Gavin Aleogho's World: March 2019

SUGAR-CHRISTIAN OR SALT-CHRISTIAN?

By Gavin Aleogho

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13.

Lately, this question has been on my mind, “why didn’t Jesus refer to His followers as the sugar of the earth but rather, as the salt of the earth, considering that sugar is sweeter than salt?” My quest led me to search on the many advantages of salt as against the disadvantages of sugar. This findings made it clear to me why Jesus preferred using the word salt rather than sugar to describe the saints.

On casual inspection, salt and sugar appear almost identical. Both are white in colour. They are crystalline solids. Although, both are water soluble, but they have vast chemical differences. They share no elemental components at all.

The difference between salt and sugar is mainly in their elemental and chemical composition and the bonding that holds this element together and the way they dissolve in water. I will actually not want to go into much scientific comparison.

Why Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and not the sugar of the earth?

1. Salt preserves but Sugar is an agents of decay. Salt purify and preserve from corruption. Thus, we are supposed to be agent of preservation of godly virtues and values and not agents of decay of moral values in our society.

Is your life or your ministry aiming at preserving godly virtues?

2. Salt is used to fight agents of decay and corruption, but sugar is never used for that. Just like sugar is accepted by majority, you can’t use what people want to hear to heal them or change them. If you are salt, your message should be used to fight decay and corruption in people’s life for the preservation of their souls.

Is your life and ministry pampering the sin of people or is it fighting the decay and corruption that is eating our society?

3. Salt has maximum nutritional value compared to sugar. Temporarily, sugar might taste good and accepted by all, but to have a longtime effect, salt is preferred. We must aim at giving to our world, things that gives longtime value not short term value. Not giving temporal pleasure for eternal destruction.

Does your message has enough substance to preserve souls for eternity?

4. Sugar invites and accommodates agents of decay, but salt does not. We should be people whose life and ministry repels agents of decay and destruction. If our life is conducive for agent of decay, then our salvation is questionable. When darkness is comfortable in the presence of light, then the light ceases to be light.

Is your lifestyle repelling evil or is your ministry raising men whose lives repel evil?

5. Sugar only garnishes the surface, but salt interact with the content it is applied to. Sugar only makes good on the outside but it is not able to confront the decay in the heart of men. But salt makes good and also confront and heal decay and corruption from the inside-out.

Is your ministry having a strong effect in the heart and souls of men or is it just garnishing the surface of men?

6. Salt brings healing to wounds, but sugar worsens it. Application of salt to a wound kills germs, although it stings so badly. But sugar does not brings healing, rather it attracts organisms of decay that might further worsen the situation.

Is our message bringing healing or worsening the spiritual conditions of people?

Jesus calls Christians to be salt, not sugar, but sadly many Christians and even some ministers of the gospel have preferred to be sugar of the earth. They only give to the society what it wants not what will change and impact the society positively. Salt doesn’t just give flavour, it also preserves. Does your Christianity or ministry only brings flavour to the table without preserving the lives of people for eternity?

The usefulness of salt is in when it is applied. It is not useful when it is only contained in its container. You must make contact with your world in other to impact it. To bring healing to our decaying world, we need to apply the saltiness in our lives.

Dealing with Discouragement

Discover biblical tips on how to handle and deal with discouragement and depression.

STEPS TO CULTIVATING AND SUSTAINING A LIFESTYLE OF READING BOOKS

-By Gavin Aleogho

“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:3-6.

Why you should cultivate habit of reading

1. It requires little energy to read and it is less expensive to be a reader.

2. Reading improves mental health and help develops the brain faster.

3. Reading leads to good sleep; helping to improve your health and mental balance.

4. Reading inculcates the values of discipline and concentration.

5. Reading brings inspiration and causes increase in knowledge and wisdom.

6. Reading makes one a good writer.

7. Readers makes a good leader.

8. Reading boost one’s self-esteem.

9. Reading develops and increases vocabulary

10. Early development of reading habit leads to lifelong study habit.

18 Steps to cultivating and sustaining a lifestyle of reading books

1. Let the title of books captivated you.

2. Look towards getting the knowledge contained in the book.

3. Look towards how the book will transform your life.

4. Start by reading small books.

5. Don’t be shy to borrow books to read.

6. Buy books to read. This will push you to have the value of your money.

7. Make a deal with yourself to finish reading every book you pick.

8. Set deadlines on when to finish reading any book you pick

9. Have reading hours, where you mandate yourself to read.

10. Take a book with you to read everywhere you go.

11. Convert time used on your phone and going through social media to reading.

12. Avoid distractions and time wasters while reading.

13. Read:

-While waiting for someone.

