₦airaland Forum

Are you wise? That’s really not a fair question is it? A truly wise person would probably say no, yet many of us would like to answer yes. We like that idea of being wise, but it would seem awkward to claim that we are. It’s much easier to talk about someone else being wise.

Wisdom is a strange thing. Just what makes a person wise? There are many different criteria for wisdom. Some people would say political leaders like former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin or former US President Bill Clinton are wise men. But others would argue they are anything but wise. Some people would say that Christian leaders like Billy Graham and Dr. James Dobson are wise. But again, others would have a real problem with this. Can all four of these men be wise? In many ways they all are but the wisdom they are working from is very, very different.
So what makes a person wise? Why would we call one person wise and not someone else? Trying to decide who is wise and who isn’t is a complicated issue. It’s not easy because there are two different kinds of wisdom at work in our lives. There is the wisdom of the world and a wisdom that comes from God. Sometimes these two types of z look similar. More often, though, they have very different characteristics and very different outcomes. What the world thinks is wise and what God thinks is wise are usually very different.


[color=pink]What this means is that there is a battle going on. A battle for our hearts and our minds. There are two camps, two sides, each claiming to have wisdom. Each claiming truth. Each telling us what we need to do to be successful in our lives and in our Christian walk. Ironically, we need wisdom to choose between these two forms of wisdom.[/colur]

James is a big help in this matter. He identifies and lays out the two types of wisdom that are vying for our attention. As Ralph Martin outlines in his commentary on James, we will deal with each form of wisdom in three parts.

# 1 The signs or characteristics of wisdom.

# 2 Where the wisdom comes from.

# 3 I will explain the outcome or the fruit of following that wisdom.

Let’s begin first with what we will call False Wisdom.
#[b] 1. What are the signs of false wisdom? What distinguishes this wisdom from other kinds of wisdom? James explains in verse 14 “If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.” False wisdom is marked by someone who is self-centered. Such people are only out for themselves. It’s seen in people who are after power and fame. They are ultimately only concerned about their own wants and desires. These people are self-absorbed and they are often filled with bitterness.
These are the people that our world reveres. They’re the cut throat business man or the woman who clawed her way to the top. They’re the ones who are driven--driven by their ego, driven by their need for success, driven by their desire to have what their neighbor has. You’ll often see these people on the cover of
Forbes magazine and that’s why we’re so interested in this kind of wisdom.
But this is a graceless wisdom. I say graceless because it lacks a real concern for others. It has no time for forgiveness. No patience to help out. It is full of envy and spite. People with this kind of wisdom have little concern for others or the people they trample on to get to the top. This graceless wisdom was displayed by a group of mountain climbers. They were making their way up Mount Everest and they came upon a man dying because he didn’t bring enough oxygen for the climb. In their lust to reach the top they left the man to die. No one wanted to turn back to help for that would mean giving up their goal.
It’s easy to point fingers. It’s easy for us to condemn such obvious sin but we must be careful! We too have embraced this graceless wisdom. We live it out in our refusal to forgive the friend who hurt us. We decide to hold on to our bitterness a little bit longer. We live it out in our refusal to give help, aid, money, or whatever might be needed. We hold on to our time and our possessions a little too tightly. We easily become overly concerned about ourselves, and we forget that the signs of false wisdom are bitterness, envy and selfish ambition.
Now let’s move on to our second question concerning false wisdom.[/b]

# 2. Where does it come from? James explains, “Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.” This is the wisdom of the world. It wants nothing to do with God. In fact it is opposed to God and his work. This, of course, is the type of wisdom that our society encourages. Look out for number one. Get what you can for yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. And we buy into this wisdom from time to time too. What we easily forget, or what we simply choose to ignore, is that this wisdom is not from God--it’s of the devil. It’s harmful to our faith and we shouldn’t want anything to do with it.
Which leads us to the third question;

# [color=violet]3. What is the outcome of this wisdom? What impact does this wisdom have on our lives and on our society? James explains, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” Where there is selfish ambition we find people leaving other people to die on the side of a mountain because the goal of reaching the top is too important. Where there is envy we find people who are willing to fight with their sibling over who gets what money when their parents die. Where there is this kind of wisdom we find families who refuse to talk with each other because of some long standing feud over a simple misunderstanding. We see co-workers who are willing to stab each other in the back to get a promotion. We find brothers and sisters who can’t even be in the same room together. We find disturbing activity and dark family secrets. We find broken marriages and damaged people. We find a refusal to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. We find disorder, pain, and chaos.
What’s even worse, this type of wisdom is passed down from generation to generation. What we’ve learned growing up we take with us into every relationship and every aspect of our lives. We will live it out in our families, our friendships, our work relationships--in everything we do. If we’re taught this wisdom in our youth we will teach it to our children in their youth, and they will teach it to their children. The end result, as James tells us, is disorder and every evil practice. Sin rules everything.
This is a false and destructive wisdom.[/color]


james contrasts this with True Wisdom. So we begin with the first question; # 1 what are the signs of this wisdom? Verse 17 “This wisdom . . . is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” This wisdom isn’t full of bitterness and envy. This wisdom is pure - it has no sin and no dysfunction. It’s focused on one thing and one thing only. Unlike false wisdom it’s not focused on self but rather focused on God alone. It keeps its eyes on Jesus Christ and him crucified.
This wisdom is peace-loving. It isn’t interested in the feuding of earthly wisdom. It longs for harmony and for people to get along. For people to work through their differences. For people to be considerate. For people to care for each other. This wisdom shows love to everyone. Even to its enemies.
It’s a submissive wisdom. Now that doesn’t mean it bows down to what everyone else says. But it does say self isn’t so important. A person who is following this wisdom is concerned about serving others and submitting to God’s will. This is a wisdom that is full of
mercy and good fruit. It’s a wisdom that shares the grace of God. A wisdom that knows Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that knows God’s forgiveness. That knows I’m really no better than the next guy. It knows God wants us to share his love with everyone.
It’s a wisdom that is impartial. A wisdom that is sincere. This wisdom doesn’t need to make sure everything is in our favor. Instead it’s focused on making sure everything is right and just even if it means admitting we’re wrong. Even if that means the scales are weighed against us from time to time. It is a wisdom that seeks to know God’s will and longs to God’s will regardless of the situation. It is a wisdom full of grace. God’s grace.
And so you already know the answer to

