KNOWING GOD by Jim l

Knowing God

Sana Edoja

2007

Knowing God

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37)

God, the Creator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Conquerors for Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The power of confession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Sufferings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Prayer and a careful study of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word will lead you to an even greater relationship with the Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 The forgiveness and love of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Unforgivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Times of pressure help us to build our faith and strength in the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 The Lord is our Shepherd and our Helper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Offering our body for good works in response to the mercy of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Overcoming Temptations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 God our Provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Physical Death through Adam, Spiritual Life through Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 We have authority and victory over the enemy through Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Be Christ-like by being obedient to the Word of God . . . . . . 57 Learn to Guard and renew your mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Lying to others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Sexual immorality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Judging others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Jealousy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Covetousness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Stealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Laziness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 God has wonderful plans for our life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 The Kingdom of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Learn to rejoice in the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Trusting in the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 God is the best friend you could ever have . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 The Character of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 God has given us free will. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Why God came to earth as a human being to set the captives free . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Experiencing freedom from oppression in Christ Jesus . . . . 103 You are the glory of God for the salvation of many . . . . . . .109 Being Responsible for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calling in our lives. . . . . . . . . . 111

38) 39) 40) 41) 42)

God, our Healer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 God has always had us in mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Are you ﬁt to be God’s disciple? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Do not conform to the ways of this world . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Born in the south of France, the eldest of a family of ﬁve children, my origins are French and Moroccan. From the age of thirteen, my favourite hobby was writing French poems and songs. I initially pursued a degree in business administration, but a few years later developed a strong desire to sing. Unfortunately, circumstances didn’t allow me to pursue this promising career. In 1995, I came to the United Kingdom to improve my English. Struggling to make a living while in the UK, my life turned around when I believed and was baptized into Christ Jesus, confessing Him as my Lord and Saviour. I saw the power of God at work in my life. It was this experience that motivated me to write this ﬁrst book “Knowing God”, which I believe will help those who are seeking God to get a better understanding of the riches of the Kingdom of God.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I acknowledge God for saving me and for giving me a purpose in my life. Without His inspiration and the gift He has given me. I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been able to write this book. I want to thank my husband for sponsoring this book and his encouragement. I want to say thanks to Robert and Antonia for their prayers and love for God. I want to thank James Garnham and the IUVO team for setting up my website: www.sanaedoja.org.uk. I also want to thank Beth for having mentored me in writing this book, her encouragement and her prayers with her husband, Daniel. I want to thank Shari Armstrong for her hard work in editing this book. Her website is: www.eagleswingswriting.com To conclude, I want to dedicate this book to God and His Kingdom.

KNOWING GOD “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21 ESV). “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 ESV). “So that we should know the things having been graciously given to us by God…” (1 Corinthians 2:12 ALT). “Know therefore this day, and lay it to thy heart, that Jehovah He is God in Heaven above and upon the earth beneath; there is none else” (Deuteronomy 4:39 ASV). “The secret things belong unto Jehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 ASV). “It is this, the Word which I spoke, that will judge him in the last day. There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; that very Word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day” (John 12:48, ALT, ESV). To know God is to know that which, through the Spirit, He has given us to know of Him and His ways through the Word, that is the Bible. Jesus says that “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will ﬁnd out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17 NIV). We can read a lifetime of books, but the only way to our salvation is found in only one book, that is the Holy Bible. If we read nothing but the Word of God, we have read all that pertains to life and godliness, and have need of nothing else: •

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

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and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-7). 15”

Study this book as you would any other, or as you would listen to any man’s thoughts-with the Word of God opened and before you, and your heart humbled, testing to see that all that is taught herein is in fact the Truth as seen through the Scriptures. •

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“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Please note that all Scriptures have been taken from the New International Version Bible www.bible.com, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society, unless noted. Other translations used are The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. http://www.gnpcb.org/page/ esv_copyright; American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV); and the Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament of the Holy Bible (ALT). Copyright © 1999-2001 by Gary F. Zeolla of Darkness to Light ministry (www.dtl.org/).

KNOWING GOD

God, the Creator “But, He said, “You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live”” (Exodus 33:20, ESV). God is so holy that no man in his sinful state can see God’s face and live. It is difﬁcult to see God in the world in which we are living. God is very spiritual and His glory is so great as to physically change the appearance of the face so that it glows. “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD” (Exodus 34:29). We live in a very physical world and thus, we cannot see Him, we cannot feel Him. However, the Bible says that the creation speaks of the beauty of God. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3). There must be something higher than our conscience, as everybody is born with a natural yearning for love. Our conscience sometimes condemns us when we do something wrong. Where does this love come from? Who gave us consciences and made us different than the animals? God did and still does. “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27, ESV). God is like the wind. We cannot see the wind physically but we can see its effects like the leaves of trees moving, or experience the amazing feeling in our hair and skin. “Ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). God was thinking of us when He created the earth to enable us to live a life without lack in any area. Science has proven that the sun is at the correct distance and temperature so it does not burn the earth or too cold to sustain life.. There is enough water, oxygen and food. Humans have thoughts and feelings to enable us to perform our daily tasks. Everything is in perfect order and harmony. Therefore, there must be a Creator behind this whole orchestra. 1

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.…And God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth.” And it was so.…And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the firmament of the Heavens. 21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth…26Then God said, “Let us make man…And it was so. 31And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day” (Genesis 1:1, 1121-22, 26, 31)

To know God, is to know His Son, to know His Son is to know life. We are able to learn of Him when we watch His creation, and study from His Word, the Bible. “And that from childhood you know the Sacred Writings, the ones being able to make you wise to salvation through faith, the one in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is beneficial for teaching or, doctrine, for verification or, reproof, for correcting faults, for instruction in righteousness or, the behavior that God requires, 17so that the person of God shall be fully qualified or, perfectly fit, having been completely equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:15-17, ALT)).

Salvation Is there life after death? Everywhere we hear people talk of Heaven and Hell. When a person dies, we wonder where they are going or where we would go. When we are born, we feel, we move, we talk. Once we die, we are motionless. Our soul must depart from our body and go somewhere else. The Bible says that we are born of God. Surely, we must be returning to God. However, if there is a God, Heaven and Hell exist. Why? Because Hell is everything that God is not—Hell is the absence of all that is good, righteous, pure, and holy. “His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:17, ESV). It is described as an unquenchable lake of fire that no one will leave for all of eternity, a pit in which those who choose to ignore God and live for themselves, and thus Satan, are thrown: • • •

“And the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the ﬁery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). “They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever” (Jude 1:13).

Here, both man and demon will endure for a longer time than there are stars in the skies or drops of water in the oceans—forever! We better make sure that we go to the right place. But how? The Bible says that self-righteousness cannot help us to get to Heaven. The result is still death and eternal separation from God. No matter how hard we try to get right with God by our own good deeds, we will always fail because we are only human beings and we sin every day. “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV). 2

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA

The Gospel of Jesus is good news! Jesus loved the world so much that He came to redeem us from our sins. “To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a Kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father—to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen” (Revelation 1:6). Any curses are ended by His dying for us on the cross as the Bible states below: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree” 14that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14, ESV). A curse prophesied by God is given to all who choose not Him: “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal ﬁre prepared for the devil and his angels. 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:41, 46, ESV). However, regarding speciﬁc sin, even while the curse of death and eternal separation from God is lifted through Christ’s blood, the consequence of that sin remains to be dealt with—the blessing is that I no longer walk alone, but with and in Christ who strengthens me! •

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—…17If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justiﬁcation and life for all men. 19For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:12, 17-19, ESV).

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“I have been cruciﬁed with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the ﬂesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20, ESV).

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“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phi 4:13, ESV).

The worst thing that can happen to a person who lives in an “unsaved” state is death where that choice is made by default and he or she must face eternity without God, just as he or she chose to live throughout life. If we choose to have faith and trust in God then we must confess Jesus as our Lord: •

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV) 4

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Follow Him in baptism, “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21).

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Baptism saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection” (Romans 6:4-5).

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So that you might be raised together with Christ, “having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12), free from sin.

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“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38, ESV)

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Clothed in Christ, “ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27),

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Living a life worthy of repentance “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20).

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Our families and we will not die if each of us truly repents and obeys, teaching and admonishing, edifying each other, living each day for Christ “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Therefore, if your husband or your wife, or one of your brothers or sisters or children or relatives is without the knowledge of salvation—prayerfully and lovingly and urgently teach them! •

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”(Matthew 28:19-20)

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“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:1-2). 5

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SANA EDOJA

A few years ago, I was living in sin, which I felt really guilty about. “There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; that very Word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day” (John 12:48). I called on the name of God for help. He led me to know Him better through the word of the Bible and His church. I realised at that point that my sins had separated me from the love of God. “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18, emphasis added). I would go to Hell if I didn’t repent. A few months later, I repented, accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and was baptised for the forgiveness of my sins: “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”” (Acts 2:38). I decided to follow continuously the law of righteousness, which leads to eternal life rather than the life of sin, which leads to Hell (eternal separation from God). •

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"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 22I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one: 23I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. 24”Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. 25”Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent Me. 26I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:20-26). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”(Acts 1:8, emphasis added). “Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33, emphasis added).

In these verses, Jesus is talking to His twelve disciples who would become known as His apostles. Jesus is telling these men that they will receive the Spirit so that those around them might see the authority of Christ granted to them and so that they might also believe, and later, through the completed message of the Bible, we may also believe today, and even for those who follow us! Jesus is quite clear that there is but one road and one way and one church and one head and one baptism and one faith and one interpretation of the Scriptures—Him and His Way! 6

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"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few ﬁnd it” (Matthew 7:13-14). There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). ”Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:2021).

