Lust: 10 Powerful Ways to Overcome Covetousness!

Posted by Jan 31, 2021 Holy Word, Youths 4 Comments
Lust: 10 Powerful Ways to Overcome Covetousness!

Lust is an attractive strong desire to please yourself through an enticement which leads to an abomination. It is the second stage of a temptation that usher into sin.

Covetousness is another way of describing lust and it was in existence since the beginning of human existence. If God hates lust and it hunts after us every day, then how can we please God by defeating this pleasant enemy?

Today’s message would explain the strength of lust and the greater power that can defeat covetousness.

What are the various types of Lust?

The popular description of lust is always related to sexual affairs but there are more issues of life that can be influenced by covetousness such as:

1. Position

2. Properties

3. Money

4. Clothes

5. Jewellery and

6. Gold

The LORD does not want His children to be involved in any form of covetousness. 

“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s.” (Exodus 20:17)

How Does Covetousness Come into One’s Life?

Lust does not happen accidentally, there is always a doorway for its entrance. Some of the source is not limited to:

1. Room for careless thoughts

2. Watching porn

3. Romantic novel or magazine

4. Listening to erotic music

5. Bad influence through friends

6. Self-exaltation

7. Refusal to exercise self-control

8. Spiritual deafness

9. Pride

10. “All satisfaction must be met”.

10 Powerful Ways to Overcome Lust!

Many years ago, I suffered lust for sexual affairs and money. I was like a prisoner who can’t have his freedom, but I thank GOD for His salvation upon my life and I was victorious when I followed the guidelines below:

1. Make a Choice

The first step to your victory is to make the hard choice not to enjoy the lustful life anymore.

2. Meditate the Word of GOD

Sunday sermons alone can never deliver you from lust. Read the Bible every day and night and have a deep understanding of God’s will for your life.

3. Shed Your Weight

Stay away from every thing that would arouse your lust. Discard the romantic materials. Delete all provocative music, images and videos.

4. Say ‘Bye’ to Old Friends

You can’t put a new wine in an old bottle. You would feel the pains but let them go away from your life. If you have no genuine Christian around you, don’t worry, you are not alone because Jesus would stand beside you when you invite Him.

5. Ask GOD for Forgiveness and Repent

The LORD told me that no matter how terrible your sins are, He would forgive you provided you are ready to do His will.

6. Re-write your Brain Programming

I don’t fall into lust like the past because I changed how I consider various thoughts in my heart. The secret is; when the lustful thoughts come, do a complete transfer of the data to the Spirit of God in you to process it and you would be glad that the information would be a victory for you.

7. Live a Prayerful life

Your prayers are not limited to the four walls of your church or home. Learn to pray silently in your heart.

Communicate to GOD all the time because He would teach you the unique steps to take in every peculiar lustful situation you might want to find yourself.

8. Fall in Love with Gospel Music

There are many forms of music out there, but choose the tracks that inspire your souls towards God’s presence.

Both my phone and my deck at home have a storage device that can sing songs for twenty-four hours. I listen to music all the time, so no space for lustful thoughts – Hallelujah!

9. Always Attend Funerals

It’ll remind you that the risk of satisfying a lustful desire is not worthwhile.

“Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.” (Ecclesiastes 7:2)

10. Love GOD with all Your Heart

If your daily activities show the love of GOD, then it would be impossible for you to lust.

 

Covetousness is one of the strong attributes of the flesh, but if you crucify your flesh and live in the spirit according to the scriptures then you won’t suffer the bondage of lust anymore. 

Meditation: How Christians Should Set their Mind!

Posted by Jan 26, 2021 Holy Word, Word of Faith Leave a Comment
Meditation: How Christians Should Set their Mind!

Meditation is good but how you do it determines if it is for GOD’s glory or Devil’s excitement. Christian meditation involves given your sense of thought to the Holy Spirit to unveil spiritual understanding about the word of God and issues of life to you.

