Dead works

#shorts Sexual sin

Yes, He is Risen. Death could not hold him down. Jesus is the risen King. He came to show us the way and bring us salvation so we might have everlasting life in Him. As we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, let us keep these scriptures at heart:

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25–26 (NKJV)

6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Mark 16:6 (NKJV)

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Romans 6:5–6 (NKJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

Peace!

Yes, He is Risen. Death could not hold him down. Jesus is the risen King. He came to show us the way and bring us salvation so we might have everlasting life in Him. As we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, let us keep these scriptures at heart:

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25–26 (NKJV)

6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Mark 16:6 (NKJV)

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Romans 6:5–6 (NKJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

Music by Yurii Semchyshyn from Pixabay

#shorts
Sexual Sins

#shorts
Those who do these things cannot inherit the kingdom of God

• Dead works bring separation between a believer and God. THEY are the works of the flesh mentioned and listed in Galatians 5:19-21.

I. Sexual Sin or Immorality:

Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, and Lasciviousness or lewdness are classified as sexual sins.
EXAMPLES: REUBEN slept with his father's wife (Genesis 35:22).
AND because of it, the father cursed him when he was about to die that he would not Excel. Thus, the tribe of Reuben happened to be one of the least tribes in Israel (Genesis 49:3,4).
SAMSON also lost the anointing of God on his life and his ministry because of the Sin of immorality (Judges 16:1,4).
IF this Sin is found in your Life, it can affect your relationship with God and hinder the fulfilment of whatever God has ordained you to be and assigned you to do.

II. Idolatry:

Putting your affection on someone or something above God. Whatever HAS taken the place of God in your heart has become another God, and It is an idol.
GOD has reserved a place for Himself in the heart of every human being and the place should not be occupied by any other person or THING.

37. Jesus said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
38. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT.”
Matthew 22:37,38 (NKJV)

READ: Psalm 115:3-8;135:15–18.
III. Witchcraft:

A dictionary defines witchcraft as the use of magic powers, especially the evil ones.
WITCHCRAFT is among the things condemned and classified as a work of the flesh. GOD CONDEMNED divination and magic, or sorcery in every FORM. The practice of it is repeatedly condemned in the law of Moses, it should be totally forbidden (Leviticus 19:26), AND it attracted death penalty (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27).
Consulting mediums, who contact the dead, is also forbidden, carrying a death sentence (Leviticus 20:6,27; Isaiah 8:19).
Saul was guilty of consulting a medium to contact Samuel (1 Samuel 1:28), even though Saul had banished all mediums from the land..

What are the Dead Works Cont_d

IV. Jealousies, Hatred, Contentions, Outbursts of wrath:
Jealousy may lead to hatred, and to Outbursts of wrath, and to Contentions. Some because they are JEALOUS of someone would allow HATRED with their fellow believer, thus allow Strife, or Contentions, with the person.
IT is difficult for some who claim they are Believers to live at peace with others—they are always Fighting. Such at times would have fought whoever God may want to use for them in the future.
CRITICAL spirit is always right while others are always wrong. Thus, if care is not taken it may result in high blood pressure and other heart related problems.

V. Selfish ambitions, Dissensions, Heresies:

HERESY is defined as a belief or an opinion that disagrees strongly with what most people believe.
SOMEONE with a SELFISH AMBITION would want to lure others, who may ignorantly follow him or her, into DISSENSIONS.
ABSALOM plotted a coup to topple his father's government because of Selfish AMBITION that leads to sedition or insurrection, and he eventually lost his life in the process (see 2 Samuel chapters 15 through 18).
DO not dissent from the views of your leaders and incite others against the leadership of the Church you attend. A Believer should not be part of church politics, causing people to rebel against the authority of the Church. When you do that, it is an affront to God, He takes such an Act personally.
IT is a rebellion that would make someone believes that he or she has better opinions than that of their pastors.
IF you always have the urge to correct your leaders, it is a sign of rebellion, you must repent, if you do not, it may lead to destruction:

“WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE ANOTHER'S SERVANT? To his own master he stands or falls. INDEED, HE WILL BE MADE TO STAND, FOR GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE HIM STAND” (Romans 14:4).

