₦airaland Forum

June 15 1Corinthians 15v2

2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.


A lot has been discussed recently on this forum about the human will. Many have claimed and almost forced the idea on us, that the humans have no say whatsoever in their salvation. They say it is strictly what God wills, irrespective of what man wills. They've quoted mainly from the epistles of Paul.
But do you know that it is the will of God that ALL should be saved and no one should perish? That will is not going to be! It is conditional. WHOSOEVER believes will not perish. WHOSOEVER believes not is condemned already.
Our Today's passage says 'you are saved, IF you keep in memory(hold fast) what I preached unto you. The passage rounds off by introducing a possibility of 'believing in vain'. A worthless, useless belief. A christian experience that doesn't get you to Heaven, the believers' home. Salvation is not just a "I raised up my hand the other day" thing. It is a lifelong experience. The gift of ETERNAL life.
We are saved, IF we keep/hold fast what was preached unto us.
What exactly was preached to you? The love of God to you. Remember that. Keep in memory.
What was preached to you? God's hatred for sin. Always remember that.
What was preached to you? Repentance (confessing and turning away from sins). Never forget that.
Do not believe in vain. Your salvation has condition, so says this epistle by apostle Paul. Remember this, and God will remember you. You will not fall. Amen

Seriously, seriously, I think the only difference between the two is that one makes more money than the other. lol. They both have real believers, unbelievers, 'good' preachers and all that.
It's a misunderstanding really. The large churches are usually also divided into HCMs and zones. The way to the Father still remains Jesus, irrespective of where one worships, small church or large church.

I'll go for Abraham, the father of faith.

June 14 Acts 14v15

15. And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:


Apostles Barnabas and Paul went to a place called Lystra, a city in Lycaonia. while there, they were used of God to heal a cripple who had never walked before. Due to this, the people were about to worship the apostles and to make sacrifice to them.
But the Apostles ran in among the people, and with a loud voice said "We also are men of like passions with you". This is from the horse's mouth, as it were. You know, some of us have grown and gotten used to the perception that the people of the Bible were superhumans. On a higher plane than we are, having more grace than we have. Infact, we refer to them as Saint. They are Saint. We are sinner. They're closer to God. We're not fit to be holy.
But St. Paul and St. Barnabas are saying, "We also are men of like passions with you". Men like you. What we did, you can do. The way we lived, you can live. We lived above sin, keeping God's commandments. You also can live above sin, keeping God's commandments.
You too can live a blameless and perfect life. A Godly life. A Holy Spirit empowered life. The Apostles were men like us. Elijah was a man like us. They had blood running in them, they ate, slept, saw, heard like we can. Let us press towards the Heaven's prize. We have no excuse!

June 11 Acts 11v23

23. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord.


The people of Antioch had turned to the Lord. The Word of God was preached to them, they gave their lives to Christ and repented of their sins. Barnabas was then sent to them from Jerusalem to strengthen the new believers.
When Barnabas came, he saw something, he saw the grace of God! That's what makes us glad as christians. That also gladens Christ, seeing grace in the life of God's children.
I do not understand believers who you can not see grace in their lives: they're the only ones that feel that they're born-again. Others around can not see it. But Barnabas, when he came, he saw the grace of God, and was glad. I'm praying that we'll see the grace of God in you. I'm praying to God that others will begin to see the grace of God in your life. And when the light has begun to shine, cleave unto the Lord.
Stay glued. He is your husband. Don't think divorce. God doesn't force us to come to Him, or stay with Him. It takes our purpose of heart, our will, like Daniel in the old testament. We choose to cleave unto the Lord. The sinners' prayer is not the end, but the beginning of Life's journey. Stay glued to Life. Stick to the Lord no matter what comes. The Lord is your strength.

@nikky23
What you lack is a thirst for God. What you need to do is stir up that thirst. The most natural way to stir up the thirst is to become a child of God by becoming born again. This is done by realizing your sins, then calling on Jesus Christ to forgive you and save you from them. You simply and sincerely tell that to God in a prayer. He's everywhere, you could do that now.
Also, it's possible that you've given your life to God earlier. If so, all you need to do is to re-commit/re-dedicate your self/life to God. That's all. It's possible your love has 'waxed cold', but you could retrace your steps, and come boldly before God's throne of grace.
That step should start you on the right gear to loving and benefiting from the Word of God(Bible). You need to keep that love burning and growing, because there's a lot of 'wind' around us that is eager to blow us cold. Exercise yourself. Do it i.e read the Bible, and do it until it becomes an habit. With the Spirit of God dwelling with you, you will overcome.
Lastly, let me add that its best for you to read the Word as your spiritual food, for your own self. Don't get into the practice of just reading to show something to others, or to fault something/someone.
Cheers

