Concerning Financial Management in Marriage

Concerning Financial Management in Marriage

In marriage, who owns or has what is fast becoming a determining factor for joy and happiness in the home. Even those who are yet to marry are already calculating, how money and properties will be managed and if it doesn't favor them, they aren't ready to go on.
And that's even those who are more sincere, others will go into the marriage with hidden agendas while mouthing 'I love you' with readiness to even lay down their bodies before marriage without being ready to lay down their things.
In a world that worships mammon, financial considerations are primary in making both great and small decisions even in marriage. A world that worships mammon is ever upbeat whenever money calls while drudgery when God calls.
It's not new. In the olden days, marriage played important roles in power and wealth acquisition and preservation. People got married to acquire or preserve kingdoms, people married to increase their wealth. Men even married in order to keep women and children on their farms in cultures where women aren't permitted to have anything: in some places till today, wives remain the properties of their husbands and are treated even worse than some choice properties and that in a supposed marriage.

Today again, men's ability to lead the home is fast becoming a function of their ability to provide and protect. He finds his self esteem battered if he isn't as buoyant as the demands and the size of the appetites of the wife and children even when the wife is more opportune financially. To such wives, 'Your money is our money, my money is my money'. And the richer you are the more opportunity you have to call the shots and control things in the home. Awkwardly, leadership tilts to the side that's richer. And it's obvious that being richer is never equal to being able to provide responsible leadership anywhere otherwise the richer you are, the greater your opportunity to lead your country, community or organisation. We have seen that such respect for riches is the bane of so many countries' leaderships.

So we have homes where the husband uses veto power to thwart the opportunities and the potentials of the wife for her to perpetually depend on him so that he can keep his self esteem, ego and leadership. And if anything happens to him or to His finances, the home begins to suffer.

Some scenarios have it that, in such cases the wife rebels. Finds a way of making money and lays up treasures for herself without the knowledge of her husband. Some even gets the husband to pay as in the case where the wife bought a house and indirectly rented it to the family. OK, we blame her for that...

The blame should rather go to our lack of understanding or refusal to understand what exactly God's plan is for home financial management.

The understanding that stifles potentials and enslaves a partner and permits one partner's ego to be constantly under unnecessary pressure can't be of God though we are quick to jump to some scriptures quoted out of context to defend such absurdities that doesn't reflect the nature of God.

Do we expect full marital happiness out of such arrangements? Do we expect God and mammon to be Lord in our homes same time? Where is real love in the overall management of our home affairs? How do we generate trust enough to power the love the home needs to thrive?

This Saturday by 9am, we'll be exploring the scriptures to see God's mind since Adam on this subject and how we are to apply that in our homes to help us preserve our marriages and heal the hurts such has inflicted on many who suffer silently.

So join us this

Saturday 2nd of April, 9am @

Grace Missions International ministers marriage conference April 2016 edition.

Havila Place
#46 DF Street
Opposite Bobcat Hotel
Mosan Road
Shagari Federal Estate
Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

You don't have to be a minister to attend. Registration is free and nondenominational.

This meeting was shifted from Friday to Saturday to make it more convenient for people to attend. You'll never regret coming. God's blessings always!

Good morning!

Dealing with Marital Challenges

There are challenges in marriage just as it is in any human endeavor. But there are solutions too. God's grace is a universal solution where the strength of God is made perfect in the weaknesses our problems expose in us.

Marriage is a mutual journey where we stand together to help each other fulfil divine purposes through obeying divine principles.

So if there is a problem, the couple sits and talks it over with the Lord and seek for solution in grace.

Be it finance, sex, fruitfulness, children upbringing, in-laws, friends, time, career or any other subject of trouble... There is none that the couple can't find a solution to in God by grace.

But beheading isn't the cure to headache...

Committing Sin isn't the answer to weakness...going into adultery or fornication isn't the answer to marital sexual dysfunction. Godly Wisdom doesn't accommodate sin or ungodliness. So if that appears to be the only way out, you can be sure God has been sidelined...

There's always a way out...both should be committed to finding the solution together... And being ready to help whoever is suffering or the weaker person...grace must start work through the stronger... If God is ready to perfect His own strength in your spouse's weakness because of you, then you have no right to withdraw your own strength in helping him or her... It's simple only if we are ready to be selfless otherwise it's the hardest thing...

We'll be talking about solving the financial management problems in marriage this

Saturday, 2nd April, 9am prompt at

Grace Missions International ministers marriage conference April 2016 edition

Havila Place
#46 DF Street
Opposite Bobcat Hotel
Mosan Road
Shagari Estate
Iyana Ipaja Lagos

You'll don't have to be a minister to attend...expect God's intervention!

Pls note that it has been shifted from Friday 10am to Saturday 9am. That's to give room for others to attend. We'll be expecting you.

Admission is free and nondenominational!

When the Hour & Power of Darkness Gave Way!

When the Hour & Power of Darkness Gave way!

[My Offline Bible] Luke 22
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

One lesson we all can relate with on such a day as this when we remember the great work Jesus Christ did for us in His passion and resurrection is in the passage above.

Today is resurrection Sunday, a day that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The day our spiritual justification before the Father Creator was finally settled. The day the blunder of Adam was reversed. The day our access to the throne of grace was established. The day death died and we came alive unto God. The day the middle wall of partition between man and God was totally broken down. The day our redemption was perfected forever. The day heaven became sure for man. The day the Creator Father of Christ became our own Father. The day we were born into the family of God being raised together with Christ from the dead. The day the saints of old finally got transfered from Abraham's bosom, next door to hell, to the presence of the Father. The day the new Kingdom, the Kingdom of God was inaugurated...