READ: James 4:11,12

VI. Envy, Bitterness, Murders:

Envying usually gives birth to bitterness, and subsequently murder. Cain was envious of his b..

IV. Jealousies, Hatred, Contentions, Outbursts of wrath:
Jealousy may lead to hatred, and to Outbursts of wrath, and to Contentions. Some because they are JEALOUS of someone would allow HATRED with their fellow believer, thus allow Strife, or Contentions, with the person.
IT is difficult for some who claim they are Believers to live at peace with others—they are always Fighting. Such at times would have fought whoever God may want to use for them in the future.
CRITICAL spirit is always right while others are always wrong. Thus, if care is not taken it may result in high blood pressure and other heart related problems.

V. Selfish ambitions, Dissensions, Heresies:

HERESY is defined as a belief or an opinion that disagrees strongly with what most people believe.
SOMEONE with a SELFISH AMBITION would want to lure others, who may ignorantly follow him or her, into DISSENSIONS.
ABSALOM plotted a coup to topple his father's government because of Selfish AMBITION that leads to sedition or insurrection, and he eventually lost his life in the process (see 2 Samuel chapters 15 through 18).
DO not dissent from the views of your leaders and incite others against the leadership of the Church you attend. A Believer should not be part of church politics, causing people to rebel against the authority of the Church. When you do that, it is an affront to God, He takes such an Act personally.
IT is a rebellion that would make someone believes that he or she has better opinions than that of their pastors.
IF you always have the urge to correct your leaders, it is a sign of rebellion, you must repent, if you do not, it may lead to destruction:

“WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE ANOTHER'S SERVANT? To his own master he stands or falls. INDEED, HE WILL BE MADE TO STAND, FOR GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE HIM STAND” (Romans 14:4).

READ: James 4:11,12

VI. Envy, Bitterness, Murders:

Envying usually gives birth to bitterness, and subsequently murder. Cain was envious of his brother, Abel, because God accepted Abel's offering whilst his own offering was not accepted (Genesis 4:3-7). He eventually killed his brother because of envy (Genesis 4:8).
Even If you do not murder the person, you are envious of, physically, you may, by pulling down the person through gossips, rumours, negative comments, or badmouthing.
SOME are never happy at other people's success; they always want to be like someone else, and that is a sense of inferiority complex.

VII. Revelries, Drunkenness:

A believer should be able to control his or her appetites for any number of things. MANY have been hooked, destroyed their lives and God's plans and programmes for them. REVELRIES, carousing, and drunkenness do not befit a child of God: “GIVE STRONG DRINK TO HIM [her] WHO IS PERISHING, AND WINE TO THOSE WHO ARE BITTER OF HEART” (Proverbs 31:6).

2. “You LUST and do not have. You MURDER and COVET and cannot obtain. You FIGHT and WAR. Yet you do not HAVE because you do not ASK.
3. You ASK and do not RECEIVE, because you ASK AMISS, that you may SPEND IT on your PLEASURES.”
James 4:2,3 (NKJV)

• What you do with whatever God gives to you matters. He is interested in how you use whatever He makes available for you.
- God knows your mind, the intent of your heart ❤️. If you will not use His blessing which is given you by Him wisely, He may not give you more—grant your request for abundance.

• People use different methods and means in getting what they want.
- If you as a believer want to use worldly methods to get your needs met, you may not be surprised that it will not work.
- The principles of the world, worldly people, cannot work for the children of covenant—believers in Christ.
- Using worldly method to get your needs met would prove abortive.

• Some lust, even as a believer, they have strong and intense desire for what they do not have.
- Some do not mind to murder, either physically or to murder other people with their mouth, that they may get what they want—and yet they could not get it.
- Some covet, having or showing a strong desire, they wanted very much to possess what belongs to someone else but could not obtain it—get it. They covet their friends’ spouses and whatever (Exodus 20:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
- They fight and war, battle for what they do not have, what belong to someone else.
- They are jealous of what others have, but they could not get it; so they fight and wage war to take or collect what does not belong to them.

