Gracemadeit:
John 5:39, Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Luke 24:25, Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26, Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27, And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Beautiful

angelEmade:
insightful

Thanks! You can read more on the site FeedMeJesus

Finallydead:
True in some sense but even reading the scriptures to see jesus in them doesn't necessarily give the impact of eternal life. Until you make real-time, vital, tangible but spiritually discernible contact with Him through His Spirit in you, which will automatically be evidenced in outcomes of your life, youre just as good as those pharisees searching the scriptures for eternal life.

Exactly!

In recent time, the subject and practice of “giving” has raised so much dust to prove that “giving is a very fundamental practice to the Christian faith.”

From tithes to offerings, to firstfruits and partnerships, the Bible never leaves us in the dark concerning how to go about giving in order to honour and glorify God with our resources and as well curb excesses or abuse.

What does the Bible especially the New Testament teach concerning Tithes, Offerings, Partnership etc? Is it still right to practice these things as believers in Christ?

In a bid to fight against manipulations on pulpits, most people have come out to say it is not right to practice one type of giving or the other in the New Testament. While it is true that the New Testament is not loud or is completely silent on different kinds of giving like Tithes, Firstfruits, etc, it is also true that there is no where the New Testament or the whole Bible expressly spoke against them.

What the authors of the New Testament actually took time to address in the epistles, is the motives behind everything we do today as believers - including giving.

“.…..whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31b

If you give whether Tithes, Offerings, Firstfruits, Seeds or even Partnerships because a preacher promised you an overnight multiplication of finances, you have just been scammed. You will get nothing out of it, seeing that you never really gave it to honour the Lord and to see His work prosper. You gave it out of greed to have your money doubled overnight. And God is no money doubler.

If you give to be seen and praised of men, have your name engraved on church walls and seats, that’s the only reward you will get out of it. Regardless of how much you gave. You must never give to impress any man.

Always be alert against manipulators on suits who use fear and threats to force you to give. They may come to you saying things like “if you don’t give you won’t get blessed. Your business will be cursed, your health attacked and you will go to hell.” Such are the messengers of Satan who are only after their own belly. Never give in to their threats.

“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom 16:18)

The man in Christ is an already blessed being. He does not need to give in order to keep curses, destroyers and satanic attacks away from him. The blessings of God already bestowed on him ensures that.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3)

The man in Christ is to give as God has prospered him, bearing in mind that his giving or not giving will go a long way to affect the work of the Gospel, since it takes money to acquire and maintain things like public address systems, church buildings etc.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2Co 9:7-

A believer can purpose in his heart to give 10, 20, 30 or 90 percent of his resources on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. He has not sinned in any way regardless of the name that kind of giving is called in his local church in line with the Word. If it is done cheerfully without any form of manipulation, to honour the Lord and support His work, then there is a reward for it which the Lord Himself will give us.

So can believers still practice the giving of Tithes, Offerings, Partnerships etc in church today? As long as the motives for such is in line with the scriptures(to honour the Lord, support ministers and fellow believers in the work of ministry) , there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

In our local church (Grace Word Assembly), we are perfectly fine with just the regular offerings and ministry partnerships that we give in our church branches. But that does not make us any better than other churches where people give more than that. Neither does this mean that if any member decides of his or her own will to give more than what we regularly give in church, we will reject it. No we won’t. As long as they have properly understood what the Bible truly teaches concerning giving, it is all good.

I hope this blesses you. Say “I choose to honour the Lord, with my resources. Through my giving, the work of the Gospel will prosper in my locality and all over the world. Glory to God!”


Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/04/concerning-tithes-offerings-firstfruits.html

The Bible has several subjects but Jesus is not one of them! He Himself is the Message of the entire Bible, not one of its subjects.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 KJV

The right rendering of the above verse from the Greek translation should actually begin with “You”. That is…

“You search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

What that means is that unlike what we may have erroneously believed, Jesus wasn’t actually giving the people of his day a command to “search the scriptures” like the King James translation puts it in that verse. He was rather telling them what they were already doing - albeit wrongly.

The Message translation puts it in a much better way - a way that pricks religious minds.

“you have your heads in your bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These scriptures are all about me!”

Like many people today, the Jews put much effort in the studying of the Scriptures. They actually devote enough time for that. This act is never wrong in itself and is worth emulating as the Scriptures encourages us to study it diligently.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

However in their study of the scriptures in search of Eternal Life (the Salvation that God gives), they fail to realize that this eternal life cannot be found on the pages of a book (and that includes the Bible)

They failed to realize that the purpose the Bible was given was to point men to Eternal Life and not to give the Life itself.

The reason is because the Eternal Life they seek after has been embodied in a Man, God’s own Son - Jesus.

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

Whosoever believes in Him, not the Bible, shall have everlasting life. Again,

“.….Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:2-3 KJV

This is why the scriptures were given in the first place - to tell men about Him. Everything in the Bible points to Him.

He is not one of those things you come across in the Bible, He is the Mega Deal of the Book. Referring to Him as one of the subjects of the Bible is an insult to His person, He is its Message.

The apostle Philip did not mince words about His personality when describing Him to his brother Nathanael.

“Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, we have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45 KJV

He is The Word in the word (John 1:1, 14-15), the express Image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3), the full expression of all that God was, is and will ever be. He (not just the Bible), is God’s explanation of Himself (His Character, actions and words) to mankind.

In knowing Him, we have known and gotten all that God wants us to know and have. This is why we are instructed to focus our whole attention on Him.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….” Hebrews 12:2 KJV

He is the central message of all the Books of the Bible. Let us make a decision to keep our eyes on Him and nothing else.

He is all that God wants us to know, not Moses, not Elijah and certainly not Abraham. Everyone of those men were relevant enough to have their names engraved in the scriptures because of the Message of Christ which they believed and conveyed to their generations. Aside from that, there is nothing so special about them.

In your study of the scriptures, in your search for eternal life, in your understanding of God, make a decision to see no man but Jesus. For everything in the Bible is about Him.

Again I say, it is all about Him and nothing else! Go tell someone.

You are much loved

(Further reading: Deutronomy 18:15, 18. Ezekiel 34:23. Acts 3:22, 7:37)

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2018/12/the-bible-has-several-messages-but_3.html

Jodera:
I was just so so surprised. I'm sure even the op go weak sef reading all the comments. Lol

"Weak" is an understatement. Majority of our Nigerian youths only read headlines.
That's why we're so ignorant of the Word of God

princeade86:
and with ur small brain, what is the different in the teaching.

Why the rush to comment when you've obviously not read the article? Calm down bro.
It won't take you more than just 5 minutes to thoroughly read the post

A Closer Look At The Words Of Jesus & The Pauline Revelations (Epistles) From FeedMeJesus.com

Looking at the teachings of Jesus in the four Gospels (the books: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John), there seems to be a very wide gap between what Jesus taught and what we see apostle Paul teach in his epistles.

For instance, in Matthew 6:14-15 we see Jesus saying “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

However when Paul wrote his epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians, he said something that looked like an opposite of what Jesus said. He puts his this way:

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

He urged believers to forgive others not so as God will forgive them but because God has ALREADY forgiven them.

Again, in Matthew 19:16-22, a young man asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. In His reply Jesus said:

Mat 19:17 ……Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Jesus recommended a complete keeping of the Law and philanthropy to that young man. A few years later Paul was asked a similar question alongside his companion Silas by a Prison warder, and here is what they replied:

Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

While Paul recommended just Faith in the Son of God Jesus to be all that is needed to be saved and have eternal life, it seems as though Jesus Himself recommended works alone to be all it takes.

Is Paul then a false teacher? Are his teachings truly in contradiction to Jesus’ own? Should we disregard the writings of Paul completely or is there something we are not getting clearly as a church when we look at the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul? Let’s go further.

To truly understand why Paul wrote the things he did, we need to first of all understand that the Bible is a book of progressive revelation which was never complete until the very last book. That means until we have read it through to the very last book and gotten witnesses from its numerous authors, we cannot turn “a statement” in it into a basis for Faith, a doctrine.

This is because the book was written in such a way that you will find the explanation and confirmations of the things you read as you proceed to the very end. So taking a statement from Jesus in the book of Matthew alone and establishing it as a doctrine will not be the best thing to do until you have read through the other books.

Why is this so? Because before His death (in the Gospels), Jesus said He had many things to say (bring to understanding, explain, teach) to His disciples concerning the things he had already said to them before and things to come. But He couldn’t say those things to them because the disciples couldn’t bear them then. He however said the Holy Spirit, when He has come to live in them, will teach, explain and show them those things He couldn’t due to their inability to bear them them then.

Joh 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The word “remembrance” Jesus used in that verse 26 above is actually better translated as “understanding”. That means what Jesus meant in that verse is that the Holy Spirit will bring to their understanding the things Jesus said while He was physically present with them. He (the Spirit of God) will give them the revelation, the explanations of His words beyond what the average man could understand. Verse 25 of that John 14 above makes this clearer.

While talking with His disciples again in John 16, Jesus reiterated this one more time to show how relevant it is for the Spirit (the one who explains everything) to come live in them.

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Spirit shall show them things to come. The words “things to come” in that verse is not talking about “visions, dreams etc.” It is actually talking about the “death, burial and resurrection of Jesus” which was to come immediately after Jesus finished those statements. Those events are what Jesus meant there, not some distant future things.

In other words, the Holy Spirit will reveal to the disciples the mysteries of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. That is, why Jesus had to die, was buried and resurrected. The things He did for us via His death, burial and resurrection. The benefits His death brought for us such as grace, peace, righteousness, justification, etc. These are the things to come which the Holy Spirit would teach and have the disciples pen down in their letters to the church.

It is these “things to come” that apostle Paul devoted his time to know and Jesus by His Spirit revealed them to Him as he looked diligently into the Old Testament scriptures and prophecies concerning Salvation. This revelation of the finished works of Christ which Jesus Himself by His Spirit brought to Paul’s understanding was what inspired him to boldly write the things he did in all his epistles.
[b]
Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.[/b]

He went on to explain how come about this his revelations and teachings again in Galatians 1:11-20. Here is how he puts it:

[b]Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Gal 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Gal 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. [/b]

Now to confirm that the things Paul wrote in all his epistles are true, James, Peter and John, the pillars of the church, gave him the needed support. Paul called this support the right hand of fellowship to go share his Gospel revelations with the gentiles. A kind of saying “go ahead brother Paul, we are behind you because these things you teach are true.”

