Scripture Text: Psalm 62:11

The Ultimate power that God gives us is unmatched. We each have the same power that was given to Jesus: the power to heal, comfort, set free, and repair. People who followed Christ were amazed by the wonders he did because they had never seen anything like them before.

Biblical Proof of God's Ultimate Power

1. Revelation 12: When Lucifer and some other angels turned against God, there was war in heaven. Angel Michael and other holy angels defeated this group of rebels. The rebels were then thrown out of heaven. God's supreme power subdued Satan's power. Since then, there has been no peace on earth or in the sea because Satan and his lost angels now live there and fight anyone or anything that is meant to honour God.

2. According to Exodus 8:15, during the power struggle that happened in Pharaoh's palace in Egypt, Pharaoh's magicians admitted that God was the ultimate power. When Aaron threw down his staff, it turned into a snake. Pharaoh's magicians did the same thing with their staffs. Aaron's, on the other hand, ate up their rods. When the play was over, the magicians gave up and said, "This is the finger of God." Also, God saved the Israelites in a way that will never be forgotten at the Red Sea. The Red Sea was split so that his children could cross safely. But Pharaoh, his chariots, and his army were stuck and killed in the water, and their bodies were all over the shores of the water. Yahweh's ultimate power is shown here!

3. 1 Kings 18:20–40: Elijah stood alone in front of 450 followers of Baal on Mount Carmel. He had told each group that when they prayed, they should recognise the Almighty God as the one who answered by sending fire down from heaven. While the preachers of Baal set up their altar and prayed to Baal for hours, neither he nor the fire that they were praying for answered. After putting together an altar and an offering for Jehovah, Elijah prayed, and fire fell on the altar. Israelites bowed, praised, and declared, "Jehovah is God!" Elijah's all-powerful God showed up at the power encounter.

4. According to Matthew 28:18–20, God's supreme power was evident in Jesus' mission on earth. He fought the kingdom of darkness, drove devils out, and healed people every day. He destroyed Satan's work to show that all power belongs to God and was given to Him. Jesus Christ gave His servants that power and told them to show it by bringing people into His kingdom and redeeming them out of hell.

5. Exodus 3: In the burning bush, God showed Moses His ultimate power. Since God was with Moses at that time, the burning bush on Mount Horeb didn't catch fire.

6. Daniel 3:23: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were all tied together, fell into the raging fire without getting hurt or burned. Instead, the flames killed those who threw them in. As the fourth person in the fiery furnace with these three Hebrew men, God showed how powerful He really is. When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon saw this power and wonder, he bowed down to the King of Kings and acknowledged that the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego really is the Almighty God.

7. Daniel 6: Daniel's royal master, Darius the Mede, put him in a high position. Daniel's jealous enemies tricked Darius into saying that for thirty days, no prayers should be said to any god or person but Darius. Anyone who didn't follow this order would be thrown to the lions. Daniel, who was religious, continued to pray every day to the God of Israel. The king was very upset, but he had to put Daniel to death because the rules of the Medes and Persians could not be changed. In order to save Daniel, Darius had him thrown into the pit. Early in the morning, the king runs to the site and cries out, "Has your God been able to deliver you?" Daniel said that his God had sent an angel to restrain the lions "because I was found innocent in his eyes." The king told the people who plotted to harm Daniel to be thrown to the lions with their families. The lions that watched over Daniel in their den had already torn the perpetrators to pieces before they even got to the lion's den. At this, King Darius said that everyone should bow down and be afraid of the God of Daniel. This is God's ultimate power!

8. Genesis 37–50: Joseph is the most favoured of Jacob's sons, but his brothers hate him because they are jealous. The brothers were mad because Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful "coat of many colours." They took Joseph and sold him to a group of Ishmaelites, also known as Midianites. They took him to Egypt. There, Joseph finally won the pharaoh of Egypt's favour by interpreting his dreams through the power of God. By doing so, he became Prime Minister of the pharaoh's kingdom. Egypt could survive a famine thanks to the grain stocks Joseph procured. Two of his brothers left Canaan and went to Egypt to find food because of the same famine. They bowed down on their knees in front of Joseph, but they didn't recognise him. As soon as Joseph made peace with his brothers, he asked Jacob's whole family to come to Goshen in Egypt, where they would be able to live with their flocks. In the end, Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery saved their family from famine, which was a good outcome. The family's children and grandchildren became the Hebrews, who would finally leave Egypt for Israel. This proves how powerful God is!

9. Genesis 22:13: The ram's sacrifice for Isaac’s replacement showed how powerful God is. Now I'm curious: where did the ram come from? Following God's instructions, Abraham tied his son Isaac to an altar at Moriah. As Abraham was about to kill his son Isaac, an angel stopped him and replaced him with a ram. This was the last of the 10 tests that God put Abraham through.

10. Phillipians 3:10: Christ's resurrection was one of the most important events in history. It showed us that God is all-powerful. Jesus completed an important part of God's plan that is of the utmost significance to everyone's life and future when He rose from the dead and went to the eternal place at the right hand of the Father. The power of God made Jesus rise from the dead because God has all power.

Have you experienced or acknowledged this Ultimate Power of God, Beloved? The Kingdom of God is not in words but in showing how powerful He is to save, heal, and liberate lives for Him. God's power can defeat your enemy in the name of Jesus, no matter what he does. He'll run away from you.

But you won't be able to use God's Ultimate Power if you haven't been born again. Getting God's power is only possible if you give your life to Christ.

Say this short prayer if you want to give your life to Christ: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take charge of it, and change my world." I leave the devil behind and enter the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus! I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ: Amen.

Congratulations!!! God bless you!

Peace!

Also read Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Volume 8, 2023, by Dr. D.K. Olukoya.

DATE: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7TH 2023

TOPIC: BEWARE OF PRIDE 1

MEMORISE:
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” – (Proverbs 16:18)

READ: 1 KINGS 19:13-18 (KJV)

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

MESSAGE:

In our Bible reading for today, you will see that God told Elijah to anoint three people to replace him. This is because you can see pride in Elijah's response when he says, "And I, even I only, am left...". There is only one "I AM" and that is God Himself (Exodus 3:14). This is why, when Jesus Christ called Himself 'I AM' in John 8:58-59, the Jews were furious that He compared Himself to God. Of course, at that time, they did not know about John 1:1 and 14, which says Jesus is God who became flesh and dwelt amongst us. The name I AM must be reserved for God and God alone.

When you search the Scriptures, you would discover that the words 'I', 'me', 'my', 'mine' are the languages of pride. That was the language of Satan in Isaiah 14:12-15. When you find someone always saying 'I', 'my', you know you are most likely dealing with a proud fellow. Beware of this because the higher you go, the greater the risk of you saying 'I', 'my', 'me' all the time.

We see an example in the strong and anointed man of God called Samson. In Judges 15:14-16, where the power of God came upon him and he killed thousands of soldiers with a jaw bone, he said, "With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men”. There was no, "Thank You, Lord" to the One who sent down the power; it was all about himself. Even when God had clearly restored his strength in Judges 16:25-28, when the enemies had caught him and plucked out his eyes and he wanted to pray just one more prayer before dying, what did he say?

And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. (Judges 16:28)

It was about him all the way. That is why, as strong and anointed as he was, he fell so low that he ended up blind and grinding corn for his enemies before dying with them.

KEY POINT:
Beware of pride because it can make you fall so low that your enemies would begin to rejoice over you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOHN 13-15

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: 2 - AMAZING GRACE

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!
That saved a wretch like me!
I was once lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

2. Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

3. The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

4. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

5. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

6. When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we'd first begun.

The Message of the season is clear.

With the financial crises presently ravaging Nigeria, have you paid a close attention to what the Spirit is saying?

for a Time the Prosperity Gospel has been very prosperous in Nigeria. Majority of churches and believers have been serving Mammon and not God.

The LORD of the Harvest sent His labourers to the church but we rejected them for the enticing gospel of money, deceptively called Prosperity Gospel which crept into the Nigerian church.

The Prosperity Gospel is so enticing to the ears that it blinds even the most pious Apostles, Prophets, Pastors and their flock of believers because, "Who no like better ting?"

As long as we are still in this physical bodies/flesh of ours, we are bound to continually face the temptations of Lust of the Eyes, Lust of the Flesh and Pride of Life.
We desire money and the good things money can buy.
Especially when others seem to be acquiring these good things of life and it seems you are not.
And especially now more than ever when the prices of commodities are skyrocketing and people are desperate for money.
We keep hearing the testimonies of Miracle Money.
Don't get me wrong, I don't believe there's any thing God cannot do. However, we must discern spirits and know what the Word of God says. And ask ourselves the imoortant questions.

What is the Gospel?
Rom.3.23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

John.3.16 for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Matt.6.33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

What does the scripture say about Acquisitions and Money (Covetousness)
Luke.12.15 - And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

What does Jesus Christ himself teach about Money?

Matt.6.24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Luke.16.10 - He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
Luke.16.11 - Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

What does the Word of God say about Suffering?
2Cor.4.16 - Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2Cor.4.17 - for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

1Pet.5.10 - But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

What does the Word of God say about Prosperity?
3John.1.2 - Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

2Cor.9.10 - Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
2Cor.9.11 - while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

Prov.10.22 - The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

Eph.1.3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

How do you know you're serving Mammon?

1. When your prayers are centered on financial/material blessing rather than, spiritual blessing, soul-winning and God's kingdom.
2. When you don't miss Tithes but you are not a giver outside church.
3. When you believe money can buy God's grace and blessings.
4. When you can't go to church whenever you're broke.
5. When you don't want to hear about suffering or poverty but only prosperity. Even though the bible says time and chance happens to all man.
6. When during your marital vows you said "for richer, for richer..."
7. When you are more interested in worldly gains than making heaven.
Just to mention few.

Several marriages are crumbling presently simply because the marriage was built on money and financial security.

By the time these financial storm goes away, how many believers will still be going to church?
How many marriages will still stand?
How many will be better through this challenges and how many will become worse?

By God's Grace, Jesus Christ is delivering and rebuilding His church and the Gates of hell will not prevail against it and against us. And as the Lord of the Harvest is raising His labourers, He will make us both suitable Harvest and suitable laborers in whom He is well pleased in Jesus name.
And may this translate to evident transformations thqt glorify God, in our individual lives, homes, churches, schools and dear Country Nigeria in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen

Firstly, what is salvation? It has to do with the acceptance of the message, sum and sunstance christianity is about. let us read this; Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. John 3:16-17, 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. for God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Luke 19:10,for the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Romans 6:23, for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.In a nutshell the above scriptural verses tells us what we need do and why Christ, our lord and saviour, came to this earth. when we receive this message and accept christ into our life, we are saved and have salvation.[Revelation 3:20, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.]

Now,the question asked is can one lose his salvation, having been saved, in light of this scripture from the book of Hebrews 6:4? which reads, for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.Let me start off by saying that this passage has given room to a lot of interpretation and it behoolves us as teachers and apologists to always look at it in light of the prevailing background and the context of that verse. One way to understand and fully grasp a passage is to follow it from the opening verse or chapter. To look at this passage with the view to get to know if indeed, we can lose our salvation, we must go to the opening. In verse 1-3,we read, Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. It is obvious here, that it deals with a strong encourament togrow in the things of God. But why would the author write this? Let us remember, that after the ascention of Christ the persecution of the christians continued for then the church was birthed. It was this background that prompts the writer. The converted jews often incurs the wraith of the highpriest who were very influncial those days and can do a lot pf harm and suffering to the professed christians and thier family. Like kicking th chidren out of the synagogue school and other forms of persecutions in some cases, even imprisonment or death. This caused some not to be open about thier faith, attend gatherings or be seen in the mists of the bold ones. By taking this action they could not get to know more about Christ. Like paul says in the book of Philippians 3:10, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; The passage is telling those in the new found faith to get to become intimate with Christ, pray more, and live the christian life without shame or feaer of the gospel. see Romans 1:16, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The Arminian theology says indeed, on can lose his salvation referring to Hebrews6, but we know better. As christian we are to search the scripture everyday and do our reserh on a daily bases, paul says of the people of berea in Acts 17:11, These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. No man is greater than the scripture, no man knows more than the scripture. Therefore, any interpretation that does not fall in-line with the scripture should never be taken seriously just like the people of Berea did and attracted the commendation from the apostle Paul.

