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Showing posts from April, 2024

"Reverend, I desire to break the cycle of poverty within my family. Can you advise me on the necessary steps to achieve this?"

  In life, we often encounter seasons of abundance and scarcity. However, it's not our circumstances that define us but rather our response to them. I once lived with a family that experienced the highs of abundance but eventually fell into the depths of scarcity. Reflecting on their journey, I realized that their downfall was primarily fueled by greed and a scarcity mentality. During their season of abundance, they possessed material wealth beyond measure. Yet, they failed to grasp the importance of generosity. Simple acts of kindness, like allowing others to fetch water, became contentious issues. Despite their ample resources, they hoarded their blessings instead of sharing them with those in need. Their mindset of scarcity manifested in various ways, leading to a gradual decline back into hardship. They dismissed individuals living with them under the guise of financial burden, failing to recognize the value of compassion and hospitality. Even I, who tried to advocate for kindn...

"Pastor, I think my music could be successful, but my parents keep pushing me to find a job. What should I do?"

Finding the right balance between pursuing your passion and securing a stable career can be a tough journey. You might feel torn between investing time in your music and the pressures of finding a job. It's important to consider your parents' perspective—they want what's best for you, including financial stability. It's tempting to believe that success in our talents is guaranteed, but the reality is more nuanced. While many succeed, others miss out on their prime years chasing dreams without a backup plan. Recognizing this uncertainty, it's wise not to rely solely on one pursuit. Developing your talent is crucial, but it's equally important to cultivate skills that offer independence. Your parents likely support your musical aspirations as long as you're financially responsible and contribute to the family. However, becoming a burden instead of an asset can strain relationships. It's essential to strike a balance between pursuing your passion and fulfil...

"Pastor, someone mentioned that they love God more than their wife. Do you think God agrees with this?"

  Love is a topic that touches the deepest parts of our hearts. It's what makes life meaningful, and yet, it's also one of the most complex aspects of our existence. In this discussion, we delve into the depths of love, particularly within the context of marriage, guided by the wisdom found in scripture. Let's begin with Ephesians 5, where the Apostle Paul provides profound insights into the sacrificial nature of love within marriage. He instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, giving himself up for her. This sacrificial love isn't just about being willing to die for one another; it's about daily acts of selflessness and sanctification through the word of God. In essence, husbands are called to nurture and cherish their wives, correcting them in love and praying for them when needed. This sacrificial love mirrors Christ's love for the church, which seeks the ultimate good of the beloved. It's a love that endures even in the face of ...

"Pastor, I'm in the military, and sometimes I have to fight in battles to protect my country. Do you think God will forgive me for the things I've had to do?"

  Absolutely! The plan of God is that when His glory fully fills the church, nations will seek refuge in the church, and one remarkable change will be the absence of war. This means there won't be any need for weapons like guns, swords, or bombs. Companies that manufacture weapons will have to switch to other businesses because there won't be any wars or fears of wars anymore. Let's see what the Bible says about this: In the book of Isaiah, it talks about a time in the future when the house of the Lord will be exalted above all other places, and all nations will come to seek guidance from God. Instead of using weapons for war, they will turn them into tools for farming and feeding people. Imagine living in a world without the constant threat of war! But until that day comes, soldiers will continue to play an essential role in maintaining peace and security around the world. Despite the challenges and dangers they face, soldiers help protect nations and ensure that people ca...

"Pastor, when is the right time for someone to try dry fasting?"

  Apart from the story of Daniel, there's hardly any place in the Bible where people eat during a fasting time. Actually, the Bible never exactly says Daniel was fasting; it mentions he was mourning. Another translation says he was grieving for three whole weeks. When someone is grieving, what they eat or drink isn't a priority. Imagine someone mourning the loss of a loved one; they might go without food or drink for days. If they have family around, they might have to remind them or even urge them to eat because they're grieving. Daniel said, "I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." That's exactly how someone in mourning behaves; they don't care much about anything else until they find comfort again. Daniel did this for three whole weeks. He wasn't eating for pleasure; he was eating to have strength to keep mourning or praying. What we learn from Daniel's spiritual exper...

"Pastor, I'm fed up with being unemployed. I want to fast and pray until God helps me find a job."