This encounter with God led me to realise that I was living in sins. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like ﬁlthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” (Isaiah 64:6). I studied the Scriptures where I learnt that the wages of sins is death “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23) which is the inevitable consequence of eternal separation from God. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2, emphasis added). Following my conversion to Christ, I started to go to church and continued to study the Bible to learn more of the ways of righteousness. I changed my life radically and decided to follow the law of God by replacing my wicked ways with the law of righteousness. •

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"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven (Matthew 7:21). God is a jealous God. We need to make up our mind and choose which path we want to follow “the evil ways or the righteous ways”. “Nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10, emphasis added). Our decision is crucial in determining our walk with God. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water”(Hebrews 10:22). Life is a constant battle in maintaining the right walk with God. We have to keep racing towards the prize of eternal life with God. The Devil will always lead us into temptation by taking away our attention and concentration from the purpose of God for our lives. The Devil often leads us into worshipping the creation rather than the Creator by bringing all sorts of distraction into our lives like TV, relationships, and money. “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on 7

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body” (Philippians 3:17-21).

Conquerors for Christ Being an ambassador for Christ is not easy as there are a lot of challenges out there to make us give up our faith, our beliefs, and/or our endurance race for righteousness. The disciples faced many hardships as they served God. •

“They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said” (Acts 14:21-22).

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“As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:36-37).

However, the devil is always there to lead us to give up our purpose to serve God by making us focus on our failure to see our breakthroughs in personal trials (realizing a spiritual truth, gaining a virtue, or in the physical things of life—finding a job, financial difficulties, etc…). “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is constantly at work by leading us to forsake the laws of God and doubt the promises of God for our life through a variety of false beliefs. His time is coming where he will be judged. “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendour of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perish8

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KNOWING GOD

ing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Life can be very difﬁcult at times. We tend to encounter a lot of ups and downs. There is always something to complain about. Bad things happen more frequently it seems than good things. Look at news headlines: 90% is negative. However, we need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus in order to avoid being depressed and discouraged.

We know that after we seek God through prayers and His Word, we will be more than conquerors. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37, ESV). We will become more patient and trustworthy through the power of Christ.

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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). We need to follow the purpose of God for our lives to give us hope. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Helping those who are in need or giving a hope to the lost can be a channel to keep our lives in line with the will of God. God told us to preach the Gospel and strive for righteousness in His Word. We need not worry about our needs, as they will be met. “But seek ﬁrst His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). Sometimes, we don’t know which path to take in our lives. Which advice is good? Which advice is bad? We don’t know where to turn? The Bible says that if we turn to God, He will always work the best for our lives once we involve Him daily. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). This means that we need to trust Him with our everyday life, even to look for Him throughout the day-in answered prayers—whether they be answered “yes” or “no” or “not yet”, or simply in the blessings we take for granted. In those hard times, we need to rely on the strength of God through His Word rather than focusing on the circumstances around us. •

“

•

“So we ﬁx our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18, emphasis added).

•

“Let us ﬁx our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

As we study His Word, we will learn the ways of God through His love and forgiveness and apply them to our own imperfect life. We will be transformed into God’s likeness: •

“But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18 ASV).

•

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2 ESV).

•

“Since indeed you heard Him and in Him were taught, just as truth is in Jesus, 22you are to put off [or, be done with], with respect to your former manner of life, the old or, former person, the one being corrupt according to the desires or, lusts of deception, 23but you are to be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind 24and to put on the new person, the one having been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of [or, dedication to] the truth” (Ephesians 4:21-24 ALT).

This passage and the next is in reference to spiritual gifts temporarily given to edify and prove and preserve the church to be of God before the ﬁnal authority was given to us in the form of the Bible itself: “When perfection comes the imperfect disappears” is a neutral term in the original language, Greek. Christ’s coming is not neutral therefore we know that spiritual gifts will end before His return. •

The Spirit worked through the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers-it was “ for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine…15but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-15, ALT, ESV emphasis added).

•

Since we have that which is perfect now through the Scriptures, we have all that pertains to life and godliness “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”(2 Peter 1:3).

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth…” (Psalms 121:1-2)

SANA EDOJA

KNOWING GOD

If you believe the Scriptures to be true, than 2 Peter 1:3 is true, and if we have everything that is needed, than the following scripture—“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! “(Galatians 1:8) comes into play and we must with all diligence and righteousness of the Standard, that is the Word of God, test each teaching, each “spirit” to see if it is in accordance with the Scriptures

God has given us today through His Son, the Word, written down for us so that all can know His will. We are now in the ﬁnal days, those before the Lord returns, for after the Scriptures had been completed—the ‘scaffolding’ of the miraculous works of the Spirit ended as the new testament church grew in their understanding—the building of the spiritual foundations and walls and pillars of the church are complete: “If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

•

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world”(1 John 4:1).

God wants us to leave our old, and sinful ways of living behind (anger, selﬁshness, hatred…) to serve the calling of God upon our lives for the salvation of many through the use of our various gifts or talents, we can help the body of Christ to grow and mature to the fullness of Christ by meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. If somebody needs healing, pray to God to heal that person, if another one needs to be taught, teach him the word of God. If another person needs encouragement or comfort, be their comforter…Many times, to serve God means that we ourselves must leave our “comfort zone” and do things we would not ordinarily choose to do, for people that we might not ordinarily associate, but with prayer and faith in God, all things are possible through Christ! “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). How can we ask God for advice? We can talk to Him. God will speak to us through people, put thoughts in our hearts from the Scriptures. “Since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:15). The days of God speaking through dreams has come and gone: • • •

We now have the miracle of the Word preserved for us. God’s Thoughts and Ways for us to know and live by are all written so that all that is necessary for life and godliness we hold in our hands! •

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

•

“The grass withers, the ﬂower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8, ESV).

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions” (Joel 2:28). "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world” (Hebrews 1:1-2, ESV).

KNOWING GOD

The power of confession We can find answers to specific situations by reading the Word of God: the Bible. We can read how people got in touch with God and received answers to their problems. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalms 119:105). We can change the way we live by the words we speak. Often, we allow our circumstances to affect whether our speech is positive or negative. Instead, we should allow our love for Christ to influence our speech and influence our circumstances. “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by Hell”(James 3:6). Many times, we speak negatively about our lives saying, “I will never pass that exam, I’m useless” or we may even produce bad reports about persons who have offended us. If we are living godly lives, than we are following the following scripture: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, ASV), so that what goes into the heart will come out of our mouth as Jesus said: •

”You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overﬂow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34)

•

”What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean’"(Matthew 15:11).

If we are feeding on God’s Word, than this will come out from our mouths, and this will change the world because this is the power of God unto salvation! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew ﬁrst and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, ESV). Truly, we have nothing to do with taking our life in different directions or changing the world, it is completely GOD. When we yield our will to His, He becomes the pilot and we are simply the tool He uses: 15

SANA EDOJA •

“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).

•

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The Lord wants us to trust His words fully. It pains Him to see those who doubt His Word: •

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech” (1 Peter 3:10).

•

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6, emphasis added)

KNOWING GOD

A few years ago, my friend’s mother and my sister were sick in the hospital. I fasted and prayed for them, confessing the promises of healing of God. Eventually, both of them found healing and are now well. I give all the glory to God because the Father blessed my sister and my friend’s mother after hearing my prayers requested on their behalf. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

To triumph over evil in our daily lives, not only do we need to have positive speech and attitude but we also need to remember that we are children of the King of Heaven. We need to forget about our lives and carry our cross daily by helping and caring for our neighbours who are in need. “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). The Bible says that we should live quietly, working hard, submitting to one another in love, doing all things without complaining, setting our minds and focus on pure and Heavenly thoughts, thus not getting bogged down by earthly trials: •

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11),

•

“Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Philippians 2:14).

•

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).

Those who trust in the promises of God rather than the world around them will see victory. “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). We shall overcome the Devil by the word of our testimony, (i.e. saying what God says about each situation) and by the blood of the Lamb shed on our behalf (the sacriﬁce of Christ on the cross). “And they have conquered Him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Revelation 12:11, ESV). 16

KNOWING GOD

Sufferings The most amazing thing is that everybody goes through trials in their life. We seem to spend a lot of our lives either consoling others or seeking help for ourselves. However horrible the trouble, we generally tend to survive the most difficult ordeals and trials that life brings our way. “…That you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Knowing that there is a God can help us to handle better the trials we must face. We have Someone we can go to for help. We are not alone anymore. We know that He can help us since the earth belongs to Him. I’ve experienced His help myself when I just met Him. I went to Him and shared my burdens regarding work, and money. Guess what? God provided all my needs! “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). God relieved me of my worries and exasperation. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Paul said, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies”” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10, ESV). This is a sign that God can see us through difficult times. Living is not easy. The Devil’s strategy is to try to get us to give up but if we keep our eyes on Jesus, looking towards Heaven (our final destination), we will be able to overcome. Patience will lead us to rely on God, trusting Him that things will get better. Our ordeals are only temporary. The following scripture shows this: “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the Devil prowls around you like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV). 19

SANA EDOJA

KNOWING GOD

If we are in Christ, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3), than nothing can separate us from the Father’s love except for our own sinful decisions:

knows and cares even when the little sparrows are sold, how much more us, the sinful, whom He sent His own Son to be our ransom from sin!

•

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness”(Hebrews 3:13).

•

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the Truth, no sacriﬁce for sins is left” (Hebrews 10:26).

•

“If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that” (1 John 5:16).

•

“Are not ﬁve sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7). “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). 7

•

As long as we are in Christ, everything will work out for the Lord’s purpose, not necessarily for us here on earth, but for our souls, yes, and the souls around us, since this is the Lord’s purpose. • •

“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Through ordeals, we learn not to trust in our own strength but on the promises of God. Situations happen which also teach us a lesson, to lead us to change our wicked ways, or grow in greater knowledge of that which God would have us to do in His Name. Sometimes, we need to learn patience to see our breakthrough. “For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways and My Thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9, ESV). God understands us, as He shared in our sufferings by coming as a human being in Jesus and suffering on the cross for the punishment that should have been ours. Being our high priest, Jesus is constantly pleading for us to the Father for mercy and grace. “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). Many times, I’ve gone through financial struggles in my life. I’ve learnt to share my problems with God and felt much better, knowing that someone cares and was working on my case to make things better. Thanks be to God! For if He 20

KNOWING GOD

Poverty We can see the divine favour of God upon the lives of homeless people as God always touches the heart of a kind soul to give them money or food to eat. Some of them have been in this situation for years, but amazingly they are still alive. Having survived hunger, sickness, thirst, heat and cold, we can see through others’ misfortunes. What a mighty God we have! • •

“My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them” (Psalm 35:10). “He will defend the afﬂicted among the people and save the children of the needy; He will crush the oppressor” (Psalm 72:4).

