₦airaland Forum

Toks2008:
When I gave my life to Jesus at a very tender age, I thought it will be an experience that will be void of challenges but as I grew and life began to take away my innocence, I suddenly came face to face with the reality that I can never ever live a sinless life. I constantly battle with addictions, bad habits, and sins then fear crept in and I began to doubt my salvation, I began to doubt my chances of ever making heaven.

But I became liberated when I found out that GOD is never hard on me. All he wants me to do is to never ever condemn myself because I struggle with sins and addictions even after I have accepted Christ as savior(Romans 8:1) but that I continually work out my salvation with fear and trembling(Philippians 2:12) and this simply means that I must never find pleasure in sins, but acknowledge my weaknesses, but if I do sin, I can always come to him to ask for forgiveness, mercies, and strength to carry on(1 John 2:1)even if I struggle with sins till the point of death...

The narrative above applies to many believers who had at a point accepted Jesus but still struggled with their salvation afterward.

The secret the Devil does not want believers to understand is that the moment you give your life to Jesus, you are guaranteed a place in heaven if you do not give up on yourself because GOD will never ever give up on you. The devil will constantly accuse you with your sins so that you can give up your salvation but the gospel truth is that Your bad habits, addictions, and even sins can never ever separate you from the love of GOD as long as you are always willing to let go and allow GOD to help you.
Just as it is written...Romans 8 Verses 38 to 39. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No matter the sins, addictions or bad habits you struggle with, you can do away with them totally if you sincerely want to. The biggest problem is that people always believe they can fight the battles on their own but it is impossible for anyone to do that...all you need is ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome whatever bad habit, addiction, and sins you battle with and you will be amazed how easy it will be for you to hate those vices you thought you can never do without.

The bottom line is that as long as you come to Jesus, you are guaranteed heaven if you don't give up on yourself even if you struggle with sins till the day you die...

Hebrews 10:26-31
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

AntiChristian:
Why the lies?

Actually salvation is not free cos it involves the believe that a father sent his son to be murdered...

It also requires money as tithes!

Check your second sentence.

I don't know why this cracked me up.

Truly it is a case of the more you look the more you start to see.

The bible ways salvation is free but then it is hinged on a lot of conditions.

Like you said, Jesus paid for everyone's salvation.

But then you have to be willing to give your life, hence 5he phrase giving your life to Jesus. God help you if you're led to die as a martyr.

Also you have to give (either tithes, offerings or freely as you choose depending on your denomination) otherwise they guilt trip you that you have no love.

You're expected to give your time and services either to join a department in your church or become a missionary.

Otherwise you are not sure of heaven. Cos the salvation does not include heaven. Even the apostles were walking out their own salvation in fear and trembling.

They lie to you that it is free then once you're in they start listing the conditions to you.

hoopernikao:
You are actually complicating the scriptures.
Result cannot nor will ever validate faith.

But since you want us to discuss this well. I can you show me text of scriptures that proved faith is justified by result. I await you.

Faith is justified by works. (Results) James 2: 14-26

This is analogous to the verse which says Wisdom is justified by her children. (Results) Matthew 11:19 Luke 7:35

How can you say you are an expert in a field yet you can't perform in that field?

I expected this from Maximus69 not you.

But like a yoruba a adage aptly put it, "tewe ba pe lara rose aa d'ose."
You've been arguing with him so long you're beginning to sound like him.

Ramos16:
Lol, this is wrong information, Twitter is removing it from their company not the platform you can use it

Thanks for the clarification. Cos I figured this would be corporate suicide if it's general.

But all the same, what is wrong with these leftists.
Someone was asking how bad homosexuality is, well voila.
Most of those pushing these agendas are the gay powers running US.

hoopernikao:
Abraham faith justified by having Isaac?

Chairmannnnn.


Read the below again from your bible.

Roman's 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Counted for righteousness there is the word for justification Sir.

Abraham faith is not seen in having Isaac, but Abraham faith is seen in offering Isaac. Check again. Abraham work of faith is the action he took to offer Isaac even when the promise says in his seed shall all nation be blessed.

That singular action of his ready to offer that seed (that the promise clinged), yet believing God that he can still fulfil the promise is the work of faith.


If Apostle James find you, he will first give you a good knock for reading him wrongly.

