Category Archives: Gospel Evangelism

Fasting: How to Avoid Waste of Energy and Time!

Posted by Oct 25, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Family, Gospel Evangelism Leave a Comment
Fasting: How to Avoid Waste of Energy and Time!

Fasting involves depriving your body the regular enjoyment for a special spiritual meeting with the Lord. Fasting is not an easy task for the body, because it involves starvation, abstinence from sex (for married couples) and seclusion from social gatherings.

I chose to write on this topic, because my findings in the mission field reveals that seven in every ten Christians who claimed to fast suffered ‘hunger strike’.

Understand the act of fasting

The reason for fasting is to humble the flesh. It allows strict discipline to the body during your special meeting with the Lord. Fasting disallows distraction from your five senses and it quickens your spirit and soul.

Wrong Impression about Fasting

1. Fasting is not a Bribe

Your fasting does nothing to the Lord. Your fast is not a sacrifice to the Lord. I searched through the Bible, and I saw no verse where fasting is an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. The benefit of fasting is strictly for you.

2. Fasting should not be a Doctrine

You can’t get it right if your church leaders compel you to fast for three, seven, forty or ninety days in a year. The Jews who practiced fasting as a doctrine end up becoming hypocrites.

Jesus says in Mathew chapter 6 verse 16: “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”

It’s good you decide the starting period, and get prepared for it.

I felt uncomfortable when I saw the way some church leaders impose fasting on their church members. Jesus did not make His fast for forty days an annual event. And He did not recommend any specific number of days for fasting to His disciples.

Is it compulsory to fast?

You have no cause to fast if you are comfortable. But, if you go through one or more of the conditions below, then I recommend you fast. Seeking God’s face for;

1. Child birth

2. Miracles

3. Direction of life

4. Healing

5. Anointing and authority

6. Divine power

7. Restoration

How to prepare for fasting

1. List your requests

Write your prayer requests, and use the word of God to confirm that the requests are not against God’s will. For instance; a drug trafficker praying to God to blind fold the officers at the airport during his next trip is wasting his time. God does not support such illegal act.

 

2. Choose the type of fasting that suits your status

The full fast involves total abstinence from food and water. An example is Moses on the mountain with God for forty days. The partial fast involves intermittent sipping of water/natural fruit juice. I recommend you consider your health status before making your choice. There is no strict rule in the Bible as regards this.

 

3. Choose the number of days

This depends on your free days, such as holidays or weekends. The number of days you choose must be free from secular activities. For example, Jesus retired from His carpentry job before embarking on His fasting. And the disciples did not go fishing when fasting for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. (Acts chapter 1)

 

The number of days depends on your strength, so don’t over-work yourself to avoid hunger strike and ulcers. The number of days is not directly proportional to the number of response the Lord will give to your request. Our God is not a robot; He can answer more than one thousand requests in a single day of fasting…

 

4. Choose your daily down-time

The popular practice is morning till dawn. But, if your strength or health cannot take you till dawn, then break the fast in the afternoon. Don’t deceive yourself, because God cannot be mocked! You have not sinned if you obey my frank advice, because neither a law, nor an instruction from Jesus that compels you to break the fast every 6pm.

 

Many years ago, I fasted according to the church’s doctrine slated for 12am to 6pm. When it was 3pm, I did not find the fasting funny. I suffered severe headache, dizziness, and my tummy churned me badly.

 

I could not help myself, because my pastor said that the only way for my requests to be answered by God is to break the fast 6pm. I must confess to you that I lost total concentration from 3pm till 6pm… I suffered a hunger strike of three hours… My fast changed to punishment that day!

 

The pastor’s statement forced me to study the Bible, and I am happy that God is not as strict as my pastor described Him in the case of fasting.

 

5. Choose the right Place

If you want a fruitful fasting, then follow the practices of the great people in the Bible. Moses fasted on the mountain, (Exodus 24:18). Elijah and our Lord Jesus Christ fasted in the desert, (First King 19:8). So, choose a place of ‘zero’ distraction.

