Peace...

"For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned."
Hebrews 6:7‭-‬8 NKJV

It is better to stay away from God, than to follow half-heartedly.
Fellow disciples, let us offer up fervent prayers to God that He should help us to "Do" his word and to grow in Him as growth brings blessings, while stagnation brings destruction.

Shalom...

Peace...

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." Psalm 34:19

WHY?

That is one question many people ask GOD- "why this, why that?" "I do this for you, I do that for you, GOD, why am I still suffering, still broke... still this, still that"

Today I hope I can give you some answers. I don't have all answers though, but I hope you can find some gems in this pile of rocks.

The book of Job seems to hold authority on this topic. Let's start with the story of Job.

Scene ONE - "Prosperous Job"
Job was a righteous man, by all observable standards. He feared his God, He respected men, prayed for his family, didn't neglect his friends and a host of other things.
And to add to all this, He was very wealthy, the wealthiest in the region. He was also generous and full of wisdom.

Scene TWO - "The discussion"
One fine day, when the sons of God were fellowshipping, The Devil tagged along for whatever reason... that's not important. Here is the interesting part, from what that scripture tells us, GOD actually took the initiative to discuss Job with the Devil, it was almost as if HE was bragging about Job's righteousness. The Devil immediately took up the conversation, he asked if Job feared God for nothing. he literally accused God for Job fearing HIM... funny right?
As if that wasn't enough He went on to ask that God remove his protection from Job and see if Job won't spit on God's face. But that wasn't the most outrageous part, the shocking thing was that God actually agreed.
*mic drops* Are you kidding me? I mean this is a guy you were just praising and commending, and you just betray him that easily? one word... CALLOUS
But let's continue the story.
As you might expect, The Devil was elated. Whatsoever it was that brought him to God's presence in the first place didn't matter anymore. He hurriedly left to devise and execute the what I call...

Scene THREE "The Trial of Job"
It was so rapid. So devastating. So... Unexpected.
Mr. Job lost everything in literally one day by the most outrageous means possible!
Fire from heaven, earthquakes, Raiders etc. He lost all his children in one morning.
He lost all his workers, his businesses, his assets, you name it.
Like that wasn't enough to break him, He was afflicted by a very terrible skin disease. And to crown it all, his wife of many years probably had doubts about his fidelity. She was certain that he was a dead man, and advised him to curse God and die. Job's friends who would have hitherto staked their lives on his righteousness and faultlessness, were now blaming Job for his suffering. they were convinced that it was Job's sinfulness that caused his downfall.
You can imagine the weight Mr. Job was bearing. No one to comfort him, no one to empathize or sympathize with him.
All the people he had ever helped avoided him like a plague - partially due to his skin problem... but still!
In all this, The Devil didn't touch Job's life because GOD, denied him access.
Job was destitute. After listening to the false comfort of his friends. He could take it anymore, In his distress, He turned to the GOD he served, and did the expected... He questioned God!
God on the other hand did the unexpected, He questioned Job back!

This must have been a very sad and confusing plot twist for Mr. Job.

Scene FOUR "The restoration"
GOD and Job verbally sparred with each other for a long while.
Along the line, Job finally acknowledged and realized what was going on. He reconciled with GOD, prayed and sacrificed for his friends. Then GOD, seeing Job's change of heart and having satisfied the Devil's doubts, restored Job.
GOD didn't just give him back what he lost.
No, GOD gave him double.
He later fathered more children, Daughters in fact. - The BIBLE says they were the most beautiful in the region. This is a man that was literally covered in sores from head to toe... being the Father of the most beautiful daughters! Let that irony sink in.
If he was valued at 700 million before his trial, GOD restored him incrementally and made him to be valued at 1.4 billion! That was just for reference anyway, the important thing is that He did not give up on GOD, He didn't take his life, He didn't curse GOD. Above all, though he stumbled, he returned to GOD.

I don't know how you guys understand what transpired, but that looked alot like a set up to me.
No, I don't mean that Job was set up, The Devil was set up - instead of him doing what he ordinarily would have done, which is to destroy, he was used to build up.
This story shows us a glimpse of how GOD operates. GOD uses a lot of things to test a man - Temptations, Sin, Negative circumstances, even Blessings.
GOD tested Job with blessings and He passed, with Temptations - He passed again, and then with negative circumstances.
The essence of it all, was to bless Job more and above all, glorify HIMSELF.
The level of your commitment to GOD goes a long way to determine how much GOD will bless you.
Let me quickly give a run down of some reasons GOD allows negative circumstances -

- To Glorify Himself: When men see the of GOD'S restoration of HIS people the natural reaction is to awed by GOD.