James work of faith is your actions of faith not result.

A brother in need comes to you and all you say is "have faith, God will bless you", That faith must first be demonstrated in you that you trust God. How will you demonstrate that? By releasing the little money on you to support him even though that can create lack on your end.

That action is what shows that you truly believe in God as your support and provider. So what James is saying is when you truly trust God, you will walk/work in it by your actions. This is not about result o.

When you claim you have faith, your line of actions must align with that. That is how faith is affirmed and seen. That is what Abraham did.

For example when you say you trust God for everything, we must see it in your actions. That means when I have any issues my first call and contact is to pray to God (prayer means communicate it with God) not starting up from strategy or connection. Those will be secondary as better direction will come.

That action of seeing God first in your challenges is the evidence of your trust and faith in him.

You need to get this o, so that your fight with Bro James will be minimal.

You're beginning to sound like Maximus69, twisting not only scriptures but also people's comments to your own meaning.

Now let me reiterate, Abraham's Faith yielded result.

This is not in response to Romans 4:3. His Faith in God counting as righteousness is before God, not men.

His Faith in God yielding the promises of God viz his children Isaac and Ishmael that would become nations, is the result that justifies his Faith.

I don't see the complication in comprehension here.

Faith is justified by its works, how is this an issue to argue?

I am a Christian, I should bear the fruits of Christ, and manifests the gifts of the Holy spirit.

My life should be witness of Christ. That is simply what you're arguing about, you realize that right?

hoopernikao:
I will leave this context to you as is not in line with what we are discussing so as to avoid us been distracted.

But know that when scriptures says Faith without works is dead, it is not referring to result but walk/work of faith. I will leave it at that.

Selah.

lol what then is the work of faith if it is not in the result that the faith produces?

Abraham had faith in the promise that he would be the father of many nations. Could the faith have been justified if he never gave birth to Isaac and Ishmael?
The place of faith never negates results. Which is what James was also alluding to. How can you claim you have faith and we are not seeing the works, the results that faith produces viz the fruit and gifts of the spirit etc.

It's simply denial not to admit that the Faith of Christians in Nigeria and the world at large has failed to produce the works (results) it is meant to.

solite3:
where is it written that people should mention names of angels in prayer?
celestial church is heavily into occultism

Are the Angels of God or of the devil?

Where is it written that people should mention names of Holy Mary or Saints or Pastors in prayer?

Because by your inference then Catholic church and most Pentecostals are definitely not of Jesus Christ.

Like I mentioned, there are occultists in every denomination, likewise there are genuine ones.

The search for power has led people to the occult ones.

[quote author=hoopernikao post=91334386]The reality is not in experience but in the truth of the scriptures. A believer realities are what the word of God says.

The word of God says the body in united, preserved, nothing can change that, No experience, no doctrine, no explanation or actions can change that. Hence what you see not that you call realities are only human perceptions of what the reality should be. And like i said, that will all fade away at the instance of the Truth and Reality.[/quote

The just (believer) does walk by faith. Yet faith is justified by its works (evidences).

If the word of faith declared fails to yield results (even over time), then how is it justified?

What made Jesus Christ and the Apostles believable was that their works were justified. Their words of faith produced results.

If Jesus had declared that he would be crucified, die and rise and it was only a matter of faith and never happened, then he would have not been believable.

That is what my assertion is. If the scriptural truth is not justified by the reality of its adherents, then is it truth?

solite3:
look I grew up in white garment church, white garment church especially celestial is heavily
built on traditions, especially Yoruba tradition.
like many other so called denominations they are all false religion.

Mention one of such, and I'll show you where it is derived from in the bible.

hoopernikao:
You must FIRST AND FOREMOST, get this clear in your mind.

You will need to correct your view of the CHURCH.


WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REFERS TO AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Firstly, the church is a body, BODY OF CHRIST. This is not primarily a physical assembly. It refers to a spiritual body, the resurrected body of Christ.

Everyone who receive the gospel come into this body. The gathering is as a result of this primary unification. For example, a man who got saved in a place where no church gathering or denomination exist is still part of the body, he is identify IN CHRIST, the body.

The headship of the body is Christ and the body is not divided. When a body is divided, it simply means the head has lost its control.


