₦airaland Forum

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Are you trying to say Jesus is your Val?

OLAADEGBU: If 10% of your income is too much of a burden for you, how about 100%?



Jesus said something along this line when He reprimanded the scribes and Pharisees:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone" (Matthew 23:23).

Jesus here didn't encourage them to break the law He rather gave them the proper interpretation of it. Jesus emphasised here that judgment, mercy and faith were more important than tithing but that all should be done nevertheless. Under grace Christian stewardship demands your 100% and not just 10.



Now you're talking here. Those who still argue about giving their 10% in my opinion have to learn from the Macedonian Christians:

"Praying with us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God"(2 Corinthians 8:4-5).

You need grace to give and share of your means just as these Macedonians who gave out of their deep poverty.

Bro, I dont seem to understand what you're trying to say here, are you saying it is the duty of christians to give 10% of thier income or are you saying they are supposed to give their all to God and the needy?

Are you saying the author and the finisher of our faith commanded us to give 10% of our income?

Did Jesus ever paid tithes (though He paid tax)?

With all the instruction that the Holy Spirit gave on how to run the church of God through Paul, Peter, John, Luku etc, was there a place christians were instructed to pay 10% of their income?

Please enlighten me.

3. Gaius was a rich christian. Hence, being rich is not evil for a christian but how you get your money, why you want to be rich and what you use your money for matters. Gaius was made to understand the fact the his physical prosperity is dependent on his spiritual prosperity "...EVEN, as thy soul prosper" same thing Jesus said: "seek ye first the kingdom of God and ALL its righteousness and ALL other things will be added unto you" you cannot rub others, steal or commit fraud to get rich and tell yourself you are a christian just because you come to church to pay tithes of it.

4. he used his money to help the poor and travelling evangelist and christians. Hospitality is a lost art in many churches today. We wouldou do well to invite more people for meals - fellow church members, young people, traveling missionaries, those in needs. This is an active and much-appreciated way to show YOUR LOVE. Because of our individualistic self-centered society, many lonely people wonder if anyone cares whether they live or die. if you find such a lonely person, show him or her that you care!

Dont claim the blessing of Gaius without the faithfulness of Gaius!

3 John vs 2: "Beloved, I wish you above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth"

It is very unfortunate that many so-called christians/pastors of today has turn this passage of the scripture to a source of prosperity with godliness message. They fail to study the all epistle and if they do delibrately neglect the real message of the scripture in order to give to the people what they want to hear and not what God want them to hear.

What is the passage talking about?

1. This epistle provides a glimpse into the life of the early church. Third John, addressed to brother Gaius, highlights the need for showing hospitality to traveling preachers and other believers. It also warns against a would-be church dictator

2. God is concerned for believers' physical and spiritual well-being and both are important to God. Some people believe God is only interested in what goes on in their mind and that their salvation has nothing to do with their body. so, they therefore neglect their body and physical body or indulge their body in sinful desires. responsible christian will care for his physical needs and discipline our bodies so that we are at our best for God's service.

2 Tim 3: 15 - 17: "And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which is able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteouness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

uj_sizzle: I love this family of God
But why no one has spoken of those who really need to be loved is baffling .


What's your valentine gift to the rest of humanity going to be?

Touch as many needy souls as I can with love.

As for my better half, she's in for a BIG surprise!

I didn't want to contribute to this issue of tithing but I think I shld say one or two things here.

I make bold to say it is completely unscriptural and manipulative to tell someone to bring 10% of his/her income to church.

There is no place the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit through the apostles taught the church to pay tithes (point to me if there is any).

If the church today can spend half the time they use in preaching tithes on preaching about the redemptive work of Jesus on calvary, holy living, judgement of God on sinners and the way of escape, heavenly home of the saved, unconditional love for friends and foes, the evil of love for money, bribery and corruption etc; the nation and the world will be a better place.

Moreover, a genuine child of God does not need to be cajoled to give to God because he knows that his entire life belongs to God so giving 50% or 100% will not be an issue.

Lastly what God demands from every truly born-again child of God is not just 10% of income but all of his/her life and that includes time, energy, resources, knowledge, talents, helping the needy etc. Matt 25:34 - 40; 2Cor 12: 14 - 20; phl 3: 7 - 10; Matt 5: 42; Lk 6: 38; Acts 20: 35

delkuf: Guys am really happy that their are xtians that believe thatsex b4 marriage is a sin. I have a questn to ask u guys. i will brb

Indeed God be praised but it doesn't matter if someone believe it or not, God will not lower His standard for anyone.

