Induced abortion is a deliberate termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus resulting to death.
I was interested in this topic when I stumbled on the statistical figures below: In 2014, Planned Parenthood wasted the lives of 327,653 babies in the United States. And most women that engaged in the abortion claimed to be Christians. Protestant and catholic women got 42% and 27%. About 18% of all induced evacuation of fetus in the United States each year are performed on teenagers.
According to World Health Organization, every year in the world there are an estimated 40-50 million abortions. This corresponds to approximately 125,000 abortions per day.
Why is Induced Evacuation Becoming Popular?
• Some couples chose abortion when the birth control technique fails them. • The unmarried woman will not want her parents and Pastor to know that she’s no more a virgin. • Women engage in abortion because giving birth to the baby will interfere with their job, school or other responsibilities. • Some women embrace induced evacuation of fetus with the excuse of poverty. • Some Doctors encourage women suffering from health complication to opt for the act.
Abortion had been legalized in many countries and a lot of people are pleased with this man-made law.
God’s View on Abortion
When God created Adam and Eve, He proclaimed an automation of mass reproduction to their sperms and eggs respectively. When the sperm fuses the egg, fertilization takes place and new person is formed.
Genesis chapter 1 verses 27 and 28 say: “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…”
God formulated sex for married couples only. So, He did not expect any unmarried woman to solve any problem through abortion. Don’t allow some medical experts to deceive you that an 8 weeks fetus is not a living being. All medical scientists knew that once fertilization takes place, a living being is formed. If you abort any pregnancy, then it implies murdering the innocent life in your womb.
God does not support the act of induced abortion. Revelation chapter 21 verses 8 says: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death”.
How to avoid UNWANTED PREGNANCY
There is no verse in the Bible that supports induced abortion. Thus, Christians seeking the kingdom of God must not obey the man-made law that supports such. 1. Married couples tired of child birth should avoid mating that could lead to fertilization. 2. Single women to stay away from fornication. 3. Women that give priority to other things at the cost of child bearing should ‘zip-up’.
Evacuation could only take place if the fetus lost his/her life in the womb due to the poor health of the womb or the mother.
Induced abortion in the early weeks of pregnancy is regarded as a harmless practice by some doctors. But God did not approve the deliberate act of evacuating the unborn. Anyone that says abortion is right should imagine him/herself aborted!!
Spiritual warfare is an invisible battle that does not need the use of a AK 47 rifle. It is one of the miseries of life that needs divine understanding.
God created us to have three different forms; the body, soul and spirit. And He created the earth (Physical realm) for our body to be in-charge. God created the heavens (spiritual realm) for the spirit to be in-charge.
The origin of spiritual warfare started when Satan and other rebellious angels were chased out of heaven. Revelation chapter 12 verse 7 to 9 says: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Since Satan could not win the throne of God, he had declared spiritual war against humanity to stop everyone from gaining heaven. Revelation chapter 12 verses 17 say: “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Spiritual warfare is the fight between your spirit and evil spirit. It can also occur between the spirit of light and darkness. Don’t be scared of spiritual warfare because it is an event every Christian would encounter in various ways. The Power of Jesus is above all powers of the demonic forces.
The Cause of Spiritual Warfare
Satan chose to wage war against humanity as a form of retaliation for his defeat in heaven. Satan’s plan is to attack and defeat the souls of people. He does not want us to experience peace on earth and he wants the human race to be spiritually defeated by sins.
Satan initiates spiritual warfare so that everyone can join him and his demons in lake of fire – the eternal punishment. Revelation chapter 20 verse 10 says: “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
8 Major Weapons of Spiritual Enemies
Many unpleasant and mysterious experience of life is an outcome of spiritual warfare.
Some of the weapons used by Satan for spiritual warfare against humanity include some of the following:
1. Deceits
2. Fear
3. Unbelief in Jesus Christ
4. Pride
5. Condemnation
6. Misconception of the Scriptures
7. Distractions through social media
8. Enticement, and so on.
Since God did not originate spiritual warfare, then we must not be ignorant of devil’s devices. Paul was conscious of this fact when he advised the Corinthians to embrace forgiveness… “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)
5 Powerful Ways to Defeat Your Enemies
1. Always say the truth
I remember those days when things go wrong, my mum will always ask me to say the truth so that devil could be ashamed. I experienced a serious spiritual warfare within my heart, struggling with a voice telling me to lie since saying the truth can attract scolding from my mum.