It is a blessing to help the poor. God will always remember your acts of kindness. The Word says that if you give to the poor, you are lending to the Lord “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done” (Proverbs 19:17). When you give to the homeless, you give to Jesus. God created them and wants you to take care of them. • •

“He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse” (Proverbs 28:27). “Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21).

God will always reward your kindness in times of needs and send somebody your way to meet your needs. Remembering this, do not be confused when you see those whom you deem selﬁsh also receive the help of God. God will use this opportunity to remind them of their selﬁshness by leading them to repent and lead them to be kind if a person is in need again.

KNOWING GOD

Prayer and a careful study of God’s Word will lead you to an even greater relationship with the Father I could tell you of God in my life, testimony upon testimony. But wouldn’t you like to build a relationship with God so that you too will be able to testify of His greatness? The best way to experience God is to have a personal relationship with Him. He will reveal Himself to you and you will experience His love, kindness, gentleness, salvation, comfort, compassion, protection and healing power. How will He reveal Himself to those who believe his Word? Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through the Word: •

“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:4-6, ESV).

•

Jesus said, "If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. 32Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

We, as Christ’s disciples have the workings of the Holy Spirit, not in the miraculous form given to the twelve and then to those whom they laid their hands, thus bestowing the Spirit’s gifts to those under these hands “When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money” (Acts 8:18). But, today, we receive our gifts through the Bible—this is the message that the Apostles were given remembrance, so that they could continue to proclaim, even through the pages of the Scriptures for as long as time lasts. Many in our world who profess to be Christian will say that they have the Spirit, that they can speak in tongues, or have some such other spiritual gift, or even that God speaks with them directly, or told them through a dream that they should do this, or say that. How can you know that it is the Lord, and not the evil one masquerading? “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves 25

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA

into apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for even Satan fashioned himself into an angel of light. 15It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, ASV). It is a warning for us to study and follow the Scriptures daily especially today when the world is so very full of false teachings and beliefs! “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). Prayer is the key to receive what we ask from God. “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does His will” (John 9:31, ESV). This says that you must be seeking God or already one of His children before He will hear your prayer. When you pray, pray with the faith that He will answer you: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24, ESV). God moves in response to prayer. “This is the conﬁdence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15). Jesus shows us how to pray to the Father through this Scripture. “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:9-13) Verse 10 shows us that we have to look at context when we read. We no longer need to pray that the Kingdom come, since it has, through the church: • • • • • • •

“I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” (Matthew 16:28). “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). “I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). “Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41). “But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:24). 26

•

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

The Bible says that we should approach God with a humble heart in private. •

•

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:6-8). “To some who were conﬁdent of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10”Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13”But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to Heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14”I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justiﬁed before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14).

Sometimes, you’ll need to be very patient to receive answers to problems. “Cast not away therefore your conﬁdence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35-36). Many situations happen to weigh us down. The best way to get over them is through prayers, especially in the Spirit. He helps us to pray the will of the Father in order to strengthen us. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). We need to be baptized and repent of our sins in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). God always encourages us to dwell in His Word to get guidance. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).

KNOWING GOD

The forgiveness and love of God God loves us unconditionally: •

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12, ESV).

•

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justiﬁed by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life”(Titus 3:3-7).

This is the essence of the forgiveness and love of God: He created us foolish and fickle creatures, capable of choice, some choose Him, others choose to wander. He loves us so much that He was willing to give His own and only Son so that as a sacrifice for our sins, Jesus died once for all mankind, so that those who would choose to follow the Father, might be led Home to Heaven through obedience in Jesus Christ, our Saviour! The example of Paul in the Bible demonstrates how God can turn the life of a sinner around. Paul was the worst of them. He persecuted the church, giving orders to arrest those who were believers in the Gospel of Jesus to kill them. Then Paul had a revelation, hearing the voice of Jesus and seeing His Light (read Acts 9:1-22). God healed Paul and used him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, accomplishing many wonders and miracles through Christ: “I thank Him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful by appointing me to His service, 13 though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted Him; but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; 16but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:12-16). 29

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When we are good and when we sin, He is a forgiving God. He forgave Paul in the Bible for killing so many people who believed in Christ. God used Paul to win a lot more than he had killed. God is Love. This can be experienced while going through tough situations. God promises in His Word that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Even when going through ﬁnancial situations, God still provides our primary needs like food everyday:

Jesus is the way I’m not alone. I’ve got Someone Who has cleansed me from my sins. I feel so much loved.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28”And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:25-34).

God will always deliver us and save us from all our troubles because He cares and He loves us so much: •

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.’” (John 3:16). The sacriﬁce of God on the cross through Jesus demonstrates His love for sinners and hatred for sins.

Knowing God, In an intimate way. Coming out of the pond, Singing a new song. Jesus is the way Along the road, I just can say, I found the way. 30

KNOWING GOD

Unforgivable When we have difﬁculty forgiving, we should pray to God to help us to forgive. God has forgiven us, by paying the price for us with His own Son’s blood on the cross. As God has been graceful and merciful to us, we should do the same for others. “Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. 23”Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; 25and as he could not pay, his Lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him the Lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their Lord all that had taken place. 32Then his Lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; 33and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his Lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. 35So also my Heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:21-35).

Many times, I found forgiving someone to be such a struggle; but every day that I sin against God, I pray and know that He will forgive me because He said He would since I am clothed in Christ •

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

•

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

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SANA EDOJA

I should do the same for others as Jesus told us in His Word. We must forgive in order to be forgiven ourselves: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).

Times of pressure help us to build our faith and strength in the Lord We shouldn’t be in hurry to see our breakthroughs. “But they who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). God is doing a wonderful work of cleansing, and renewing as He teaches us to depend on Him through those times of trials. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish, and strengthen you” (1 Peter 5:10). Our sufferings shall make us complete, perfect and lacking nothing to work for the Kingdom of God as we learn and mature through trials. “…That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). Sometimes when we go through pressure we feel squeezed like a lemon. Our true personality comes out, our weaknesses are revealed and our faith in God is tested. God will always suffer with us and deliver us in His own time from all our troubles. No situation is impossible for God to solve. It is important to go to the Word in order to learn how others responded to those situations. Hard times build our character. “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5). I found such encouragement in the Word to learn how other people have come out of their struggles by trusting in the promises of God. While difﬁcult to go through, trials simply mean that the Father is polishing us, preparing us to be that much more pure, like a goldsmith, purifying the gold from a rough bit of rock: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes 34

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls”(1 Peter 1:6-9).

Not unlike the Father, a goldsmith is not content with his piece of gold until he can see his reﬂection in it. God cannot stand sins so He wants to use situations and His Word to get rid of our ﬁlthiness (impatience, anger, sexual immorality) in order to be spotless when we meet Him. •

“For you, O God, tested us; you reﬁned us like silver” (Psalms 66:10).

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“Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be reﬁned, puriﬁed and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time” (Daniel 11:35).

The Lord is our Shepherd and our Helper God is always helping us in our lives in different ways. He can bring people to help us, or bring to our mind remembrance of a word of knowledge, encouragement or wisdom to enable us to do the right thing at the right time. He can also speak to our hearts through our meditation of His Word. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3).

The reason that God loves sinners is that He has created Humanity, which has been lost through its own evil desires. He wants to show us the way to get back to Him by being the Shepherd of our lives: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; 3He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overﬂows. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalms 23).

He wants us to rely on Him by getting wisdom from His Word:

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“This also comes from the LORD of hosts; He is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom” (Isaiah 28:29, ESV).

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“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105, ASV).

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“And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA

Over the years, God has encouraged me through His Word to keep my hopes high and centred on Him. What He has done in the past for my ancestors, He can also do for me. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). God shows me His love by sending me many people to show me kindness and care for me. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit helps us to discern good from evil. “But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you’” (John 14:26, ESV). In that passage, Jesus is talking directly to His apostles. However, we should, as disciples, followers of Christ, study the Scriptures daily and involve our minds with all things pure and pray for understanding and remembrance of all things read, trusting the Lord will grant such to us:

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“19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

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“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

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“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without ﬁnding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

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“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).

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“And receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:22). 39

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KNOWING GOD

When we walk from darkness into light, our behaviour will change. We do not have the same feelings, friends, or desires. That is because something happens inside of us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit begins His work and ﬁlls us with understanding, making our hearts Christ-like. When we are saved of our sins, we are brought up from the baptism as new creatures in Christ. We are now dead to the old life, and alive because Christ is living in us “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Our preferred company should be people of the same faith, so that we can build each other up and work for the Kingdom of God. “Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

We are ﬁlled with Him, and we have the desire to serve Him, and now given the Spirit, we live a life of repentance, our souls restored, and always renewed as we follow Him. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

When we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit teaches us that not everything learnt in the world can beneﬁt us. “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unproﬁtable and futile” (Titus 3:9).

There is the danger that we return to our old life, and this begins with the quenching of the Spirit, which we are told not to do: •

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption “(Ephesians 4:30).

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“Do not put out the Spirit’s ﬁre” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

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“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace” (Hebrews 6:4-6).

We can fulﬁl a deep hunger for the Word of God in order to grow and to renew our minds. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisﬁed” (Matthew 5:6, ESV).

If we want to shape our lives for Christ, we need to renew our thoughts. Our actions will then lead to fulﬁlling the purposes of God. We do this by reading and studying God’s Word. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is proﬁtable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Love, peace and righteousness are the key elements in the Kingdom of God. God wants to teach us through His Word to be stewards of the resources He places in our hands. He wants us to act responsibly in the way we use our money, handle our children and minister His love to others.

In all actuality, we are responsible for our beliefs. Our beliefs determine our actions which have serious consequences in our lives. God redeemed us from our sins, on the cross. We therefore have to understand that once we have accepted Jesus as our Saviour, we are new creatures. All things have passed away. “Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). We should no longer have a desire to follow the sinful ways of this world. Once we accept Christ into our lives, our main focus ought to be to lead more people into the Kingdom. We should become ambassadors for Christ. “So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV). 40

KNOWING GOD

Offering our body for good works in response to the mercy of God. Always remember that God went a long way to provide us with salvation. He certainly used somebody to pray for you and to tell you about the Gospel of Christ in order that you might learn what you must do to be saved. We should go out there and do the same for others: “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15-18).

