THE SALTLESS CHRISTIAN

 

Written Gavin Aleogho

 

There was this charismatic and energetic assistant Pastor who was very good in leading the Church in congregational prayers. He was loved by all. This young man was caught in the act of sexual immorality. After proper investigation, it was discovered that that was his first time indulging in such an act.

 

Before the incidents, his ministry was greatly appreciated and celebrated for he was also a good Bible study teacher. Sadly, after the incident, he lost his respect in the Church. That is the consequence of a Christian losing his saltiness.

 

It is common knowledge that we the followers of Jesus Christ are the salt of the earth. However, not many Christians are aware of the fact that they can lose their saltiness, like the young Pastor.

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly stated the fact that a salt can actually lose its saltiness. “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?”  Luke 14:34.  Hence, the Lord encourages us to, “Have salt in yourselves.” Mark 9:50.

 

In my journey in the faith, I have seen Christians with amazing ministry, who were once cherished by everyone. Their lives and testimonies drew many to the Lord.  However, in the process of time, they misbehaved and did things that turned the heart of people against them. Such singular carelessness caused them to lose their saltiness and tarnished their image.

 

There are a lot of things that can cause a Christian to lose his saltiness. Some of which are a lying tongue, wrong approach to offences, living a hypocritical life, sexual perversion, wrong attitude to money and poor interpersonal relationship skill. These things can make people turn their backs against the faith. Nobody should reject the gospel because of your manner of living.

 

One of the wonderful things that happened to me right from when I gave my life to Christ were the amazing brethren, whose lives have greatly influenced and motivated me to stay on the path of righteousness. These brethren were the salt that the Lord used to preserve me in the way of the Lord. For salt is a preservative agent.

 

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers, coupled with all the investments of God, are what makes the believers the salt of the earth. We are expected to bring the flavour of the salt in our lives to everyone and everywhere we find ourselves. Our salt is a preservative agent in the midst of the corruption in our world. Hence, we are supposed to positively influence everyone who comes across.

 

As beautiful as this experience is, it is important to note that a Christian can lose his saltiness. A little folly, careless talk, sinful habits, and a double standard life can make one lose the flavour of his salt.

 

For the story of the assistant pastor, I believed that God forgave him, but it was difficult for men to forgive or even forget about the issue and trust him again. This is what happens when a Christian loses their saltiness. The effectiveness of his ministry was lost in that congregation. Even though his ministry can still be restored, it will take time for his image to be redeemed.

 

To destroy is very easy, but it is very difficult to build back what has been destroyed. A man can destroy overnight what took many years to build. This is why you have to be very careful about losing your salt. You must get rid of every little fox that is capable of spoiling your vine. (Song of Solomon 2:15).

 

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”

Proverbs 22:1.

 

I remember the story of a once renowned man of God who was greatly loved and revered by Christians in many nations of the world. He lost his respect and honour because of a sexual scandal that came up. The scandal didn’t just affect the church that he pastored; it also affected the demand for his ministry. Even his books and messages, which were in hot demand, were no longer valued.

 

The Effect Of Losing Your Saltiness

 

The effect of losing your salt is enormous. The Lord Jesus said, “…if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”  Matthew 5:13

 

Here are some consequences of losing your salt:

 

i.   Your ministry and testimony will be rejected.

ii.  You won’t be able to influence anyone positively.

iii. People’s hearts towards you will be closed.

iv. Your reputation and integrity will be at stake

v.  It will be difficult for men to trust you again.

vi. People will begin to see you from a bad light.

 

Like I said early, God would definitely forgive you if you repent, but it may be difficult for men to forgive and accept your ministry again. It will take time, grace and God’s mercy for the heart of men to be open to your ministry.

 

How To Maintain The Flavour Of Your Salt

 

1. Live with wisdom. Think before you act.

 

2. Always think of your integrity and the many years it took you to build your reputation.

 

3. Continuously crucify the flesh while you live by the Spirit.

 

4. Cultivate the habit of drawing strength from God on a daily basis through prayers to face each day.

 

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 10:12,

 

Meditate on this.

