Tag Archives: Religion

Faith

A Mind-blowing lesson from Jesus’ healing of leprous man; He touches the leprous

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Consider how embarrassing it would be if the Queen of England was discovered befriending beggars. Imagine how it would be for the Oba of Benin or the Emir of Kano to be found in local bars with locals. Strange right? Now, imagine the King of Kings, Jesus, being found with the lowest class of people in His day.

Jesus was found with those who society rejected, from fishermen to tax collectors to prostitutes to insane people to blind beggars. He was not embarrassed to be in the company of outcasts.

Jesus feels at ease among those who have been marginalized by society. He has no hesitation about identifying with those who are struggling, spiritually blind, or sick in any aspect of their lives.

Here is one of the numerous instances where Jesus demonstrates His undiscriminating love for mankind;

Matthew 8:1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

In Jewish culture, lepers were considered unclean and were ostracized from society. They were not permitted to live among people and whoever touched them was considered unclean as well.As a result, they were stigmatized and treated as lower-class people.

I can imagine how the leper felt seeing everyone avoid him due to his condition. I can imagine it because I’ve been through something similar before. I know what it’s like to be treated like a scumbag because of how life has treated me. I know what it’s like to be scorned and abandoned when you need people the most.
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Do you know how it feels? To have visible spots on your character, health or mind that you refuse to wash away. And because they are visible, no one wants to be with you. You are left alone!

That is the climax of whatever punishment you want to give to a person. Even God said it is not good for man to be alone. We were never created to be alone.

But there is a way the circumstances of life will treat you, you will be considered unattractive by many. And you will be left alone. Left alone to ponder on the misery of your situation. Left alone to beg for food to eat. Left alone to live for survival.

The leper was left alone because of a leprosy that was never his fault! Have you ever gone through battles you did not cause? Have you ever found yourself in tough situations you know you did not deserve? This leper was in such situation.

But one day, Jesus was passing the very place the leper was. And the leper ran to meet Him. This is where some of us fail as believers. I wish I had done this earlier. Some of us run from Jesus instead of running to Him.

We do not want him to see our leprosy so we either run from Him or try to hide our leprosy.

So in Church, we act like holy saints when we are dying in sin within. We shout ‘praise the Lord’ when we are doubting God within.

We dance in Church and cry at home. We smile in public and mourn in secret. We put on a false appearance because we afraid of being judged or condemned like in the past.

But Jesus does not condemn 😥Isaiah 42:3 says, ‘A bruised weed he will not break’.

Men condemn and abandon because that is the only thing they can do. They have no power to change, deliver or heal. But Jesus is our savior. He can mend the broken hearts and set the oppressed free!

The Leper asked for healing.

I was walking home (Benin, Edo state, Nigeria) one day, and a very little girl ran to me. She was dirty looking and had a very bad odor oozing off her mouth.

She also had a pus on her face. Obviously, she was a beggar. I was so irritated by her appearance that I crossed to the other side of the road just to avoid having to look at her.

I was disgusted by the appearance of a beggar with a little pulse. Imagine how Jesus is supposed to have felt being close to a man with stinking LEPROUSY! Any other person would run away, but Jesus stayed. Because He is not disgusted by our leprosy. In fact, our leprosy is the reason He wants to be with us.

He came for the sick, remember? Luke 5:32.

And He touched the leper. No man had ever touched the leper for years, but Jesus did, and His touch healed the leper.

Jesus wants to touch you. He said to the leper, ‘I am willing’ (Matthew 8:3). Jesus is willing to heal you. He is willing to make you whole again.

What is your ‘leprosy’? Depression. Anxiety. Fears, even doubts. Confusion. Uncertainty. Today you feel you believe God and the next day, you are on the verge of losing hope.

You are the exact person wants to touch. He is the physician looking for the sick. The Advocate looking for the condemned. The Light looking for darkened hearts (John 8:12). The healer looking for wounded souls (Matthew 8:16). The High Priest looking for sinful lives (Hebrews 4:14)

All you have to do is open up your heart, your heart, your weaknesses to Him. Welcome His presence into your life and trust Him not to make you better, but to make you NEW.

