YOU TOO CAN HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD

 

Inherent in every child of God is the ability to hear the voice of God. This truth is validated by John 10:27 which reads, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
 
If you are born again, you should and you can hear the voice of God. This is because you've been wired in your spirit-man to receive divine leadings. For your spirit has been joined with God's Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17).
 
God is always talking to His children. Sadly, many Christians cannot recognize the leading of God, otherwise known as God's voice. They can't differentiate God's voice from other voices in the world.
 
The reason for this problem is that many are not familiar with the voice and Person of the Lord. Hence, they can't filter-off other voices from His. Some mistake their voice (opinion) and "nice" advice for God's voice. 
 
The question then will be how can I get myself to be familiar with God's voice?
 
Let me use this story to show you how you can get yourself familiar with God's voice.
 
My daughter is very fond of me. I discovered that even in the dark, she could recognize my voice. And the simple reason is because she has been with me right from birth. I doubt if she could have recognized my voice if she hadn't grown up with me.
 
When she was just 3, I remember that my wife and Etse, my daughter, went to visit one of our brethren whose house was not too far from ours. They left around 6:30pm or so. And as usual, I knew they would be there for a minimum of one hour, and by then it would be dark. 
 
I decided to play a prank on them by waiting in the lonely street where I knew they would be passing when they would be coming back home. My intention was to scare my daughter. Yeah, I can be funny.
 
When I saw them coming, I tried to change my voice and gave a scary command, "You there, come here now," I said, hiding behind one of the trees. You won't believe the response I got...
 
"Daddy, daddy, it’s you. I catch you." Said my little girl as she walked towards where I was hiding. Oh, my girl just spoiled my plans.
 
Why was Etse able to quickly identify me?
 
It is because she has been with me. She knew my voice, and she could recognize it even in the dark. Besides, she knew my tendency to be naughty sometimes.
 
In the same vein, to be able to easily recognize the voice of God, you MUST have been (stayed) with the Lord for a while. Staying with the Lord will help you to get familiar with the leading and dealings of God.
 
How do you then get to stay with the Lord?
 
TWO WAYS TO STAY WITH THE LORD
 
1. By Staying With His Word, The Bible
 
The more you read your Bible the more you get to know the texture and nature of God's voice. Then will you be able to spot any voice that is not of the Lord.
 
2. By Staying With Him In The Secret Place Of  Prayers
 
Prayer is a place of meeting with the Father "...pray to your Father who is in the secret place." (Matthew 6:6).
 
The more you wait in the place of prayer the more you are properly tuned to recognize the voice and leading of the Father. For prayer is a spiritual alignment mechanism.
 
Besides, prayer is a fire that burns away every particle of the Old Man which tends to make the flesh louder than God's voice. This is more effective when prayer is coupled with fasting.
 
When you engage these two elements of prayer and the serious study of God's word, you will discover that you can easily pick up divine signals.
 
…To be continued.
 
...This piece is an excerpt of what I taught in our Tuesday Service (10th of October 2023), at Radiant Saints International Christian Centre.
 
©GavinAleogho
 

BREAKING BARRIERS

 

Yesterday at Radiant Saints International Christian Centre - RSICC I spoke on the topic "BREAKING BARRIERS". Using Jephthah as a case study (Judges 11). We saw that every man is born with some form of barriers and limitations which are aimed at stopping them from entering their destiny.

To ride on your place of honour like Jephthah, you must develop yourself and build capacity. Stop the blame game and face life squarely. When you do this, the barriers that have been

devised by the gate of hell to stop you will bow.

Two areas you must build capacity:

1. Physical Capacity

This entails sharping your skill. Acquiring a new skill. Running courses and developing your mind. Building valuable network. Etc

2. Spiritual Capacity

This starts from having an intimate walk with God. Laying a foundation of prayer for your tomorrow.

Not adding or complicating your life through sin and reckless living.

The second is very important because life is spiritual. You need to build both the physical front and the spiritual front to break the barriers standing before you.

I see the barriers and limitations before you giving way, in Jesus name.

Discipleship Course mp3 - Pst. Gavin Aleogho

 

This pack is aimed at helping you to have a deeper walk with the Lord Jesus and geared towards helping you to have a firm foundation in your walk of faith. 

Clink HERE to get the product for FREE

PRACTICAL STEPS TO ATTAINING SEXUAL PURITY

Written by Gavin Aleogho

This piece is in continuation of my article titled, “THE POSSIBILITY OF SEXUAL PURITY.” If you have not read that piece, kindly do yourself some favour and read it so as to be brought to speed. In that piece, I showed that sexual purity is something that is attainable.