Finally, let me say with scriptural backing, that we are secured in christ having been saved. John 10:28,And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. If a christian sins and remain in sin God will discipline him just as a father does his children see Hebrews 12:7-10 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? for they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
godwinguobadia.com

This is what I got:

The lifestyle of Jesus and Muhammad are very different in many aspects. Here are some of the main differences:

- Jesus was born of a virgin, while Muhammad was born of a normal human couple. ¹²

- Jesus claimed to be the son of God and one with God, while Muhammad claimed to be a prophet and messenger of God. ¹²

- Jesus performed many miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water, and multiplying food, while Muhammad did not perform any miracles. ¹²³

- Jesus lived a sinless life, while Muhammad lived a sinful life. ¹²³

- Jesus taught a message of love, forgiveness, and peace, while Muhammad taught a message of submission, obedience, and war. ¹²³
- Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, and rose from the dead on the third day, while Muhammad died of poisoning and remained dead. ¹²³

- Jesus ascended to heaven and promised to return, while Muhammad was buried in Medina and did not promise to return. ¹²³

- Jesus founded the Christian faith, which is based on grace and faith, while Muhammad founded the Islamic faith, which is based on works and law. ¹²³

- Jesus had no wives or children, while Muhammad had eleven wives and several children. ¹²³

- Jesus encouraged his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, while Muhammad encouraged his followers to fight against their enemies and kill those who oppose them. ¹²³

These are some of the major differences between the lifestyle of Jesus and Muhammad. I hope this answer helps you compare and contrast these two influential figures. If you want to learn more, you can check out the links I provided. 😊

Source: Conversation with Bing, 11/4/2023
(1) The Lives of Muhammad and Jesus - Probe Ministries. https://probe.org/the-lives-of-muhammad-and-jesus/.
(2) Jesus Vs Muhammad: (15 Important Differences To Know) - Bible Reasons. https://biblereasons.com/jesus-vs-muhammad/.
(3) Jesus vs Muhammad: 33 Striking Differences - Reasons for Jesus. https://reasonsforjesus.com/jesus-vs-muhammad-33-striking-differences/.

Destiny Empowerment Daily Devotional
*(2nd November 2023)*

by *Sunday Akanni*

TOPIC: *The Beautiful Things Of Love (Part 2)*

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. (Jeremiah 31:3)

*MESSAGE:*

for various reasons, a lot of people keep doubting the existence of true love, since what is prominent in our world is lust, selfishness, deceit, hypocrisy, and the likes. However, from the scriptures, there have been proofs upon proofs that true love exists.

First of all, remember that *God, the Supreme Creator is All-powerful and can do anything and everything. However, one of the most prominent expressions of God is Love. In fact, God is Love personified. Yes, God is Love. And since it is true that God exists, then it is true that Love exists. The existence of the True God is the existence of True Love.*

A vivid proof that God has been showing, and will keep showing true love, can be found in John 3:16 -

*"for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."*

God so loved the world (which includes you) way before you were born. God knows you before you were born, and He has been showing you love even before you were born. An expression of His love revolves around how He safeguarded you while you were in your mother's womb, and has blessed you with the gift of life to remain alive till today.

So, you are not loveless. You might have passed through different incidents that have made you doubt the existence of true love (hated, being deceived, taken for granted, jilted, betrayed, etc.). But I want you to know that even till this moment, God, your Creator is vehemently in love with you.

What is the proof of love? What is love without giving?

"for God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten son..."

So, God put His Love for you into action by giving you the best Gift ever: He gave you Himself in Christ Jesus.

Wow!

Since humankind has embraced sin and death, God proved He didn't hate us by still deciding to come into the flesh to die for our sins! Wow!

True Love is when Jesus Christ decides to die for undeserving folks like you and me. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans chapter five verse eight)

So, how should you respond to this love being shown you by God? Accept His Gift!

"...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Simply accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and your life will never remain the same again. You must be determined to forsake anything sinful. If you need to make your way right with the LORD, simply pray:

*"LORD JESUS, I believe in my heart that You died for me and You raised on the third day for my justification. And so I confess with my mouth that You are my Lord and Savior. From today, I belong to the family of God. Thank You for giving me eternal life."*

*Confession:*

Everywhere I go, I'm conscious of the Father's love for me. It doesn't matter what comes my way, I will never forget how true it is that God loves me, and I have a proof in Christ Jesus. Amen.

*Further Reading*

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:10

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Scripture Text: Revelations 12:1-12

Revelation 12 gives an outline of three important people in the world today and how they will affect events in the end times. What do the woman, the child, and the dragon stand for, and what can we learn from this Bible prophecy?

Who Are the Woman, the Child, and the Dragon?

The book of Revelation is a vision that Jesus Christ had from God the Father. It shows what will happen before Jesus comes back to set up the Kingdom of God on earth. The interesting book is also known as the Apocalypse, which comes from a Greek word that means "revelation." This book of prophecy is mostly written in chronological order, with short breaks for general discussions of certain topics.


"Now a great sign appeared in heaven" (verse 1) is the first sentence of Revelation 12. The word "sign" comes from the Greek word semeion, which means "a mark, a sign, a token...an unusual event that goes beyond the normal course of nature" . I saw a woman who had just given birth as the first great sign (verse 1).

And then in verse 3, it says, "And another sign appeared in heaven." This tells us that the three symbols—a woman, a child, and a dragon—stand for things that aren't normal in nature. That's right, these three figures stand for three powerful spiritual forces that have been at work for a very long time.

Now we need to understand the symbols in order to understand this chapter.

What do the woman, the child, and the dragon stand for?

What kind of woman is in Revelation 12?
In the Apocalypse, the woman who is "clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars" (verse 1) stands for Israel in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, God spoke of His people as a woman that He had dressed in majesty and honor (Ezekiel 16). Genesis 37:9–10 talks about the 12 tribes of Israel, and the garland with 12 stars could be a picture of them.
Throughout Revelation 12, we see that God protects the "woman" many times (verses 6, 14–16), especially as the "kingdom of our God" is about to come to the world (verse 10).

As seen in the New Testament, God's Church is like a woman, and the people who belong to it are like virgins (Matthew 25:1–13; Revelation 14:4; Revelation 19:7). In the New Testament, the Church is called "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16) and "Jerusalem above," which is called "the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26; see also Hebrews 12:22–23). "A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His [God's] own special people" (1 Peter 2:9) refers to church members.

God the Father calls the church "His wife" in Revelation 19:7. When Christ comes back to earth, he will marry her. This makes it clear that the woman in Revelation 12 stands for God's people. Read more about Jesus Christ and the Church in our story, "Marriage Supper of the Lamb."

Also, it's interesting to note that in Revelation 17:1, the image of a shameful woman, called "the great harlot," is used to show a fake church that leads many astray. This is talked about more in our piece called "Mystery, Babylon the Great."

Who is the Child ?

It says that the woman, who is Israel, gave birth to a "male child who was to rule all nations with an iron rod" (Revelation 12:5). In fact, Jesus Christ was born in this country. This verse makes it clear that Jesus is the "Child" in Revelation 12. It says, "And her child was caught up to God and His throne."

Jesus is the one who the Bible says will "strike the nations." "And He will rule them with an iron rod" (Revelation 19:15). He was also taken up in a cloud to heaven after he rose from the dead (Acts 1:9–11).

Who is the dragon?

"A great, fiery red dragon" (verse 3) is the third sign in Revelation 12. It is said to have drawn "a third of the stars of heaven" and to be standing "before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born" (verse 4). "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world" (verse 9).

As for the dragon drawing "a third of the stars of heaven," this seems to mean that Satan is leading a third of the angels to revolt against God. In other places, like Revelation 1:20, stars are shown to be angels.

According to the Bible, Satan also rebelled against God and tried to make his "throne above the stars of God" and "be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:13–14). Revelation 12:9 says that Satan started his work as "that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world." This is the same serpent that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden.
God has "ministers of righteousness," and Satan also has slaves. These include physical ministers who are deceived and help others be deceived, as well as spirit beings who pretend to be righteous but encourage people to sin (2 Corinthians 11:15; Ephesians 6:12). According to Jude, the fallen angels or demons are "angels who did not keep their proper domain" and are now "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day" (Jude 1:6).

Revelation 12:3–17 tells a short story of how Satan tried to stop God's plan to bring many people to praise and make them part of His eternal family. Many things Satan did included getting a third of the angels to join him in his quest to become like God, trying to have Christ killed as a child (Matthew 2:13–18), trying to trick everyone, and hurting God's people. Now, let's look at Satan's attempts to stop God's plan in more depth.

The child vs. the dragon

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, ready to eat her child as soon as it was born (Revelation 12:4). This seems to be a reference to King Herod's plan to kill Jesus as a baby by ordering the deaths of all male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger (Matthew 2:13–18). But an angel told Joseph to run away to Egypt with his wife and Jesus so that the child would not be killed (verse 13).

The Believer's Bible Commentary says this about Revelation 12:4-5: "The dragon is ready to devour the child as soon as he is born. This happened when Herod the Great, who was a Roman vassal, tried to kill the newborn King of the Jews." The boy child is clearly Jesus, who will rule the world with an iron rod.

Satan tried to kill Jesus when he was a child but failed. He did not give up, even though It says in Matthew 4:1 that "Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" before he started his mission. At this point, Satan tried to get Jesus to break God's law by worshiping him instead of God. Jesus was told that if he would serve him, the devil would give him "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory" (verse . But Jesus didn't do that.

Satan was there again when Jesus' work was done, and it was time for Him to die to pay for everything people had done wrong. He "put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him" in this case (John 13:2). Even though Satan clearly had something to do with Jesus' death on the cross, this was part of God's plan to save the world.

As it said in Genesis 3:15, there would always be "enmity" between the snake (Satan), the woman, God's people, and the "Seed" (Jesus), who would come from the woman. This text also said that Satan would only be able to "bruise" Christ's heel by influencing the man who would betray Jesus. On the other hand, it said that Jesus would "bruise" Satan's head by resisting his temptations and becoming qualified to take his place as king of the world.
That being said, why did Satan work so hard to kill Jesus? That's because God's plan would not have worked if there wasn't a perfect Savior to pay for people's mistakes. It would be impossible for people to be forgiven for their sins and live forever in God's family.

The dragon vs. God's people.

Satan has a long history of trying to kill Jesus and also of attacking God's people, especially members of God's Church, as illustrated by the woman in the last part of Revelation 12. Right from the start of the New Testament Church, there was a lot of persecution, but God let the woman run away "into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (verse 6).

This verse says that God protected the real church for 1,260 years (see Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 for proof that a day can be a year). The Church was safe from its enemies, like the Roman Empire and fake Christianity, during this time, which may have gone on into the Middle Ages.

Then it says that "war broke out in heaven" between Michael and his angels and Satan and his angels. John had a vision in which he saw Satan and his forces being "cast to the earth" because of the war. As a result, there was no longer a place for them in heaven. This fight is not the same as Satan's first rebellion, which is talked about in verse 4 and took place a long time before Christ was born.

After describing the setting for the fight in verses 7–9, a loud voice from heaven tells us what it all means (verses 10–12). "The kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have [or will soon] come" (verse 10). This battle shows that. Prior to this happening, Satan could get close to God and charge His people (Job 1:6-7; 2:1–2). Now he and his angels can't get to this place and are thrown to the ground.

Satan the dragon is now filled with "great wrath" because he knows he only has a short time left before Christ comes back to set up the Kingdom of God on earth (Revelation 12:12). His anger then turns toward God's people, whom he says are like the woman in the apocalypse who gave birth to the male child (verse 13).

But God will not let Satan destroy His people. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said that the "gates of Hades" (the grave) would not be able to stop it. The woman is "given two wings of a great eagle" to protect His people. This means she is taken safely to "her place," where she will be safe from the snake for "a time, and times, and half a time," which is about three and a half years (Revelation 12:14).

As Satan tries to get to the woman, "water will flow out of his mouth like a flood," but he will fail (verses 15–16). As seen in Isaiah 59:19 and Jeremiah 46:7-8, the word "flood" here most likely refers to forces.

The devil then goes to "make war with the rest of her children, who keep God's rules and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17). This passage tells us that during the end times before Christ comes back, some members of God's true church will be safe from Satan's anger, but others will not. People who aren't in a safe place will have to show their loyalty to God the Father and Christ while being persecuted very hard by Satan.

You vs the dragon

You may not be awake to it, but Satan also hates you and will do everything he can to stop you from loving and following God. He's mad at more than just Jesus and the church. What makes him mad at you? He seems to be upset because he knows that God made people with the ability to be better than he was (Hebrews 2:6–.

It is Satan's job to fight those who want to love and follow their Father in heaven because his thoughts are so sick, twisted, and not logical. Peter warned God's people, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your enemy, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat" (1 Peter 5:.

In his letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul said that Satan, whom he called "the god of this age," had hidden the real gospel so that people who didn't believe in it would not see it (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). Thankfully, this "veil is taken away in Christ" (2 Corinthians 3:14).
 
 Brethren, it is very dangerous for you if by now you've not given your life to Christ. You better do it now so that the dragon will not devour you. If you're still wallowing in sin and giving the dragon the backbone to invade your life, repent now! Tomorrow might be too late.

God bless you.

If you would like to give your life to Christ just say this short prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now, I know I'm a sinner, please forgive me, come into my life and take control of my life. I say bye bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus Christ, for in Your precious name I pray, amen.

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read:https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/revelation/revelation-12/

Obaseki mourns passing of former Edo Rep member, Ifaluyi Isibor

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has mourned the passing of former member representing Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ifaluyi Isibor, and father of the Edo State Honourable Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor.

In a statement, Obaseki described late Isibor as, “an accomplished geologist, a consummate politician, and a cerebral entrepreneur who achieved remarkable success in the various endeavours he pursued.”