  Let me guess, you're hoping that if you fast and pray enough, God will magically give you a job, right? Well, it's not that simple. You see, God responds to faith. If your fasting and prayer lack faith, it's just an emotional journey. Sure, God understands your pain, but He's more likely to grant your wish if He sees your unwavering faith. Consistent prayers are good, but they need to be rooted in faith. Remember the story of the widow and the unjust Judge? She kept bothering the Judge until he helped her. But her persistence wasn't driven by emotions; she had faith that the Judge could help her, and that's what kept her going. Unfortunately, many Christians misunderstand the purpose of fasting. It's not just about asking for things; it's about building your faith to receive what you're asking for. Isaiah 58 sheds some light on this: Isaiah 58: 6 Isn't this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords...

"Pastor, I'm not sure, but I've heard some people say that once you're a Christian, you can't lose your place in heaven, no matter what you do. They also say that sin can't send you to hell if you're a believer. Is that true?"

I've also come across those messages, even from highly respected men of God. Some have even suggested that once a Christian sins, they don't need to ask for forgiveness because Jesus has already taken care of their future sins. According to them, as long as you keep sinning without repenting, you'll still go to heaven. They argue that the only thing that can send someone to hell is rejecting Christ; once you accept Him, you're considered righteous in God's eyes. They claim that whenever God looks at you, He sees Jesus instead of your sins. But if that's the case, who is Jesus seeing? He's seeing you and your sins. Scripture is clear that unrepented sin can lead to consequences, even blotting one's name out of the book of life. I find it helpful to use Jesus' and the Holy Spirit's words to interpret what the Apostles said. It's essential to have multiple witnesses to establish the truth. Jesus shared the parable of the prodigal son to illustra...

"Pastor, I haven't been able to join the fasting at church this year because I have to go to work. Can you help me figure out how to fast while still working every day?"

  Let's talk about fasting and how it can fit into our busy lives. Fasting is like a special time of focusing on our relationship with God, where we set aside distractions and focus on spiritual matters. But in today's world, where we have jobs, responsibilities, and needs pressing on us constantly, it's not always easy to take a break from everything and fast in the traditional sense. Fasting is often described in the Bible as a time of separation, where we distance ourselves from things that distract us. But for many of us, separating from our jobs isn't always possible, especially if we're employed by someone else. However, even if we can't take time off work, there are still ways to make fasting effective. One of the reasons fasting is powerful is because it helps us focus our spirits. When we refrain from physical food, our spirits become more active. You might have noticed that when you're hungry and you don't eat, your spirit feels more alive. Tha...

"Please don't just pick any Bible verse…"

In the journey of faith, many Christians find themselves relying solely on individual Bible verses to navigate life's challenges. While this approach may provide occasional breakthroughs, it often overlooks the deeper significance of understanding the Bible as a whole. Let's explore the transformative power of studying scripture in context and how it can strengthen our relationship with God. Understanding the Purpose of the Bible Firstly, it's essential to recognize that the Bible serves a more profound purpose than merely providing verses for immediate use. Its primary function is to reveal God and deepen our relationship with Him. Unfortunately, many believers limit their interaction with the Bible to seeking quick solutions, missing out on the opportunity for spiritual growth. Consider this: God can use any scripture to address a specific need if we believe in His power. Personal experiences, like receiving guidance through a seemingly unrelated Bible verse, demonstrate ...

"Pastor, I had a scary dream. I was eating something tough like meat in the dream. What should I do?"

  Firstly, let's address your dream. It may seem like a bad dream to you, but it could actually be a revelation about your spiritual state. Feeling frightened after such an encounter is normal, especially if you didn't fully understand it. I've experienced dreams that scared me at first, but upon reflection and comparing them to God's word, I found peace. Now, let me clarify: I'm not saying that eating in a dream is a good thing. It's just that not all instances of such dreams are necessarily bad. We know from experience that people's destinies have been manipulated through dreams involving eating. In such cases, it's unlikely that you'd remember exactly what you ate. However, if you do remember, it might signify something different. So, let's turn to some verses of scripture to shed light on your dream. Hebrews 5 talks about spiritual maturity. It explains that as Christians, we should progress beyond basic teachings and grow in our understandin...