Written by

Nwodo Divine

Fam 😊 I need a little favor from you…. actually two favors. I really want to hear from you, so if you were blessed by this post, drop a comment, I will reply ASAP. Then, I need you to subscribe to the blog (it’s free), so that you will be getting these inspiring updates easily. Thank you 😊❤

Faith

Here are five things to do to make 2022 a success

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How was this year for you? Ever asked yourself that question? Well. It was until this morning that the question rang in my ears. Did it ring in yours too?

There’s a very easy way to rate your year. It’s not by checking how much you have in your bank account or how comfortable your life is. Grab your jotter or the piece of paper in which you wrote your New Year resolution for 2021 and check how many were truly fulfilled.

I checked mine and candidly, I still had a few that I had not achieved. So you’re not the only one who still has some unfulfilled resolutions. Lol. But I’m grateful to God that He gave me the wisdom to achieve the ones I could achieve. And that wisdom is what I would love to share with you in this post.

Here are a few tips on how to have a more successful 2022;

  1. Go on a retreat before New year’s day.
crosswalk.com

Did you go through battles this year? Academic battles. Financial battles. Marital and family battles. Health battles. Moral battles. Spiritual battles. We all had a battle to fight. Even the struggle to survive in the midst of the virus was a tough battle.

No matter what the outcome of the battle was, retreats allow you to take some time off the battle field to restructure your life for a more productive 2022.

Switch off your phone. Grab your Bible. Go to a solitary place (your church, home or a camp ground etc) and spend time reflecting on the year.

A. Habits. Decisions. Friends. Consequences of our decisions. Mistakes. Successes. These things should be reflected upon in the retreat.

B. Correct whatever needs to be corrected.

C. Decide on the new course of action, decision and habits you are making next year.

2. Have a mental picture of who you want to be by the end of the year.

My little sister showed me a picture of a gown she wanted to sew. The gown looked quite difficult for an amateur tailor like her to sew. ‘How can you sew this,’ I asked and she replied, ‘If I have it in my heart, I will produce it with my hands’.

Who do you want to be by the end of the year? How do you want your life to be in all ramifications? Broke? Rich? Single? Married? Dating? Do you want to close 2022 with an excellent grade in school or you just want to maintain an average grade. Make your decision and be intentional about it.

Wishes do not come true in life. Only heartfelt desires come true. You can write down this picture.

3. Set ‘How-to’ for everything you want to achieve in 2022.

It is one thing to want to or be something. It is another to know and do what it takes to be it. Everything in life has a ‘How-to’. Our mothers are well cultured in the how-to of cooking. Our fathers (mostly) are skilled in the how-to of discipline and financial management. Elder brothers are skilled in the how-to of bullying. They are very skilled bullies to we last boys. Lol.

Everything and everyone has a how to including that which you want to be. Let’s say you want to close 2022 spiritually mature. The next thing to do is to find out how to attain spiritual maturity – through prayer, studying the word etc. Or you want to break out of an addiction. Find out how-to break out of it. You can even seek counsel from your spiritual leaders.

Short-term goals also help.

Short term goals are very important. Long term goals are like the mental picture of who you want to be by the end of the year. That picture is on a ladder.

A very long one. Short-term goals are like little steps you must climb to get to the long term goals.

One of my goals this year was to round off the year with a strong CGPA. That was the picture at the top of the ladder. Each step of the ladder represented a month. Month one’s goal was to read for a total of a hundred and twenty hours. It increased in month two and kept increasing until it accumulated into a scholarly student (side note: I’m blushing right now) who pushed his CGPA from 3.75 to 4.something.

Here are two more;

3. HABITS ARE EVERYTHING

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John Maxwell taught that you can’t have downhill habits and expect to climb uphill. It’s like walking to the bottom of a staircase and expecting to automatically elevate to the top.

You can’t spend the whole day doing amebo (*African: Gossip or talkativeness) and expect to end the year as a wealthy business woman. Your habit has the propensity to propel you to the picture at the top of the ladder or drag you down to its bottom.