Take note of the following:

1. The physical assembly or denomination is not what is referred to as ONE BODY in Christ, but the single entity of the resurrected body.

1 Cor 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.


2. The body of Christ can only and is only preserve by the Head (Christ)

Jude 24, 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,


3. The body is not referring firstly to physical gathering but spiritual body that identify us in Christ:

Ephes 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:


4. The head of the body is in full control of the body, hence the body is not divided or disjointed.

Ephesians 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as[b] head over all things to the church[/b],


5. That the body has never, and can never be divided.

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.


6. You must always see Christ as the owner, the one nurturing, preserving the body ,

Ephes 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.


7. You must know that it is HIM alone that will and can present the body blameless and without spot even unto HIMSELF.

Ephes 5:27, That HE might present it TO HIMSELF a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.


8. That the duty of unity of the body is done by Christ alone.

Col 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete


Note that all the above scriptures emphasized our oneness in the body. The unity of the body is the work of the HolyGhost and it is on individual. This is dont when you came into Christ. You are unified with the body. Denominations arent formed in Christ or unified in the body but individual.


I will give you a human-like narrative of what this means:

When you say a man's body part is disunited or disjointed, what that will referred is death. Maybe the hand is somewhere else, the head is severed, the leg is broken, the eyes removed etc. That is a body disjointed. Hence it referred to death, maim or sick body.

But we know that the body of Christ is living and alive, fully nourished by the head. We have a head that is in full control of the body, preserving it till the end.

---

So, What Does It Mean When People Refer To The Divisions Among The Assemblies and Denominations.

You will firstly need to read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Romans 12:4-7 .

Whenever division or participation is referred to in the body, it speaks about the activities, administration and conducts of the members.

Referring to the human body i mentioned earlier. If the right hand chose to pick a phone and the right hand chose to pick plate, or the eyes says i cant help the hand to pick.... You will call this division as per the conduct not the body in itself, the body is still intact and preserved.

So, what you see arising as denominations today are due to these. The administration of the body, the activities of the body will be seen in men and handled to men by the HEAD.

Ephes 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

These are authorities for the assembly administration. This is what many see and called the body as divided.

Observe, verse 13 the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
The unity there refers to the knowledge of the Son of God. So, it speaks about how we conduct ourselves, the activities which are driven by knowledge, hence verse 14

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

That means, the knowledge will be perfected by doctrine, teaching, training and edifying of the members.

So, the reason for differences in administration and conducts is due doctrine.

---

DOES THE DIFFERENCE IN DOCTRINE A NEW THING TO THE CHURCH?

Looking at the history of the church, you will agree that differences in doctrine and conducts have been even from the days of the Apostles.

- Peter/Other Apostles, Peter/Paul, Barnabas/Paul, Jews/Hellenist, Corinthians church etc.
- In Epistles, Paul taught about it, John spoke about it, Peter same.

We have such in history. The difference is that they were able to resolved the differences due to the size and structure at hand. You cant say that today due to the spread of the gospel. Hence even though administration is stratified, we will still have pockets of differences due to interpretation. This leads to our conducts and activities in the body. This is what you referred to as mode of worship etc. They are borne from the differences in doctrine not division in the body.

So, when we speak about the differences in the body, it shouldnt be taken as a disjointed body. Christ is able to and is the one nourishing, developing and keeping his body. His control is intact and he is able to present us blameless and spotless.

Lastly, we trust God, that the members of the body will attain the unity in doctrine unto the knowledge of the Son only. Christ only be preached and exalted in his church.

You've spoken well as a bible scholar.

However, like I mentioned, I am simply stating the dissonance between what the bible teaches and what is reality.

You have simply stated how things ought to be, not how things are in reality.

The division is well pronounced.

God's plan for the church is not as much a mystery if you search the scriptures;

The Lord's prayer gives more insight to God's plan for the church, to establish on earth the kingdom of God as it is in heaven.

Is the reality today in any way in the likeness of what you would expect the kingdom of God in heaven to be? Considering the number of churches we boast of both in Nigeria and the world at large?

solite3:
celestia church is not of Jesus Christ.
many spirits are in the world propagating different messages,

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Your personal opinion. Others can say your own denomination too is not of Jesus Christ as well.