In this passage, Jesus is reiterating what was spoken of as prophesy: “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28-29), as well as prophesying Himself. In the beginning, the church, through the Spirit worked through those He chose to be given various gifts, so that miracles were performed, and longevity of life was given to further the Kingdom and to give further proof that these were from God: •

“All of them were ﬁlled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).

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“Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6).

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“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39”We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed 43

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles” (Acts 10:36-45). •

“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her” (Acts 16:16-18).

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“to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10).

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“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10). Now that the perfect has come, being the whole Word of God, the Spirit no longer works through the Lord’s disciples in such a miraculous fashion.

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“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). We need to offer our body for the service of the Kingdom of God unto the advancing of the Gospel of Christ, pertaining to the salvation plan that God has for all humanity

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“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

We need to see ourselves as temples of God: “Offering your bodies as living sacriﬁces unto God, pleasing to Him in every way’” (Romans 12:1). Just let God transform you into His likeness. Let Him be Himself in you. Let Him use you for His purpose. “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). 44

Don’t repay evil with good, but good with evil: •

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21, ESV). What goes around comes around.

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“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). Always show love to your neighbour and God will bless you for that. Anger doesn’t fulﬁl God’s righteousness. Learn patience and self-control.

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“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and the selﬁsh” (Luke 6:35, ESV).

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6, ESV). Let the Holy Spirit speak the Word through you, heal through you, pray through you and guide you to the right path. When we acknowledge God, we confess Christ as His Son, and conduct ourselves according to the righteousness we have been clothed with upon receiving salvation from our sins. We do not quench the Spirit, but rather feed our soul with the Bread of Life, so much so, that when we speak, the Spirit can be seen and heard through us, offering the hope of Heaven to others as they search, comfort to those weakened either spiritually or physically, always praying and always examining to make sure that the path we choose is God’s. Stop struggling with your own ways and take on the ways of the Lord. Let us drop our own interests, such as money and pride, and follow the Spirit’s examples and guidance to guard ourselves against the worldly ways, lest they take us away from the Father: •

Focus on God’s interests—“For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16).

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Love and humility—“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

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Who would you want to please, God or the Devil? “Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). 45

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA

Teaching the word of God has been a way in my life to forget about my own problems and to focus on the lives of others. It’s been such a joy to my soul to pray for somebody in need; to introduce God to somebody who was searching for the Truth! “He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:25-26).

Overcoming Temptations Sometimes, Christians go through temptations. The only way out is to pray to resist temptations and feed on His Word, so that we can renew our minds: •

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the ﬂesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

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“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, indeed it cannot; 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. 10But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit which dwells in you” (Romans 8:5-11, ESV).

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“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV).

To know the Word is to discern right from wrong, good from evil; to pray is to acknowledge that God is power and can and will deliver you from Satan’s temptations if you truly desire such a rescue; to know that in your trials, big or small, that no matter how you might battle in your mind and ﬂesh, that God will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to turn from it. I’ve gone through so many temptations like sexual sins, occult, covetousness, anger, craving for sweet things, etc. I found deliverance from those temptations through prayer and the Word of God: 46

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA •

“Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

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“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

I think when it boils down to it, all sin is rooted in selﬁshness—must have such and such over even a home eternally with God! If we can conquer this selfishness, we will have triumphed beautifully!

God our Provider We often tend to focus more on money matters than on God. In this world, we need to buy everything to survive, except love and the air we breathe. However, the Bible says: •

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, ESV).

•

The Bible also says that we shouldn’t make money our god: “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never fail you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV).

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“No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [wealth]” (Matthew 6:24).

Sometimes, we do not recognise that God provides for us financially and bodily in differing ways. There is not one day that we don’t have food on our table (bought by our own income, through unemployment benefits, friends giving us food, etc.). We tend to put our trust in money without thinking that God will provide for us, or that He may use somebody to help us financially. Our health can also be put into God’s hands. His divine healing power works through prayers made in faith by and for the sick and very often through the knowledge and skill of doctors He has blessed with such talent and abilities. Sometimes God allows someone to die because He knows that either that person’s soul is relieved to be Home with Him now, or that by this person’s death, others might come to glorify Him as the Heavenly Father that He is. When we pray that the sick live, we should pray like Jesus, reminding ourselves and those who may be listening, that it is not our will, but God’s we want done. Sometimes God works wondrously so that all are amazed at such an unthinkable recovery “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). 48

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KNOWING GOD

He will heal through the hands of the ministering doctors and nurses, or He will simply call the sick to Hades to await judgment:

Always God answers the prayer of the righteous, and always God provides just not always how we think it will be done…

“And the people all tried to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all. 20Looking at His disciples, He said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisﬁed. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23”Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24”But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. 27”But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:19-31).

We shouldn’t worry about what we will eat or drink for God will provide everything that we need to live without lack. We should only strive for righteousness and all those things will be given unto us. •

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28”And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:25-34).

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“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).

KNOWING GOD

Physical Death through Adam, Spiritual Life through Christ We have dominion over everything that God has created. When God created Adam, He gave him dominion over the ﬁsh and animals. • •

“And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28, ESV) “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. 6You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1-9).

But because Adam messed up by believing Satan’s lie: “The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ 4You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5”For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:2-5), God gave the right to Satan to rule over the earth: • •

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12, emphasis added) “And to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:17). 53

KNOWING GOD

SANA EDOJA •

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19).

Adam and Eve lost the right to physically live eternally in the Garden of Eden because they disobeyed God. They let sin dominate their lives. The consequence of sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, emphasis added). However, having conquered the power of death and of sins with one pure sacriﬁce, Jesus is now sitting at the right hand side of the Father “Let us ﬁx our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, emphasis added). So, we too may have a place with Jesus and the Father in Heaven when we believe that Christ gives us eternal life through His power and His Word. “If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17, ESV).

We have authority and victory over the enemy through Christ God has given us authority over all the power of the enemy, Satan, through the obedience of His Word: •

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (Matthew 7:24-26).

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“Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19, ESV).

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“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

Focus on Him, and all the snares and poisons and hurtful happenings of this life will be nothing in comparison to our joy that awaits us in Heaven for all eternity! When we know the Word of God like Jesus did (2000 years ago) and confess the Scriptures throughout our life, using them to combat the lies of Satan, than we win that battle and Satan actually leaves us until a “more opportune time”.

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“When the devil had ﬁnished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13).

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“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17, ASV).

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“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3The tempter came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:1-4). 55

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“And says to Him, "Since You are God's Son, throw Yourself down, for it has been written, 'He will give orders to His angels concerning You,' and 'they will lift You up on [their] hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone” (Matthew 4:6, ALT).

This is one of the greatest lessons for us: the Devil also knows the Scriptures, and there is no greater lie, than one that’s mixed with Truth, since these are some of the hardest to discern. Jesus, of course, took him to task on misrepresenting the Scriptures, by simply replying with another verse, only this one was in its pure form, not twisted as Satan distorts things. The mission of the devil is to lead us to doubt the Word of God (see Chapter 16 on how Satan tricked Adam into believing a lie). Not only will he affect our trust in God, but also he could lead us away from our Saviour entirely, if we are not careful! “He [Paul] writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). God will see us victorious if we do not doubt His Word. “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). In the past, the Israelites put the Lord to the test by not believing that the Lord could give them victory over their enemies in the Promised Land. As a result, they stayed forty years in the wilderness. Those who doubted died there. Only their children were able to enter the Promised Land. “For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear His voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, 9where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen what I did. 10For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My Ways.” 11So I declared on oath in My anger, “They shall never enter My rest” (Psalm 95:8-11). Meditate on His Word night and day, and you will become wise. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). We should put our complete trust in God for he will avenge us from our enemies. “Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what He has done. 12For He who avenges blood remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted” (Psalm 9:11-12). Jesus has brought all principalities and powers into captivity. We are rich spiritually, physically, emotionally, materially, lacking nothing. “And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14having cancelled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this He set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in Him” (Colossians 2:13-15). 56

Be Christ-like by being obedient to the Word of God Ask God for forgiveness. Then change your focus, by asking God to change your heart. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). With the help of God, we can learn to hate sin and do what is right. Obedience to God is very important in enabling us to receive His blessings and to please Him. “If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give heed to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD, your healer” (Exodus 15:26). When we disobey God, we please the enemy (Satan) and not God. Disobedience opens us up to negative entities and prevents the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Even seemingly innocent dabbling in the occult can lead to dangerous activities such as sexual immorality and killing children. ‘Take heed lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, 17and the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and He shut up the Heavens, so that there be no rain, and the land yield no fruit, and you perish quickly off the good land which the LORD gives you” (Deuteronomy 11:16-17). Every time I’ve disobeyed God. I’ve found myself in trouble. People found out about my lies: I took the train without paying for the fare. I had to pay double the amount of the price of the fare. It’s not what I needed when I could have used the money for something else! It is a blessing, though a trial, to be found out if we are in or committed a sin. It is shameful, but from this humility we grow. It is the consequences of this sin that will cause us worldly sorrow, as generally we will be pointed out, embarrassed, or even shunned. However, the consequence of being found out means a spiritual safety if our heart is right and eager to serve the Father. I’ve decided to walk the way of integrity, as I fear hurting my Lord and disgusting the Father with my “stink of sin”. Each time I catch myself in a sin, or my husband or friends point something out, or as I read the Scriptures and realize 57

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that I am not doing something as God would have me to do my heart hurts with the knowledge that my sin has as much as nailed Christ back up on the cross yet again, so that He must hang there in agony and shame once again so that I won’t have to. Such amazing love and sacriﬁce, but for something that had I been more carefully guarded, would not have had to happen. I pray for forgiveness, telling the Lord how sorry I am that I didn’t think before I acted, or spoke, or that I was too proud and selﬁsh to yield to His will, and then I ask for the strength to stand against it the next time, so that I won’t have to hurt Him again: •

“Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience” (Romans 13:5). I also realized the distance I was creating between the loving Father and me.