Bélla3: Please read...
* AN AWESOME MUST
READ STORY *
APPLES
A few years ago a
group of salesmen from
here went to a
regional sales
convention in Chicago.
They had assured their
wives that they would
be home in
Plenty of time for Friday
night's dinner. In their
rush, with tickets and
briefcases, one of these
salesmen
inadvertently kicked
over a table which held
a display of apples.
Apples flew
everywhere. Without
stopping or looking back,
they all managed to
reach the plane in time
for
their nearly missed
boarding; ALL BUT ONE!!!
He paused, took a deep
breath, got in touch
with his feelings and
experienced a twinge of
compassion for the girl
whose apple stand had
been overturned.
He told his buddies to go
on without him, waved
good-bye, told one of
them to call his wife
when they arrived at
their home
destination and explain
his taking a later flight.
Then he
returned to the terminal
where the
apples were all over the
terminal floor. He was
glad he did.
The 16-year-old girl was
totally blind! She was
softly crying, tears
running down her
cheeks in frustration,
and at the same time
helplessly
groping for her spilled
produce as the crowd
swirled about her; no
one stopping and no one
to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on
the floor with her,
gathered up the apples,
put them
back on the table and
helped organize her
display. As he did this,
he noticed that many of
them had become
battered and bruised;
these he set aside in
another basket.
When he had finished,
he pulled out his wallet
and said to the girl,
"Here, please take this $
40 for the damage we
did. Are you okay?"
She nodded through her
tears. He continued on
with, "I hope we didn't
spoil your day too
badly."
As the salesman
started to walk away,
the bewildered blind girl
called out to him,
"Mister...." He paused
and turned to look back
into those blind eyes.
She continued, "Are you
Jesus?" He stopped in
mid-stride ... and he
wondered. He gently
went back
and said, "No, I am
nothing like Jesus - He is
good, kind, caring, loving,
and would never have
bumped into your
display in the first
place."
The girl gently nodded:
"I only asked because I
prayed for Jesus to help
me gather the apples.
He sent you to help me,
so you are like Him -
only He knows who will
do His will. Thank
you for hearing His call,
Mister."
Then slowly he made
his way to catch the
later flight with that
question burning and
bouncing around in
his soul: "Are you
Jesus?" Do people
mistake you for Jesus?
That's our destiny, is it
not? To be so much like
Jesus that people
cannot tell the
difference as we live
and interact with a
world that is blind to His
love, life and grace.
If we claim to know
Him, we should live,
walk and act as He
would. Knowing Him is
more than simply
quoting Scripture and
going to church.
It's actually living the
Word as life unfolds day
to day. You are the
apple of His eye even
though you, too, have
been bruised
by a fall. He stopped
what He was doing and
picked up you and me on
a hill called Calvary and
paid in
full for our damaged
fruit.

Thank you Bella and God bless you. I was just about posting asking the purpose of being a christian when I saw your post.
Indeed, I believed we were called and saved by His grace to fulfilled two purposes: to fellowship with God and be a blessing to everyone around us. Whatever talent, gift, blessing we have on earth is meant to fulfilled these two purposes. But it is so sad that we are found wanting in fulfilling these God-giving purposes. We tend to only bear the name 'christan' without the character of Christ!
Acts 10:26 told us we were given the name christian because the disciples of old were living their life like Christ. My dear brethren, let us beam this our light with a loving intensity and dispel the darkness in the world today!

Happy sunday brethren. How was d service?

[b][/b]when Jesus said "salvation is of the Jews" he meant that only through the Jewish Messiah would the World find Salvation. God promised that through the Jewish race the whole earth would be blessed Gen 12:3. the old testament prophets called the Jews to be a light to the other nations of the world, bringing them to a knowledge of God and they predicted the Messiahs' coming. the woman at the well knew of these passages and was expecting the Messiah but she didnt realise she was talking to Him!

Salvations to the whole world through Jesus and Jesus only is further confirmed by the Spirit of God through Simon in Luku 2:28 - 32" Then took he him up in his arms and blessed God and said Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvaion, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighen the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Isreal"

"God is Spirit" John 4:24 simply means He is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere and He can be worshiped anywhere and at any time. it is not where we worship that counts but how we worship.

The Jews at Rome were having the same doubts you are having now and Paul through the Spirit of God expained to them that Jews and Gentiles are the same before God. "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved that both jews and gentiles, that they are all under sin" Rom 3: 9. "Is He God of the Jews only, is He not also of the Gentiles? yes,of the Gentiles also". Rom 3:29.