He added: “A jovial, kind-hearted, and compassionate gentleman, he remained true to his commitment to excellence and dedication to societal development until his last days.

“As a lawmaker and Federal Commissioner, he was at the forefront of promoting the interests of his constituents and advocating for development, articulating their needs, and speaking truth to power when it mattered the most.

“He espoused integrity and hard work as life’s most cherished virtues and passed these noble ideals on to his children. His son, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, is continuing in the tradition of excellence that the family is known for.

“Late Isibor will be remembered for his candour, commitment to community development, and an unwavering drive to effect change in society.

“I offer my deepest condolences to his son and Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Hon. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, the Isibor family, friends, associates, and well-wishers, and pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

https://www.godwinobaseki.com/News/obaseki-mourns-passing-of-former-edo-rep-member-ifaluyi-isibor

Depression is a mental health condition that causes sadness and loss of interest. It can affect your thinking and also the way you feel. it can affect the quality of your daily life.

You can find yourself keeping to yourself all day long without communicating with people around you. You lock yourself up in the room and keep thinking. This is a symptom of depression.

Other common symptoms of depression include:

Feeling sad or having a depressed mood

Changes in appetite

Weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting

Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed

Thoughts of death or suicide

Loss of energy or increased fatigue

Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
[i][/i]

Causes

There are several things that can cause or trigger depression in a person. It is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

But I'm of a strong opinion that it is spiritual. We live in a world where there are spiritual operations whether you believe it or not.

A good example of someone who had depression was King Saul in the Bible. He disobeyed God several times and because of his disobedience, God sent an evil spirit to torment him.

Short Story

King Saul of Israel was a great warrior and leader, but he also suffered from deep depression. The Bible tells us that his depression began after he disobeyed God's command and spared the life of King Agag of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-33).

Saul's depression manifested itself in a number of ways. He would often become withdrawn and sullen, and he would sometimes fly into fits of rage. He also had trouble sleeping and concentrating. As a result of his depression, Saul's ability to lead Israel was severely impaired.

One day, Saul's servants suggested that he find a skilled musician to play for him in the hope that the music would soothe his troubled spirit. Saul agreed, and David, a young shepherd boy who was also a gifted musician, was brought to the king's court. Whenever David played for Saul, the king would feel better and his depression would lift.

However, Saul's depression eventually returned, and this time it was even worse than before. One day, while David was playing for Saul, the king threw his spear at David, trying to kill him (1 Samuel 18:10-11). David narrowly escaped, but the incident showed how far Saul's depression had taken him.

Saul's depression continued to worsen throughout his life. He became increasingly paranoid and distrustful, and he even turned against his own son, Jonathan, who was one of his most loyal supporters. In the end, Saul's depression led to his downfall. He was defeated by the Philistines and committed suicide (1 Samuel 31:1-4).

Saul's story is a tragic one, but it also teaches us an important lesson about depression. Depression is a real illness, it is an evil spirit that can affect anyone, even the most powerful and successful people. It is important to seek help if you are struggling with depression because there is no shame in it. With the right treatment, it is possible to overcome depression and live a full and happy life.

How to overcome depression

Here are some tips you can use if you are depressed and want to get out of depression.


Talk to people around you

One of the ways you can overcome depression is by talking to people around you. You can talk to your family and friends. When you share the burden in your heart with them, you might be surprised that they have passed through the same challenge in the past.

And they can easily advise you on what to do based on their past experience.

Meditate daily

Read and learn new things every day. When you do this, you will get your mind occupied with interesting topics. You will engage your mind and this will help divert your attention from whatever makes you depressed.

One of the ways I meditate daily is by reading and studying my Bible daily.

pray to God

Prayer simply means communication with God. You can share your deepest thoughts with God and ask him for help.

God is always willing to answer our prayers and help us when we are in need. So, it is a good thing to pray to God whenever you feel burdened in your mind.

You can be free with God and tell him all your problems. You will notice that as you pray to God, you feel a peace come upon your heart. That is a sign that God is with you and He is hearing you.

Exercise daily

Exercising your body makes your body active but aside from that it makes your mind sharper. If you want to be fit physically, emotionally and mentally, you will need to exercise your body daily.

When you exercise your body it also helps you divert your thoughts from worrying. It will help free up your mind and put you in a lighter mood.

See a professional

You can't have all the knowledge in life and you can't help yourself do everything all the time. We are meant to live interdependent lives, which means you will help other people and other people will help you.

It is not wrong to go see a professional when you feel depressed, it is the right thing to do and you should do it because it will help you.

You can see a doctor, a psychologist, a therapist or a counsellor.

Do activities you enjoy

Whenever you feel you are depressed, take time to do activities you enjoy and you will see that you will experience relief.

You will notice that people who take life too seriously and don't find time to enjoy are those who fall into depression. But people who live a balanced life, work hard and play hard are those who do not have depression.

So, you can see that it is important to set aside time to do activities you enjoy. The world won't end if you take time to relax, you will only become a better person when you do that.

Watch sound therapy to reduce depression and anxiety

Conclusion

Don't let anything get you bothered to the extent whereby, you will get depressed and weighed down.

You should work on the things that you have control over and leave the once you don't have control over.

You can't control everything in life, so don't try to be a control freak. Do the things you can do that are within your capacity and be optimistic about getting positive results.

Don't waste your worrying because when you worry, it changes nothing. Learn to think progressively, thinking of how you can solve problems in future. Think of how you can achieve your goals.

If you want to avoid or overcome depression, you need to censor the things you think about. The things you think about can make or destroy you.

Life is a choice, choose to live.

Source

Also read


How to Be More Productive with Your Time
How to Be Successful In Life At A Young Age

Please let's look at this story from a critical point of view. I'll explain these script statement by statement to prove a failed attempt to link characters in the good book.

Hebrews 7
1.for this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the son of God, remains a priest continually.

( Verse 3 rightly translated, simply means that the genealogy is not recorded, ie, the mother and father is not known or recorded and should not be confused for an immortal.
Just as some orphans do not know their parents.
Lol, you get the trick?)

11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
(Verse 11 simply means , the order of Melchizedek is perfect, hence, it is required since the order of Aaron isn't perfect...
Are you getting the gist?)

14 for it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.

#Language structure
*Who has come not according to the law of fleshly commandment/order of Aron)
* Therefore, according to the power of endless life simply means, according to the order of Melchizedek stop putting abstract ideas in your heads.

Now let's look at the Errors
1aWhen something is according to an order, it means semblance, but jesus' mother/genealogy was known and recorded.
So someone was trying so hard to reconcile characters.
b. What was the need of selling the incarnation story when the context of Hebrews 7 was purely reincarnation concept(a popular Igbo concept). The whole concept of Hebrews, renders the Virgin birth story a fallacy.

2.a. Remember Melchizedek is already called king of peace and king of righteousness.
b. If the order of Melchizedek is already perfect according to the context of the story, what was the need of presenting another priest according to the order of Melchizedek?
Why not pray in Melchizedek's name?
If Melchizedek was non existent, it would make more sense to move away from the former (order of Aaron) to the later (order of the spirit that overwhelmed Mary or something)

God Never Changes
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Our world is changing quickly. Everything, such as technology, medicine, and sales. even the way we pray. But Christians can find comfort in the fact that God never changes.

People frequently change as a result of their circumstances, but God repeatedly assures us in His word that he does not change.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He is the same God who established the world and walked the sea. The same God who gave Moses the Commandments, told Joshua to lead the Israelites around the walls of Jericho, raised Lazarus from the dead, healed the blind, made the lame walk, and sent his only son to die for us, is also the same God who answers your prayers every day and cares for those who come to Him.

These are some Bible verse that shows that God never changes.

Malachi 3:6 for I the Lord do not change, therefore you, O children of Jacob are not consumed.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the Lord, the king of Israel and the redeemer, the Lord of hosts; I am the first and I am the last; besides me, there is no god.

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

God never changes:

His purposes do not change.

His character does not change.

His truth does not change.

God is already all-powerful and without flaw. He has no plans to rise to a higher status because there is none.

God has not changed and will not change, so let’s find peace in that. We can base everything in our lives on what God says, who he is, and what he promises to do because he never changes.
Source: https://wordforlight.com/2023/10/10/god-never-changes/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msOYMd5sf7Q?si=waYjICSxH7qOlL9y


my boss deceived me into donating my kidney over empty $20m promise — Driver
By Evelyn Usman

A 42-year-old man, Nwoko Eric, yesterday, revealed how his former boss allegedly deceived him to donate one of his kidneys to his (the boss) younger brother, only to abandon him after the transplant was done.

Speaking with journalists yesterday, in Gbagada Estate, Phase 1, Lagos, the indigene of Abia State, who worked for the Managing Director of a company in Ikeja, explained that in 2018,his boss assigned him to be driving his ailing brother to the Saint Nicolas hospital, Lagos Island ,for dialysis while he (boss) was outside the country.

He said, “ When he returned to the country, he appreciated me for taking his brother to the hospital and informed me that his brother’s kidney had failed and that in the next one week , he might lose his life. He asked if I could donate one of my kidneys to him.

Thereafter, he told me to kneel down to pray for me and in the process, he rubbed a liquid substance on my head.

The Promise

“He told me that he would give me 20million dollars , buy a house for me in America and connect me to his rich friend in America where I would be driving big cars. I was excited.

“Thereafter, he called his brother to inform him that I had agreed to donate one of my kidneys to him. They took me to the hospital , I did many tests and the doctors said my kidney matched his brother’s.

“ I was admitted for three days and on the agreed day, the operation was done. They gave me some medicine . But since 2018 till date, I have not been receiving treatment.

Disagreement

“ A week after my boss rented an apartment for me, he directed me to resume work in the office, and that I would be paid N70,000 a month . He warned that anytime I failed to come to work over health issues , he would deduct N30,000 from my salary. Even when I complained that I was weak, he would shout at me , saying I could survive with one kidney.

“When I asked Mr Steve to give me the money and other promises he made before the donation, he kept delaying until I told my mother about what happened. All I want is for him to keep the promise he made before the surgery was done, so that I can survive with the remaining kidney I have . His brother is very healthy now, while I am dying . I was hungry and from a poor family. I thought giving one of my kidneys in exchange for compensation would change my life and my family’s.

Mother laments

His mother, Mrs Gloria Nwoko , said she had been trying to reach her son for some time without luck, unknown to her that he had donated his kidney.

She said, “ I have been wondering why he had not been picking my calls until October 13, 2023, when he called and told me what happened. We were living together until he suddenly relocated to Mowe, Ogun State.


“ At the moment, my son cannot walk . He needs medical help. He has lost so much weight . I am only requesting that Mr Steve should help my son survive like his brother. Yes , we are poor, but I believe the AIG will help us get justice”, she said.

Speaking also, Counsel to the victim, Tony Dania, revealed that when the victim was taken to Saint Nicholas Hospital , his boss’s younger sister whose identity he gave simply as Deborah, acted as the victim’s wife.

He said , “ after the operation carried out by one Dr Gbagboye, on December 22, 2018, his boss, Steve ,rented an apartment for him and asked him to stay away from the family.
“A good Samaritan took them to Zone 2 Police COmmand , where some policemen were detailed to arrest his boss.

“We want the Nigeria Police to see this as a test case and do its best. Organ sale is illegal and criminal. The person giving should give consent and there are procedures. Deborah is not the wife of the victim and she signed as one. This is also a case of forgery. A donor’s consent is needed for any surgery.

“In this case, Eric signed a document in an office , he did not read what he signed at Mr Steve’s office and in the hospital. His boss only told him to just say yes, so he did not ask a question. If the consent was obtained by deceit, then the consent cannot hold”, he maintained.

Police arrest victim’s boss

As of time of writing this report, owner of De-Akasten Global Limited, Ikeja, was still in Police custody at the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.

When contacted, spokesperson for the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, SP Hauwa Idris-Adamu , stated that Eric’s boss was at that moment being interrogated .

She said, “ He is being interrogated as we speak. I will get back to you after the interrogation.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/10/my-boss-deceived-me-into-donating-my-kidney-over-empty-20m-promise-driver/

A 42-year-old man, Nwoko Eric, yesterday, revealed how his former boss allegedly deceived him to donate one of his kidneys to his (the boss) younger brother, only to abandon him after the transplant was done.

Speaking with journalists yesterday, in Gbagada Estate, Phase 1, Lagos, the indigene of Abia State, who worked for the Managing Director of a company in Ikeja, explained that in 2018, his boss assigned him to be driving his ailing brother to the Saint Nicolas hospital, Lagos Island, for dialysis while he (boss) was outside the country.

He said, "When he returned to the country, he appreciated me for taking his brother to the hospital and informed me that his brother’s kidney had failed and that in the next one week, he might lose his life. He asked if I could donate one of my kidneys to him.

Thereafter, he told me to kneel down to pray for me and in the process, he rubbed a liquid substance on my head.

The Promise

“He told me that he would give me 20million dollars , buy a house for me in America and connect me to his rich friend in America where I would be driving big cars. I was excited.

“Thereafter, he called his brother to inform him that I had agreed to donate one of my kidneys to him. They took me to the hospital , I did many tests and the doctors said my kidney matched his brother’s.