# 2; This wisdom comes from the Lord. It is a wisdom from heaven that comes to us through Jesus Christ. In this way James is right in line with the Old Testament prophets who taught that the fear of the Lord was true wisdom. True wisdom is to look to God, to worship him with our whole being, to let him rule and guide our lives. To let him and his teaching be the central focus of all we do. This is true wisdom.
This leads us to question

# 3; where does this wisdom get us? The outcome of false wisdom, the wisdom of the world, is “disorder and every evil practice,” says James. So what is the outcome of God’s wisdom? James explains, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” There is a benefit to following the Lord and doing his will. There is a benefit to doing what is right in God’s eyes. There is a benefit to following the wisdom from above rather than the wisdom of the world. The benefit is a blessing from God. The benefit is a harvest of righteousness.
This is an exciting harvest to see. In the Ten Commandments the Lord says “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” God has promised that those who follow him, who obey him, who fear him, who find their salvation in him, those who follow the wisdom from above will be blessed. They will sow a harvest of righteousness.
We’ve seen this harvest in different people’s lives, haven’t we? We see it in their actions. We see it in their families. We see generation after generation serving the Lord. We see whole families; grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all worshiping the Lord together. This is the harvest of God’s blessing. This is the harvest of sowing the seeds of God’s wisdom.
We see it in families who live in harmony. Who are able to express their love for each other and who are able to disagree with each other in healthy ways. Families and relationships that can survive through difficulties, and not just survive but thrive. We see co-workers who can sort out their differences. We see people who have a gift of bringing harmony and unity in a tense and possibly explosive situa ee God’s grace lived out in their lives and in their interactions. We see this because these people are following a wisdom that is pure, considerate, and full of mercy, instead of a wisdom that is full of envy, bitterness, and selfish ambition.
Listen again to some of the beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Blessed are those who follow the wisdom from above, for they will raise a harvest of righteousness. For they will be saved. For they will know God and know his love and his mercy.


But where do we get this wisdom? How do we keep from sowing a harvest of disorder and evil? How do we receive this blessing from God? For starters

# 1 we ask for it. James tells us in 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” If we want this wisdom all we have to do is ask. God wants to bless us. He longs for us to raise a harvest of righteousness. He wants us to make him and his Son the central focus of our lives. He longs to give us his wisdom. All we need to do is ask.

# 2 We must follow his word and put his teaching into actions. In the parable of the wise and foolish builder Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” We must seek to live in the fear of the Lord. We must seek to make his teachings and his Word the guiding force of our lives. We must seek to live lives of grace, mercy and love. Lives that exemplify who God is and his love for all people. That is God’s wisdom lived out.
Every day of our lives we must make a choice. A choice to follow the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of heaven. It’s an important choice because it will impact not just us, not just our eternal situation, but it will also impact the generations to follow. It will impact whether we harvest a crop of disorder and evil or a harvest of righteousness. Essentially every day we must ask ourselves, “What kind of wisdom will I follow?”
May we seek to live our lives in the fear of the Lord. May we seek the grace of Jesus so that we may live in His wisdom and reap His blessing.

composed by

©Moses Isaac adeiza

cc:lalasticlala
mynd44

Are you wise? That’s really not a fair question is it? A truly wise person would probably say no, yet many of us would like to answer yes. We like that idea of being wise, but it would seem awkward to claim that we are. It’s much easier to talk about someone else being wise.

Wisdom is a strange thing. Just what makes a person wise? There are many different criteria for wisdom. Some people would say political leaders like former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin or former US President Bill Clinton are wise men. But others would argue they are anything but wise. Some people would say that Christian leaders like Billy Graham and Dr. James Dobson are wise. But again, others would have a real problem with this. Can all four of these men be wise? In many ways they all are but the wisdom they are working from is very, very different.
So what makes a person wise? Why would we call one person wise and not someone else? Trying to decide who is wise and who isn’t is a complicated issue. It’s not easy because there are two different kinds of wisdom at work in our lives. There is the wisdom of the world and a wisdom that comes from God. Sometimes these two types of z look similar. More often, though, they have very different characteristics and very different outcomes. What the world thinks is wise and what God thinks is wise are usually very different.


[color=pink]What this means is that there is a battle going on. A battle for our hearts and our minds. There are two camps, two sides, each claiming to have wisdom. Each claiming truth. Each telling us what we need to do to be successful in our lives and in our Christian walk. Ironically, we need wisdom to choose between these two forms of wisdom.[/colur]

James is a big help in this matter. He identifies and lays out the two types of wisdom that are vying for our attention. As Ralph Martin outlines in his commentary on James, we will deal with each form of wisdom in three parts.