 

©Gavin Aleogho

 

SPIRITUAL PARALYSIS: THE MISSING ELEMENT OF GENUINE REPENTANCE

Pst. Gavin Aleogho

 

“God is not that difficult like you think,” responded Desmond. “He is a loving Father who understands our weaknesses. As long as you keep coming back to him, confessing your sins, He will keep forgiving you. It does not matter if you still repeat the same sin, whether intentionally or not, He will always forgive you.”

 

As good as that statement may sound; it is not a complete truth. There is something fundamentally wrong with such an ideology. Such ideology tends to paint God as One who does not have a standard, simply because He is a merciful God. It is a statement that takes the mercy of God for granted.

 

This is one form of deception that has kept a lot of believers in a state of spiritual paralysis. It’s a belief that says, “As long as God will always forgive me, then I don’t have to try to stop a particular sin.”

 

Thus, many do not see the need to put an end to sin or an ungodly habit that is keeping them in bondage. It is important to know that God's objective is not just forgiveness; rather He wishes to see us have a complete victory over sin. Thus, we are expected to resist sin even if it requires that we shed our blood. (Hebrews 12:4).

 

Almost every believer understands the concept of forgiveness. However, only a few understand the concept and importance of the word “repentance.” The ignorance of the latter is the reason why a lot of Christians do not see progress in their walk with God.

 

Yes, our God is a God that is full of mercy and loving-kindness. He does not wish that any should perish. He is ever willing to show His mercy to anyone who asks for it. The scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9.

 

The mere act of confessing our sins from a sincere heart positions us to receive His forgiveness. Our God loves it when we come to Him with an honest heart; showing our helplessness.

 

However, as long as we keep coming to Him to receive mercy without a strong desire to turn a new leaf, we will never amount to anything in God’s hands. This is where repentance comes in. Genuine confession of sin must be coupled with a strong desire to repent of the sin. To repent implies that one feels regret and sorry about a sin (ungodly act) while he makes a decision not to do it again.

 

Repentance says, “I am not just coming to God to receive His forgiveness, but I am also making up my mind not to go back to my vomit.”  Repentance entails a strong desire to change and turn a new leaf.

 

When confession of sin is coupled with genuine repentance, besides receiving forgiveness, the individual will also receive the empowerment to live above that particular sin.

 

Hence, one of the major reasons why a lot of believers find it difficult to live above a particular sin is because they’ve not repented of that sin. True repentance is reflected when we are remorseful for a particular sin.

 

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV

 

Sadly, many believers are still wallowing in sin, not because God is not willing to save them completely from the bondage of sin but because they are yet to make the decision to turn a new leaf. Such people want the mercy of God and yet they still love their sin. Nobody can amount to anything in God’s hands with such an attitude.

 

King David was different in this regard. When He was confronted by Prophet Nathan about his sin with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah, David didn’t just ask God for mercy. He repented and never went back to commit the same sin again. He never slept with another man’s wife, and He never shed any innocent blood again till his death.  That is a man who understood the concept of repentance.

 

Today, on a daily basis we have a lot of Christians who come to God pleading for His mercy and forgiveness for what they’ve done wrong.  After receiving God’s forgiveness, they still go back to commit the same sin with the hope that God is a lovely Father who will always forgive them when they come back to ask Him for mercy. That is a mark of gross spiritual irresponsibility.

 

That is a dangerous ground to tread on. God cannot be mocked. God cannot be fooled. God cannot be deceived with deceitful tears for mercy without a heart that is willing to repent. I think we humans sometimes forget that we are dealing with an intelligent Being. God cannot be ridiculed.

 

4 MAJOR DANGERS OF NOT TURNING YOUR BACK ON SIN AS A CHRISTIAN

 

- Danger 1: Slave To Sin

 

A slave is at the mercy of his master. When a Christian refuses to turn his back on sin, he is invariably saying that he is okay with the chains of sin over his life. Such an attitude kills the willpower to break free from sin. Hence, such Christian will be kept perpetually under the bondage of such sin till he sincerely cries for help, and that is, after he might have realized what he has lost over time.

 

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Romans 6:16

 

- Danger 2: Gives Legal Ground To The Devil

 

Sin gives the devil legal ground to manipulate and destroy. The devil cannot use a child of God. However, when a believer brings himself under the bondage of a particular sin, he automatically enrols himself to be used by the devil whenever he wants anyone to perpetuate that particular sin.

