Category: Faith

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Living Peaceably With Unbelievers And Maintaining Your Faith

Living amongst people with different ideologies, convictions and lifestyles has always been one of man’s greatest struggle.
Countless riots, fights and broken relationships have stemmed from the fact that we have different values and convictions and are ready to give up anything for the course.

While it is good to stand for a worthy cause, it is also important to be able to live with people who do not agree with you on that.

As a Christian, as much as you’d love everyone to see the beauty of your lifestyle and adopt it, not everyone will, so you must find ways to live with people regardless.

If you’ve been in that position before, then you’ll agree with me that it is easier said than done. Two things usually go wrong.
i) You can “hold on” so much to your faith and end up making enemies with everyone who shows any difference.
Or
ii) You can become ashamed of being different and in a bid to be like “them”, end up compromising.

First of all, you’d have to understand that it’s perfectly okay to be different. Your difference creates your uniqueness. Don’t be under pressure to conform.

Deliver yourself from the pressure to become a certain kind of way.

Doing this will require wisdom and balance and that’s why I’m sharing a few helpful tips on how to maintain your faith (as a Christian) and still live in peace with people of different faith.

PS: This doesn’t just apply to living with people of different faith. It also applies to living with people who seemingly are Christians too but lack depth or have gross nonchalance for things of God. (Living with this category of people can be frustrating too).

i) Know who you believe.
Your knowledge of God is really tested in times like this. You must have a personal knowledge of God and not depend on what you’ve heard people say about Him. Spend time with Him and get to know Him for yourself.

ii) Have Values and stick to them.
If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.

Your values refer to your morals, belief systems and convictions. Be clear to yourself on what is acceptable to you and what is not. Do not just go with the flow. Values like the songs you listen to, the kind of language you speak (in terms if vulgar words and all), the kinds of jokes you make, etc.
Be unapologetic about your love for Christ.
This does not mean you should be rigid and not relatable. You must be able to strike a balance. That leads me to the next point.

iii) You’re still human.
You may sustain superior understanding but it doesn’t make you Lord over other people. Be careful not to act like a god amongst them. You can maintain your values and still be free, relatable, friendly and welcoming.

iv) Let your life preach.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Your lifestyle is the biggest influence on people around you. People can learn a whole lot by just watching you. You have to reflect the Character of Christ through godly virtues.
You can not be a malice keeping, proud person and expect people to think well of you. You’re misrepresenting Christ. Be different, in that, you can tolerate any kind of flaw in a person (because you’re definitely going to encounter people with all kinds).

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.
Romans 5:4 AMPC

Lastly, for special cases where the people in question are deliberately trying to frustrate you and your faith, you must be careful in your dealings with them. The Bible says that Wisdom is profitable to direct. Listen to the voice of wisdom (God) in you.
Show love to them, forbear and care for them but never be apologetic about your faith. Don’t get upset when they make efforts to annoy you. That way, you’ll be frustrating them right back.
Everyone acts from their level of understanding. You don’t get upset at a child for saying gibberish. Why should you be upset when people with shallow understanding act and talk that way?
Your silence will be required in many cases and a smile will be a great response to many sarcasms.

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:18 NKJV

I hope these tips help every Christian in this dilemma.
Blessings ❤

READ : My roommates

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POWERFUL SCRIPTURES AND DECLARATIONS TO BREAK CURSES IN YOUR LIFE

As Christians, it is expedient that we understand the system of operation in God’s Kingdom. Ignorance is the Christian’s greatest enemy. It keeps you slave to what you should reign over.


Many times, I see believers in certain dilemmas that can be easily solved if they had good understanding of scriptures.

Don’t just be a Christian by name. Be a Christian by character, power and by the Word of God.


One of the areas Christians suffer due to ignorance is curses.


Many have lived in the deceit that accepting the Lordship of Christ automatically removes them from every prior curse and covenant.
While it is true that accepting Jesus makes you saved and redeemed, it is your understanding of the Word of God and your engaging it, that completely alienates you from altars and curses fighting against you due to covenants you had with other spirits before you met Christ.