Gal 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

In his own epistle, apostle Peter further confirmed this:

2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Notice how Peter did not only confirm a single epistle of Paul but all of them at the same time. Read that verse 16 again. He gave witness to EVERYTHING Paul said and wrote in ALL his epistles. That is to show that everything Paul said in all his epistles were correct.

So when next someone wants to make you believe that Paul was wrong or is a false teacher, be steadfast in your faith and rebuke them. Paul’s teachings are never against the teachings of Jesus. They are actually the continuation and explanations of what Jesus would have us the church to know today. There are no errors in those teachings. The Spirit of God made sure there was never an error in them so the church won’t be misled today.

I hope this blesses you. Now lift your hands to the Father and thank Him for the entire revelation of His Word, His Son, to us.

Glory to Jesus our King eternal.

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/05/are-teachings-of-paul-against-teachings-of-jesus.html

A Bible exposition on God, Natural Disasters and the Punishment for Sin From FeedMeJesus.com

After the cyclone Idai that ravaged Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique in March this year and left numerous people either or homeless, many questions started coming up. Some of those questions includes: Where does natural disasters come from? Why do they happen? Why does God allow such evil things as earthquakes, famine, landslides, hurricanes and other evils to happen?

As is their custom, some over zealous brethren who had never taken their time to understand the real acts of God as displayed clearly in the work of redemption (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus) started writing and talking about things they have very limited knowledge of, attributing to God the very works of the devil.

These lots claimed that God was using such evils to punish man for his numerous atrocities on earth. Little wonder He created them in the first place.

The most popular verses they often place their feet to say that God is the driving force behind these natural disasters and other kinds of evil which He uses to either punish a people for their sins or to demonstrate His sovereignty over man, are Isaiah 45:7 and Amos 3:6. Without wasting much time, let’s take a deep look into these verses and find out if it is true what they say that God creates evil or disaster.

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Is Isaiah 45:7 and Amos 3:6 actually saying that God creates or does evil either to punish sin or to exert His authority as the only God of the universe? If that is what these verses are saying, is it true about the character of God? Stick with me as we go on!

First, Isaiah 45:7 and Amos 3:6 are better understood in the context of the entire bible and not as individual verses. This is because the prophets, Isaiah and Amos (including all the old testament prophets) were allowed to speak to the people of their generation about God as the Holy Spirit occasionally gave them inspiration. However, not everything they said and wrote down can be said to have directly come from God, word for word. (I explained this better in the teaching: Who changed the unchangeable God?)

They were allowed to put everything they said to the people of their generation (both the ones that came directly from the Holy Spirit and their human perspectives) down into writing with the intention that the reader would gain a clearer understanding of the things they said and did in their time as he progresses in his study of the scriptures.

“At sundry times and in divers manners, the prophets spoke unto the fathers about God. But in these last days, God has spoken to us about Himself in and through His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things and by whom also He made the worlds. The son being the brightness of His glory, and the express image (ultimate revelation) of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, after He had by Himself washed away our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” Hebrews 1:1-3 (paraphrased by me)

In the days of these prophets and the fathers, the full expression of ALL that God is (His character and activities) was not yet revealed since man was still under sin and cannot at that state, receive the true knowledge of God in him. Until his sins have been washed away by a Saviour.

This sin nature coupled with the Mosaic laws, greatly limited their understanding of God and His acts. This was the major reason the main crux of the new testament brought into play by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a thorough knowledge of God.

Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Until this new testament was ushered in by the blood of Jesus, all that the old testament folks (including Isaiah and Amos) had, were just the partial knowledge of the operations of God permitted for folks in their era.

Not only were they greatly limited in their understanding of God, they also never knew much about the existence and the operation of other forces in the earth apart from God. By that I mean Satan and his demons. This is the major reason the word “Satan” appeared only 15 times in all the old testament books and “devils” appeared only 4 times there.

In these 19 appearances (both words joined together), not one time was any of the words mentioned in either Isaiah or Amos. This explains why the prophets of old did all kinds of miracles but never cast out a single demon. They didn’t know much about them.

Not having a full knowledge of the existence and operations of the devil, they credited everything (good or bad) that happens on the earth to God. Even when they spoke on His behalf using words like “I am,” “I create,” “I do” etc.

However, when Jesus (the full knowledge of the Godhead) showed up on earth, not only did He reveal to us the true nature of God via His words and actions, He also took time to unmask for us the doer of evil, the one known as the devil or Satan.

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

In the face of death He (God in the flesh) raised the dead. He gave life rather than take it.

Luk 7:14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Luk 7:15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

We see this His character as God again in John 11.

Joh 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Joh 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

He supernaturally stopped the storm (more than once), multiplied bread and turned water into wine. Instead of calling down fire upon His enemies, He sternly rebuked His disciples for even conceiving the idea.

