₦airaland Forum

Gracious Lord

Lord Jesus

unstoppable51:
Thank you so much sir. The whole earth must be covered with the knowledge of the Son as the waters cover the sea!

Amen!!

Beautiful...

Lord Jesus, you're awesome.

Lord Jesus, i see only you...

unstoppable51:
jiggaz, have you seen WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING? and also LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN YOUR NAME? A CLOSER LOOK AT MATTHEW 7:21-23

Yes my brother.. I have seen the first one, will check out the second one. I intend to be posting your articles one each day. I would have loved to be posting 2 a day but nairaland anti spam bot will ban me, so i will be posting one a day.

You have a beautiful blog. Your articles remind me of the teachings of Pastor Joseph Prince and Pastor Paul Ellis... I love the Gospel of grace because that's the true Gospel of Christ. God bless you for posting these heavenly truths.

A Bible study by Prince Gabriel Okocha

Due to circumstances of life and lack of deep roots in a Christian’s convictions towards the Gospel, he may wake up one morning and say he no longer believes the Gospel. If such a thing ever happens, what would become his fate?

The above question (paraphrased) was one of the questions we recently received on one of our articles published on the popular Nigerian website, Nairaland. Here we will see together from the scriptures what will happen to people like that.

There are two things that can lead to someone coming up to say they no longer believe the Gospel. The first is the fact that they did not allow the Word take it’s form in them in the first place after they heard it.

They have learnt of the Gospel (through books, audio messages or someone teaching them) and are no longer ignorant of it. They may have even become a part of a local church, joined a department and even held a leadership position for some time.

However, because they have not made a conscious decision to accept or receive the things they have known concerning the Gospel on a personal level (for themselves), they cannot be said to be genuinely born again.

These are the first set of people to always stand up to say they no longer believe in the Gospel claiming that the Gospel is a lie or even say things more abominable about it to whomsoever they come across.

(1Jn 2:18) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

(1Jn 2:19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

(1Jn 2:20) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Unknowingly to them and those around them, they have never really believed the Gospel in the first place even though they may have at a point changed their behaviours to imitate the lifestyle of those born again. All they had was a change of behaviours, not a change of heart. And so they have never really been God’s children in the first place.

Getting such people to be truly converted is always a near impossible task, seeing that they have known and understood almost everything about the Gospel and still choose not to accept it. An action Hebrews 10:26 calls wilful sin.

Please see WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SIN WILFULLY IN HEBREWS 10:26 to learn more about this set of people.

The second set of people this can happen to are those who have genuinely accepted or received the Gospel with their whole heart but are yet to be rooted in Christ.

They are truly born again, having believed the Gospel with their whole heart and have received the person of the Holy Spirit within them.

However, due to lack of proper training of the Spirit and the renewal of the mind through the Word, they are likely to say they no longer believe the Gospel when persecution, sickness and other difficult life situations arise.

For these set of people, their claim to no longer believe the Gospel as a result of these external influences does not in any way separate them from God. They are still saved. This is because Salvation being a gift of God’s amazing grace, is not dependent on what a man does or fail to do after he is saved. It is completely God’s work from start to finish.

(Eph 2: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(Eph 2:9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Our duty towards such people is to find out what went wrong with their convictions (not with a judgemental attitude) and offer our help where necessary. This is where praying and demonstrating the love of God towards them must become our top priority.

A very powerful prayer we can pray for such people is the Pauline prayer found in Ephesians 1

(Eph 1:17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
(Eph 1:18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(Eph 1:19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
(Eph 1:20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

As we give ourselves to prayer and the extending of God’s love (the Word) towards them, we will see them like the prodigal son, have a rethink and return back to the Faith. But should they choose to remain or go further in their claim, we by faith leave them in the loving arms of their Father whom we know is able and willing to keep anyone He has once saved till the end.

(Joh 10:28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
(Joh 10:29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

We may not know how He does this but the Word says He will keep His own to the end so we trust Him.

(Jud 1:24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
(Jud 1:25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

I hope this blesses you.
Glory to God!


https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/03/christian-says-he-no-longer-believe-gospel.html?m=1

bloodofthelamb:
Beautiful and annointed write up!

Thank you my bro. .

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus

unstoppable51:
Thank you Jesus!

Thank you Lord..

Evening

I see grace...

solite3:
I m doing fine and you?

am good.

solite3:
very true

yes oo my bro.... How are you doing?

This post is not in any way in support of suicide. No matter what has happened or is happening around you, taking your own life is never an option.
If you are going through depression to the point you are having suicidal thoughts, please speak up. Talk to someone - a fellow believer, a pastor, loving relatives or trained specialists.