But just three days before that day, the host and the hordes of hell were at their worst. It was the hour of the princes of this world and the height of the power of darkness. It was the darkest part of the night which was before dawn. It was the height of labour pain before parturition. It was the most deadly hour, the worst hell and the dark kingdom can offer. It was their best shot and they took and killed the Lord of glory. It was the height of hatred and rebellion. The height of pain and poverty. It was the height of plague, sickness and disease. The worst of sin, unrighteousness and injustice. All unleashed same hour on the very Son of God.

And so He became sin for the wickedness of Satan and his hordes. He became poor unto nakedness. He became sick with all their filthy plagues. His peace was replaced with the greatest of troubles. Death of the worst kind at a tender age was inflicted on Him. It was their hour, the power of darkness. They exhausted their armoury on Him. They exhausted their wickedness on Him. Not just on Him physically but mentally, spiritually and in every way possible to them...

They made the most of their hour and power. But it was also the hour of ignorance. Darkness and ignorance work and walk hand in hand like married couples. Ignorance was in its top most flight, they knew not and they walked and worked on in darkness. It was their hour of greatest foolishness.

They didn't know they were losing their strength. They didn't know it was a sacrifice to free mankind of their onslaught. They didn't know it was their own final blow. It was their last opportunity. It was the hour of their demise. Had they known they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory..

[My Offline Bible] 1 Corinthians 2
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But it was their hour and the power of darkness and they must exhaust it and so exhausted they became!

Times and seasons in the characteristic manner soon elapsed. Their time soon came to a close...It was time for Christ to free those bound next door to hell from all over the world and from all ages who had followed the Spirit of Christ...and moved them over to God...haven broken the middle wall of partition. He deposited all they'd put upon Him in hell, the sin of the whole world from all ages past, present and future, sicknesses and diseases of all sorts, poverty, lack and want, sufferings, troubles, defeats and death...He became free... Free on behalf of all people everywhere in all ages! Never for sin, sickness, disease, poverty, trouble and death to have final say again on those who accept the sacrifice.

And having done that, the lease of time given to Satan and his hordes of hell elapsed. And since whatever is born of God overcomes the world, the helium balloon dragged to the bottom of the sea must find its level and just as it is impossible for the balloon to be captured beneath the sea by gravity or density, Christ found its way out not being able to be held down by death!

[My Offline Bible] Acts 2
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

He Arose! Hallelujah, He Arose!

Satan defeated eternally, and mankind released from his death grip forever!

And now the lies of hell, that Satan feeds people with has elapsed. Whatever hell he is taking us through has timed out. The temporal sufferings of today is nothing comparable to the joy and the weight of glory already purchased for us and this hour and power of this present darkness too will pass and the glory shall be revealed!

Jesus did all that for mankind, it can't be undone but can be despised through unbelief. We have no reason to remain in satanic depravity and bondage when the prison door has been opened and the Kingdom of His love is now available to us... The work is accomplished and we are free...

The hour and power of darkness is over, this is the hour of our freedom and salvation...if we use this hour as we should, the hour of judgement coming will be a joy and rejoicing!

Happy Resurrection day! He Arose and we are raised with Him... Let's sing hallelujah to our God! Celebrate!

Good morning!

Love in Marriage

Love in Marriage

My last post on marriage was on Managing Marital Conflicts and I noticed a rather quiet response which I feel it's due to the perfectionist feel it has...or to the demand it places on the flesh.

The truth is that we have no way to push the fact that conflicts come through self seeking and fleshly lusts. We can't deny also that offences will always come, we offend each other either knowingly or unknowingly and the answer to offences will be something within the range of forgiveness, bearing with each other, forbearance and long-suffering. We can't also deny the fact that the source of that is unconditional, non selfish, sacrificial love for each other. That love is found in Christ. The kind of love that turns the other cheek, that wouldn't mind suffering being defrauded, that loves enemies, that seeks not her own... The Matthew chapter 5 and 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love...

But this kind of love is a things of the spiritually matured. It is in 1 Corinthians 13 that Apostle Paul connected maturity to the God kind of love, the Agape. This is the kind of love God commanded in marriage in Ephesians 5 where He said, Husbands love your wives.

What of people who are still struggling with their spiritual maturity. In whom the flesh is still strong and self is still dominating on their way to total freedom?

Such would need to work towards promoting Agape and deal with the flesh. Marriage in its true sense can't survive outside Agape and that should remain the destination of the journey.

Such marriages that survive outside unconditional love are those where one person suffers, is being used,  being abused, being dominated, oppressed or treated as just another property without a voice or an option to exit, probably as the societal, cultural or religious norm accepted by both or only by the one benefiting.

Love in marriage must ensure mutual freedom and commitment. It's not the kind of love like we would have for our cars or our Porsche houses or properties. It's the kind of love that gives opportunity for full expression of the other person in seeking the best for each other. It's not the kind of love like that we have for our livestock that eventually leads them into our cooking pots.

Love works no ill to its neighbours...love protects the freedom of the other person. Love gives all, love submits and serves without a feeling of pride or shame. Love is trustworthy and it also trusts.

Love breaks down societal, cultural or religious moulds. Love works outside any mould of rights and responsibilities. Love covers multitudes of sins. Love is just ready to do the best possible, forgive the worst, suffer the most just to make the other person the best. Love is never stubborn though can insist on what's good.

Love ordinarily makes you look like a fool and sometimes present as making one vulnerable. And that's the fear we have in going in that direction. The question is 'Who protects me?' 'What if he/she takes advantage of my love?'

Ordinarily, love protects and avenges wrong done against the lover. That's why when you love those that hate you and do good to those who do evil to you, coals of fire heaps on such a people and God delivers the righteous.

But we suggest that both parties in marriage ought to work on this together. It's good to deal with issues that threaten that kind of love starting from being able to believe in this kind of love. Many, unfortunately don't believe in such a miracle...

Each couple must take out time to talk about it openly with each other, what those cultural, societal and religious norms are that must be dealt with to protect such love towards each other.