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“If they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. If they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace” (Hebrews 6:6).

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“How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctiﬁed him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29). Each time we sin, it’s as if we trample our Lord and make Him have to die all over again.

made for themselves molten images of two calves; and they…served Baal. 17And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings, and used divination and sorcery, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. 18Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight;…And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel, and afﬂicted them, and gave them into the hand of spoilers, until He had cast them out of His sight” (2 Kings 17:13-18). •

“The people of Israel walked in all the sins…did not depart from them, 23 until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight, as He had spoken by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day” (2 Kings 17:22-23, ESV).

Disobeying the law of God opens the doors for the enemy to rule our lives through sin. “However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you (Deuteronomy 28:15). Obedience leads us to ﬁnd safety in the Lord by living righteously”. We shouldn’t lose our focus and run towards the enemy’s lair with all his temporary pleasures, but rather run the endurance race for the prize of eternal life with God. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

In the past, the Israelites disobeyed God by worshipping all sorts of idols. Their peace with their neighbours was broken as the Israelites’ untoward actions gave their enemies the right to invade them. God’s protection over Israel was removed. Situations have not changed much today. But God is the same today, yesterday and forever: •

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV).

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“Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets." 14But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God. 15They despised His statutes, and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and the warnings which He gave them. They went after false idols, and became false, and they followed the nations that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them. 16And they forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God, and 58

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Learn to Guard and renew your mind God can help us to discover ourselves through His Word, by pointing out our iniquities. He can say to us as we open our hearts to the Scriptures: “Look! You need to change this or change that”. It could be regarding judging others, practising sexual immorality, lying, not willing to forgive yourself or others, jealousy, covetousness, stealing, etc. By meditating on God’s Word, we can find out the Truth concerning sin. “And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free” (John 8:32). The mind is the biggest tool through which the enemy chooses to attack us. He is constantly trying to lead us to think contrary to the Word of God. We have to resist him by constantly renewing our mind with the Word of God, which is the key to victory. “We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Don’t hesitate to confess the Word of Truth aloud related to any situations you are facing! “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This passage is referring not to the physical diseases or difficulties, but to the spiritual sickness and painful wounds of sin we suffer without Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jesus was wounded and bruised for our wrongs, for our sins, upon Him was the punishment that freed us from the penalty of sin-death on the cross. If the Devil tells you that you are sick, you have to wonder what on earth he’s talking about. Don’t even bother wasting your time with him, let Jesus handle him: •

“But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9).

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“Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matthew 4:10). 61

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SANA EDOJA •

“The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the ﬁre?” (Zechariah 3:2).

All the examples given us are of the Devil trying to pick a ﬁght. Rather than following him into it, for whatever righteous reasons there be, our Scriptural examples refer him back to his coming judgement and leave him with nothing, as we ought. Why tell him he’s a liar, as if he doesn’t already know it? That’s his title, his claim to fame so to speak. •

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

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When the Devil inclines you to doubt Truth, to wonder about the reality of God, to do that which is contrary to nature, against your conscience, to offend another’s, to twist the Scriptures, to return to the mire of sin that you left upon your new birth, than ﬂee from these thoughts and take refuge in the comfort of the Lord’s ever presence.

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“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

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“Therefore, my dear friends, ﬂee from idolatry” (Corinthians 10:14).

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“But you, man of God, ﬂee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11).

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“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

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“He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3-4, ESV).

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“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have ﬂed to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged” (Hebrews 6:18).

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“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will ﬂee from you” (James 4:7). The more time we spend in the Word, the less time we’ll have to listen to the Devil. 62

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“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2). The more time we spend in the fellowship of the saints, the less time we’ll have to entertain the Devil.

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“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, puriﬁes us from all sin” (1 John 1:7, emphasis added).

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Remember the parable Jesus told of the empty house: “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26).

KNOWING GOD

Lying to others When we lie to others, we often think that we can get what we want by distorting the Truth and believing in our own efforts. This contradicts the Word of God and leads us into trouble with the authorities. The Lord hates a lying tongue. “There are six things which the LORD hates, seven which are an abomination to him: 17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:16-17). One of the most important characteristics of Christianity is the learned ability to trust faithfully the promises of God. By lying, it shows God that we do not believe what the Bible says about Him providing for us as we ask. Paul says to imitate him as he imitates Christ: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). It is impossible for God to lie: •

“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have ﬂed to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged” (Hebrews 6:18).

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“A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:2).

Therefore, if we are to imitate Christ, than a lie to us should not be something to come from our heart or lips at all! The Bible says that the Word will always accomplish what it has been sent to do. ‘Those who doubt in their hearts should not expect to receive the promises of God. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6). Jesus says that if we ask God for anything in the name of Jesus, He will do it. “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be gloriﬁed in the Son” (John 14:13). 65

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Note also, that God does not give us certain things immediately when we ask Him because we may not be ready for them yet, for example money, husband or wife or a job. In these situations, we just need to exercise patience and faith that He will provide for us.

Sexual immorality (See also the chapter 35: Experiencing freedom from oppression in Christ Jesus). When we follow sexual immorality (fornication or adultery), we destroy our identity and give it to somebody else. ”Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two shall become one flesh” (1 Corinthians 6:16). Having sex, or even entertaining thoughts or acts that could lead to such a compromise is much deeper than a simple, physical act and has far-reaching consequences. “He answered, “Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Matthew 19:4-6). This statement means that when two people make love, they unite as one in soul, spirit and flesh. Making this decision apart from the life-long commitment of marriage separates you from the purity of God, and causes you to be more susceptible to the diseases that come of such bondage. It is another way to open the door of your heart to the Devil and thus death:“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:15). Apart from the physical and spiritual downfall, people also experience some difficulties getting over relationships, because some parts of their souls are still linked with the other person in the same way that two papers stuck together with glue will leave some patches and residue when they are prised apart. “‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Matthew 19:5, emphasis added). People who give their bodies to other people abuse their temple and will not inherit the Kingdom of God if they don’t repent. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NIV, ESV). 66

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Do not believe the lie that having sex before marriage can bring two people closer. This behaviour does not give you insight into the character of a person. Rather, it shows that if a person cannot wait for marriage before making love, they do not have any respect for the temple of God, much less the Word of God! The same verse is repeated three separate times in the Song of Solomon “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the ﬁeld, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases [referring to the time of marriage]” (Song of Solomon 2:7, 3:5, 8:4, emphasis added). During courtship, it is better for you to observe the other person spiritually and appreciate spending time with them ﬁrst. It is also important that you pray to God continuously in order for God to reveal to you the other person’s heart. In this way, you will avoid time-wasters and the heartache that comes of getting married to the wrong person.

Judging others When we judge others, we tend to forget that we ourselves are not perfect. We sin every day in our actions and thinking. The Bible says that we should be careful when we judge our Christian family, because as we judge, so also will God judge us. We should have an unconditional love for our brothers and sisters. Remember God loves everybody. Our love will testify about the love of Christ for sinners: “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, ﬁrst take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6”Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matthew 7:1-6).

Jesus is telling us not to be judging others in order to appear more righteous than another, as if we were capable of such purity in and of ourselves. We are not! Of what use is it for me (one who struggles herself to maintain and drive at the posted speed limit) to tell others to follow the speed limits when I myself continue, perhaps even driving at higher speeds than the one that I rebuke? Is this to say that if I struggle with a law and see another struggling also that I shouldn’t say something and join together with that brother and try hard to watch our speed with each other so that we might both climb out of the speed trap? No. But there is so much more for a Christian to do than to ﬁnd fault and criticize over things they see in others, that most likely are similar to the poor qualities they possess themselves: “You hypocrite, ﬁrst take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5, ESV). God uses similar wording when He says. “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you” (Joshua 7:13). 68

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So, we must judge and be critical, but to be so of ourselves ﬁrst and most of all, so that we might better ourselves, examine ourselves so that we might be better for the Kingdom by it. But judge we must, otherwise how can we discern what is holy, or of value, and who would be like a “dog” or “pig”? “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matthew 7:6, ESV).

At the end of times, Christ will reject us before our Father in Heaven if we refuse to help our neighbors in need during our times on earth. If we can help, we should help others as if were giving help to Jesus.

Do you know that we who are Christian will actually judge the world? What about angels? We better know how to judge, and judge righteously! •

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:12).

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“Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3, ESV).

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How can we decide if one is “weak in the faith” if we cannot “judge”? “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters” (Romans 14:1).

How can we decide to whom needs to be taught the Gospel, or even the Way of God more accurately? How will we know who is a false teacher and should be marked? •

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15).

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“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them” (Romans 16:17).

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“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves” (2 Peter 2:1).

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34”Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.’ 37”Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’ 40”The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me” (Matthew 25:31-40).

We have the Word, and it is the Word that will judge all people at the end of time. It is this Word that is our Standard by which we ourselves are judged and show to others that they also may be convicted: “Here is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day” (John 12:48).

If we truly love our neighbour, than we will reach out to them to try to help them spiritually just as we would expect them to do to us either spiritually or physically. Who would deny their neighbour a cup of sugar if they needed it? How much more the Words of Life? “To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacriﬁces” (Mark 12:33). 70

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Jealousy Jealousy can lead people to harbour murderous thoughts in their hearts against other people. It represents a lack of trust in ourselves, which can sometimes become a power source for resentment and hatred: •

“For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge” (Proverbs 6:34, ESV).

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“Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).

Paul in the Bible encountered hardships and blessings, but he learnt to be content and praise God in all circumstances. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12). We should be content with all the things that God has given unto us. God is everything I need to be satisﬁed, as He is the Lord and everything belongs to Him. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). We should see our trials as a way to complete our character and our faith in God and rejoice in the blessings of those around us, instead of being jealous or envious. •

“Perseverance must ﬁnish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4).

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“When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:5-6).

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“And when she ﬁnds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin” (Luke 15:9). 73

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“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25”Meanwhile, the older son was in the ﬁeld. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27’Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28”The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31” ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24-32).

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“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

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“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).

