Is The Word No Longer Interesting?

Twenty years ago, no one would have thought of a time where such an idea as ‘Internet’, better still, ‘social media’, would change our pattern of interactions, ways of life and how we do things.

Change is truly remarkable when it offers more good than harm to everyone. The world is now very much mobile, everything happens on-line with all sorts of smart phones and advanced gadgets produced every year in large figures. But to what extent has this helped people in appreciating, studying and promoting the Word of God more than ever before? To what extent has this influenced people in understanding and liking the true Gospel of Christ?

I had cause to think lately of how weird it is to have so much engagement on posts, pictures and videos of less value and little or no relevance, where hardly do you get up to five (5) comments, fifty (50) likes and ten (10) shares on posts that remind one of God and the core essence and teachings of His word.

I am not talking about posts from ‘motivational pastors’ (by their fruits you know them) and posts like these...

where people hear what they want to hear, see what they want to see and ask for amen as though you were demanding for tithe and offering. You tell people about salvation, repentance, holiness, righteousness, about Isaiah 55:6-7, Acts 2:38, 4:12, John 3:3-5, tell them about heaven and hell; and watch that post ignored like a plague, and you wonder what’s wrong?

Would you type amen?

What’s wrong? This is the same question I ask myself whenever I share posts established on the Word of God to encourage believers and persuade unbelievers to come taste the grace, goodness and love of God in Christ Jesus. Likes, comments and shares have become gold that no one wants to part with. Even Christians on-line barely do well in this regard except in cases like this...

Would you type amen?

I fully understand that the truth is bitter and very few people appreciate being told what they need to hear and not necessarily what they want to hear. I understand the handwriting on the wall that we are in a time “when men don't endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they turn away their ears (and eyes) from the truth, and turned unto fables (comedy, mockery, porn, etc)” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Is the Word no longer interesting? Has it gone so bad that even with the advent of the Internet and prevalence of virtual spaces and social media (that ought to be a boon for the Gospel), the Word of God could still be shown this much apathy?

Haaa! I already hear someone saying “this writer” has followers and likes issues; he is jealous because his posts aren't enticing incredible likes, comments and shares as desired. Quite frankly, I may want to accept this sentiment a little bit but these are not words from a frustrated or a discouraged young man, but words of a concerned and troubled believer. The essence of this article stands and this really troubles me to my marrow.

Would you type amen?

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you... (Luke 6:26); I believe these words of Jesus validates my supposition on this matter or not. However, it should be told as a reminder that the Living Word (The Bible) remains the power of God unto salvation, and identifying with it, letting it find expression in your words, deeds and actions; nothing delights the Lord more than this.

“For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). And whether likes, comments and shares are rendered or not – even to this very article – I will continue to preach Christ and Him crucified to the world, so that the faith of whosoever cares to listen or read will stand in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men.

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strives for masteries, yet he is not crowned, except he strives lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider these words of Apostle Paul; and may the Lord grant us understanding in all things” (2 Timothy 3:4-7) Amen.

Is the Word no longer interesting? What do you think is wrong? Please feel free to share your opinions, views and insights. Thanks.

*** Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ***

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Courageous Stand For Christ

“And he keeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:60)

Text: Acts 7: 57-60

The greatness of a man is not necessarily measured in terms of the accumulation of material perquisites. Greatness is measured in parts by the adroitness and strength of character displayed in the face of intimidating odds. It is also quantified through the readiness manifested to be a medium of out-poured grace and blessings to others.

Against the foregoing, Stephen, the first martyr among the disciples must be adjured a great man. The religious leaders understood the meaning and implications of Stephens’s preaching and what it was all about. They could no longer withstand his bold and powerful message. Stephen, on the other hand, was not intimidated by the furious and malicious men.

The enraged religious leaders went ahead to order that he be stoned to death. In the midst of it, he was courageous, undaunted and uncompromising. He prayed for his persecutors that God should not lay it to their charge.

There are people who are easily crushed and broken in times of difficulties and challenges of life. They think that they are helpless and hopeless. Some who suffer a little defeat are fallen unto the dust of failure, despair and discouragement. A courageous believer can never accept defeat as final because there is something better, higher and brighter ahead. Stephen demonstrated the virtue of true discipleship by asking forgiveness for those hell-bent on killing him. His spirit of forgiveness clearly manifested the divine nature of Christ.

