A TALE OF TWO HOUSES, WHICH IS YOURS?

There were two friends named Joyce and Sandra who were set to go on a vacation outside the country after obtaining work leave. They were to spend three weeks in Atlanta, USA. Sandra and Joyce had separate houses they lived alone in.  Joyce granted permission to a friend who had a business to do in town to stay over at her house when she would be gone.

On the day of the trip, Joyce got to Sandra’s house as early as possible as she did not want to be late for their trip. When Joyce got to Sandra’s house, she realized Sandra had not yet packed for the trip. They had just two hours to get to the airport and the airport was 1 hour 30 mins from Sandra’s house. This left the two friends no other choice but to hurry as much as they could so they would meet up with time. They eventually got to the airport, almost late but were able to catch up.

As a result of rushing to the airport, Sandra had forgotten to close her windows and her back door (she wasn’t even aware of this) and it was raining season. She lived alone, so no one was able to help. Joyce did not have the same issue. She made sure her windows were properly closed, her doors as well and Joyce also had a friend who was to come stay at her place while she was gone.  That evening, it rained so heavily and the rained leaked into Sandra’s house especially the sitting room which was the most exposed. The furniture was soaked, the entire house as well, everywhere was quite a mess. The next day in the afternoon, the sun shone and Sandra’s house was aired, only to a small extent though. Joyce's house windows were opened at the right time by her friend who came to stay and was locked when the rain came.

For three weeks, rain leaked into Sandra’s house. By the time she came back, she was shocked and devastated by what had happened. Her furniture, even if it was aired those afternoons by the sun that shone into the room was damaged as a result of the continuous exposure to rain and it got worse. Some of her properties were swept away by the rain because the house was a bit flooded too. Her house was half empty as a result and her furniture was damaged. The power source was cut off because the rain destroyed the entire wiring of the house, everywhere was dark and cold.

Now, this story is not to scare anyone but it can be applied to our minds and this is to show how the mind works. Joyce’s house is the mind that has a lock (control) over it, it is selective of what it allows in and as a result, this mind is sound. The individual with this mind grows progressively as a result of their mindset. Let’s say the happened to be a day that Joyce’s friend forgot to close the windows and it rained into the house, she would air the wet furniture after the event and would learn her lesson then close the windows next time it rains. A sound mind may on one or two occasions may let in inappropriate thoughts, but is conscious enough to shut down these thoughts when it realizes itself and then allow only positive thoughts (positive thought has a way of airing out bad thoughts too). Sandra’s house, this mind has experienced letting in inappropriate thoughts, but as a result of lack of control or continuous exposure or the ‘’untrue good feeling’’ it brings, these thoughts keep coming in. Please note that inappropriate thoughts include lustful thoughts, fears, worries, anger or grudge, negative thoughts, etc. When these thoughts keep coming in without being filtered out, this mind is weakened progressively (for the medics, you would say it’s like a chronic disease but some experiences may not require it to be chronic though). This mind may get flooded with the negative thoughts and as a result suppress the prior positive mindset of the individual and then weaken their minds. The furniture in Sandra’s house got damaged and the house cannot function properly or be used. The individual with this mindset may become inactive as a result of a poor mindset. The individual is likely not to utilize their full potential as well for one reason or the other which may be as a result of disbelief in themselves.

Even if the exposed house did not have rain leak inside, the fact that it was opened to anything means it was opened to any stray animal or persons or even to thieves. When a mind is not controlled or exposed, stray thoughts as a result of wondering can come in and can dwell when the individual allows it. The exposed mind can become cold as a result of continuous exposure to these thoughts and just as the exposed house is after the power source is cut off, the individual becomes depressed and withdrawn.