You can’t overcome any spiritual warfare if you delight in lies. Ephesians chapter 6 verses 13 and 14 say: “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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”
2. Accept Prince of Peace
You will defeat all spiritual warfare if you accept Jesus Christ as the only savior that could control your life. Your heart is always the battle field of the spiritual warfare. If you obey the will of God in your lifestyle, then He will fill your heart with peace.
Thus, the weapon of fear from the enemy would be defeated. John chapter 14 verses 27 says: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
3. Have Faith in Jesus
Spiritual enemies can defeat you if fear overwhelms your heart. The brave action that gives victory to spiritual warfare is to secure your heart with faith in Jesus Christ and the LORD. Don’t give up when your dream realm that links to the spiritual realm is filled with nightmares.
You will defeat all spiritual warfare if you believe in the Power of Jesus. At the mention of His name, every knee must bow. Philippians chapter 2 verses 9 and 10 says: “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…”
4. Fervent Prayers
When you encounter a spiritual warfare, do not run from one Pastor to another Prophet. Neither the magician nor the Satanists could help you defeat the spiritual warfare.
Fervent prayers to the LORD is a strong weapon that defeats spiritual enemies. Philippians chapter 4 verses 6 say: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
5. Blood of Jesus
The blood of Jesus has being a powerful weapon that constantly defeats Satan in all spiritual warfare. Accept Jesus into your life with all your heart and He will fight the battle for you. Revelation chapter 12 verses 11 says: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
Christmas day has always been an annual festival celebrated by Christians across the world. Christmas season is characterized with the fun of various music, new attractive clothes and shoes, fireworks, decorations, feasting, exchange of gifts and so on.
But, I became uneasy when I read through the Bible without locating any verse that points to the Christmas festival. No verse in the Bible mentioned the birthday of Jesus to be 25th December. No verse in the Bible instructs Christians to celebrate the birthday of Jesus.
I had noticed a lot of ‘mixed-up’ in the Christendom and promised myself not to be a ‘zombie’. I don’t want to be carried away by the popular doctrines or practices in the church, but to be secured by the Word of God in the Bible.
I was shocked when I discovered the origin of Christmas!
What is Christmas?
Christmas is a word created by the Roman Catholic. It means ‘mass on Christ’s day’. History explained that the gospel of the Roman Catholic is completely different from the gospel of Jesus.
Roman Catholic gospel echoes more of Virgin Mary and idolatry practices. Everyone who watches Pope Francis during the Christmas Eve mass will agree with me that catholic embraces idolatry worship. Pope kissed a statue of Baby Jesus to kick off the mass in st Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican City.
Exodus chapter 20 verse 4 and 5 says: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”
Origin of Christmas
In the 4th century CE, the Roman Catholic Church had the intention to win the souls of large populace of the pagans. So, the church leaders decided to Christianize the famous pagan party called the Saturnalia festival.
Saturnalia festival is a pagan celebration for the birthday of ‘Unconquered Sun’.
This celebration involves wild parties, exchange of gifts and feasting in the temples of the ancient Rome.
The leaders of the church welcomed the pagans and their festival into the Christendom. And the population of the church rose, but the leaders could not stop the pagan festival. So they named the last day of the one week Saturnalia festival – December 25th as the birthday of Jesus Christ.
You may care to know that the first Christmas day was celebrated in the pagan style of singing naked in the streets (this had been refined to modern caroling), drinking, sexual indulgence and all other forms of unclean practices. The Christmas trees, mistletoe, Christmas presents and Santa Claus are modern ways of representing the ancient pagan rituals.
Ancient records show that Christmas has no origin from God or Jesus Christ. I would love to quote a part from the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church… Pagan customs centering round the January Calends gravitated to Christmas”.
According to Britannica.com, “December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221. And one widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the “day of the birth of the unconquered sun”.
Celebration of Christmas
Our parents, various organizations, and the government always play a big role in the joyful celebration of the Christmas festival. So, we never thought of checking the Bible, if the Lord had asked us to celebrate His birthday.
I am sure that the writers of the Bible wouldn’t have skipped the birthday of Jesus if it was celebrated. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, I implore you to search through the scriptures and find out if the genuine children of God should partake in the celebration of Christmas.
The celebration of Christmas has no honor to Jesus, because it was the tradition of men. Matthew chapter 15 verse 9 says: “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
I am not comfortable with the Roman Catholic church who refused to take away idols from their church. And the obedience to human law that established Christmas festival was obeyed to the letter.