“I was admitted for three days and on the agreed day, the operation was done. They gave me some medicine. But since 2018 till date, I have not been receiving treatment.

Disagreement

“A week after my boss rented an apartment for me, he directed me to resume work in the office, and that I would be paid N70,000 a month. He warned that anytime I failed to come to work over health issues , he would deduct N30,000 from my salary. Even when I complained that I was weak, he would shout at me, saying I could survive with one kidney.

“When I asked Mr Steve to give me the money and other promises he made before the donation, he kept delaying until I told my mother about what happened. All I want is for him to keep the promise he made before the surgery was done, so that I can survive with the remaining kidney I have . His brother is very healthy now, while I am dying . I was hungry and from a poor family. I thought giving one of my kidneys in exchange for compensation would change my life and my family’s.

Mother laments

His mother, Mrs Gloria Nwoko, said she had been trying to reach her son for some time without luck, unknown to her that he had donated his kidney.

She said, “I have been wondering why he had not been picking my calls until October 13, 2023, when he called and told me what happened. We were living together until he suddenly relocated to Mowe, Ogun State.

“ At the moment, my son cannot walk . He needs medical help. He has lost so much weight . I am only requesting that Mr Steve should help my son survive like his brother. Yes , we are poor, but I believe the AIG will help us get justice”, she said.

Speaking also, Counsel to the victim, Tony Dania, revealed that when the victim was taken to Saint Nicholas Hospital , his boss’s younger sister whose identity he gave simply as Deborah, acted as the victim’s wife.

He said , “ after the operation carried out by one Dr Gbagboye, on December 22, 2018, his boss, Steve ,rented an apartment for him and asked him to stay away from the family.
“A good Samaritan took them to Zone 2 Police COmmand , where some policemen were detailed to arrest his boss.

“We want the Nigeria Police to see this as a test case and do its best. Organ sale is illegal and criminal. The person giving should give consent and there are procedures. Deborah is not the wife of the victim and she signed as one. This is also a case of forgery. A donor’s consent is needed for any surgery.

“In this case, Eric signed a document in an office , he did not read what he signed at Mr Steve’s office and in the hospital. His boss only told him to just say yes, so he did not ask a question. If the consent was obtained by deceit, then the consent cannot hold”, he maintained.

Police arrest victim’s boss

As of time of writing this report, owner of De-Akasten Global Limited, Ikeja, was still in Police custody at the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.

When contacted, spokesperson for the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, SP Hauwa Idris-Adamu , stated that Eric’s boss was at that moment being interrogated .

She said, “He is being interrogated as we speak. I will get back to you after the interrogation.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/10/my-boss-deceived-me-into-donating-my-kidney-over-empty-20m-promise-driver/amp/

my VISIT TO COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC AND THE AFTERMATH
This Book/Article talks about my past experience (visit to a beach in Cotonou, the events and aftermath)
On Wednesday, 18th of October, I received loan offers from some companies, I applied and was granted all, I thought of what to do with the money and I felt I explore since the loan was to be due in about a week, The following morning, I woke up very early, had my bath and set on my journey, with me was a staff of my exchange , my damaged Samsung and an itel phone(gift from my mom) and my MTN MiFI.

I took a bike to Ojuore, met two empty cars, they were set to go to Idi Iroko(I boarded it), discovered I didn’t have cash, so I highlighted and ask from my neighbor that sells food around and she directed me, I withdrew about #2900 since the fare was #2000, I entered the car, another man joined, after about 30 minutes, nobody joined, so I highlighted and asked a ticketer(Ahmed) if I could get a bike to Owode, and his replied that I could get a vehicle from Atan to Owode.

He stopped a bike for me, let’s call the Rider Mr Z, and the other man which was in the car with me opted to join the bike also, (let’s call the other man Mr X) we left for Atan(the fare was #500 per person), on getting to Atan, I figured out I didn’t need Nigeria sim(s) for my journey, so I asked if the rider could drop the itel phone and my MiFi for my neighbor , so she could drop it at home. He responded saying he doesn’t know the woman but will drop it off with the ticketer since he’s popular, I agreed and gave him, we highlighted and then joined a mini bus to Owode..
the fare was #250 per person.

The mini bus had 3 rows, two at the first row (Driver and Mr X) , some elderly women occupied the second row, I guess they’re traders, I sat with two other people in the third row. Some people highlighted before they got to Owode, but everyone had to highlight at Owode, Mr X and I opted for a bike again since our destination was the same(Idiroko). The rider rode for about 100m and Mr X who was charging his phone in the mini bus had forgotten his phone, he told the rider and they requested I wait for them while they went back in search of the mini bus.
After waiting for 10 minutes, and no sign of them, I walked back to Owode to get another bike, then I saw Mr X and he said he couldn’t find his phone, that he had to do something at Idiroko and that he’ll check back the following day, we joined another bike and left for Idiroko (the fare was #1000 per person). We arrived Idiroko, and I parted ways with Mr X, he was going to Idiroko, my destination was Benin Republic. There were several riders who called me if they could cross me

over, I scanned their faces and picked one, we went through the Nigerian Immigration, I met Mr A, he told me not to mind anyone and directed me to the stamping room.
I got my Passport Stamped, returned to Mr A, thanked him, he didn’t request for anything, I tipped him #500, he was happy and asked how long I’ll be staying and I answered 2 days, and he replied, call me on your way back to Nigeria. I was allowed to exit the Nigeria Border after stating my purpose and duration of travel to the officers, the rider helped with my bag, and when I got to the other side(IGOLO) , the entry to Benin Republic, I was to stamp my passport, and then because it was a new passport, they demanded 5000, I didn’t have it, the phone I had was off, I had to charge it somewhere, then I made a call to my mom telling her to borrow me some money with the intention of refunding it after my trip.
She called my uncle and he sent me #5000 twice, that’s #10,000 .

Went back to the Nigeria Immigration and I informed Me A, then he went back with me to the Benin Border, and pleaded, the officer in charge refused and after several pleading, I paid #3000 , my phone went off again, I converted the balance(having paid the rider who led me) to CFA, I bought an MTN sim at a Momo agent, I purchased airtime and data bundle, then boarded a bus to Cotonou, the journey was tiring as it was very sunny, I would sleep and wake up at intervals and I had already drank two small sized bottle of STRYKER(an alcoholic which I bought in Nigeria), we got to a park, the driver bought a ticket and proceeded on the journey, then we finally arrived at the last stop(park) I highlighted.


I was thirsty found some kids, told them I wanted sachet water, they didn’t understand English, so I had to demonstrate (sign language) and they understood, they made fun of me for not understanding their language (French) and I danced to their joke, and everyone got laughing, I bought another sachet water, and downed it in few seconds, I danced again and they laughed, Finally, I was set to leave,stopped a bike, and told him to take me to the beach since I didn’t make reservations for an hotel, he didn’t know the beach and stopped occasionally to ask some people, we got to an hotel, and a guy came out and he gave us the right directions, we got to the beach, found several people and different activities, I looked around for where I could settle, I stumbled upon Kings Beach, love it because it was a bit quiet.

I needed a quiet place, greeted everyone, some understood English, others didn’t, dropped my bag, brought out my book to write(I love to write) whatever I experienced. I bought a can of Heineken, was sipping it while I was observing the ocean and the surroundings, Immediately I started writing about what my Foundation could do to improve the beach house without requesting demanding anything in return, I ordered for another Heineken and sipped it, I took off my cloth(I was wearing my Brand cloth[ zaheer exchange] ) I dropped my bag there, told the guy I was coming and I approached the Ocean, and I would go further whenever the ocean went back and would run out when it came forth(make Ocean

no go carry me go where I no know).
I saw others fishing, I approached a fisherman, and asked told him I’m Nigerian and asked if it was okay to take pictures of him or videos, he said pictures were fine, he didn’t want Videos, I respected his decision (for privacy) and we continued our conversation, we talked about how much he makes from fishing, his children (their tuition fees) , his tribe.. I loved him because he was positive and he wouldn’t complain even if he didn’t catch any fish, he said only God gives, he said sometimes with little effort you could get the best result , and other times with the best kit you might not achieve a suitable result. I loved those words.

We became friends automatically, and he asked where I stay, I told him, I was staying at the beach and that I plan to travel to Togo, Ivory Coast or other countries depending on my financial status. I requested his phone number, and he said he didn’t have an Android phone for WhatsApp, I promised to get him one whenever I came to Benin Republic, and he asked how soon, I replied I didn’t know, but I would get him a phone whenever I came to Benin, he told me he visits the beach in the morning, afternoon and in the evening.. he told me how to spot fishes whenever they ocean brought it close the bank, and how to take them.. we parted ways, I went back to Kings beach relaxed, had another drink..

I was short on cash, called my friends for help, and they sent whatever they had, and I converted it CFA at the rate of 1CFA to 1.5NGN at a boutique outside the beach. I went back and went to another silent place by the ocean bank to pray and make wishes, I returned to get my book, wrote some things, I always write randomly(whenever I wanted) , it was getting late, looked around for food, bought Jollof rice and about 6 pieces of meat for over 2000 CFA, I returned to Kings beach(where my bag was). I brought out my charger, plugged my phone and was surfing the internet for Random Projects I could work on(I’m a Programmer, Software Developer). Found none, so I came up with a plan to create an erc20 token for my foundation , so it would be easier to help more people(from my funds and donations received by partners/investors).

The following day, I went to the ocean bank to pray and make wishes, I met the fisherman and we continued talking and I told him I woke up very early and saw a fisherman catch many fishes at a spot, I took him to the spot, and he caught few fishes(about 5), he wasn’t too happy, but I encouraged him, we walked for sometime and he tried fishing, unfortunately, he didn’t get any . He told me he’ll be back in the afternoon and ask where he would find me, I told him I would be at Kings beach. In the Afternoon, I was charging my phone, then I unplugged it to play snooker in the same vicinity, after playing snooker for sometime, I decided to return to where I was charging my phone, I unplugged my phone and a lady(frequent visitor) asked if she could use my charger, and I affirmed Yes, my bag was beside the socket where I plugged my phone..
Some minutes later , the fisherman came to call me at Kings beach, he was in a

hurry, but I was having a conversation with the bartender(I wanted to promote his business by buying drinks worth 10k CFA for the top 3 people that spent 10000CFA or bought two bucket of drinks. He told me I could be the MC on the D-Day(I refused and told him, I didn’t want publicity or be seen because I had didn’t want anything in return). I had given the bartender my damaged Samsung(s9), I told him it’s damaged and asked if he likes it, he affirmed and said he would fix it, I told him it might be expensive to fix, he said he’ll fix it and was happy. I gave the bartender’s boy the cloth I wore the previous day(my brand’s cloth) and asked him if he didn’t mind that I had worn it, and that he could wash it and he appreciated.


I left with the Fisherman, and this time we went very far, we walked for about 1 Kilometer, and got to a spot that was very rocky, he said that was his preferred spot to fish in the afternoon, we joked together and in not less than 5 minutes, he screamed “hey, you see fish?” Told him no, then he pointed in a direction and I saw it, he casted his net and caught some fish(about 20), he was happy this time after about an hour, I became tired and told him I was leaving, he said he I could go and that he would stop by on his way home.


I got back to Kings beach, I sat somewhere, requested for Heineken, and the lady who was using my charger earlier raised an alarm, saying someone has taken her phone, I was surprised because it wasn’t up to 10 minutes which I had returned, my bag was there when I left with the fisherman earlier, my bag was searched too, because I didn’t meet it the way I left it(I searched and discovered my old passport had been taken), and there was only one footprint(that of the bartender) close to the place(where my bag was and where the lady was charging her phone), I was confident because I didn’t take the phone, the lady then started saying who could have taken her phone that a strange face the previous day and the following day her phone was missing.


I asked if the phone was a Samsung and if she had password, because i know you couldn’t turn off a Samsung phone without knowing the password, the bartender tried to call her phone and it was switched off, I suspected foul play, it was becoming tense, and they started pointing fingers at me, to solve the issue, I asked how much the phone was, and then someone who was sitting among us,said why should I ask for the price since I wasn’t the one that stole it, and I explained that it was becoming noisy and that they were accusing me already, the lady said she didn’t want a new phone started saying all sorts, they were all speaking in French and i could barely understand.
About 30 minutes later, a man(Mr B) approached us, asked what happened, he spoke Yoruba, finally I was happy someone who would understand my language, but then , he said he recognized my face and asked if I knew him, I said no, he asked where I live and i answered Nigeria, and he concluded I took the phone without hearing my side of the story, he called on some men, the men were 5 now(Mr B included), they moved me to a location, now, we were about 10(the

lady, and some other people that were at the beach together). They asked everyone questions and made all of them leave except the lady(owner of the supposed stolen phone) and I.