 

If your room is the only available location, then switch off all the electronics and lock the door. No audience for family, visitor, or friend!

 

Your office or business area is a wrong place during fasting, because your devotion to God is incomplete. I studied the Bible carefully, and I discovered that every great men and women who fasted in the Bible did not go to their office or business center. They fasted in a secluded location.

 

When you fast in a noisy environment, then the purpose of fasting is jeopardized. When your heart is not fully connected to God in fellowship, then such fasting is referred to as a hunger strike.

 

What to do during fasting

At this stage, you must have prepared adequately for the special meeting with the Lord. So, follow the steps below:

  • Marathon Prayers

Fasting without intensive prayers is simply a hunger strike. Thus, every hour of your fasting period must be devoted to prayers. Jesus never said that the disciples can heal and do miracles by fasting only. I don’t support praying indirectly to the Lord through the use of prayer books or tapes.

But, open your heart to the Lord, and speak to Him directly. Make your request known to Him. Don’t impress God by forcing yourself to speak in tongues. There is no specific minute for prayers, so pray until you need a break. Matthew chapter 17 verses 21 say: “However, this kind (miracles, authority and healing) does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Your break periods from prayers are meant for Bible studies. Read passages that explain the mighty works of God in the life of people. And passages that highlight the plan of God for your life. Don’t join the bandwagon of people who read the book of psalms only.

  • Meditate on the Word

Analyze the word of God you read, and write down the lessons you learn.

  • Songs of Worship

The Lord dwells in the midst of praises and worship of His people. After meditating on the word of God, accompany your prayers with songs of praise and worship. This step invites the presence of the Lord to your place.

 

If you follow the steps above with a humble heart, the Lord will speak to you. And you will never remain the same. This is the secret of the true men of God you know. So, obey these processes, and you will become great in the salvation of the Lord.

Fasting disciplines your body for intensive fellowship with the Lord. But fasting without aggressive prayers and Bible study in a secluded area is tantamount to hunger strike, waste of energy and time.

10 Ways to Read and Understand the Bible

Posted by Oct 13, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism, Word of Faith 2 Comments
10 Ways to Read and Understand the Bible

The Bible is undoubtedly a mysterious Book that unfolds the solutions to all problems and challenges. The understanding I got from the Bible shows that it is the only Book that consistently expresses the personality of God.

The Bible explains your purpose on earth and the right direction to live a successful life. It guides you on how to enjoy peaceful eternity.

But, it is unfortunate that Bible illiteracy is increasing every day in the church.

The Bible in America, a new report from American Bible Society and Barma group, revealed that: In 2016, 71 percent of practicing Catholics and 84 percent of practicing Protestant expressed the desire to read the Bible more.

In spite of this positive perception of the Bible, the percentage of Americans who viewed the Bible as a book of teachings written by men had risen from 10 percent to 22 percent of the past six years.

In this same period, the percentage of Americans who viewed the Bible as a sacred had dropped from 86 to 80 percent. So, the majority of Americans hold the Bible in high regard, but Bible skeptics are on the rise. This must stop!

I will explain the best ways to find the Bible as an interesting book to read and understand.

What is the Bible?

God designed the scriptures to act like a reminder application to us. The Bible composed of 66 books written by 40 authors. And the Lord appointed all the authors for the purpose of divine documentation.

The Lord wrote the first Bible with His Hand. The Lord’s motive was to make sure that His children live according to His instructions. Exodus chapter 32 verse 15 and 16 say: “And Moses turned, and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written. Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets.”

The Old Testament and New Testament were not collated for fun or literature review, but for guidance on how to live right with the Lord. Second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 and 17 say: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The Bible is an extraordinary Book and it is also the genuine map for the journey of life.

How to Deal with the Bible

1. Acknowledge the Bible

Respect the Origin of the Bible and believe the motive for the existence of the Holy Book.

2. Choose a distraction-free area

A silent place is very essential for Bible study. You cannot understand the scriptures in an atmosphere filled with the noise of your electronic gadgets. Shut down your internet connection if you are reading through your electronic devices. The pop-up messages from your social media platform are strong distractions.