# 1 The signs or characteristics of wisdom.

# 2 Where the wisdom comes from.

# 3 I will explain the outcome or the fruit of following that wisdom.

Let’s begin first with what we will call False Wisdom.
# 1. What are the signs of false wisdom? What distinguishes this wisdom from other kinds of wisdom? James explains in verse 14 “If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.” False wisdom is marked by someone who is self-centered. Such people are only out for themselves. It’s seen in people who are after power and fame. They are ultimately only concerned about their own wants and desires. These people are self-absorbed and they are often filled with bitterness.
These are the people that our world reveres. They’re the cut throat business man or the woman who clawed her way to the top. They’re the ones who are driven--driven by their ego, driven by their need for success, driven by their desire to have what their neighbor has. You’ll often see these people on the cover of
Forbes magazine and that’s why we’re so interested in this kind of wisdom.
But this is a graceless wisdom. I say graceless because it lacks a real concern for others. It has no time for forgiveness. No patience to help out. It is full of envy and spite. People with this kind of wisdom have little concern for others or the people they trample on to get to the top. This graceless wisdom was displayed by a group of mountain climbers. They were making their way up Mount Everest and they came upon a man dying because he didn’t bring enough oxygen for the climb. In their lust to reach the top they left the man to die. No one wanted to turn back to help for that would mean giving up their goal.
It’s easy to point fingers. It’s easy for us to condemn such obvious sin but we must be careful! We too have embraced this graceless wisdom. We live it out in our refusal to forgive the friend who hurt us. We decide to hold on to our bitterness a little bit longer. We live it out in our refusal to give help, aid, money, or whatever might be needed. We hold on to our time and our possessions a little too tightly. We easily become overly concerned about ourselves, and we forget that the signs of false wisdom are bitterness, envy and selfish ambition.
Now let’s move on to our second question concerning false wisdom.

# 2. Where does it come from? James explains, “Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.” This is the wisdom of the world. It wants nothing to do with God. In fact it is opposed to God and his work. This, of course, is the type of wisdom that our society encourages. Look out for number one. Get what you can for yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. And we buy into this wisdom from time to time too. What we easily forget, or what we simply choose to ignore, is that this wisdom is not from God--it’s of the devil. It’s harmful to our faith and we shouldn’t want anything to do with it.
Which leads us to the third question;

# [color=violet]3. What is the outcome of this wisdom? What impact does this wisdom have on our lives and on our society? James explains, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” Where there is selfish ambition we find people leaving other people to die on the side of a mountain because the goal of reaching the top is too important. Where there is envy we find people who are willing to fight with their sibling over who gets what money when their parents die. Where there is this kind of wisdom we find families who refuse to talk with each other because of some long standing feud over a simple misunderstanding. We see co-workers who are willing to stab each other in the back to get a promotion. We find brothers and sisters who can’t even be in the same room together. We find disturbing activity and dark family secrets. We find broken marriages and damaged people. We find a refusal to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. We find disorder, pain, and chaos.
What’s even worse, this type of wisdom is passed down from generation to generation. What we’ve learned growing up we take with us into every relationship and every aspect of our lives. We will live it out in our families, our friendships, our work relationships--in everything we do. If we’re taught this wisdom in our youth we will teach it to our children in their youth, and they will teach it to their children. The end result, as James tells us, is disorder and every evil practice. Sin rules everything.
This is a false and destructive wisdom.[/color] James contrasts this with True Wisdom. So we begin with the first question; # 1 what are the signs of this wisdom? Verse 17 “This wisdom . . . is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” This wisdom isn’t full of bitterness and envy. This wisdom is pure - it has no sin and no dysfunction. It’s focused on one thing and one thing only. Unlike false wisdom it’s not focused on self but rather focused on God alone. It keeps its eyes on Jesus Christ and him crucified.
This wisdom is peace-loving. It isn’t interested in the feuding of earthly wisdom. It longs for harmony and for people to get along. For people to work through their differences. For people to be considerate. For people to care for each other. This wisdom shows love to everyone. Even to its enemies.
It’s a submissive wisdom. Now that doesn’t mean it bows down to what everyone else says. But it does say self isn’t so important. A person who is following this wisdom is concerned about serving others and submitting to God’s will. This is a wisdom that is full of
class=Section2>
mercy and good fruit. It’s a wisdom that shares the grace of God. A wisdom that knows Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that knows God’s forgiveness. That knows I’m really no better than the next guy. It knows God wants us to share his love with everyone.
It’s a wisdom that is impartial. A wisdom that is sincere. This wisdom doesn’t need to make sure everything is in our favor. Instead it’s focused on making sure everything is right and just even if it means admitting we’re wrong. Even if that means the scales are weighed against us from time to time. It is a wisdom that seeks to know God’s will and longs to God’s will regardless of the situation. It is a wisdom full of grace. God’s grace.
And so you already know the answer to # 2; This wisdom comes from the Lord. It is a wisdom from heaven that comes to us through Jesus Christ. In this way James is right in line with the Old Testament prophets who taught that the fear of the Lord was true wisdom. True wisdom is to look to God, to worship him with our whole being, to let him rule and guide our lives. To let him and his teaching be the central focus of all we do. This is true wisdom.
This leads us to question # 3; where does this wisdom get us? The outcome of false wisdom, the wisdom of the world, is “disorder and every evil practice,” says James. So what is the outcome of God’s wisdom? James explains, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” There is a benefit to following the Lord and doing his will. There is a benefit to doing what is right in God’s eyes. There is a benefit to following the wisdom from above rather than the wisdom of the world. The benefit is a blessing from God. The benefit is a harvest of righteousness.
This is an exciting harvest to see. In the Ten Commandments the Lord says “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” God has promised that those who follow him, who obey him, who fear him, who find their salvation in him, those who follow the wisdom from above will be blessed. They will sow a harvest of righteousness.
We’ve seen this harvest in different people’s lives, haven’t we? We see it in their actions. We see it in their families. We see generation after generation serving the Lord. We see whole families; grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all worshiping the Lord together. This is the harvest of God’s blessing. This is the harvest of sowing the seeds of God’s wisdom.
We see it in families who live in harmony. Who are able to express their love for each other and who are able to disagree with each other in healthy ways. Families and relationships that can survive through difficulties, and not just survive but thrive. We see co-workers who can sort out their differences. We see people who have a gift of bringing harmony and unity in a tense and possibly explosive situation. We see God’s grace lived out in their lives and in their interactions. We see this because these people are following a wisdom that is pure, considerate, and full of mercy, instead of a wisdom that is full of envy, bitterness, and selfish ambition.
Listen again to some of the beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Blessed are those who follow the wisdom from above, for they will raise a harvest of righteousness. For they will be saved. For they will know God and know his love and his mercy.
But where do we get this wisdom? How do we keep from sowing a harvest of disorder and evil? How do we receive this blessing from God? For starters # 1 we ask for it. James tells us in 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” If we want this wisdom all we have to do is ask. God wants to bless us. He longs for us to raise a harvest of righteousness. He wants us to make him and his Son the central focus of our lives. He longs to give us his wisdom. All we need to do is ask.
# 2 We must follow his word and put his teaching into actions. In the parable of the wise and foolish builder Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” We must seek to live in the fear of the Lord. We must seek to make his teachings and his Word the guiding force of our lives. We must seek to live lives of grace, mercy and love. Lives that exemplify who God is and his love for all people. That is God’s wisdom lived out.
Every day of our lives we must make a choice. A choice to follow the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of heaven. It’s an important choice because it will impact not just us, not just our eternal situation, but it will also impact the generations to follow. It will impact whether we harvest a crop of disorder and evil or a harvest of righteousness. Essentially every day we must ask ourselves, “What kind of wisdom will I follow?”
May we seek to live our lives in the fear of the Lord. May we seek the grace of Jesus so that we may live in His wisdom and reap His blessing.