Choose your habits wisely. Cut out time spent on things that are not relevant to your goal. Whatever will help you climb the ladder and reach the picture, do it daily! I mean DAILY! Not once in a while. EVERY SINGLE DAY, DO IT! Lastly,

5. MAKE QUALITY FRIENDS!!!

Christianity Today

Hope didn’t this prick you? I’d be happy if it did nonetheless. Those we spend time with have an unseen way of influencing our thought pattern, lifestyle and behavior.

Do not be afraid to distance yourself from friends who are influencing you negatively or hindering you from reaching the top of the ladder.

No friend is worth sacrificing your goals or destiny for… especially the ones that do not have any goal in their life. Modify your network. Make friends who share the same positive interests like you. Get mentorship from mature folks. Make relationships that will impact you positively.

Lastly. Again. Sorryyyy, but I felt this one shouldn’t be added to the list because it is a climax of everything that will make 2022 a better year; get closer to God. We all need God. Everything we want to achieve will be useless if God takes away His protection or health from us. As the scripture says, ‘in all your ways, acknowledge God’.

Please I need a very little favour from you…. just little. If this post was helpful to you, please copy the post’s link and share on your social handles with friends and family. Thank you so much… Light and love!!

Rating: 5 out of 5.
GENERAL

Nigerian Christian Community react to Davido’s fundraising

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On social media, renowned secular artiste David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, requested funds to clear his Rolls Royce from the Port.

The soliciting, which began as a joke, quickly became a phenomenon, as he was able to raise more than 150 million naira. This phenomenon elicited a wide range of reactions on social media.

Below are some reactions:

“Yeah, he’s congratulated. No problem. But if it’s a pastor, you’ll see experts in analogy, exegesis, economic analysis and poverty advocacy.” – Sunny Dickson

‘100 Million donated by Nigerians under an hour for Davido’s birthday. But a mother whose child needs 300k for heart surgery will nearly submit her private part to the public before she can get 150k… I’m not against Davido getting his fun donations, but how much money doesn’t flow this fast on social media when a child from a poor home needs a little change….’ an anonymous follower remarked.

After Obi Cubana, Femi Otedola, and a slew of other business titans made large donations to the music star’s account, a 300-level student at the University of Abuja pleaded with them to assist in paying ‘ASUU’s’ salaries in order to avoid a strike. ‘Strikes have an impact on the social and economic conditions of countries,’ he said. Approximately 70% of Nigerian students have paid their school fees. The funds should be donated to these causes.’

Meanwhile, debates over the ‘correctness’ of Davido’s actions erupted on Facebook’s Christian Community. Several Christian Facebook influencers took advantage of the opportunity to highlight how people find it easy to give to secularism and support the world, but become enraged when the Church requests donations.

‘Davido posted his account number and got donations in millions…. If it’s a pastor, you will be angry. When you have issues, meet Davido to solve it for you. Let Davido heal the sick for you…’ Wesley Kayode Luther commented; Wesley Kayode comments.

His remark, however, drew harsh criticism from some members of the Christian community. Some claimed that Davido’s ability to amass such wealth was due to the ‘value’ attached to him.

One person, Praise Alege, even stated that God was the source of the numerous donations to Davido’s account, saying, ‘No one can receive what God hasn’t given…’

Some Christians also claimed Davido was reaping the benefits of his “good deeds.”

Good deeds which I believe include promoting promiscuity, immoral cultural and family values as well as fighting in public places and exchanging banters with other secular singers.

The trend continues as Nigerians, both Christians and non-Christians, marvel at how a man can raise more than a hundred million naira in a matter of hours and express their thoughts and opinions on it.

GENERAL

‘obinigwe’; what we ought to learn from guc’s song releases

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The Bible tells us that, ‘there are many vessels in a great man’s house.’ It then emphasizes vessels of honor. Gift Ugochi Christopher, also known as G U C, is a vessel of honor in the Body of Christ today, in my opinion.

His songs have greatly enriched people’s lives both within and outside the borders of this country. Most importantly, they have progressed from being ordinary songs to being channels of revival and healing in people’s lives.

His songs, from ‘All That Matters’ to ‘God of Vengeance’ and his most recent release, ‘Obinigwe,’ all have a dominant theme of consecration, devotion, and absolute reverence to God. Indeed, this man has provided a fresh perspective on the importance of music ministry and music ministers in God’s work.