• They do not have whatever they wanted because their manner of approach is bad, is not in line with God’s pattern.
- A believer should not pursue things like the people of the world.
- They do not have what they wanted, because they do not ask for it. And some who did ask could not receive (James 4:3).
- They asked even amiss, they do not get what they asked for, be..

Dead works bring separation between a believer and God. THEY are the works of the flesh mentioned and listed in Galatians 5:19-21.

I. Sexual Sin or Immorality:

Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, and Lasciviousness or lewdness are classified as sexual sins.
EXAMPLES: REUBEN slept with his father's wife (Genesis 35:22).
AND because of it, the father cursed him when he was about to die that he would not Excel. Thus, the tribe of Reuben happened to be one of the least tribes in Israel (Genesis 49:3,4).
SAMSON also lost the anointing of God on his life and his ministry because of the Sin of immorality (Judges 16:1,4).
IF this Sin is found in your Life, it can affect your relationship with God and hinder the fulfilment of whatever God has ordained you to be and assigned you to do.

II. Idolatry:

Putting your affection on someone or something above God. Whatever HAS taken the place of God in your heart has become another God, and It is an idol.
GOD has reserved a place for Himself in the heart of every human being and the place should not be occupied by any other person or THING.

37. Jesus said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
38. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT.”
Matthew 22:37,38 (NKJV)

READ: Psalm 115:3-8;135:15–18.
III. Witchcraft:

A dictionary defines witchcraft as the use of magic powers, especially the evil ones.
WITCHCRAFT is among the things condemned and classified as a work of the flesh. GOD CONDEMNED divination and magic, or sorcery in every FORM. The practice of it is repeatedly condemned in the law of Moses, it should be totally forbidden (Leviticus 19:26), AND it attracted death penalty (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27).
Consulting mediums, who contact the dead, is also forbidden, carrying a death sentence (Leviticus 20:6,27; Isaiah 8:19).
Saul was guilty of consulting a medium to contact Samuel (1 Samuel 1:28), even though Saul had banished all mediums from the land.
IN the New Testament, Simon, a sorcerer in Samaria, was rebuked by Peter for attempting to buy the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:9-24). Paul and Silas encountered a slave girl at Philippi who has a demonic power of foretelling the future (Acts 16:16-26).
The Bible consistently condemns the practice of divination and magic, or sorcery. They are condemned because the source is often demonic and practitioners are trying to circumvent God, they want to find a way of avoiding God and His rules, to find guidance for the future.
BELIEVERS would do well to HEED biblical injunctions against astrology, fortune-telling, and mediums.
IN ADDITION TO IT, Witchcraft being one of the works of the flesh could also mean a way of manipulating or controlling others against their WILL.
IF you are a believer who likes to manipulate and control others that you may have your way, it is an act of witchcraft, you need to repent.

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God Bless you
Peace.

FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES

[FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF CHRIST]

1. “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS and of FAITH TOWARDS GOD,
2. of THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, of LAYING ON OF HANDS, of RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, and of ETERNAL JUDGMENT.”
Hebrews 6:1,2 (NKJV)

• To establish oneself firmly in the faith, a genuine Christian embraces the study and practice of the principles of the doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 6:1,2).
IT is upon these that his or her entire life rests beyond the point they got saved.
THOSE who neglect these simple facts will likely not be building their faith on a solid foundation, and: “IF THE FOUNDATIONS ARE DESTROYED, WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO?” (Psalm 11:3).