kingjomezy:
I just saw and went

come and be going oya afon-

upcoming gospel artist Moses Isaac adeiza to cruz lagos to Abuja "he said pray for me also that it wont crash ""✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✖
#mosesisaacadeiza

Moses isaac adeiza show of his dancing talent as he shot a dance video title SECRETACY he said onhis facebook page the link to download video will be out soon

support made in Nigeria
#mosesisaac adeiza

there were mixed reaction in so many people's mind when they heard his back .But many people say thier mind out so today you are free to share yours

Scripture: John 3:16 Topic: The Gospel
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.
One more time I want to focus your mind and your heart on the words of Jesus in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life." These words warn us of the danger we are in without Jesus—perishing. They hold out the wonderful hope of God's design to rescue us from perishing—his love that sends his Son.
Last week we focused on the duty that links us with this love—believing in his Son. And this week we concentrate our attention on the destiny before us if we believe—eternal life.
1. The danger: perishing.
2. The design: love.
3. The duty: believing.
4. The destiny: life.
The Destiny: Eternal Life.

.
O how fitting it is that on Christmas morning we focus on eternal life. In John 10:10 Jesus said, "I came [that's Christmas] that they might have life, and that they might have it abundantly"—have it in fullness and have it forever. So eternal life is Christ's aim at Christmas.


And my aim with him in this service is your eternal life. I want you to have it and to know what it is and to enjoy it and to share it.
So what I am going to do is walk us through the stages of eternal life. You will need to ask where are you in these stages? What is your experience of eternal life?


Stage 1: In Christ
Eternal life is in Christ.
John 1:4, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." Or in John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Eternal life is first and foremost the life of the Son of God. It is God's life.
Therefore it is supernatural. It is not something we have by nature. If we get it, we get it as a gift (cf. 17:2; 10:28) and as a supernatural act above what we can manufacture. Eternal life is Christ's life. "In him was life, and that life was the light of men."


Stage 2: Through the Word of Christ
Eternal life comes to us through the Word of Christ.
In John 6:68 Peter says to Jesus, "To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (cf. 5:24). The life of Christ is mediated to the world through his words. He himself is called the Word of God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God . . . and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14).
And when he was with us on the earth, he spoke the words of life. And he taught his disciples to go and teach the way he taught. And he said that others would come to believe on him through their word (17:20). So eternal life is extended from Christ to others through his Word.



Stage 3: God Draws People to Christ
In the hearing of the words of eternal life, God draws people to Christ.
In John 6:44 Jesus says, "No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him." Christ is where eternal life is received. We must come to him if we will have it (5:40). The words of life offer it and describe it and tell how to have it and beckon us to it.
But John 3:20 describes how by nature we hate the light of life. We don't want to come because we are laid bare and exposed by the light of life. Our only hope is the merciful "drawing" of God. He overcomes our hatred for the light and opens our eyes to start seeing Christ for who he really is.
You have seen the bumper stickers, "Start seeing motorcycles." That's not because people aren't seeing them in one sense. It's because they need to see them in another sense. So it is with Christ at a very different level of seriousness. People know about him, but they don't really see him for who he is, or they would be overwhelmed with his greatness and beauty and power and goodness and wisdom and love.
If eternal life is going to come into our lives, we have to start seeing Jesus, and that is what God's drawing us does. It opens our eyes to start seeing the Jesus we already see in the Word.
Is this the stage of eternal life where you are?