- To test his people: To show them their stand, GOD already knows, but unless He tests you, you will not know if you are indeed serving HIM.

- To bless his people: Already self explained

- To Guage The level of trust His people have in him: Just like there are varing scores in an examination, there are carrying scores when GOD tests a man. Again, GOD doesn't need this, it serves as a proof to the tested.

- To punish the Wicked: Many times allows the wicked to continue in their wicked oppression of the righteous because their "cups are not yet full".

- A reward for sin: This is one of the most popularly accepted reason for oppression or hardship, as it is the most logical when you sin, you get punished. it is as sure as death.

- To Justify his people

- To Prove his word: No matter how much you read the the WORD OF GOD, how GOD delivers his people, unless you experience what IT says in your life on a personal level, there is a certain level your faith can't exceed.

- To Fulfill his word: This mostly applies in "prophecy words". God honors his word more than his name. if He has said it, you can bet your life that it will be accomplished.

- To Prove HIS might

- To Silence the Devil.

- To Teach and Perfect his people; Hebrews 4:8

Shalom...

Tirips:


Uyo

Sorry I'm at IK now, but don't worry God will meet your need.

Peace...
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to represent men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Hebrews 5:1 MEV
There are no elections in God's perfect plan. God's work is done by divine appointment, not human election.
There are two major types of offerings - Gift offerings and sacrifice offerings.

He is able to have compassion on the ignorant and on those who are wayward, for he himself is also subject to weakness.
Hebrews 5:2 MEV
Those passage illustrates why Jesus HAD to come to the world and become flesh.
A High Priest cannot function of He is not empathetic over those under his purview.
Jesus had to become a Man, experience the trials and constraints men experienced, and overcome them. So He can help us in our times of weakness and temptation.
Because of this he must offer sacrifices for his own sins, just as he does for the people.
Hebrews 5:3 MEV
This passage doesn't apply to Jesus as He is sinless, that is one of the advantages Jesus has over traditional High priests. He doesn't have to offer sacrifices for his sin, therefore He can devote attention to sacrifices for us.

Shalom...

Tirips:


Akwa Ibom State

Which LGA?.

ashybabs:
��
He is an animal maltreating other animals.
When i read the book, i found out that it totally describes the current situation of Nigeria.
We wanted freedom from the British, we got it. Then our brothers turned against us for their own selfish interest.
And now when we look at our leaders and former colonial masters... We can't find any difference. They are all the same.

Perfect summary.

Tirips:

Financial help

Been starving badly

Please where do you live?

Tirips:


God bless you

Pls I need your help

In what capacity?

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who was in every sense tempted like we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 MEV

No burden is to heavy, no mountain insurmountable, no River is too swift, Jesus passed through them

Shalom

Mutant...

Peace….

”So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
Hebrews 3:19 NKJV

There are many who can’t receive from God, not because they don’t pray, not because God has not promised, but simply because they fail to believe.

Most times, it is belief that materializes the promises of God in our lives. Unbelief doesn't hinder God, on the contrary, it angers him. But unbelief hinders us.

Fellow disciples, let us make it a daily cry, that the Heavenly Father should help our unbelief, and make us believe his every word.

Shalom.

Peace...

"For we who have believed have entered this rest, as He has said, “As I have sworn in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” However, His works have been finished since the creation of the world."
Hebrews 4:3 MEV

Do you believe in the concept of pre-ordination? Your whole life being scripted? Being... I dunno... over before it even began?

This scripture sure changes my perspective on things. But one thing you can be sure of is that WORD of GOD cannot be broken. Though heaven and Earth passes away, GOD'S WORDS remains!

Does this also mean that God has been resting ever since Genesis? That would sure throw in a lot of confusion into things.

"For whoever enters His rest will also cease from his own works, as God did from His."

Hebrews 4:10 MEV

Just food for thought.

Shalom.

xproducer:


------

GOD knows all things... but GOD, I believe is still evidently working around us and and in His own; though the work of salvation (which only He could do) was principally "finished from the foundation of the world." - Hebrews 4:3

Honor the Father and the Son
"For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." - John 5:16-18

"This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men." - Daniel 4:17 (Also Daniel 4:25, Daniel 4:32, Daniel 5:21).

"He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep." - Psalm 121:3-4

Light Bearers
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." - Philippians 2:12-13

GOD resting on the seventh day is symbolic of His rest into which we enter by grace alone - doing no work to earn salvation.

+++
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-10

"just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:" - Romans 4:6

++++++++

"The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another" - Psalms 75:3-4

Thanks for the scripture John 5. I really appreciate it.