Luk 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

Luk 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

Luk 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

Luk 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

Luk 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Luk 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Seeing the character of God clearly in His Son Jesus Christ, the apostle James boldly wrote:

Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man

In other words, when evil happens, let no man attribute it to God. Why? Because God cannot and does not use evil to tempt or try any man for any reason. He does not do evil and should never be associated with it. His works and gifts are ONLY good stuffs.

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

So from the context of Isaiah 45:7 and Amos 3:6, we see that the prophets said the things they said in those verses in order to express the fact that there is no other God except Jehovah. However, in the context of the entire Bible, we see that certain things happen in this world that does not directly come from God and one of them is natural disasters.

The man Job in his ignorance also claimed that everything happening on the earth and to him precisely, came from God. Good or bad. This made him accept the afflictions of the Devil wholeheartedly until God opened his eyes and he said:

Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

That is, “I use to know you by what people said about you which I believed. But now my own eyes have seen you for who you really are.”

God does not create or use evil to force man serve Him. The natural disasters and other evils going on in the world today are not happening because God wants to teach man some lessons with them. They are not happening because He is angry that America and other western nations have given in to homosexuality, abortion and other sins.

These disasters and evils are happening in this world simply because the original order set in place by God has been altered by sin, courtesy of Adam.

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

However, through the Word we know that someday we will no longer experience such. And that is simply because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

So is God the one punishing nations with natural disasters and other evils? Certainly not. We know this because we have seen Him clearly in Christ. If He punishes even one nation for sin with such, He would have to apologize to Jesus for dying on the cross since He has been punished once and for all for sin.

I hope this blesses you. In Christ we have seen and known God clearly. And in Him we know that God has no business with evil.

Glory to God!

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/05/God-natural-disasters-sin-punishment-evil-isaiah-amos.html

lakesidepapa:


The Email attached is not working, How can I get u Sir? I can write u on email as well.

Alright sir. Visit feedmejesus.com, there's a place for "Send Us A Message" at the last section of the site.
Enter your email and message there. You will be responded to as soon as possible.
Thank you!

lakesidepapa:

I need to talk you on a certain thing, How can I get in touch?

Good afternoon bro. Just send me a message.

From Feedmejesus.com

Growing up as a young Christian, one of the teachings I found predominant among Pentecostals in the part of Nigeria where I grew up was the subject of “Foundation.”

Foundation here is always used to refer a person’s roots. Where he came from.

It was taught with different terminologies like “breaking free from foundational problems,” “how to defeat and destroy your faulty foundation,” “your foundation, your limitation” and much more.

We were taught “foundational problems” are always very difficult to tackle so to break free from them, you are always required to pray VERY hard, sow OUTRAGEOUS seeds (money of course) and embark on LONG hours of fasting.

If those three methods fail to work, then you will need to get “sand” or any other material from your father’s compound in the village and add a very powerful special sacrifice (oh yes I mean money) to it. By all means, the limitation must be broken!

A popular verse of scripture from where this doctrine of foundation was deduced from and wildly propagated among churches in Nigeria and beyond is Psalm 11:3 .

But what is this verse really about? What is it saying? Let’s see it together from the Bible.

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3 KJV
Was David the author of this verse talking about foundation as in roots of the righteous? What was he trying to say here?

Now if you just read that verse from the King James Translation of the Bible alone, you’d erroneously assume that’s what he’s talking about. But the truth is, what he is talking about in that verse is far from what we have made of it today.

To understand the simple message he was trying to pass across there, we’ll have to read the previous and succeeding verses using a different translation for clarity.

“I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
The wicked are stringing their bows and arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.

The foundation of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”

But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on the earth.

The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulphur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds.

For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.” Psalm 11:1-7 NLT
The Message translation is another translation that breaks this chapter down for easy understanding.

From the entire chapter, you can see clearly that the “foundation” David was talking about in that verse was simply Peace and order being destroyed in the land as of the time he wrote that Psalm.

That is, he was talking about how crime and violence now reigns in Israel and how the good people in that land lack the power or ability (physically) to combat it.
He then went ahead to express his trust and confidence in God’s protection over him and the righteous people in the face of the ongoing violence in the country.

It has nothing to do with the false teaching of foundation (roots) that is currrently being used to deprive people of their hard earned resources in Nigeria and Africa today. You’ve got to open your eyes to this.

Talking about the Christian and his true foundation, you’ve got to understand that the Christian is a product of Christ’s resurrection. He has his roots in Jesus and since he originated from Him, He (Jesus) is his foundation.

Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:11 expressly called Him our foundation although he called Him that in talking about the Christian faith and teachings.

(1Co 3:11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
He is the base, the foundation from which we have our beliefs and teachings. But even more, He is where we have our lives, our roots and origin.

(Act 17:28) For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
The believer, created anew, is the offspring of God in Christ.

(2Co 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And since Christ rose from death completely perfect without any iota of sin, we can trust in Him completely knowing that our foundation as new creations is forever faultless .

This is the truth of the scriptures. Let no man put you again in bondage to fear.
Let no man unsettle you with “false” prophecies of your foundation being faulty as a believer in Christ to which you are required to make one sacrifice or the other. Jesus is our ever faultless foundation.