Life is not a treasure for us to tuck away but to invest in the noblest of virtues that count for God. This must be done in spite of the trials, temptations, troubles and challenges of life. The death of Stephen undoubtedly concluded his ministry. Yet, his martyrdom is a testimony to all who will take a courageous stand for Jesus.

How courageous are you in times of challenges and battles of life? A life invested in Christ will have bountiful dividends in time and eternity.

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Give Me This Mountain

"Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims werethere, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said." (Joshua 14:12)

Text: Joshua 14: 6-15

Probably the first thing a person learns when they make a quality decision to live by faith is that the answer to their prayers is almost never manifested immediately. The Bible says that it is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God (Heb. 6:12).

Timing is of the utmost importance when it comes to receiving from God. All believers need the confident assurance that God is never late when it comes to answering their prayers. On the other hand, neither is He early. Patience, therefore, is what God uses to keep us in His perfect timing and faith is our positive response to His ability to perform what He has promised (Rom. 4:21).

Jesus, when informed of the sickness of His friend Lazarus, stayed two more days in the place where He was at. His explanation for His delay in going to the scene of His friend’s eventual death is found in John 11:14, 15a: “Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sake that I was not there, that you may believe.’” Going through a phase of waiting from the time you first believe to the time of manifestation will build your faith and help you to believe to a greater degree. It is during this time of waiting that persistence and tenacity needs to be built up in the life of all believers who sincerely wish to walk by faith.

Faith that is persistent is faith that gets the job done. It is a quality of faith that forces its way into the kingdom, takes it by storm, and remains there and does not rest satisfied until it receives what it is believing for. Persistence is the power of continuing in some effort or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. It means to be steadfast in purpose, to pursue to an end, to go on stubbornly, to remain unchanged or fixed on a character. Persistent and tenacious faith doesn't look at the failures of the past but at the promises of the Word of God. It is a faith that refuses to be denied.

The story of Caleb going into the Promised Land is a tale of a man who did not let go of a promise made to him many years before. With possessive boldness the old man Caleb stood before his long time friend, Joshua, who was now leader of the Israelites and made the proclamation, “Give me this mountain!”

Like Joshua, Caleb had been one of the twelve spies Moses sent into the Promised Land to spy out the Land of Canaan. Caleb reminds Joshua of this in Joshua 14:7, “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.” Ten of the twelve spies brought back an evil report saying, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we” (Num. 13:31). They later said in vs. 33, “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

Caleb and Joshua, however, came back with a good report. “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13:30). Because of his good report, Caleb now reminds Joshua of a promise made to him by Moses, “So Moses swore on that day saying, “Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever because you have fully followed the Lord my God” (Joshua 14:9).

The old generation of murmuring and disbelieving Israelites had died off in the wilderness and now the new generation, along with Joshua and Caleb, were ready to take possession of the Promised Land. Caleb was now eighty-five years old and he felt he was still just as strong as he had been when he went into Canaan as a spy. The land now had rest from war and Caleb was ready to go on with his life.

Before Joshua divided the Promised Land among the other tribes he would give his faithful friend first choice of what land he wanted. As his inheritance Caleb had chosen Mount Hebron where a race of giants called the Anakims still had control of the land. Moses had promised him a place of his own and now he wanted to take over that land.

Joshua 14 tells us, “Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. As yet, I am as strong this day as I was on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.

“Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.’ And Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance” (vs. 6,11-13).

In order for Caleb to take possession of his inheritance he would have to once again go to war and risk his life and those of his men. To gain what was rightfully his, Caleb would have to force his way onto the mountain and take it by storm. Joshua chapter fifteen goes on to tell us that this is precisely what he did. For those of us living today under the new covenant, Mount Hebron might symbolize any one of the many blessings God promises us in His Word. The promises available to us today are greater than those in the day of Joshua and Caleb. 2 Peter 1:4a says, “…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises.”