They must talk about the practicality of Agape in their peculiar situation. They must work together to actualize the principles and concepts of unconditional love in their daily lives. They must do daily what benefits the other person and trusting that the other person will do same without compromise or failure. And when that seems not to be done, one can ask without malice or animosity expecting issues to be dealt with rationally in love.

Agape must define and instruct on how parties see each other. That shouldn't be done by the mould the culture, tradition, society or religion presents. Love would want us to see the other person better than us. Any principle that makes us see ourselves better than others will also make us enslave and rule over them instead of loving them in the unconditional way. The same is true in marriage. God didn't say Adam would rule over Eve until after the fall...that's not part of the original plan for marriage.

[My Offline Bible] Genesis 3
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

It wasn't so in the beginning and not the intended model, definitely not the one Christ proposed. Matthew 19 showed Christ commanding the model that was before the fall.

Today, with the believer partaking of God's nature we have the ability deposited in us to love just as God does even in marriage.

We shouldn't see agape love as too high to express, and our marriages deserves nothing less...

Let's go for it!

Good morning!

Managing Matrimonial Conflicts

Managing Matrimonial Conflicts

[My Offline Bible] Luke 17
1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Conflict in marriage is nothing different from conflict in any other relationship situation. It is default that offences must come. Not to expect it is the major reason why people don't prepare for it. We always think of the happily ever after romantic roller coaster after wedding.

But we need to understand that every case in a divorce court began with 'I love you'! No one went into marriage to divorce except those nonsensical alimony seeking fraudulent marriages. People go into marriage expecting a blissful marriage.

The error is usually the inability to accommodate the fact that it is impossible for offences not to come. When it is settled that offences would come even in a marriage where God Himself joined then it important to find out from start how to deal with offences.

One way of preparing against the storm of offences capsizing the boat of our marriages is knowing where offences come from. If we know the source we can deal with it before it blows beyond what can be handled. This is what a lot of wise people do that makes it look as if they have no issues.

The first conflict situation in marriage we see in scriptures is that between Adam and Eve. One sin came in they became suspicious of each other and each had leaves to cover his and her nakedness. What inspired that came up when God asked them what had happened. I'm sure God knew what had happened but would want them to voice out their hidden thoughts. Adam spoke.

[My Offline Bible] Genesis 3
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Adam blamed God and Eve while trying to exonerate himself. And that became the root of every marital issue that has ever happened in history.

And Apostle James put it rightly...

[My Offline Bible] James 4
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Selfishness, self assertiveness, self protection and self centeredness are the major demons that troubles marital relationships. The common denominator being self.

You can't succeed in marriage when you enthrone worldliness.

[My Offline Bible] 1 John 2
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

A marriage where the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are in control will pass away only that marriage where the will of God is done will abide.

So where does conflict come from? It comes from our selfishness. Our inability to prefer the other person and to seek the good of the other above ours.

Conflicts come from competitions. Husbands competing with their wives, wives competing with their husbands. Two are better than one only if they are a tag team, if they are on opposite sides, they become worse than being alone.

Marriage is laying down your life daily for your spouse. [My Offline Bible] Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

In finances you want the other person to have more. In sex you want the other person get the satisfaction. In duties you want to do more without feeling cheated.

This is agape love. The unconditional, self motivating sacrificial love. It is on this that God desires we build our marriages.

This is what kills offences. It is what builds trust. It is what forgives, what bears, forbears and suffers long... It is ever patient, it doesn't keep a record of wrongs suffered. It is slow to anger, and it is easily entreated, it's anger is for a moment. It's mercy is for life... That's agape love. When the scriptures says God is love that's the love being spoken of. It is love that loves the enemy and do good both to the good and the bad... It is the definition of perfection, the hallmark of nobility...

A husband and wife bound together by this kind of love will never be listed in a divorce court.

It is the answer to the root of all bitterness that defiles. It is the answer to every threat against the home...

We can put it as a lid to forever shut the fount of offences and conflicts.

If we win the war between the flesh and the spirit, between self and love, we can keep love and peace in our homes...

This is where we should begin our preparations... The husband and the wife must not just expect to have the other person walking in this love, both must be ready to give it. This kind of love doesn't insist on its own rights.. It doesn't apportion responsibilities, it takes responsibilities. It doesn't feel cheated, it treats responsibility as privilege.

Now if you aren't ready to live your marital life like this and you want to live happily ever after then you are a fraud and you shouldn't touch marriage, no, not even with a long pole... I speak of a marriage where you see Christ as the head...

But if both are ready, then you have a couple the world will envy...

Good morning!

Working on Your Marriage Together

Working on Your Marriage Together

GMI Shagamu Ministers Marriage Conference second session is gathering momentum to begin. 9 am is the time.
We had such a great time last night. God was glorious and awesome as usual. Great sharing time, wonderful prayer time.

We realized that if God were to be marking our accuracy in getting it right particularly in marriage only very few marriages will still be in place.

We realized also that Jesus Christ recognized lots of joinings that aren't under God. For instance in Matthew 19 He said whatever God has joined together let no man put asunder. It means not every marriage is so recognised particularly those not joined by God.

He said further that, anyone who leaves his wife (God joined) except for sexual immorality and marries another commits adultery...meaning the second marriage isn't joined by God. He also said anyone who marries the one put away also commits adultery, meaning that marriage also isn't joined of God.

In John 4, speaking to the woman at the well, Jesus said she had had seven husbands including the one as at then, and that one wasn't her husband...meaning in spite of the then level of morality and the tendency of stoning a woman thought to be in adultery to death according to their laws and the elaborate nature of their wedding ceremonies which usually lasted seven days...the husband wasn't hers according to God.