They preach Jesus Christ, pray through Jesus Christ, believe in the Holy Spirit, etc. What then makes them not f Jesus Christ?

Just like every denomination, you will find those who are genuine and those who mix Jesus with other spirits.

It is not peculiar to white garment churches only.

I can assure you that most, if not all the practices of Celestial church are from the bible, although a lot of old testament practices.

hoopernikao:
WHO ARE THOSE CALLED SONS OF GOD IN SCRIPTURES
Firstly, being called the son of God isnt a strange thing in the bible. Note that even though you pointed out that angels were called sons of God, you refused to also show us that there are other instances when other creatures were called son.

1. Adam was called "son of God" Luke 3:38 38 ... which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

We cant from this conclude that Adam was an angel nor say Adam was Jesus.

2. The Psalmist referred to some humans as "sons of God"
Psalm 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

These arent angels, neither were they Jesus. So, stating that Jesus is called son of God means he is an angel is just an error of interpretation.

3. Christians/Believers were called "sons of God". Based on your submission, can we also conclude that every believer is an angel in heaven? since they are sons of God?

The phrase "sons of God" were not exclusive but must be interpreted in context.

Observe that the usage of "sons of God" for angels ended in OT. There is a reason for that. In NT we have the true light.

Hebrews says, God has not at anytime called ANY ANGEL SON.
Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

That stand in contradiction to the writers of the OT, yet not contradiction but better light. No angel has been called or referred to as son by God, Hence, that remove Jesus from that list of angels because he was called "son"


Why Are These Called The Sons of God?
The statement "sons of God" does not always mean a birth. It simply implies that these "comes from God". It is a term that identify those that are known to be sent from God. In OT context, this is the reason it was used for angels. Same as used for Adam.

For Believers, it refers to being come from God due to our identification with Christ. This also signify a birth from the spirit just as Jesus (John 3:5)


WHY WAS JESUS CALLED THE SON OF GOD

When you called Jesus son of God, you must understand its context. The context of Jesus as son of God is always referring from his humanity not his divinity.

Luke 1:31-32
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Observe verse 34-35
He is called son because he was to be born. That isnt a name from heaven, but signifying that he was born by the HolyGhost.
He came from God.


WHY THE ONLY BEGOTTEN?
The word "only begotten" is a single word from the Greek word "monogenes". Referring to only child. Note that this comes from two words:

"mono" which means only, one., alone
"genes" from "ginomai" The word "ginomai" implies to come from, to come into existence.

Hence, monogenes will implies "the only one who came into existence from God", i.e. the one who came to being from God, referring to his birth.

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son,
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son

Observe that later in the epistles, Jesus was now referred mostly to as "first begotten", typifying that there are others which refers to believers in Christ.

Hence, in birth he was the only begotten, in resurrection, he was the first begotten.

In conclusion. there is no platform of justifying Jesus as angel in this context of "son of God". If we are to take everyone called sons of God in the bible as angels, then we will take Adam as angel, Children of Israelite as angels, believers as angels and that will mean we are all angels moving about on earth. This premise is false and such a an error of doctrine.

I grew up in a White garment background Celestial church to be precise. That was before joining the pentecostals.
Like I said, some doctrines came by personal revelation.

There are churches whose leaders found Angel Michael as a manifestation of God.
Till today Celestials believe the trinity to be God, Jesus and Holy Michael.

I've come to find that these are simply proofs that man cannot truly fully know God.

This is why when a Christian believes his own revelation of God is true and others' false, I simply see the person as naive.

God revealed himself to Paul in a different way He revealed himself to the other Apostles, even differently from his revelation to John who is so called the Beloeved of Christ.

I'm glad however that you admitted the contradiction in the bible although you also decided to defend the contradiction with your own exegesis.

Maximus69:
Exactly what one of those officials told me but my concern is the current situation in which the whole world is now!
Many people have lost their jobs and we just have to be our brothers keeper.
At least a rescheduling or reduction of the weekly pay to ease the pain, none of the landlords there on Thursday suggested they should leave the money but just to be considerate.
So in my own conclusion i discovered that both the Credit Officer (CO) Business Manager (BM) and the widow are all slaves to the business owners, the CO and the BM are simply serving as task masters to force others slaves to work for the Rich. And when any slave dies the money will be forgotten, please to me that's inhumane!

