Tag Archives: God

GENERAL

What does it cost to be unique?

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Image Credit: Niall Keenan



The population of people in the world is about 7.1 billion. The mystery here is that no two persons are the same.

Even if they seem to be, their fingerprints would never be! That is the amazingness of God’s creation.

Different faces with different fingerprints. Uniqueness is what it is!


God is known for diversity. He created even the animals, each one in a way that is very different from the other.


To further show his diversified nature, God divided the ministry of Jesus into five folds. The aim was for the uniqueness of each ministry to be recognized and to create a synergy that would bring maturity and equipping to the body of Christ.



To everyone, there is usually an ability that makes them distinctive from others.


Never look down at yourself for you are special, and significant. Be sure that your existence is as important to God as it is to man.



Uniqueness makes people go after you because you are the one in the right position to offer something that they need.


You cannot be gifted and not needed. No!


Joseph and Daniel in the Bible were made phenomenal through the spirit of Wisdom. Their uniqueness emanated from the wisdom that they had and they became greatly sought after for their services.



Most times, it takes the spirit of Wisdom to open one up to his distinctiveness.



Do you want to be unique? Here are some tips:



1. Be Skillful: To be skillful is beyond learning about a business or a vocation.

It is investing your time into the appropriate knowledge needed to make you an expert in a chosen field or career.



There are many problems in various fields that need to be tackled and it is only skilled men that can bring solutions to these problems.


“One skilled in business discovers prosperity, but the one who trusts in God is blessed beyond belief!” Proverbs 16:20.


One surest way to be unique is to invest in quality knowledge that will expand your scope and build you to a place of influence.


2. Values and Virtues: Success doesn’t come only by being skillful. There must be personal core values you must imbibe into you to be outstanding, and remarkable.


Most organizations look for people who are not only skillful but are reliable and committed.


Besides, as true believers, we must imbibe in us the values of the kingdom. This is the only way we can manifest God.



3. Wisdom: Wisdom is a gift given liberally by God. Even, He is the hub of wisdom.


“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” {NLT} – Proverbs 2:6


Divine wisdom effortlessly generates uniqueness. Solomon was a perfect example! His wisdom induced his uniqueness and gave way to his relevance.


However, wisdom is beyond what we want to show, it is what God wants to show through us. That through our life, God is put on display.


Albeit wisdom attracts people to you, it is still the character that keeps them. Pray for wisdom alongside a decent character.


4. Mindset: One of the greatest strongholds of a man is his mindset.


The mind is the channel by which God brings every spiritual reality to expression.


Until it is transformed you can’t think fair of yourself. Who you are, determines what you have seen with the eyes of your mind.


Change the perception of what you think you are and see yourself in the light of God’s definition.



Alleluia!



Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh

Spirituality

KILL THAT ISAAC!

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Image Credit: jw.org


Genesis 22 vs 2

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of”.



Abraham was a man whose disposition was a thing of wonder.


His remarkableness was a result of his willingness to give up his only son for a God he had not seen, at least not physically.


Two things awe-inspiring about him were his quick obedience to do a task as hard as offering his only son as a sacrifice, (Genesis 22 vs 3) and his strong faith in a God that demanded such an assignment.



That obedience was a selfless act of sacrifice.



He had his emotions but he chose God’s will first.


Abraham could have cast and bound the voice of the Lord assuming it to be the devil’s since it was never heard that God ever demanded human sacrifice.



It was a test many people would have easily failed.


Who would want to give up his ONLY SON?


Yet, Abraham obeyed instantly with firm faith in his heart for God.


On their way to the mountain, the unsuspecting Isaac curiously asked his father where the sacrificial lamb was, but you might never have guessed correctly what Abraham responded if you didn’t read the story further!



He didn’t break down to cry or lament.


He simply said, “My son, God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt offering.”


That response indicates the level of faith Abraham had in God and surely this same faith of his was one of the things God saw and amply blessed him for.


In the end, God didn’t just bless him, he also blessed all the seeds that came out and would still come out through him.


Moreover, God provided Abraham with a lamb to use for the sacrifice instead of Isaac, his son. It was a test all along!



God does not give out his profound blessings carelessly, he gives them out to a deserving man.


We have been blessed, undoubtedly; blessed to be under God’s grace and not the law.


However, the life-changing blessings God has in store for every one of his children will not come into physical manifestation without them first undergoing and overcoming a test.