3. Pray before reading

To read and understand the scriptures requires the presence of the Lord. So, your prayers to the Lord before reading the scriptures are highly essential. Invite the Holy Spirit to your premises as your co-reader and you will enjoy the company.

4. Consistent reading

You cannot understand the Bible if you read it once in a week. My experience with the Word of God shows that; a day’s failure to read the scriptures is equal to a month’s loss of divine understanding.

A vital step to take for the proper understanding of the word of God is to allot some minutes of Bible study every day.

5. Start small

Some people thought reading ten chapters or the whole book at a time is the best way of understanding the scriptures. That is not always true! God does not give everyone an equal level of intelligence (either physical or spiritual gift).

So, if a passage is the length you can read to avoid ‘overcharging’ of your brain, then stop your bible study at that point. I recommend you begin Bible study from the New Testament, and go ahead to the Old Testament. The New Testament has a simpler picture of Christ’s salvation. Don’t bind yourself to the number of verses or chapters you read, because they were introduced many years after the scriptures were written. Chapters were introduced to the Bible in the 1200s, while Verses were inserted around 1550.

The number of complete stories, instructions, poems, visions or parables you read from the Bible determines your level of understanding.

6. Don’t pick the Bible with a pre-set argument

Many people find it difficult to understand the Bible, because they search for verses that will support their carnal decisions. Thus, their ears will be deaf and their eyes will be blind to the true meaning of the scriptures.

This habit led to misconception, which is a great scandal in the Christendom today.

Read the Bible with an open mind teachable by the Holy Spirit. No one can understand the mind of God in every scripture through a carnal or theological concept.

I ran into trouble when I interpreted the scriptures in my own ways. It exposed me to contradictions and terrible confusion. But, I never had problem anymore, since the day I accepted the Holy Spirit as the only Interpreter.

7. Choose the right Bible Translation

A lot of fake Bibles are available, and such translations can hinder your understanding. For instance, the new NIV translation version, Jehovah witness bible etc. are dangerous books to read.

I recommend New King James Version. Its translation comes from the original languages of the ancient scripts (Hebrew and Aramaic).

8. Pen and Jotter

You will have the full understanding of the scriptures if you jot the explanation of the Holy Spirit.

9. Identify the Context and Content

You will understand the passage in the Bible, if you are able to identify the perspective of the author. When reading the bible, always analyze the content and context of the passage. Such analysis in the presence of the Holy Spirit broadens the scope of understanding the subject. For instance, when Paul says: “we are no more under the law”… He did not imply that Christians can live a lawless life. He meant that we are no more under the Jewish law of sacrifice, because Jesus Christ had sacrificed Himself on the cross for us.

10. Meditate and Pray

Before closing your Bible, always read the points you jotted. And put the jottings into practical application. Meditate on the word of God, and pray to the Lord.

James chapter 1 verse 22 to 25 say: “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

 

The process of understanding the Bible does not end on your reading table. You will have a full understanding when you practice the lessons you read in the scriptures daily.

Beautiful Heaven: Shocking Description of God’s Kingdom!

Posted by Oct 2, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism 8 Comments
Beautiful Heaven: Shocking Description of God’s Kingdom!

The Lord promised to give every obedient Christian an eternity in His beautiful Heaven. The following questions might be bothering your heart; how does Heaven look like…? Who can describe the kingdom of God…?

This article unveiled the answers to these questions, and you will enjoy more scriptural description of the beautiful Heaven.

I ‘stand on the Rock’ to be a living witness of the genuineness of Heaven. I am privileged to see a glimpse of the kingdom of God some years ago. The breath in God’s beautiful Heaven is peace. Comparatively, the oxygen we breathe on earth is like pumping heavy stones through our nostrils.

All the roads to the mansions I saw were purely gold. There are no words to describe the beauty of heaven. I saw various species of beautiful flowers planted around the golden mansions.

There is no noise pollution in Heaven. Rather, sonorous music that is more classical and melodious than what any musician on earth can perform filled the peaceful atmosphere.

