Author Archives: Ekundayo

Unforgivable Sin: How Terrible is Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

Posted by Jan 8, 2017 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism 2 Comments
Unforgivable Sin: How Terrible is Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

Unforgivable sin is an eternal sin that cannot be washed away by the Blood of Jesus. It is an intentional sin that blasphemes the Spirit of the Lord.

This article explains the context, content and mind-set of Jesus for exempting blasphemy against the Holy Spirit from His Deed of Salvation.

I love to read the passage as recorded in the book of Matthew. If you want a good understanding about this topic, then carefully read this passage:

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

Now when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation…  

“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you… “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men…but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come…

How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks… “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:22 – 37)

7 Reasons for the Unforgivable Sin

1. They knew Jesus was the Messiah (through the Old Testament Prophetic records), but they refuse to accept Him. (Verse 23)

2. The Pharisees blackmailed Jesus to turn the heart of the people away from Him. (Verse 24)

3. Jesus felt bad, because the Pharisees did not acknowledge the Spirit of God as the Great Deliverer. (Verse 28)

4. The Pharisees were antagonists to Jesus’ ministration. (Verse 30)

5. The Pharisees knew the ‘Special Power’ (Spirit of GOD) of Jesus, but they insulted (blaspheme) the Spirit (Verse 32b)

6. Their hearts were filled with evil words. (Verse 35)

7. The Pharisees were fond of speaking idle words. (Verse 36)

Can a Christian Commit the Unforgivable Sin?

From the passage we read, you would agree with me that the unforgivable sin was not committed by the large crowd of unbelievers who were ready to give their lives to Jesus.

The unforgivable sin was committed by the group of people who claimed to know the religious laws; they read the Bible in the synagogue. And they are the teachers of the laws (pastors).

So, if you lived a bad life before giving your total life to Jesus, then you are saved by the Blood of Jesus. And, if you respect the awesome Power of the Holy Spirit after giving your life to the Lord, then you cannot commit the unforgivable sin.

People that commit the unforgivable sin are those that have the knowledge about the Spirit of God. Unbelievers that are yet to know the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) cannot suffer the judgment of the unforgivable sin.

Note: There are false teachings spreading around us that once you give your life to Jesus, you would have eternal security in heaven. They said: “whatever sin you committed after giving your life to Jesus would not judge you to hell…”

Please, engage yourself in a sincere Bible study and you will know that if a Christian goes back to a sinful lifestyle after accepting Jesus, such person shall be disowned by the Lord.

Do not be fooled by these famous preachers. Can a citizen of a country engage in a street shooting and still walk freely? That is not possible, and he cannot accuse the authority of hatred. His identity will change from good citizen to bad citizen immediately.

If a good Christian change to a life filled with abominations, then the name of such person will be wiped away from the Book of life. The book of Revelation chapter 21 verses 27 says:

“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination, or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

Let us read the book of Hebrew chapter 6 verses 4 to 6: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

I am sure that the passage above gives you a better understanding that the unforgivable sin is committed by Christians who were once enlightened. And they experienced the good things of heaven and share in the Holy Spirit. They chose to deviate from the rules of the Lord, because they intend to satisfy their selfish desires.

Dangerous Signals of Unforgivable Sin

1. When a Christian seeks for power of miracles from the spirit of darkness.

2. When a Christian uses other ‘book(s)’ or human philosophy to argue with the word of God in the Bible.

3. A Christian whose total believes is not in Jesus anymore. Such Christian craves to believe in materialism, statue of Mary, priest of Allah, angelic powers, marine spirits etc.

4. Turning the heart of people away from the right doctrines in the Bible to man-made doctrines in the church.

5. There is a danger when a Christian starts to abuse God for any reason.

6. Don’t give your tongues to idle words, abusive words and jokes. You can’t embarrass the Holy Spirit and tell Him after a while that you were only joking… (Ephesians 5 verse 4 condemns jokes)

Unforgivable sin is common among the people who can distinguish the right from the wrong. So, be careful and do not take the word of God in the Bible for granted. Obedience to the will of the Lord in reverence awe is a vital step that keeps you away from eternal and unforgivable sin.