Jesus says in Mark chapter 7 verse 7 and 8: “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men–the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
You might say: “oh! I love the fun of Christmas, but I don’t take part in the pagan practices”. Well, I want you to understand the truth that the origin of the Christmas festival is not from God but the sun-worshipers.
This practice of Christmas is synonymous to a particular generation of the Israelite who thought their idolatry lifestyle is normal. But when the Book of the Law was read to remind them about the righteous way of the LORD, they wept and amend their ways. You can read the details in Nehemiah chapter 8.
I want us to trace our steps backward to confirm from the Bible if we are doing what is right by celebrating Christmas. Christmas festival appears to glitter like gold, but is it truly gold?
The disciples of Jesus are people who surrender their lives to the LORD. The difference between a disciple and an apostle is that the former is a follower of Jesus, while the latter is a special messenger of Jesus Christ. If you believe and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ, then you are a disciple.
Research by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace had revealed that the disciples of Jesus (Christians) are increasing at 1.32%. Christian population in 2013 is 1.99 Billion and 2.21 Billion across the world in 2014. The disciple of Jesus is leading the global population at 32%. And the top three largest National Christian Populations are United States (246.78 million), Brazil (175.77 million) and Mexico (107.78 million).
I am glad about the good news that the population of the disciples of Jesus Christ is the largest. But my question is how faithful are the Christians to the call of disciples?
How to become a Disciple of Jesus
If you want to follow Jesus, then you must be interested in the two major rules:
1. Put aside Selfish Ambition
Selfish ambition means devoting all your time and energy to temporary things of this world. A disciple of Jesus must always consider the poor, and to help the needy. Jesus says: “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.” (Matthew 19:21)
A disciple of Jesus must be ready to deny the ‘worldly enjoyment’, because the primary aim of Jesus is to devote His time to preach the Gospel and to help the needy. Thus, the disciple of Jesus must follow the same practices.
If you are a disciple of Jesus, then always devote your free time to preach the gospel.
The disciples of Jesus will not go to games, parties, casino, clubbing, movies and all ungodly ‘enjoyment of life’. However, Christianity is not a boring life! Evangelism is full of fun when you are in the midst of the people who are eager to hear the Good News of Jesus.
2.Shoulder Your Cross Daily Your cross is the duty the Lord assigned to you. The disciples of Jesus must use their spiritual gift(s) for soul winning every day. And if you are a disciple of Jesus, you are expected to be focused with your responsibilities every day. You must not be distracted by the debaucheries of this world.
“Then He said to the crowd, “if any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life…if a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26 NLT)
First Corinthian chapter 12 verses 6 to 11 says: “And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
If you don’t shoulder your cross daily, then it would be easy for the distractions in this world to take you away from Jesus. Examples of terrible distractions that had crept into the Christendom include: love of money, love of high positions in the church, acquisition of luxury and imitation of worldly (ungodly) style of doing things in the church.
Jesus says in the book of Matthew chapter 10 verse 38 to 39: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
The Duties of Jesus’ Disciples
When you give your life to Jesus, the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you. And you will be filled with power and authority of the Lord. So, you are a disciple of Jesus when you become born again in Christ. Your main duties include:
1. To Preach the Kingdom Of God
Jesus Christ had never established the principle of division of labor to the global preaching of the Gospel.
I felt uncomfortable with the settings in some part of the Christendom. Some gatherings believe that it is the duty of the Evangelist to go out there and preach to the unbelievers. And it is the duty of the Pastors to sit down in the church to receive the new converts. And the obligation of the church members is to be faithful to the attendance of all the weekly services. There is an error somewhere!
Jesus made it an obligation to every follower to go out there and preach the Kingdom of God. He is not interested in our church building worth of millions of dollars.
Jesus always instructs the new disciple to go and preach the Kingdom of God to people. Luke chapter 9 verses 57 to 62: “… Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”… You go and preach the kingdom of God.”
2. Go Perform Miracles
Since the power of Jesus is upon you, the healing power of God will flow through you into the body of the sick person. Always preach the gospel to everyone and pray for them. Then the powerful signs and wonders will proceed from the Lord into their lives.
Jesus says in the book of Luke chapter 10 verses 8 and 9: “Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you’.”