We shouldn’t doubt but believe that the God who hasn’t even spared His Own Son for our sakes will also give us all things righteous. “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also give us all things with Him?” (Romans 8:32). If we are not careful, our thoughts could materialise in acts that we could seriously regret. Let’s walk in obedience and rejoice with our brothers when they are blessed, not forgetting that our time will soon come.

Covetousness Covetousness, desiring material things in abundance for the wrong motives, can be seen in all sorts of forms within our society. The media has developed this through the years, via TV, magazine adverts, and friends or simply our seeing what others own. For example, changing cars, mobile phones, or houses ever so frequently may not be for the right motives. Is it to keep up with appearances, to contest with the “Joneses” (as the saying goes)? Even some adverts have incentives of getting extra freebies for introducing our friends to their services. Greed, pride, power and jealousy may be driving factors and these desires display the status of our hearts: “And He said to them, “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Let’s not concentrate on accumulating earthly riches since we won’t be able to take them with us when we die. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). The Bible says that we should store up riches in Heaven, our ﬁnal destination, and not for this world:

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"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

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Seek to give to the poor what you already have and the Lord will unfailingly bless you more. “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys” (Luke 12:33).

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Be faithful in small things so that God can put you in charge of bigger things. We should always aim to please our Father in Heaven who will reward us for our faithfulness, dedication and commitment by putting us in charge of bigger things: “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 75

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SANA EDOJA And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ﬁve minas.’ 19And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over ﬁve cities.’ 20Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’” (Luke 19:17-24, ESV). 18

Those who are lazy and despise the calling of God on their lives will be removed of their knowledge and fruits acquired from the Lord. “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Luke 19:26, ESV). Be fervent in the Lord always. Do everything as if you are working directly for the Lord. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (Colossians 3:22).

Stealing Stealing is a hidden form of laziness. The Bible gives us the command that we should be going to work to provide for our needs (food, clothes, etc). “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). When you admit to having a ﬁnancial problem, some people will trust and respect you more. Some might even be willing to help you. God desires us to be independent by being responsible for our needs. As we go out there and look for a job, we show God by our faith and our actions that we trust Him for ﬁnancial providence. He will unfailingly open doors of favour and providence before us. It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to give to those in need.

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Laziness People who are lazy, and without hope, refuse to take responsibility for themselves and expect others to do things for them. The Word says that the one who sleeps wakes up hungry, and “poor”: “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread” (Proverbs 20:13, ESV). This is one of the reasons that some parts of the world today are suffering from poverty. The richer ones who should have been responsible have not shown enough care. God wants us to handle our responsibilities wisely: jobs, ministry, health, and raising children, by being obedient to His Word. The decisions we make today will determine our future. Be wise and take counsel from God by dwelling in His Word night and day “He who heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof goes astray” (Proverbs 10:17).

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God has wonderful plans for our life God has wonderful plans for our life that nobody else can fulﬁl. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). His plans are wise and will always succeed. They are for our beneﬁt and those around us. These plans come to pass and are visible to us through much prayer and study of His Word and then walking by faith. If we commit our life into the hands of God, He will give us directions and open doors in our life that no man can shut. Then, we have to learn from His Word in order to get wisdom and knowledge to put these plans into action. God always makes a way if we are acting in accordance with His will for our lives. Those plans could be a change in our life such as a new job, or moving to a new location, new friends, the decision to leave your “comfort zone” and try something new, a business idea, writing books, a musical career, going into partnership, setting up a charity, etc. All should have the same goal: using our God-given abilities in order to promote His Kingdom.

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The Kingdom of God When Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago, He became the starting point for the Kingdom of God. “After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3, emphasis added). God saved us and brought us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God through the sacriﬁce of His Son on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Sin was no longer the master of our soul, as we became slaves to righteousness. •

“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves” (Colossians 1:13, emphasis added).

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"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants” (Matthew 18:23, emphasis added).

God built the kingdom of God through His church, who is the body of Christ. Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples and trained them in the ways of the Lord so that they could build His kingdom of God with the help of the Holy Spirit upon the confession that Christ is the Son of the Living God: “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-19).

The Kingdom of God is being built every day by the followers of Christ who preach the gospel of salvation throughout the world. Only God adds to His Kingdom, as He is the only One who knows the hearts of man and can truly judge obedience and faith. “…And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47, ESV). It is not a physical kingdom or building, but a spiritual one, with each brick laid representative of each Christian: 83

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“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacriﬁces acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV).

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"The time has come," He said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15, emphasis added).

What is the “Good News”? It is the Gospel, it is the Truth that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” to die for the sins of the world, so that all those who believe Him can have eternal life in Him! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Paul, through the Spirit wrote ”when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 ESV). To escape this eternal destruction, one cannot simply know God, but must “obey the Gospel”. What is this Gospel? “Now I [Paul] would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:1-6 ESV). From this verse, we can understand that the Gospel is the “Good News”, the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. God has provided us with the knowledge of sin, with a Saviour from our sins, and a way that we can partake of His sacrifice, and thus a way to “obey this Gospel”: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin (Romans 6:3-6 ESV). When we believe the Gospel and obey it through the waters of baptism, we 84

become part of the body of Christ whose aim it is to reach Scriptural fullness or maturity and purity; to be ready when Christ is sent back to this earth to collect His own. The Church is described as a bride and Christ the bridegroom. It is the desire of the church therefore, to be ready for the groom on that wedding day! • •

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7, emphasis added). “I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2, emphasis added).

We participate in the growth of the kingdom of God when we obey God’s will for our lives. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14, emphasis added). Saving those who are lost, teaching them to be Christ’s disciples by giving them the right teaching of the Word, to lead them to go out and bring the good news of the Gospel to many more people who will, in their turn, become part of the kingdom of God is a Christian’s mission: •

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV).

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“Again He said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:30-32).

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"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1, emphasis added).

We shouldn’t forget that, in order to be part of the kingdom of God, we need to believe, repent, confess and be baptized into the water, in which we are given the promise of the gift of the Spirit and to continue in the Scriptures’ teachings unto death. Jesus answered Nicodemus: “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5, emphasis added). Once we have tasted the freedom in Christ, for us to return to our evil ways is death for our souls: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacriﬁce for sins, 27but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of ﬁre that will consume the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27 ESV). 85

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That should be enough to motivate us to preach the gospel of salvation to our friends, relatives, even strangers, to give them an opportunity to enter the kingdom of God. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders” (1 Corinthians 6:9, emphasis added). We, the church, can make a difference today by participating in the increase of the kingdom of God by taking the message of salvation to the ends of the earth, helping in the growth of the kingdom of light while reducing the kingdom of darkness.

Learn to rejoice in the Lord “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him” (Psalms 28:7, ESV). Praising God will help you to re-focus and to put your mind back into the right perspective, forgetting about your problems and focusing on God, remembering that He is the Provider and that He cares for your soul. “Rejoice, O nations, with His people for He will avenge the blood of His servants; He will take vengeance on His enemies and make atonement for His land and people” (Deuteronomy 32:43, emphasis added). Wipe your tears and rejoice in the Lord, the God of our salvation! We need to rejoice in the Lord in response to obedience, worship and respect to the Lord. Sometimes, we don’t feel like rejoicing because of our trials and sorrow. However, we can learn from people in the Bible who have praised God because they knew that God works for the best in all situations good and bad: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). •

The account of Hannah praying earnestly for a son, and then rejoicing as she gives her boy back to the Lord: “Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always” (1 Samuel 1:22).

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David begging for the life of his illegitimate son, and then going to worship the Lord upon learning of his death. “Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate” (2 Samuel 12:20).

In learning to be content in all situations, we learn to rejoice in all that we acknowledge comes from the Father: •

“Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19). 87

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“Though the ﬁg tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the ﬁelds produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

The eunuch troubled over the passage he could not understand, and then when the Spirit sent Philip to guide him, baptized and living a new life, he went on his way rejoicing! “So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important ofﬁcial in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31”How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself someone else?” 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” 37 Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:27-39).

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“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though reﬁned by ﬁre—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

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“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13).

A Christian’s life is a blessed life simply because we know where we are going, we have the hope and it is in Christ, and therefore we can rejoice always: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). The Bible reveals to us that there are different occasions of celebrating in the Lord’s presence. We can rejoice in the Lord to thank Him for getting us through our troubles; for the sacriﬁce of His Son on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins; for His faithfulness in our life (spiritual and material provision); for His comfort; for transforming us into His likeness; for guiding us through His Word; for the place He has prepared for us in Heaven, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2, emphasis added).

When we suffer trial and tribulation, when we are persecuted for our Christianity, we can rejoice because we have been counted as a follower of Christ! •

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12).

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“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (Acts 5:41).

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“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance” (Romans 5:3).

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Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must ﬁnish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). 88

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Trusting in the Lord The books of Job and Psalms show us how to relate to God. My favourite is Psalms, which shows us how David, a shepherd boy, who through God’s favour, is anointed to become King of Israel, putting his trust in God in good and difficult times. It’s interesting to note that David begins his psalms with lamentations then he finishes by saying what the attributes of God are, who gives him assurance that his prayers will be answered. David uses psalms to praise God for His faithfulness and His deliverance from his enemies. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall. 3Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. 5For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent, He will set me high upon a rock. 6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 7Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8Thou hast said, “Seek ye my face.” My heart says to thee, “Thy face, LORD, do I seek.” 9Hide not thy face from me. Turn not thy servant away in anger, thou who hast been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me up. 11Teach me thy way, O LORD; and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD!” (Psalms 27:1-14).

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God is the best friend you could ever have God is never too busy to listen to our joy, secrets and sorrow. Through His Word, He gives us solutions to our problems. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3, ESV). Promising to bring back those who have wandered off, heal the broken hearts, and bind our deepest wounds, Jesus has come to show us the way to the Father through the sacriﬁce of His body on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. •

“In the same way your Father in Heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:14).

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

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“I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over. I will feed them in justice” (Ezekiel 34:15-16).

The Lord promises to deliver us from our worst enemies once we fear Him by trusting in Him and obeying His commands. “But you shall fear the LORD your God, and He will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies” (2 Kings 17:39, ESV).