Statistics captured from Compare-camp showed that the number of people who practice meditation globally is estimated at 200 to 500 million. But how much of this is done rightly?

According to the survey by Pew Research Centre, the frequency of meditation among Christian (at least once a week) is 45%.

Today’s message explains the dangerous model of meditation and the right path to a fruitful meditation.

What Does it Mean to Meditate?

There are various definitions for this topic by many such as; the Buddhist, New Age movement and health experts. But the common phrase in all definition is the ‘control of the mind’.

Meditation is the act of making your mind to control your spirit and body to achieve a fruitful goal. The power of meditation is massive to your personality, so you have to make sure that the spirit controlling your meditation is Holy and not the demonic one.

6 Major Types of Meditation

I recommend only the Christian meditation as described in the Bible. It has all the benefits you care to enjoy. Scriptural mind-control is the safest! Some meditates include:

1. Spiritual Meditation

It is done among the eastern religions. The use of oils, myrrh and frankincense is not left out.

2. Mantra Meditation

Common among the Buddhist. They use a repetitive word or sound to blank the mind.

3. Focused Meditation

It involves using any of the five senses to concentrate on your internal act such as your breath. You might not know about this until you see your friend staring at a candle flame in silence…

5. Transcendental Meditation 

It is rooted in Hinduism. The occult practice involves silent use of mantra while sitting with the eyes closed. It takes the soul to a spiritual realm.

6. Mindfulness Meditation

This practice is common in the western world though it originates from the Buddhist. It involves paying attention to thoughts without judging or contribution.

7. Movement Meditation

The mind is allowed to wander during yoga, gardening or walking through the silent path.

7 Best Ways to Meditate as a Christian!

It is not a sin to meditate because it was the LORD’s recommendation to His faithful servants.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

How to mediate include:

1. Build your faith to take you to the conscious status that the presence of the LORD is with you.

2. Your Mental consciousness must be active and not passive.

3. Christian meditation is done with your mind filled with God’s word and not emptying the mind to state of blankness.

4. You start and end this process with recitation of concerned scriptural verses.

5. To mediate means to listen carefully to the LORD, so choose a silent place.

6. Reflect on the mighty deeds of the LORD and you’ll get a clearer picture of any confusing issue. (Psalm 63:6)

7. Don’t give yourself to deep thought of identifying your inner glory to avoid self-appraisal, but dip your thoughts into God’s revelation through the scriptures.

Better Positions for Meditation

There is no thumb law on the best position to meditate. I could share from my experience that it is best done in a posture that relax your muscles. Positions not limited to; kneeling, sitting, lying or walking.

The best place to meditate is a noiseless area close to nature. You can practice meditation anytime of the day. The LORD advised Joshua to do it both day and night.

Put off your phones and tablets and the only tool needed is your Bible.

10 Benefits of Christian Meditation

1. Close communion with the Holy Spirit

2. You would know God’s voice

3. Renewal of your mind is always guaranteed (Romans 12:2)

4. Acquisition of divine power

5. Your spirit being becomes stronger

6. Nothing happens to you unaware

7. You would see vision and dream dreams

8. Healing and Blessings is certain

9. Devil can’t win any temptation he throws at you

10. Your salvation and relationship with GOD would be consistent forever!

Godly meditation involves the use of scriptures to fill your mind and patiently wait to see how the Holy Spirit would communicate and open your eyes to see and understand the secret of success.

You cannot survive this life without meditation through Jesus Christ, so meditate on the word of Jehovah daily and He would reveal Himself to you in Jesus name.

New Year: How Christian Should Start a New Season!

Posted by Jan 12, 2021 Holy Word, Family, Word of Faith Leave a Comment
New Year: How Christian Should Start a New Season!

The beginning of a new year is an opportunity for Christians to check and balance their relationship with the LORD. It is time to seek GOD’s face for a new improved design of another fruitful year.

Today’s message elaborates steps to take in the early part of a new year to gain fruitfulness.