Jesus Christ has finished it all on the cross. He came and collected everything Satan took from Adam (man).

From scriptures, we see that His blood did not only purchase salvation, it purchased much more; our wealth, health, freedom from curses and so on.


Why then do some Christians suffer terrible attacks from Satan and other Spirits?


Covenant are agreements and until a greater covenant is enacted to nullify the previous one, it’ll keep working.


Until you intentionally let every other spirit know that the only covenant you’re a party to, now is the one with the blood of the Lamb, they’ll keep fighting you.

You must look into scriptures, find your privileges in Christ and take full possession of them.


A powerful way to break out of any kind of curse is by engaging in fierce prayers and declarations with the Word of God.


Confidently and faithfully declare these scriptures as you engage in prayers. You can read them in different versions on youversion Bible to understand better. The first is my favorite.


Colossians 2:14‭-‬15 NIV

I decree and declare that I am completely free from every debt and covenant causing pain in my life now because, being a child of God, Christ has canceled the charge of my legal indebtedness, which stood against me and condemned me; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.


Philippians 2:7-8 Galatians 4:42 Corinthians 5:21 John 1:12

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on my behalf, so that I might become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. Therefore I decree and declare that by the reason of my oneness with Christ, I am free and separated from every evil affiliation with altars and spirits that are not of God. I am a Child of God!


Galatians 2:20

“

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.


Colossians 1:27 Romans 6:3-5 Romans 8:1 Romans 8:34‭, ‬37 KJV

Because

I have been baptized into Christ Jesus, I have been baptized into His death. Therefore I have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so I too walk in newness of life. For if I have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly I shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in me, the hope of glory. Therefore there is now no condemnation for me because I am in Christ Jesus. I have been justified by his blood, and I am saved from wrath through him.

Hebrews 9:12 KJV


Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for me. Therefore I decree that in all these things I am more than a conqueror through him that loved me.

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for me.


Isaiah 49:24‭-‬26 KJV

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord , Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for He will contend with them that contendeth with me, and He will save my children.

Therefore I decree that them that oppress me will eat their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that He, the Lord is my Saviour and my Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.


Galatians 3:13‭-‬14 KJV

I decree and declare that I am free for Christ hath redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that I might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


2 Cor. 10:3-5 Is. 54:17

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ therefore I decree that no weapon that is formed against me will prosper; and every tongue that accuses me in judgment God will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.”

Zech. 4:6 Deut. 28:7 Rev.12:11 1 John 3:8


“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. The Lord will cause my enemies who rise against me to be defeated before me. They shall come out against me one way and flee before me seven ways because I have conquered them by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony and because the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”


Rom. 8:31 Ps. 44:5

“What then shall I say to these things? If God is for me, who is against me?” “Through the blood of Jesus we will push back our adversaries, through His name we will trample down those who rise up against us.”


1 Cor. 15:57

And thanks be to God, who gives me the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I am free!

Hallelujah!

Read: Declarations for your life and finances

Why should I pray with scriptures?

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Sex in a Christian Relationship

Over the past few weeks, the number of stories and cases of premarital sex I’ve heard is quite high. Even amongst the least likely people.

I’ve gotten mails and messages from a couple of people, asking about my thoughts on premarital sex and I’m addressing it all today.

I understand when non-christians engage in casual sex. In fact, that is the trend in our world today. Sex in love relationships is seen as normal and usual.

But I’ve always said and we see from scriptures that when you become one with Christ, you are new and cease to act like every other person.
You are no longer led by trends and patterns of the world but by the Spirit of God. So even when the whole world is involved in a practice, that should not move you

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. Romans 12:2 TPT


I never have and will never be judgemental about things like this, however, God’s standards do not change and without mincing words, I’d like to start by saying that God is not in support of any kind of sex outside marriage. Premarital sex is fornication and extramarital sex is adultery. Both of these are sins and are not of God. It is God’s will that we stay chaste until marriage.