June 10 Acts 10:35

35. But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.


The Acts of the apostles, these are the things that the Apostles did. We come to Acts 10 and we hear experienced truth from the mouth of Apostle Peter, or better still, the Holy Ghost speaking through Apostle Peter.
This passage took place after calvary (crucifixion) and resurrection. i.e after the law if you please. The passage came after the Holy Ghost baptism at Pentecost. At this Acts 10 time, He that will teach us all things has come.
Then comes out this eternal truth about God's workings, In EVERY nation, he that fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted with Him. Today's passage just went through with telling us that it's wrong to assume that;
(1.) we should not fear God in the new testament era.
(2.) we should not work righteousness in the new testament era.
Many have unbalancedly believed that all we need in the new testament era is to love God, not fear Him, but he that feareth God in every nation is accepted of Him. Every nation. Many have unfortunately supposed that, in this new testament dispensation, we can behave anyhow and do anything as God doesn't care. all He sees is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Lamb sacrificed. Well, ananias and sapphira will show you that it's not that way. He that works righteousness is accepted with Him.
We've being saved by grace from our sinful helpless state, so that we can be saintly helpers, zealous of good works. Works of righteousness. Let us grow in grace and in the knowledge of God.

June 9 Acts9 v 5

5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.


The Bible is very plain about the position of the church i.e the children of God. The Bible says that the church is the Body of Christ. Many times, it seems we forget that literally. The church is the Body of Christ and Christ is the Head.
If we're kind and generous to the body, then we're automatically kind and generous to Christ. But if we're stringent and stingy towards the church, then we're automatically stingy and stringent towards Christ. It's become popular to hear people say, "the church (the Body of Christ) has enough already, let me give my resources to outsiders". Such a person is simply saying,'that's too much for Christ's Body, let me take care of some other Body'.
It's the exact thing too when you abuse, insult, or look down on a child of God. You're doing it to Jesus. Mocking christians, saying evil concerning them, and discrediting them, all amount to persecuting Jesus Himself. That's what Jesus was telling Saul in Today's passage. It is not going to favour the 'Sauls of this world' in the end. Don't fight against God. Take it easy. It is a hard thing for you to kick against thorns.

June 8 Proverbs 8v34

34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.


Anytime you come across the word 'Blessed is ', you need to be extra attentive. There usually follows a key to blessings. Hope you saw what I just wrote? A key to blessing[b]S [/b], so be attentive.
Our Today's passage brings us one of those keys. The key here is hearing, watching, waiting. Looks like we've got three keys already, but it's actually one key with attitude. It's a key that gives you confidence when you've got it.
What's the verse telling us? The blessed man is the man/woman that hears. You know like when we say "faith comes by hearing the Word of God", This is it. The man that hears is Blessed. This hearing is not a 'hear when I need to' key, no, it's a watching daily key. You do not keep this key away in some cupboard until you need it. No, it'll become rusty. You bring it out everyday if you intend to use it for your blessings. You watch DAILY i.e you meditate on, and listen to God's Word daily.
And it is not a 'what have I not done today' task. It is a priority task, waiting at the posts of my doors. That is thirst, that's commitment. That is the attitude that brings down the blessings. Like it has been mentioned, it's a confident and sure key.

@horus
your post is a reflection of jangled thoughts. You need to be collected to profit from the Scriptures. The Bible doesn't say that God waved His hand and created the earth, that thought is coming from somewhere else.
Also, to rest doesn't automatically mean to sleep, augmtii sleep can sometimes be a form of rest. You may need to a consult your dictionary for the various meanings of rest.
Also, there's no where in the Bible that says that God got three after the 6th !day! Of creation. Then immediately after your assumptions, you're asking, Can God tire on what are you basing your assumptions? Toy

June 7 Ecclesiastes 7v9

9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.


Anger is not a good thing, for anyone. I'm yet to see the person that anger looks good on. It is and fearful thing, and we're meant to be associated with faith, not fear. Only people who have no confidence get angry.
Anger is not a wise thing, you'll only find it close to fools. For your own good, you shouldn't be angry with people in authority. You'll be undoing your self. The story has been told of a man who was so angry at God, that he pulled out some strong mucus and spat it upward to God. You guessed right. He received it right back in his own face. That may sound very foolish, but that's just how foolish anger is. It blocks the brain and dis-stabilizer the heart and other organs.
The preacher is giving us timely, timeless advice. Don't be so east to get angry. Anger is not the first move to make for the wise. It's a move closest to the bosom of fools. Our learned friends have discovered that it takes more energy to frown than it takes to smile. Don't waste your energy. Put on that priceless smile now. It's for your own health.