But not scoring 100% in an exam isn't equal to failure.  And if one who scored 20% manages his corrections very well, he can do much better in future. I'm sure God's mercy endures forever and it's of the Lord's mercies that we aren't consumed...

I'm sure God endures lots of mis-joinings through HIS mercy system even if putting asunder is an option.

What most people who didn't get it right need  isn't to be put asunder, rather to commit their marriages to God together and to see what God can make of it...

Now, just that a person got it right and God had joined them together by Himself doesn't mean there won't be situations that'll bring the temptations of putting the joining asunder. Otherwise Jesus Christ wouldn't have warned against it.

The example of putting a marriage asunder except for sexual immorality means there are other things that may want to push one to run away or check out of a marriage even if God had joined the two.

What that means is that it's not enough that God has joined the two, the two would need to further work with basic principles of marital relationship to bring out the best which has been embedded in the Marriage being joined of God. Here, divorce isn't an option unlike those God hasn't joined.

God joining means there's a blessing in it. The wine is in the clusters of the joining and the grapes shouldn't be destroyed rather worked upon to bring in the best..

[My Offline Bible] Isaiah 65
8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

So you may be going through hell in marriage but if God had joined you together, don't destroy it...rather find wisdom through training, be humble enough to be corrected and submit to God's word and ways...that marriage can bring our it's wine and honey again...

In a small survey we did, we realised that the majority wouldn't want joint visit to a counselor. That's not because they don't discuss their marital issues with friends and family members, they do, but they wouldn't want a joint session.

Meaning whenever they discuss their marriages, they do more of backbiting and tell more of the part that favors them looking for emotional support and justification. Such further degenerates the situation and increases tension.

We must be willing to work on our marriages though learning and conscious application of truth.

Either we got it right or we didn't, we can't get the best out of our marital situations without consciously working at it.

And working at it means doing everything possible together to make it work. It is a decision that must be made from day one. It isn't right for just one person to be doing all to make the Marriage work, it takes two to tango.
And whenever a couple agrees to work together to make their marriage work, the probability of success increases to the joy of every stakeholder... The couple and the children, if there are.

Are you willing to work on it? Start now!

Happy Weekend!

Answering Marriage Questions

Answering Marriage Questions

[My Offline Bible] Matthew 19
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

One question that makes people see God as not responsible for who we get married to is the question about God having only one spouse in mind for each of us.

They ask what happens if that person dies? What happens if they never met? So many questions are raised to debunk what they call the idea that God made only one spouse for each person.

Marriage has always attracted all sorts of questions. In Matthew 19 we saw how Jesus Christ was confronted with questions pertaining marriage, divorce and remarriage. In His comprehensive answer, He gave insight into the mind of God concerning marriage.

There are two main keys that unlock so many hard issues in His answer.
One is the fact that Moses had to give certain laws in order to handle the hardness of the heart of the people and that marital issues had not been as Moses permitted from the beginning. In that one statement, Jesus Christ reestablish the order of marriage as it was in the beginning.

The wedding in Eden becomes the prototype and the model till date as ordained by Christ and that's what Christians should follow.

Of course, the practicality will be different but the principle must remain the same.

The second key is that what the Lord has joined together let no man put asunder. In the surface, it sounds as if God opposes all kinds of separations, while God opposes separation of some sort, it goes also to show us that God doesn't regard all kinds of joining as marriage.

Except if we want to see every kind of people living together as joined together by God. But judging by what it was in the beginning we can know how God joins.

Man's joining either by self or by others can't be equated to God's joining. Just because we have our own cravings satisfied, satisfy societal and religious marital laws and all other human obligations do not equate to God's joining.

Going back to the beginning, as the model according to Christ, the husband and the wife were in the same body before God separated them. He didn't separate them so that they might become disunited, they were separated for companionship and rejoined together through marriage.

So marriage is a rejoining of two who were once one in the womb of God and scattered in to the world to be joined again.

With that, the only person who can identify the parts and do the operation of rejoining would be the one who separated them and who has the ID of each of the parts and the power to bring them together as one.

When that joining happens, it'll naturally become rebellion against God to want to disintegrate that. That's what Jesus spoke about.

Someone may ask, what if one of the spouses dies? If God permits remarriage then He knows how to recreate another to fit into the space created. That shouldn't be our bother really if we believe in the power of God.

Our concern should be how as Christians who believe and submit to the teachings of Christ as the truth would walk with God and be led of His Spirit into all that He had before prepared that we should walk in.

[My Offline Bible] Ephesians 2
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Our creation and the pathway of our divine destinies are like the train and the railroad. The railroad was already made and prepared before the train comes, but must be made with definite specifications and precision to accommodate the train and same goes for the making of the train itself. Marriage is part of that system. There are things already prepared, for which we have been prepared for. But the only one who is sufficient for these things is the Creator.

So it isn't and shouldn't become strange to Christians that God would have a person for him or her to marry who fits in perfectly into one having being created together before their separation. And knowing that Christianity runs on the leading of the Holy Spirit and not just on developed mental and intelligent quotient.

As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God. He that does not have the Spirit of God is non of His. As the wind blows where it lists, so is every one born of the Spirit.  This is the way we run as children of God and that's how the train of our destinies locates the railroad and runs. Romans 8:9&14, John 3:8.

So as we submit and yield to the leading of the Spirit daily through faith and obedience to the Word of God which is Christ Jesus, the people, the places, the events and time (both in days, dates and duration) that are writing our biographies fall in line with what's already written in the book God already wrote concerning us from eternity. Psalm 139:16;40:7, Hebrew 10:7

God wouldn't demand of us what He hasn't prepared us for therefore our destinies including our divine joining in marriage isn't beyond our attainment with God's grace and power on our sides.