Every test is a door to a higher realm with God.


Obedience to God’s test may not always be easy.



It may not be easy to let go of dear things when God asks us to.


We may not want to go through the stress.


We may not want to deal with the emotional pain that comes with giving up those things.


They could be well-paying jobs, a potential spouse, or even the seemingly most difficult– social media.



It might even be the smallest thing such as a plate of food.


But if ever God asks you to give anything up, trust him, there’s a greater blessing in store for those who obey.


The sacrifice will be an agonizing one but look beyond the discomfort, and look with the eyes of faith, just like Abraham did.



Don’t hold on to the pain that comes with laying sacrifices and thereafter, miss the chance of an eternal blessing from God.



KILL THAT ISAAC NOW!


Written by Tolu-Taiwo Victor

Spirituality

We are running out of Time!

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Years ago, I lived parents’ house as a kid, running around the compound without your slippers on.


Years ago, I was in high school, dependent on my parents for funding and survival. Yet, in the twinkling of an eye, I am semi-independent, at the verge of becoming a University graduate with a B. A degree. Everyday brings me closer to a life of total independence.



Years ago, I’d never have imagined that I could live alone, without my parents. It made me reject the consideration to attend a Boarding school.

Yet, as a student of The University of Benin, Nigeria, I have been living in my private apartment without my parents’ supervision for nearly two years now.


In all these, I have learnt a vital lesson, which I intend on sharing with you through this article. That lesson is the lesson of Time.



I have learnt that time waits for no man. No matter how much one wants to remain in comfort and mediocre living, one must gird his loins and get moving if one must succeed in life.


Proverbs 6:9: ‘But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson’


Proverbs 6:10: ‘A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest’ —


Proverbs 6:11: “and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”


I want to talk specifically to the young fellows. Make use of your time! Make proper use of your free time! Time is valuable. Time is money! I’ve always thought that the greatest, yet most delicate asset God gave to man is time.


Today is an opportunity to have a better tomorrow! Everyday is a seed for a greater condition in the days ahead. What are you doing with your time? What are you doing with your ‘today’?



Hours ago, it was jjust 5am here in Nigeria. It was dark, cool and good for sleep.

Yet, within four hours from now, we’ll be in dusk, working hours will be over and the day will be paving way for the night to come.

No matter how much we want to slow the hands of time, it remains a force that is beyond our control.


So, the best you can do, is to achieve all that is achievable, and do all you can in the Now.



Two things to do with your Time



1. Invest in Yourself


Many of us invest more in what we wear than in who are. We invest more in the quality of our dressing than in the quality of our thinking. It’s time for a change. Spend every minute of your day in becoming a better version of your former self.


– Invest in your mind.
– Read good books.
– Improve on your skill.


Do not cringe from spending money in bettering your craftsmanship.

Instead of wasting time in unnecessary activities, take masterclasses and attend webinars that will sharpen your mental acumen and entrepreneurial skills.

You’ll never go broke if you invest in yourself. Benjamin Franklin said,

‘An investment in yourself pays the best interest’.

Everything done towards becoming a better person is a self-investment. It will make you a better person, not just to yourself, but to the society. The society will only value you if you spend time in self development.

Invest in your Health

Improve your eating habits. Cut out eating junk. Carve out time exercising daily.

Instead of spending the morning lying on the bed lazily, grab your sports vest and go for a jog.


2. Invest in Others


Source: Optimy Wiki


Add value to the lives of people. Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others’.


Use your time to better the lives of people. Use your time to make the society a better place to live in.

Haven’t you observed, that the richest men are always the richest givers. Great men are always great givers.


There are children with bright minds, yet living in poverty because there is no one to help them. Be the one to help them. Make them appreciate the phenomenon of human existence.


Every morning God gives you, is given to you for others. Therefore, before jumping off the bed, the first question you must ask yourself is, ‘What can I for my society.’

What do you have that the society needs? It is in the answer to this question that we attain discovery of our true value.

Heal the sick. Sow seeds of compassion to people. Give people a reason to be alive.



If you center your time on doing these two things, your profitability will appear to all.








Were you blessed by this? We would love to hear from you 😊; drop a comment or send an email to nwododivine82@gmail.com. God bless you! ❤️

GENERAL

What Is God’s will For Your Life?