June 6 1Timothy 6:18

18. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;


Apostle Paul was a man mightily used of God in revealing to the church, the manifold riches of God's grace. He was most 'firm' in preaching that christians were saved by grace through faith. He always warned about resting or boasting on works.
Of a truth, many have come to explain Paul's writings to be against works. Anyone who's doing some good work is likely to be 'attacked' with some several quotes from Paul's epistles, or accused of operating under the law and not under grace.
Our Today's passage reveals to us that Apostle Paul wasn't a hater of good works. Paul encourages believers to be rich in good works. In our cultures today, if a believer does something good, or openly discredits some bad work, it's common to hear SHOUTS of "nobody holy pass" and such things. But our passage says we should be RICH in good works, do good, be ready to distribute and willing to communicate.
Let's learn from the balanced life of the early Christians. Let our moderation be known. Ephesians says we're saved by grace, and are God's workmanship, created unto good works.

@Relocatusa
sorry about your case. Anyway, you're already on the path to victory. You've asked for prayers, a sign that you believe in the SUPERnatural. Well the Word of God says 'He that confesses his sins and FORSAKES it shall have mercy.
You've taken a bold step to confess your sins, more than these, you should also confess it in personal prayer to God. Have the WILLingness to forsake it, and I'm telling you, God will respond with mercy. He'll have mercy on you, and save you from your sins. Then you need to remember, evil communication corrupts good manners. You need to stay away from people that have the tendency for engaging in homosexuality. Am sure you can't go and rape another girl. It takes another willing person, so stay away from them. And get busy. Keep your mind and body busy. People are praying for you. You'll stand.

@Relocatusa
sorry about your case. Anyway, you're already on the path to victory. You've asked for prayers, a sign that you believe in the SUPERnatural. Well the Word of God says 'He that confesses his sins and FORSAKES it shall have mercy.
You've taken a bold step to confess your sins, more than these, you should also confess it in personal prayer to God. Have the WILLingness to forsake it, and I'm telling you, God will respond with mercy. He'll have mercy on you, and save you from your sins. Then you need to remember, evil communication corrupts good manners. You need to stay away from people that have the tendency for engaging in homosexuality. Am sure you can't go and rape another girl. It takes another willing person, so stay away from them. And get busy. Keep your mind and body busy. People are praying for you. You'll stand.

@Relocatusa
sorry about your case. Anyway, you're already on the path to victory. You've asked for prayers, a sign that you believe in the SUPERnatural. Well the Word of God says 'He that confesses his sins and FORSAKES it shall have mercy.
You've taken a bold step to confess your sins, more than these, you should also confess it in personal prayer to God. Have the WILLingness to forsake it, and I'm telling you, God will respond with mercy. He'll have mercy on you, and save you from your sins. Then you need to remember, evil communication corrupts good manners. You need to stay away from people that have the tendency for engaging in homosexuality. Am sure you can't go and rape another girl. It takes another willing person, so stay away from them. And get busy. Keep your mind and body busy. People are praying for you. You'll stand.

He that has ears to hear, let him/her hear.
@post. Ride on

Nairaland atheists will be converted too. Amen

@jagunlabi
I'm not here to defend God. He's not on trial, He's the Judge. I'm only trying to help you out, seeing your exasperations and misunderstandings of God and His children. You don't accuse a Judge of killing and unfair treatment after He's served deserved sentences on criminals.

@toneyb
so your point is that you're no different from the christians who say that allah is an evil God?

@Tudor
whats the gbam about. Trademark unbelief. Always ready to immediately support anything that seems to be against their christian 'adversaries'. Think for yourselves, enough of copy and paste mentality already.

@rich_john
the bible God is the owner and creator of the earth, and of every human being. He has every right to do what He deems fit to His property. Even more right than you have to eat that egg, an embryo of some hen that you did not collect proper permissions from.

And I guess the new chick is a natural occurence. Activists will allow chicks to be brought in but will not allow female penguins. Talk about a Ph.D in doctoring.