1. Repentance from dead works

Dead works are sins committed or commit which result in spiritual death, that is, separation from God (Romans 6:21,23).
BELIEVERS may be tempted with some of the SINS they have forsaken when they gave their lives to Christ, BUT a genuine Christian always has distaste for Sin.
SUCH would not be desiring Sin, relishing, or enjoying Sin, and have pleasures in it.
ALSO, a genuine Christian will not habitually live in Sin. He or she repents from all known sins in the past as he or she remembers them, as well as errors made unwillingly which such may occasionally find in their Lives (1 John 1:9).
BY so doing, such:
i. Disarms and defeats the devil, the tempter (Luke 4:13; 1 Peter 5:8,9).
ii. Obtains cleansing from sin (1 John 1:9).
iii. Stops sin from taking root in his or her life (Romans 6:14).
iv. Avoids divine judgment and chastisement (Hebrews 10:26,27; 6:4-8,
1 Corinthians 11:31, 32).
v. Confirms continuously his or her faith in Christ (Ephesians 5:5-11;1 John 3:9).

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus Christ.
Bethel Bible Training Institute has a mandate to raise vessels of gold (2 Timothy 2:20,21) for the church of Jesus Christ
To this effect, the school organizes Ministry leadership Training for Christians in general.

In our channel you get videos on:
•Ministry Leadership
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And other inspiring teachings on Christian living.

[FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF CHRIST]

1. “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS and of FAITH TOWARDS GOD,
2. of THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, of LAYING ON OF HANDS, of RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, and of ETERNAL JUDGMENT.”
Hebrews 6:1,2 (NKJV)

• To establish oneself firmly in the faith, a genuine Christian embraces the study and practice of the principles of the doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 6:1,2).
IT is upon these that his or her entire life rests beyond the point they got saved.
THOSE who neglect these simple facts will likely not be building their faith on a solid foundation, and: “IF THE FOUNDATIONS ARE DESTROYED, WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO?” (Psalm 11:3).

1. Repentance from dead works

Dead works are sins committed or commit which result in spiritual death, that is, separation from God (Romans 6:21,23).
BELIEVERS may be tempted with some of the SINS they have forsaken when they gave their lives to Christ, BUT a genuine Christian always has distaste for Sin.
SUCH would not be desiring Sin, relishing, or enjoying Sin, and have pleasures in it.
ALSO, a genuine Christian will not habitually live in Sin. He or she repents from all known sins in the past as he or she remembers them, as well as errors made unwillingly which such may occasionally find in their Lives (1 John 1:9).
BY so doing, such:
i. Disarms and defeats the devil, the tempter (Luke 4:13; 1 Peter 5:8,9).
ii. Obtains cleansing from sin (1 John 1:9).
iii. Stops sin from taking root in his or her life (Romans 6:14).
iv. Avoids divine judgment and chastisement (Hebrews 10:26,27; 6:4-8,
1 Corinthians 11:31, 32).
v. Confirms continuously his or her faith in Christ (Ephesians 5:5-11;1 John 3:9).

Discover the profound story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the true meaning of Easter and the greatest proof of God's love for us. Watch this video and be amazed by the power and grace of our Lord and Saviour!

7. “Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.
38. A MIXED MULTITUDE WENT UP WITH THEM ALSO, and flocks and herds—a great deal of livestock.”
Exodus 12:37,38 (NKJV)

• A number of people are convinced about the Lordship of Jesus Christ but they are not converted.
- A dictionary defines “convinced” as being completely sure that something is not true or right, especially because the evidence seems to prove it or one is persuaded to believe it. While to be converted is to change one's religious faith or other beliefs.
- In our text, Exodus 12:37,38, some people who left the land of Egypt with the Israelites were called mixed multitude.
- They were the set of people who got to know the God of Israel through their relationship with the Israelites. THEY knew the power of this God, they tasted His goodness, and they did witness His awesomeness—the dramatic way He delivered the Israelites.
- These people decided to follow this God called YAHWEH, they went up with the Israelites to the promised land, the land of Canaan. Another name for these sect is Proselyte Jews—they were of Gentile origin, but accepted the worship of Jehovah.
- These mixed multitude were convinced about the God of Israel, that He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient, but they were not converted.