@ Poster,

I really do hope you asked these question to know and not to create an argument. i will explain the passage to you as much as i can and i pray the Spirit of God will give you understanding.

The woman having discovered that Jesus knew all about her private life changed the topic and bring up a popular theological issue(isnt that true of many of us?)- the correct place to worship. but her question was a smoke screen to keep Jesus away from her deepest need. Jesus directed the conversion to a much more important point: the location of worhip is not nearly so important as the attitude of the worshipers. "...when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth..." John 4: 23.

hmn... it as pity that the world today is totally corrupt. to worsen the situation, the church has been turned to an avenue for devil to spread doctrine that dot corrupt.

No body preaches about the death and resurrection of my Lord Jesus anymore, what He went through to pay for the sins of the world, the wages of sin - hell, heaven and the pre-requisites to enter there, the love and judgement of God, the blessedness of living a holy life, repentance, restitution, love for neighbor and enemies etc.

Nobody preaches the bible anymore, it is: "dadday says", "evangelist so & so says", "mummy lagbaja says", pastor, Dr, prof. lakasegbe says" and not "the bible says"

all we hear now are: you need to get that contract by all means, the more money you contribute to the church the more your blessing, you must pray till the person sitting on your contract dies, rain death sentences on your enemies, you can sin and pray for forgiveness and then go back to sin again, you will be relivant once you make enough money etc.

Notwithstanding, "there is no respect of persons with God" Rom 2: 11. He has said it right from the creation, "the wages of sin is death" and every unrighteouness of men will be judged by God. The good news: there is a way, accept the Lord Jesus into your life and be saved. He has paid it all on the cross, why should you pay for your sins in hell?

@Poster & Lovethy...,

What do you hold as the foudation of your faith. The bible, words from your priest, church traditions?

Moreover, if you have really experienced the true salvation of God through the conviction of the Holy Spirit and acceptance of Jesus Christ's redemptive work on the cross, you will experience nothing call fear but joy and an inner peace that cannot be explained in words.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8: 14 - 16.

Shalom

@blogger1.0,

Please let me point you to a passage of the scripture: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor:15:52 - 54. "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Phil 3:20 - 21.

This clearly shows that your soul will not be only thing going to eternity without a body. The mortal body will be CHANGED into immortal one. Hence you will have your a body but one dat can never die!

But d good news about how man can overcome came in d next chapter Rom 8:1,2. U can only become born-again thru d operation of d Spirit of God which is excatly wat Jesus said 2 Nicodemus in d book of John.
Now wat do u have 2 do, JUST TRUT in Jesus. How?

Good mornin poster,

I want u 2 kno dat no one can bcome born again by just moral deeds. It is not somethin u can do by ur own ability; it is somethin u obtain by faith in d redemptive power of our Lord Jesus.

Almost every man goes through wat u're goin thru now; we want 2 live a rigteous live, we want 2 be free from d boundage of sin, flesh and the devil. The Bible explain dis helpless state of man in Romans 7:14 - 24(pls read all)

@ poster,

why not ask yourself how relevant you are in the sight of God. it is only a carnal mind that ask this type of question. the greatest christian in this country might just be that poor old man/woman who nobody knows anything about but is totally given to God and His kingdom's work. he/she might not even be a pastor. he might not even be a worker in the church but he/she's a blessing to everyone around him/her.

Mat 18:1 - 4. Jesus made us to understand that the greatest person in the kingdom of God is that person who has been converted and is like a little child. On the judgedment day, the world will be amazed at what most so-called pastor do in their closet.

Nonetheless, christians should help them in prayer and supplications because to whom much is given much is expected. moreover, these pastors (the true ones among them) are faced with a lot of temptations and trials. every true christians must therefore ensure he/she prays for them at all times.

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 1 Cor 3: 3 - 8

The above scripture is very clear. only a canal mind will ask this type of question. the Lord has given to these great people a mandate with different gifts to profit the kingdom of God and many of them have been very faithfull and true to their callings. the same way God gave these people gifts; He also gave to you and I (as many as are truly saved). what are you doing with yours? instead of comparing apollos and paul, kumuyi and adeboye, why not pray for more of God's grace upon them and ask God to help you fulfill your own destiny and be useful for the kingdom of God.

