposited in your spirit that you carry on the inside and you just cant 'wish' them into physical manifestation (believe me, I've tried). You need to know about them through intensive word study and meditation, and to bring them forth in the place of travail; and one of such travailing tools is prayer and fasting.

Jesus said in Matt 9v15 ...But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast.

It means as long as we are in the age of Christ's physical absence from His church (The church age), we will always need the tools of fasting (and the word and prayer) to bring forth his glory and manifest his tangible presence. Bringing forth his glory is not automatic, even though you have become filled with it. You need to travail like a woman.

Quite insightful. So, when should a Believer fast cos if fasting is what bring forth God's glory and presence,...lot of people are definitely living without God's presence and glory around them?

JMAN05: I want to accept your point, but it has to be consistent with what the bible says or do you savor gullibility?

My point is that their are two Gods there, but you said one. You think you are right and I think I am too. will it not be good to see my point first while i see urs?

If you check the original word used to express God in Gen 1, it was all Eloha..and that's a plural word for God, whereas other parts of the Bible made use of Elohim which is a singular word for God (talking about God the Father). Eloha's validity was further proved when the Bible say "let US make man in OUR image"...now you understand. One God is the Trinity, the other is God the Father. Its the English language that couldn't represent the two Gods (so to say) very well in the English bible because the Trinity and God the Father are one and the same!

Alwaystrue: Fasting is a means to humble yourself in the sight of God....that is all I will say.
You have the bible so you can do your studies to confirm or reject my statement. .

Its okay. Honestly, butt from your response, does it mean when you are not in fast you're not humbled before God, or what is that status of your spirit when you're fasting and when you are not?

In as much this message could be difficult to swallow I hope you get to read it again the day you come to the realisation of this truth.

the message is not meant for all as some of us are still feeding on the milk of the word...while some have already graduated to the meat level.

One point I want us to note is this; You cannot impress God with your works..be it number of days of fasting or number of hours of prayers, there will always be "one thing" lacking! Our problem today is the image of ourselves we project when we come God, especially in prayer.

In Gen 1:26, God made man in His Own image, We don't have any problem believing that just like Adam, but when Satan came to them, he only projected same image to them, and they doubted God, why? because the devil made them believe they "must do something" to qualify, to become, to achieve what God has granted them. Thank God Jesus passed this test - He didn't need to turn stone to bread before He can become Son of God..why? He know who He is, nothing to be done to achieve that.

A dog doesn't bark in order to become a dog, it's a dog even before it starts barking..so it barks because it's a dog..Our original status had been restored at redemptionm since Jesus' sacrifice. If God can release His only Son to die for us all even when we're still in the devil's camp..(we even killed Him), what else do you think you can do to please Him or get your prayer answered? All we need is to accept God's love and live a life pleasing to Him. That's all, "the Lord's prayer" or not, there's no point in trekking when you have a free bus ticket.

@alwaystrue
@josh
@shemidemi

I have this for you; why do you still fast as a believer, is it to get God's attention or to give Holy Spirit dominion of your flesh? your responses would be appreciated.

Thanks you all for your comments. They are highly appreciated.