We may not be living in the Promised Land but we are in the land of promises. The good news is found in 2 Corinthians 1:20 which says, “For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” Because of this verse and our relationship with Jesus Christ, we can boldly go before the throne of God and say, “Give me this mountain! It’s mine! Your Word promised it to me and I take possession of it now! In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I believe, I receive! So be it!” All faith needs is “Thus saith the Lord…”

Caleb held on to the promise of God and waited forty-five years to receive his inheritance. Sad to say, most people give up if they have to wait forty-five days or, for that matter, forty-five hours. Like Caleb, we must all learn Paul’s message in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart.”

The mountain is yours! Do not lose possession of it because of a simple thing called ‘time.’ Be like David who said in Ps. 31:14,15a, “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in Your hand…” If you have made Jesus the Lord of your life, then also make Him the Lord of your time.

You can trust Him. He will not let you down. And if you do not lose heart, you can count on Him to give you your mountain. Receive it today in Jesus name! Amen.

*** Written by Randall J. Brewer ***

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Keep Burning For The Lord

I remember an old song we sang in old times:

“Give me oil in my lamp,

Keep me burning.

Give me oil in my lamp, I pray”

It’s not God’s responsibility to keep you burning neither is it His task to give you extra oil. He has given you all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Remember the foolish virgins, they didn't get extra oil for the night but the wise virgins got enough to take them for the night. They got it by themselves; the bridegroom (Jesus Christ) didn't buy it for them.

When you become born again, God gives you His Spirit (like the oil that carries you through the night but in this case, through your life). This is His free gift to you. However, it is your responsibility to keep yourself aglow and burning; not in your energy but by the same Spirit you have received.

Expose your heart to the Lord; put yourself under His teachings by studying the Word and meditating daily. Pray in the spirit, be the doer of the Word and the results will definitely wow you, as you will be consistently aglow for Him.

It is time to wake up and take responsibility for your life. The power to succeed and fail in life is in your hands and not God’s, for He has equipped you with all you ever need. Your outcome depends on what you do with what you have been given.

Let your light so shine before men... and keep burning for the Lord!

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#KD4C2016: Kneel Down For Christ 2016

It is with great joy and anticipation that we announce to you a world changing and life altering milestone event that will take place on Thursday, October 20, 2016. "Kneel Down For Christ 2016" (#KD4C2016).

Kneel Down For Christ (#KD4C) is a worldwide outreach where young people around the world between the ages of 12-21 will kneel down as a united body and pray the Lord's Prayer and bring their friends to Christ!

On the morning of October 20^th, youth from around the world will post their prayer circles on social media using the hash-tag #KD4C2016. It is our desire to create a fire storm for the Kingdom of God that has never been seen before.

Imagine your youth group joining other youth from around the world in unity, praying the Lord's Prayer! Imagine those same youth bringing their friends and loved ones to Christ! At a time when our youth are experiencing a society that has turned away from God, we have an opportunity to be a shining light in a dying world!

We humbly invite you to join God-fearing believers from all over the world in this exciting adventure that will literally bring the world to its knees. It is our firm belief that "Kneel Down For Christ" will transform an entire generation.

For more information on #KD4C2016, we invite you to view the following YouTube video: Kneel Down for Christ 2016 - Will You Be Our One in A Million? and prayerfully consider joining us and not letting this once in a lifetime opportunity pass you by.

If you are compelled to help change the world as we are then you can register your youth group for #KD4C2016 at www.warriorarise.com. Once you are on the site, you will see a button on the home screen that says "youth group" -- click this button to register your youth group.

You can also register your youth group by going to the “Resources” tab and choosing "Leader Resources" then choosing "Register Your Youth Group."  You will receive a detailed letter via email once you register providing additional information, and updates will be sent to you on a regular basis.

Thank you and God bless!

Warrior Arise! Ministries Leadership Team | www.warriorarise.com

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Why You Shouldn't Give Up Being A Christian

Have you gotten to that point in your Christian journey where the people you perceive as your role models of faith and the people you look up to for counsels and advice live in such a way that you can’t understand?

These people – your fellow Christians – make mistakes, say things you wouldn't believe they could say and above all, you find them in the strangest of places you feel a person who identifies with Christ shouldn't be found. Then you feel you are done being a Christian. You say, “What’s the point?”, if those who have been in Christ for donkey years can’t inspire confidence in you to keep believing and can’t encourage you to grow in faith with the lives they live.