I was particularly stunned by the testimonies I found on his Facebook page this morning.

14 YEARS OF CANCER DISAPPEARED! After three days of listening to his song, this cancer patient testified that the cancer was gone and the wound was healing naturally!

“My neighbor has been down for three days now,” said someone who identified as Favour. “I downloaded your latest song, Obinigwe, and as I played it near him in the hospital, his fingers started to move,” he added. The testimony, however, does not end there. ‘When I stopped the song, he (my friend) passed out again,’ says Favour. So I played the song again, and he started moving. ‘His eyes have opened!’

One of the most moving testimonies I heard was from a fellow whose brother died this morning. However, as the person pondered what to do, the song ‘Obinigwe’ came to mind. The song was downloaded and played in front of the lifeless brother, who immediately came back to life.

The testimonies are numerous and continue to pour in. I believe in GUC’s abundance of God’s grace, but I also believe he is a man who has taken music beyond songwriting and song release. The calibre of testimonies received by a song; raising the dead, healing cancer, saving lost souls, and so on, speaks volumes about the intense spiritual preparations made prior to its release. Despite being released on his YouTube channel, the song has been uploaded on several blogs.

I believe that God is using these testimonies to send a message to aspiring and up and coming music ministers. This is the impact the Holy Spirit wishes to make through Gospel music! Through your music, he wishes to heal, bless, and impart souls. He desires spiritual songs that will minister to the souls of those who hear them. Make it your goal to walk with the Holy Spirit all the way to this point.

Finally, the Bible tells us that God is fair to everyone. He can do for one what He can do for the other. Do you have any need? Healing, deliverance, and so on? God has the ability to minister to you. Download and get lost in the song’s worship of God and trust God for your miracle!
Faith

You were chosen for a time as this! Esther 4:14

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ESTHER 4:14

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

One of the unanswerable questions I’ve always had within myself is the question of my own existence. Why do I exist in an age that is plagued with Covid? Why do I exist in an age that is plagued with sexual immorality? Why do I exist in an age where abortion is considered a human right? Why do I exist in an age where homosexuality is celebrated? Why do I exist in an age inundated with inflation, insecurity and Christian persecution?

These thoughts engulf my mind and sometimes, they make me wish I was never born. Have these thoughts ever plagued your mind before?

Have you ever doubted the providence and predestining prowess of God?

Why was I born into this family?

Why was I born into this country?

Why was I born into this lineage?

Why was I born into this condition? The whys we ask fate are never ending, and sometimes, unanswerable.

However, one can take solace in the fact that nothing that has happened, that is happening or will happen to one is beyond the foreknowledge of God. The Bible says that we have been ‘predestined according to God’s purpose’ (Ephesians 1:11). That is to say, our birth is not by chance. God specifically chose the geographical location, lineage and family you should be born into. There is no accident in destiny!

The revelation of this fact serves as the foundation for our primary text. Esther, the Jewish queen of Persia, finds herself in a perplexing situation in our text. Her people are on the verge of extinction due to the evil plans of a man named Haman. Esther, despite being a Jew, is flummoxed by the situation and does not act immediately.

This changes when Mordecai, her wise old uncle, approaches her and tells her the truth. One of the things he said to her stands out and is crucial in the context of this admonition. ‘And who knows whether thou art [not] come to the kingdom for such a time as this,’ he says.

Probably Esther had thought her enthronement as queen was a mere reward for her hard-work and beauty. Mordecai’s statement opened her eyes to see that her enthronement was actually a part of God’s plan to deliver the people of Israel.

She had no idea about this when she enrolled in the beauty pageantry. She had no idea about this when she was chosen to become the queen. It was at this moment that she realized that all this while, her steps from the streets to the palace had been ordained by God for the deliverance of her people.

This is a wonderful lesson and source of comfort for you as a believer. You may not get the desired answers to all of the whys you ask fate right now, but if you remain faithful to God, you will someday come to full understanding of it.