She should call their customer service line. They do reschedule loan in such cases.

bukatyne:
Pray to God and ask him to show you.

Lol I can assure you that that doesn't work.

I stand to be corrected if you can prove me wrong though. Be honest, has God informed you of your own purpose? Other than the generic biblical purpose to serve and worship God.

bukatyne:
Happy Sunday peeps.

I see, hear and read a lot of ladies been advised to 'face their career (which is actually work sef) and think of marriage later'.

Or just the short form 'career before marriage'.

Whatever variation of the advise, it generates laughter in me because:

1. Work/tilling the ground is actually a man's curse;
2. Work is just a means to an end: survival, sustenance etc.

Work in itself cannot give satisfaction hence replacing your family with 'work' always ends in tears.

There is a reason work is often described as 'soul sucking'.

I watched an interview of Kourtney Kardashian where she said as she turned forty, she was afraid to die empty and felt she wasn't living enough.

That is a work/job: it gives you money and the fine things of life however, it can never give fulfillment. That's why even the very rich after they have made money start to look for causes how they can touch the lives of people positively or negatively.

That is not to say we should not be productive or resourceful. Every human should to the best of their ability be productive in a job, vocation or their calling.

Now, there is something called 'calling or purpose'. This is the reason why you were created on earth. People's purpose range from pulling drugged kids off the street, inventing something to make our lives easier to writing lyrics that touch the soul. It can as well be spiritual as per pastors, evangelists, teachers, etc. etc.

How do we discover this purpose or calling?
1. God tells you;
2. You discover what you do effortless or what you are always drawn to. Some people would say what you can all day got free and be satisfied;
3. You discover your talents or gifts.

Some people are extremely lucky that their calling is their work. E. G. Someone whose calling is taking off drugged youth off the streets working in a NGO into rehabilitating drug addicts etc.

Every body has the duty to discover their purpose and fulfill it.

In summary, work is just work: a means to an end of living a better life and fulfilling your purpose/assignment in earth.

Update: Original thread ended on page one.

Drama started from page two.

How does one find his/her purpose?

Have you found yours?

NaijaRoyalty:
The time is just not right to send children to school.

School can wait, But Life no get duplicate .

Pray tell, when will the time be right?

The most important thing is for govt to supply the necessary PPE and mandate it for private schools too.

hoopernikao:
Baba, you don come again.

No single division in the body Sir. The body is preserved by the head.

I also will point out to you again as I have before, that true exegesis don't explain away the scriptures or God. True exegesis reveals the true intent of the scriptures which is God's mind.

Always know this.
Whenever two persons teach or explain the scriptures in contradiction, it is either one of them is wrong or both but not the scriptures.

Trust you are good.

I'm good man. Better per second.

I have to come again when the conversation makes me climax. (Pun intended)

The issue of division in the body of Christ is undeniable, I mean I'm surprised you would question that except by reason of religious responsibility or necessity. I think at this point you need to embark on some missions and see the church beyond your local assembly.

The division is most magnified if you ever try to marry outside your own denomination especially, if you're from the Orthodox churches. (Catholic, Anglican, etc)

There is a grand canyon of difference in the churches, division in doctrines, in Exegesis, in mode of worship, etc.

I would know this because I sought the oneness of the body of Christ but never found it.

The division of the body of Christ is actually meant to achieve the similitude of division of labour. A part being the hand, another the eyes, another the leg, etc all working together in harmony, Christ being the head. 1 Corinthians 12:12-21
But clearly this is not the case.

madegreatbygrace:
Some Christians are lazy to find out for themselves what they possess in Christ Jesus. This laziness then leads to ignorance.

This is why Paul mostly wrote about knowing or knowledge in his epistles.

“the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


“I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ.”
‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭AMP‬‬

So it's clear that the problem of most Christians is lack of knowledge. We're not talking about head knowledge here, but revelational knowledge.

Second, there's a quick fix syndrome ravaging this generation, which prevents the majority from pursuing God with the whole of their hearts. We want it fast and now. People don't want to tarry, so that godly character be built in them. They don't want to go deep in fellowship and knowledge of God. They have no desire to go deep down into the sea.