 

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Romans 6:13

 

- Danger 3: Hardness Of Heart

 

When an individual sets his mind to keep committing the same thing, his conscience becomes weak and incapacitated; unable to query or correct him. Thus, his heart will become hardened concerning that particular sin. This hardness of the heart will eventually lead to the destruction of such individuals.

 

He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Proverbs 29:1

 

- Danger 4: Disqualifies You From Being Used By God

 

It is a mark of unseriousness to keep intentionally falling into the same sin that one has been saved from. Mind you, God cannot work with unserious people. Thus, a believer’s unwillingness to turn away from his old ways will disqualify him from becoming a vessel in the Master’s hand.

 

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

2 Timothy 2:21

 

In conclusion,

 

Be aware that the salvation package that God has for us contains total freedom from the bondage of sin. He has made every necessary grace available for all His children to live above sin and that includes you.

 

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:14

 

Many believers who have taken advantage of his grace are living victorious above sin. With the help of the Holy Spirit coupled with your willpower, you too can live victorious above that particular sin that has held you bond this many years.

 

You are free!

 

THE AGONY OF MAMA JAMES

 

Written by Gavin Aleogho
 
It's been over a year since her husband eloped with the lady he met during his official trip to Abuja. Since then, Mama James’ health has deteriorated drastically. She has allowed the situation to put her into depression, which has in turn affected her health. First was the increase in her blood pressure, followed by other medical conditions as stated in the medical report she received from her doctor.
 
Moreover, the situation also affected the behaviour and academic performance of her children. Mama James virtually lost the motivation, strength and zeal to follow up on her children. Indeed, the misbehaviour of their father really affected everyone.
 
Ever since the situation started, she has only channelled all her energy hopping from one prophet to another, seeking to win her husband back from the strange woman. In the course of moving from one prayer house to another, she has fallen victim to different false prophets who have milked her dry. One of such devilish agents has even taken advantage of her body. She even has to close her shop for a period due to the need to attend prayer meetings during working hours.
 
Things had already deteriorated when I met her last month. After listening to her story, I knew that I had to help her to first of all get back herself, before she can get back her husband and family. For she really was a shadow of herself; filled with hatred, anger and bitterness against her husband and against the strange woman.
 
You will agree with me that you can't get answers to your prayers when your heart is filled with unforgiveness, bitterness and hatred against any man. Besides the hatred she has for her husband, she even has greater hatred against the lady who took her husband. She confessed that she had schemed and prayed that the lady should "fall down and die."
 
Even though she was jumping from one prayer house to another, I discovered that she doesn't have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. She wasn't born again, although she thinks otherwise.
 
Your prayers become effective when you strive to grow in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Mind you, I am not talking about growing in your relationship with any Church or any man of God like Mama James had been doing. I had to lead her to Christ and began to teach her the elementary principles of the faith.
 
I remember on several occasions telling Mama James, "Since you are already praying about this situation; quit worrying. Worrying and faith cannot coexist. You must be strong to face life, especially for your three children. If you die due to thinking and depression, who will take care of your children for you? Besides, you must ensure that the answer to your prayers meets you alive and in good health."
 
Sadly, I was informed that Mama James passed on to Glory last week Saturday due to some medical complications. She has finally allowed her husband's misbehaviour to kill her. She has allowed the devil to win over her. Although, she is guaranteed to spend eternity with the Saviour, since she was born again. But she has allowed the devil to truncate her life here on earth.  
 
Now, I heard that the children have been moved to live with their grannies in her remote village, where I learned there is no good education system. I also learned that Mama James' parents are very poor and that she was the only surviving child of her parents.
 
It's a sad situation, I must confess. The man is still alive with his new catch, but the wife is dead. The children have been displaced from their home due to two factors. First, the father, who could not keep himself from an extramarital affair. Secondly, their mother, who could not be strong enough for her family and stand in faith to win the battle against the devil.
 
See, the devil's agenda from the start of this situation was to disintegrate the family. Satan's objective at any time is to kill, steal and destroy. Mama James never saw the whole picture of the devil's agenda. I am just thinking, "What will become of these children whose parents are nowhere to be found?"
 
Dearly beloved, you must not allow the devil to win over you. Make up your mind to win the battle that the devil has launched against you, your family, children, business, etc. Don't be deceived, the devil may start small, but his goal is to wreak great havoc in your life.
 