The story of Joseph exemplifies this. At the age of seventeen, the Christian icon was sold into slavery. When his friends were enjoying the warmth and comfort of their homes, he was working as a slave in the home of a foreigner. His situation deteriorated from slavery to imprisonment. Joseph, on the other hand, maintained his faith in God.

He had no complete understanding of God’s plan. Nonetheless, he was aware that God was in command. He walked by faith rather than sight. God eventually promoted him from the lowest level of Egypt’s prison to the highest office in the Egyptian political administration.

After revealing his identity to his brothers, they were sore afraid. However, he said to them, ‘God brought me here for this situation’.

You, like Joseph and Esther, were chosen for a time like this. You were purposefully brought into this world. You were born into your country and family at the perfect time.

If it was plagued with poverty, you were born there to be the bringer of wealth. If it is plagued with unbelief, you were born there to be the light to their darkened hearts. God chose you for this particular age!

That is why you are endowed with some of the skills you have! There are several pointers to the fact that there is a purpose for your existence in this time!

Therefore, like Mordecai admonished Esther, I admonish you to rise! To rise above complaining! To rise above complacency! To rise above asking the whys! I implore you to embrace the peculiarity of your purpose, to seek to know more about it. To trust in the Lord and let Him lead you into the fullness of your calling.  

You were chosen for a time as this!

This article was written by Nwodo Divine

Spirituality, STORIES

A story of God’s salvation in an unusual way!

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At times it looks like God doesn’t answer us and leaves us to our own fate when we need His answer most. I once felt that way as well.


I went for a program in a place far away from home. I was to minister in songs and yes I did minister.



It was awesome. The spirits of many were lifted and the barriers in people’s heart were broken down. Many were totally broken and completely surrendered to God.



It was an evening program and the weather was looking bright and normal.



After the singing and praising, it was time for the word to be preached. There was so much being said to us. God was expressly speaking to us through the Pastor.



Closing prayers were about to be concluded when the weather suddenly changed and it began to rain heavily.




We ignored it thinking that it will soon stop. We finished the prayers and did other needed things but the heavy rain continued.


Those whose houses were close and or umbrellas with them left for home while I and a few persons were stuck.


“Pray and command the rain to stop,” one of them said to me. I just stared at the person and didn’t say anything. I had to pray because I had done something similar before and the night was already catching up with us. I did everything I could think of, but the rain didn’t stop.


At this point, we had to get our things inside a waterproof material and began to journey home under the rain since there was no transport close by.



We all felt bad and bitter. But we learnt later that God used the rain to save many of us who might have been victims from kidnappers that operated that evening.



When we knew about it, we thanked the Lord – fully understanding this scripture;



Romans 8:28
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

I learnt a vital lesson from this experience; that no matter how inconvenient the circumstances you find yourself in might be, God is using it to work out His will!

You might not see it – and you don’t need to, for we walk by faith and not by sight. Thus, all you have to do is keep believing that everything you’re going through – the heavy downpour, the tempestuous storm, will eventually work out God’s glorious plan in your life!

Amen!

GENERAL, Holiness and Grace, Spirituality

What does it mean to be the salt of the Earth?

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Frankly speaking, cooking is the last on the list of things I like doing. I don’t like cooking and for that reason, I’m can hardly be found in the kitchen.

However, things changed when I rented my own apartment and started living alone. I had to compel myself to cook my own lessons. One of the foods I quickly mastered is Beans and Plantain Porridge.


One day, I prepared it so delicately with the spices available. When the porridge was cooked, I was so pleased with its scent and outlook.


But the grin on my face quickly faded was I tasted the food. It tasted bland.

Then I recalled that I hadn’t put salt in the food. This realization struck me – the realization that in spite of all the spices I added to the food it remained bland until salt was added.


As soon as the salt was added, the taste was restored and it was edible again.


This invaluable significance of salt is the reason Jesus used it in describing believers.


When He described us as the Salt of the Earth, He meant we are the ones that will restore God’s original nature and flavour to humanity.


1. Salt adds taste


Just as salt is used to add taste to food, Jesus expects believers to add value to people’s lives.


Jesus expects us to be the source of hope and joy to troubled hearts. He expects us to be motivation to a depressed world. He expects us to be instruments of edification.