 

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV

 

9 STEPS TO ATTAINING SEXUAL PURITY

 

1. Believe That Sexual Purity Is Possible

 

Believing that sexual purity is possible is the first step towards victory over sexual immorality.

 

On several occasions, I have heard some public figures make some absurd comments, stating that no man can keep themselves from sexual immorality. Well, such individuals are only stating a fact that is based on their personal experience, but that is not the truth.  You will only be setting yourself up to fail in this regard if you believe such individuals.

 

If you must attain sexual purity, you must believe that it is a possibility. You have to believe that there are a lot of people who are keeping themselves from sexual immorality. There are many men who do not have extramarital affairs. There are singles who have not been cut in the web of sexual immorality. You can also be one of them if you believe.

 

2. Be Determined To Stay Sexually Pure

 

Your determination has a vital role to play in this regard. The will of a man is very powerful. If you make up your mind to do anything, the possibility of achieving it is very high. This is why we have records of men, women, boys and even girls who are not born again but who have been able to successfully keep themselves from sexual immorality. They’ve achieved this through the power of determination.

 

If mere mortals can achieve this, how much more should believers who have been empowered by the Holy Spirit achieve much more? This is why the scripture says, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man,” (Romans 2:1).

 

With your determination, coupled with the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit you can attain sexual purity.

 

Your determination will help you to set boundaries around yourself; cutting off anybody, anything or any circumstances that will lead to a fall. Determination will help you to flee when the devil offers such an opportunity. It will help you to say no even when a person is offering himself or herself to you free of charge.

 

Your determination will help you to avoid things that will pollute your mind. It will help you to avoid sexual triggers like ungodly music, videos, pornography, etc.

 

3. Be Vigilant To Sexual Predators

 

The pursuit of sexual purity does not exclude you from sexual temptation, nor does it blind the eyes of sexual predators from you.

 

It is your determination to pursue sexual purity that will help you to easily spot anyone who is trying to worm his or her way into your life with the aim of defiling you through any form of sexual perversion.

 

As long as the world remains, there will always be sexual predators. These sexual predators are found everywhere in our society and even in religious houses. Irrespective of your age, gender, title or status there are sexual predators that have been anointed by hell to chase after you.

 

Such sexual predators can come in disguise as friends, teachers, neighbours, pastors, colleagues, strangers, classmates, church members, family members or even religious leaders.

 

You must be wise and vigilant to spot these sexual predators whenever they raise their ugly heads against your body.

 

4. Be Conscious Of The Danger Of Sexual Sin

 

“…but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”  

1 Corinthians 6:18b NIV.

 

If you can bring yourself to always remember the various deadly consequences of sexual sin it will help you to pursue sexual purity. This consciousness will help you to run away when the devil is offering such on a platter of gold.

 

Sexual Transmitted Diseases are only one aspect of the consequences of sexual sins. Time will fail me to talk about the problem of demonic soul-tie that is associated with sexual sin. There are a lot of subtle consequences which are not obvious to the eyes.

 

For further studies on the various dangers of sexual immorality, you can read the following of my articles:

 

14 DEADLY BIBLICAL CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL SIN

http://gavinaleoghoworld.blogspot.com/2017/01/14-deadly-biblical-consequences-of.html

 

7 ILLUSIONS ABOUT ILLICIT SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP

http://gavinaleoghoworld.blogspot.com/2017/04/7-illusions-about-illicit-sexual.html

 

5. Speak Out When You Discover That You Are Falling

 

One thing I have discovered is that having someone you can confide in when you discover that you are already “falling” into sexual sin, can help you to quickly bounce back. For sexual sin flourishes in secrecy. If the devil can make you keep the affair private, he has won the battle against you.

 

One way to easily deal with sexual sin is to expose it. It is difficult to fight this problem alone. This is where your spiritual guardian (Pastor, Mentor or Discipler, etc) comes in. Ensure that you have matured believers around you that you are accountable to. Speaking with someone who is genuinely concerned about your spiritual growth in the faith will greatly help you to maintain the path of sexual purity.

 

6. The fear of God

 

Indeed, the fear of God is the beginning of walking in wisdom. When you actually fear God, you will automatically walk in wisdom. You will always do the right thing when you have the fear of God in your heart, irrespective of the environment or situation that you find yourself in.

 

A lot of Christians love God but very few actually fear God. This is shown by the way we worship and praise God in the congregation of the saints. Believers cry in worship. They dance in praise to God like David danced. All these are a reflection of love for God.

