₦airaland Forum

musKeeto: This is what happens when you have an answer before the question is even asked. The question has to fit the answer. And that everlasting, easy, oh-so-quick answer is God.

Candour: PEACE – Mark Of A True Christian

John 14:27
‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’

In the above verse, we hear our Lord and savior telling the disciples who would later become the apostles how he was leaving them a very important commodity needed to run the race; His Peace. The peace being talked about here is different from the peace the world offers. In fact, our Lord was aware of this hence his statement that ‘…..not as the world giveth…’ in the verse above. The world offers peace but the peace of the world falls far short of that which our Lord and master made available to us. The world has different definitions for peace. Some say peace is the absence of war while others say it is the presence of justice. This is not the type of peace promised us by Christ. What then is that peace given to us by Christ?

The peace offered us by our Lord is an unencumbered peace. Peace that is not dependent on circumstances or status. Peace that remains peace in the midst of troubles and situations that call for fear. This peace is not based on your reserves in the bank or the tranquility you have around your environment. This peace spoken of by the Lord is that which made it possible for Paul and Silas to sing praises to God almighty while imprisoned in the dark recesses of a roman dungeon in the city of Philippi(Acts 16:23-25). It’s this peace that enabled Paul to tell the Philippians in Phil 4:4 ‘Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice’ even while he was in prison in Rome, going further to pray for them thus in Phil 4:7 ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’. He wrote this verse under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit just after asking them in verse 6 to ‘be anxious for nothing…’. It is only the peace of God that could have made this man write this to a group of free believers while he himself was in prison awaiting execution. In the old testament, Isaiah talked about this peace in Isa 26:3 ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’ and it was displayed by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they relaxed in God’s faithfulness and refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image(Dan 3:16-18). They were at peace even though the threat of the furnace was hanging on them. What then brings about this peace in Christians?

This peace overflows in the life of Christians when they know and believe they are washed from sin by the blood of the lamb and have had their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience(Heb 10:22). When they know they are guiltless hence they have peace with God through faith(Rom 5:1) and God is not condemning them. This inner peace is manifested when Christians realize they are joint-heirs with Christ(Rom 8:17) and Christ is seated far above all powers; good and evil(Eph 1:20-21) which makes them superior to powers of darkness. Christians have the spirit of God working in them to do of God’s good pleasure(Phil 2:13). They are those led by the Spirit of God and they manifest the fruits of the Spirit. Gal 5:22-23 enumerates the fruits of the Spirit and we find peace is one of them. Christians are able to exhibit this fruit or attribute because being led by the Spirit, they do not operate by the physical senses. Phil 3:20 says ‘For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:’ A Christian has the peace described by Christ because his hope is not based on earthly things or considerations. He is in the world but he is not a part of it as he has been translated into the kingdom of Christ(Col 1:13). Therefore being citizens of heaven, we Christians should have peace even if we suffer afflictions because ‘..our light affliction,…….worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.’ (2Cor 4:17-18).

Are you a Christian troubled by guilt? Be at peace because your heavenly father has forgiven you all sins(Col 2:13). Are you troubled by fear of attacks from dark powers? Be at peace because God in you is greater than the world(1John 4:4). Are you anxious about your needs being met? Be at peace for your father has promised not to forsake you(Heb 13:5). Allow the peace of God pervade your life and affairs. Let the peace of God be evident in your speech, demeanor, thoughts, actions etc. Let the story of your life be expressed in terms of the peace which God alone gives. Be encouraged by the words of the chorus below. See it as your master assuring you of his power to subjugate all concerns confronting you.

‘They all shall sweetly obey my will,
peace be still, peace be still.
They all shall sweetly obey my will;
peace, peace be still.’

God bless you richly

mbaemeka: You tried to mock some other poster for his arithmetic a while back yet simple arithmetic is above you too.

Read again:

12 years ago 50Cents made a name for himself with the album you made reference to. It put you at between 28-34 years of age when you were still listening to him.

Which means you are definitely in your 40s now at least. . .oldie!

Candour: God bless you for this truth. This is the reason I've NEVER joined a thread opened to bash the RCC. Every denomination including those claiming they've never said anything bad about RCC have horrible skeletons in their closets. The only difference is that mankind has become more civilised otherwise, the wars that took place during the Reformation and subsequent years would have been child's play compared to the wars we would have had today. Thank God we now have courts and denominations no longer control government.