3. Give Daily Report to God
The Lord expects you to always give Him a feedback on the task He assigned to you. Always ask yourself before going to the bed; how many souls have you preached the gospel to? How many needy have you helped? The seventy-two disciples gave their report to Jesus in Luke chapter 10 verse 17: “When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” (NLT)
The reward of every disciple of Jesus can be seen in the book of Luke chapter 10 verses 19 and 20: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Are you playing your roles as a disciple of Jesus?
Sabbath day is the first holiday on earth. And God the creator of all creations declared the seventh day to be free from work. The observance of Sabbath day had become a controversial issue across the world.
I became interested in the significance of Sabbath day when the doctor told me that my terrible body weakness was as a result of inadequate rest. The little findings I did showed that the people who rest on the Sabbath day had less occurrence of body ailments when compared to people that don’t rest.
What Day is the Sabbath?
God created seven days, and He made the seventh day for a special purpose to rest. Sabbath day is the day you rest from your work. Genesis chapter 2 verses 1 to 3 says: “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
The LORD is never tired but HE wants us to follow His model on how to spend the seventh day. We should work for six days and rest on the seventh day.
I read about many arguments about the issue of Sabbath day. But no one had disputed the seventh day to be Saturday.
Some theologians complicated the Sabbath day by differentiating Saturday as the Jewish Sabbath and Sunday as the Christian Sabbath. There is no scriptural reference to support this discrimination. The LORD sanctified the seventh day as Sabbath from the beginning of the world.
Is Sabbath a Jewish Law?
Sabbath day is not a Jewish law. It was only emphasised during the presentation of the Ten Commandments to the Israelite. The motive of God for creating the seventh day is for all humans to rest from all the works we do from Sunday to Friday.
God reminded the Israelite in Exodus chapter 20 verses 8 to 11: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
The phrase “Remember the Sabbath day…” in the above Bible passage shows that the Sabbath day had been in existence since the beginning of creation.
God chose to include Sabbath in the Ten Commandments, so that the Israelite could always remember to enjoy the rest. He made it clear in the book of Isaiah that Sabbath should be acknowledged by the Gentiles as well.
Isaiah chapter 56 verse 6 and 7 says: “Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants-Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant- Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer…”
Thus, your rest on the Sabbath day has nothing to do with the Jewish law. The LORD blessed the Sabbath day for you to rest. He wants you to rest “… Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work”… (Genesis 2:3)
Don’t be deceived by those who want you to work for seven days. It is against the six days stipulated by God in the beginning of the creation.
Did Jesus asked us to quit rest on the seventh day when He said that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath? The context of His statement was meant to correct the selfish Pharisees who had turned the intention of Sabbath into something else. (Mark 2:23-28)
Paul revealed that he was faithful to the Jewish commandments (including the Sabbath day) when he appealed to Caesar in Act chapter 25 verse 7 & 8. Paul has no authority to break the holy sabbath, thus don’t be confused by his statements.
But he condemned the hypocrite Jewish way of presenting the Sabbath to the new Gentile converts. Colossians chapter 2 verses 16 say: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths ….” The context of his instruction was to stop the Gentiles from obeying the man-made Sabbath laws of the wicked Pharisees.
The Sabbath day created by God does not deserve argument if the six days for work were not disputed. Thus, I want you to understand this issue from the point of view that God created the seventh day for your body to rest. It has nothing to do with any religion.
God knew the strength in your body. So, He designed your body to work for six days and to rest on the seventh day. And there are many benefits to derive from resting on the Sabbath day.
Benefits of the Sabbath day
• Bye to incessant body sickness
If you relax your body on the Sabbath day, then you will have less cause to visit the doctor. Doctors confirmed that inadequate rest of our body increases the stress hormones. And it can lead to stress induced ailment such as; hypertension, high blood pressure, stroke, cardiac arrest, migraine, etc.
• Refreshment
You’ll become refreshed if you give your body a 24 hours rest. This will boost your performance for the next six working days. I tried it and it works! Exodus chapter 31 and verse 17 say: “…for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”
• Opportunity to help the poor
You can learn from the lifestyle of Jesus, who helps the needy that comes His way on the Sabbath day.
“A work-free day is a praise-full day.” You’ll have enough time to read the Bible without rush. A good time for fellowship with the LORD.
• Gives long life
One of the reasons for the short life expectancy in our generation is due to the neglect of the Sabbath day. Anyone with a lifestyle of working for seven days will never live a long life, because it is against the plan of God for humanity.
Will you love to enjoy the rest of the Sabbath day?