Like 1 Peter 5:8 says, you just have to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
 
There is nothing wrong with going to Church or making friends with men of God. However, seek first to become a friend of Jesus. Besides prayer, seek to know the truth, for it is the truth that makes you free. Seek to grow in your relationship with the Lord. That is what will help you to effortlessly resist the devil.
 
So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you.
James 4:7 NCV
 
Finally, make up your mind to stay alive, for a lot of destinies depend on you.
 
Don't run away.
Don't chicken out.
Don't give up.
 
You shall triumph over all the hosts of hell that are militating against your joy and peace, in Jesus name.
 
©Gavin Aleogho

IN THE TRUTH

 

-Gavin Aleogho

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
 
The importance of standing and living by the truth in our walk of faith cannot be overemphasized. For the structure of the Christian faith is built on the truth of God’s word. Anything and anybody outside the truth will not stand the test of time.
 
Before our Lord’s crucifixion, in John 18:38, Pontius Pilate asked our Lord Jesus the question, “What is truth?” However, he was not patient enough to get an answer to the question which he posed to our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Truth, personified.
 
The truth is the counsel of God that has been revealed in the scripture and it is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. In other words, the Word of God is truth. These are the principles and rules of the kingdom of God as revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17.
 
The truth is divine, it is the wisdom that is from above which is pure. And one of the tests of a true child of God is a sincere desire and hunger for the truth. The absence of this hunger is an indication that something is wrong.
 
When a believer stops living by the truth he starts degenerating spiritually. For the truth is the framework from where the believers operate.
 
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…
Ephesian 6:14.
 
There is a great deception that is going on in this age and this deception is being dissipated from some pulpits. This is giving rise to the great falling away that was prophesied by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. This is simply because men are no longer built by the truth but by the wisdom that is earthly, sensual and sometimes devilish.
 
If we must remain to the end, we must have the capacity to detect the truth and also be willing to stick to the truth. This is because it is only by holding on to the truth that we can detect and reject every form of deception, which is taking place in Christendom.
 
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Timothy 4:3-4.
 
You can’t detect the truth by your carnal nature (mind). The flesh loves to be appeased, it loves to hear what will stimulate and appease it. You can’t use the flesh to detect the truth of God. To be able to detect the truth, you must use your spirit which has been joined to the Lord to perceive the truth. Thus, a general knowledge of the Bible is not enough to walk in the truth. You must of necessary synchronize with God’s Spirit to be able to spot and walk in the truth.
 
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:13
 
It is the Person of the Holy Spirit that guides us into the truth of God. That is why the Holy Spirit was given to you in the first place. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17). Relay on the Holy Ghost so that you can quickly filter off the lies you hear from men, while you stick to the truth.

FOR WE KNOW IN PART

 -Gavin Aleogho

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12.

 

There is this old famous Indian fable of “the six blind men and the elephants”. The story speaks of six blind men who went to explore what an elephant is. The story has it that they all came back with different reports about what an elephant is.

 

The first said an elephant looks like a wall because of its broad sturdy side which he felt.

 

The second, who felt the tusk, said an elephant is like a spear.

 

The third blind man who happens to take the squirming trunk within his hands said that the elephant was like a snake.

 

While the fourth, who felt the knee, reported that the animal is like a tree.

 

The fifth, who by chance touched the ear, reported that an elephant was like a fan.

 

The sixth man, who seized on the swinging tail, claimed that the elephant is like a rope.

 

All six men disputed among themselves, holding strong to their personal opinion based on their own personal reality. Although each of them is partly correct in his own right. The question then is of the six men, who was correct?

 

Definitely, none of them was correct. They were all wrong. To have accurate knowledge of the subject in question, they must all consider the view of each individual and bring it together on a table.

 

Sometimes, we act like those six blind men. It is ignorant and foolish to hold on to a perspective of a matter without considering other views. It is wise to consider other people’s views before coming to a conclusion about a matter. This truth should be applied to our views on doctrines, politics, religion, everyday issues and the rest.

 

One of the major causes of war and strife between men is the acclaim superiority of knowledge over each other. Knowledge puff up, that is what the scripture says.  Knowledge in itself makes men proud and even arrogant.