When people ask me today which church I attend, I tell them I belong to the body of Christ. When they press and ask where its located, I tell them heaven. I fellowship in any place God directs me but I place more premium on bible study groups and fellowship today. Anywhere 2 or three are gathered in Jesus name, Christ assured he'll be there, I'm sure even if its in a toilet.

I think there's something about starting a new 'church' that turns the founders into monsters in a short time that leaves me in no doubt that new testament Christianity is against denominationalism. God seeks those who will worship him in spirit and in truth and that picture gets clearer when you start digging into the core of any denominational group you find yourself. You will always find rottenness every time.

If my friends on NL decides to open a church, he can be sure I won't attend. If you say a bible study group where we can study, fellowship and challenge our positions on bible doctrine, then count me in.

The tragedy of Pentecostal christianity is the one man and his family show going on where a dictator seats above everyone else like a king who cannot and must not be challenged. The RCC is even better in this respect. At least its not hereditary unlike the case now that G.O dies and wife or son take over like its a kingdom.

mployer: The apostle of Grace also talked about speaking the TRUTH IN LOVE. Love is tolerant, patient and longsuffering. These are no virtues you find in the midst of vehement argument.

If a particular brethren is not understanding a particular aspect of grace, leave that and teach the one he understands pending when his understanding is opened in that area.

I've always loved damilarelr posts simply for SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, though he is not too regular here.

Tanx anyway for the grace convection, it was a huge success

mbaemeka: You know so much about 50 Cent's and HipHop in general and it's only 12 years ago that he made a name for himself.

mbaemeka: Which puts you at 28-34 years of age (oldie) while you were still bumping to him. Spiritual brethren!

mbaemeka: Now use the wisdom gained from your head space at that time and make that failing blog work so you can buy a better phone that will help deliver your posts properly. We are waiting for your testimony.

mbaemeka: BTW I am very rich and loaded! Thank you

mbaemeka: 4. God told Paul he was to suffer for the gospel. God didn't tell mbaemeka that he was to suffer for the gospel. God told me to prosper for the gospel. Amen.

mbaemeka: 4. God told Paul he was to suffer for the gospel. God didn't tell mbaemeka that he was to suffer for the gospel. God told me to prosper for the gospel. Amen.

mployer: Op is the teacher on this thread and we are here to learn and comment strictly on his posts.

He has never being part of this tithe argument, don't know why you are dragging him to it.

mployer: Nice one op.
And pls DrummaBoy stop calling out people to come and derail this beautiful thread.

Gombs: Haba DB, Happy Sunday o...but...
Why do you think I have time for debates long thrashed on NL?

Anyways, I noticed your absence, and all u 'true' gospel preachers on Jo's thread that made fp, not even to glorify God for his wonderful works, the reason is not far fetched though, u would rather side with atheists and ridicule the gospel or your fellow believers, rather than admit God still wrought miracles in believers today. Secondly, Jo is a tither and as u put it 'a fraud' 'scammer' and other adjectives you lot has used over time. Ok, maybe u all were so busy that you missed the thread!

How did I get to that? From your stance on Jo's crusade, your gallivanting with atheists on the doctrinal matters, now u had the effrontery to call me up here to debate tithing? Don't you ever get tired?

Why not draw up thread we could all talk about edification? Must it be 'grace' 'law' 'tithe' ? Why never miracles? Faith? Holy Spirit? Love? Eh Deji?

Let me summon Kunle and shedemidemi to come feast...food don done!

DrummaBoy: Paul and the Judaizers

Paul the apostle can only be described as a remarkable man when we realize that he confronted Judaism both in the world and in the church. Jesus had given a brief remark on the kind of suffering this man’s ministry was going to encounter when he was speaking to Ananias at Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:15-16).

From Paul’s own testimony, Paul was born a jew. He grew up and was discipled under the strictest form of Judaism – he was a Pharisee. He was taught by Gamaliel; a man of such profound knowledge of the Torah and who was held at the highest esteem by the Jewish leaders that a word from him got the release of Peter and John from the murderous grip of the Jews in Acts 4. So Paul was well taught.