When next they come with those terrifying messages to milk you dry or subject you to unnecessary religious exercises, stand your ground, beat up your chest and say “Jesus is my ever faultless foundation. In Him I have my roots. No shaking!”
I hope this blesses you.
Glory to God!

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/02/jesus-our-ever-faultless-foundation_23.html?m=1

From FeedMeJesus.com

what does it really mean to be born again?
I am sure you are going to be finding this refreshing as you will get a clearer understanding of what it truly means to be born again.

To understand this subject of being “born again” as used among Christians today, we will have to look at the only book that talked so much about it i.e the Bible, and find out what Jesus meant when He used those terms.

Let’s take a quick look at John chapter 3 from verse 1:

[b]Joh 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. [/b]

The popular belief people have when they read this part of the Scripture, is that being born again has to do with being baptised in water either as an adult or an infant.

This is mostly because in verse 5, Jesus said “…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

So they assume being born again has to do with water immersion. Once a man has been dipped in water, he has access to enter the kingdom of God. That is far from what Jesus meant here and we shall see this clearly as we proceed.

The other popular belief out there is that being born again has to do with getting your acts right and “looking serious” all the time. Once you don’t wear some type of clothes, take some type of food and drinks, don’t talk too much, don’t laugh too much and talk softly, most people would conclude you are born again.

If that is what it means to be born again, then it would mean that almost all who practice Judaism, Islam and other strict religions are born again since majority of them carry themselves around with so much piety.

But being born again is far bigger than mere physical appearance and habits. If it were about wearing a long face and appearing “serious” all the time, then God wouldn’t have given to us the Spirit of Joy in the first place.

This is because “Joy” according to the Bible, is not just what you feel in your heart. It is very very expressive. It shows in your smiles, laughter, dancing, running around, twirling and so on.

When Jesus said “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” He used the Greek words “gennao anothen” translated as “born again” in English, to describe that experience.

Let’s look at those two words closely for a moment so we can get His point there.

The Greek word “Gennao” which is translated as “born” in English, actually means “to procreate,” “to father,” and also to “regenerate.”The Greeks also use the word to not only talk about conception but also the process of delivery.

The other word “Anothen” translated as “again” in English actually means “from above” or “Anew.”

If you put the words together now, it would mean that what Jesus said to Nicodemus was “except a man is procreated or fathered anew from above, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God.”

(I guess it’s beginning to make sense. Please pay special attention from here)

This was what confused Nicodemus that made him ask if it would take a man’s mum to conceive and give birth to him again for that to happen.

Jesus then had to explain further by saying in verse 5[b] “…except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”[/b]

The major reason we don’t always get the real meaning of this verse and assume it is talking about water baptism, is because we don’t know the word “and” in that verse is not a conjunction but an explanation.

In the Greek, the word translated as “and” in our Bibles is the word “kai.”

“Kai” in Greek do not always mean “and” like the Bible translators put it in that verse. It also mean “that is,” “which is,” “even” etc. It used for explaining a statement.

To get the explanation Jesus was trying to pass across to Nicodemus in that verse 5, we would need to substitute “and” there with “which is” or “that is” since they are the same in the Greek. If we do that, the verse will look like this:

“.….except a man be born of water which is [/b]the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

(I hope you get this.)

He merely used water to describe the character of the Spirit of God there. He wasn’t talking about water baptism there at all.

That is why all through the remaining verses in that chapter, He never mentioned “water” again as regarding being born again but kept on repeating “the Spirit.”

This is not the only time He even used water to describe the activity of the Holy Spirit in the entire Bible. For instance in John 7:37-39

[b]“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

“(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

Look at that. You know it would sound ridiculous today if you carry a physical cup and go around expecting Jesus to give you real water to drink because you read “if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink”?

Why will it sound ridiculous? It is because the writer of that verse being John the apostle, has already helped you in verse 39 by telling you that the water Jesus was talking about in those verses was merely a reference to the Spirit of God.

So when you hear or read about being born again, do not assume that it is about being immersed in any physical water or quitting any habit. It is not just that.

To be born again simply means to be supernaturally procreated or birthed by the Spirit of God. And by the reason of that birth (not your piety or self righteousness), you have direct access to heaven.

So, a born again man is that fellow that have been supernaturally procreated by the Spirit of God. His citizenship is in heaven.

He is not aspiring to go to heaven. Heaven is where he is seated already according to Ephesians 2:5-6.

Calling him a “candidate” of heaven will be to talk down or talk less of who he really is. He is a “citizen” of heaven, not a candidate that is still aspiring and may likely not get there.

Should he live right and reflect the character of the Spirit in his conducts? YES

Can he miss it atimes? Yes he can, and that is because we still move about in this fallen world.

But can his missing to conduct himself properly cause him to be un-born again? There is no such a thing as being un-born again in the Bible. It is either a man is born again or he is not. That is what the Bible teaches.

So from John 3, we see clearly that to be born again is a supernatural thing done by the Spirit of God.

Man’s only part in that process is to believe the Gospel. Once he is born again, the Spirit of God begins to work on his inside helping him to live and do the will of God on this earth as he is supposed.