June 5 Ephesians 5 v 33

33. So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband. CEV


Everywhere today, marriage failure is prevalent, and has almost become a norm in some societies. Divorce is a way of life for many. Infact, it is in the marriage back-up plan for some.
Is this the perfect will of God? No. So where have we missed it? It's in the culture. Most of our culture is against the divine manual for marriage. The growing culture in our societies (both developed and developing countries) is a, you respect me then I respect you culture. Mutual respect. If you don't respect me, then I don't, will not respect you. Such a culture will not make a marriage work.
Many are fast settling for less; I'll rather divorce him than respect him; I'll rather divorce her than love. Lazy people who can't make their marriage work. But you know what? If we'll follow God's command, we'll eat the good of the land. He is the One who knows how best the human body functions. He knows how to make your marriage work. His culture is 'Husband love your wife, wife respect your husband'. And it's not just a culture, with grace for the pastors or for the deacons only, it is for EVERYONE IN PARTICULAR, EACH HUSBAND, EACH WIFE , you included. Love your wife as equally as you love yourself. Wife, reverence your husband. New Testament! Reverence. To tone it down, let's say with our contemporaries, respect your husband.

June 4 Revelation 4v9,10

9. And when those beasts give glory and honor and THANKS to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

It is a privilege for we, mortals to know the immortal God. Many have scorned this great privilege. As for the few who have made use of this privilege, we ought to be always filled with thanks, awe and gratitude to our loving God the Father.
The living creatures (beasts) give glory and honor and THANKS to the eternal God. Ever wondered why Thanks? These living creatures are in Heaven, round the throne of God, settled. And yet thankful.
We, who are on earth should be more thankful. He has drawn us nigh by Christ Jesus. He has given us things that angels marvel at. While we were yet sinners, unworthy, He loved us. We should fall down before Him and worship Him, casting our crowns before His throne in submission. Start thanking God, you could never thank Him enough.

@webb jamie
only the lyrics matter, abi? Don't worry next service day, let your church singers come and sing one chapter of the Bible for you, say Revelation22. Let them sing it as their spirits lead them, no practice, no tuning. Infact, let anyone from the congregation join them. Its only the lyrics that matter abi now?

What's all these goal shift mazaje and his colleague are into? Come crying 'God is evil', next thing is gear shift to 'God doesn't exist'. Can God not exist and yet be evil? Which kind of 'intellectual' are these? Did God tell you that the gospel was written 40years after Jesus resurrected or did you read it from somewhere? Careless souls, you've been warned.

June 3 2Thessalonians 3:16

16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. KJV

Its a good thing to be a child of God. You know, God gives us unspeakable joy. The christian is an example of an irrepressible life.
You're just happy, so happy. God-given happy. It's a most wonderful feel. Maybe it's because the Maker of all things dwells in you. Maybe its that the Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ lives in you. It's hard to explain. And sometimes, God is speaking to you, and your inner man jumps up with shouts of joy. He's telling you Words out of this world. Words with the power to form the world over and again!
It's such kinds of Words that we find in Today's passage.

The Lord of peace himself give you peace ALWAYS . For time, I'll just be cried and leave you mostly to meditate on the verse itself. It's something that God

Himself would do. He's not sending anyone to you, thats not guaranteed. No angel, no man, Himself. He wants to

give you peace always BY ALL MEANS. It is finished. Your peace has come. Peace in every area of your life.
And if you're thinking of postponing it till later, the Word says

NOW . God wants to give you peace now. May the Lord be with you all.

Your 12yr old doesn't need to understand that place, at least not for now. Let him face his studies pls

@KunleOshob
please stop being under delusion. Whats all this continual claim about tithers wanting to scam you. Have I mentioned my bank or bank details, or has pilgrim.1 or anybody else done that? Abi you no know wetin be scam? All this talk about falling for scams is at best myopic and perhaps 'self-delusional'. You're never forced to tithe or give anything to or for God.