 

However, what shows that we fear God is what happens outside the four walls of the Church. What happens in the secret place where nobody is, is what shows whether we fear God or not. We must not only love God, we must also fear God.

 

Can you stand for righteousness in the dark? Will you give in to Potiphar’s wife when you know that nobody will know? When you know that God can see through even in the darkest room and that nothing is hidden before Him, then you would fear Him.

 

The fear of God is not just a dread for God but a holy reverence and respect for His person. The fear of God will definitely keep you from sexual immorality.

 

7. Fill Your Mind With The Word Of God

 

You can’t overcome sexual temptation when your mind is empty of God’s word. For it was with the Word that Jesus used to overcome the temptation of the devil.

 

This was why someone like David asked, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Psalms 119:9

 

Your life will tilt in the direction of the kind of belief (philosophy, ideology, words) in your mind, which you have accumulated over the years.

 

For some people, even though they are born again, their mind is still filled with the philosophy of the world. Some men have this ideology that all men are womanizer. If you are like that, you can’t attain sexual purity.

 

You have to get rid of such a mind set and fill your mind with the word of God. The word of God in your mind will serve as the operating system of your life.

 

The mind cannot be empty. Something must occupy your mind. When your mind is not occupied by the principles of heaven, it will be occupied by the ideology of the world.

 

8. Get rid of sexual pollution

 

Sexual purity begins from the mind. When the mind is polluted, the man becomes polluted. Pollution in the mind has a way of controlling the man to do stupid things. This is one reason why you should put away anybody and anything that can pollute your heart.

 

For the scripture says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

 

To keep yourself from sexual pollution, you must get rid of materials, music, videos, friends and environment that pollute the mind.

 

Nobody will do that for you; it’s your responsibility.

 

9. Depend on The Holy Spirit for Grace to Overcome

 

Yes, the will of a man can help to some extent in this regard. However, if you must achieve total victory over this sin, you must depend on God’s grace. The grace of God is available to you via the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in you.

 

Your responsibility is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. He will tell you when you are in danger of falling. He will tell you when to flee from an environment or from an individual. He will guide you on the choice of friends to make. If you walk with Him, you are sure of victory. 

 

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

THE POSSIBILITY OF SEXUAL PURITY

 

Written by Gavin Aleogho

 

“No man fit kip himself oh. Bodi no bi firewood.” said Rume to his colleague as the chat during a break period at work. “No let anybodi deceive you. It is not possible for anybody to keep himself. Even Pastors, Imams, Reverend Fathers and even Reverend Sisters dey do.”

 

While Rume was expressing his view in Nigerian Pidgin English, three of his colleagues, Frank, Bright and Owen were nodding in agreement to what he was saying. But Gabriel was frowning in disagreement.

 

Gabriel could not take it anymore; he interrupted Rume, “the fact that you have chains of girlfriends does not mean that other men are like you. The fact that you can’t keep yourself with just your wife does not mean that there are people who are not keeping themselves from sexual immorality.”

 

Pointing to the other three, Gabriel said, “don’t let Rume deceive you guys. You can keep yourself if you want to. Owen, you can be faithful to your spouse if you are determined.” Besides Owen who got married three months ago, Frank and Bright were bachelors.

 

“But men, the temptation is much oh,” said Frank. “Just this morning alone, more than three girls have given me a green light that they are available for me. I no go lie to you.”

 

“You guys know Mercy, right?”  Bright interrupted. “That girl that usually comes to pick our product every Tuesday morning.” “Yes, yes,” they others nodded in unison. “She has been on my neck. I have disappointed her twice now. She has always wanted to take me out. But I have not been able to keep the appointment with her. You know that after work I always have Church evening services?”

 

“Church boy,” exclaimed Rume. “You can’t tell me that there are no girls that are chasing you even in your Church?”

 

“Sure, sure there are.” Replied Bright. “Sincerely speaking, it is not easy. All this temptation usually pollutes my mind”

 

We can’t deny the fact that sexual temptation is on the increase and this will keep increasing as the days go by. Diverse sexual perversion which was not too pronounced in the past has now been made an acceptable norm in some communities.

 

We are all sexual beings with feelings and emotions. This is how God has made every one of us. This feeling and emotion is what the devil targets at appealing when he brings sexual temptation to us. We must brace up and put our feelings and emotions under control so as to remain sexually pure.

 

Sexual purity is something that is demanded by God from all His children. It is a possibility that we can all attain through knowledge, determination and the grace of God. For God will never ask you to do something which He has not already graced you to do  Besides, always know that God will never ask you to do what He thinks you can’t do.