Believers ought to be fountains of hope for folks of different races to come and draw from. We are supposed to be so endowed with heavenly graces and fragrance, that no one spends time with us and remains depressed or down casted.

Instead, by conversing with us, men receive inspiration to pursue that which God has called them to do.



2. Salt gets rid of corruption


Salt is used to preserve food and prevent its corruption. Likewise, God expects believers to be instruments to get rid of the corruption prevalent in men through the preaching of the Gospel.



In Romans 12:1, we are admonished to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. This simply means that God desires for men to live for Him here on Earth. However, God will not accept the life sacrifices of men that are full of corruption.



Thus, in Mark 9:15, Jesus said, “every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.”


The only way we can make men presentable and acceptable to the Lord is salvation. We must make it our duty to bring the good news of Christ to people.



Paul described the Gospel of Christ as ‘the power of God’ unto salvation. This mighty power of God is the only antidote against sin and moral decay that exists in humanity.


It is through preaching God’s Word that we dispense our seasoning to the world.


CAN A SALT LOSE IT’S TASTE?



This is one of the strongest metaphors in scriptures. It seems quite difficult to understand because in literal sense, a salt can almost-never lose its taste, because it is the taste that makes it salt.



However, Jesus as a warning to believers for us to lead holy and God-fearing lives to avoid being like a salt that has lost its flavour.



A believer can lose the divine flavour and influences in him if such believer continually lives in sin. He can also lose it if he decides to live in carnality. Such believer is not useful to the Kingdom.

Jesus said such believer will be trampled upon – this means he/she will be a slave to the wishes of the world and Satanic agents.



Believers are meant to be rulers and folks with authority to trample over serpents and scorpions {representing satanic and his cohorts}.

However, if such believer casts off Divine influences and conforms to the world, he will lose his usefulness in the kingdom and become an easy prey.



Jesus’ metaphor further reveals that there are two kinds of salt,
– The useful one
– The worthless one


Which do you desire to belong to?


What differentiates a salt from every other spice is its flavour. When this flavour is gone, the salt will lose its uniqueness.

Thus, Jesus was also trying to teach believers to hold onto the lifestyles and beliefs that makes us unique and distinct from the world.

Paul reiterated this in Romans 12:2 when he instructed the Church to avoid conforming to the world’s pattern.


If we adopt the world’s morally debased system of living, we will lose the divine flavor that makes us separate and unique amongst them.

The conclusion of this is that the consciousness of our salt-like nature and responsibilities must never leave our minds. We must live with it and live by it.



You are the salt of the Earth ❤️

Spirituality, videos

Insightful counsel from Joshua Selman

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Apostle Joshua Selman is a Nigerian televangelist, instrumentalist, and chemical engineer. He is the founder and Senior Pastor of the Eternity Network International (ENI).

The (ENI) has a gospel fellowship called Koinonia, which meets regularly in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, and Abuja, Nigeria.

Source: Salvation Hub
GENERAL

WHAT PROPHECY IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT!

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The word ‘Prophecy’ Biblically speaking refers to an inspired message given to God’s people. It is a word of exhortation, admonition or promise of a future occurrence from God to His people.

2 Peter 1:21: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

 ‘Prophesied’ in the Greek word of the aforementioned scripture {propheteuo} confirms this as it means the foretelling of future events as well as speaking under divine inspiration. Propheteuo is gotten from two words; Pro and Phemi.

Phemi means to reveal one’s thoughts. It also means to bring one’s secret thoughts to light – while Pro to speak ahead of time or beforehand. When these two words are brought together; Pro-Phemi they give us the meaning of revealing God’s secret thoughts before they manifest.

Prophecy is a gift and an activity that is not limited to believers; even unbelievers prophesy. Diviners and spiritualists equally prophecy; they give predictions of the future and also give inspired messages – however, these messages are not from God, but from the devil.

  • Balaam prophesied using sorcery (Numbers 24:1).
  • The prophets in Jeremiah’s days prophesied by Baal {Jer. 2:8}

Our concern as believers should not be with the prophecies that come from these folks, but with the one that comes from God’s own prophets. However, even genuine prophets, especially those who only have the gift of prophecy without productive training and mentorship from a genuine senior prophet, can give inaccurate prophecies or prophecies from the wrong source.