Sentimentalists.
The unchanging Word of the everlasting God remains 'he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1John 4v8. Before you knew how to walk or talk, God is love. After you're long gone and forgotten, God is Love.
Any normal person should appreciate punishment of evil-doers. Criminals should not be patted on the back in the name of civilisation or love. You know its funny how you hold on to some Bible passages with 'glee' while you disbelieve others.
How long do you halt between two opinions? If God be God, serve Him. If not, go your way. Why is it that you openly believe and quote scriptures that talk about God ordering some people to be destroyed, and killing this and that, but you demand for proof when you hear of God doing good things. Thats when we begin to hear over-rusted cliches like 'where is scientific proof, what of archeological backing' and other what-nots. How hypocritical.
Its your poor knowledge of God that disturbs you. When we start telling you to come to know God now, you'll start asking "what is all this drivel?" Yet its for your own good. To lighten your confusion and give you peace. If you know God, then you'll realise His Word that says, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.(Isaiah40v15). Thats equally the Word of God. Its the Word of God, the equal Word as wherever you read for your sentiments to try to show that God is not love.
It's easier to agree with Isaiah today because we've seen the vast continent, and the planets, and the galaxies. The whole universe acclaimed to be created by God. Knowing the size of the universe should easily tell you how insignificant earth is, if Isaiah40 is beyond your mind. The Psalms say God humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earthPsalm133. That is how mighty God is. Thats why His dealings with man is a privilege, a show of amazing Love. Ever wondered how many thousands of chicken are killed daily by man to meet his needs?did I say thousands. Its the normal thing because we eat and sell them. Yet do you know it'll be dangerous if chickens were to be extinct from the food chain?
So they're important to us, yet we don't bat an eyelid if millions of them died in a month. Who cares 'bout the stats, right? The nations are less significant before God.
If you live in Africa, you're likely to have done this. A precious mosquito dares fly near you, and before it sucks an atom, you kill it. Then you go for the insecticide, after killing the important fly. And you spray the whole flat, killing mosquitoes, cockroaches, innocent eggs and etal. Who cares, they're insignificant. You're even much more insignificant before God, who has made all things. If I could give you the help of both the UN and the Middle-east, you couldn't create a fly.
It is grace, unMERITed favour, amazing love, that makes God to consider to make of our species, a people for Himself. It is this love that gives us hope of eternal reward. It is this love that draws us near to God, when we respond to His love. God is still in love with us, thats why He gave His only begotten Son, that if you believe in Him, you'll not perish but have eternal life. It does not cost nothing for God to destroy this world. tHE NATIONS that are so big in our eyes are as nothing, less than nothing before God(Isaiah 40v17). All we need to do is Believe in Jesus His Son.

Anti-tithers and their ways sha. Now na 'seed' be their problem. Anybody that says tithes is biblical is now a criminal and a pastor. Kunle even believes that he has some crown reserved for him for his 'work'. Stingy bunch of sadducees

June 2 2Thessalonians2v 13

13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:


Being grateful is a quality character. As humans, we should always be grateful, both to fellow humans and to God. We need to always know that unthankful people displease God.
If only we'll take time to meditate, there's a lot that we're to praise and thank God for. Our minds should not forget any of God's benefits to us. Some people only praise God when they feel like it. They praise God only if that sister is leading the praise and worship. Some give thanks only when that brother is handling the instrument. For some, its only when they have enough money or just got a mouth watering offer.
But this passage tells us we are bound to give thanks. Its our duty, our responsibility. And its not just about being bound to give thanks because we're in a meeting, it says ALWAYS. Bound to give thanks always to God. That's the attitude that opens prison doors. That's the attitude that ushers in a tangible presence of the Lord. You should get that attitude today!

June 2 2Thessalonians2v 13

13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:


Being grateful is a quality character. As humans, we should always be grateful, both to fellow humans and to God. We need to always know that unthankful people displease God.
If only we'll take time to meditate, there's a lot that we're to praise and thank God for. Our minds should not forget any of God's benefits to us. Some people only praise God when they feel like it. They praise God only if that sister is leading the praise and worship. Some give thanks only when that brother is handling the instrument. For some, its only when they have enough money or just got a mouth watering offer.
But this passage tells us we are bound to give thanks. Its our duty, our responsibility. And its not just about being bound to give thanks because we're in a meeting, it says ALWAYS. Bound to give thanks always to God. That's the attitude that opens prison doors. That's the attitude that ushers in a tangible presence of the Lord. You should get that attitude today!

June 2 2Thessalonians2v 13

13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:


Being grateful is a quality character. As humans, we should always be grateful, both to fellow humans and to God. We need to always know that unthankful people displease God.
If only we'll take time to meditate, there's a lot that we're to praise and thank God for. Our minds should not forget any of God's benefits to us. Some people only praise God when they feel like it. They praise God only if that sister is leading the praise and worship. Some give thanks only when that brother is handling the instrument. For some, its only when they have enough money or just got a mouth watering offer.
But this passage tells us we are bound to give thanks. Its our duty, our responsibility. And its not just about being bound to give thanks because we're in a meeting, it says ALWAYS. Bound to give thanks always to God. That's the attitude that opens prison doors. That's the attitude that ushers in a tangible presence of the Lord. You should get that attitude today!

An atheist believer already!