Paul, however, had an encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, as he was persecuting Christians with authority from the Jewish leaders. He was born-again, and scripture records that immediately he began to preach Jesus whom he had been persecuting. Paul’s account in Galatian 2 shows that sometimes between the period of his conversion and the time he visited Peter and James, Paul was on a retreat in the wilderness and their God revealed the gospel of grace to him. Jesus himself had preached bits and pieces of this gospel in his earthly ministry but because he was born under the law and had to be subject to the law so as to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law for those of us who will subsequently come to have faith in Him, Jesus could not preach the gospel of grace (completely) as he would later reveal to Paul (this is the only way to explain why Paul’s message differed from Jesus’ without discussing the doctrine of dispensation). Jesus had however told the disciples that he could not teach them everything now but will reveal things to them bit by bit (John 14:26).

The gospel of grace was part of the revelation that Peter got when he had the encounter with God on the top of a house subsequent to his meeting Cornelius in Acts 10. Though what Peter understood was that the gospel had been sent to the gentiles also and was not to be confined to Jews, alone. The fact that Peter’s ministry was limited to the Jews shows that he did not completely grasp the gospel of grace like Paul did and even if he did, he could not pay the price to preach it.

But Paul paid that price. Why? Because God had given him the grace to do so (1 Corinthians 15:10).

The gospel of grace as revealed to Paul was revolutionary. The core point of it was Justification by grace through faith (alone), Ephesians 2:8-9. The implication of this gospel meant that everything Moses gave as law was defunct and obsolete Galatians 3, 2Corinthians 3. There has been a change of law from the law of sin and death to the law of Spirit of Life, Hebrew 7:12; Romans 8:2. Rather than be led by law written of tablets of stones, the believer was now to be led by the Spirit of God, Romans 8:14.

This gospel preached by Paul was against the Judaizers both in the Church and in the world. The latter part of the book of Acts gives an account of what Paul experienced in the hands of worldly Judaizers. But if his contention was with those in the world alone, it would have been a small matter. But Paul also had to contend with Judaizers in the church.

The main object of contention with the Judaizers of Paul’s time was the question of whether gentile believers were to be circumcised or not. In Acts 15:2 it is recorded that Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention with these group of people. The matter was taken to the Jerusalem church and the verdict read:

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The case seem to have closed there, not until again we see Paul in Galatians 2 saying that he had to withstand Peter to the face because he was acting hypocritical. What was the matter? Some Judaistic Christians had come from James, and Peter was now beginning to withdraw from the gentiles Christians who prior to those people’s coming, he had been eating with them. Following this rebuke, Paul laid down the eternal foundations upon which the gospel of grace is founded on in the book of Galatians:

[b]1. There is only one gospel: the Gospel of Grace, any other is an accursed thing. And anyone who preaches such is accursed. Galatian 1:8,9
2. Justification is by faith(Galatians 3:6-7) and the subsequent life that the believer lives must be lived by faith, Galatians 2:20. Nothing in the law could secure a man’s salvation, v.21.
3. To start in faith and then to think you can secure your salvation by doing anything else in addition to it is foolishness. Galatians 3:1-3
4. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13 (including the curse of not tithing in Malachi 3) and the blessing of Abraham comes to the believer by faith and not works, v.14
5. The purpose of the law was to reveal what sin is and the utter sinfulness of man that tries to keep it, and thus our need of a savior. Galatians 3:19-24
6. The law is weak and beggarly. Galatians 4: 8-9
7. God calls the believer to stand in liberty and not bondage to the law. Galatians 5:1
8. Those who seek to be justified by the law have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4
9. Christ fulfilled the law and those of us who obey the law of love, have fulfilled the law also; for all the law is fulfilled in the law of love. Galatians 5:14
10. The call on all believers is not to keep any aspect of the law but to be led by the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit; for when we do this we are obliged to keep the law. Galatians 5:22-23
An in depth study of Galatians will reveal much more than these things enumerated above.[/b]

mbaemeka: 4. God told Paul he was to suffer for the gospel. God didn't tell mbaemeka that he was to suffer for the gospel. God told me to prosper for the gospel. Amen.

Image123: No i don't need to read Nora's document, i've read similar and worse. Better still, i've read Dr Lake himself sometimes ago. Every minister including Jesus has some untrue story printed about them and i don't have to read each document to know the truth.

Like i said already, the bible records Jesus and Peter healing people who were gathered at a place for that purpose. The pool at Bethesda had sick people gathered and waiting in anticipation to be healed by God. Jesus said that where believers are gathered together IN HIS NAME, He will be there.
Believers today can heal the sick using natural outworking of God's power confirming a message(whatever that means). It matters not whether it is done in a school, room, church, street, university or whatever. If thou can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.

mbaemeka: 4. God told Paul he was to suffer for the gospel. God didn't tell mbaemeka that he was to suffer for the gospel. God told me to prosper for the gospel. Amen.