“Now the MIXED MULTITUDE who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat?”
Numbers 11:4 (NKJV)

Another translation says:
“Then the FOREIGN RABBLE who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “
Numbers 11:4 (NLT)

• The disorderly crowd [mixed multitude, rabble] incited the people, the Israelites, against Moses and God, by complaining—tried to poison the people’s minds against God and His servant, Moses (Numbers 11:4-6).
- These people, the rabble, were not really converted, they were not ready to submit to God’s will and plan—the ways of God were strange to them and they were not ready to embrace it (1 Corinthians 2:14).
- The mixed multitude are everywhere today; they are in the church of Christ. THEY want the blessings of God, but they are not ready to follow the leadings and the ways of God—they argue, not ready to comply with the directives, the instructions given by God.
- The mixed multitude always long for good old days.
THEY always thirst and want to go back into those things which they claimed they have forsaken, but they are not ready to be weaned off completely.
- Such do not want to discipline themselves and their appetites for sin, and they do not want to embrace God’s plan for their lives.

“Then Samson prayed the LORD “Sovereign LORD, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”
Judges 16:28 (NLT)

• If someone missed it and such genuinely repented, God would remember him or her again (1 John 1:9).
- Samson did pray that God would remember him, and God honoured the prayer, He did not forsake Him completely (Judges 16:28).
- God will give you another chance, if you repent of your bad or evil deeds and call on Him, He is the God of second chance. God will not outright cast you away (Judges 16:22).

“But before long, his hair began to grow back.
Judged 16:22(NKJV)

"He [Samson] prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So, he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.”
Judges 16:30 (NLT)

• Value the grace of God on your life.
- If God bestowed His grace on your life, anoint you for a particular purpose, or you have the call of God on your life; you would do well to value what He has bestowed on you, endowed you with.
- Samson did not value God's grace on his life, he failed to discipline himself; he did gratify the desires of the flesh (Colossians 3:5,6; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 6:12,13; 13:14;. Galatians 5:24).

12. “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
13. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Romans 6:12,13 (NKJV)

- Samson was carefree and being frivolous, he plays about with sin without any remorse.

• If God has made you a leader through the gift bestowed on you, you are chosen or appointed to lead, or you are anointed to lead; you must not disappoint God who enlisted you—you must not betray the trust He reposes or places in you (Romans 12:6-8)

6. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7. or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8. he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Romans 12:6-8 (NKJV)

- If God appointed you to lead, you are His representative, ambassador; He counts on you and He wants you to perform well. You should not let Him down.

• Samson lost the grace, the anointing, of God on his life because of indiscipline—he lacked discipline.
- Those who are called to work for the Lord, lead the people of God, are Soldiers; thus, they must discipline and comport themselves.

"So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impact to you not only the gospel of God, buy also our own lives, because you have become dear to us."
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NKJV)

• Leaders in ministry should impact their lives to the people they are ministering to—it is an important aspect of ministry work.
- Minister to their needs and be identified with them in their problems (Acts 20:28).
- If you stand with them to solve their problems; they would stand with you in fulfilling your vision.
- The people you care for would not mind to sacrifice what they have in order to partner with you in the assignment—people respond to love without hypocrisy (Luke 8:1-3; Acts 28:8-10).
~ Although in exceptional cases, if you are ministering to a wrong set of people, people you are not sent to—they may not be supportive (Acts 22:17-21).
~ Also, if you are not at the right place that God wants you to be—the people there may not give their full support.
~ You attract wrong people if you are not at right place that God has assigned you.

• The Galatians showered love on Paul because they saw the sincerity and genuineness of his care and love for them.
- Paul said, if it were possible, they would have plucked their eyes and given them to him. In other words, they could give anything to Paul.
13. "You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
14. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel [messenger] of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have PLUCKED OUT your EYES and given them to me."
Galatians 4:13-15 (NKJV)

• People respond to care, even animals do!

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!