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One of the profound statements made by one of the wisest Kings of Israel, Solomon, is that ‘there is a time for everything under the earth.’


There was a time you were born and there is a time you will die. The life of a man begins from the womb and ends at the tomb.


In the middle of the journey from the womb to the tomb, is the assignment that God has in mind for us.


To live a life without a clear vision of what God wants you to do is to live a wasted life.


Never live your life without understanding of God’s will for you.


A Wise Man once said ‘when purpose is not realized, abuse is inevitable.’


The will of God will always communicate the purpose of your life on Earth.



‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’ Jeremiah 29:11-13.


The aforementioned passage lets us know that God has thoughts about us. He has a will and purpose for our existence.




This means that there is a picture of your future in the mind of God and He wants to show it to you.


God wants to show you His thoughts so that you your walk will be aligned with them.



Many people are ignorant of the thoughts of God towards them. This is wrong. God desires to reveal His thoughts for you, to you. The thoughts of God for us is His will for us.



“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55: 8-9.



Thoughts are energies that constitute our lives. Ninety percent of who we are today is a product of our thoughts.


Spend time thinking through the thoughts of God daily. His thoughts are in His world. They’re thoughts of Hope, a better tomorrow, prosperity and peace.



If God’s thought is larger than our thoughts, it means that what God desires for us is far wider and greater than what we even want for ourselves.



His will is higher than our will and that is why we must surrender our will and yield to His will.


How can I know God’s Will?


The Holy Spirit will always communicate the will of God to us. He is the One who reveals the deep and hidden things of God. These things are hidden, not from us but for us.


God loves you more than you love yourself. He has our future all birthed and planned in His Mind. Seek to know the Mind of God.

Revelation of His Will for us is what births the convictions required to withstand the storms of life.


Do you know God’s will for your life or you are still roaming around looking?



Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh

Spirituality

The Preserving Faith

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There are three P’s of Faith: Patience, Persistence, and perseverance. These three constitute the nature of faith.


As Believers, we are meant to solidify our faith to fight the imminent evil days. If our faith is not strong how then can we fight against the fiery darts of the enemy? How would we stand against storms and sufferings and prosecutions?



The days we are in look like the sun is so darkened and the heavens have been closed over us. Such days where the government is against the rise of the Ecclesia.

Such occurrences are part of the test of our loyalty to God. For if we have no vitality at the time of tribulations, we are weak and have not yet been trained to uphold the Faith.


Our ancestors, the first-century fathers of faith; the apostles, were not called fathers of faith simply for recognition.

It was because they went through different types of trials. The storm was so great that the church in Jerusalem was dispersed but yet they had a persistent and preserving faith.


They were patient because faith can’t build enough stature in us if there is no patience. Patience makes our faith robust, firm, and able to hope and see beyond what is going around us.


It doesn’t matter what we are going through, it doesn’t matter how the situation looks like now. What we need is a faith that will make us live and dwell daily in the supernatural.


For the raging roar of stormy winds and waves cannot erode our faith in God. Rest in His presence has a constantly flowing river whose sparkling streams bring joy and delight to his people. Psalms 46: 3-4.


There are so numerous storms in life and, it is only our faith that can calm them. It takes a man of faith to speak and things would return to normal.


Do we remember the miracle of faith that Jesus performed while the disciples were on a boat?

The master was sleeping comfortably in the boat when storms and the winds came wrecking.

The disciples were afraid of death even when the master who gives life to all was on the boat with them. He simply rebuked the raging sea and wind and they became calm. The disciples had joy and rest.



When we have persistence, perseverance, and patience, there is no high level of the storm coming that we won’t be able to surmount.

We should do well to plant our lives in Christ Jesus that our faith may produce fruits in due season. With Him in our boats, our faith springs forth life.


Hallelujah!



God wants us to overcome every storm, it is in God’s interest for us to win every battle in our lives. By this, His glory in us is displayed.



What is your faith’s level?
Boost it today.



Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh

GENERAL

I want to be loved just the way I am

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First of all, understand that people are simply attracted to anyone possessing quality(s) that they find irresistible.

It could be character, beauty, money, or something else they fancy. Nobody gets attracted to anyone when they don’t see anything overwhelming in them.



But, it’s usually amusing when someone says they want to be loved just the way they are. It is an uncanny statement made by those who don’t want to take responsibility and work out their flaws.