Yes, we make mistakes and God covers us. I'm of the opinion that not every working marriage got it rightly from start. I'm sure God permitted many to work depending on the individuals involved. Nothing is impossible with God. But that's also the reason why we can't quickly judge those who had gone through divorce if they had tried their best to keep their marriages. Who knows if they were never joined and God wouldn't accept their continuous living in such contraptions? Some separations are nothing more than repentance towards God. If an homosexuality repents and separates from his homosexual partner, are we going to call that putting away that God hates when God didn't join them ab initio even if a church had conducted their wedding?

Power has been released from day one, to power our destinies to fulfilment and as we release our faith in God's processes, the power is released in us to work doing exceedingly abundantly far above all we can ask or think to bring God's plan to pass in its time in our lives.

So long we want to do God's will and follow God's plan for our lives  and are submissive to the Lordship of Christ through obedience to His Words, the Spirit of God is always available to help us into the centre of God's will for our lives.

Good morning

How I got my Wife

How I Got my Wife

House and land are handed down from parents, but a congenial spouse comes straight from God. Proverbs 19:14 The Message

This weekend we'll be at Shagamu for GMI MINISTERS MARRIAGE CONFERENCE we are expecting a great outpouring of God's grace to impart ministers for eternal Impacts in their lives and in the lives of those they oversee.

It's been a wonderful journey this year sharing on marriage for the first time in GMI. God led us that way this year 2016 and every meeting has been great both as invited and as organised.

On the day of my wife's 24th birthday, we got engaged as led by the Spirit and that day God spoke to us in clear terms that He will use our marriage to reach other people's marital lives and to heal them. That was almost 17 years ago. It's just this year He permitted us to do that officially and testimonies have been great just these few months.

The pathway God led us through from then till date has helped others too as we share. It has been a journey with God, into the making the choices and through marriage till date.

I'd tried getting into relationships while at the University and after graduation, some never started out at all, some started and didn't go anywhere. These were wonderful Christian ladies, well brought up and definitely, wife materials but they weren't meant for me. After a while I got so frustrated and gave up!

But God kept teaching me throughout how He would that we go about it to have success. One day, I left my place around Raji Oba Street, Iyana Ipaja to go see a senior friend at Tapa Street, off Adesina Street, Ijeshatedo, Lagos back then mid nineties. On my way the Lord spoke to me in clear terms that my wife was in that place I was heading and she described some features about her while sitting in the bus, that was specifically at Cele bust stop on Apapa Oshodi expressway, about 2 busstops away.

On getting to our pastor's place, it was only pastor Mrs that I met. I wondered through the night if I had heard God. I was disappointed but not discouraged. But God insisted on what He told me and that gave me hope.

I began to use my head to calculate. Pastor Mrs trained as a veterinary doctor, so somehow I concluded God was telling me my wife was going to be a veterinary or a medical doctor and I had marriable sisters in that category. So I set out looking for my 'Dr' wife.. I visited a couple and I kept knowing they weren't. I was able to talk to one last one, she decided to pray about it and gave me a day to come back to receive my answer.

On that day, I got UCH Ibadan and went to her room, she in her ever cultured and descent manner told me God hadn't allowed her to go ahead. It wasn't God's will. And I knew too but disappointed.

All these were beautiful and attractive sisters, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, ready to do ministry and somewhere there may not mind marrying pastor Toks but were spiritual enough to know God's not permitting it.

That day, I left my sister's room and went to a brother friend's room in the male hostel. I crashed on a bed, and expressed my disappointment to God. While laying down there, I felt the urge as usual to read my Bible. I pulled out from my back pocket my Gideon's New Testament Bible. I felt like reading the whole of the book of Ephesians..and I started till I verse 11 of the first chapter...

[My Offline Bible] Ephesians  1
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

It was as if I'd never read that scripture before. God spoke in clear terms. He would have to be the one to work this out after the counsel of His will. I would have to follow Him step by step to get to where He leads... I won't be able to work it out by myself. I soon discovered that His plan for our lives is so complex that even what He tells us in small phrases are snippets of whole books He had written concerning those aspects of our lives and it will take Him ordering our steps in serendipitous and unconscious ways to arrive at the full picture He had in mind. It's always a journey of submission, yieldedness and absolute faith to arrive at His pleasure.

We work out our salvation through fear and trembling by allowing Him to work in us both to will and to do of His own good pleasure through obedience.

[My Offline Bible] Philippians 2
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

[My Offline Bible] Hebrews 13
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

It became very clear to me that it'll take God to work out what He told me that night about who to marry.

Yet I struggled with that. I kept looking around until one day He told me that I couldn't find her just like that on the street and that I would have to be patient.

So I decided to go on with my life.

One day, I felt led to visit a friend at Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria. A friend who had grown to be closer than a brother since those days in school. It's amazing that most of my friends have ever been like that...always a family.

That day as I stepped into the sitting room a lady stepped in from the kitchen into the sitting room and the Lord said, that's your wife I told you about. That was a little above a year earlier.

It was hard to believe. How can that happen? Meanwhile, earlier in the day, they'd had a glorious fellowship where God had spoken about something about to happen to her that day and that she should wait, since she was to leave that morning. She obeyed and waited and we met.

On discussion, I discovered she was at Ijeshatedo that day I was there. Her family house is on airways Street a little distance from Tapa Street where I went to visit 'our' Pastor that day and at that time she had a reason to be home.

The relationship never seemed plausible but I knew what God told me and held to it. A few months down the line following strictly God's leading and openings, I proposed and she agreed to marry me having been prepared by God. That was on her 24th birthday.

I'd learnt some concerning the power in dedicating things to God... That day in her school we went to the place where Christians normally go to pray, it was on a basketball court. And we prayed dedicating our lives together and relationship to God, handling things over to Him...and there and then He began to speak to us and between then and now, we've seen so many of those things He told us that day come to pass...

We've had a stress free relationship in spite of the challenges of life and ministry which are common to man... It's been an exciting journey so far.