Stage 4: Believing in Christ
We receive eternal life through believing in Christ.
When we hear the words of life, and yield to the drawing power of God, and believe in Jesus, we receive him into our lives and with him we receive eternal life, because he is eternal life (John 14:6).
In John 15:5 Jesus says, "I am the vine you are the branches." In other words by believing in Christ, we are united to him the way a branch is united to a vine—so that the life of the vine flows into the branch. His eternal life flows into us and we now have eternal life.
This is a great work of God that he is performing all over the world every day. For example, my friend and pastor and pro-life leader in Boston, John Ensor wrote in his Christmas letter this past week:
You are aware of the many powerful works of God both in Scripture and in the world today. God is doing some amazing things home and abroad. Two weeks ago, Kristen and I had a chance to lead a communist Chinese scholar to faith in Christ (she is a devotee of Mao). She's studying for her doctorate here in Boston. We had a chance to help her through a crisis. As a result, she gave her life to Christ. She's already read all four gospels. She came to our Christmas open house and sang carols to the Lord. I think in the days ahead there will be more of Christ and less of Mao. This is the power of God!


Stage 5: We Have Eternal Life Now
In believing we have eternal life NOW, not just in the future.
In John 5:24 Jesus says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life [not "will have" but "has"—now!], and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." In other words eternal life is not something you wait for after death. It is something you have NOW if you are believing in Jesus.
Believing is the link that unites us with the life of God in Christ now. If we have Christ, we have his life now. And his life is eternal.


Stage 6: A Personal Relationship with God
This eternal life is a personal relationship with God the Father and God the Son.
In John 17:3 Jesus defined eternal life like this. He was praying to his Father in heaven, and said: "This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Eternal life is a personal, intimate knowing of God. It is not like an inoculation against the disease of death, that works unconsciously like a spiritual antibiotic. It is a conscious experience of knowing and relating to God.
To see why this is so, connect this with John 1:4 that we already saw under stage one: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." The life is the light. What does that mean? It means, I believe, that when the eternal life of Christ comes into your life through faith, it sheds light on God and on Christ so you can know them personally. You now can see them far more clearly than you ever could before. You saw them as through a fog before faith. Then God enabled you to see enough to draw you into faith. Now in faith the life comes and with it the lights start to go on everywhere, and the personal reality of God is so powerful that you can know him and relate to him and fellowship with him.
"This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Eternal life brings the light of personal knowledge into the heart, and we know him and live with him and commune with him, NOW.



Stage 7: Not Interrupted at Death
Eternal life is not interrupted at death.
In John 11:25–26 Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die." I think what he means is this: Everyone who has eternal life by faith will never have that life stripped away from him; even if he dies, he will live. Physical death will not turn eternal life into temporary life.
One of the most powerful moments in my seminary life was at the funeral of one of my professors, James Morgan, 37 years old, with a wife and four children. Lewis Smedes gave the message from these verses and at one point he lifted his voice and said with tremendous authority, "James Morgan is not dead! For Jesus has said, 'Everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.'"
Eternal life is not interrupted by death.


Stage 8: Made Complete at the Resurrection
Eternal life will be made complete when our bodies are raised from the dead and reunited with our spirits.
In John 6:40 Jesus said, "This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." He is not only the life, as he said (11:25–26), he is the resurrection.
We buried Flossie O'Connor and Marion Newstrum this past week. They are alive with eternal life in heaven with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23). But their fullest experience of eternal life will come when the Lord descends with a trumpet and with the archangel's call and the dead bodies of those who are in Christ are raised from the dead.
Eternal life encompasses body and soul.


Stage 9: Lasting Forever and Ever
Eternal life will last forever and ever.
How long is forever? Does it make you tremble? That so much rides on your spiritual awakening in this life? How long is it? I once heard Jerry Healy in a Bethel Chapel describe it like this: if a little bird should fly from the coast of the sea to a great plain and deposit a grain of sand once every thousand years, when the mound of sand is the height of Mount Everest eternity will have just begun.



Why Does Eternity Exist?
It exists because it will take that long for us to know the inexhaustible glories of God. Two-hundred-fifty years ago Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon on what it would be like to experience eternal life to—see and know God for eternity. He ponders whether that would grow dull and boring.

The fountain that supplies [the] joy and delight, which the soul has in seeing God . . . is infinite . . . The understanding may extend itself as far as it will; it doth but take its flight into an endless expanse, and dive into a bottomless ocean. It may discover more and more of the beauty and loveliness of God, but it never will exhaust the fountain . . .

Then he comments on the infinite love of God based on Ephesians 3:18–19, "That you may be able to comprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; that you might be filled with all the fullness of God."

We can never by soaring and ascending come to the height of [the love of God]; we can never by descending come to the depth of it; or by measuring, know the length and breadth of it . . . Let the thoughts and desires extend themselves as they will, here is space enough for them, in which they may expand for ever. How blessed therefore are they that do see God, who are come to this exhaustless fountain! . . . After they have had the pleasure of beholding the face of God millions of ages, it will not grow a dull story; the relish of this delight will be as exquisite as ever . . . (Works of Jonathan Edwards, Edinburgh, 1974, vol. 2, p. 909)



Where Are You in the Stages of Eternal Life?
Where are you in the stages of eternal life? All of you are at least at stage two: the hearing of the words of life. That is what I have been speaking. And I believe God has taken many to stage three: he is drawing you by helping you see Christ for who he is. O that you would cross the threshold of life and believe this morning, and come into that present possession of eternal life and that wonderful relationship of knowing the only true God and the one whom he sent, Jesus Christ.
What if you believe this morning? What if you finally say, "Lord, Jesus, I see you in your Word, and I no longer will resist you. I trust you with my soul and my body. I believe the promise of John 3:16 that whoever believes on Christ will not perish but have eternal life. I receive your gift of eternal life." We'd really like to know what God is doing in your life so we can pray for you. And we'd like to point you in some helpful directions to go on with Christ.