 

Whether you are a single, married, adult, kid or a teenager you are expected by God to keep yourself from sexual immorality. Sexual purity is not for specific gender, but for both male and female. Your marital status does not exclude you from the pursuit of Sexual Purity.

 

"God’s will is for you to be set apart for him in holiness and that you keep yourselves unpolluted from sexual defilement. Yes, each of you must guard your sexual purity with holiness and dignity, not yielding to lustful passions like those who don’t know God."

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 TPT

 

Thus, if you are married, you are expected to stick to your spouse alone. If you are unmarried, you are expected to keep yourself from fornication. You are not expected to indulge in any form of sexual perversion like masturbation, homosexual, etc.

 

Sexual Purity includes virginity for the unmarried, but it's more about a PURE HEART than being a virgin, physically. Hence, the primary basis of attaining sexual purity starts from the heart. If the heart is defiled, sexual purity has been compromised. If the heart is pure, the man or woman will always act rightly.

 

In dealing with the issue of the state of the heart, Jesus said that, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthews 5:28. Thus, we can safely conclude that to attain sexual purity, we must first of all deal with the state of our heart, ensuring that our heart is not defiled by either what we see, smell, ear or feel. For sexual Purity is not what is ascertained from the outside by people, rather, it is what God sees and this is based on the condition of our hearts.

 

This is why the scripture says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

 

Hence, one of the first steps towards sexual purity is to keep yourself from sexual pollution. If you are serious about sexual purity, you must get rid of anybody that often pollutes your heart by their acts or words.

 

You must also get rid of any material like books, magazines, music, videos that tend to tilt your mind towards sexual immorality. Also, you must censor your social media of friends, pages or groups that promote sexual perversion of any kind. You must consciously create your own environment, both offline and online.

 

This is something you must do intentionally if you are serious about the matter of sexual purity.

 

To be continued... Watch out for “STEPS ON HOW TO ATTAIN STEXUAL PURITY.”

PRESERVING A GENERATION FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY

Sexual immorality has always been a significant weapon that the devil is using to destroy the upcoming generation. Ironically, the human agents the devil uses to perpetuate this evil against our rising stars are not aliens but people you least expect.
 
The rate at which kids, teens, young people, and adults are getting ensnared in this web is alarming. I guess I am among the few who are privileged to these statistics. Thanks to the fact that many young adults consider me trustworthy to share their experiences with me.
 
As a counsellor to youths and teenagers, I can tell you that a lot is going on which many parents are unaware of. Your kids are smarter than you think. Your children know more than you can imagine. And many of them have had terrible experiences in this area that are beyond your comprehension.
 
My position as a Pastor and also a Sex Educator specialist gives me access to a lot of information in this regard. It is sad that such is happening in our very nose, especially at the very nose of the Church which is supposed to be the light of the world.
 
We must sound the alarm for all to be aware.
 
Parents must wake up to their responsibility of protecting their children from sexual predators.
 
The Church mustn't turn a blind eye to this atrocity, which is already taking place in some congregations.
 
Our Church boys and girls are falling into sexual immorality. It is happening among some choristers. Some suppose elders, pastors and adults in the faith who are supposed to protect our lads and ladies have become tools in the hand of the devil. They’ve become predators instead of protectors. Besides, you have to understand that many of such sexual predators are involved in such sexual perversion for diabolical purposes.
 
These paedophiles who wear the cloak of religion and piousness have infiltrated our Churches and neighbourhood, they are on a mission of molesting our children and destroying the glorious destiny of these minors. 
 
There is a dead rat in the house, but sadly many people seem to have a nose that is unable to detect or perceive the unpleasant smell, due to negligence in the name of busyness. We must all rise up and become vigilant to preserve the next generation.
 
Mothers and Fathers, it is your responsibility to sex-educate your child. Don’t assume that your children don't understand. They know more than you think. Make your home a place where your kids feel comfortable approaching you with ANY question.
 
Churches must rise up and begin to speak about this illness. Defence tackles must be taught to our children.
 
This is one of the things we teach to our young adults in the Young Adult Christian Club (YACC). Thanks to God for the testimonies and feedback we are getting on how our teaching is helping these young ones to overcome sexual temptations and break free from sexual entanglement.
 
Personally, l have been opportune to speak on this subject to different churches, Fellowships, Schools and to different age groups; for I have a different curriculum for different age groups. I even have a curriculum on how parents can successfully sex-educate their children so as to overcome sexual predators and sexual temptation. You can contact me for any of these services.
 
We must all rise up to preserve a generation from the social vice of sexual immorality.
 
Stay vigilant.
 
Written by Gavin Aleogho