Bro, I think you are derailing a bit, I only asked for clarification if God still works or if He has been resting since the creation ended.

We all know Jesus came to give rest, but the bible also says we should work out your salvation with fear and with trembling.

Also I believe there is no rest without labor or else what would be the essence of the rest?

Kobojunkie:
1. Jesus Christ never preached that our lives and choices were preordained by God in any way or form and we know too that all doctrines and traditions of men are an abomination to God - Matthew 15 vs 1-14.

2. We are told in Genesis that God rested on the 7th day. Is it still the 7th day for God or does He did He have work left over to do after completing His Work on the 6th day?

Jesus Christ came to us proclaiming that He is the Lord of the Sabbath, making every day a day of rest for those who will follow Him. Rest from what? Rest from work imposed on us by God when He threw man out of His Garden .

Then God said to the man,
“I commanded you not to eat from that tree. But you listened to your wife and ate from it.
So I will curse the ground because of you. You will have to work hard all your life for the food the ground produces.
The ground will grow thorns and weeds for you. And you will have to eat the plants that grow wild in the fields.
You will work hard for your food, until your face is covered with sweat. You will work hard until the day you die,
and then you will become dust again.
I used dust to make you, and when you die, you will become dust again.” - Genesis 3 vs 17 - 19

Bro, I'm was just as confused as you are... If you can throw more light on this matter, it will be appreciated.

Peace...

"For we who have believed have entered this rest, as He has said, “As I have sworn in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” However, His works have been finished since the creation of the world."
Hebrews 4:3 MEV

Do you believe in the concept of pre-ordination? Your whole life being scripted? Being... I dunno... over before it even began?

This scripture sure changes my perspective on things. But one thing you can be sure of is that WORD of GOD cannot be broken. Though heaven and Earth passes away, GOD'S WORDS remains!

Does this also mean that God has been resting ever since Genesis? That would sure throw in a lot of confusion into things.

"For whoever enters His rest will also cease from his own works, as God did from His."

Hebrews 4:10 MEV

Just food for thought.

Shalom.

From grass to grace to mud...
God have mercy

What is the essence of wealth, of you can't create positive impact?

10k, as bride price or what?

clarocuzioo:
Buhari will soon apply for loan.

Dah... Guy, murder!

Peace….

”So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
Hebrews 3:19 NKJV

There are many who can’t receive from God, not because they don’t pray, not because God has not promised, but simply because they fail to believe.

Most times, it is belief that materializes the promises of God in our lives. Unbelief doesn't hinder God, on the contrary, it angers him. But unbelief hinders us.

Fellow disciples, let us make it a daily cry, that the Heavenly Father should help our unbelief, and make us believe his every word.

Shalom.

Kobojunkie jesusjnr2020 Other people please review this.

Peace...

>>Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.<<
John 16:7 ESV


Please allow me share my understanding on this scripture, please I am very open to correction.
I have derived two implicit meanings from this passage;
1. God does not on earth as two different incarnations at the same time
2. God's form as the HOLY SPIRIT is more useful to disciples of Christ than his incarnation as Jesus Christ.
Here are reasons -
• God's form as the son of man is bound by a lot of the same limitations every other man faces. He is subject to fatigue, He is not omnipresent, and He is not immune to sin. Personally, I think if Jesus committed a single sin, that would have been it. Above all HE is mortal, He can die.
• They are fundamental different characters; THE SON OF MAN is a savior and redeemer. THE HOLY SPIRIT is a guide, a comforter, I call him the catalyst of good works.
• Also, THE SON OF MAN came for the redemption the entire human race, but THE HOLY SPIRIT is for disciples, those who believe in and follow THE SON OF MAN. Not sure if that was congruent, but still i feel you guys need to know.

That's all I can think of for now, please share your thoughts, opinions and criticisms. They are all welcome.

Peace.

I stumbled upon this as I was web surfing.
Any comments about this?
Link here - https://www.boredpanda.com/miss-mexico-dresses-costumes-2020/

Kobojunkie:
1. When Jesus Christ told His disciples to wait, He did not tell them to wait as far as their understanding of His teachings but to wait before going out to preach His Gospel to the world. So why try to confuse the two here..

2. There is only one Truth of God - everything else is a lie, no matter how you try to cut it. If what you announce to the world does not align with the Truth as taught by Jesus Christ, it is not of Him but born of man since God does not lie or oppose His own Truth.

You quoted that verse from John 6 and spun it n such a way as to avoid the truth that is the message, the reasons why the people around abandoned him later in that same context. I simply wanted to understand whether that was intentional on your part of because you dont even know.