NB: God does not condone sin, for you to reign with Him in heaven or/and on earth: you must be born again and must be living a holy and uncompromising life. It is possible. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [b]Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it." [/b]1 Thess 5: 23 - 24.

plappville & co, you dont have to curse them. for they know not what they do. our prayers shld be that God will open the eyes, shine His light upon their darkened heart and save their souls so that the death of faithfulls like this will not be in vain.

this remains me of the christians of old who cant it all joy to suffer for the name of Christ. Christians of today are too comfortable to even preach the gospel. God on brother and rest in the bosom of our Saviour. i will see u soon!

Earnestly waitin 4 u 2 start dis brother!

Earnestly waitin 4 u 2 start dis brother!

Ethan Allen was a noted infidel. His daughter Ellen was his only child and his wife had died. Ellen was sick and the doctor had told her that she could not live much longer. She said to the father, “You will bury me, father, by the side of my mother, for that was her dying request. But, father, you and mother did not agree on religion. Mother often spoke to me of the blessed Saviour who died for us all. She used to pray for both you and me, that the Saviour might be our friend, and that we might all see Him as our Saviour, when He sits enthroned in His glory, I don’t feel that I can go alone through the dark valley of the shadow of death. Now, tell me, father, whom shall I follow, you or mother? Shall reject Christ, as you have taught me, shall I accept Him, as He was my mother’s friend in the hour of her great sorrow?” With tears the father replied, “my child, cling to your mother’s Saviour, she was right. I’ll try to follow you to that blessed abode”.

Sir Francis Newport was tought early in life to understand the great truths of the Gospel and while in early manhood it was hoped that he would become a channel of blessing to his family and nation. But he fell into company that corrupted his life. Near death, he exclaimed: “Whence this war in my heart? What argument is there now to assist me against matters of fact? Do I assert that there is no hell, when I feel on in my bossom? Am I certain that there is no judgement when I feel present judgement? Wretch that I am, whither shall I flee from this breast? That there is God I know, because I continually feel the effects of His wrath; that there is a hell I am equally certain… O that I was to lie upon the fire that never is quenched a thousand years, to purchase the favour of God and be united to Him again! But it is a fruitless wish. Millions of millions of years will bring me no nearer to the end of my torments than one poor hour. Eternity! Eternity! Who can discover the abyss of eternity? Who can paraphrase upon these words forever and ever?” As his distress and disease increased, he was asked if he would have prayers offered on his behalf. He turned his face and exclaimed: “Tigers and monsters! Are ye also become devils to torment me? Would you give me prospect of heaven to make my hell more intolerable?” Soon after he cried: “Oh, the insufferable pangs of hell!” and died at once, dropping into the eternal lake.

Wonderful message. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on thing above, not on things on the earth."
Shalom!

@emofine,
The answer to your first question is simple. If Lucifer had not rebelled against God, Adam and Eve would not have been seduced to sin against God, hence there wouldn’t have been unrighteousness or sin on the earth.

The bible says: “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom”. Anyone who does not fear God is foolish; meaning such person does not have respect for the love and sacrifice of God for him. But the question is what does it mean when we say: “fear of God”? Does it mean to be frightened of God or to have an unpleasant feeling of anxiety or apprehension by the presence of or thought of God? NO!

To fear God simply mean to show respect for or be in awe of God! It is just like a child whose father told not to steal because stealing is bad and will attract severe punishment from the father. If such child decides not to steal, more often than not, it is because he respects the wish of his dad and would not want his dad to be unhappy with him and not just because of the punishment.

You should also know that no one comes to God because he loves God first. The bible says we love God because he loved us first 2 John 4:19. It is after we taste the love of God (the love that made Him to seek us out and make a way of salvation for us even after we’ve turned our back against Him to serve sin and satan) that we can really know how to love Him and our neighbours.

God will not force you to forsake evil He will only show you the two ways – the way of life and the way of death, righteousness and evil, the good and the bad; heaven and hell; but the one who will make the choice is YOU!

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” Rev 20: 11 - 15

The atheist, Thomas Hobbes, said in his dying hour, I am taking a fearful leap into the dark”. Cromwell said, “The devil is ready to seduce us, and I have been seduced”

Our God is the God love; in fact, He is love personified. Notwithstanding, He's also the God of judgement.

He has not and will not condone sin. "the soul that sinneth, it shall die". He doesn't hate man but hate the sin in the man. Knowing man is helpless against sin; He sent His Son to die and give victory over sin to man.

If only you will give Him the chance to set you free from the boundage of sin and make you son/daughter of God!

The mercy of God is always available to those who will accept the offer of salvation. Jesus said He will never cast away whoever comes to Him. But the choice is your: either to remain a slave to sin and satan or become a son/daughter of God. You cannot sit on the fence!