COMEDY OVERDOSE
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
1.) Some girls are funny… They leave hair in their arm- pits & shave their eyebrows.
# Biko What kind of farming system is that?
Hmmm...
2.) I vomit 2 times today in the presence of my mom and she has been looking at me somehow, should I remind her that am not pregnant, that I'm a man??... # Ewo !!!Nawaooo!!!!!!!!!
3.) The only warning Africans take seriously is *Low battery*
# TrueOrFalse ??
4.) Just wondering what Methuselah was doing on earth for 969 yrs without an Android phone and power bank…
That man strong. #I_Swear
5.) A Slay Queen At My Back During Lectures Today Shouted "We Can't See Your Voice Sir,
Please Be Loudable''
I’m Still Waiting For My Turn To Faint Cause We Are Fainting According To Our reg. Number.
6.) I Have Been Fainting Since Yesterday When This Girl Told Me She Fell From A Bike And Broke Her Virginity.
# Kuku_Kill_Me .
7.) :
No one is more respectful than the person who wants to borrow money ...... He/She can even greet your dog ........ “Hello bingo, how was your night......”
8.) That Moment When Your Father Calls You "Stupid Boy" And You Mistakenly Reply "you Nkor" My Brother Jejely Pack To The Next Orphanage Near You....
10.) When you get married to a jealous husband...
Husband: hello honey, were are u?
Wife: I'm in the church
Husband: give the phone to Jesus...
11.) Akpors Wife asked: What are u doing?
Akpors replied: am Killing mosquitoes?
Wife: How many did u kill?
Akpors: Total 5. Two females, 3 males.
Wife: How do u know their genders?
Akpors: 2 were near mirror and 3 near beer bottle
Lemme come and be going
12.) Some guys will intentionally not put chairs in their rooms so that when a lady comes to visit, she will have no other option than to sit on the bed. These are Minister of Strategic planning and Bedmatic Affairs.
Innocent Chasm Observes. # AbiNoBeSo??
13.) Why do banks connect ropes to their pens? We trust them with our money yet they can't trust us with common pen
Say no to banks and bring ur money Lemmi keep for y'all. My pen is take away
14.) Who noticed??
Lagos babes no dey post pics again The flood don carry their makeup kit
15.) It's only Nigerian Police that will tell you: “Oga Your plate Number is LAGOS what are you doing in SOKOTO you are Under Arrest”.
# Lmao**
16.) All those Guyz making promises during sex .
How will u be promising one lady two houses, one helicopter and three cars while u’re owing mama Akara 500 hundred naira??
Bros, is ur brain paining u?
17.) # Palz!
I want to build a strong relationship, I have bought cement what else do I need?
18.) That Moment You Take Your Ugly Friend Along With You To Your Crush House
.
And She Be Like: "Oh My God!!! You Guys Look Alike" # FADALURD_TakeMySoul **
19.) Black people think violence fixes everything. You will find a person slapping a remote control simply becoz it is not working.
20.) That awkward moment you seated in church beside your crush and your kid broda came running with #10 note towards you and says broda Mummy said I should give you for OFFERING..
.
Kukuma kill me… #Lol **
21.) When God Wanna Play Your Video On Judgement Day, And It Shows Viewer Discretion +18 Just Jejely Walk To Hell Fire Straight.
22.) Government to remove pockets from the police uniform… Great idea right??
23.) It’s only in Nigeria you'll see a conductor eating bread with Power horse...
For God's sake, it an energy drink, not Lipton.
# Ah_ah !

ma lady which one you come day na

i have been douting if i would have a sex with the girl i love before marriage but something tempted me by asking me a question

what of if she got raped nko

what if she is not a virgin and she has been lying to you

so let me leave you sha


that girl you are trying to marry will you bang her before that wonderful night
.The lady will you allow him to enter you before honeymoon?

i have been wandering if theres is no copypaste key how many blogger do you think will exist.
becease most blogger even the proffessional bloggers do copy paste

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday said Boko Haram had been substantially degraded in the past three years as an organised sect.
It admitted that there might be patches of the sect still fighting.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, made this disclosure at the opening ceremony of the 2017 African Partnership Flight (APF) exercise held at 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said: “The APF is a multilateral military to military engagement designed to enhance African regional co-operation, increase interoperability and build capacity in aviation.
“Globally, the concept of regions, forces have gained recognition as the best approach towards solving common security issues.
“It is, therefore, important that contiguous nations should pull their resources together to ensure a synergy in their operations. This is for the common goal of stamping out the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria.
https://guardian.ng/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Page-7-pix-9-6-17-.jpg
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal, Sadique Abubakar (C).
“The NAF, which is one of the instruments of national power, is not unmindful of the occasional need for services to participate in both joint and combined operations.
“The service is also mindful of the effect and aftermath of insurgency with particular reference to the plight of innocent civilians, including women and children, who often are the unintended victim.”