Thank you for pointing that out, I'm sure to take correction.

Kobojunkie:
1. Jesus Christ never said we should wait for the Holy Spirit to lead us before we make attempts at understanding His Truth. In fact, He instead declared that we should use the understanding we already have and that only then will more be given to us. Those who do not use the understanding already given them, will have even the little they have taken away from them - Matthew 25 vs 14 - 30.

So it is wrong to suggest that one "wait" for the leading of the "Spirit of God", who only inhabits those who have been made perfect/holy by the way - John 8 vs 31 - 44 - before making attempts at comprehending the Truth of God.

2. We are not called as Daniel was called. We are called of a New Covenant, Jesus Christ, God's Law in the Kingdom of God, God's agreement between individual men(not groups, peoples or nations). We have a Mastee, Jesus Christ, whose very teachings constitute the very details of God's Law and Truth in the Kingdom of God and God commands that we submit to and obey His Truth and His Truth alone - John 14 vs 20 -25.

3. And according to Jesus Christ, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that cometh out of the Mouth of God" - Matthew 4 vs 4. We are kept living by perishable food and by the Word of God which is Eternal.

Then in John 6 vs 27, Jesus Christ then commands , " Do not work for food that perishes , but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you for on Him God the Father has set His Seal". He even adds in John 6 vs 35 that whoever comes to Him to work for Him will never hunger and will never thirst.

So did Jesus Christ not literally command that we stop working to earn Perishable bread?

Didn't Jesus Christ state that we should work instead for for that endures to eternal life which He, Jesus Christ alone will give?

Mr. It seems you do a lot of bible reading yourself, are you asking these questions because you are confused or because you want to argue?
I still retain my stance, we should wait on the Holy spirit for guidance. When Jesus resurrected that was what he commanded his disciples.
And yes, the scripture affects you as you understand it. If you understand it cynically, then it becomes nothing but an incongruent text. It is the Holy Spirit that enlightens the word for us. The letter kills but The Spirit gives life.

Wednesday 07-07-2021

Peace...

>>But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.<<
John 12:4‭-‬6 ESV

The devil doesn't suddenly push us to commit sins that are "grievous" or "abominable" especially if you are a disciple of Christ, he first makes you to commit sins that you feel are insignificant, like in Judas' case- pilfering. Probably, it started with greed, then to pilfering and finally he committed the unimaginable.
Once you have committed those seemingly little sins and become comfortable (maybe even proficient) with it Satan now has free rein over you... May this not be our portion in Jesus name.
If you are with me, and you know that there are some "small" sins that you still commit, maybe every once in a while you visit "adult" sites, or perhaps in order to escape a punishment you lied or exaggerated a little or whatever, you know yourself. Just pray this prayer with me-

\\ Heavenly Father, thank you for this message you have given today, I acknowledge my faults (input them here) I am sorry and I repent of them. Please have mercy on me and forgive me, cleanse me with the blood of Jesus. Father please give me the grace to stay away from all forms of sin. Do this and take all the Glory. In Jesus name. I believe Amen.//

>>Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve (Apostles). He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him (Jesus) to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.<<
Luke 22:3‭-‬6 ESV

>>Then when Judas, his(Jesus') betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.<<
Matthew 27:3‭-‬5 ESV

From the above we see where little sins led Judas.
May the Heavenly Father help us to live blameless lives. Amen

Peace.

Kobojunkie:
From my reading of the same John 6, I walk away with the message that we are to cease working for earthly food , and material things as in do not get a job pursuing worldly goals and ideals. Instead, what Jesus Christ proposes these is that we work only for Him, the one who is able to provide us that which can sustain us eternally.

Essentially. A follower of Jesus Christ should not work to feed or cloth or even take care of Himself. But instead focus wholly on doing that which Jesus Christ commands and He promises to ensure His followers will never starve or thirst in their obedience of Him.

Thank you Kobojunkie for airing your doubts.
I think that as disciples of Christ, we should always been subject to the leadings and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The issue of work is a personal one, I will advice you seek the Face of God before deciding to not get a job.
Afterall Daniel was a courtier in a foreign land, but it didn't stop him from serving God instead He used that position to publicize God.
In essence, anything that will make you turn away from God should be shunned, but if you are able to still be focused on God despite the job and it conforms to God's will, then by all means you are free.

For goodness sake, please humans, open your eyes, science as we know it is nothing but a system of belief. Just like Hinduism, confucianism, and any other thing on that list.
It's better you take science with a pinch of salt.

LoL bros, your confusing yourself, Jesus himself testifies that He and the Father are one, He also says there is only one Good and him alone should you serve.

We understand.