It takes responsibility to work on yourself in areas you are lagging. Even if you are good or talented at something, improving yourself is not a bad idea.


For temperamental people, they would need conditioning in their personality because they may be unable to thrive in a relationship.

The reason is that they are excessively irritable and moody. They are extremely emotional when stimulated.


A temperamental man usually gets annoyed over seemingly minor matters. He should rather have to work on this flaw than expect a random lady to love and get committed to him in a relationship.

No lady would want a bulldog as a spouse.


Because eventually, she might just get turned into a punching bag.
For a believer who is temperamental, the assistance of the Holy Spirit can help him to handle his emotions.



Personal development is not solely for men. It is for both genders. Ladies are required to groom themselves into responsibility. Prime themselves mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.


In Africa, women are expected to have competent skills in house management and meal preparation.

Therefore, single ladies in Africa are required to train themselves in these aspects. It is part of their personal development.



However, these skills are not gender-based. They should be something acquired by both men and women.


Ultimately, if any wants to be great in life, he should take responsibility by working on himself. Take an action and strive to be better than yesterday.


Don’t compel people to accept the faulty you when there are no visible efforts you make to get better. People will only chase after an ASSET rather than a LIABILITY.



REMAIN BLESSED.

Spirituality

Does God approve of your existence?

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“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew and approved of you [as my chosen instrument] and before you were born, I separated and set you apart, consecrating you and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1 vs 5 (AMP)



God told Jeremiah in the scripture above that he knew him and even approved of him before he was formed in the womb, meaning even before his parents met, God had chosen and set him aside for Kingdom purpose.



When God said He knew Jeremiah, He meant He knew even his deepest secrets, he knew Jeremiah more than Jeremiah knew himself.


He knew his flaws, weakness, strengths, past, present and future mistakes


God knows us the same way too. He knows all our weaknesses, still, just like the way he chose and approved of Jeremiah, He has approved of us the same way.



God sees beyond our flaws and weaknesses into the great potentials embedded in us and wants to bring it out and use it for the Kingdom.


But contrariwise, what most of us see is the weakness and flaws we all have in our lives.


We feel we are too weak and imperfect for God to use.


The truth is, truly God has approved of us but until we also learn to approve of ourselves, God’s plan and purpose to bring out the great potential embedded in us won’t come to fruition.


We also learn to see things from the standpoint of God. We must learn to see ourselves the way God sees us.


In the bid to show ourselves approved, many of us have become pleasers of men rather than God-pleasers.


Men may approve of you but if God does not , it is all is in vain.


It is better to be approved by God alone than to get the approval of all the men of the earth.



God’s approval is the highest form of approval you need to get in life and once gotten, the approval of MEN YOU NEED in your life will come rushing in.


I capitalized those words above for you to understand that you do not need everyone’s approval to get through in life.


Trying to get the approval of every one around you will surely end up in frustration because you can never please everyone.



God knows those you need and he will surely bring them your way, all you need is to get HIS approval first.


So do not get broken if those you think you need do not approve of you, for God is preparing you for greater things ahead.


Let us try to be pleasers of God and not men.


Remember, since God knows you and has approved of you, you must learn to approve of yourself also.


It may look stupid right now but trust me, in time to come, it will all make sense and those who rejected you in the last will come back running to you.




Written by Tolu-Taiwo Victor

Spirituality

SPIRITUAL POISONS

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Image Credit: Mental floss

Poisons, according to the Advanced English Dictionary, are substances which cause injury, illness or death to a living organism.


Poisons could prove really injurious or deadly even when taken in the the littlest quantity.



Relating it to the spirit world, poisons are substances which cause injury, illness or death to one’s spiritual life even in the smallest quantity.


Most spiritual content comes e in form of messages (preaching) that we give our hearts to, as well as the books we read.



There are many messages and spiritual books today but not all are good for our spiritual health as Christians.



The devil knows he might not be able to poison our minds as members of the Church from outside the Church, so he tries to get us from within the body of Christ through the use of varieties of false doctrines and wrong books.



The Bible calls those books, teachings and those behind it “WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING. ”



These books and teachings do not come alone, they are accompanied by verses from the Bible to confuse and poison the minds of believers.



They may contain a higher percentage of Bible verses and then a little percentage of spiritual poisons, yet, that little droplet of spiritual poison is enough to destroy one spiritually.