Notice what the Psalmist says about them:

“Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:23-24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So the wonders of the Lord are in the deep. So the reason why The apostles experienced these wonders was because they invaded the deep without inhibition. This is what is missing in this generation.

Good observation. However I must ask, Do you mean there is no one in this generation that has exhibited the requisite patience, desire and spiritual knowledge to achieve the biblical manifestations?

Truth be told, we only keep making excuses for God and the bible.
In fact studying the bible personally one observes the disconnect between what the bible teaches and the realities of what we see in our churches today. We only have conflicting exegesis trying to explain it away.

Catholics praying through Holy Mary and lost saints. (Unscriptural).

Pentecostals speaking diverse tongues yet not one with the gift of interpretation. In fact speaking of tongues is taught in some churches.

The Holy Spirit is meant to teach and empower, yet No Power manifestations, no healing, no genuine miracles. Several Christians and Pastor keep dying to COVID-19 and other ailments.

The Love of money is exalted beyond heavens. Most churches are simply fund-raising avenues for the pastors ego and ostentatious lifestyle. (No surprise Oyedepo and Oyakhilome have been lamenting the lock-down all over their online platforms).

There's so much division in the body of Christ, yet every GO claims God sent them. it makes one wonder if God is not an author of confusion.

What then makes Christianity different from any other religion claiming to be the true religion?

madegreatbygrace:
What is worship?

Worship is the act of attributing honour or reverence to God, through love and submission.

A man that worships God believes that God is the Lord, that is, He has supreme authority and He's the owner of all.

Worship is not limited to the slow songs the Choir sing in church or the act of bowing down, although these are acts of worship.

Anything done to honour God is an act of worship. Prayer, giving, preaching the Gospel and studying the word of God are acts of worship especially when they are done to honour God in love.

How does a man honour God?

Through submission in love.

For the believer, this submission or honour must be done through the Spirit, that is, carrying out the instructions of the Spirit and by the energy of the Spirit.

For example, at the end of every month, and after receiving the salary, I should ask the Lord how much of the salary He wants me to give to the House of the Lord. This amount could be 10%, 20%, 50% or 100% , and not a fixed amount of 10% as most Christians do.

So, the true worshippers are those that first search the heart of the Father and then carry out the desires of His Heart out of love and not compulsion.

How do I worship God in prayer?


Remember that there's no worship without honour, and there's no honour without submission in love.

The believer can not submit to the Lord without being led. This is why he's called a son.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Thus, a believer worships God in prayer when he prays the Father's heart.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26-27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So in prayer, he says only those that the Father through the Spirits want said. In other words, he prays the will of God with the aid of the Spirit. This is the highest honour in prayer, and this is true worship.

So you worship God in the Spirit when you obey instructions given to you by the Spirit of God inside of you. It is not fulfilling the lust of the flesh but fulfilling the desires of the Spirit in love.

When Peter was in the Spirit, we saw what happened. Acts 10
Likewise when Paul worshipped God in Spirit, he was transcended to another dimension (2 Corinthians 12:2). Like wise John (Revelations 1:10).

How come we don't see this in our time. We seem to only follow what our pastors teach us and not the scriptures.

madegreatbygrace:
What is worship?

Worship is the act of attributing honour or reverence to God, through love and submission.

A man that worships God believes that God is the Lord, that is, He has supreme authority and He's the owner of all.

Worship is not limited to the slow songs the Choir sing in church or the act of bowing down, although these are acts of worship.

Anything done to honour God is an act of worship. Prayer, giving, preaching the Gospel and studying the word of God are acts of worship especially when they are done to honour God in love.

How does a man honour God?

Through submission in love.

For the believer, this submission or honour must be done through the Spirit, that is, carrying out the instructions of the Spirit and by the energy of the Spirit.

For example, at the end of every month, and after receiving the salary, I should ask the Lord how much of the salary He wants me to give to the House of the Lord. This amount could be 10%, 20%, 50% or 100% , and not a fixed amount of 10% as most Christians do.

So, the true worshippers are those that first search the heart of the Father and then carry out the desires of His Heart out of love and not compulsion.

How do I worship God in prayer?


Remember that there's no worship without honour, and there's no honour without submission in love.