-Before sleeping.

-During break periods.

-When you want to relax.

-While traveling.

14. You can have someone to encourage and supervise your reading.

15. Having a reading partner will help also.

16. If possible, have a list of books you want to read

17. Keep a record of books you have read.

18. Set target on the numbers of books you want to read in a year or per month and keep at it.

IN DEFENSE OF THE FAITH

-By Gavin Aleogho

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

“The Faith” is the truths taught by Christ and His apostles. It is the fundamental truths of Christianity which cannot and should not be changed or altered. This is different from the adulterated gospel that is being peddled around today. It is important for us to be aware that just like Jude the brother of James wrote (Jude 1:4), a lot of heresies and errors are creeping into the Church of Christ with the aim of distorting the truth of the gospel.

This distortion of the truth of the gospel comes from two sources. First, from agents of the devil who are simply wolves in sheep’s clothing. Secondly, from ignorant men who are not well built or matured in the word of truth but are leading the flocks of Christ. This is why Apostle Paul spoke against giving spiritual leadership position to novice and people who are not well grounded in the word of truth (1 Timothy 3:6).

As Christ’s representatives, we should be aware that it is our sole responsibility to defend the faith. We shouldn’t relegate that responsibility to any man or generations after us. If we think “it doesn’t matter”, we should remember that we have God to give accounts to. Secondly, we stand the chance of handing over a distorted gospel to the coming generation.

We must first of all ensure that we are holding on to the faith, then can we be able to propagate and defend the faith. And we are to defend the faith with all the strength and resources at our disposal through the act of proclamation and by our good example. We should not be coward to think that we are not qualified to do that.

TWO FACTS ABOUT THE FAITH ACCORDING TO JUDE 1:3

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3.

1. IT IS A COMMON SALVATION

The salvation we have in Christ is a common salvation, implying that the salvation that is found in Jesus Christ is the same irrespective of persons, personality, tribe, colour, denomination, age, status, spiritual gift or generational gap. This is reiterated by some apostles like Peter and Paul (2 Peter 1:1, Titus 1:4).

We all share the same salvation. Nobody’s salvation is more superior or less. We have the same salvation that the Apostles had. The difference between believers is what we make out of the Salvation.

No man has the monopoly of faith that we share in Christ Jesus. Although, in different generations, God raises men who He made custodian of the faith but not the owners of the faith.

There can be difference in administration and in the operation of the gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-6), but when it comes to the foundational doctrine of Christ, it should be the same. Our faith is the same!

2. IT WAS DELIVERED ONCE AND FOR ALL

The faith and fundamental doctrines we have received were delivered to us once and for all: so as not to be changed, altered, improved-on or modified. No new rule of faith is ever to be expected or accepted. The faith and doctrine that was passed from the Apostles are to remain unvaried forever. This is why Apostle Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit that, “But God's truth stands firm like a great rock, and nothing can shake it. 2 Timothy 2:19a TLB.

The doctrine of a progressive revelation after the apostles is not found in the New Testament (Revelation 22:18). It should be discarded. When you accept such, you open yourself to sliding away from the faith into error.

Anything different from what the Apostles practiced after the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ should be discarded. Our faith (The Faith) is build and should be built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with our Lord Jesus Christ’s teachings and instructions as the bearing.

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:20.

It is the duty of every Christian at all times and in all generations, but most especially in times like this were errors and heresies is on the increase, to contend earnestly for that pure and uncorrupted faith which is contained in the new covenant.