I hope this blesses you.

Glory to God!

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/02/answered-what-does-it-really-mean-to-be_2.html

LilMissFavvy:
Hmmmmm....... Yes the message is a blessing.

thank you!

From FeedMeJesus.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Eph 2: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(Eph 2:9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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

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

(Eph 1:17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

(Eph 1:18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

(Eph 1:19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

(Eph 1:20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

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

(Joh 10:28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

(Joh 10:29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

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

(Jud 1:24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

(Jud 1:25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

I hope this blesses you.

Glory to God!


Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/03/what-if-christian-says-he-no-longer.html

From FeedMeJesus.com

Can a Christian be possessed by evil spirits? Can a believer be influenced by demons to say and act anyhow? Is there a difference between evil spirits possession and being demonized?

We will find answers to all these questions and more as we look in the Bible to study what it has to say about the Christian and evil spirits possession.

Before we go further, I will like to point out that the word “Christian” in this study is not in any way referring to “mere” church goers. The kind you see in churches every Sunday morning or 31st night of every December.

By a “Christian” here, we are referring to someone who has put his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour from sin and destruction. Such a fellow is properly called a “believer” or a “saint” biblically.

1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours

That he is called a saint biblically doesn’t mean he no longer sins. It simply means that God on the account of Jesus, has forgiven him of his sins and will no longer punish him for it.

Knowing this, let us go further to answering the question, can a Christian be possessed with an evil spirit?

To get the right answer to that question, we will have to first understand what it means to be possessed by an evil spirit and what happens when a man becomes a Christian.

Demonic or evil spirits possession has to do with evil spirits entering the spirit, soul and body of a man to live, thereby taking complete ownership of that man. His thoughts, words, emotions and actions.

An example of such possession is found in Luke 8:26-36

[b]Luk 8:26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

Luk 8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Luk 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

Luk 8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

Luk 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Luk 8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

Luk 8:32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Luk 8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Luk 8:34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Luk 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Luk 8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. [/b]

When a man has evil spirits living within him just like in the above example, he is said to be demonic. So to say that a person is demonic is the same as saying he is possessed of an evil spirit.

Having known what demon possession is all about, let us see what happens when a man becomes a Christian (remember the earlier definition we gave as to who a Christian in this context is)

According to the Bible, when a man becomes a Christian, that is, believes and accepts the sacrifice of Jesus for himself personally, something supernatural happens to him.

The first is that he is SEALED with the Holy Spirit of God

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The sealing there has to do with God placing the Holy Spirit, His mark of ownership (a kind of His signature) on us believers. By that seal, He blocked our spirit, soul and body from unauthorized access. That means the Christian is “out of bound” to every other being except his true owner, God, who by the blood of Jesus paid to have us. The Christian is His prized possession today.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

God lives inside of the believer today. He doesn’t just visit him. He lives in him 24/7.

Now, can God live in a man 24/7 and still share the same space with an evil spirit? Is it possible for the Holy Spirit and a demon to live in a believer at the same time?

The Bible gives us a very clear answer to that. See the scriptures below.

2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Not only did Paul take time to highlight the impossibility of a demon having fellowship (sharing the same space) with the Spirit of God in a man, he also took time to point out what most people often miss in the later part of that verse 16 of 2 Corinthians chapter 6.

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

He said “for God has said” and he starts telling you what God has said by Himself concerning the body of the man in Christ, the Christian. God has said……”I will dwell in them” not “we (God and a demon) will dwell in them.” “I will walk in them” not “we (God and evil spirits) will walk in them”

Paul used singular pronouns when talking about the reality of what God said in that verse. It wasn’t by accident. It was to communicate to you that there can only be the Holy Spirit of God in a Christian and nothing else.

The believer is fully sealed, secured, inhabited and possessed by the Holy Spirit of God. There is no vacancy in him for evil spirits to dwell. No vacancy at all.

If the Christian cannot be possessed by an evil spirit, what about Peter the disciple of Jesus? What happened to him?

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

You need to understand that at the time the Matthew 16 event happened, the Holy Spirit was not living in any man. He only visited and used men to perform a particular function and afterwards left. At His departure, another spirit could possibly come in and fill that space and as well leave with time.

But the moment Jesus was glorified (resurrected from the dead), the Holy Spirit ceased to be a regular visitor and started living within all those who received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

This was part of the New Covenant blessings Jesus promised His disciples including Peter before His death. Every one of them looked forward to that day when the Holy Spirit will dwell in men never to leave again.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Prior to the resurrection, He was with them but was never in them. However, since the day He was given, He is in us to stay forever.

Can the Christian be demonized?

Yes he can. To be “demonized” here simply means to be influenced or attacked by demons from the outside of a man. It happens when one has willingly or ignorantly yielded to the lies and deceits of the devil through his mind. Something the Bible calls the fiery darts of the wicked.

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Once he believes those lies and deceits of the enemy, he can act and say things you wouldn’t expect from someone who is fully inhabited by the Holy Spirit of God. It doesn’t mean the Spirit of God is no longer in him, it simply means he needs to get his mind renewed by the Word in order to be back on track. That’s how it works.