"Pastor, what's your approach to daily Bible study? Should I study randomly or start from Genesis and go through to Revelations?"

  Let's dive into something crucial: the Bible. You see, the main reason why the Bible exists is so that we can know God. All the other things you think about the Bible are just extra. Some people read the Bible religiously, while others just look for a verse to quote. But beyond all that, there's a chance to know your God. I mentioned before that those who read the Bible just to find a verse to quote may not truly know God. They might get some breakthroughs here and there, but they won't really know God by jumping from one verse to another for relief or breakthrough. Studying the Bible for breakthroughs and relief is good, but what's more important is studying it to align yourself with God. It's like the moon, which doesn't have its own light but reflects the light of the sun. If we can align ourselves properly with God's word, we won't need to search desperately for one verse to save us. Those who are properly aligned always reflect God's light. In...

"Pastor, I'm not sure. Someone told me that Jesus isn't God, but I thought differently. I said that Jesus is called the Word, and it's written that the Word was God. Am I getting it wrong?"

  This is going to be quite a lengthy discussion, but it's important for us as Christians to delve deeper into some critical aspects. I'm not criticizing our forefathers in faith; they taught us what they knew based on their understanding of the Bible. Many of them used Greek or Hebrew concordances to explain things that weren't clear. While consulting these resources can be helpful, it's challenging to find a perfect translation or grasp the exact message of the Spirit of God. Beyond relying solely on concordances, believers need to be fully surrendered to the Spirit of God to truly understand His message in Scripture. Take, for example, John chapter 1, which introduces us to a figure called The Word. Some Bible scholars might suggest that "The Word" simply refers to something spoken or thought about. However, in Revelation chapter 19, we encounter a description of a being identified as The Word of God. Let's explore these passages: Revelation 19: 11 ...

"Pastor, I quit smoking and drinking when I became a Christian last year, but now I'm feeling the urge to start again, and it's really hard to resist. What should I do?"

Let me explain a powerful mystery about being saved through Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, something incredible happens: God's love is poured into us by His Spirit. In the Old Testament, people struggled to obey God's laws because they didn't truly love Him. It's hard to obey someone you don't love, right? But in the New Testament, we see a different story. People like Moses, Daniel, Joseph, and David loved God deeply, and that's what kept them close to Him. David, for example, made some big mistakes, but his love for God never wavered. Even when he did wrong, he didn't live in fear or guilt. He knew God loved him, and he loved God back. That's why he could move on after his mistakes and still be close to God. Joseph, too, showed his love for God by resisting temptation. He refused to betray God's trust, even when it meant going to prison. And Daniel, even when faced with pressure to do wrong, stayed true to God because of his lo...

Let me explain why you don't often feel close to God when you pray or worship...

  The Bible tells us in John 4:24 that God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. Unfortunately, many people pray and worship with their minds focused on worldly matters. You can't connect with God spiritually if you're too concerned with worldly things. To truly worship God, you need to silence your worldly thoughts and focus on your spiritual connection with Him. Your spirit is simple and pure; it isn't burdened by earthly desires. When you worship from your spirit, it's genuine and sincere. If you find your mind wandering to worldly concerns while you're praying or worshiping, then you're not truly connecting with God on a spiritual level. Your spirit isn't concerned with worldly matters; it's focused solely on spiritual things. Now, let's understand Philippians 4:6 better. It says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to ...

"Pastor, I fasted and prayed last month, what should I do now as I wait for my prayer to be answered?"

  "Well, the effectiveness of prayer varies depending on what you're praying for. But there's one thing that's essential for every believer who prays with faith: REST! Yes, after you've prayed with genuine faith, you should have peace knowing that God will answer your prayer. Hebrews 4:3 talks about entering into a state of rest for those who truly believe. This means you can be confident if you have faith in God. When you're told to "rest assured," it means you're determined to do something. So if God tells you to rest assured, it means He's determined to fulfill what you've prayed for. No wonder Abraham didn't doubt God's promise; he remained strong in faith and praised God. Maybe you've been waiting a long time for something, like marriage, and it seems like God's promise is delayed. But remember, God's timing is always perfect. Just like He came through for Abraham and Sarah, He will come through for you. Even if it...