29. “Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.
30. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore, his name was called Edom [Red].
31. But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
32. And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so, what is this birthright to me?”
33. Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So, he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
34. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus, Esau despised his birthright.”
Genesis 25:29-34 (NKJV)

• Esau despised his birthright!
- Whatever God has endowed you with should not be despised or taken for granted.
- Birthright could mean the gift of salvation that you have received from the Lord, do not despise it (Ephesians 2:8,9).
- Birthright also could mean a gift, special ability, or skill that God endowed you with, do not despise it.
- The gift or ability may have not been fetching you any material rewards or benefits, all the same do not despise it.
- It could mean spiritual endowments, or spiritual equipment’s given you by God to propagate or promote His kingdom on earth, do not despise it.

• Whatever God has given you has its usefulness, thus do not despise God’s endowments in your life.
“lest there be any fornicator or PROFANE PERSON like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.”
Hebrews 12:16 (NKJV)
- The Lord knows there is a need for the endowments in your life, that is why He has deposited them in you.
- A profane person would not value God’s gifts or endowments and would not treat them with respect. Such despises whatever God has given him or her.
- The Bible says Esau sought for the birthright afterward, diligently, even with tears; he wanted to inherit the BLESSING but was rejected—he found no place for repentance.
“For you know that afterward, when he [Esau] wanted to inherit THE BLESSING, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
Hebrews 12:17(NKJV)

• Do not allow your present needs or predicaments to move you against God.
- Do not lose your sense of Judgement because of whatever predicament, quandary, or unpleasant situation, you might be passing through.
- Do not lower your moral or spiritual standards because of your needs.
- Neither compromise, act against the spiritual principles found in the Scriptures; nor do things that do not reach the standards that God has set in His Word.

• The need in your life or the problem you are facing could be a test from God, He may want to see how you handle the test, how you fare in the test; before He announces your promotion or lifting.
“By faith Abraham, when he was TESTED, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.”
Hebrews 11:17 (NKJV)

Peace !

BIBLICAL APPROACH TO PRAYER
2. “You LUST and do not have. You MURDER and COVET and cannot obtain. You FIGHT and WAR. Yet you do not HAVE because you do not ASK.
3. You ASK and do not RECEIVE, because you ASK AMISS, that you may SPEND IT on your PLEASURES.”
James 4:2,3 (NKJV)

• What you do with whatever God gives to you matters. He is interested in how you use whatever He makes available for you.
- God knows your mind, the intent of your heart ❤️. If you will not use His blessing which is given you by Him wisely, He may not give you more—grant your request for abundance.

• People use different methods and means in getting what they want.
- If you as a believer want to use worldly methods to get your needs met, you may not be surprised that it will not work.
- The principles of the world, worldly people, cannot work for the children of covenant—believers in Christ.
- Using worldly method to get your needs met would prove abortive.

• Some lust, even as a believer, they have strong and intense desire for what they do not have.
- Some do not mind to murder, either physically or to murder other people with their mouth, that they may get what they want—and yet they could not get it.
- Some covet, having or showing a strong desire, they wanted very much to possess what belongs to someone else but could not obtain it—get it. They covet their friends’ spouses and whatever (Exodus 20:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
- They fight and war, battle for what they do not have, what belong to someone else.
- They are jealous of what others have, but they could not get it; so they fight and wage war to take or collect what does not belong to them.

• They do not have whatever they wanted because their manner of approach is bad, is not in line with God’s pattern.
- A believer should not pursue things like the people of the world.
- They do not have what they wanted, because they do not ask for it. And some who did ask could not receive (James 4:3).
- They asked even amiss, they do not get what they asked for, because their motives are all wrong.
- They wanted only what will give them pleasures: God is not in their thoughts, plans and goals.
16. “Then He [Jesus] spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
17. “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’
18. “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
19. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’
20. “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21. “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.”
Luke 12:16-21(NKJV).

Peace!