The man in Christ, the believer or Christian, is completely possessed by the Holy Spirit of God. There is no vacancy in him for evil spirits to come in and dwell. Though they can fire darts (lying thoughts) to his mind, he can by the truth of God’s word reject and withstand them.

The Christian is sealed, secured and inhabited ONLY by the Spirit of God. That is what the Bible truly teaches.

I hope this blesses you.

Glory to God!


Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/05/the-christian-and-evil-spirits-possession.html

Happy sunday everyone!

Read also MY SUNDAY GIFT TO EVERYONE GOING THROUGH ISSUES THAT ARE WEIGHING THEM DOWN RIGHT NOW

From FeedMeJesus.com

While deceit and lies are very powerful tools in the hands of the enemy, they are not his greatest weapon for destroying relationships, the family and the church today as revelation knowledge has multiplied on the earth that we live in.

Satan’s greatest weapon for destroying families, supernatural relationships and the church today is found in the word “Strife.”

By Strife here, I mean offences, disagreements, quarrels that leads to bitterness, anger and hatred, and cause divisions among us as partners, family members and church.

“And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and herdmen of Lot’s cattle; and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” Genesis 13:7-8

Abraham and Lot lived and did business together until they let the strife that arose between their herdsmen get to them also.

Prior to this time, Lot living with Abraham who was obviously blessed of God, prospered greatly in his business to the point he had his own Cattle and herdsmen. But failing to curtail the strife that arose while it was still early and allowing it to separate him from Abraham cost him almost everything, including his own life.

Lot allowed offences make him move out of the land God has previously instructed them to stay and went to live with the people of Sodom. A people that do not care about God or His Word.

“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

“Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.” Gen.13:10-11

It took the mercy and grace of God for Lot and his two daughters to be saved in the day that judgement came upon the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

However, he lost his wife, properties, cattle and even his herdsmen in that destruction as a result of him separating from Abraham due to disagreements.

Strife will make you pick offences where there is none. Little disagreements and quarrels like tiny drops of water suddenly becomes mighty oceans in your eyes.

A simple correction in love will appear as injustice, hatred and wickedness to you.

Do not give this a place in your heart. Always be on the alert against offences.

By all means, settle every quarrel and disagreements amicably and do not give the devil a place in your heart by harbouring them.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32

Paul reiterated this in his writing to the Colossian church.

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Colossians 3:13

Do not let disagreements cut you short from learning and receiving from whom you ought to.

Do not walk away from the supernatural relationships that God has put you in or turn your back on your family and church due to offences.

Guide your heart with all diligence and preserve it from this evil force that has separated families, relationships and even divided great churches.

Always remember, together we can achieve more than we can as individuals.

You are much loved!

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/01/unmasking-strife-satans-greatest-weapon_17.html

jiggaz:
Good evening my brother Unstoppable51
Thank you for this powerful message!! I just read it on your site, so i have to post it here immediately!! Thank you for allowing Christ Jesus to use you in sharing this gospel of grace!! All glory to our Abba Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!!

Thank you so much sir. This means a whole lot to me!

[quote author=DLuciano post=79606818][/quote]
If a person receives the gift of Salvation but fails to live uprightly after he is saved, he loses his rewards for good works IN heaven not his salvation. This is because Salvation is NOT a reward for the good we have done but a GIFT which we simply received by faith, independent of our actions.
The believer who thinks his actions after salvation does not matter is a BIG TIME JOKER. Because we shall ALL (believers now) appear before the judgement seat of Christ to receive rewards for our actions right here on earth. However, that judgement is not to determine if we are to enter heaven or hell. It's simply to determine the nature & magnitude of our rewards. If we never lived right we'll still be saved but disqualified from receiving any reward, an experience Paul calls to be a "castaway"
I hope everyone reading this clearly understands that we're NOT saying it is OK to sin because we've been saved forever, God forbid that.
https://feedmejesus.com doesn't teach that

Why do people consider it such a BIG deal for God to KEEP whomever He saves forever SAVED?
Even in the face of Jude 1:24, Hebrews 7:25, John 10:28-29, Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 10:14 and lots of other scriptures that EXPRESSLY revealed this.
How do people look directly into the scriptures and comfortably call the truths of God's Eternal Salvation a lie?
It is one thing for you not to understand a thing, it is another thing to REFUSE to understand it regardless of how clear it has been explained to you from the scriptures.
The later is not a character we have learnt of Christ, if truly we are His followers!

Dafemich:
The way people are going against it, that was why I didn't read the rest. Am really confuse

Good morning bro!
From your replies you seem really sincere about wanting to understand the truth concerning Salvation. I have been in the position that you are in right now and here's what helped me discover and built my convictions on this:
1. I made up my mind to put a lot of effort in knowing the truth for myself so I READ & LISTENED A LOT.
You can't keep away from properly explained threads, posts, books, audio teachings etc because of what people say and expect to understand all you desire.
2. I began to value WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY a lot more than what are people saying about this? Only the Word counts for me.
3. Praying Pauline prayers
For now, I'll respectfully advise you pause the book and learn first sir. You'll bless more lives!
Two sites I'll personally recommend for you is https://www.feedmejesus.com and also livingwordmedia.org (audio teachings free download)

From FeedMeJesus.com

Philippians 2:12 is one of the most highly misunderstood verses of the scripture. This wouldn’t have been so if we had never mastered the act of lifting scriptures out of context and making it say what it was never meant to.