 

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

1 Corinthians 8:1

 

This is why a Christian must balance knowledge with humility and love. The absence of humility and love in the heart of a man that has knowledge will only make the man proud and offensive.

 

Knowledge is dangerous and destructive when it is void of love and humility. It only becomes a weapon of oppression in such cases. But it is good and beneficial only when it is coupled with love and humility.

 

Humility, on one hand, will make you stoop low to consider another person’s view. And love, on the other hand, will help you not to act presumptuously. Rather, love will make you find a way to use the knowledge you have acquired to benefit your fellow man.

 

Besides, we should know that as humans, our knowledge is limited. Whatever we think that we know is not the final knowledge. Thank God for what we know presently; like we often discover that there is more to whatever we think we know.

 

In the same vein, not until we are willing to see and consider the views of others, we might as well be living in our own world of self-denial and self-deception.

 

Use the views of others to critically challenge and scrutinize what you know. This is how the wise increase in knowledge.

IS GOD’S LOVE UNCONDITIONAL?

 

 By Gavin Aleogho

I have read and listened to diverse views about the unconditional feature of God’s love. On one hand, there is a group of Bible Scholars who believe God’s love is unconditional. And on the other hand, we have some Bible scholars who oppose the fact that God’s love is unconditional. When you study these two views, you will discover that both views have some element of truth.

To have balance and a better understanding of the unconditional feature of God’s love, it is important to understand what the unconditional feature of God’s love means. 

The unconditional feature of God’s love implies that God’s love is given to man unconditionally without any prior prerequisite to whether the man deserves it or not. 

Please, take note of the word “GIVEN”. It is one thing for something (in this case, God’s love) to be “GIVEN”. But it is another thing for it to be “RECEIVED”. For not until what is given is received, the transaction is incomplete.

God’s love is given to man unconditionally, but for it to benefit the receiver, it is not without conditions.

The following scripture points to the fact that God’s love came to man unconditionally:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:10

You can see that God’s love came to us, even when we don’t deserve it. That is the unconditional feature of God’s love on display.

However, it is important to understand that God’s love is not without a condition if it must benefit a man. The popular Bible verse reads: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). 

For a man to benefit from God’s love, He must BELIEVE in Jesus Christ. That is a condition that is required from a man who must enjoy the benefits of God’s love.

This condition is further explained in Romans 10:9 that reads: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

There are some believers who think that because of God’s unconditional love, they can go on living anyhow and make a habit of sinning continuously, breaking God’s law. That is a deception that you mustn’t fall into. God’s unconditional love is not without an obligation from your end if it must benefit you. 

Yes, God’s love came to us unconditionally. But we must meet the condition of believing in Jesus Christ and repenting (turning away) from our evil ways as seen in the following scripture:

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Acts 17:30

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 2:11-12

God’s love can be illustrated as God stretching His hand unconditionally to help drowning men from their sins. However, for a drowning man to be saved, he must of necessity meet the CONDITION of stretching out his hand back to God to be helped.

It is important to know that God’s love is not without an obligation. It is not without demand or responsibility. It is not a call to relinquish your responsibility to God. God’s love demands a corresponding response from the man who has been given the love. For without a corresponding response to God’s love, you can’t get the full benefit of the love.

Take for example; when it rains, it rains on all, but the man who benefits from the rain is the individual who has a need for water, who takes the pains to get a bucket to hold the water. The rain came unconditionally to everyone (both to the good and bad), but it only benefits the one who responded appropriately to the rain.

There is a parable in Matthew 22:1-14 that was said by our Lord Jesus Christ that clearly shows the “UNCONDITIONAL GIVING” and the “CONDITIONAL RECEIVING” of God’s love.

1  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen. 

Matthew 22:1-14

The story clearly depicts how our Heavenly Father shows His love to humanity. Verse 9 down to verse 14 shows how an open invitation was made to all. That is the unconditional love of the Father on display. However, reading verses 11 and 12, we find a man who was not putting on the wedding garment that was required for the occasion. He was deprived of enjoying the feast for this reason. This is how God’s love is given to all men.

The invitation is made freely (unconditionally) to all men, however, you are required to put away your old garment of sin and put on the garment of holiness and righteousness, if you must remain in the banquet hall of God’s love.