According to ResearchGate, over the last 45 years, suicide has increased globally by 60%. Among the young and the elderly.
This has led to many Christians wondering what happens to fellow Christians who lost their lives via suicide, where will they go?

If you have lost a friend, a loved one, a colleague or a business partner who is a Christian through suicide and you are wondering what will happen to them since they have a hand in their own deaths, let this post comfort and set your heart at peace as it brings to light what the Bible truly teaches concerning that.

What The Bible Truly Says About Suicide

Here is what the Bible has to say concerning suicide.

1. Suicide is a sin but not the unpardonable sin

Like every other wrong acts the Bible instructed you not to be involved in, suicide is a sin. It has to do with one taking his own life, that is, one killing himself (directly or indirectly). We are instructed to cherish and value life in the scriptures, not to destroy it.

However, though suicide is a sin, it is not the unpardonable sin. The sin which can never be forgiven.
The unpardonable sin also known as the sin against the Holy Spirit, is simply a wilful rejection of Christ via unbelief in the Salvation and forgiveness of sins that He has brought for all men.

2. The Sacrifice of Jesus was for all sins, including suicide

“For by one offering, he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Heb. 10:14 KJV

The sacrifice of Jesus did not take care of the “small” sins alone, leaving the “big” ones behind. It took care of all sins, for all times. And that includes suicide and other sins that causes the ear to tingle.

Haven taken care of the believer’s sins by the sacrifice of Himself, He established Himself as his advocate (the believer’s advocate). So the believer has nothing to answer for before the Father concerning sins.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2 KJV

He is the advocate and the propitiation for our sins, including that of those who took their own lives.

3. Those who lost their lives through suicide are still saved if they depended on Jesus for Salvation

One of the most popular misconceptions about Salvation is that it is a work in progress. That is to say that our salvation from sin is a progressive work and not instantenous.
While this may be partially true for our present physical bodies (since it is still waiting for immortality to be fully manifested on it), it is not true for our Spirits where the real Salvation took place (to be manifested to our outer parts from there).

Those who say man’s Salvation is on going most of the time presents it in such a way that you are not totally saved until the end. And that is largely because your Salvation will have to depend on how sinless or sinful you have been to be completed or cancelled totally.
That would mean that if you ever sin after believing in Jesus, then there is a tendency that you may lose your Salvation and go to Hell. This is not what the Bible teaches.

In every place that the Bible talk about man’s Salvation from sin, it always presents it as eternal and instantenous. The scriptures are clear on this, exceprt when quoted or read out of context.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV

Did you notice how the above scripture said “whosoever believeth in him” and not “whosoever stops sinning” or “whosoever does not sin” shall not perish?
It is crystal clear. Those who believed in Jesus for Salvation can never ever perish. Regardless of the sin they commit afterwards, including suicide.

Does this mean it is okay to sin? God forbid! Jesus died so we can live for Him, and part of how we live for Him is through righteous living.
However if we fall into sin while on this earth, we can be sure Jesus got our back. And that’s till eternity.

In conclusion

We started by saying Suicide is never an option. Regardless of whatever you are going through, there is always a way out. You may not see it but it’s right there. Find someone to talk to.
We were then able to see from the Scriptures suicide is one of the sins for which Jesus died. And by His death, He redeemed man from sin, granting him eternal Salvation.
So if a man died in Jesus, regardless of how he died, his Salvation is still intact.

So do you have someone who is a Christian that lost his life through suicide? Be rest-assured that even as we speak, he or she is with the Father, completely saved through the sacrifice of Jesus.


https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/01/answered-where-will-christian-who.html?m=1

Morning

unstoppable51:
Thank you so much jiggaz for posting this!
Refreshing

You welcome my bro.

Lord Jesus

Now

Lord Jesus

Good evening Lord Jesus

Who were the hardest working Christians in the Bible? The answer must surely be Paul and his friends, but many people will say it was the church at Ephesus. They say this because of what Jesus said in his letter to the church: “I know your deeds and toil” (Rev 2:2a).

Commentators make much of Jesus knowing the Ephesians’ deeds and toil, as though an impressed Lord was recording their labors in his scorebook. But the original word for know simply means “I see”. It’s not necessarily a commendation. In these letters, Jesus says, “I know” in regard to both good deeds (Rev. 2:19) and bad deeds (Rev. 3:1, 15).

When Jesus says, “I know” to the Ephesians, he’s saying “I care.” Because he loves us he is intimately acquainted with our lives. He knows what we’re doing. It’s a good thing that he knows, but it may not be a good thing that we’re doing, and this was the case with the Ephesians.