"Pastor, I'm feeling lost. Can you explain what it really means to worship God in spirit and truth?"

  In the past, God gave laws to the Israelites to help them become more spiritual. They followed these laws because they felt they had to, not because they truly wanted to. Although this obedience made them spiritual, it wasn't genuine worship. Then Jesus came and explained that true worship involves both spirit and truth. He said this to a woman at a well in John 4:23-24. This means our worship to God must come from our hearts and be aligned with truth. Before Jesus, the Israelites followed laws out of obligation and fear, not from genuine love for God. But when Jesus came, His love changed everything. Through Jesus, we have received grace and truth. This love enables us to worship God sincerely, not just because we have to. As Christians, our worship should come from a place of love for God, not from fear or obligation. We go to church because we want to worship with others, not because we are forced to. We obey God's commands because we love Him and want to honor Him, not be...

"Pastor, if Jesus already paid for all the blessings I need, why do Christians still have a hard time in life?"

  Jesus has already paid for everything we need in life, including our success. But there's still a price we need to pay to receive these blessings, and that's the price of faith. Apostle Joshua Selman talked about this last Sunday, and it really clicked with me. Imagine someone buying something for you in a supermarket and then arranging for a delivery service to bring it to your house. All you need to do is direct the delivery person to your location. You didn't pay for the item or the delivery, but you still need to have faith that it will reach you. That's similar to how it works with God. Jesus paid for our success and blessings, and now all we need to do is have faith until they reach us. Even though this seems like a simple thing, many believers struggle with it. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it's impossible to please God. So if you haven't received all the blessings God has for you, it might be because you haven't believed enough. Believi...

"Pastor, I've been hearing married people advise singles to cherish their single years and not rush into marriage. They're saying marriage is like hard labor. What's your opinion on this?"

  If you're not planning to be like Apostle Paul, then consider getting married early. People often advise against rushing into marriage, but that's because marriage tests your faith in God like nothing else. It's a tough test because it triggers your emotions. It's easy to pray for a stranger or a sick person, but it's different when it's your own child or spouse, someone you deeply care about. It's easy to say it's God's will when you can't heal a sick person, but when it's your family member, you might struggle to accept God's plan. Many people have lost faith in God because of marriage. They blame God when a loved one dies, even after praying tirelessly. Some pastors have even turned away from God because of the challenges in marriage. But King David showed us a different way. Even when his child died, he still trusted God and continued serving Him faithfully. He didn't let his emotions overpower his faith. If you see a strong man...

"Pastor, right now I feel really connected to God and I don't want to lose that feeling. How can I make sure I stay spiritually strong?"

  So, let's talk about why some Christians who are spiritually strong can suddenly become disconnected from God, even if they're still doing all the right spiritual things. You know, praying, fasting, reading the Bible, and all that good stuff. First off, pleasure can be a big problem. It's easy to get caught up in things that feel good, like watching movies or eating tasty food. But if we let these pleasures take over, they can distract us from our spiritual life. Instead of spending time with God, we end up spending all our time on things that don't really matter. We need to learn to control our desires and not let them control us. The Apostle Paul talked about this in the Bible, saying that we should walk in the Spirit and not give in to the desires of the flesh. That means being disciplined about what we do and making sure that our actions are in line with what God wants for us. Secondly, there's emptiness. Sometimes, even when we're doing all the right thin...

"Pastor, I'm wondering why some problems don't go away even though I'm doing all the right spiritual things?"

So, yesterday I talked about how even the most spiritually active believers can become spiritually cold. One big reason for this is what I called "emptiness". It's like this: Imagine a house where a bad spirit lived. If that spirit gets cast out, it might come back later to see if the house is empty. If it is, the spirit might come back stronger and take over the house again. That's what Jesus talked about in the Bible. He said when an evil spirit leaves someone, it wanders around looking for a place to rest. If it can't find anywhere, it might go back to the person it left. If it sees that the person is empty – like nothing else has come in to take its place – it might bring even more evil spirits with it. Now, this emptiness doesn't mean you're not doing spiritual stuff like praying or fasting. It could mean that even though you're doing those things, you're not growing in your understanding or power against evil. So, instead of just dealing with...