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The Character of God When we study the Word of God, we can be more aware of His character by noticing the way He reveals Himself to people through discipline, love, kindness and forgiveness. He is omnipotent, (i.e. all powerful) and sees everywhere and everything at the same time. “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? Says the LORD. Do I not ﬁll Heaven and earth? Says the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:24). He is patient in that He will wait for us to turn from our wicked ways and ask Him to be the Lord of our life. “Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you; therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18). God will not wait forever though. There is a time coming when, ready or not, He will send Jesus back for the faithful, and those who chose to follow their own desires rather than the Father will be eternally punished. Thanks be to God though, that He is patient and has waited even this long: •

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by ﬁre, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” (2 Peter 3:9-11).

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“It will be good for that servant whose master ﬁnds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:46-51).

But He is also a jealous God, One who demands that should we make the choice to follow Him, that we would do it whole-heartedly.

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“Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14).

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He is pure, and by the grace and mercy of Jesus, when we are washed and wearing Christ, we too can be so pure as to be in God’s presence: “Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14).

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“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).

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“Everyone who has this hope in Him puriﬁes himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).

God has given us free will A few years ago, some people talked to me about Jesus wanting to be my Lord and Saviour. I was hesitant and reluctant to confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour because of doubt and unbelief in God. Through the months that followed, I felt a deep need on calling on the name of God as I was struggling with sins in my life. Wanting to know more about God, I started reading the Bible and going to church. I had regular studies about the Gospel of Jesus with the teacher and some students. A few months later, I had a deep conviction in my heart and repented of my sins. I was baptized for the forgiveness of my sins, committing my life to the Lordship of Christ. I started to put my trust in the word of God and I enjoyed praying to the Father. “If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, emphasis added). I saw my life changing a lot. I experienced such love and care. God put a lot of people in my way to share and show me the love of God. I realised that doing it my own way was the way of sin leading to death but the way of the Lord was the way of life through righteousness. “The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death” (Proverbs 11:19). I was never forced to accept God in my life. He came to me and I opened the door of my heart to let him in. I’ve never regretted it. I also realised that His righteous ways in the Bible were better than my sinful ways. He is a wonderful Guide and Counsellor. Today, the Lord has given us free will just as He did when He spoke to the Israelites through Moses over 4000 years ago. “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19, emphasis added). From the beginning “And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden” (Genesis 2:16). God has provided all things for mankind, including choice. He placed man in the garden and gave man everything, except for the one tree, but in withholding this tree from man, God gave him something else: free choice. I believe God did this so that man could decide to obey his

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Creator and trust Him for all that was necessary to life, and so that God could test his love for Him

body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; 5it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 8Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; 10but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. 11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. 13So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:3-13).

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“Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow My instructions” (Exodus 16:4).

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“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning” (Exodus 20:20).

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“He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you” (Deuteronomy 8:16).

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“I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the LORD and walk in it as their forefathers did” (Judges 2:22).

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“I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly Your people who are here have given to You” (1 Chronicles 29:17).

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“But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart” (2 Chronicles 32:31).

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“O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure” (Psalm 7:9).

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"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve” (Jeremiah 17:10).

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“His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with ﬁre, and the ﬁre will test the quality of each man’s work” (1 Corinthians 3:13).

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“Out of the most severe trial, their overﬂowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2).

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“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

This last verse shows us that of all that is given to us, love is from God, and love will last forever. Faith and hope will no longer be needed when we reach Heaven, for we will see God, and no longer need faith, and our Hope of Heaven will have then be realized, but still love will remain. Isn’t it wonderful? Let us be sure to choose love and life with God over the alternative!

God will never force us to love Him or to obey Him. Love brings joy and peace. Hatred induces uncertainty, fear, anger and resentment. Love helps us to reach others in order to fulﬁl their needs. “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my 98

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Why God came to earth as a human being to set the captives free God came to earth as a human being to give us abundant life through His Biblical promises. God sent Jesus, His Son to show us how we can be reconciled with Him and live a better life of righteousness. •

“And there was given to Him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18”The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:17-19).

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“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus came to save those who were lost, all of us who sin: “And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12But when He heard it, He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacriﬁce.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:11-13, ESV).

He wants to be part of our life, saving us from our life of sins in order to be reconciled with Him and be the Shepherd of our lives. He wants us to live a life of righteousness pleasing unto His perfect will “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will ﬁnd out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My Own” (John 7:17, emphasis added). Each time Jesus taught or was approached by someone, He allowed each one the option of choice. Remember the rich young ruler? When he knew what he needed to do to follow Jesus, and did not want to accept it, Jesus and the man parted ways. It goes back to free choice. Jesus offers, and we either accept, or deny Him. “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers” (Acts 14:1-2). 101

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The Bible says that if we deny Christ from our life, He will deny us before the Father in Heaven. “Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in Heaven. 33But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before my Father in Heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). God loves us unconditionally in that He gave His only Son of His own free will that we may be saved and live eternally with Him in Heaven.

Experiencing freedom in Christ Jesus from oppression of sin Anyone not a Christian is under the rule of the Evil one. Sometimes our attitude of anger, deception, unforgiving, etc. is in contradiction with the Word of God. When we’re disobedient, we give an open door to Satan to come back into our hearts and rule our lives. Now that we are Christians, we shouldn’t walk in the bondage of sin any more but in total freedom and victory through Christ. “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was cruciﬁed with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. 10The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. 11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:4-13).

The only way to have freedom from sin in Christ is to wash it away in His blood through baptism with a repentant heart. •

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His Name” (Acts 22:16).

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“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand ﬁrm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

This is not an experience, but a lifestyle that we can choose to live! 102

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“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5, emphasis added).

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“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14).

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Through prayers and waiting on Him, He can lead us to repentance and grant forgiveness. After we have chosen to live the life of a Christian, when we realize that we have just gone back to our old way and sinned, •

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We must realize the hurt and pain we have caused Christ all over again: “if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace” (Hebrews 6:6). We must repent, and humbly ask for forgiveness: “Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the Name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me” (Acts 8:13-24). “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at ﬁrst. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place” (Revelation 2:5), and resolve not to repeat our mistake again!

If our sin involves another we must also go to that person and ask forgiveness so that she/he might also learn forgiveness and also, if she/he is a Christian, she/he will be able to help watch out that you do not repeat yourself again in this sin: •

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:2324). 104

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"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18”I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19”Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in Heaven. 20For where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them.” 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:15-22). “So watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “And this is the conﬁdence which we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

You can pray to God when you are feeling overwhelmed by temptations and trials. He knows your abilities, even better than yourself, and wants so very much that you are found to be strong in Him, but, as the Father, He also knows your weaknesses and limitations and will strengthen you when you ask Him. •

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“I appeal to you, brothers, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas “; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). “I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14).

When you are struggling with sin in your Christian walk, ask the Lord for wisdom. As you study, God will help you to ﬁnd the passages that will give you 105

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comfort and strength and resolve over Satan and his ways. Ask the Lord for a brother or sister who can help you grow stronger in Him. He knows the person who could help you. Not all Christians know the Word very well, or are Spirit ﬁlled and effective. The Bible says that you will recognise them by their fruits. You have to discern by the Holy Spirit in order to see if what they preach is in line with the Word of God

If you do not renew your mind, the Devil will lead you to think evil again, which will bring you back to your old world of sin, and sink you even deeper than you had been sunk before!

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or ﬁgs from thistles? 17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the ﬁre. 20Thus you will know them by their fruits. 21”Not every one who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 7:15-21).

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Matthew 12:43-45).

The right person will be somebody who loves God very much and will take time to pray and fast for you to determine what the problem is and how best to help. “To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. 32Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Once you have cleared all those spiritual rocks of doubt, selﬁshness, and false or worldly teachings out of the way, holding fast to the teachings of Christ, the Holy Spirit will be able to ﬂow better through you, like a river rushing to accomplish its purpose. “The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you” (Deuteronomy 28:8). Find a good church, not just any, but the one that follows the beliefs and patterns and teachings of the New Testament completely, not just picking out their favourite beliefs and verses, but even struggling to follow the “hard teachings”. Replace your old thinking with the Word of God. •

“Let us be holding fast the confession of the hope or, conﬁdent expectation without wavering, for the One having promised is faithful. 24And let us be considering one another for the stimulation of love and of good works, 25not abandoning or, neglecting the assembling together of ourselves, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25 ALT).

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"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds” (Hebrews 10:16 ESV). 106

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You are the glory of God for the salvation of many The glory of God is in you. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of Living Water” (John 7:38). Your light and testimonies could lead many people to Christ. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Jesus drew so many men and women to Him because the light of God in Him was shining before men at all times. “After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber’i-as. 2And a multitude followed Him, because they saw the signs which He did on those who were diseased” (John 6:1-2). People wanted to touch Him and know more of the Word of God Who had become flesh. They had found their satisfaction in Jesus. “Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). They believed in Him because of His attitude of love towards others. He became the Servant for the world (healing, preaching, delivering, providing). “For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The Holy Spirit will always be working in our lives to transform us more into God’s likeness “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18, emphasis added). Change of identity. The new me Has been found. A new Sound. I found Thee, Greater than Me. 109

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Having a bond With the Entity.

Surﬁng the waves, Under the Sun, You saved me. Without any burns, Escaped from the gun Of the Evil one.

Being Responsible for God’s calling in our lives

You found me, On a desert island. Dried up on the sand. Looking for me.

Taking responsibility is something that we have to think about. Is God responsible for us? If God wasn’t responsible for us, we wouldn’t be alive today. He took the responsibility to create our spirits, give us a purpose, and provide the Way back Home to Him.

You Kissed me. You Hugged me. Till I breathed On my own. I thank You, The only You. Lost and found, For a long round.

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“This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, held captives in his train and gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8).

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“When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious—that you, O LORD God, might dwell there” (Psalm 68:18).

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“In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is He who also ascended far above all the Heavens, that He might ﬁll all things. 11And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:9-13).