7. “even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
9. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. MY POWER WORKS BEST IN WEAKNESS.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
10. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NLT)

• Whoever wants to be strong in the Lord must become weak.
- The weaker you are in self, the stronger you become in Christ.
- Those who are strong in themselves cannot be strong in the Lord.
- God's power works best in weakness. The weaker you are, the greater the power of God you wielded and demonstrated.

• Whoever God will work through or use to do exploits, must be thoroughly broken.
- If you want to be used of the Lord mightily, you will undergo baptism of fire 🔥; drink the cup that Jesus drank (Mark 10:35-39)
- Baptism of fire is baptism of suffering!
- Apostle Paul said he takes pleasure in infirmities, reproaches [Insults], needs [hardships], persecutions, distresses [troubles]; for Christ's sake (2 Corinthians 12:10).
- Whoever would walk in power, manifest power, will suffer for Christ (2 Timothy 3:12).
- Your depth in God is determined by the level of sacrifice you are willing to make, that is, your readiness to suffer, endure, for Him.
3. "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
12. If we ENDURE, we shall also REIGN with HIM. If WE DENY HIM, He also will DENY US.”
2 Timothy 2:3,12 (NKJV)

• Many complain about sufferings and challenges, yet they want God to equip them with power— they want to have visions and revelations.
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, A THORN IN THE FLESH was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet [beat] me, LEST I be EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE.”
2 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)
- God allowed a thorn in the flesh of Paul, a messenger of Satan, to keep him from becoming proud.
- The sufferings and challenges you experience as you grow in power, anointing, revelations, and visions; are meant to keep you humble, that you might not forget your source, God.
- That you might know all you have is given you by God (1 Corinthians 1:29).
- The challenges would compel you to keep looking unto God, that you might not rely on self. You avoid self-aggrandizement (Hebrews 12:2).

• Therefore you must be glad in weaknesses; the lesser you depend on self, the stronger you become in God.
- God needed to break Jacob that he might no longer depend on his human wisdom, craftiness—he had used it against his brother, Esau, and his father, Isaac (Genesis 27:30-38).

Peace!

UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE

“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)

• Hard Work and Diligence are some of the attributes, conditions, for greatness (Proverbs 10:4; 12:24,27; 13:4; 21:5).
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown [obscure] men.”
Proverbs 22:29 (NKJV)
- However, hard work and being diligent are not enough for you to experience blessings with greatness.
- Without God’s hand, His approval, in what you do; you may not experience a considerable, significant, result in your endeavours or aspirations.
- In the text, the Psalmist said unless the LORD builds the house, the work of the builders is wasted. And if the LORD does not protect the city, guarding it with sentries, soldiers, will do no good (Psalm 127:1).

• For you to get result, that is, to be fruitful in what you do; you need God’s backing.
- The spiritual realm controls the physical realm, whatever happens in the physical realm must have taken place in the spiritual realm.
- What you do not get in the spiritual realm cannot be gotten in the physical realm.
- If anything happens in the physical, an event must have preceded it in the spiritual.

• The Book 📖 of Job throws or sheds some light on this: what happened to Job had been settled, decided in the realm of the spirit ever before it happened to Job.
- God had given permission to the devil to touch Job and all he had, but should not kill him (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-8).
- If there would be a success in what you do, considerable one; you need supernatural help, and that is from God.
“He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. NO ONE WILL SUCCEED BY STRENGTH ALONE.”
1 Samuel 2:9 (NLT)

• Success is spiritual, it comes through supernatural help– God’s help.
- Whoever builds without God’s help would labour in vain.
- Some went to the devil, because he is a supernatural being also, to receive help; but whatever help the devil gives to anyone would have sorrow added to it.
“The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”
Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV)
- Those who did go to the devil for power, wealth, fame, or whatever; would have sorrows– they would live to regret they did go to him.

• You need God’s help in whatever you do because He does not want us to live independently of Him
5. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct [make smooth or straight] your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5,6 (NKJV)
- It is not how much you work hard or strive that makes things work, that is, that makes you have results; but God’s help (Psalm 75:6,7).
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”
Psalm 127:2 (NKJV)

Peace!