12 Steps to Take as You Start a New Year

1. Give thanks to the LORD for last year and appreciate Him for the new one.

2. Highlight the achievement and shortfalls of last year for better planning.

3. List and present your wonderful wishes for the new year to the LORD.

Proverbs chapter 13 verse 16: “Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly.”

4. Forgive yourself and everyone that offended you.

5. Do a spiritual audit of your life using the scriptures.

6. I recommend the first 7 days of the new year for intensive prayers to seek GOD’s face and to know HIS plan for your life.

First Chronicles chapter 16 verse 11 to 12: “Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvellous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.

7. List every response from the LORD.

8. Don’t be afraid if you hear nothing after 7 days, the Holy Spirit would communicate as you obey the word of GOD.

9. Sustain your Bible reading plan for the year.

Hebrew chapter 4 verse 12: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

10. Make a list of Bible verses that would improve your spiritual. life.

11. Itemize the things that negatively affect your financials the previous year and seek help to avoid its repetition.

12. Every action that hampered your performance last year must not be repeated in the new year.

7 Bible verses that Helps for a Good Start!

1. Choose to strictly follow GOD

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34)

2. Put Faith in the LORD and not in the Money

“So, Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

3. Be Hopeful for a better year

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

4. Look to the LORD and not to any person

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

5. Don’t worry about the unknown in the new year

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

6. Don’t dwell in your last year shortfalls

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

7. The determinant of a wonderful year is your choice

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

 

A Guide on a New Year Plan

It goes beyond a thoughtful posture on your couch, so a pen and a paper (or iPad) is essential for a good planning. Many points to write are not limited to the following:

1. Important new decisions to make for the year.

2. Your financial goals and how to achieve them.

3. How to improve your spiritual relationship with the LORD.

4. Mistakes of last year and its corrections for this year.

5. The aspect of your life that needs to change and how to get it done.

6. How you want to be a source of blessings to the poor.

7. Things to do to make the new year better than last year.

8. Identifying the time-wasters of your life and how to curb them.

9. Additional steps to take to improve the bond of your family.

10. How to contribute to the great mission of evangelism.

When you list your points, then you would have the confidence and assurance that the new year would be a great one for you. Present your points to the LORD for guidance and approval. I tried this every year and it works well for me.

 

A fruitful new year starts with intensive personal planning, presenting the plans to the LORD who has the power of fulfilment and obedience to the guidance of the LORD as the events unfolds every day. I pray that the LORD would make you enjoy this year in a spectacular form in Jesus name.

Holiness: 20 Ways for You to be a Holy Christian

Posted by Dec 31, 2020 Holy Word, Gospel Evangelism 1 Comment
Holiness: 20 Ways for You to be a Holy Christian

Holiness means a lifestyle free of sinful actions. How can a Christian survive the corruption, lies and distractions around us? Civilization and the technology made the issue of holiness unpopular. It’s a call for concern for those enduring on the narrow path to heaven.

Today’s message will enumerate the crucial steps to take for a consistent holy life in the LORD.

How to live holy in God’s Presence Every day

1. Set your heart to dislike violation of the LORD’s commandment given through Jesus Christ.

2. Ask for God’s approval before taking any action.

3. Hear from the Holy Spirit before taking your final decision.

4. Read the word of God daily.

5. Obedience to the word of God.

6. Respect the Power of Jesus’ Blood that cleanse your sins.

7. Don’t take the Grace of God for granted.

8. Preserve and respect your body as the temple of the LORD.

9. Stay away from Pastors or Prophets who urge you to come every Sunday to confess your sins.

10. Stay away from church that exalt their doctrines than Evangelizing the Gospel.

11. Read helpful Christian books.

12. Visit Christian blogs for inspired messages.

13. Don’t be afraid to say the truth in all circumstances.

14. Scold yourself when you do wrong and stick to godly corrections.

15. You must be genuinely Born-Again to attain holiness.

16. Endure the disciplinary actions of a genuine rebirth.

17. Think more about the glorious heaven and less of earthly things.

18. Don’t live with fear of sin because it would catch up with you.

19. Be on the alert always so you can respond to temptations without failure.

20. Don’t worry about people’s comment but be concerned about God’s comments about you.  

Bible verses about Holiness

Don’t fall into the traps of many false Pastors who preach on their pulpit that no one can be holy. They lie to everyone that the grace of Jesus covers their active sinful lives.