The believer can not submit to the Lord without being led. This is why he's called a son.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Thus, a believer worships God in prayer when he prays the Father's heart.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26-27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So in prayer, he says only those that the Father through the Spirits want said. In other words, he prays the will of God with the aid of the Spirit. This is the highest honour in prayer, and this is true worship.

So you worship God in the Spirit when you obey instructions given to you by the Spirit of God inside of you. It is not fulfilling the lust of the flesh but fulfilling the desires of the Spirit in love.

This is how people fail exams.lol
I did not ask you what worship means, that is a given. The Jews worshipped God. Moses worshipped God when He revealed himself to him.

I asked you what it means to worship God is Spirir.
What is the difference between the worship of old testament and new testament as Jesus stated, other than location.

Secondly. How then do you know you are worshipping God in Spirit?

Righteousness89:
The Ex -Governor will be nodding his head at you all wherever he is...

Total nonessential!

Too much nollywood has messed up your mindset.

Dead bodies don't nod their head.

SmartProf:
All these political parties that waste our time when INEC is collating votes. All the figures they get begins and ends with zero. Some of them no dey even get party agents on election day. Funny enough anytime INEC has briefings, na dem dey attend pass

We Nigerians are funny.
We keep lamenting that APC and PDP have failed us yet we don't want to look toward other parties.

I can assure you that unless we start pining for another party that is not being funded by APC or PDP, we will still gnash our teeth come 2023.

yinkus6750:
Typical Ibadan indigenes aren't knowledgeable and enlightened.
So unfortunate that the burial organisers and state government failed to do the right thing, thereby endagering the lifes of the people.
Coro season has also caused hardship, hunger and suffering on the people, hence they will go to any length to get a meal.
Ajimobi, RIP

I want to believe you're yoruba and your moniker is a derivative of Yinka.

My only grouse with you is how you quickly crucifued your own tribe while defending the govt blindly.

With the statistics given by NCDC compared with the rate of death attributed to Covid-19, is there actually a cause for alarm in Nigeria?

If this burial had held in Lagos, East or SS do you think attendees would have observed Social distance?

The fear of Covid-19 has been ridiculed by the low mortality rate recorded from it.

Notice, I did not claim it is not real, I believe it is.
But for reason scientists have yet to fathom, it isn't killing Africans like they projected.

In fact, govt cannot even call for another lockdown forget the threats of Sanwo Olu.

MuttleyLaff:
"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,"
- Ephesians 5:15

"¹⁴And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words,
shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town
¹⁶Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:
be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves"
- Matthew 10:14 & 16

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
- Colossians 3:12

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride,
but in humility consider others more important than yourselves"
- Philippians 2:3

Just a few sample verses talking of preaching etiquette and acceptable, good and polite behaviours.

As you may have noticed, I modified that knowing that preaching does come with some guidelines.
But the ones OP pointed out weren't scriptural .

Paul often mentioned how he persecuted (killed) Christosns even while preaching to other Christian's, some of whom were relatives of those he killed.

The bible also never failed to mention how Mary Magdalene was a woman who was delivered of 7 demons.

I understand OP is simply trying to preach in season knowing how sensitive everything has become in this #MeToo age , but then it would seem to contradict the scriptures.

MuttleyLaff:
Whats your problem? Why are you so ever truculent, hmm?
The guy OP, is talking about try to be sensitive whenever drawing up past escapades because they might be people in the audience still trying to deal with the past of theirs they aren't proud of and so shoved to the remotest part of their mind so not to relive or remember it and you've gone gung ho asking him, if its wrong for followers of Jesus Christ to admit they too had a sin-fillled past like every one else.

How you managed to overlook or ignore the intro "There should be a limit to what a preacher says about his past life especially while preaching..." is baffling. Limit, fyi, means boundary(ies)

We live in an age where neither Jesus nor his apostles would have lasted long enough to even have a ministry to begin with.

Clearly Paul made mention of how he was a chief sinner and persecuted (killed) Christian's while preaching to the family members of those he persecuted.

Preaching in itself is supposed to be as witnesses of Christ right?
How then can you witness without sharing your transformation story.

Firstandonly:
Pastors in the house is it bad to adopt a child?

Technically Joseph, Mary's husband adopted Jesus Christ. So yes, there's nothing wrong in it.

There are several other cases in the old testament but there's no need to delve into that.