This brings us to where the bible says we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Romans 12 verse 2. The mind affects the working or functioning of an individual. What the mind feeds on determines an individual’s personality. We as believers have perfect spirits but we require a continuously renewed mind. What do you think on? Are you letting yourself get burdened? Do you feel you are in bondage of your thoughts? Do not be afraid, it’s never too let to fix all of this. What’s very important is your determination and willingness to let go of this thoughts. Some thoughts may not be bad per say but are inappropriate because they eventually become burdensome. Example, when you are concerned about having a life partner that it begins to bother you every day and drive you to desperation at your own risk or you become so distracted that you are more focused about looking for a life partner in everybody that crosses your path than in pursuing what’s more important at the moment. Or being very concerned about the future that you forget to live in the present. These are important matters but it’s good that when you think about them, you pray about it, trust God and let it go while following God’s plan for your life. Next week, we will discuss fixing the exposed house and precautions to not become like the exposed house and contributions will be gotten from selected people regarding this issue.

You can also leave your contributions in the comment section on how you overcame the mind battle or your concerns regarding this.

Thank you and have a great week.

ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD PART 2

Hello, I will love to assume you have read Galatians 3. This is a basic study of the remaining verses and other bible passages will come in for better understanding.

One way we can neglect the gift of God which he promised and he has kept this promise is when we choose to live by the law. One reason to decide to live by the law is unbelief in the gift of Christ to us, unbelief in the gift of righteousness by faith and rather believing righteousness comes by works. Ephesians 2:8-10a says for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. One thing about believing your works justifies you is that when you make mistakes, you begin to work so hard with the aim of pleasing God to erase them and then you unconsciously are blinded and can’t see that Christ paid the entire debt (past, present and future). After trying to justify yourself by your works, you realize that’s it’s not enough and then you can’t forgive yourself because you feel you’ve not been forgiven when the truth is that you’ve been forgiven already! When you can’t forgive yourself, the process continues and then you begin to feel unworthy to come before God’s presence and then you live miserably. If you read the book of Leviticus, you will realize how much effort, detail and time where made to sacrifice different animals to cleanse man. As decribed in Leviticus, with all the sacrifices done (not performed just anyhow, but very detailed and carried out with so much instructions). I was wondering "and this was never enough?". The best of the animals were sacrificed. The rules and regulations put in place for living were highly selected and man was punished for even the slightest mistake made.

 The law was given by God through Moses as a result of man’s transgressions. Hebrews 10 vs 1 ''The law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. For this reason, it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near’’. Verse 3 of this same chapter goes on to say that this sacrifices were an annual reminder of sins. Hebrews 7 vs 18-19 says ’’The former regulation was set aside because it was weak and useless. Verse 19 says ‘’for the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God’’.

From all this bible passages, it is evident that God knew man couldn’t save himself by his works. The sacrifices of animals couldn’t perfectly and permanently save man either. He knew that only him(God) was perfect enough to save man once and for all(what manner of love). Read John 1 vs 1 and verse 14.  Hebrews 1 vs 3a  says ‘’The son is the radiance of God’s Glory and the exact representation of his being.’’  Christ is God that came in our form to die for our sins. Hebrews 10 vs 10 ‘’And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for ALL’’.  Verse 14 of Hebrews 10 goes on to say "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect FOREVER those who are being made holy’’. Unlike the annual sacrifices a perfect one was offered once and for all to perfectly and permanently cleanse us. 

Someone may now ask "Does it mean a believer should go on sinning because his sins have been covered for?’’ Romans 10 vs 17 says ‘’Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ’’. For one to have believed, they must have heard the message, had an understanding of the person of Christ and of his finished works. They should know they have a new nature, the sinful nature is gone. Once, a person receives Christ, he receives the Spirit of God that quickens him unto righteousness and he must yield to God's spirit. Hebrews 10 vs 16 says the laws of God will be put in our heart and written in our hearts. Before, this righteousness was being seek for but now it is what you are. The bible calls us the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. With this revelation, a believer can’t be a sinner because his/her name and status has been changed. Sinning is no longer your nature. God doesn’t know you any longer as a sinner, he sees you in Christ’s covering, he sees you as perfection because an exchange has been made and old things are passed away.