Barren? 5 Secret Steps to Take for Childbirth!

Posted by Dec 31, 2016 Holy Word, Family, Word of Faith 2 Comments
Barren? 5 Secret Steps to Take for Childbirth!

Barren Christians are not cowards, but they are the unique children of God that endure a tough trial of faith. A barren situation in marriage attracts external pressure from people, oppression, confusion and anxiety. But, I thank God that His power is above barrenness.

The Lord’s first commandment to us is to give birth to children. The book of Genesis chapter 1 verse 27 and 28: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

The information from CDC shows that infertility in the US affects about 12% of the reproductive-age population. This includes 7.3 million women and their partners.

It is God that opens the womb of a woman for childbirth. This article is for couples waiting for God’s fruit of the womb. So, I would expose the right steps to take for a barren womb to receive glorious children from the Lord.

  1. Prayers and not Barren Complaints

Barren Christians that complain every day in the church cannot receive any child from the Lord. The right step to take is putting your trust in God. Practice a prayerful lifestyle, and the Lord will hear your request.

Jesus says: “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10)

For instance, the complaints and hunger strike of Hannah did not give the barren woman a child. But, when she went into the presence of the Lord to pray, her status changed from barrenness to fruitfulness.

First Samuel chapter 1: “…Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”… And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD…

And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her… So it came to pass in the process of time, that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD…””

Ten years of barren complaint cannot give childbirth, but a moment of faithful prayers can make God to open your womb.

  1. Walk with God

The Lord is an Unquestionable God. He knows the best time to give you His blessings. In most cases, the barren status of Christian couples is an opportunity to understand how to walk with God.

To walk with God is not limited to attending church services and night vigils. It involves understanding the covenant of God for your life, and your obedience to His commandments.

For instance, Abraham walked with God and the Lord changed his barren life. Genesis chapter 17 verse 1 says: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am the Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.”

Note: This dispensation of grace does not imply that you have no commandments to obey. Don’t be deceived by the massive number of false preachers in the Christendom.

To walk with God means living a holy lifestyle in His divine power. Disobeying the commandments of Jesus (Matthew chapter 5, 6, 7…) can delay the fruitfulness of a barren couple.

Romans chapter 6 verse 15 says: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”

Do not walk before the false Prophets, Satanists or Witch Doctors; they have nothing better to offer you.

  1. Be Patient in your Strong Faith

The Psalmist said: “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

If you pray and walk in the presence of the Lord daily, then patiently wait for Him to open your womb. He will do the childbirth faster than how you thought. Make yourself available for the gospel services such as evangelism. And you will get pregnant in the course of the service to the Lord.

The father of John the Baptist, Zacharias was delivered from the barren marriage, because he was a patient child of God. Let’s read few verses from the book of Luke chapter one: “…And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless… 

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was that while he was serving as priest before God… But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

The devil may tempt you to do ungodly child rituals, don’t listen to him. No one can give you a glorious child except the LORD.

  1. Engage Yourself in Hospitality

Share what you have with the poor children. Give to the poor orphans and the widows. It is a good practice for every child of God. Your hospitality to the needy can make God to open your womb.

I want you to learn from the experience of Abraham. He was prayerful and walked with the Lord for many years. But, his barren life was instantly changed to childbirth when he showed hospitality to the “hungry visitors”.

Listen to the reward of his hospitality in Genesis chapter 18 verses 14: “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

  1. Love Your Marriage Partner

Love is not about the wedding ring, or the size of your bed. Love is about sacrifice and understanding. Love is neither partial nor selfish. Love is not after your money or properties of your partner. Love in marriage needs intimacy.

My meetings with some barren couples showed that the strength of their intimate love with their partners is extremely low. For instance, a couple who married for ten years never lived together for a year. The husband works in a far distance and the wife is not ready to move her business to her husband’s place. The husband died, and the poor woman remained barren.

Couples living far apart are exposed to the high risk of barrenness, because they violate the instruction of the Lord. The LORD says: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Barren couple that lives together like strangers cannot break the yoke of barrenness. So, selfless love is needed to uphold the physical, spiritual and emotional status of couples waiting upon the Lord for childbirth.