My friend, every trial, suffering or persecution you are going through for the sake of gaining Heaven is worthwhile.

Description of the Beautiful Heaven

1. There are beautiful mansions in Heaven.

Jesus says: “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”. (John 14:2)

2. God is the One and only King in Heaven.

Revelation chapter 4 verses 2 and 3 say: “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a Sardinia stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.”

3. Constant worship of God takes place.

Revelation chapter 4 verse 8 to 10 say: “And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”… The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever.”

4. The beautiful heaven lacks sorrow and death.

Revelation chapter 21 verse 4 says: “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.”

5. Unlike hell, there is nothing like hunger or thirst in heaven.

Revelation chapter 21 verses 6 say: “…I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. Revelation chapter 22 verses 1 say: “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

6. The structures of the new heavens are carefully designed.

Revelation chapter 21 verse 18 to 21: “The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones:

the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

7. I’m sorry; the church you attend cannot be found in heaven. But, the presence of the Lord will be your worship center in heaven.

Revelation chapter 21 verses 22 say: “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”

8. No power failure and no climatic predicament.

Revelation chapter 22 verse 5 say: “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

9. The beautiful heaven has the best security measures.

Revelation chapter 21 verses 27 say: “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.”

10. The awesome tree of life is available for you in the beautiful kingdom of God.

Revelation chapter 22 verses 2 say: “In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

11. Christians who inherit the beautiful Heaven will see His face.

Revelation chapter 22 verses 4 say: “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.”

12. Your beautiful robe in heaven would be white and not black!

Revelation chapter 7 verse 13 and 14 say: “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

13. Everyone that enters the beautiful heaven shall go through a transformation and naming ceremony.

Revelation chapter 3 verses 12 say: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”

 

The beautiful Heaven is real. It is a wonderful place to spend your eternity. Heaven is meant for the righteous. For instance, Enoch walked with God, and he went up to heaven (Hebrew 11:5). Elijah served the Lord, and he swung up to heaven (2 King 2:11). Jesus rose from the death, and He rose up to heaven (Mark 16:19). So, heaven is real.

Live a righteous life in Jesus Christ and you won’t miss the beautiful heaven.

Test from God: What is the Significance of Spiritual Trial?

Posted by Sep 22, 2016 Holy Word, Gospel Evangelism 1 Comment
Test from God: What is the Significance of Spiritual Trial?

It is inevitable that every Christian must go through the test from the Lord. Our God is merciful and He loves us. Every test from the Lord is for us to know the status of our strength in Him. Test is a reflecting mirror which shows your true stand in God.

I remembered the story of Lisa Ross. In a matter of days her comfortable world was shaken and she referred to the situation as a faith test; Her husband had a car accident; she was diagnosed with a terrible disease after spending more than six hours in the emergency room; a water pipe under their drive way burst to the tune of thousands of dollars and her future daughter-in-law miscarried a baby she desperately wanted.

Lisa went through hard times, but she did not forsake God. She considered the unwanted circumstances as a test of her faith.

I’ll take you through the scriptures for a full understanding of this topic, and I am sure you won’t be scared of God’s test at the end of the day.

Is the Test from God the same as Temptation?

There are differences between test and temptation. Test reveals how faithful you are to the Lord, while the motive of temptation is to knock you away from God’s salvation. God does not tempt His people, but the devil is the author of temptation.

James chapter 1 verse 13 says: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” This passage warned us not to mingle trial and temptation.

For instance, Clement was tempted to gamble, and he was ambitious to get quick riches. He fell into the trap and he lost all his money. At that point of his life, it is wrong for him to say: “God tested me”. His overzealous ambition to become rich put him into poverty.

The test approved by God keeps you strong in Jesus Christ. This is similar to the test your teachers conducted for you in school. The test is not meant to expel you from school, but to help you know how much of the teachers’ impartation you received.