Romans chapter 12 verse 1:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

1Peter chapter 1 verse 15 and 16:

“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””

2Corinthians chapter 7 verse 1:

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Leviticus chapter 11 verse 45:

“For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Leviticus chapter 19 verse 2:

“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’”

Hebrew chapter 12 verse 14: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”

The LORD’s Power is the source of your holiness while your obedience to HIM sustains your holy status. God be with you in Jesus name.

Mammon; 10 Ways to Know if I Serve GOD or My Wealth.

Posted by Dec 26, 2020 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism 4 Comments
Mammon; 10 Ways to Know if I Serve GOD or My Wealth.

Mammon is a spirit that masterminds the love of wealth for people’s comfort on earth. He is a friendly master who specialize in turning the heart of Christians from godliness.

The voice of money is so loud in the Christendom today! We rank our churches by size and the luxury in it. Why do we have millionaire club in the church? Why do we raise funds for expensive projects through game of the biggest donor among the rich and through exploitation of the poor?

Today’s message is for the Christians who have a strong concern to know if mammon is with them or not.

What did Jesus mean by serving Mammon?

He was teaching His audience about money and possession: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon.” Matthew 6:24

Jesus discourages you from the love of wealth accumulation. He wants you to spend your money into the lives of the poor. If you work hard to have many mansions, exotic cars, and all the best acquisition on earth then you are serving Mammon.

Jesus says: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19

You’ll serve Mammon when you give importance to your wealth. Did you want people to recognise you as a wealthy person? Then you are in for it!

Jesus is not against riches but He does not want you to love money or squander the monies on material things of this earth.

The sitting down and construction of luxurious churches is against God’s plan for the Gospel, because Jesus Christ expects us to always be on the ripe field for harvest! 

The Strategy of the spirit of wealth

1. He gives you reasons for keeping all your accumulated monies into various bank accounts across the world.

2. This spirit would always discourage you from huge investment into the lives of poor.

3. Mammon tells you that building luxurious churches and purchase of exotic cars for the church workers are enough for God.

4. He puts your mind in all your treasures, so you think less about God and Heaven.

5. The spirit of Mammon lures you into greediness and a life without satisfaction.

How to Serve God and not Riches

One vital way to serve GOD is to manage your wealth properly to avoid bankrupt and invest your profit into the lives of the poor.

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” … Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew chapter 19

How to Know if You Serve Mammon

1. You love announcing your donations and when you are convinced to give to the poor, you want the TV stations to cover the events so that the world can know the millions you spent.

2. Preference to expensive things than moderate ones which serves the same purpose.

3. Do you yell at God disrespectfully when you run out of cash or not getting enough?

4. Devote more time to work and generate more money at the detriment of evangelism.

5. Followers of Mammon doze off when its time for Bible studies and prayers.

6. Mammon worshipers make special prayers to the Lord and promise to donate a big cash into the gospel if HE answers their request.

7. You serve Mammon when you limit the power of God to the amount of wealth you have.

8. When you love to preach prosperity and never want to emphasize messages like repentance and daily practice of holiness.

9. When your general overseer gets richer through the donation of church members and the poor congregates remain stagnant or get poorer, then you serve mammon in such a church! 

10. Church that spends much fund on various structural projects than the lives of the poor have Mammon on its altar.

I don’t intend to judge anyone or any church. The points above are not my opinion but the message of the LORD to all of us!

It’s a serious concern for me as well. You can share your comments with me.