In a bid to discredit and prove the Truth of eternal salvation wrong, most people have greatly misconstrued this beautiful verse of the scripture.

(Php 2:12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

What was Paul the apostle trying to say here? What does this verse really mean?

First, unlike what is popularly believed out there, this verse isn’t asking you to work for your salvation. It said work it out.

I really need you to understand that to work out your Salvation is not the same as working for it. When people read this verse, they often make the mistake of thinking they are the same. They think the verse is asking you to do something (good things) in order to produce or receive your own salvation.

This is a very wrong notion because as important as our good works are, they count for nothing when it comes to being a criteria for salvation. They cannot merit or provide that wonderful experience for us. That is why Salvation is a gift.

(Eph 2: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(Eph 2:9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

As a matter of fact when it comes to Salvation, our good works (self righteousness) are counted before God as used or dirty sanitary rag.

(Isa 64:6) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

It is that useless when used as a criteria for receiving Salvation. This is why Salvation is a complete gift of God’s grace received only by Faith. Not merits.

The statement “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” was an apostolic instruction Paul gave to the Philippian church, charging them to live uprightly as those who have received God’s salvation already within their spirits.

He wasn’t asking them to live uprightly in order to receive salvation. That is to work for it. He was asking them to live uprightly because they have been saved already. The next verse to that one throws more light, take a look at it.

(Php 2:12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

(Php 2:13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God works within you so you let the world see it. Let what God has done within you reflect on the outside. In your words and conducts. Since you are saved, live like it.

The instruction is similar to what Jesus said to His disciples after calling them the Lights of the world.

(Mat 5:14) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

(Mat 5:15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

(Mat 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

So as Christians, the whole of Philippians 2 encourages us to live the life of Christ on the earth. Not so as God would pat us on the back and offer us His salvation as a reward for our good living. It is simply because we have already received that Salvation as a gift, empowering us us to live righteously in this crooked world.

It is like the popular song, “Let the world see Jesus in your eyes….” How can they see Jesus in your eyes or life if you don’t already have Him living within you? How can you work out your salvation if you don’t already have that salvation given to you?

You have received the workings of God within you (Salvation) so you let it reflect in your lifestyle (work it out). That is what Philippians 2:12 is saying, not the other way round.

I hope this blesses you.

Glory to God, our Saviour and King!

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/03/what-does-it-mean-to-work-out-your.html

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 KJV

Paul begins this writing by lovingly pleading with us like parents would plead with their adult kids, to present our bodies a living sacrifice to God.

This has to do with our daily life. We are to present our bodies holy and acceptable to God.

The “present’ there has to do with seeing and agreeing that your body has been made holy and acceptable unto God, and then walking that way on earth.

That is, you are to see that your body is not some dirty, old, rejected and empty vessel. It is holy, acceptable unto God, filled with His Spirit and owned by Him.

Having known this, you are to walk on this earth as someone who is carrying God in his body.
As someone whose body is a holy temple to God, you are to let that holiness manifest in your relationships, conversations, appearance and daily activities.

You are to yield your body as an instrument of righteousness, not allowing your attitude or lifestyle to become a mockery of the Gospel you have believed and profess.

As lights in the world, you are to shine and let men in darkness find their way to God through you.

How can you do this effortlessly? Verse 2 of that Romans 12 gives us a clue. It says it is via the renewal of your mind.

The renewal of the mind there has to do with a constant meditation on the Word till it forms a thought pattern within you that is good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

The thought pattern then forms a deep conviction within you that cannot be easily swayed.

This conviction determines how you act, respond to others and go about fulfilling God’s will on the earth.

So you want to present your body a living sacrifice to God? Start with renewing your mind first.

Say to yourself the things God in His Word has spoken concerning you.

“I have been made righteous through Christ so I live righteously.

“Grace has been given to me so I am gracious toward others.

“I am the Light of the world, darkness and evil is not permitted around me.

“I am dead to sin so it is no longer at work within me.

“I am an ambassador of Christ so I let my lifestyle reflect this. Glory to God!”

When you make a conscious effort to affirm the things the Word has said about the righteous nature you now have in Christ, you will see yourself living more righteous unconsciously than you would on purpose.

I hope this blesses you!

Glory to God!

Source: https://www.feedmejesus.com/2019/01/how-to-present-your-body-living_7.html

merit455:
Thank you sir,my suicide thought just went down. What a write up,this is for me. God bless you

Glory to God!
Nothing is worth taking your life over. No mistake you've made is too BIG for God to forgive, wipe away and restore you. Don't let what people will say blind you from what God in Christ has ALREADY said concerning you. And what is it that He has said? It is "You are LOVED, FORGIVEN & JUSTIFIED!!! THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR YOU"
Only what He has said about you truly matters.
You can learn more of His word on https://www.feedmejesus.com

Have a great week ahead!

solite3:
God bless you for this

Thank you bro