Adoption is a good thing provided it is with a good intention.

Asquare84:
To avoid distraction you can close your eyes, but truly praying is a thing of the mind

Are you a Christian or Muslim?

Christian's will tell you your mind is your problem and you must shut off your mind.
So technically it's not a thing of the mind but of the spirit.

Man, how did we let religion create this much confusion in our lives.

According to the Christianity.
Your Spirit is the real you.
Since God is Spirit and you're created in God's image and likeness. Then the real you is the Spirit.
However, it is said that your Spirit (the real you) is dead until you come into Christ.

Your Soul is your seat of intellect.
It encompasses your mind, emotions and free will.

Your Body is the housing of your spirit and soul that allows you to exist and survive on earth.

According to Islam
God created Adam as He wills...He created his flesh and blood, his bones, hair, and his body from soil and water; this is the beginning of the creation of Adam.

Then He put the soul into his body. Then by the soul man can stand and sit, listen and see, learn and know what animals can know and beware of dangers. Then God put the spirit into the body. By the spirit Adam knows right from wrong and guidance from error and he camouflages and learns and manages all of his affairs.


It would interest you that Buddha has it's own as well as other religions.
However, science has not found credence to this.
Whichever you believe is your choice.

madegreatbygrace:
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


‭

The above is also often misapplied.

Should one worship God in both Spirit and truth?

Or should one worship God in Spirit only?

Applying this rule, Jesus was basically saying to the woman at the well that, " God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit which is the truth (reality)."

This is even clearer when we consider context.

The woman had a wrong mindset of what worship should be.


“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

According to her, the acceptability of worship is dependent on location. The real worshipper is the one that worships in a certain place- on this mountain.

Here comes the refutal :

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

That's nicely put, eh?

So the time is coming- as a matter of fact, it has come- when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.

Then the bombshell:


“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Notice the "true worshippers". He gave a definition- those that worship God in Spirit.
Then for the sake of emphasis, He repeats Himself, " those that worship the Father in Spirit are the real worshippers- they worship in truth.

Mr. Op, are you now saying worship in the old testament was fake and unacceptable.

Not really.

Worship in the old testament was a shadow of what is obtainable under the new covenant because it was based on the old testament laws. It was indeed faulty and had to be jettisoned.

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


For God's utmost desire was for the temple to dwell in man.

So here, the truth explains the Spirit.

What does it mean to worship God in Spirit?

How do you know you're worshipping in Spirit?

OgaVoltron:
The heavy type especially squats/deadlifts has been proven to drive your testosterone up. Go check it up. Or try some thigh quaking squats. The type that leaves you almost unable to walk. Let's see the drama on the 3rd day onwards.

It's all in your head.

Google got you bleeped up.

Righteousness89:
My Sister! You are Welcome..

This is what we live for!

As long as you are sincere, there is Joy in Heaven Over One Sinner that Repents than Ninety-nine others that need to Repentance...

With the Exception of the Sin of blasphemy against the Holyghost, there is no sin that the blood of JESUS Christ cannot Cleanse..

As long as there is Life, there is no sin to big to be forgiven....

This is the single Reason JESUS died on the cross..

Sister Mahida, I rejoice with you, and I pray your Salvation is Real and Permanent..

Indeed the First shall be last.. and the last shall be First..

Thank you JESUS!

The coronavirus pandemic instigated the fear of the end time and this is the reason for a lot of these newly acclaimed born again.

The fear of hell fire has got my people shook and trying to convert. Yet the bible says, God cannot be mocked right?

Let the coronavirus pandemic subside and there will be what the bible also called The great falling away.

When conversion is based on fear of end time, history has shown over and over what happens when the end time "fails to end".

There will be a worse rebellion against religion as a result of the false claims that didn't come to pass and the losses it has cost the so called newly converts.

Just wait and see. Time always tells.

Peace666:
If that is really an earthquake, then

Its obvious the world is coming to an end.

"... And there shall be earthquake in divers places, wars and rumors of war."

I ain't religious but the prophesies of the holy book keeps repeating itself.

Lets get ready for the coming of Christ o. Its real.


Make i even wake Yetunde make she start to the go.

But earthquakes, eclipses, wars and epidemics have always been there since forever.

Perhaps he keeps coming but no one notices.