A man(I think the group leader) asked the lady how much the phone was, she answered 90k, and the man said “start calling your people you have 30 minutes to raise the money”, 30 minutes passed and I couldn’t raise it yet, and my phone went off, I had to plug it to keep calling people, I reached out to an uncle and he said I shouldn’t reply any questions I didn’t understand, it was getting late, and they said they were in a hurry, they asked me to drop my phone and return the following morning to continue, I walked to the beach with my bag(a pink bag which I had collected from my mom some weeks ago).
I was sad and felt betrayed that the same people I had good intentions for probably had set me up, I slept on the beach sand, it was around 8, I brought out my book to start writing, and I fell asleep, I woke up few minutes to 12 and I felt insecure because if they could do that to me, then they could do something worse.

I walked to the bus stop with no cash, stopped a bike, told him to take me to the garage where I could get a car back to IGOLO, I knew if I could reach IGOLO, I would find people that speak Yoruba/English and I could explain to them and call home. We got somewhere, Saw another bike(Mr C) and he asked where I was going, and spoke Yoruba that he could take me home, and we negotiated and told me I didn’t have any cash and that I’ll make calls from his phone to get him his money. He agreed and we drove to his house.


Before we got to his house, we met some Soldiers(and they asked him where he was taking me and whether he was trying to cross me illegally, he replied no and said I was his Brother) , they asked for ID , I presented them with my passport which had been stamped in and they asked for other other ID, I presented my Drivers License, and they joked about my surname, and they asked me to go, we got home, dropped my bag, and the Mr C took me somewhere, bought food and gave me anything I asked. God bless Mr C.

The following day, I told Mr C I had to leave early and asked if I could recover my sim which was in the phone I gave Mr Z to deliver to my neighbor, because he hadn’t given her yet, he called his friend(let’s call his friend Mr Y) and asked if he was around yet, we got to Mr Y shop and I explained I wanted to do a sim swap, he asked for my NIN and some numbers I call frequently, and took my video and asked me to say Yes. I did. We left there was a beach around(Seme beach) I went there with Mr C, took off my clothes, I joined some children that were swimming, and asked if they could teach me how to swim, one of the boy answered watch me, I watched him and practiced, I felt fulfilled. I told Mr C to take some photos of Me, I requested for bottle from a lady around, she gave me two, I filled them with the water from the ocean.
We left for Mr C house, there was an election, it was Saturday, a youth leader was

to be chosen. Mr C’s friend was a contestant (let’s call him Mr E). Mr E won the contest by a large margin he had close to 200 votes and the other(I can’t remember) I know he won be a large margin, and some youths all gathered under a tree where I was sitting close to Mr Z house, I needed to go home to see my son(fractured his elbow early this month[October]) , called a friend (Jarius Bakes) for help, she lent me #10,000 promised to pay her whenever I got to Nigeria


Mr C was very helpful, but the sim swap which Mr Y said he did hadn’t been done, I don’t know if he only took my information, I got home, Mr C helped, took me to IGOLO with his bike and I stamped out, at the Benin border, the officer couldn’t validate my passport at first, said it was expired, then later it worked somehow, I don’t know if there was a glitch or something, I got to Nigeria Immigration, asked of Mr A, found him, then I stamped out and headed home. The following day(Sunday) I called MTN to ask about my sim swap status, and they said no sim swap has been initiated, then another suspicion arose, I wonder why there was no sim swap request on the Sim.


All thanks to God, I was welcomed home by my people like the prodigal son, the following day, I started receiving calls from the companies which had given me the loan, and I tried to explain the incident, they didn’t answer and sent a broadcast message with my picture saying I’m a fraudster... I just went for another sim swap in Nigeria today 24th of October, I’ll be heading to the Police to file a complaint and also to the court to get affidavit to avoid stories that touch in the future

Would I love to visit Benin Republic again? Yes, but this time , I wouldn’t trust anyone, but my recent experience doesn’t stop me from helping anyone in the future
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author is a Writer, a Mathematician, a philanthropist,
a Developer
(first certificate from New Horizon[Java Tech -December 2014] )
an investor(forex and cryptocurrency) a punter (made several millions from sports betting), I have a GitHub repository (you can find several projects)
I also have a foundation and I own an exchange

Scripture Text: Psalm 1: 1-6

We can learn a few things from the our Scripture text today on the qualities of a righteous man, and also of the wicked.

Psalm 1 talks about two kinds of people: the righteous man and the wicked. The first, who is talked about in lines 1–3, is a good man. He is someone who does what is right, and follows moral or divine law. The second type is a wicked man, who is someone who doesn't follow the divine law.

We can learn ten (10) things about the good man from verses1–3.

1. He is happy. It means to be happy or comfortable in this passage, where the word "blessed" is used.

2. He does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. In other words, he is picky about who he mingles with or asks for help.

3. He does not stand in the path of sinners. He watches out for where he hangs out. This guy most likely won't be at the strip club or the gambling.

4. He doesn't sit with scoffers. What does a scoffer do? Someone who shows disdain, ridicule, or disrespect. It sounds like someone none of us would want to have at our dinner table, but some of us not only do have them there, we are them! This man doesn't hang out with these kinds of people.

5. The law of the Lord makes him happy. What makes you happy? Your partner, your kids, your job, your pets, or your chocolate? That doesn't say that this man liked any of those things. He loves reading God's word.

6. He thinks about God's rule all day and all night. It means to think about something for a long time, like a cow chewing its cud. It keeps coming back to mind, day and night. Not sure about you, but I feel good when I think about God's word once a day.

7. He's like a tree that is firmly placed by water streams. We can tell that this man is stable and cared for from this one phrase. There is always a stream of water nearby for him to swim in, rest by, and drink from. I think this water could be like the Holy Spirit. I also love that the word "firmly" is used to describe how this tree is put in place. It's not likely that this tree will fall over in the next storm.

8. He bears fruit in its season. God can use this man. He lets God use him in any way He wants to bring fruit into his life. When the time is right, you can pick this fruit. Because he put his faith and joy in God's law, this fruit came to him.

9. His fruit and leaves will not wither. That doesn't mean this man won't get old. This means that he will always be useful to God's kingdom as long as he loves God's law. He will have bad days, but they will only last a short time. In the end, they will bring him closer to God.

10. He prospers. When we talk about getting rich, it's clever to be smart. Being prosperous doesn't always mean making money. This man might do well as a friend, at work, in his marriage, or in other parts of his family life. He may also find that his relationship with the Savior is the only thing that makes him happy.

Life can be hard sometimes nevertheless this man knows very well that loving God and His rule is what will make him happy. This joy not only makes him happy, but it also ties him deeply to the Lord Jesus Christ, the source of life.

However, by strength shall no man prevail. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to be righteous, else we fail trying out our own way. To get help from the Holy Spirit, we need to be a friend of God. And anyone who wants to befriend God must love His son, Jesus Christ. It's only when you accept Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Saviour and surrender your all to Him can you show your genuine love to God. You need to be born again! Repent today and receive the portion of the righteous man.

God bless you.

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:

Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil, I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus, in Jesus precious name I pray, amen!

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Also read https://stylingrannymama.com/faithblog/tag/Characteristics+of+the+righteous+man

John 1:1–2 tells us that the “Word” was “with the GOD” in the beginning, but it does not say that the Word was “the GOD.” (Why not re-examine a Greek-English Interlinear Translation of John:1: vss 1–2+18.

Although the Bible teaches that there are many Gods (1 Corinthians 8:5–6) … the Bible teaches that there is only one true Almighty God Jehovah and he is the Creator and “GOD of Gods” … (Genesis 17:1 and Deuteronomy 10:17, Joshua 22:22) so, this means that he is greater than lesser “gods.” Compare Psalm 136:2; Daniel 2:47 and 11:36; Psalm 82:1-7 and 95:3. Other spirit creatures, the angels, are called “gods” in the Hebrew language in Psalm 8:4-6, but often translated into English as “angels" (KJV) or as “heavenly beings” (NIV). Compare Hebrews 2 :5-9. These ‘angels’ are also referred to as “sons of God." See Job 1:6; 2:1 and 38:7. Jesus is > a son of God, in fact, he is the uniquely-begotten son of God, as Firstborn in the beginning. But, his heavenly Father never had a beginning, because He has always existed in all past eternity. Psalm 90:2, & 93:2.

John 1:1-2 says that the Word was ‘with God’ …in the beginning. See also John 1:18. Can you explain this verse 18 with parts A & B? Well, Try part B first and then see what happens when you explain part A. Try it both ways.

(The Bible's original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek Scriptures did not have capital letters and small letters... Only one size. Written manuscripts later had upper and lower case letters, and were used since the invention of the printing press about 1500 A.D. So, religious leaders, monks, priests, scribes and theologians and Bible editors made the choices for either ‘God’ or ‘god.’)

Do you have your Bible handy? Do you have access to a Greek-English “New Testament" either as an interlinear version or a parallel-column edition? You can go online. Examine John 1:1-2. Why aren't the 2 words for “God" spelled the same in Greek? How come the Greek text indicates that “the Word was with the God" …but it does NOT say that “the Word was the God.”.

Who has looked up the texts at John 1:18 and John 17:1-6 and 20 :17. and 1 John 4:12? …and is now ready to comment with a correct remark.?

Who did Jesus pray to? Compare Luke 23:34 and vs 46, and Matthew 27:46.

Jesus has brothers, Hebrews 2:11-17. But, does Almighty God have brothers.? Jesus said we should pray to ‘our Father in heaven,’ Matt. 6:9.

Does the Father pray to anyone? …Um, Jesus prayed to someone higher than himself. If Jesus was God, would he pray to anyone

Who can explain the difference between “Almighty God" the Father (Genesis 17:1) and “Mighty God the son” (Isaiah 9:6)

Who knows the definition of the term “firstborn” and the co-relation between Colossians 1:15-19 and Hebrews 1:1–6.?? Was Almighty God ever “born.?” The words “firstborn son” may indicate that other “sons” came later. See Job chapter 1: vs 6; and 38: vss 4–7.

What about 1 Timothy 2:5-6 that says that Jesus is “the Mediator between God and mankind.”? So , who is above and who is in the middle?+

Why do many Bible versions, including yours, insert the expression “a god” at Acts 28:6 and Exodus 7:1.? (The original languages do not have the expression “a god” in these texts.)

Is any “son" the same age as his “father.” (so, which one existed first.? …and who came later? Is the Father really the ‘twin-brother’ to Jesus as co-equal?) The word ‘twinity' is not in any Bible verse.

How come the word “trinity" (3 in 1) is not in any Bible manuscript-texts (Greek or Latin) for the past 2,000 years or ever before

Since God's personal name has been removed more than 6,000 times in modern Bibles, people have re-focused their attention to another name, Jesus, used about 900 times in the Christian Scriptures. So people have been misled to misunderstand a famous name (Jesus) “under heaven" in Acts 4:12, but far above, … way up in heaven… there is a greater Name: JEHOVAH the Most High. See Psalm 83:18 (KJV).

So, can you compare your other Bible with the King James Version at Genesis 22:14, Exodus 17:15, Judges 6:24, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2-5 and Isaiah 26:4.. So, Whose Name is being honored in these few references? Most other Bible versions have removed God's Divine Name, but they have kept the Devil's name in their revised Bibles.!

Finally, the Bible itself makes it clear that Almighty God created a son in his image who is identified as a “mighty God" in Isaiah 9:6. When the son was born on earth as a human he was lower than the angels, Hebrews 2:9. Then he was given a different name …”Jesus" which means in Hebrew “Jehovah is salvation.” These 2 persons are united in purpose “as one" but, they are not the same person. John 17:3–6. Jesus prayed that his apostles and future disciples would all become “one" with the Father in the sense of unity, … in agreement. --John 17:11, 20–23.

( P.S.) I hope these verses help you to understand more of what is in the Holy Bible. If… if… you look up all the verses cited above, it with take about 37 minutes, but it is well worth it. THANK YOU for YOUR SPIRITUAL CURIOSITY.!)

Written by Glenn Brotherton
~Quoted from Quora~

PS: Found this and thought more people need to hear it too

PS: You can't argue anything reasonable unless you've read and understood the passages of the cited Bible portions. Don't be a Tom.
Any reasonable comments please feel free.

Seun Kuti, the youngest son of late Afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has revealed that over the years, the media has deliberately misrepresented his personality just the same way his late father’s image was misconstrued.

The controversial singer made the revelation, among other things, during a chat with Chude Jideonwo, on his podcast programme, #WithChude.

According to the leader of the Egypt 80 musical band, contrary to a widespread conclusion that he started smoking at a tender age, he did not do so until he was 21 years old.

He noted that the media also projected his father’s image in a bad light during his lifetime, stressing that this made the general public come to the wrong conclusion that his father wore underpants all the time while performing on stage.


Setting the records straight, the singer said, “I think it’s deliberate on the part of the media to project me out. It’s the same way they projected my dad, and people thought he wore pants all the time to perform. They kept showing him at one rehearsal at home, where he wore pants. But that was part of a documentary. People thought that was the truth, and they felt Fela was crazy”

“for example, I didn’t start smoking until I was 21 years old. I was in Liverpool, and that was when I knew that peer pressure is the biggest influence in the life of a growing human being.”

While revealing how he finally started smoking at the age of 21, during his 20 years of living in the Kalakuta Republic, he advised parents to pay attention to their children and their friends, noting that it would be the best gift a parent can give to their children.