 

It is God alone that gives children. And the five steps discussed above had been tested and confirmed genuine as the best ways to stop the barren period in couples. Give your life to Jesus through a genuine repentance, and you will surely laugh like Sarah.

“And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:6)

8 Great Promises of God for You!!

Posted by Dec 26, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Word of Faith 1 Comment
8 Great Promises of God for You!!

Promises of God are His vows for you to enjoy your life on earth and in heaven. Everett Storms engaged in the count of God’s promises in the bible. It took him one and half years to come up with a total sum of 7,487 promises by God to man.

This platform cannot explain all the promises of the Lord, but I will discuss some of the great promises with you today:

1. When you find it difficult to please God and the devil whispered the speech below for you:

“It is impossible to be holy… it is not possible to please God…”

Don’t leave the narrow path for the broad way. But, read His promises for you in the book of Ezekiel chapter 36 verse 26 to 27:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

2. When you cannot fight your battle and you become weary, recite these promises of God:

“But thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Isaiah 49:25-26)

3. If the doctors tried their best, but no positive result, then claim the promises of God for your healing:

“For I will restore health to you. And heal you of your wounds,’ says the LORD, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.’” (Jeremiah 30:17)

4. You may suffer home related issues, racism and oppression. Always calm yourself with the promises of God that say:

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)

5. Are your neighbors making a jest of you? Or are you going through tough situations as a Christian? Hmm! I want you to recite these God’s promises as the tears roll down your cheek:

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

6. It is not an easy task to endure the hard times. But, always strengthen your heart with the promises of the Lord written in the book of James chapter 1 and verse 12:

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

7. When you are physically or spiritually tired, the Lord promises to strengthen you.

“He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)

8. Please, do not commit suicide when your heart is heavy. And do not seek for rest from the devil. Listen to the promises of the Lord for you:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

How to Enjoy God’s Promises

  1. Acquire the Mustard-Sized Faith

Your faith is the most essential attribute to the fulfillment of God’s promises in your life. For instance; the promises were written in the book of Isaiah that Jesus will comfort the brokenhearted. But, He could not comfort the blind men without the faith. The book of Matthew chapter 9 verse 27 to 30 says: “…two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”… And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you…”

If you don’t have faith in the promises of the Lord written in the Bible, then it will be difficult for you to enjoy the promises of the Lord.

2. Obedience to God’s Instructions

I am aware of some generic promises which do not need obedience. For instance; the rainfall is for the good and bad people. But, the fulfillment of some special promises of the Lord for His children needs obedience to the will of God.

In the Old Testament, the Lord gave the Israelite the commandments to obey. Their Obedience led to the enjoyment of His wonderful promises as recorded in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 verses 1 to 14.

In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus gave us the commandments to obey as well. Read Matthew chapter 5, 6 and 7 for details.

So, obedience to the instructions and guidelines of the Lord is a vital role you must play every day. And the promises of the Lord shall come to pass in your life.

3. Proclaim the Promises

God’s promises are free of charge. You don’t have to pay for the enjoyment of God’s promises upon your life. When you see God’s promises in the Bible, read it aloud and believe the fulfillment in your life.

 

The promises of God in the Bible are for every child of God. So, confess your sins, obey the instructions of Jesus and proclaim the promises with Faith. And you will enjoy the goodness of the Lord on earth and in heaven. Hallelujah!!

Perfection: How to Become Perfect as God

Posted by Dec 7, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism, Word of Faith Leave a Comment
Perfection: How to Become Perfect as God

Jesus teaches His followers to be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect. This teaching was not controversial in the midst of the disciples, because no one asked Jesus to explain the meaning. And no one argued with Him about the impossibility of the practical teachings.

But, it is unfortunate that the teaching of perfection is a strong argument in our midst today. I always smile when people beside me say statements like: “It is impossible to be perfect like God… Human beings on earth cannot be perfect… You cannot be equal to God… Blasphemy! …etc.”

My question to everyone is: “Can Jesus ask us to do something that is impossible?”

I would explain the intention of Jesus in this article as regards the need for you to become perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Before I proceed, I want you to listen to this story:

“One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz” and he pulled out a one-gallon wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class yelled, “Yes.”