The Lagos State police command yesterday said its operatives have within the past one month arrested 33 for acts of jungle justice. The command also arrested 24 armed robbers and 15 cultists and gangsters.
The command’s boss, Fatai Owoseni, said his officers recovered 15 arms, 10 ammunition and 16 stolen vehicles across the state in different operations.
Out of the arrested suspects were four policemen who were nabbed and summarily dismissed for acts ranging from unlawful arrests and extortion, as well attempted murder and robbery

At a press briefing held at the police officers mess in Ikeja, Lagos, where the suspects were paraded before newsmen, the state police boss, Owoseni, gave the highlights of the arrest.
On the 33 suspects who were arrested for jungle justice, Owoseni said there was no justification for killing people without recourse to the law.
He said: “On August 8, a distress call was received at Ijaye Ijokoro police station that some people suspected to be ritualists/kidnappers were seen hiding in a canal at Obadeyi bus-stop along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. The DPO led a team of policemen to the spot and on getting there, they met a large violent mob trying to lynch the suspect.
“As the policemen were trying to rescue the alleged suspects, the crowd descended on them, beating and throwing stones at them. In the process, properties were vandalised and 33 suspects were picked up at the scene.”
At the weekend, a mob burnt two persons to death in Mushin and Agbado Ijaiye for alleged child abduction and phone theft. The suspected kidnapper was killed at Cele in Agbado Ijaye; while the suspected phone thief was lynched in Mushin. He allegedly stole a Samsung Galaxy phone valued at N45,000.
In a video circulating on the internet, the late kidnapper was heard confessing how he abducted children before selling them for N30,000 each. He said he kidnapped and sold four children for N120,000.
Worried by the rising incidence of jungle justice in the state, Owoseni said there was no justification for killing people who should be handed over to the police. “The public is advised to report any suspicious happening in their areas and they are assured of the renewed commitment of the police and other security agencies to prompt response to such reports.
“The general public is strongly advised to desist from this unlawful and barbaric act. No effort will be spared in ensuring that lawful means are used to bring to justice, anyone who violates the law

Appoints new officers amid crisis
• APC promises to intervene
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Justice Okonoboh, alongside his deputy, Mrs. Elizabeth Atvie and the Majority Leader, Folly Ogedengbe have been impeached for alleged abuse of office.
The lawmakers immediately elected the former Chief Whip Kabiru Adjoto from Akoko Constituency 1, as the new Speaker, Victor Edoror (Esan Central), Deputy Speaker and Rolland Asoro (Orhiomwon South) as the Majority Leader
The impeachment by 19 of the 24-member assembly was due to a crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This development has altered the political equation in the three senatorial districts of Edo South, Central and North, giving advantage to Edo North with the deputy governor and speaker.
Also, Edo South, which produced the governor, also produced the chief whip, leaving Edo Central where the impeached speaker came from to be relegated.
At the time of filing this report, leaders of the APC were meeting with the new leadership and other lawmakers at the party secretariat in Benin City.
The crisis had forced the House to postpone its resumption two times, despite the intervention of the Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, who was a former majority leader in the House.
Shortly after the impeachment, Okonoboh described it as a nullity and announced that the lawmakers who masterminded the crisis had been suspended.
The lawmakers Okonoboh earlier suspended were Kabiru Adjoto, Victor Edoroh, Osagbovo Iyoha, Emmanuel Agbaje, Peter Eruaga, Asoro Roland, Monday Ehighalua and Sunday Osasemigie.
But the new speaker said: “We need somebody who will respect the sanctity of the office. Somebody who will take Edo people first and makes laws for the people and I will not disappoint our people in this regard.”
The state Secretary of the party, Lawrence Okah told journalists that the party would come up with its stand after consultations with the leaders.

5 Reasons to Have Faith
Faith isn’t just a notion that some people hold onto in tough times; faith is an important element to all human life on earth. Life is precious, but it can also be remarkably difficult at times. Faith is what helps to get us through, illuminating the pathway in times of darkness, helping to give us strength in times of weakness. Without faith, we are nothing.
Here are 5 reasons why having faith is so important in life.


#1 — The focused power of faith breeds abundance
The mind is an incredibly powerful tool. It can be used for good, but also go to waste when neglected or abused. In times of trouble, we tend to move away from positivity. We go from a state of abundance to a state of lack. But, faith is the tool that helps replenish abundance in the heart and the spirit, not just in the mind.
Whatever it is that we focus on in life, we get more of. If we focus on problems, we live solely in those problems and have difficulty moving past the negativity. Alternatively, however, when we focus on positivity and seek out solutions, we can resolve our problems and move from a state of lack back to a state of abundance.
When we train our minds to think in abundance, and we hold unwavering faith, we gravitate towards that. We attract good things because we believe and expect in good things to come. Similarly, when we believe and expect bad things to come, we also attract that into our lives.
Faith is the pathway for abundance, so be sure to hold it at the forefront of your mind. Don’t be afraid to expect the very best for yourself. This isn’t about being selfish or aimlessly wishing for things; this is about the true, utter, deep-down belief in your heart and your soul that things will improve, and that you deserve the very best in life.


#2 — Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
There’s a powerful story in the bible called the Book of Job. The story is about a man named Job who was as astute as any man could be. He believed strongly in God and held high is faith. But the story goes that one day the devil paid God a visit. The topic of discussion? Job’s faith.
The devil reasoned that Job was faithful because he had been blessed with so much in life. Family, money, land, and respect. But the devil proposed that should God take any number of these things away from Job, he would no longer be the faithful man that God held him up to be. The devil claimed that Job would curse God and that his point would be all but proven. God, of course, disagreed.
So, this agreement began when God began taking things away from Job’s life. Over the course of these trials, Job loses everything that he had worked so hard to create over the years. His livestock, all his money, his family, his friends, and his health. However, even when his wife told him he should curse God, Job didn’t. He remained faithful.
Afterwards, God restored all of Job’s worldly possessions, family, and health. To add to that, God multipled what Job once had many times over. The moral of the story? Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Times might be bad and you might want to throw in that proverbial towel. But never lose faith. For a person without faith is likened to a stream without water — they would cease to exist.