He stated, “Watch your child’s friends, that’s the best gift you can give them. for the 20 years that I lived in Kalakuta Republic, everyone was smoking around me, and I never smoked. After just one year of living with my flatmate, Alex, who was smoking all the time and was my agemate, he initiated me.”

Speaking further, he lamented how the media wrote articles about him taking drugs he never took.


“At that time, they had started writing articles about how I was taking all kinds of drugs. I think it’s a way they project people in certain ways that society disregards. It’s a kind of alienation tactic”, he said.

Sharing his experience on the loss of his late parents, Seun revealed that he is yet to come to terms with the loss of his mom unlike that of his dad. According to him, the reason is that when his dad died, he had time to grieve but never had time to grieve his mom’s loss because he was on a music tour.

He added that to date, he is yet to have closure on his mom’s death like he has achieved for his dad’s.

“I grieved for my dad because he was the closest person to me, and he was the first person I know that died, so for me, it was a really impactful experience losing my dad; it was like losing my best friend, my dad, and a family member, all in one. I really grieved for a long time. I grieved my dad.

“The one I didn’t grieve for was my mom. I couldn’t. I had a tour. There was no time to break down. If I’m going to share some of my mental issues on this show, it’s like I think I’m grieving my mom in stages; kind of, I’ve not really had time to really delve into that, but the bad part is past, and I still grieve her from time to time. I don’t have complete closure for my mom like I do for my dad”, he revealed.

Recounting his experience in detention, after his assault encounter with a policeman, he said, “Well, my case is in court, so I will not really delve deep into that issue, but I will say this, I don’t believe that protecting my family is a crime. An 8-second video doesn’t explain an incident that happened for about 15 minutes.

He went further to debunk rumours gone viral that he became a pastor while he was in detention.

“What I learned is that anybody could be in that cell. From what I saw in that place, I knew anybody could be in that cell.” Responding to the story peddled that he prayed in the cell, he said, “I didn’t become a GO in the cell. I don’t pray. I meditate a lot with my ancestors and share my plans and ambitions. It’s just the continual onslaught of the Nigerian media against me that painted it as though I was praying”, he submitted.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/media-deliberately-tarnished-my-image-just-like-my-dad-seun-kuti/%3famp

Psalm 50:14-15 says that when you pay your vows, you can call on God in the day of trouble, and He will answer. In other words, if you make a vow and you fail to redeem it, do not be surprised if you call on God in the day of trouble and He does not answer you. Today, many Christians just make vows casually. Many a time, even when making the vow, they have no intention of paying it. Don’t postpone the payment of your vow when you can do it now. God sees those who do that as fools.

A vow is like a deal. When you make a deal with someone and you don’t fulfil your part of it, it is like stealing from that person. It is foolish to try to steal from God because what you are keeping away was provided by Him in the first place. If you made a deal with God, fulfil your part speedily. Worse still, some people make vows because they want the Pastor to pray for them at that moment, without any intention to fulfil it. How can you lie to God to receive blessings from Him? Is that not the height of foolishness?

Once you make a vow to God and the devil sees that you want to pay that vow, he will start telling you to defer it to later, saying that you don’t have enough yet or that God understands. Don’t listen to his lies so that God doesn’t see you as a fool.

One interesting thing about fulfilling a vow made to God is that the One you made it to has the ability to give you far more than you have promised to give Him. If you fulfil your vow, He would pour His blessings on you, but if you refuse to, He would also withhold what He would have given you in return. Hannah made a vow to God that she would give Him her son if He would bless her with one. This was after many painful years of waiting, and she didn’t know if she would ever have another child again. Imagine her holding her child in her hands at last and then giving the child over to God. Going back home without her child must have been a great sacrifice. She did it because that was her vow, and God gave her five more children in return (1 Samuel 2:21). Job 22:27-29 says it is those who pay their vows that can decree a thing, and it is established. It is foolishness not to pay your vows.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

I dreamt last night about the rapture.I think I was on my way to church when the rapture happened. It was sudden and no one expected it by the look of things.I saw my Pastor wife,Deputy Pastor and his wife all left behind.They looked confused as if God deliberately left them and were disappointed because they thought they served God. One particular woman,a young and not too vocal member of the church (Sister Toyin) made it.I was shocked and surprised. I saw her in church today and my respect for her has increased.I don’t know why God showed me this.But One Thing I know is this,Let’s prepare and wash our clothes daily for the appearance of the son of God.Let’s pray for The help of the Holy Spirit and the Grace of God to make heaven.

God has a good plan for you

Sun, 22 Oct 2023

‘I know the plans I have for you ....’ Jeremiah 29:11

Read this Scripture: ‘“for I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen … I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes”’ (Jeremiah 29:11-12, 14 NLT). The Israelites went through a long period of suffering because of their sins – seventy years of captivity. But God said, ‘I still have a plan for you.’ Have you sinned and gone through a season of correction and now you’re wondering if God has turned His back on you? God may correct you, but He will never reject you! Two chapters later, God says to the same group of people, ‘I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. I will rebuild you …’ (Jeremiah 31:3-4 NLT). Note the word ‘rebuild’. Your life may have fallen apart, but God can rebuild it. The Bible’s theme is restoration. King David committed adultery and murder, but when he repented, God fully restored him. And the Bible says, ‘After David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors …’ (Acts 13:36 NLT). How would you like to have those words on your gravestone? You can! The Prodigal son’s older brother was angry with their father because he forgave and restored his younger brother. But his father restored him anyway. You cannot undo the fact of your past sins, but God can heal you from the effects of them. Just come to Him today; take that first step!

Copied from Quora, very deep and worth reading for every natured mind.

my son got sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is 20 years old. I don’t want him to feel depressed and give up. Is there anything I can do for him while he is in prison?
'
Response>>

"""I've been out a year after doing 22 years off a 15-to-Life sentence in the California Dept. of Corrections, and I will say to you that you have NO IDEA what your son will HAVE TO deal with in there, depression, though prevalent, being low on the list. There are no pretty words to alleviate your worries, Ma'am, because prison in America is in no way constructed to be a relief of any kind. Your son will face hardships and challenges and experience loneliness that is quite literally unspeakable, especially in such an environment. And he will either grow and gain knowledge and maturity, and physical as well as inner strengths, and be of so intimate an understanding of the harshnesses of Life that he chooses for himself a greater path than the one he's known…..or not. What you can do for him, Mom, that would be a godsend through the hardships and conducive to his growth and gaining,, is to accept them as the reality they are, and encourage him to be not just 'strong', but to be steel. To be iron. Say to him how you have always known that you gave birth to a lion. A leader. Let him know that there is wisdom to be gained from every situation he may be confronted with, and to analyze EVERYTHING. Not with fear, but for what he can learn from it. You tell your son, Ma'am, that YOU are a warrior, and that YOUR blood is HIS blood, so in THAT way, you are always with him. However unlike you these words may be, it is TRULY the only way your hopes and wishes will have as deep down an impact as they must at this point in his life. Pretty words and cliches phrases of love and care, though meant with all your heart, PALE against the blinding light of a flashbang grenade exploding, guntower block-gun firing, smoke-filled, alarm blaring, prisoner rioting prison yard, Ma'am. It will do his courage and Will to survive immeasurable good if he can draw from YOU a Warrior Mother’s strength and bravery and love, because, please understand, he resides now, and for a generation to come, in a place that can, does, and will become a battlefield, within the span of a second. And it takes a certain level of mental and physical strength to maintain such a constant awareness. To always be 'on your toes’. And you, Mom, must be the steel that sharpens that steel in him. I wish I could apologize to you for the picture I painted of your son's life, Mom, but you can't apologize for the truth, however harsh. It would mean to live a lie. And sugarcoated lies are not what you and your son need going forward. Be brave, Mom. As brave as you need him to be. BRAVER than you need him to be. The road is long and rougher than you can imagine, Mom. I pray the Lord's Intervention, but minus that, I wish you, for your son, a Warrior Mother's heart. This is the best thing you can do for him, Mom. The best thing to BE for him. May God bless you all.🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏"""


https://www.quora.com/my-son-got-sentenced-to-15-years-in-prison-He-is-20-years-old-I-don-t-want-him-to-feel-depressed-and-give-up-Is-there-anything-I-can-do-for-him-while-he-is-in-prison

Press Statement from the Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives

October 20, 2023

Speaker Abbas sad over demise of Nigeria's Deputy Ambassador to Morocco, Mansur Bamalli

...as Speaker, Gov. Sani, thousands attend late Ambassador's funeral in Zaria

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D has expressed grief over the death of the Nigerian Deputy Ambassador to Morocco, Amb. Mansur Nuhu Bamalli.

The late Amb. Mansur Nuhu Bamalli, who held the traditional title of the Magajin Garin Zazzau, passed away on Friday morning after a brief illness. He was the younger brother to the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as well as a cousin to the Speaker.

In a statement of condolence by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker said he was "deeply saddened" by the news of the demise of the late Magajin Garin Zazzau.

Speaker Abbas, who holds the traditional title of Iyan Zazzau, led some members of the House to attend the funeral prayers held at the Emir's Palace in Zaria by 6.pm on Friday.

The funeral prayers, attended by hundreds of people, were led by the Chief Imam of Zaria, Malam Dalhat Qasim.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, former governor Malam Nasir Ahmed El-rufai, the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Liman Dahiru, the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, and several others, were among the dignitaries that attended the funeral prayers.

The Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero led other traditional rulers to the funeral prayers.

Speaker Abbas sent condolences to the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Zazzau Emirate Council, the people and Government of Kaduna State over the irreparable loss.

"Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Illaihir Raji'un. I received with sadness, the death of my brother, the Magajin Garin Zazzau, Ambassador Mansur Nuhu Bamalli, who died in the morning of Friday, October 20, 2023 after a brief illness.

"The late Magajin Garin Zazzau was more than a brother to me. Apart from the fact that we came from the same lineage, we shared a lot in common. He was a humble and kind human being to a fault.

"Even as the Deputy Ambassador of Nigeria to Morocco, he remained unassuming. He served his country diligently to the best of his ability. We will definitely miss Magajin Garin Zazzau.

"I am heartbroken that Ambassador Mansur left us at a time that we needed him most. Indeed, not just the Zazzau Emirate, but also the entire Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole have lost an illustrious son.

"As painful as the demise of Magajin Garin Zazzau is, I find solace in the fact that he lived a life worthy of emulation. I pray that Allah (SWT) will grant the late Magajin Garin Zazzau a peaceful resting place in Jannatul Firdaus," the Speaker said.

The remains of the late Ambassador Mansur Nuhu Bamalli were interred at the Magajin Gari Cemetry in Zaria.

Signed:

Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

APOSTLE ITODJE MINISTRY
Divine Insights and Inspirations

TOPIC: OVERCOMING EVIL BURDENS
Date: 20th October, 2023.

Text: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Beloved, life is full of struggles and hurdles, for a man born of a woman is of few days and full of troubles! There are troubles everywhere, especially for those who are not in Christ Jesus. for any Life that is not encapsulated in Christ is a life in crisis. (for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your poets have said, for we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28)

The devil is roaming everywhere, looking for who to devour and in doing that he and his cohorts prepared loads for the sons of men to carry.

To some, the devil gave them loads of drunkenness, fornication, adultery, gossip, masturbation, and murder. While others are caged in the web of unforgiveness, strife, envy, malice and guilt from abortion(s).

I may not know what exactly you are struggling with, it may also be disappointment, barrenness, joblessness, untimely death and transgenerational sicknesses and diseases in your family. It may also be a broken relationship or constant failures on the verge of breakthrough!

God will deliver you today in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. By the Apostolic mantle upon my life, I declare your freedom now in the name of Jesus Christ. Say a believer's AMEN!

Hear me, beloved, oppression is real, wickedness is real and the devil is a full-time worker in his threefold ministry of stealing, killing and destruction of lives and destinies both in time and eternity.

Every evil burden that wicked men in collaboration with the devil prepared is accompanied by frustration, emotional disease and instability in kife.

But I have good news for you! The word of God says in "1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. for this purpose the son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

Therefore Jesus has paid the price of your freedom and He is saying this morning "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28"


HOW TO OVERCOME EVIL BURDENS
1. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ by accepting Him as your personal Lord and Savior. "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world...To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons...Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:3-7"

2. Begin to learn about the personality and principles of our Lord Jesus Christ through a word-based and eternity-conscious church. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29"

3. Thirdly develop and transform your life and destiny through the instrumentality and ministry of the word of God and prayer.

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:1-2"

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. James 5:13"


my HUMBLE SUBMISSION:
1. Don't give up! If it is tough today, tomorrow may be your turn to be celebrated. "If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job 14:14"

Hear this, "any positive change that will stand the test of time, both now and the the world to come is a change that is divinely orchestrated and instituted by God." for He made all things beautiful in His own time. Godstime is the best.


pray THIS PRAYER WITH ME
1. Oh Lord, my Father, let every evil burden and yoke of the enemies in my life and destiny be destroyed in the name of Jesus Christ.