Holy Spirit is your Great Teacher. So, He allows some good or difficult situations to happen to you as a form of test. The result of such test will let you know how much of the spiritual impartation you received from the Holy Spirit. If your test score is low, then you have the second chance to upgrade yourself in His grace and power.

But, temptation from the devil does not have the facilities for a second chance. The devil tempts us with the motive to steal our joy of salvation, and to oppress our faith in Jesus Christ. John chapter 10 verses 10 say: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

You have a reward for every test you pass, while temptation has destruction for his victims.

Right Perception of Spiritual Test

Many people thought that the spiritual test refers to the hard times and terrible circumstances of life only. That is not true!

  • Your good condition in life can also be a test for you.

For instance, the man with one talent in the parable of Jesus was richer than people who had nothing. But, he failed the spiritual test, because he refused to invest the wealth. (Matthew 25:24-28)

The Israelite were also tested in their abundance (Deuteronomy chapter 8).

For instance, the United States was a God-fearing country when the civilization, modernization and economy were not as developed as today. Presently, the rebellious lifestyle and the sodomy in the land are terrible. U.S is going through a trying period…

  • Another form of test from God is non-interference to the environmental factors.

Such as; famine, poor economic policy of the government, demoralized society and so on.

God chose not to interfere in all these situations to show you how strong or weak you influenced your life and the society with the word of God. For example; Isaac passed the test from the Lord and his obedience made him and his country rich in the midst of famine. (Genesis 26: 1-12)

  • God does not bring evil on innocent people, but He may allow temporal hardship for assessment.

The Lord will restore you after every test you go through. A practical example is the case of Job. Job chapter 42 verses 10 to 16 say: “And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before…”

Seven Advantages of Christian Test

1. It helps you to measure your level of faith.

2. Spiritual test strengthens your ability of perseverance.

3. Your spiritual growth increases.

4. It draws you closer to the Lord.

5. Trials strengthen your relationship with the Lord.

6. Test discloses your true identity (either as; church goer, lukewarm Christian, or genuine Christian).

7. Spiritual test reveals your level of obedience to the teachings of the Lord.

 

5 Rewards for Passing the Christian Test

1. You will receive the crown of glory. (James 1:12)

2. The Lord will honor you; Abraham passed his test and he received a big award. (Hebrew 11:17)

3. The Lord will make you exceptional – David enrolled for God’s test and he passed, the Lord declared him as someone after His heart. (Psalm 26:2)

Jesus passed the test at the mount Olive and the Lord declared His Name as the Savior (Philippians 2:8-11)

4. Restoration (Job 42:10-16)

5. You’ll Gain Heaven – You will become an heir in God’s kingdom when you pass the test from God. Revelation chapter 3 verse 5 says: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

 

Whatever condition of life you are going through now, either hard times or comfort zone, live your life according to the standard of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord is your Teacher, and He will test you when the need arises. And you will pass the test if your lifestyle sticks to the obedience of the Lord’s instructions in the Bible. Stay fit in Christ!

Crown: The Golden Reward for Christians

Posted by Sep 10, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism 2 Comments
Crown: The Golden Reward for Christians

Crown is an object of honor and authority. The faithful children of God who did not misuse the grace of God would receive eternal crowns in Heaven. The golden crowns are designed for Christians who obey the rules of God.

Golden crowns await the genuine Christians in heaven. Thus, all your commitment to godliness is not a waste of time and effort.

I am confident to share this message with you, because I enjoyed the privilege to see the beauty of heaven.

Is Crown available in Heaven?

Don’t doubt this wonderful gift in Heaven. God is not a man that He should lie… The Lord revealed various visions to John as regard this topic. Revelation chapter 4 verse 4 says: “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.”

I am also a living witness by the grace of God to tell the world about the availability of crowns in Heaven. The Lord revealed a vision to me thirteen years ago. I saw a golden crown descended on the shoulder of the Great Judge, and He declared Jesus and His followers victorious while the devil and his followers were condemned to lake of fire.

I did not see a golden crown on devil and his followers; rather I saw a golden handcuff on them, which signifies a ‘pure’ judgment.