The parable is a warning to those who take God’s unconditional love and the invitation to His kingdom for granted. The man in Matthew 22 who took God’s benevolence of His grace for granted was severely punished.

 

 

BREAKING FREE FROM BESETTING SIN

 

Question:

What is your counsel to a believer who is sincerely trying to live right and break free from a particular sin, but keeps falling into the same sin? M. F.  Warri

Pst. Gavin’s response:

This is the reality of many believers. They are not happy about a particular sin. And they are sincerely trying to come out from it, but they keep falling into it.

The person does not need deliverance as some may suppose. They don’t need a devil to be cast out of their life before they can overcome such sin.

Let me give five simple but profound solutions to this problem:

1. Engage your willpower. Be determined to stop the sin.

You must be willing and determined to stop the sin. This decision has to come from within you. Nobody can stop you from doing what you still find pleasure in.

So, the first step to breaking free from any besetting sin is to engage your willpower and be determined to stop it. This is your first step out of any besetting sin.

2. Give your life to Christ and be filled with God's Spirit.

No human can quit sin by his or her own power. But when you sincerely submit your life to the Lordship of Christ and get filled with God's Spirit, then will you be able to do what you naturally could not do by your own human strength.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Zachariah 4:6

3. Kill the fuel.

Disconnect from whatever or whoever is making you to keep committing that sin.

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

1Corinthains 15:33 

Take for example, if a person wants to break completely free from the sin of sexual immorality. He or she must disconnect from friends, companies and relationships that lure him into that sin. He must also stop reading, watching and listening to sexually explicit books, movies and music. This must be done INTENTIONALLY.

 

4. Get along with believers

Get along with godly people who you can learn the scripture from and also learn from their lifestyle.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Proverbs 27:17 

Influence is powerful. When you get yourself among believers who influence you directly or indirectly with their lifestyle, you will find it easy to change your own lifestyle for the better.

 

5. Renew your mind by the word

Beside the many advantages of reading the Bible, one of the major benefits is in the renewing of the mind.

Collecting and studying scriptures that addresses the challenge you are going through, will help a great deal.

For example, a young man who is battling with the spirit of lust and immorality can get all the scriptures that speak on and against immorality. Studying passages like Proverbs 5, 6 and chapter 7 will help a great deal in this regard.

THE MYTH OF USING THE HARD COPY BIBLE TO CAST OUT DEVILS

 

Question:

Is it right to use the Hard Copy Bible to cast away demons from a person by placing the Bible on the person's head or waving the Bible at the person? M. F. Warri

Pastor Gavin’s response: 

It is wrong to do such. It is not scriptural.

The power of God is neither in the hardcopy Bible nor is the power in the letters of the Bible, for "the letter kills" (2 Corinthians 3:6).

The hardcopy Bible, in and of itself is powerless; it is like every other book in the world. This statement might sound blasphemous to some. But that is the truth. I am not talking about “content wise” but “printing wise”. For the content of the Bible is spiritual, unlike other printed books.

You don't place your mathematics text book on your head to understand mathematics. In like manner, you don't place the Bible on your head to understand it or put it under your pillow so as to wade off evil spirit, even though the Bible is regarded as a holy book.

If the hardcopy Bible actually works as you suppose, we will have been dropping the hardcopy Bible upon mad men for their deliverance. That would have been very easy for anyone to do.

To understand, apply and benefit from your mathematics text book, you must read it and apply the principles to your daily affairs that require counting.

So is the Bible. To benefit from the Bible, it must be read, understood and received into the heart. Afterward, applied to real life situations like casting out of devils.

The content of the Bible must be received into the heart of man and then mixed with his being, before it can be useful to the man.

Although some persons claim to have some results when they used the hardcopy Bible this way, I don't know how true that is. But that could just be a case of exemption due to God’s mercy on the minister’s individual’s ignorance.

Just be aware that there is nowhere in the scripture that instructs us to do such.

It is God's word in a man's heart that produces results. Not the hardcopy Bible.

There is a difference between esteeming God's Word and idolizing the hardcopy Bible. We must avoid the error of idolizing the Bible.

ARE ALL MUSLIMS ANTICHRIST?