LET ME pray for YOU
I pray for you, let Almighty God deliver you and your family from every evil burden. From this day, things begin to work for good for you and your family. It is a new day and a new season for you. God bless you bless you abundantly in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Apostle Itodje Okiemute Godstime
Senior Pastor
Pavilion of Worship Assemblies
Abuja

for counselling, prayer and partnership, kindly contact us: at 07064568635
Email: apostleitodje@gmail.com, pavilionofworshio@gmail.com

Follow Apostle Itodje Ministry Channel on Whasapp https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCW2QvC6Zvp4498Qq3Y/101

Kindly do the work of Evanglist by sharing this with friends and loved ones.

Galatians 2:20 I(Chibuogwu Jude Emmanuel Onyemaechi) am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now(20-10-2023) live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.


Abbah Our Father, draw us to your son; Jesus Christ Crucified afresh/anew today(20-10-2023) with greater and deeper intensity and we will run after THEE and we will never go-away from Your Manifest-Presence, Indwelling-Presence, Dominion-Presence and Universal Presence/active-consciousness in our minds, thoughts and external environments through the unlimited manifestations of Your Holy Spirit Power in Jesus name. Amen.


Holy Spirit, quicken/prompt/lead/help us to commune/dialogue/fellowship/call upon the name of the living God(the GOD-HEAD) in spirit and in truth today (20-10-2023) and every fresh second we exist on this earthly realm in Jesus name. Amen.


Abbah Our Father, we confess our sin, every weight that easily holds us down, every yieldedness to the flesh and every appearance of the flesh, every misuse of your mercy, every frustration of your grace, every negligence/disobedience to Your Holy Spirit instructions and promptings within our hearts and from the external environments, every refusal to immediately obey your revealed and written Word towards us by faith in Jesus Christ Crucified; Your son, in the past seconds of our earthly existence and we believe that You have forgiven us and cleansed us from every unrighteousness and the blood of Jesus Christ Crucified; Your son has cleansed us from all our sins and You have justified us (declared us no longer guilty) in Your Presence and We are now acceptable in Your Presence to continue communicating/fellowshipping with You consistently and progressively within our hearts and with our mouths by faith in Jesus and We have Peace with You; Abbah Our Father even now (20-10-2023) and we believe that Your Holy Spirit manifests and bears witness to the fullness of this reality in our hearts even now (20-10-2023) according to Your WORD (1 John 1:7-9, Romans 5:1,9, Romans 8:15-16, John 19:30, John 8:36, Matt.1:21, Hebrews 7:23-25) in Jesus name. Amen.


Our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified, the baptizer; please baptize us afresh with Your Holy Spirit and Fire today (20-10-2023) according to Luke 3:16. Amen.

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: *He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:*


May Abbah Our Father continue to uphold us in His fresh/new release of mercy obtained from His throne of grace for today (20-10-2023) and every fresh second of our earthly existence through the unlimited manifestations of His Holy Spirit Power in Jesus name. Amen.


May Abbah Our Father draw every human being in this our generation towards a redemptive encounter with Jesus; His son on the Cross of Calvary today (20-10-2023) through the unlimited manifestations of His Holy Spirit Power and the preaching of the gospel whether online or offline in Jesus name. Amen.


Abbah Our Father, we thank You for the gift of your mercy, grace, unconditional-love, salvation-so-great, breathe-of-life and health to us today (20-10-2023), because it is not by our merit that we have received them rather it is because of the abundance of Your mercy therefore we thank You(Abbah Our Father) in Jesus name. Amen.


Abbah Our Father, we decree that by the wounds of Jesus Christ Crucified; we receive healing upon our whole being (spirit, soul, body and circumstances) and upon all those who are sick especially those who cannot pray for themselves and for those who have lost hope in your healing power, mercies and miracles in their current challenges as of today (20-10-2023) and even now through the unlimited manifestations of Your Holy Spirit Power in Jesus name. Amen.


Abbah Our Father, we declare by faith in Jesus Christ Crucified; Your son, this day (20-10-2023) that we have come boldly to Your throne of grace such that we may obtain mercy afresh/anew and find grace as well as have grace to help us this day (20-10-2023) afresh/anew in order to help us in this time of need to serve You acceptably with holiness and Godly fear all the days of our earthly existence especially today (20-10-2023) and yield completely to Your Holy Spirit Control/Instructions such that we may manifest to the fullest every thing written in the volume of your book in Heaven before the foundation of the world for Your own Glory in our particular lives in Jesus name. Amen.


Holy Spirit help us to hunger for your written and revealed word today (20-10-2023) afresh/anew and every fresh second of our earthly existence in Jesus name. Amen.


Holy Spirit help us to read and understand and rightly divide Your WORD of truth from the holy bible for our own individual lives as well as with/for other human beings this day (20-10-2023) and every fresh second of our earthly existence in Jesus name. Amen.


Holy Spirit help us to worship God in spirit and in truth(choices, words, decisions, desires, fantasies, imaginations, actions, business-deals, talent-engagements, academic-engagements, skill-engagements, dressing, job-roles, marriage-roles, vocations, family-duties, emotions, sentiments, attitudes, online-presence, offline-engagements, face-to-face engagements, e.t.c.) today (20-10-2023) and every fresh second of our earthly existence for such the Father seeks; those who worship HIM in spirit and in truth in Jesus name. Amen.


Holy Spirit help us to fellowship with You; the GOD-HEAD directly in our hearts and minds and mouths in the place of our personal prayers and quiet-time with You and also fellowship with the GOD-HEAD in our face-to-face meeting with other believers in Jesus Christ Crucified today (20-10-2023) and every fresh second of our earthly existence in Jesus name. Amen.


Holy Spirit help us to fast and to pray today (20-10-2023) and every other day in this our earthly existence even as You train us to grow in relationship with You; the GOD-HEAD and grow in righteousness, the grace and the knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified. Amen.


Holy Spirit help us by your mercy, grace, revelations, convictions, persuasions and strength to stand on our watch by faith in Jesus Christ Crucified according to Habakkuk 2:1-3 for this day (20-10-2023) whether by day-time or night-time so that we may pray only for your perfect-will to be done in our lives in this our generation, to hear Your own answers for the various circumstances that we are currently facing in the secret of our hearts or at the public-space and to gain access to the interpretations of Your signs in this our generation in Jesus name. Amen.

Your prayers can change the situation

Fri, 20 Oct 2023

‘Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self …’ Exodus 32:13

If you’re not sure your prayers can change the situation you’re in right now, read the story of Moses interceding with God not to destroy the Israelites because of the golden calf and committing idolatry: ‘But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God … Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—you swore to them by yourself and declared, 'I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.'" So the LORD relented concerning the disaster He had said He will bring on his people’ (Exodus 32:11, 13-14 CSB). Moses was on his face one minute and in God’s face the next. for the lives of his people, he was on his knees, pointing his finger, raising his hands, crying tears, tearing his cloak, and wrestling like Jacob at the brook. Notice how he prayed. He reminded God of His covenant promises. He stood on the Word! And if there is one thing that will get God’s attention and cause Him to respond to your needs, it’s standing on His Word. God’s word in the matter is always God’s will in the matter. ‘We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for’ (1 John 5:14-15 NLT). You are similar to electric wire through which God’s power and presence can flow into any situation, and in prayer you flip the switch. So instead of complaining about the situation, begin to pray about it.


***

Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa🔥🔥🔥
His mother died while on crusade. He was in America when they sent a message that his mother is dead. He said "my mother can't die," because God did not tell me. The last time I checked in my spirit my mother was well. If God must take her, HE has to tell me. Put her on my bed when I return, I'll wake her.

They asked him, when are you coming back? he said, "10 days time". They told him, "she will smell". He insisted they should put her on his bed. "If she smells, its my room, put her there".

The first miracle for 10 days, the body did not smell. The color of the skin changed from black to ash, totally dead for 10 days. The Arch Bishop said, he's not coming back until he finishes his crusade. When he finished his crusade, he landed in Benin airport and he said, "take me home".

They took him home, when he entered his room, he said, "Mama I am back, stand up and give me water to drink". Mama said, "my son, welcome".

Today by the strength of this testimony, anything dead in your life is coming back to life in Jesus Name. AMEN!

Joliet, Illinois
CNN
—
Loved ones and strangers united in grief Monday at the funeral of a 6-year-old Chicago-area boy who was killed because he was Muslim, officials say.

Wadea Al Fayoume was stabbed 26 times Saturday by his family’s landlord in Plainfield Township, Illinois, the Will County Sheriff’s Office said.

Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza
His 32-year-old mother, Hanaan Shahin, also suffered more than a dozen stab wounds, the sheriff’s office said.

Shahin’s serious injuries prevented her from attending her son’s funeral, said Ahmed Rehab, executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Chicago office. In accordance with tradition, deceased Muslims are buried as soon as possible after death.

The mother “will be feeling Wadea’s loss more than anyone, but she is forced to mourn alone rather in the warm embrace of family and community at this time,” Rehab said, adding she “is fighting serious bodily injuries at the hospital, not to mention the mental trauma of the gore she experienced and witnessed.”

“This incident cannot help but further raise the fears of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities in our country with regard to hate-fueled violence,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

The boy’s parents are from a village in the West Bank, Rehab said. Wadea’s mother moved to the United States 12 years ago, his father moved to the US nine years ago, and Wadea was born in the US.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was among the mourners who attended Wadea’s funeral Monday, his office said.

“To take a six year old child’s life in the name of bigotry is nothing short of evil,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Every single Illinoisan – including our Muslim, Jewish and Palestinian neighbors – deserves to live free from the threat of such evil.”

Court document reveals what led up to attack
The family’s landlord, Joseph M. Czuba, 71, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of a hate crime and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, the Will County Sheriff’s Office said.

While Czuba did not make a statement to detectives, investigators determined the victims were “targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis,” the sheriff’s office said.

According to a Monday court filing, Czuba’s wife told investigators after the incident that on October 11, he told her he wanted Wadea and his mother to move out of the home. The wife also told investigators that Czuba “believed that they were in danger and that (Shahin) was going to call over her Palestinian friends or family to harm them,” according to the filing.

Shahin told authorities, according to the filing, that on October 11, Czuba also confronted her “about what was going on in the Middle East.”

Shahin told authorities that on Saturday, moments before the stabbings unfolded, Czuba told her he was angry at her for what was going on in Jerusalem.

“Shahin stated she responded to him ‘let’s pray for peace.’ Shahin stated Czuba gave her no chance to do anything. Shahin stated that Czuba then attacked her with a knife,” according to the filing.

Shahin told police she was able to get away by locking herself in the nearby bathroom, but was not able to get her son. While in there, she called police, according to the filing. “While on the phone with 911 Hanan stated, her son was being stabbed,” the document said.

Responding officers found Czuba outside. Shahin was sitting in the front of the house with “multiple facial wounds and was bleeding profusely,” the filing said.

The boy was transferred to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the document said.

Suspect appears in court
Czuba spoke only briefly at an initial court appearance Monday in Joliet, telling Judge Donald DeWilkins that he intended to have his assigned public defender represent him in the case.

Prosecutors told the judge Czuba and his tenant, Shahin, got into an argument Saturday over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The argument became heated and Czuba turned violent toward Shahin, according to the prosecution.

The mother went to hide in the bathroom and call 911, and while hiding, she later told investigators, she could hear her son being stabbed by Czuba, prosecutors said.

The prosecution read statements from Shahin in court that said Czuba had been following the recent Middle East conflict closely and had asked the family to move out of the residence once the conflict started.

His attorney, Kylie Blatti, told the court Czuba is married and has no prior convictions. But the judge ordered Czuba to be held without bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 30.

A peaceful family destroyed by violence
The boy’s family lived on the ground floor of the house for two years without “previous notable issues” with Czuba, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said.

That tranquility was shattered Saturday.

A woman called 911 saying her landlord had attacked her, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities went to the home about 40 miles southwest of Chicago and discovered the grisly scene.


Gaza explained: What to know about the enclave
When deputies arrived, they found Czuba sitting on the ground, near the home’s driveway.

The mother and son were found in a bedroom. “Both victims had multiple stab wounds to their chest, torso, and upper extremities,” the Will County Sheriff’s Office said.

Both were rushed to a hospital, but the 6-year-old did not survive.

Wadea’s wounded mother texted the boy’s father from the hospital and described what had happened.

She said the landlord “knocked on their door, and when she opened, he tried to choke her and proceeded to attack her with a knife, yelling, ‘you Muslims must die,’” CAIR said.

“This despicable hate crime is a shameful reminder of the destructive role Islamophobia plays in our society,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday.
Israel is at war with Hamas. Here's what to know
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden condemned the attack.

“As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred,” the Bidens said in a statement.

“This horrific act of hate has no place in America, and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are.”

The Bidens noted the “child’s Palestinian Muslim family came to America seeking what we all seek – a refuge to live, learn, and pray in peace.”

Devastation in the Middle East spreads to the US
Thousands of civilians – including dozens of US citizens – have been killed in Israel and Gaza since Hamas militants launched deadly attacks in Israel more than a week ago and Israel responded by pounding Gaza with airstrikes.