Another person may ask ‘’What do you then do when you find yourself doing what a righteous person should not do?’’. First of all, it’s important to fully understand that Christ has paid the price for your sins that even when you make mistakes, you understand that you can’t perform any more sacrifices because you were cleansed once and for all and you remain clean. You should understand that your cleansing was in Christ and only him can help you. Hence, look up to Christ. The spirit of God is always willing to guide us and it’s important to yield to God’s spirit at work in you. Be willing to his spirit and soon you will only hear the voice of God. The spirit of God reminds you of your nature when you are going out of line (note that he doesn’t condemn you but he disapproves). The word of God is more than efficient to renew our minds and when our minds are renewed, our thinking is renewed and then our actions. Meditate on, study and proclaim the word over your life. The word of God doesn’t go unaccomplished.
When one recently accepts Christ into their lives, they are righteous but coming into the full knowledge of who you are and what you have in Christ is a process that you must be committed to, majorly by studying the word of God. Proverbs 4 verse 18 says'' The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day''.

Finally, trust in the finish works of Christ. Understand what your nature is all about and know that God doesn’t see you as a sinner regardless and that the righteousness of God is at work in you.

Verse 27 of Galatians 3 says that we are being baptized into Christ, it means we are being initiated into the totality of Christ. Being seen as Christ, there is no more differentiation regardless of race, tribe or gender. We all are joint and equal heirs with Christ in the kingdom

The purpose of this is to help you understand what Christ has done so you can willingly accept a relationship and partnership with God. God bless you!

ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD PART 1

Happy new year everyone, i'm so excited about this new year and for everything God has in store in us.

Today, we study mainly the book of Galatians chapter three (3) and the first four verses for part 1 of this message but subsequently, other reference bible passages will come in. I encourage you to look up the bible passages.

As believers, partnership with God is inevitable. We are now in partnership with God. Christ came and died, he resurrected victoriously to crush that hedge and make us sons who work in partnership with God. Once we've accepted Christ into our lives, we receive the Holy spirit and we no longer walk by ourselves but with the Holy spirit.The reason for the person of the Holy spirit, aside other things is to be our guide. He guides us into understanding God's word and how to work by it and he reveals to us his will. The Holy spirit guides us into the revelation of the person of Christ (when you seek to know Christ, you seek to know more of who you are. If you are not living up to that, by the working of the spirit you are consciously made to live up to that revelation).

Maybe it has happened that in our walk with God. When the tides comes, we loose focus of the companionship of the Holy spirit. The truth is, the Holy spirit is the person you need when everything seems to be going wrong or out of place, when it feels like you are loosing focus or when you feel like involving him may waste your time concerning a particular matter. If you feel you are loosing focus and the Holy spirit is kept away, you tend to loose focus more because he is actually the guide you need. You may know the path that you should walk in but if you do not know how you should walk, you walk blindly and will never really get to your destination. At a point, diversion may occur to a totally wrong path.

Sometimes, we want to validate that the way we do our things are more proper, especially when it comes to our own efforts. When we are immersed in this thinking, we tend to disregard the spirit of God. Or it could happen that the spirit of God has given us focus on how to go about something but our self validation on how it should be done comes to play and we end up beating around the bush before, eventually getting to the destination.  Afterwards, frustration comes in because we tend to struggle. God wants a partnership and wants to do things with us but sometimes doing it by ourselves is the only way it makes sense to us.

One way in which the spirit of God guides us is by teaching us. Many people do not love the process of being taught because it involves correction which may be intense at times and it may involve taking a step at a time or those who allow themselves to be taught do not take note and are not observant, they are just passive learners. When we actively partner with God, we tend to be very alert and then we have a revelation of what God wants to do next. I'ts possible that as a passive learner, you may not be alert to know when God wants to involve you in something or even when it is laid out clearly, you may not see it and even when seen, you choose to ignore. Life is much easier and more peaceful when you partner with God.

Human intelligence is good but it is limited. When you are led by the spirit of God, you will have insight that human intelligence cannot grant. People who have experienced this can testify.

Hence, when walking with God, be an active learner not a passive learner.
Finally, you should ask yourself this ''Am i actively or passively walking with God?''.

By next week, we will continue from here with the part two of this message.