The time management expert replied, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

He then asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?”

By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”

“No!” the class shouted.

Once again he said, “Good.” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

If you reflect on this short story, then I want you to ask yourself this question: what are the ‘big rocks’ in my life. If your big rocks are fruits of the Spirit (such as; love, long-suffering, self-control…), then put those characters in your ‘jar’ first. That is the only way you can understand the perfect status the Lord want you to be with Him.

What Does Jesus Mean By ‘Perfect’?

Let’s read the full passage for proper understanding of the word ‘perfect’. The book of Matthew chapter 5 verse 43 to 48 says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

“For if you love those who love you, what rewards have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Jesus specifically taught His followers about ’Agape Love’, ‘Impartial Love’, and ‘Perfect Love’.

Jesus changed the Law of Moses to a perfect law. He does not want us to hate any human being (though they might be your enemies). Jesus wants us to imitate the perfect love that our Lord practices on every person. For instance, the Lord gives natural resources such as sun, rain and mineral resources to both the Christians and non-Christians.

So, practice the perfect love even as your Father in Heaven is perfect in love. The failure of this generation to adhere to the teachings of perfect love led to high rates of crime, terrorism, divorce and worst of it all is the terrible division among the Christians.

It is saddening to hear a pastor referring to another pastor of a different denomination as his enemy. Hmm! Thank God there is no church denominations in heaven…

Is it a Difficult Task to be Perfect?

Note: you are not in a competition with the Lord. To be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect does not imply flexing your muscles with the Lord.

To be perfect implies a positive change of attitude to bad people around you. It’s all about the character of love. Your need to be perfect does not involve the struggle to climb on the throne of God. But, you are expected to imitate the Lord’s kind of perfect and pure love with your friends and enemies.

To Be Perfect Means:

1. Love your enemies

2. Bless those who curse you

3. Do good to those who hate you

4. Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you

Every child of God is required to practice the four steps above. No argument!! (Matthew 5:45a)

I am sure you won’t tell me that it is difficult for you to love! Love is an attitude that everyone finds it easy to either release or withdraws. So, Jesus is asking you to release your heart of love, not only to your friends, but also to your enemies.

If you help those who do not love you, then you are practicing perfection.

If you love those who are not from your race, then you are perfect.

Don’t be deceived by false preachers who give you the impression that you cannot be perfect (in love). You have all it takes to love…

You can be perfect. A true follower of Jesus must practice perfect love. Children of God do not (sin) disobey the instruction of Jesus. The book of first John chapter 3 verses 9 says: “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

So, I want you to understand the following facts:

Your call to become perfect is to love, and help your friends and enemies.

 

It has nothing to do with competition with the Lord.

 

You can be perfect, if and only if your lifestyle is controlled by the fruits of the Spirit. Read Galatians chapter 5 verse 22 to 24 for the details on the fruits of the Spirit.

 

The power to love is in your hands. So, to become perfect in love is not a difficult task.

 

May the Lord empower you with His Word of Salvation in Jesus name – Amen

Christian Award: Is it a Godly Ceremony in the Christendom?

Posted by Nov 23, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism, Youths 2 Comments
Christian Award: Is it a Godly Ceremony in the Christendom?

Christian award is a prize given to a nominated Christian as the best performer of the gospel ministration. The organizers of the award presentation celebrate the achievement and innovations of the awardees.

Can the award presenters play the role of Jehovah? This post will unveil the mind of God as regards Christian award. Though, it is widely acceptable in the Christendom, but, it is important you know the implication of giving an award, or receiving an award for the stewardship of the Gospel.

I read the news posted by Kirsten Anderson titled: “Christian artists skip, walk out of ‘satanic’ Grammy Awards show.” Natalie Grant, a Christian gospel singer announced via Twitter. “We left the Grammy early. I’ve many thoughts, most of which are probably better left inside my head.” Christian singer and songwriter, Mandisa won two Grammy for “Best Christian contemporary music album” and “Best contemporary Christian music song”. But, she was not in attendance.