Image123: Dr Lake didn't start healing school friend. BTW, stop reading and believing baseless unfounded accusations of scoffers. The apostles themselves were labeled as thieves, Jesus Himself labeled a man possessed with devils.
The concept of an healing school or room or whatever is simply about gathering people in anticipation of miracle, healing and answers to prayer. They are then inspired in varying ways like perhaps listening to the Word of God, or praying/tarrying, or hearing and seeing testimonies, praising etc. Nothing wrong with these as Christ promised to be where people are gathered in His name. An healing school qualifies. John 5 records of a pool at bathesda where sick people gathered in anticipation of healing, Jesus wuz ere. Jesus Himself gathered people who had need of healing at different occasions. Peter's shadow passed over people who were in beds and couches all anticipating healing. Healing rooms, streets, school, university didn't start yesterday. It is not something some mysterious WOF conjured up.
Of course, it is wrong for anyone to lie or pretend healing whether in a church service, a crusade, a school, room, evangelistic outreach or anywhere. Nothing wrong or unbiblical about people waiting to be healed. Many things wrong with deceiving and being deceived, this ain't limited to any sect or faction. You for instance have being largely deceived about many "men of God".

mbaemeka: 4. God told Paul he was to suffer for the gospel. God didn't tell mbaemeka that he was to suffer for the gospel. God told me to prosper for the gospel. Amen.

nora544: http://www.ascleiden.nl/sites/default/files/devil_who_heals_published_version.pdf

one of this WOF pastors write a book about him Copeland, Kenneth

therealMcCain: my question is: the Christian who decides to act on the above scriptures not becos of Gods love but becos he doesn't want the bad things spoken in them to happen to him, will he get the promises/blessings attached to this scriptures

Image123: Beat it abeg.
Also, remember this is a forum. i can help re-channel aimlessness to productivity, you now understand i'm sure.
If it doesn't fly past your ego, i'll give you a parable.
Psalms 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

Christian X said it is ONLY God that does wondrous things, nobody else. He of course brings a couple of passages to pad his doctrines and scorn others.
Christian Y said it is God does ONLY wondrous things, nothing else. He of course brings a couple of passages to pad his doctrines and scorn others.
Christian Z said God to do wondrous things in his life and gets that.
go figure

Image123: almost forgot to say on this above. These are either meaningless combination of letters or outright lies of convenience.

Candour: My bro, no be small thing o. The desperate search for 'solutions' to 'problems' can push a man to extremes and places he never imagined.

'A Christian contented is a Christian victorious' is the most important lesson I learnt through it all.

LordRazor1: Critics announce to you that you have just attained your next level; that you have been noticed; at least you have not been ignored. So learn whatever truth you can garner from their words and move on. And as for your die-hard critics, your brilliancy is exposing their impotency; your truth is revealing their weakness and your rise stirs up their dismay cz they never thought you would.

If they did it to Jesus sure they would whip you hard in the same manner but you have to raise your head after every lash and say "thanks but no thanks, ama du better than this next time." Develop the habit of having fun watching them criticize you while they think they are the ones having fun.... You are just more than them because they probably are shocked how you could achieve so much in a short time when it took them months/years to achieve even half of yours.

They forgot that grace differ... Rom 12:3... And it's not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the LORD

...... To be continued.....

DrummaBoy: ^^^

In other words, never criticize.

Yet Jesus was heavily critical of the religious leaders of his day. See Matthew 23.

John the Baptist died because he dared to critique Herod.

Steven was stoned to death because he critique the Jews.

Paul critiqued false prophets of his time. He called them dogs in Philippians 3.

John critiqued a Pastor, Diotrephus, and commanded the saints to never imitate him.

The core of Jesus' words in his letters to the churches in Rev. were heavily critical.

Where did this morbid fear of criticism come from in Christendom today?

It came from falsehood that abounds in church today. I dare say no other time in Christian history demand more critical analysis of gospel preaching than now.

Again, there is only one reason anyone would fear a critic and that is if he has something to hide. He that is in the light fears not light shining on him; except he is in darkness.

Friend, forget that New Age thinking that discourages criticism. It had no example in the bible.