This is the reason a believer must properly understand what a prophecy is and what it is not, so that he/she can be able to discern which prophecy to accept and the one to reject.

Biblical Prophecy is for Edification, Comfort and Exhortation

1 Corinthians 14:3: “But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.” (AMP)

Whatever prophecy that God is gives to His Church or the members of the Church is not to make them moody or dampen their faith. It is only evil prophecies inspired by Satan or concocted by man that aim at weakening the faith of believers.

True prophecy stirs up faith and enflames the dimming light in the heart of a believer. When a believer is downcast or is in a tight corner, God can speak to that believer through His word {the Bible} or through the pastor of that believer – that is prophecy.

When God brings a scripture to your heart during your darkest moments, that Bible verse is a word of prophecy to uphold and strengthen your faith. However, when during your dark moments, all you get are predictions of your downfall, scary tales and scary dreams, you must know how to rebuke and reject them. They are not from God! God-inspired prophecies are meant to comfort us and to also edify us.

Furthermore, prophecy is also meant to EXHORT. The word ‘exhortation’ signifies a call for an action. It could be a call to repentance, prayer etc. A lot of times, God’s prophecy does not only come to comfort or edify us, it also comes to correct us. It comes to admonish us and show us the right path.

God used the likes of Isaiah, Jeremiah and a host of other prophets to fulfil this in the Old Testament. However, a concise study in the Books will reveal that though they contained some negative prophecies about Israel, they always ended with a word of comfort and solace. And in some instances, God did this to bring them to repentance. Thus, God also uses prophecy to warn us of the consequences of wrongdoing.

The purpose of prophecy revolves around this.

WHAT HOLY SPIRIT-INSPIRED PROPHECY IS NOT.

  • Revealing of one’s past mistakes.
  • Revealing irrelevant facts about a person.
  • An evil foretelling meant to create fear or swindle a person

Nwodo Divine sums it up here;

“God reveals his definition of prophecy in the book of 1st Peter. 2 Peter 1:19 says ‘We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts’. 2 Peter 1:20 says ‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.’ 2 Peter 1:21 says ‘For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ Note the following,

  • Word of Prophecy
  • Prophecy of Scripture
  • Moved by the Holy Spirit

Prophecy is speaking forth the word of God by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is declaring the counsel of God towards a particular situation – and it is founded upon the already existing sure prophecy – God’s word.

Now, based on this definition, will you define prophecy as telling a person facts about his past and would you define a prophet as one who can tell you the colour of your father’s house and the sins of your granny.

Where is the counsel of God in that?
Where and how is the will of God in that?

God bless you – it is a prophecy.
So and so has been happening, but the Lord is turning it around – such is a prophecy
There’s doom in the air, but if we repent, we will be saved – such is prophecy.

Bible is the Book full of prophecies of what God has/will do for His church and the world in general.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the WORDS of THIS PROPHECY, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Thus we see that Biblical perspective of Prophecy is giving God’s counsel.

What to do with Prophecy? Click on this…

Spirituality

What to do with God’s Promises?

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Have you ever received a prophecy?


Have you ever been told of a miracle coming your way but after a long time, you saw no miracle?


Have you ever wondered why despite the fact that the preacher was genuine and inspired, the prophecy was never fulfilled?



“Or was he lying? ” you might have asked within yourself.



Well, he was not lying 😊


Romans 3 vs 4 says, “Let God be true but every man a liar ”.


Those prophecies were totally true. Why didn’t they happen? You ask.


Truth is, certain prophecies are not assurances that a certain thing will happen in your life! They are not.




What do I mean?



Take for example, a high ranking official in the government promises to give you a job, a well paying job.



Knowing how genuine this man is, you immediately become rest assured that the job is now yours.



Though he has promised you the job, you still have your part to play in getting it. You have to prepare and submit your CV and prove to be competent in an interview. The job will only be yours when these procedures have been followed.



Getting blissful prophecies to manifest in our lives is similar to this.


Prophecy has two major purposes,


1. Faith


2. Alignment


Prophecy strengthens our faith in God. It gives us the assurance of a better future in spite of the difficulties we may be experiencing.