We were created of one soul, spirit and body before being sent into this world. Your soul forms your personality, your spirit is the inner witness through which God communicates with you and your body is the temple of God. He brought us out of the womb. He made sure that we would be fed and looked after by giving us parents or guardians. For those who are orphans, He found suitable alternative parents. He protected us so that we would survive in this world where sin reigns “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV). All this was given to us because God loves us and He will do everything so that His purpose in our lives can be established. Everyone should be able to understand right from wrong via the teaching received from what they read in the Scriptures. Otherwise, from 110

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various experiences, interactions, school lessons, parental guidance, teachings, or lack of, a background of morality will have formed in which the seeking heart will continue to search for the absolutes found only in Christ. Responsibility requires a life of discipline with yourself and God: being a humble person, serving others like Jesus served the Father. •

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1, ESV).

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‘But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. In this way, we are able to know and understand the needs of others and to respond appropriately with the servant hood of love” (Luke 22:26).

Jesus came to serve humanity and not Himself. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14, ESV). Jesus never used His spiritual powers to satisfy his physical desires, but always for the glory of God the Father. He was spiritual just as He was physical. If He wanted He could have destroyed the Devil with his legions of angels, but instead He used the Word and His wisdom and humility to rebuke Satan in order to teach His children to overcome in this world we are living in. •

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 ESV).

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"Or do you think that I am not able now to call upon My Father, and He will place beside me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53 ALT).

God, our Healer Part of Jesus’ ministry was healing the sick. “So His fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all the sick, those afﬂicted with various diseases…” (Matthew 4:24, ESV). He even raised people from the dead: “As He drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14And He came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother. 16Fear seized them all; and they gloriﬁed God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people!” “(Luke 7:12-16). Jesus triumphed Himself over death, never to die again, and all those who follow Him no longer fear spiritual death, knowing now that physical death is but a step into Heaven: •

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55”Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

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“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him” (Romans 6:9).

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“But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

These Scriptures tell us that God is our healer and our Saviour from not only spiritual death, but even, for some, physical disease and death also. Recently, my sister-in-law’s father-in-law died of cancer. Attending his memorial service, his minister told us that the deceased person had known Christ before his sick112

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ness struck him. He described how my uncle in-law had trusted God throughout his life even during his last trial, and how the Lord gave him an amazing peace about dying. He told us about how he loved to read his Bible and help others. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21 ASV). Death is never a bad thing when we are in Christ. The only time it is a bad thing is when the person dying, dies apart from Christ. It is hard for those the dead leave behind, but for the Christians, it is just a temporary parting, and we can rejoice that the dead have passed on to life everlasting face to face with Christ! •

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? "I will have no compassion” (Hosea 13:14).

God has always had us in mind God chose the nation Israel to reveal His love, character and patience. “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession, out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6, ESV). The Old Testament is a shadow or tutor of what would be in the New Testament:

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“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justiﬁed by faith” (Galatians 3:24). The law given in the Old Testament was to prepare us for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

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Only the blood of the Lamb could redeem us from sin “because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; 6with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. 7Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about Me in the scroll—I have come to do Your will, O God.’“ 8First He said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor were You pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). 9Then He said, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:4-10).

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God said to the Israelites when He delivered them from Egypt that when He sees the blood on their doorposts, He would pass over them. “The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).

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Likewise, when He sees the blood of Christ covering over us, He will again pass over and spare our lives from eternal death. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand ﬁrm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his 115

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SANA EDOJA Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:2022). •

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

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“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14).

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“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, puriﬁes us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Everything has been put into place in advance for us to live a successful and peaceful life. God has had us on His mind before the creation of this world. “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight” (Ephesians 1:4). Creating the earth for men, taking the form of a human being to redeem us from the power of death and our sins, he reconciled us to Himself: “And the Word became ﬂesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and Truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14). God did all of this so that we might have eternal life: “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Are you fit to be God’s disciple? “If any one comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26, ESV). This verse is a hard saying. However, It is not that we must “forsake” or hate our families (and friends for that matter), but that we must not love them more than the Lord. If they refuse to believe, or if they hold us back from growing as we ought or doing as we’re commanded, than we must put them behind us so that they will not hinder our obedience to the Saviour. If you read down a few verses further in this passage, you will see that we are also to give up all our possessions. If we take this literally, than we shall each become homeless and without clothing; a burden upon others instead of a light and example and benefactor: •

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47).

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“There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need” (Acts 4:34-35).

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“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10).

After reading the rest of these Scriptures we can see that Jesus did not mean for us to literally hate our family, but that nothing should come between our love and devotion to the Father and to the Son. We should realize that the earthly possessions we have been given by God are just that, earthly and for this earth’s 116

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use: family, ﬁnance, future plans and hopes are all reasons Jesus must hear of why people won’t follow Him. This is another example of the cross we are told to carry, the yoke, or the cost of discipleship, so to speak. •

“Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. 25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26If anyone is ashamed of Me and My Words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:23-26).

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“Anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:38).

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“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).

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“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not ﬁrst sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28).

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“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33).

Our family can be our biggest enemy. But he who endures to the end will be saved. “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all for My Name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:21-22). Why? If your family is not born again, they will not understand the work of the Spirit in your life. It will look foolish to them “The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). If we try to impose or force our beliefs on our family, they could come to believe that we may be part of a cult. Just let the Holy Spirit do His work. •

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house’ ” (Acts 16:31). You can reveal to them the Love of God by having a pure and holy attitude around them

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“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacriﬁces are pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:16, ESV).

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“Now, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head” (Romans 12:20). 118

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Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:1-2).

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“How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?” (1 Corinthians 7:16).

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Do not let yourself be deceived, as your family may try and talk you out of being a Christian. Put your trust in God for your family’s salvation. •

“And those who know Thy Name put their trust in Thee, for Thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee” (Psalms 9:10).

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“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act” (Psalms 37:5, ESV).

Nothing is impossible for God to do. Draw me, cleanse me. Make me more like You. Show me the way. Take me by Your hand, Don’t let me down. Come and rescue me, Show me Your tools. You are my only hope. You are my only guide. In this wide world, I know You can. You are my sword In times of battle. I know You can.

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Do not conform to the ways of this world Nowadays, media, music, cinema, politics and so on, have a major inﬂuence in our lives. One needs to understand that no matter what’s happened in this world, Jesus still reigns on the throne in Heaven and on earth. The ruler of this world, Satan, has already been judged according to the Word of God. “Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged” (John 16:11, ESV), and will be in the pits of Hell: “And He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:2, ESV). A few years ago, I used to enjoy clubbing on weekends and listened to worldly music. Once I found Christ, I lost interest in all of those hobbies. I found out that clubbing and worldly music were doorways for sin (lust, violence, drugs, sex and alcohol). They don’t satisfy the craving needs of our souls for love. To keep our eyes on Jesus is to avoid being corrupted by this world: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:3-11).

We should dwell in the Word of God in order to produce the right kinds of fruit (love, patience, self-control) in order to grow spiritually and avoid being cut off from the presence of the Lord by following the evil desires of our hearts. 121

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“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4, emphasis added). News on TV is always negative but the Word of God is full of good news “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We need to be innocent about evil. TV promotes freedom of sexuality, “Look Good, Feel Good”. But Jesus says that if you feel good on the inside, you will look good on the outside: •

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“And we, who with unveiled faces all reﬂect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Renew yourself with the Word and the glory of God will shine on you on the outside: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Those who watch you will want to have what you have and may become born again. God looks at the heart and not at the appearance. God was saying to Samuel not to look at the appearance but at the heart when he was looking for a king for Israel. “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, ESV). If you watch TV all the time, it will stain you. You will start behaving in line with what you have seen on the screen. Remember you become what you hear and what you see. If you walk away from the Word of God and surround yourself with evil music and evil movies and bad friends, you will start acting like them. Your love for the Father will grow cold. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Remember that some people who play rock and roll and make evil-occult movies belong to this world. Some of them have made a pact with Satan and promise to worship him and lead innocents to do the same if he gives them earthly glories. They become involved with drugs, sexual immorality etc. Their purpose is to lead people to their destruction. •

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

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“Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10). 122

Jesus Jesus wants to lead us in the right way: • •

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"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few ﬁnd it” (Matthew 7:13-14). "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The Man who enters by the gate is the Shepherd of His sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice” (John 10:1-4). “Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).

Jesus wants to be our Shepherd: •

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“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things” (Mark 6:34). "I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the Shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the ﬂock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14”I am the good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me— 15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one ﬂock and one Shepherd” (John 10:11-16).

If you decide to become a Christian, you can make a difference in this world with your newly found Christian love seen through your attitude and the word of your testimony. Preaching the Word and God and sharing your relationship with Christ will change millions of lives! Just take the example of Paul in the Bible for instance. He used to persecute Christians and then when taught the Truth, he was a tool for the Father, and brought countless numbers of Gentiles 123

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(everyone who is not a Jew) in his lifetime, and still now through the teachings inspired to him by the Holy Spirit to the Lord! “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19, ESV). Nothing is impossible for the Lord. The Lord can turn the life of prostitutes, murderers, thieves, liars, the proud, etc. and use them to bring to pass His Kingdom and use them to save millions of souls.

CONCLUSION: To conclude, I hope you have enjoyed reading my first book and that you have learned from it. I wish you the best and I pray that God will always come first in everything you do. “Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you” (James 4:10, ESV). Remember that God has not changed from the way He was more than 2000 years ago, when Christ died on the cross for you and me, nor has He changed from the beginning of time when He first placed Adam and Eve in the Garden.“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV). His Word and character are still relevant today. The Lord is calling you to come to know Him, to be a part of His Kingdom. “God will give to each person according to what he has done.” 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the Truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Romans 2:6-10). Turn from your evil ways, repent, be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and enjoy a life of righteousness and eternal salvation with a Loving and Forgiving God. “Nations will come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your dawn” (Isaiah 60:3). It is the will of God that everyone should be saved. “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth”” (Acts 13:47). Keep your faith going, even if you do not receive what you have asked the Lord for now. God may have a better plan for you in this life or in the after-life or He wants you to learn patience. •

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“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for” (Hebrews 11:1). 125

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“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40).

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Whatever trial you are facing, be strong and courageous. “Be on your guard; stand ﬁrm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

May God bless you, all, forever and ever.

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