Golden Crown as Christian Inheritance

Golden crown is your reserved inheritance in heaven as explained in the book of First Peter chapter 1 verse 3 to 5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Did your faithfulness to God results to a crown of tears today? I have good news for you. You will wear the crown of Joy when you get to heaven. Revelation chapter 21 verse 4 says: “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.”

Crowns of this world include; fame, awards, wealth, big cars and houses, luxury and so on. All these earthly honors and authorities are temporal and will fade away soon.

But, the crowns in heaven have features such as; holiness, love, righteousness and obedience. The crowns in heaven are not comparable to the crowns on earth, because heavenly crowns are eternal. First Peter chapter 5 verse 4 says: “…and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

It is wise to spend all your energy on the things that yield beautiful reward in Heaven. Jesus says: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with your entire mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.”

The crowns in heaven are part of the treasures awaiting Christians in heaven. So, Jesus Christ advised us to focus on how to secure the crowns in heaven. And He discouraged His followers from spending their strength on worldly gains.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for your treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew chapter 6 verse 19 to 21)

5 Things to Do Before Receiving the Crown

  1. Run the Race of Faith

It is impossible for unbelievers to get the crown in heaven, except they give their lives to Jesus Christ. Don’t fold your arms when you stand in Christ. The rewards in heaven is not automatic, you must play your role of obedience to the instruction of Jesus Christ.

Fill your spirit with the word of God always, so that you can stay strong in the race to heaven. You must rebuke spiritual laziness, because no one (not even your pastor) can earn the golden crown on your behalf.

Paul advised a smart race in first Corinthians chapter 9 verse 24: “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 obtain it.”

  1. Fight a Good Fight

Am not talking about boxing tournament, neither do I refer to the act of terrorism. The Christian fight refers to your act of patriotism in Jesus Christ. It reveals your status of godliness in every position you find yourself. So, don’t entertain unrighteousness. Jesus says: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)

Ephesians chapter 6 verses 11 to 13 say: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

The golden crown is for everyone that fights and wins the battle through the use of Power and the Grace of God. The Christian fight implies rejection of any enticing temptation from the devil. Always use the word of God to tackle any spiritual warfare from your enemies. Paul said: “Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air…” (1Corinthians 9:26b)

  1. Discipline your Body

Don’t satisfy all the cravings of your body without screening them with the word of God. Paul said: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.’’ (1 Corinthian 9:27).

For instance, when your mouth feels like eating the whole food varieties in an eatery, stop the cravings of gluttony and remind your sense of taste the warning in Proverbs chapter 23 verse 21: “For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.”

When your eyes are interested in watching the half nakedness of the women on the street, turn your eyes away and remind your eyes the warning of Jesus in Matthew chapter 18 verses 9: “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”

  1. Endurance

Listen! If you are going through hard times, because you are faithful to God in all your dealings at home, office, market, church or in the society. I have good news for you; Jesus is watching you and He will reward you accordingly!!

Jesus knew you would suffer persecution, but He promised to give you a crown of Life.

Revelation chapter 2 verse 10 says: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Don’t get discouraged from doing things in a godly way, because the suffering on earth and the Crown of Glory in heaven is incomparable. James chapter 1 verse 12 says: “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.”

  1. Consistent Obedience

Let the truth abides in you always, and live a righteous life. You can’t break the rules and expect God to give you the crown of Eternal life. The grace and salvation of Jesus Christ do not give you the access to take His rules for granted.

First John chapter 2 verse 24 to 26 says: “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us–eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.”

The proclamation of Christianity is not an automatic ticket to receive the golden crown. So, consistent obedience to the word of God is a key factor to the reward of the golden crown. Hebrew chapter 12 verse 14 says: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…”

 

The spirit of Understanding made it clear to me that the golden crown is set aside for you as soon as you start a lifestyle controlled by the fear of God. So, intensify the practice of holiness according to the grace of God; love God with all your heart; and give to the poor.

When you hold fast to these practices, then the devil cannot snatch your glorious crown from you. The LORD says: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Revelation 3:10-11)