The devil knows you will not believe lies easily, so he inserts some real Bible verses in it.

Take a look at the temptation of Jesus.


Truly, the Bible tells us to listen to counsels but it did not say any counsel. It specified that it must be “WISE COUNSELS”. [Proverbs 1 vs 5]


There are lots of counsels today, some of which go against God’s written words.



We must be careful of the things we give our hearts and ears to.



How can you know the wise counsels?


The Bible says in Proverbs 1 vs 5, “….. a MAN of UNDERSTANDING shall attain unto wise counsels. ”


To be able to know and discern the wise counsels from the poisonous ones, one must be a man of understanding and a man of understanding is a man who has been taught the scriptures through the help of the Spirit of Wisdom which is the HOLY SPIRIT.



Many seek shortcuts in life, but only few are ready to learn first-hand from the Bible.



Those seeking shortcuts end up polluting their minds, while those who go through the true way get their minds so built up that it can never be shaken by any poison or storm.


We must all learn to take time out to intentionally study our Bibles in other to know that which is and which is not.




About the Author Tolu-Taiwo Victor is a Nigerian-based writer and university aspirant. He’s a leading author at Koinonia Art.

GENERAL

A Sunday Anecdote

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Going to church on Sundays for most people, is to give absolute praise and worship to God for his blessings throughout the week.

It is to also listen to the Word of God that will sustain them for the week to come.⁣
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But for some people like me, going to church on Sunday is like going to a fashion show to to impress people especially girls, with new clothes and a cute face. ⁣
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For people like me, it is a day to dress gorgeously, sit in the front seat where the choir girls would see us and get charmed them with our incredible sense of fashion and dancing skill.
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This Sunday morning, I painstakingly selected the clothes I would be wearing to church. I wanted to go for native attire as usual, but eventually opted for corporate wear since it was the first Sunday of the month.
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So I wore the black flannel trousers I had bought the previous day, a white long sleeves shirt and a green blazer that stuck to my skin like boiled okra and I also spotted my “fake but looked real” Rolex wristwatch. ⁣
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After dressing up, I checked myself in the mirror, I really love what I saw. From my newly shaved hair cut, to my little make up of powder and lip gloss to avoid my lips from getting dried and finally to my cooperate attire. ⁣
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“Sweet Boy… Those choir girls go take am” I muttered to myself as I briskly walked to church.
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When I got to church, I was welcomed by the Hospitality members who were at the front of the gate. They repeatedly said to me, “You are welcome to church. Have a nice service ahead” out loudly. ⁣
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I walked past them to the church premises not without giving that killing smile of mine to Deborah, one of my crushes in the church’s hospitality unit. She smiled back. ⁣
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⁣Guess she fell for my charm! ⁣
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While going inside the church, I noticed two pretty looking girls pointing at me and smiling. ⁣
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“Ah! Service never start beautiful girls don dey fall for me” I uttered to myself. ⁣
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A beautiful usher a beautiful smile plastered on her face directed me to sit in the second row because the front seats were already occupied. ⁣
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That wasn’t bad because the choir girls would still see me and I would be able charm some of them.

I sat beside two pretty ladies. ⁣
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Both of them rocked tight black trousers that revealed their body shapes and curves, and black blazers on top of their long white sleeves that made them looked poised, confident and also beautiful.⁣
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“Na this kind thing Dem make man sin on Sunday morning ooo” I said within myself and laughed at my own silly jokes. ⁣
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“Let us get ready to give the Lord praise for he deserves to be glorify” came a lovely voice that sound familiar. ⁣
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I looked at the podium and it was her. My first crush in the choir, “Stella”. I made sure we made eye contact. She smiled at me and I smiled back feeling happy. ⁣
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“Guess my charm also work on her” ⁣
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When the praise began, just like every other people stared dancing to the rhythm of the praise song.

But I noticed that few minutes into the dance, the people behind me started muttering something among themselves while hailing and applauding me tumultuously. Meanwhile, those at my front were least concerned about what was happening.