We now have the go ahead to begin to share so many things God has taught us to others beyond those one on one mentoring we'd done with people over the years.

We believe God that it'll be a blessing to many.
We are open for one on one counselling if you are too far away or indisposed to be at our meetings just send questions inbox and we'll deal.

This is our story and it isn't peculiar to us. It may not be exactly the same, it can't be, but the principles are divinely universal and God will be faithful to those principles. Those principles we teach!

Blessed art thou!

Good morning!

Politics and Christian Persecution

Politics and Christian Persecution

[My Offline Bible] Acts 12
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

Christianity has thrived till date under the most fierce and vilifying persecutions. Persecution can sometimes be fire that drives commitment towards the faith.

It is arguable that politicians would use soft targets to shore up their popularity. It is normal for people wanting acceptance and popularity to do things to please people even if it'll hurt the common public enemy... In certain civilizations, the Christians become the cheap target. Particularly in those climes where Christianity or its religious side is in minority.

Even the religious side when in power does same against Christians like in the days of inquisition. Many of those who stood against the unscriptural doctrines and practices of the religious establishment were either made to recant or burned at stake. History records that explicitly.

Politics is a game of numbers and you must do what's needful to keep the number on your side. Herod saw that what he did in killing James pleased the Jewish establishment so he felt to keep killing the Christian leaders would continue to shore up his popularity amongst them. Since the doctrines of Christ is a threat to the Jewish religious leaders in their corruption and error.

Pursuit of popularity is the easiest way to go against conscience.

It took divine intervention for Peter to be delivered and that's because God had need of him, ordinarily dying is gain to a Christian...

A similar scenario had played out in the killing of John, the Baptist, whose head was used as compensation in a dancing competition for telling the truth, to the pleasure of a powerful woman. That's what politicians can do!

The proposed law to control religious activities in Kaduna can arguably be seen in same light. We have gotten to a point in Nigeria where Christianity has become the common enemy of the people. I wouldn't put all the blame on those who see Christianity as enemy because many people in the name of Christianity have done heinous things and ignorant people hardly can tell the difference between what Christianity is and what people practice as Christianity. Look at the case of Rev King who is today awaiting execution, he did what he did as a minister of Christ and there are many others like him in child abuse, modern day slavery, abuse of all sorts that are waiting to be arrested and tried...

So when a governor proposes a law that'll control public preaching and preachers, people may find it difficult to see it as a law that infringes on fundamental human rights of people but a popular expected law to deal with the common enemy because of the excesses suffered.

Laws that will control hate speech, slanders, public incitement, and other abuses that hide under religious practices are of course welcome. The scriptures say we should do all things decently and in order. And that part of the Kaduna religious law is welcome.

But those sections that would make simply quoting a scripture in public speaking without a permit from government will do no good. They are simply a politician's trick to play to the gallery not minding those that feel the hurt. If the governor will deal with those sections that may be abused in future, particularly sections 5&6 that demands preachers to receive a permit to preach renewable annually, the bill will do well to a large extent barring the bad blood and distrust this had already created.

I doubt if the law will pass as it is but even if it passes, true Christianity would only become stronger for it as usual. More commitment will be recorded while those who aren't from start convinced of Christ might be the ones to fall away unfortunately...

The reality however is that Christianity in its original and pure state can run its course parallel to any government without trouble. Christianity is primarily a personal thing with minimal non formal organisation that's open to everyone who believes in Christ as Savior and has submitted to Him as Lord meeting from house to house.

When we consider that the first building attached to Christianity came almost 250 years after Christ, we'll see that most of the organisation and officialdom we attach to today's Christianity may have been distractions causing us more harm than good.

Not that without the organisation we'll be less susceptible to persecutions but that with less organisation we can become stronger, more focused and more effective spiritually and in our work and walk with God. The truth is that we are technically organising Christ and His Spirit out of the leadership of the church... No wonder Christ was standing at the door of the heart of one of the seven churches addressed in the book of revelation, knocking and asking to be let in into the same church He bought with His own blood...

It is time however to revisit what we do that causes disaffection among the people, not as having to dance to the pleasure of the world but to expunge evil out of our systems and do what's right which is compatible with the nature of God within us. This may still not  please or help the ignorant and the unbelieving but it'll sure please God.

Because if we suffer doing what's right, happy are we but we must not suffer as evil doers.

[My Offline Bible] 1 Peter 3
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

[My Offline Bible] 1 Peter 4
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Necessities, Interventions and Inventions

Necessities, Interventions and Inventions

[My Offline Bible] 1 Corinthians 10
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Necessities, troubles and trials are common to man. In fact, without them we won't be as developed in the world as we are today. Our perspective to difficulties matter in the way they transform in our lives.

We may have such attitudes that degenerate difficulties to eternal and generational problems like Adam did. And we can have such attitudes that transform the most heinous problems to such that generations to come would leverage upon to establish joy and solutions to greater problems to the enjoyment of many.

One attitude would want us to think difficulties are abnormal and we should just live happily ever without any troubles whatsoever. Such attitudes are those that limit our progress. Keeping us in our comfort zones and not permitting us to stretch beyond what's convenient. They are destroyers of potentials and we should avoid such mentalities otherwise when troubles come we become so disappointed that we succumb and submit easily.

Some attitudes are such that would think the source of the problem is more powerful and more important than the source of the solution. A man born blind was brought to Jesus and the question was who sinned, he or the parents? That's the way a lot approach their troubles. The truth is knowing who caused it doesn't solve the problem. So many have compounded their problems by seeking to know who is the cause of their problems and getting a person, right or wrong has created bigger problems without the first being solved. The lecturer who set a difficult exam isn't the problem but the availability of the solutions through understanding. If all the witches, wizards and all evil people die today within their present dispensation, so long as Satan isn't yet in the bottomless pit, there will be troubles. They are common to man! They aren't strange! And don't even think about going for one deliverance prayer that'll solve all the problems in your life and stop others from coming! As long as breath remains in us, we'll have to stand with the whole amour of God till we see Christ!