 

QUESTION: 

Pastor Gavin, are Muslims Antichrist? Since there are Muslims with a high moral lifestyle, can we say that all Muslims are Antichrist? E. I. Warri.

Pastor Gavin’s Response:

Let me start by stating that:

1. Islam is not an extension of Christianity. Muslims and Christians are not serving the same God.

2. The high moral lifestyle of any Muslim doesn't make him or her righteous before God according to the scriptures. It is the cleansing by Jesus' blood and the righteousness of Christ that enables any man to stand before God.

For easy understanding, I will love to define some terminologies.

1. ANTI: is a word that means against.

It also means a person who opposes a concept or principle.

2. AN UNBELIEVER: is one that is either aware of Jesus Christ or is not aware of Jesus Christ, but he has not accepted Jesus into his life to be his Lord.

3. ANTICHRISTS: These are individuals who are possessed with the spirit of the devil, that is; The Antichrist, (I'm not talking of all demon-possession cases). There are many and they are already in operation.

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there MANY ANTICHRISTS; whereby we know that it is the last time." 1 John 2:18. 

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 1:7

1 John 4:2-3 gives us a vivid definition of who the antichrists are:

“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

4. THE ANTICHRIST: is just one person, whom the Bible referred to as the lawless one, who will be revealed in the cause of time to draw people away from the worship of God to Satan.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

Another reference to The Antichrist is found in Revelation 13:1-6. I won't be writing more on this in this piece.

This is just to let you know that there is THE ANTICHRIST which is different from ANTICHRISTS. They all have the same agenda.

The antichrists are forerunners of The Antichrist.

The spirit behind Islam as a religion is the spirit of The Antichrist. By the definition of who an antichrist is, we ‘may’ say all Muslims are antichrists. But when you look at it contextually, you cannot say so. You can only say they are UNBELIEVERS.

ALL MUSLIMS ARE UNBELIEVERS.

It’s vital to understand the context that the book of 1st, 2nd & 3rd John was written. It was written to address the rise of falsehood that was rising against the original gospel. Many false teachings, false religions and variations of Christianity were emerging at that time, just like we have it today.

People entertained countless views regarding truth about the personality of Jesus Christ. Not forgetting that at the time of this writing of the letter of John, Islam had not come up yet, not until 500 to 600 years later.

The word antichrist means “against Christ.” People who say that Jesus is not from God are controlled by the spirit of the antichrist. Satan opposes Christ, and he desires to deceive people into a false view of who Jesus Christ is. The spirit of the antichrist teaches against Christ.

To twist the truth about Jesus Christ is to pervert the gospel. Satan works to spread lies about Jesus Christ so as to keep people in the dark:

In the light of all I have outlined, can Muslims be classified as antichrist?

From 1 John 2:18-19, an Antichrist is anyone that denies that Jesus came in the flesh

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1 John 2:18-19

Contextually, 1 John 2:18-19 is talking about a set of people who were once in the Christian folks but left to become an antichrist. In other words, they've become an enemy of the cross, turning people away from the cross to either themself or something else. False Prophets and False Teachers in the form of or guise of Christianity can be grouped into this category. Not necessarily Muslims, because they were never with the Church in the first place.

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” 1 John 2:22-23

However, when you read further to verse 22-23 of 1st John 2, it gives further explanation of the set of persons (antichrists) he spoke about in verse 18. Here, you will see some characteristics that indict Muslims, which put Islam into this category because of the core beliefs of Muslims that states that:

1. God doesn't have a son. Hence, to them Jesus is not the Son of God. Although, they believe that there is a Jesus, but to them that Jesus is not the Son of God. 

2. Also, they don't believe that Jesus died for the sins of mankind, hence "No Resurrection".

And the Christian faith, among others, is anchored on this truth.

For these two reasons Muslims can be classified as antichrists but not in the context of 1 John 2:18 -19.

It is important to know that it is not all unbelievers that are antichrists, but all antichrists are unbelievers.

But primarily speaking, an antichrist doesn't just believe in Jesus Christ but they are against the person of Jesus Christ and against the pure truth about the Personality of Christ.

An antichrist is one who wants to impersonate the persons of Christ Jesus and turn people's heart to himself or something else.

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." 1 John 4:3.

Hence, everyone that falls into this category as spelt out in 1 John is possessed by the spirit of the Antichrist.