Apart from the Biblical aspects, there are other downsides to fornicate that range from pregnancy, to clouded judgement, to STDs and so on.
Engaging in premarital sex clouds your perspective and makes you shallow. You cease focusing on the very important and necessary things because your hormones would have clouded your lenses.
Today, I’ll be talking strictly about premarital sex (fornication) and extramarital (adultery) because I’m not married yet and I don’t feel authorized to talk about it.

Let’s talk.

A Christian relationship is not and should not be the world’s definition of a relationship. A Christian relationship is where a Christian home starts.
All things being equal, a Christian relationship should end up in marriage and not just any marriage but a marriage that brings glory to God. And so values that are consistent with God’s Word are built from the relationship level.

That being said, you’ll be delusional to be in a non-christian relationship and expect to magically land in a Godly Kingdom home.
No No No. It doesn’t work like that. Building a godly home, starts from a godly relationship.


However, the fact that you’re in a Christian relationship does not negate your biology.

It is very important to be physically attracted to your partner and if this is in place, then there definitely will be days when you want to give way to the flesh and just have sex. This is why you must intentionally put systems in place to ensure that this does not happen.

Also, if you’re already involved in premarital sex, it’s not the end of the world. It’s not too late to make a new decision. Go before God in repentance and start on a new note.


Below are a few ways to maintain or start practicing abstinence in your Christian relationship.
+ A short prayer at the end.

It starts with God and You

If you do not make the resolve within yourself even before you get into a relationship not to engage in premarital sex, then no one can help you.

Your inner resolve is very powerful and is the first step in this journey. Understand the importance of your body to God and based on this understanding, make a commitment to God and yourself to keep your body.
You can not do this by your strength, so you must acknowledge your humanity and weakness before God and ask Him to help you.

Grace + your self discipline is the first step.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1 KJV

You and your partner should be on the same page.

A nice young lady once lamented to me about how much she wants to honor God and stay away from premarital sex but her man was not helping. He kept luring her into it.

Frankly speaking, as an unmarried, after God, your body belongs to you, so no one has legal rights and claims over your body. You must be rigid with your resolve to stay celibate and make it clear to your partner.

Together, you should make a commitment to keep your bodies until marriage.

Sis, if he does not agree with this, then it simply means, you both do not have the same fundamental background values and I’m sorry it may just be time to let that man-go.

Be accountable.

First to God, then to either your mentor, pastor or even parents. It’s easier to behave yourself when you know your spiritual leaders are aware of your relationship.

Set specific boundaries.

When some people say they don’t kiss in their relationship, I see the look of disbelief, mockery and sarcasm on other people’s faces.

If someone chooses not to kiss or be intimate in other ways in their relationship, they’re not being “too holy”, they’re just setting boundaries to keep them in check.

A pidgin adage says “”na from clap dance they start“. This means that one thing leads to another. Never be ashamed of setting specific boundaries in your relationship.

Avoid creating the atmosphere.

Just like you can create an atmosphere of worship for the Holy Spirit to come, you can create an atmosphere that triggers your hormones.

Amen? Amen.

Candle lit dinner dates, going over to the house for a visit at night or alone and so on, are good but will only create an atmosphere for raging hormones. Don’t start what you won’t like to finish.
A pastor friend of mine said “Sex is spontaneously easy to fall into, so don’t create the environment to begin with.”

Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you’re ready. Song of Solomon 2:7 MSG

Channel the vibe elsewhere

Whenever the urge comes, do something else to distract you. Understand your body and be disciplined. The period when you have raging hormones, is not the tine to be seated in a house together. That’s the time to pray, go shopping, eat out or anything that takes the feeling away.

Finally, pray together, often.

“Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4

Have you read these? : Kissing in a Christian Relationship

Scriptures and keys for godly relationships

Tame your love language

Prayer

Lord, we give You thanks for our beautiful friendship and relationship. We come before you today in repentance from any way we have dishonored You in our relationship, especially with our bodies. We make the decision today to stay chaste, holy and celibate, honoring You with our body and we ask that You help us. Thank You for Your Love that is ever with us and for Your Grace that strengthens us to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name we pray.

Amen