#3 — Faith helps you to discover your purpose in life
Going through life and all of its ups and downs can take a toll on us. At times, it’s enough to question our very existence. But through all of the trials and tribulations we might face, it’s faith that gives us that helping hand. It works to guide us in the right direction, moving us towards and allowing us to discover our purpose in life.
This doesn’t happen overnight. Usually, when we’re faced with a difficult situation, it gets harder before it gets better. Little by little, a part of us is broken, until one day, we dig deep down inside and somehow find the strength we needed to make it through. That strength comes from our faith. Whether it’s your faith in God or in something else, that faith shall set you free.
Everything in life is far easier to get through when we have faith. It’s the guiding light that helps push us towards our purpose.


#4 — Faith trumps stress, anxiety, and fear
It’s easy to allow stress, anxiety, and fear to run our lives. We go from moment to moment worried about one thing or another. Sometimes, those worries manifest themselves into highly-stressful situations, causing not only mental anguish, but physical problems as well. There’s a clear and documented connection between stress and the increased likelihood of disease and illness.
When we allow our minds to move into that realm unchecked, there’s no telling of the damage that can be done. But it’s faith that helps to keep those things at bay. Even when we have no reason to believe that things will get better, it’s through faith that our situations do improve. When you hold the utter expectation of that in your mind, no challenge is too difficult.
Learn to harbor faith and use it to eliminate stress, anxiety, and fear. Think back to situations in the past when you made it through something you thought was insurmountable. Believe and expect that good things will happen, and they will. This isn’t about ignoring your problems; this is about knowing that your situation will improve deep down inside your heart and your soul.


#5 — It acts as the pathway to finding solutions
Faith is the pathway to finding solutions in life. Keep in mind that human beings were made to thrive, and not just survive. If you’re only surviving, there’s far greater in store for you. There’s a pathway to all of your solutions, and that pathway is steeped in faith and the expectation of greater things to come in time.
No matter what the situation is, no matter how bad or dire you think it might seem, your faith can and will get you through it. You must accept that as fact, and hold on to the expectation of greater things to come. Don’t stop pushing or searching for an answer to help resolve whatever situation you might be facing in your life.
If you really want something in life, and I mean you really want it deep down inside and you have a strong-enough reason you absolutely must achieve it, faith is the thing that helps you to see that through. It’s at the core of a persistent heart. Never give up on your hopes and your dreams just because you faced some initial setbacks. Lean on your faith as often as possible and you’ll soon come to realize why having unwavering faith is so important in life.

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i have been thinking of this thin but some say it good some say it bad but me i wonder y it is bad if u do the right tin put ur phone in flight mode but share your opponion sha
is it good to use the bible mobile app in church services

admin help i want to change my name to techadeiza

yeah am still finding and deriving a way to package it different from other chin chin

wow thank u

hi everybody I am Moses Isaac adeiza am 18years old i finshed my secondary education this year .due to the hardship in Nigeria i have to start looking for a small teaching job then i found one but not paying well he do owe his staff.
Am from kogi state an ebira boy but currently am in Abuja. so my brother asked me that which work do i want to learn i told i no a little beat of progrraming and i have a website so i want to learn more he said no that there are many proggramers . so today i went out to check what is that thing marketers lack and what in my area that many people are not doing ni found out that chin chin is that thing that you cant even see one person selling.

so i want to start the bussiness here in kurudu

please i need your advise

how much do you think i need to start?

i know how to do it already

should i go into it?

hope am not too young?

what are does challenges you think i might face ?

and if you have other contribution please i will love it


cc:lalasticlala ,mynd44

Lalasticlala, Mynd44 make una no sleep ooo but sha the woman na baddo

Romance / Guys, If She Possesses Any Of These Traits, Pls Take Her To Your Moma Asap.
(1) (2) (3) ... (7) ( (9) *
by firstking01. 301 posts & 50308 views.
2:48pm On May 05 (NaeChris ) his topic that has the most viewed with 50,308

Romance / Take Away Money From The Relationship And Her True Self Will manifest...
by firstking01. 27 posts & 454 views.
12:32am On Jun 06 (MzLarem ) Last post before death

First post Dating And Meet-up Zone / Hello Peeps...

Personal text : I'm Just A Free MoraL Agent....i chieve Whatever I Wanna Achieve...TrendMimzY
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Sections Most Active In: Romance, Religion ,
Education thix is the section he is always found in as been proved by his profile

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Signature : UntiL SomeOne Points At You As A Reference For Success You Are Still A Failure....
Last seen : 7:50pm On Jun 24

Firstking01 is a passionate nairalander. whose death was announced by a nairalander in pain and argony that forced tears out of my eyes.
details follows his history before death snatched him from us

guy you bad ooo u caught me sha

BREAKING NEWS!!! Acting President of Nigeria Finally steps Down! It has just been announced on CNN, BBC NEWS, CHANNELS TV, AIT and NTA NEWS. Prof.Yemi Osibanjo who was the vice president but now the acting president of Nigeria due to the illness of President Muhammadu Buhari has finally stepped down. . . He stepped down from his car today in front of his office in Aso Rock Abuja to continue his office task. He is such a Hardworking Man. Thank you for your attention. . . Nobody should shout on me o cos today is midweek service ✔✔������������������������

i got you sorry o let me come and be going

Josh44s:
Can you poo on top an unflushed poo your
spouse didn't flush? If you can answer this question then you know the answer to the question you just asked.

#TeamHygiene

ha yes it simple na
reason before you quote me o