“I know your deeds and toil.” Many believe that Jesus was commending the Ephesians for their hard work, but the word toil means labors, extreme weariness, and beating. The Ephesians were taking a beating. They were working themselves to exhaustion. Why would the Lord commend them for that?

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). The Ephesians were weary and heavy-laden. They were a busy church in a busy city. They were running all sorts of programs, ministries, and activities. They met every day of the week and twice on Sunday, and they were worn out.

Contrary to popular opinion, Jesus doesn’t commend the Ephesians for working themselves into a miserable state. He does not say, “Well done you good and hard-working servants.” But nor does he rebuke them for working too hard. He simply says, “I’m aware of how hard you are working.” He’s building up to something, and it is this. “You have left your first love” (Rev 2:4).

Your first love is not your love for God; it is God’s love for you. He is the Source and the Supply of all agape love. To say the Ephesians had left their first love, is to recognize they were no longer abiding in the love of God. Like the prodigal son, they had walked away from their Father’s love.

That Jesus would speak of the Ephesians’ labor and lost love speaks volumes. These guys had too much going on. Living in the busiest city in Asia, they were burning the candle at both ends and burning themselves out in the process.

By working ourselves to distraction and by trying to earn what God freely provides, we can find ourselves far from the love of God. He certainly has not stopped love us, but we don’t feel the love. We feel beaten down, exhausted, bone-weary. Happily, there is a remedy.

Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first. (Rev 2:5)

What the Ephesians were doing (working hard) was getting in the way of what they weren’t doing (receiving from Jesus), which is why Jesus tells them to stop what they’re doing and return to what they did before. This is a message for all weary Christians: Stop what you’re doing and do what you did at first.

What deeds did we do at first?

You enjoyed Jesus. When you first entered the kingdom you may have done nothing at all except recline at his feet. “Do that,” says the Lord. “Stop trying to give to me and receive from me. Follow Mary who sat rather than Martha who stressed.”

Sadly, this is not the recommendation you will hear from those who elevate works above grace. “Doing what you did at first means praying and studying the word and evangelizing with the enthusiasm you had when you first came to Jesus.” In other words, the hard-working Ephesians need to work even harder and so do you. “Through hard work we prove our love and maintain our good standing with God.” Beware this graceless message! The mindless pursuit of religious busyness—even good works done in the name of Jesus—will distract you from the love of God. You’ll end up with toiling in the kitchen instead of reclining with Jesus in the lounge.

The takeaway, the cure, the ticket to freedom

If you are worn out from doing the Lord’s work, you can probably relate to the Ephesians. They were a hard-working bunch of believers, but they were dying on the inside. They were busy building, but their labor was in vain.

Why do we push ourselves past breaking point? It can happen because we’ve forgotten how much God loves us. We think we have to prove ourselves or come up with the goods, but none of this pressure is from the Lord.

You were made to receive your Father’s love. Lose sight of your Father’s love for you and you will lose your way. You’ll fall from the secure place of grace into the realm of dead works. You’ll become restless, insecure, and empty on the inside. You’ll try to replace his love with lesser things.

If the Ephesians could leave the love of God, anyone can. But the good news is those who wander can come home again. If you have lost your first love, Jesus shows us the way back: Remember, repent (change your thinking), and do what you did at first. Go back to the place of your first love, when Jesus was your everything. Make every effort to enter his rest and let nothing move you.

https://escapetoreality.org/2019/02/21/are-you-working-too-hard-for-jesus/

Good morning Jesus.

Thank you Lord Jesus...

If Salvation is eternal, what does the Bible mean when it said if we “sin wilfully” after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth there is no more sacrifice for our sins?

What does it really mean to “sin willfully” according to Hebrews 10:26?
One of the most beautiful things about the Gospel and the Bible is that there are no contradictions in it. No dark sides at all.

Always when we study the Word and find certain things that seem contradictory to us, it is mostly as a result of lack of clarity, that is, lack of proper understanding of those things on our part.

Such is the case of Hebrews 10:26 which most people turn to when they want to invalidate the eternal nature of the Salvation we have in Christ. However, a closer look at this verse shows us that it is actually in support of Salvation being eternal and not against it.
Let’s see it together from the Word.

(Heb 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(Heb 10:27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

To get what the writer of Hebrews is trying to say in those verses we just read, we will need to study the scriptures surrounding those verses. That would mean studying the entire chapter very well, paying special attention to his audience and his use of words.
From verse 1 down to verse 3, we see that the author was talking to a set of people, his Jewish brothers, who were already conversant with the Old Testament. That is the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets. They did not only “know” the Law, they also strictly practised it.