Difficulties are present with us and the attitudes we need to open us up for divine intervention are clear to us in scriptures. The first is what was quoted 1Cor 10:13, difficulties shouldn't be strange to us as if something that is unusual has befallen us. Storms of life have no regards for anyone, Jesus through whom God created all things was in a boat only for the winds and the water to rise up against Him... He was tempted in every way just as we are but without sin.

[My Offline Bible] James 1
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

[My Offline Bible] Hebrews 6
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

[My Offline Bible] 1 Peter 4
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Divine intervention comes. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

[My Offline Bible] Romans 10
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

But we have to do our call in faith, joy, thanks giving, patience, internal rest and tranquility without fear, panic, complaining, worry, shame, buck passing, trading blames or any such negativities.

Faith Honors and attracts God.

It is then that God can intervene through His power and wisdom. The potential for Christ to be wisdom and power to us is activated when we call in faith based on His promises without fear, anxiety, panic, unbelief, impatience and such things...

It is then that wisdom for witty Inventions comes. The leading of the Spirit of God and His revelation opens up what had been prepared before the world began. The comfort of the Spirit is activated through joy that also has the capacity to extend to others.

[My Offline Bible] 2 Corinthians 1
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

From the womb of this process comes solutions embedded in creation for mankind's enjoyments.

If there is no thirst, why would there be water? Meanwhile water came before thirst... God has enjoyments embedded in the womb of His creation but trouble calls them forth in their times through divine intervention...

Now evil and sin are never divine wisdom or intervention. Jesus was tempted in every way and He overcame without sin. The spirit that inspire evil or sin as the solution to difficulties isn't of God. It is the spirit of satan that possessed the serpent in the garden and brought greater evil upon mankind.

If for pecuniary needs we do evil or refuse to do good, we create greater problems for ourselves not necessarily for those who suffered it in the immediate but for ourselves on the long run.

There is a solution about to be delivered through pain for mankind in the challenge you have in the now. Follow the process without fear and you'll see the joy of the new born into the world! Good morning!

[My Offline Bible] John 16
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Some thoughts on communication in relationships

Some thoughts on Communication in Relationships

Assumption is one of the three demons of lack of communication between friends, assumption, suspicion and superstition...these three when they are permitted into a relationship are most devastating, they eat up trust and create unnecessary rancour...

Let your conversations with your friends and loved ones be clear, robust, exhaustive and time sensitive... Say what you mean and mean what you say, don't say yes when you mean to say no, don't speak in tongues without interpretation, learn what language your loved one speaks and use that language, don't tell a lie because once it is discovered your words hardly counts anymore, they'll struggle to believe you next time, make time for discussions, concentrate when discussing, note the details and ask for clarifications in case you don't understand, don't leave a conversation without understanding what exactly the message is. Be well aware of none verbal communication, actions speaks louder than voice, so you need to be aware of what your actions are saying, in the court of law you can deny saying so but in real life relationships that matters, you may not be able to say you didn't say so...your body language is clear and influential. What you don't want people to react to don't say, once you have said it expect a reaction even if not verbal. If you have to withdraw your word, retract it, it's OK. Saying I'm sorry, please and thanks takes nothing out of you, it's a sign of strength and not weakness, they are called the law of kindness on the lips of the virtuous. A smile does wonders both to you and your hearers, use it well in communication. Be sensitive to the feelings of others. But where does communication comes from? It's from the heart, out of the abundance of the heart the mind speaks, so fill your heart with love and peace and truth will come out of your mouth with lips of grace...words in season to heal and not to tear apart. The weary can suck from the issues of the rivers of living water coming from your good heart. Soft answer turns away wrath but that comes from a soft heart. Soft is good, it's calming and words can communicate that.

It takes good communication to enjoy great relationships...we know it but only the strong uses it and enjoys the rewards.

Building the Marriage Enterprise

Building the Marriage Enterprise.

Last Friday was great at GMI Ministers Marriage Conference. Here are the main issues discussed in their skeletal form. The aim is to help us transfer the same principles we use in building our businesses and ministries to success into building our homes to achieve a greater level of success in marriage. Enjoy it.

Steps to Building the Marriage Enterprise

1. Have a Spirit painted picture of the house you want to build, have a vision for the home Enterprise check out what God says of a godly home. A wrong picture sends one on a wrong journey. Paint the picture from the scriptures. See the vision of a great home from what God says in His Word.

2. Settle down and count the cost. Do you have what it takes? Where do you get what you want? How do you get who would join you to achieve that? There is a kind of character that supports a godly home, you must have that before seeking another who has it.

3. Partner with God. He is the builder of all things. He is the third part of the cord that won't let the cord break easily. Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain those who build it. The husband may be the head of the wife at home, but Chris is still the head of the husband with God being the head of Christ that's the home leadership hierarchy and you must set God where He truly belongs.

4. Build good foundation. This is where to start and it isn't the wedding event. Hearing the words of Jesus and doing them is building your enterprise on a solid foundation. Both parties must be those who submit to the Word of God in all things. For instance as a Christian, if you are yet to pass the Matthew chapters 5-7 test, you aren't ready for the storms of life...a supposed Christian home yet to pass that test can scatter even under a gentle breeze. Building a foundation against the storms of life is in hearing and doing what Jesus says... No argument should go beyond whatever He says!

5. Team up. When God couldn't get a help suitable for Adam, He had to split Adam into two to get a companion, to join them back to one person through marriage. The enterprise can't be built without oneness in every area. Two are only better than one when they are a team, two are worse than one when they fight each other. They had to endeavor to be together in one accord on same page. The Leadership systems we use in building our businesses and ministries need be engaged to build our homes. The rewards will be greater in marriage. Any enterprise with more than one overall vision heads towards division. The project must remain one with both as suitable helpers to achieve same thing. Marriage, selfishness and self-centered attitude won't end well.