“Both times I have gone to the Grammy I have witnessed performances I wish I could erase from my memory. And yes, I fast forwarded through several performances this year.” I knew that submerging myself into an environment that celebrates those things was risky for me at this time”, Mandisa explained in her Facebook post.

Neither artist specified exactly which performance offended them, but a likely contender was Perry’s performance of “Dark Horse”, which featured the ex-Christian singer performing what appeared to be witchcraft as she pole dance around an inverted broom, surrounded by flames and demons.

When I read the news above, I squeezed myself into the couch, and did a deep Bible study about this popular practice of Christian award.

The Origin of Christian Award

I cannot trace it to any passage in the Bible. But, the first church that started Christian award is the Catholic. I was shocked when I read about the Pope given an award to a dead member of the church (For instance; Mother Teresa, who died 1997 was honored as a saint in 2016).

Since mid-19th century, the art professionals made the award presentation a famous ceremony. They were interested in promoting talented artists as an avenue of generating big cash. They entice young, talented Christians with awards such as; the song of the year, the songwriter of the year, the publisher of the year, most performed Christian rock, etc.

The organizers of Christian award are only interested in their gains, and they don’t bother about the spiritual implication.

Is Christians’ Reward on earth?

Your reward as a fervent Christian is in heaven, and not on earth. Jesus Christ has a great reward for His followers: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14: 1 – 3)

No amount of award a man can give you, they are all perishables. Meanwhile, the Christian race is designed for imperishable awards in heaven.

First Corinthians chapter 9 verse 24 and 25 says: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may get it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to get a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

God will not give you reward for your stewardship when on earth. He gives Christians their awards in heaven.

John chapter 12 verse 26 says: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

For instance, Jesus received a Great Award when He accomplished the sacrifice for the salvation of our souls. God made the name of Jesus to become Super Mighty.

Philippians chapter 2 verses 8 to 11 says: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

However, I know someone who loves to give awards to the Christians on earth. He tried it with Jesus too. That person is the Devil; he gives awards to enslave the people of God. The awardees are bound to worship their award presenters.

Matthew chapter 4 verses 8 to 10: “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

God would judge me according to my deeds! I watched the lifestyle of some Christians before, and after they were given an award. And, I noticed two things among them; pride and spiritual laziness. Hmm! Christian award celebration is a celebration of spiritual entanglement to hell.

The view of Jesus on Christian awards

Award is synonymous to honor. Let’s read some few verses that discouraged the practice of Christian award celebrations.

John chapter 5 verses 33 to 44, Jesus said: “You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth…I do not receive honor from men…How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

John chapter 8 verses 54: “Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.””

It is sad that the roles of the stewards such as; Pastor, Bishop, Elder, etc. has turned to the award presentation in many churches. A lot of ministers tarnishing the image of Christianity are not God-sent.

But, their leaders awarded them the ministerial positions, because they are either rich, or good in their theological studies and doctrines.

Such awardees had introduced worldliness into the church, and a lot of their followers are spiritually lukewarm. WATCH OUT!

The Risk of Accepting Christian Award

Award presentation to Christians by men is ungodly. It is wrong for anyone to celebrate Christians’ stewardship, because they are not answerable to any man.

The Spirit of the Lord opened the eyes of Natalie Grant and Mandisa, and they boycotted the Grammy awards ceremony. Hmm! there is no relationship between the children of light and the children of darkness.

Accepting a Christian award on earth can lead to :

1. Pride

2. Spiritual laziness

3. Haughty eyes

4. Counterfeit lifestyle; participating in church and worldly events.

5. Hell; “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven…and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:1-4)

6. Demonic possession; for instance, the witchcraft performed by Perry in 2014 at Los Angeles Grammy Awards show was not ordinary.

7. Unhealthy Competition; some Christian awardees got distracted from the original Call of spreading the gospel.

They were after the demand of their audience, and not to satisfy God’s intention.

For instance, many gospel musicians do not sing heart-touching songs again, because many people love to dance to “rocky noisy” music.

I implore you to reject Christian awards, and do not join such celebration. Your honor is in heaven, and the LORD Jehovah is the only Award Presenter for your stewardship in the Christendom. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12)