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Immediately, I thought that my backside was doing more wonders and getting me more attention from beautiful girls than my frontside. ⁣
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So I decided to turn my backside to every direction so I could gain the attention of more beautiful ladies in the church hall. ⁣
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Immediately I started doing that, murmuring and laughter erupted in the church hall. One of the ladies beside me tapped my shoulder but I was so carried away in my “showing of backside” that I didn’t respond to her. ⁣
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“If you see me dance, I dance like a winner man oo…” ⁣the choir chorused.
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My dancing went wild as that song began. I danced with all my energy, twisting, twerking, only to get an uproar of mocking laughter from the congregation.
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A hand tapped me from behind, and I looked back, but it was a brother trying to tell me something so I ignored him and continued my dancing. ⁣
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“it is beautiful girls i respond to not some ugly looking church niggas” I said within myself.
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I also noticed that almost all the choir girls were staring at me and laughing. ⁣
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“Wow… I guess I have been doing wonderful with my backside making me to get all their attention.” I grinned and continued dancing. ⁣
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Few seconds later, a male usher approached me and told me to looked at my trousers. ⁣
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It was then I noticed that my trouser was torn at the crutch point and since I had gone to church without putting on any underwear, my thing was in full view. It swung helplessly while I danced. ⁣
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As soon as I saw my kokoro in full view, my mind went blank and my expression went from happiness to shock. I wished the Earth would open its mouth and eat me up.⁣
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I stood still, my eyes scanning the floor. I got scared of lifting it up to meet the numerous eyes that were already fastened on me.
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“Wait! You means this is how I came to church this morning?” a voice within me scoffed.
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Immediately, without taking my Bible, I dahed out of the church and ran home like someone being chased by an evil spirit. ⁣
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I went to church to impress girls not knowing that I will get disgraced and like this. ⁣
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Hope you didn’t see anybody running like a mad man in coopreate attire while coming from church today? 😂😂
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About the Author. Adewale S. Adekunle is a short story writer, Sociologist and Bible teacher based in Nigeria.


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Spirituality

What does God say about loving the world?

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From the gospel, Jesus gave insight to the believers about them being in the world but not of the world. The word ‘of’ has to do with identification.


It is apparent that we are in this world but are not being identified with the world. Another tag has been given to us. That is the identification with the kingdom of heaven.


1 Peter 2:9 creates an understanding of how we are no longer under the influence of the kingdom of darkness but have been identified in the kingdom of the dear son of God, Jesus Christ.


But a believer can claim identification as God’s and would still have his attention overly fixed on the things of the world. This can happen when he has not truly developed affection for God and his kingdom.

He ends up placing undue importance on Earthly qualities and possessions.


However, there is no point in setting affections on the world for God has made it known that the love of the Father and the love of the world are highly conflicting.



One can’t say that he has the love of God in him but still allow mundane attachments.




“For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance—none of these things come from the Father but the world. This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the will of God live forever.” 1 John 2:15




The aforementioned passage gives us an understanding that obsessively chasing after Earthly possession is vain.


When you are in love with a certain thing, you become obsessed with it. Loving a certain thing opens you to a deeper relationship with it.

It is the love of the father that sets our hearts on the things that matter to him. If a man is in love with the world, he would certainly do everything to satisfy the cravings that the world has infused into him.


Believers must be careful with what they yearn for.


Love is an operating system in the kingdom that opens you to total obedience to God.

Jesus also gave an understanding of a profound truth that if you love him you will surely obey his commandments.


He also preached that one cannot serve two masters, it is either one loves Mammon or God.


It is folly for one to serve God and serve Mammon together. A deliberate choice must be made on whom to serve.

Joshua was intentional when he chose to serve the Lord, with his family. Love consists of your will and choice.



If anyone loves God and his righteousness, he would surely crave for his kingdom and fulfill all that is required.

Likewise, if any is overly desirous of the world, he would surely do profane things to satisfy his passion. Such a person is bound by carnality and is not identified as Christ’s.

Eventually, he becomes a puppet controlled by the devil. Such a person can never be a tool in God’s hand to make His will done.


It is disheartening that the system of the world has become idolized by some believers. They do this by engaging themselves in activities that are identified with the patterns of the world.


They still Iive a double life. It is not normal. What these set of people do is recorded in Titus 1:16 –


“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good.”


But one who understands the value of the kingdom of God would set his affection on it. He is further eligible for good things.



Such a person would enjoy a victorious life over sin, the earth, and its entirety, for he has undividedly channeled his loyalty to God.



God does not want to spit any out for their lukewarmness. He wants all to be saved.

For His word in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 are not sheer;



“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”


It pleases God that we show him an unwavering faithfulness.

