Christian Family

Some people have stopped going regularly to our Christian meetings, but we must not stop going there. Then we can help each other to be strong Christians. You should do this more and more, because the *Lord’s great day is coming. You know that the *Lord will return soon. Heb 10:25 EasyEnglish

If this scripture was true in the days of the Apostles, then it is not less of a truth today. More than ever before, we need to pay attention to the coming of our Lord because we are closer to it than any generation before us. The coming of the Lord should drive us to more fellowship with one another. 

The value we placed on our Christian gatherings needs to be restored. From our opening scripture, we see how that even at the time of the Bible, there were already Christians taking spiritual meetings lightly and they were told to stop. You will be depriving yourself of help that you could have received or shared to others when you continue that way.

There is nobody who can successfully live the Christian life in isolation of other believers. We were fashioned by God to be together because that way, we can be strengthened by others who are stronger. It's the reason some Christians who relocate to another State or Country without finding a new local assembly will drift back to their former life.

Going to Church faithfully can literally make you stay from some sinful tendencies. Imagine what happened to a lot of Christians because of the lockdown. Many have become lukewarm and justifying staying away from physical meetings now that lockdown has been eased with the excuse of watching online. As much as technology is there to help us make living better and effective, online technologies cannot take the place of carrying your Bible and notepads and finding your way to Church. 

Truth is, the kind of people we associate with often influence our Christian walk. If you interact more with the world and less with fellow saints, they will rub their ways of living on you. It's the more reason why any Christian that knows that his/her work involves more association with unbelievers should pay special attention to the fellowship of the saints. It's no wonder why you see Christians who join politics loose themselves to the world. 

While we are in this world, scripture tells us, we are not of this world and our Christian gatherings have a way of making us live true to this. It's time to go back to Church and return to your Christian service if you have drawn back.

If you have not given your life to Jesus, now is the time to do so. Please say this prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe in you, I believe you died for my sin and you took it away. I believe that God raised you from the dead for me on the third day and I am free now. Thank you Lord because I am a child of God and the Spirit of God lives in me. Amen!

 

Congratulations because you have Jesus in your life. You will need to start attending a Bible believing Church for growth. For more directions, please, contact us via the mail address below:

lothshine@gmail.com

 

Faith In God

Faith is the currency of the kingdom of God. With it, we transact in the things of God.

Faith is based on the word of God. 

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Heb 11:1

or we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. 2 Cor 5:7

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Rom 10:17

2. Faith is toward God

Our Faith must be in God and not things or people or processes. The difference is sometimes subtle. 

What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help, trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteers and depending on the strength of human armies instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel... For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits! Isaiah 31:1-3

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:21

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.  Mark 11:22

3. We live by Faith

The Christian life is a continuous walk of faith. Every thing we do must be done by faith in God. 

Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Romans 1:17

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6

And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." Hebrews 10:38

So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Galatians 3:11

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] from faith; for whatever [is] not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23

4. Faith is based on God's word

Faith is not bold face (agidi) or positive confessions. It is based and must be anchored on God's word revealed to you. Faith starts where the will of God is revealed. 

So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." Luke 5:4-5

I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!" And when the officer's friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed. Luke 7:7-10

5. All Christians have Faith and our faith can grow

When we became born again, we had a measure of faith. It is then our responsibility to grow our faith through God's word and listening to anointed vessels. 

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand 2 Corinthians 10:15

Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. 1 Thes 3:10

6. Faith must be with corresponding actions  

Faith without action (works) is dead. One primary action is you confessing what you believe. There is no silent faith. Also, acting in line with your believe is of paramount importance.

We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. 2 Cor 4:13

So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead). James 2:17

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Heb 13:5  

7. Your Faith needs patience  

Sometimes Christians mistakes Faith for instant noodles. Faith works with patience (steadfastness). It is instructive that the 2 major scriptures that introduce faith were preceded by words on patience. 

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness 2 Peter 1:5-6

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. "For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." Hebrews 10:36-38

For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. " ... But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:3-4

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:3-4

Integrity of God's Word

In relating with God, understanding the value and worth of his word is very important. It determines how far we can walk with him.

 God means what he says and says what he means.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I have heard the Israelites' complaints. Now tell them, 'In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God. That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground.'' *Exodus 16:11-13*

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them. *Isaiah 55:10 -11*

2. Jesus is the word of God

God's word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. 

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him... John 1:1 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. John 1:14

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2

3. God and his word are one

To believe God is to believe his word. The integrity of God is dependent on his word.

I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. Psalm 138:2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1

 4. God's word is God's power

Everything God will do in and for you will be done through his word.

For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

who being the brightness of [His] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Hebrews 1:3

Now I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends. Acts 20:32

 5. We live by God's word

God's word is the substance of a Christian's life; our values, ideals and actions must be shaped by his word. 

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3

And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Joshua 1:8

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life. John 6:63

6. God's word is for you

God had you in mind when he gave the word. Your identity is defined by it. Your duty is to find your word and meditate on, declare and insist on it.

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:20-21

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:16

On finding God's word, there are general and specific words for you.

All the promises of God are for you (2 Cor 1:20), so while finding and working on your specific word, get a hold of your  known promises and put them on your mouth.

Let's try one now

Lets declare God's promise from Isaiah 60:1-3.

'I arise, I shine; For my light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon me. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over me, And His glory will be seen on me. Nations shall come to my light, And kings to the brightness of my rising.''

And we keep saying it until it comes to physical manifestation.

 7. God cannot lie to you

God is faithful to his word, he cannot deny himself. What he has told you will surely come to pass. Wait for it. 

God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good? Numbers 23:19 

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13

We often times see 'God cannot lie' as a choice God is making not to lie (like humans).

For instance, if we can all see a white chair and we ask God what the colour of the chair is? If God says blue, then who is correct?

Of course, we will all say God because we want to assume that God must be seeing something in it that we are not seeing (religion).

The truth is all you need to do is to look at the chair again and it will have turned to blue. 

His words have the inherent power to change the colour of the chair to conform with what God says. God cannot lie because his words create what he says.

So hold on to his words it will surely come true for you.