These people may be the friend(s) who led you to the Lord, the “spirit-filled” chorister with such delightful voice like an angel you admire every Sunday, the head usher who is always neatly dressed, the “never wrong” and “articulate” youth leader and sometimes, it may even be your pastor (your father in the Lord as some call them). The truth is, they are humans and we err.

I know at this point you are saying there is no excuse for a Christian to err. He has the Holy Spirit to help and the Bible as guide, and that “if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature…” and such a person just cannot and should not yield to temptations and sin. Yes, you are right but remember that even the Lord Jesus was tempted more than once. The good news that Jesus overcame them all and was sinless is the hope of the believer – the born again Christian.

No genuine Christian having experienced salvation through the grace of God in Christ would intentionally want to displease the Lord by going back to an old life of sin and depravity. The flesh is weak and it will always be our ‘weak spot’ as long as we remain in this earthly vessel. And the very moment we lose sight of who holds and owns our lives, we slip, lose focus and yield to temptation and sin that get the better of us.

The Book of Matthew chapter four verse one says, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be “tempted” of the devil” (Matthew 4:1). Mark 1:13 and Luke 4:2 hold similar account of Christ’ ordeal in the wilderness. In other parts of the Bible such as Luke 10, John 8, but to mention a few, we see where Jesus was tempted by the Scribes and Pharisees.

And “the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord” (Matthew 10:24). Just as Jesus was tempted, so does every Christian go through temptations daily. As sad as it is to see a soldier lose a battle, so is it to see a believer yield to temptation. If this is what you see in the lives of other Christians and want to give up on being a Christian, don’t be discouraged nor feel despaired just yet. “Though the believer falls seven times, he shall rise up again in the name of Jesus (Proverbs 24:16).”

No one is exempted from being tempted. Not even your pastor, head usher, chorister, youth leader and your Bible study leader. What makes the difference and grants us victory is the measure of trust, faith and confidence we have in whom we serve – Jesus Christ. When tempted and in travails, where does your strength lie? In your ability, wisdom and knowledge? Or in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Master, Deliverer, Saviour and Friend?

“…Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” the book of Hebrews chapter twelve verse two exhorts. And not looking up to your pastor, the “spirit-filled” chorister you admire every Sunday, the head usher, the “never wrong” youth president or anybody else.

As Christians, Christ is our role model and the only One to emulate. Who would imagine that having dined, known and been with Jesus for several years, Apostle Peter could deny his Lord and Judas Iscariot could betray his Master when it mattered to declare his stand? But it happened and as was the case of Apostle Peter, he sought forgiveness with tears and received the mercy of the Lord.

Everyone errs, even the believer make mistakes. But what differentiates us as Christians from others is the grace of God and Jesus Christ in us – our hope of glory. The Lord wants us to be spotless, perfect and without blemish when He comes again but we are not completely there yet (Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 5:27).

As reasons abound to feel discouraged as Christian, so do reasons also abound to not join the “pity party” but be strong and encouraged in the Lord at all times. When you notice brethren who have wandered off the path of grace, pray for them; neither condemn nor judge.

The days are evil and we are at the point where the devil has unfettered influence over the affairs of this present world. He (the Devil) seeks to mount pressure on the believer to renege his or her faith. But now more than ever must we be strong and hold on to the Lord, our strength and very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1) and be ready to fight the good fight of faith till the very end (1 Timothy 6:12).

Don’t stop being a Christian just because your circumstance is out of control and the pains are unbearable. Don’t stop being a Christian because you have become an object of ridicule in the sight of your friends and relatives. Don’t stop being a Christian just because you see no light at the tunnel yet. God is still with you and He never will let you take the fall. No, He won’t; not now and not ever. He said it in His Word and I believe it as you should too.

He will preserve you from trouble and compass you about with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7).

God alone can give us help from trouble and pain: for vain is the help of man (Psalm 60:11-12). So my dearly beloved fellow Christians, I beseech you to stand fast in the Lord and walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love… (Ephesians 4:1-6).

It is my prayer and desire that we are all filled with the knowledge of His (Jesus Christ) will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that we might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God and strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness (Colossians 1:9-11). Amen.

*** Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ***

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