Faithfulness is not proved when we portray godly qualities today, and intentionally display attitudes that are identified with Satan, the next day.


It is God and Him alone.



God Bless you!


Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh

GENERAL

YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

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“I can do nothing on my own….”—Jesus Christ said in John 5:30—

An uncrucified flesh is a direct enemy to spirituality. Any activity carried out for God without the sanction of the Holy Spirit is not recognized in heaven.

What makes the difference in a man’s walk with God is man’s sensitivity and submission to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ knew that heavenly mandates cannot be executed here on earth without first submitting to a higher authority.He had the Holy Spirit but for him to operate at a higher dimension, there had to be a higher measure of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in his life.

He yielded to the Holy Spirit and was led by Him. He was no longer in charge, the Holy Ghost was (Luke 4:1).

That was why He could do what He did.Before his ascension, Jesus commissioned the Apostles to preach the gospel to the world. He knew they wouldn’t be able to accomplish this mandate with human strength, power, or wisdom. This explains why He asked them to wait until they receive the Holy Spirit (Luke 22:49).

There are different measures one can walk with God and it is dependent on one’s degree of submission to the Holy Spirit. (Ezekiel 37).

The vibrancy and success of the life of a believer are hinged on His fellowship with the Holy Spirit. That is why yielding to the Holy Spirit is an inevitable decision anybody who wishes to maintain his or her relationship with God has to make.

Yielding to the Holy-Spirit means giving up one’s ideas, efforts, struggles, and making oneself liable to Him.It is allowing the Holy-Spirit to mortify the old nature of oneself.Yielding to the Holy-Spirit is giving the Holy-Spirit absolute control.

This has to do with allowing the Holy-Spirit to control one’s decisions relating to one’s relationship, work, career, habits, leisure, sex drive, bodily needs, dressing style, expenditure, education, etc.

Yielding to the Holy Spirit means making ourselves available to Him. It is a spiritual discipline that acknowledges we are not on our own and we cannot do anything spiritually and physically significant without Him.

It entails further the act of:

1. Surrendering our will to Him: This is the willingness to do what God wants rather than what one wants. Yielding to the will of heaven rather than ours.

2. Trusting or depending on Him.

3. Following God as His Spirit leads us bearing in mind that He alone knows what is best.

Across the bible, men moved in different levels of success depending on their level of submission and degree of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Power is received when there is submission. The ability to execute dominion on earth is dependent on our degree of obedience to the Father.

It is this power that brings fellowship with the father, and it is our fellowship with the Holy Spirit that makes Jesus and the Father real to a believer. (John 16:14.)

The Father and the Son are made known to us by the Holy Spirit when we submit to God. (Psalm 14:23)

Submission is what keeps our relationship with God. It is what helps us to host his presence. It also opens one’s eyes to see things from God’s perspectives.

Submissiveness to the Holy Spirit opens door to spiritual gifts. These spiritual gifts are given to strengthen and help the body of believers; Not to show how spiritual we are!

The availability of the Holy Spirit on earth gives every person the potential of having a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is available to all, but His availability does not mean there is automatically a relationship with Him.

In fact, “All believers are baptized with the Holy-Spirit. This does not mean, however, that they are filled or controlled by the spirit.” Says Billy Graham.

There is an outer experience of His presence and His indwelling.The outer experience of His presence is our knowledge of Him. While His indwelling has to do with being filled or controlled by the Spirit of God.

The Holy-Spirit desires to make man his dwelling place. This is not possible until we learn to submit to Him.

The process of yielding to the Holy Spirit [Which is being “Filled” with the Holy Spirit] must be a daily, repeated process. It is not something that should be skipped!

It is not something that one does for a while and stops.It has to be a conscious, intentional, deliberate walk and relationship with the Holy Spirit.

When we got born again, we were renewed and given new spiritual life, but when we deny the filling of the Holy Spirit, we are denying the new life which we have been given!

The hunger, desire, and thirst to have the Holy Spirit as our companion should never be found missing in a believer’s life. This is because He is our ever-present help.

Every time men yield to the Holy Spirit, something from heaven is deposited in their spirit; healing, salvation, deliverance, and prosperity.

With these in mind, endeavor to have a deeper relationship with the Holy Ghost by totally submitting to Him. He alone can direct and guide effectively.

Author: Myrose Saviour Lily