6. Get ready for Opposition. There will always be problems and challenges against marriage, and against your union. We face challenges every where and in everything and home building isn't an exception. Fortunately, the challenges we face have brought the world to its level of development. So the setbacks and challenges in marriage are also meant to bring the best out of us. Whatever we engage ourselves in building faces challenges. There's no enterprise that's immune to challenges, we succeed only when we overcome the challenges. We need to employ same mentality to marriage if we really want to achieve the Marital vision.

7. Be Consistent, Faithful and Patient. Success in anything demands staying at doing what's needful in spite of every discouragement. People who give up easily hardly achieve anything. When you have taken the rights steps and you are sure you are doing the will of God then stick to doing what's right. Don't get tired of doing good. Don't get tired of working at success that's the only way to arrive. Keep doing what the building entails if the foundation and other parameters are in place and you'll see the house in its finished and completed state as you have envisioned if not better. Now don't interpret this as saying you have to remain even if your spouse is about killing you..., but if both of you are trying at working together to produce something great for yourselves even if one is weak, stay and build together in love. The joy of achievement will supersede and erase the pains of building.

I pray that God's grace will suffice for you, not just to hear but also to do in Jesus name.

Next (April) edition will be on Home Financial Management under God. Don't miss it, start planning to be there from now!

Happy Sunday, Happy new week

The Awkward World and Christ's Salvation

The Awkward World and Christ's Salvation

[My Offline Bible] Isaiah 59
14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

[My Offline Bible] Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

We live in an awkward world. The earlier we see that as Christians the better. We shouldn't be surprised when the world does its thing. The world speaks of human rights and then tramples on that right. The good is an opportunity to the evil to have its way. The meek is an opportunity for the rash to get ahead. The humble is stepped upon to go higher. The helpful is enslaved to do without reward. The long-suffering person is made to suffer more to someone else's gain. The gentle is a villain where the rough wins. The lover falls. The giver is a fool. The quiet and humble spirit is valueless. Godliness and contentment are backwardness. Decorum is an invitation for the disorderly to trample upon. Those who stay in lane remain in hold ups while those who shunt arrive early. Thieves become rich and are celebrated and the faithful remain poor and humiliated. Loyalists are enslaved, while the rebellious breaks through. Those who shout equality are themselves the organisers of the class culture. Those who would defend the poor are themselves oppressors of mankind.

This is the way of the world. This is the way of the kingdom of men. The good is an endangered specie. The good can hardly survive the world. Everyone fights for self. To survive you have to be nationalistic and fight every strange tribe. 'What's in it for me' is the cry, there's no free lunch. The runt dies! It's a jungle where the fittest survive. It's a world where the meek is weak and the meek is meat.

A world of hypocrisy. How the world loves lies. Brazenly puts up a different face with the heart on a different mode. Why won't the good be suspected, when the suspector(?) can't imagine truth from another. It's the way of the world...the heart is desperately wicked, who can know it. To the world, it's a sin to come out weak, you simply become a prey, a raw material, a point on the list of the factors of production. If the world helps you, you are in trouble, if it leaves you alone, it's just waiting for the day to snack with you... You are on its many list...hidden behind broad smiles. It will fatten you to say you for a meal. The world will enslave and say it's doing you a favor. It will oppress and tell the rest of its clan how it has just set you free... It's an awkward world and that's just the way it is. The way of sin!

The religious world isn't spared. They actually may have been worse off. It is the closest of the world system to the common unassuming person. It is the cheapest way to hold the people in bondage. The chain of legitimate captivity. And in the clime where I have roots, it's the lord by itself. One Rev King was arrested for murder of a church member ten years ago and His death sentence confirmed last month but in ten years none other was arrested maybe they didn't commit murder like he did but what of other forms of oppression? Who will speak out and touch the anointed?

But Jesus offers something else. His doctrines and actions speak a different language. I read the gospel and I wonder how possible. But it is.

He wants us to pray for our enemies. He wants us us to give to anyone who asks of us. He wants us to do good to both the good and the bad. He wants us to be truthful. He wants us to be meek, not self defensive, but peace making, speaking good things, hopeful and patient with others. He wants us to help the needy, He wants us to support the weak. He wants us to work good even on sabbath day. He redefined godliness and worship.

But He unsettles the princes of this world. The oppressors were afraid and are still afraid of Him. The religious merchants hated and still hates Him even if they defraud the simple in His name. One of them said, why would He come back when he hasn't enjoyed the world...such would kill Jesus again and again so that he can live his life...just as his earlier mentors killed Jesus.

So when Jesus taught about a coming Kingdom, it is to give an alternative to this world, where He rules in righteousness. That Kingdom is the original as designed and envisioned by the Creator God Himself.

Many think God has given up on the world, No! He loves the people of the world and has a plan to save mankind into a Kingdom where His will would be done. But we have to first see the world as it is...lost! And then embrace what God, the Creator offers. The Creator God is not an inanimate substance of chance, looking alone at what He created is enough to know that. He sent us His Son to show us the way out and how can we be saved if we neglect so great a salvation?

He has the plan of a new Kingdom, where those things Jesus said will practically be in operation. Don't doubt it, believe and prepare for it. This is beyond being churchy!

What hope is in a church that's not a foretaste of heavenly righteousness, peace, joy and love? Shouldn't a church be the prototype of the heavenly Kingdom on earth until it lost it by imbibing and getting drowned in the world's culture?

I speak of the salvation that's in Christ alone. Go for it don't let the world, it's lies and religion hold you back.

Go not the way of the world!

Good morning! Happy New Month