They were in the church, participated in every activity of the church including her sufferings and persecutions. But they were still strong followers of Moses. We would see this clearer as we proceed.
From verse 4 to 15, the author now begins to state clearly that the purpose of the coming and the sacrifice of Jesus was to take care of all kinds of sins once and for all, since the Law with it’s numerous sacrifices and priests was not able to do this.

A look at from verse 15 to 18 reveals that for those who have had their hearts and minds written with the laws of God (those who are born again), sins and iniquities are not remembered (counted) against them.
The reason their sins are no longer remembered or counted against them is not because they no longer do anything wrong. The reason is what the writer had already explained from verse 3 to 15 which is because the sacrifice of Jesus had already taken care of their sins, once and for all.

Please pay real attention to this part. From verse 19, we see how the author’s tone changed. He switched from just explaining things to them to calling them to take an action.

What was the action? Having used the previous verses and chapters to explain the sacrife and priesthood of Jesus, he then invites them to boldly “enter,” “draw near” by faith and enjoy the benefits of that sacrifice from where they are to inspire and produce good works, and have true fellowship with one another.

What if they refuse to accept all these that Jesus had done for them? The author then in verse 26 now tells them the repercussion of that refusal. He tells them that if they “sin wilfully” after that they had received the knowledge of the Truth, then there is no other sacrifice to atone for their sins.

That is, if after they had received the knowledge of the Truth which is to hear the Gospel of what Jesus had done for them, and by their own will rejects or refuses to believe that Gospel they just heard. Then they will have to bear God’s wrath against sin by themselves.

Them receiving the knowledge of the Truth there does not mean they have accepted or believed the Gospel before and maybe later rejected it. No! It simply means they are no longer ignorant of the Gospel because someone had preached it to them. The willful sin they did after that was that after they were aware of it, they didn’t believe it, rejecting it completely of their own will.

The author then went on from verse 28 to explain that in the Old times, whoever rejected the Mosaic laws after he has known about it was severely punished as long as two or three persons testified against him. How much more punishment will whoever refuses to accept the sacrifice of Jesus receive of God at the end of the world.

Having told them of this fate that awaits those who refused to believe the Gospel, he then reminded them how they have suffered together with the church since they have always been among them for long and receiving the same persecutions those who believed in Jesus received.

He then encouraged them to do the will of God in verse 36 so that they can receive the promise of God. What was this God’s will he wanted them to do?
It was simply to believe in Jesus and His sacrifice for humanity. This is consistent in all the scriptures.
(Joh 6:28) The people asked Jesus, "What does God want us to do?"

(Joh 6:29) Jesus answered, "The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the one he sent."

In verse 38, the author again reminds them that it is only those who are justified by Faith that shall live eternally. But if any man after hearing the Gospel, draws back from accepting it, then such a fellow shall not be pleasing to God, having drawn back of his own will to perdition.

So from the message of this entire chapter, we understand clearly that to “sin wilfully” after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, simply means to reject the sacrifice of Jesus by refusing to believe the Gospel.

It doesn’t mean that if a Christian commits a sin intentionally then there is no more hope for him since all men still sin even after they are born again. And there is no such a thing as “accidental sin.” Every sin has to do with our wills or else it is o longer sin.

Hebrews 10:26-29 is simply an explanation of the fate that is coming to all men who “sin wilfully” by rejecting or refusing to believe the Gospel after it has been preached to them.

We (Christians) have believed in Jesus’ eternal sacrifice for us and are saved forever from the coming wrath of God or indignation against sin.
I hope this blesses you.
Glory to God!

https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/02/what-does-it-mean-to-sin-wilfully.html?m=1

Yahhh

Evening

integritylady:
I believe speaking in tongues is a gift
What if you dont have the gift, and you've prayed hard to have it
Then is it a must you speak in tongues?

My dear, every believer in Christ can speak in tongues because you already have the holy spirit living inside you. It is now left for you to activate it by opening your mouth. Open your mouth and speak. Start with a few syllables, with time the holy spirit will give you more utterance. That was how i started my own. At the beginning, i felt weird speaking in tongues because i felt i didn't have the gift. But when i later realised my true identity in Christ and His finished work on the cross, i started speaking. Now i am fluent... It is not me, but the holy spirit speaking through me. These days i mostly pray in tongues and it's more refreshing and relaxing...

Try it my dear and the holy spirit will speak through you. All glory to our Lord Jesus.

Thank you Lord Jesus

Good morning Jesus.