Prophecy is also released to put us in alignment with God’s will.


However, that a good promise has been prophesied to us does not mean it will automatically come true.


It is not magic. You have a part to play in its fulfilment.


1 Timothy 1:18
“This charge I commit to you…. according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare”


In the aforementioned verse, Paul admonishes is that the prophecies and promises that God has made to us aren’t just released to make us feel good.


They are given to us to equip us for spiritual warfare. In the text, Paul charges us to wage a good warfare with the prophecies.

This is because there exist several powers and forces that will fight against us in our Christian journey.


This is further revealed in Ephesians 6:12;


“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”


These principalities and powers are working daily to bring obstacles and hindrances our way. Their mission is to ensure we do not achieve our God-given purpose.



It is with God’s revealed promises and prophecies that we pray and stop their activities. So when you see poverty in your life even when God has promised you great wealth, do not relax thinking it will come true.


The Prophecy did not come to make you relax, it came to equip you to fight for its fulfilment. Go to God in prayer and constantly remind Him of His Promise to you.

Keep declaring it in your life. Even when everything around you seems to contradict the promise, keep declaring it and praying for its fulfilment.


When we do this, we nurture the seed of Prophecy to germinate and become a reality in our lives.


What is that promise that God has given you? What positive prophecy have you received that has not come into manifestation yet?


Now is the time to go to God and remind Him of the promise and demand for its fulfilment!


Whether it is long life or business opportunities or a prosperous future, keep praying with it and expecting its fulfilment in your life.


WRITTEN BY TOLU-TAIWO VICTOR

GENERAL

Should a believer be racist?

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One of the greatest challenges plaguing the world today is the problem of systematic racism between blacks and whites.

Unfortunately, this evil trend has succeeded in creeping even into the Church as pastors and congregations are now classified based on their color.


The recent systematic racial abuse against black players in England simply reveals how this problem of racism has eaten deep into the society.

However, as the body of Christ, we must do all we can to speak against it and discourage ourselves from participating in racial abuse.



Why?


Because the Bible condemns racism!



Romans 10:12
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.”


When God wants to work with a man, the least thing He considers is the color of that man’s skin. He said to Samuel that He doesn’t look at man’s appearance but the content of the heart.


God does not select who to bless between black and white. James tells us that He practices no favoritism, blesses everyone equally and gives everyone equal opportunities to excel irrespective of their descent.


If God loves everyone, then our attitude to the different races should also be one of love and not of hate or discrimination.


GOD SAVED A CANAANITE {JOSHUA 6}


Rahab was never an Israelite. Yet, because of how she supported God’s people, God saved her and her family and made her a part of the Israelites.

However, God didn’t stop there. Rahab went on to marry an Israeli Prince and become one of the mothers through which Jesus was brought into this world.



God also demonstrated his love for all races in the New Testament by pouring His Spirit upon both Gentiles and Jews.



Therefore, it is our obligations as believers to do the same. We are to show love to people of all social class and racial background. Whether they are black or white, rich or poor, we must love them with all our hearts.


Also, it is very wrong for one to attribute a certain negative behavioral pattern to a race alone.

I’ve heard people who say Africans are terrible thinkers who are plagued with poverty. This really amazes me because the person writing this article is not an African and he isn’t an average thinker.


Oprahz Winfrey is a black lady. Steve Masiyiwa is a black man. There are several black folks holding top positions in Microsoft and Google. A black folk recently graduated with a CGPA of 5.0 in a Russian University.



The fact that there are certain black folks with wrong lifestyles doesn’t mean it should be generalised. There are also white folks who are plagued with poverty. They exist everywhere. Instead of debasing and ridiculing one another, let’s endeavor to help and uplift one another.


This is sole responsibility of believers. It is our job to show the world what true, unconditional love entails. We are to teach the world to love each other.

We are to heal the deep wounds and bridge the divide that has been caused by racial and ethnic discrimination.



Let the Church awake from its slumber and put away the cliffs of racism from her eyes. Let’s advocate and provide for equal treatment of all races. Let’s pray for them both and favor them all.


Leviticus 19:34: “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”