Deborah Matias, Hayim Katsman, Igal Wachs and Amit Wachs
A mother shielding her son, a 26-year-old attending a music festival and two brothers are among the Americans killed in Israel
At least 1,400 people in Israel were killed during Hamas’ rampage, the Israel Defense Forces told CNN on Sunday. They include children who were “butchered,” the Israeli military said.

Israel’s subsequent strikes on Gaza have killed more than 2,750 people – including many women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Conditions in Gaza have deteriorated into a “complete catastrophe,” aid workers said, with Palestinian civilians suffering dwindling access to water and food.

As the crisis escalates in the Middle East, so do reports of possible hate crimes in the US.

A New York City bus passenger wearing a turban and a mask was punched multiple times Sunday by someone who tried to remove his turban, police said.

Police also charged a 19-year-old with assault and harassment as a hate crime after he allegedly attacked a Columbia University student who was hanging up posters on campus in support of Israel last week.

And the stabbing death of 6-year-old Wadea highlights the need to stop hate-fueled attacks, CAIR said.

“The Islamophobic rhetoric and anti-Palestinian racism being spread by politicians, media outlets, and social media platforms must stop,” the group said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/16/us/chicago-muslim-boy-stabbing-investigation/index.html

Scripture Text: Isaiah 59:1-4

Connecting with God is an amazing gift for people. People who believe in it can connect with God and learn His deepest secrets. They can even have access to all His Treasures. However, some things can put our relationship with God at risk or make it harder for us. Here are some of them:

1. Sins that aren't acknowledged (Psalm 66:18): "If I hold transgression in my heart, the Lord will not hear." Sin keeps us from God. In the same way that the Father turned His back on His son while Jesus Christ carried all of humanity's sins on His back, God will turn His back on people who carry sin in their lives.

2. You are too busy to spend time with God. Being too busy to spend time alone with God in prayer, reading the Bible, meditation, singing praises or songs, or hearing from Him will keep you from getting close to Him. Or, if you're a "microwave Christian" who constantly checks your time when you're with God and complains about long sermons, prayer times, praise times, and other things, then you will never have a deep relationship with God.

3. Our lack of faith is another thing that gets in the way of our relationship with God. According to Hebrews 11:6, "without faith, it is impossible to please God." James 1:6-7 also says that we should ask God for whatever we want with faith, not wavering like a wave on the water that is pushed and driven by the wind, so that we don't get nothing from God.

"Wilful disobedience" is another thing that can hurt our relationship with God. In John 14:15, Jesus tells us, "If you love me, you will obey me." As a result of consistently disobeying God's Word and thinking that they knew God too well, many divine relationships have been lost.
5. The bedrock of breaking up with God is not forgiving others. Being kind and forgiving to each other is encouraged in the Bible, just like God has forgiven us through Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:14–15; Ephesians 4:32).

There can never be a close relationship between you and God if you have an idol in your heart. Because you can't serve two masters at once, you can't make fun of God. If you want to follow God, you can't have mammon in your heart. Not possible! "No one can watch two masters at once." You will either hate one and love the other, or you will love one and hate the other- Matthew 6:24

Christians, turn away from your sins today and give God your whole heart. When we are close to God, our lives are wonderfully and greatly blessed.
God bless you, in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Simply say this short prayer if you would like to give your life to Christ: "Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life, take control of it, and change my world." I say farewell to Satan and I enter the Kingdom of Light. Thanks, Jesus Christ. In Jesus' powerful name, I pray, Amen.

Congratulations!!!

Also read: https://www.thedevotionals.com.ng/mfm-daily-devotional-for-monday-16th-october-2023-hindrances-to-believers-relationship-with-god/

A man has been charged with murder and hate crimes after allegedly stabbing two people because they were Muslim.

Joseph Czuba, 71, is accused of killing a six-year-old boy and injuring a woman, 32, in Plainfield, Illinois.

They were targeted because of the current conflict between Hamas and Israel, the Will County Sheriff's Office said.

President Biden said he was "sickened" by the attack on the mother and her son, who were Palestinian-Americans.

"This horrific act of hate has no place in America, and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are," Mr Biden said in a statement.

"As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred."

Mr Czuba was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, hate crimes and aggravated battery.

In Sunday's statement, the Will County Sheriff's Office said that on Saturday morning it received an emergency call from the woman who said she was being attacked by her landlord in Plainfield, near Chicago.

The woman said she "ran into the bathroom and continued to fight off her attacker".

When officers arrived at the scene they discovered the woman and the boy with "multiple stab wounds to their chest, torso, and upper extremities".

Both victims were taken to hospital, but the boy later died. It was later established that the child was stabbed 26 times.

"The knife used in this attack is a 12-inch (31cm) serrated military style knife that has a seven-inch blade," the Sheriff's office said.

The woman, who was seriously injured, is expected to survive the attack.

Mr Czuba was found "sitting upright outside on the ground near the driveway of the residence," the statement said.

He was taken to hospital for treatment before being questioned by detectives.

"Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis," the Sheriff's office added.

It has not publicly released the names of the victims.

But at a news briefing later on Sunday, from the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), America's rights group, named the boy as Wadea al-Fayoume, and his mother as Hanaan Shahin.

It said Wadea was born in the US, while his mother - originally from Beitunia in the West Bank - came to the country 12 years ago.


Murder suspect Joseph Czuba is now awaiting his court appearance
CAIR-Chicago executive director Ahmed Rehab said Wadea had only celebrated his birthday a few weeks ago.

"He loved his family, his friends. He loved soccer, he loved basketball.

"And he paid the price for the atmosphere of hate and otherisation and dehumanisation that frankly I think we are seeing here in the United States as a result of the irresponsible leadership, lopsided, one-sided statements and coverage that we're seeing in the media, elected officials.

"And we warned about not recreating the same mistake we had in the post 9/11 environment," Mr Rehab said, adding that back then innocent members of a particular community had been victimised for the deadly attacks in the US in 2001.

More than 1,400 people were killed in Israel last weekend when Hamas fighters crossed the border from the Gaza Strip to attack civilians and soldiers.

In Gaza, more than 2,450 people have been killed by Israel's bombing, Palestinian authorities say, with an estimated 1,000 missing under rubble.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67119183

THIRD AND LAST PROPHECY OF FATIMA
- BE AWARE.
(Sister Lucia)
"When the world asks for peace and security and repents of all the evil it has done, the sudden destruction of the new Armageddon has arrived and all will suffer."
These were the prophecies of the Virgin of Fatima when she appeared to the three children in 1917 and said that on this date 2025 would come to an end.
Lucia was only 10 years old when the apparitions took place, which began on May 13, 1917. Lucia and her two cousins ​​saw the Virgin Mary in a holm oak tree for a period of six months.
Carmelite nun Lúcia do Imaculado Coração, the last survivor of the three children who made sure they saw the Virgin Mary in the Portuguese town of Fátima, died at the age of 97 on February 14, 2005. She died in the Carmel convent in Coimbra where she has lived since 1948 .
This message was read by Pope John Paul II who decided not to reveal this secret because he thought doing so would bring panic and despair to the world.
Now another part of this message is being revealed.
NOT OUT OF PANIC BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY READY TO KNOW IT AND MAY BE AWARE
Lucia first delivered the message to Pope John Paul II, who after reading it, trembled a lot and decided not to make it public for fear of the reaction.
The virgin said to Lucia:
“Do not be afraid, dear. I am the Mother of Heaven, speaking to you and asking you to make this message public to the whole world. You will then meet strong resistance.
Listen and heed what I say: The sins of men need to be atoned for. With humble supplication, they must ask forgiveness for the sins they have committed and those they could have committed. You want me to give you a sign so that everyone accepts my words that I say to humanity through you. They saw the wonder of the miracle of the Sun, all believers, non-believers, farmers, citizens, scholars, journalists, seculars, priests, all saw it.
A great punishment will befall all humanity, not today, not tomorrow, but in the second half of the 21st century. I had already revealed to the children Melania and Massimino, "La Salette", and today I repeat to you why humanity has sinned and trampled on the gift that God gives. Nowhere in the world will there be order and Satan reigns in the highest degrees that determine the ground of things, because men are led by the devil, sowing hatred and revenge everywhere.
Men make deadly weapons that can destroy the world in minutes.
Half of humanity could be terribly destroyed.
There will be conflicts between religious orders.
God will allow all natural phenomena like smoke, hail, cold, water, fire, floods, earthquakes, viruses, inclement weather, terrible catastrophes and extremely cold winters like these times to wipe out the earth little by little.
There will be diseases without a cure, people will mock the saints and the church.
There will be uncontrolled killings, people will kill each other, many people will suffer.
Some natural phenomena will occur before 2025 and then continue with greater intensity and greater destruction, the climate will suddenly change to extreme weather conditions.
They will not survive, they lack charity towards their neighbor and they do not love one another as my son Jesus loved them.
Many will wish to be among the dead, because millions of people will lose their lives in a few seconds and others will suffer too much, new life forms will come and contribute to the destruction, to give them more power and consequently procreate their number, it is a race.
The punishments that await us on Earth are unimaginable, but they will surely come.
God helps the world, but whoever does not testify faithfulness to the son of God, Jesus Christ, will be destroyed, because many turn their backs on Him and He can do nothing about it.
Father Agostino, who resides in Fátima, received authorization from Pope Paul VI to visit Sister Lucia.
Father Agostino expresses that she received him very weakly, with tears in her eyes, and told him:
"Father, the Virgin Mary is very sad because nobody is interested in her 1917 prophecy, people don't want to know about this prophecy.
So while the good ones must tread a narrow path; the wicked are treading a broad path that leads them straight to destruction and believe, Father, that the chastisement will come very soon since 2020 and it will come with firm power.
Many souls may be lost and many nations and states will disappear from Earth; the world may be lost forever.
The time has come for everyone to pass on the Virgin Mary's message to their family, their friends and to the whole world.
We are near the last minute, the last day, and disaster is coming.
(ATTENTION) WHAT ARE YOU WAITING for?
There is talk of peace and security everywhere, but the punishment will come without anything to stop it.
A WILD WAR WILL BRING NUCLEAR DESTRUCTION.
This war can destroy everything, anything, it will be a disaster.
The darkness will then fall on us for 72 hours (3 days) and the third party who will survive these 72 hours of darkness and official; will begin to live in a NEW ERA.
On a very cold night ten minutes before midnight (Portuguese time) a GREAT EARTHQUAKE will shake the earth for eight hours.
The good ones, those who propagate the prophecy of the Virgin of Fatima,
SHOULD NOT FEAR, but others will suffer the consequences of ignoring this warning, the earthquake will cause the destruction of a large part of the earth, some parts will separate and cause great disasters!
WHAT TO DO?...
Sister Lucia says what the Virgin said:
"Don't leave your house and don't let strangers in, there will be new and unknown people who will look pretty talkative and say to join them, their new race and lifestyle, we don't accept it!"
These new "people" will benefit from the disaster that will happen in the world (earth)...
Sister Lucia continues with what was revealed to her:
So that you can prepare yourselves and stay alive, as my children who are also taking this warning seriously, I will give the following signs:
It's going to be a very cold night. It will be during a strong wind...
There will be anguish and soon the earthquake will begin that will make the earth shake strongly...
Close the doors and windows at home and don't talk to those who are not inside the house...
Don't look outside, don't be curious, for this will be the wrath of the Lord...
Light blessed candles, for three days no other light can shine...
The movement will be so violent that it will move the earth 23⁰ degrees and then return to its normal position...
Then there will be total darkness that will cover the whole Earth. All evil spirits will be dissolved and released doing great harm to souls who did not want to hear this message and those who do not want to repent...
Everything will be dark and a great mystical cross will appear in Heaven to remind us of the price that the son of God, Jesus Christ, paid for our redemption.
Sister Lucia continues to refer to what the Virgin entrusted to her:
We pray as follows:
O God, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and take to Heaven all souls, especially those most in need of your mercy."
Those who believe in the message that God sends and bring the message to others should fear nothing on the Great Day of the Lord...
Those who remain silent now will be responsible for this great number of souls lost to ignorance...
When the earth no longer shakes, those who still do not believe in our Lord will die horribly...
The wind will bring gas, viruses and water everywhere...
Then the sun will rise again...
Many can live after these disasters...
once they have started they cannot look outside the house for any reason because God does not want any of his children to see when he punishes these sinners how they suffer and he does not want them to see the pain he will cause these wicked people. ..
We need to understand that God allows all this to pass and we need to understand that God will punish all those who did not listen to what this text says, that's why so much panic was caused, because God will unleash his uncontrollable wrath and find all those who offended and destroyed the world...
Remember that the word of God is not a threat, but good news.
Perhaps God allows it to be so, because He wants to save everyone for Him.
If you read it, say something.
They say that every beat of our heart is God saying he loves us.
Have you ever stopped to think how many times he told you this today?
If you love God leave an amen and share in seven groups on Facebook. If you're ashamed of God, watch...
Remember, God said:
If you deny me among men, I will deny you before the Father.
Amen 🙏❤️✝️