The Anomalies To Avoid In Marriage

 

The Spirit Meat Daily Devotional Guide 12-12-2020

Topic: THE ANOMALIES TO AVOID IN MARRIAGE IV

Text: I Timothy 2:12, Matthew 18:19

By Rev. Olusola & Rev. Oyenike Areogun 

6. Lack of agreement and settlement by concession will bring about a compromise, which will affect your marriage negatively and also open you to the attack of the devil. Agreement is what God designed for a Christian home, not compromise (Matthew 18:19). You need to agree on every matter and not get into compromise. Compromise means ‘I give up something, and I stay in the middle of the road’. This means there is no agreement on the matter. 

Understand that marriage is not a business partnership that is a win-win relationship. In business, profit is shared based on the contribution of the shareholders. Marriage is such that the husband is lost in the wife and the wife is lost in her husband, each giving all to the other. If a couple can’t trust each other to say everything they have is theirs jointly, there is a problem.

7. Another critical point to consider is that a woman should not have authority over the man or the home (1 Timothy 2:12). As a man, if your wife will not be ahead of you in spiritual things or teach you, you need to develop yourself to function in headship without hypocrisy. A man is the head and should do more than what the wife is doing. Sensitive organs such as the eyes, mouth, ear, and nose are in the head, so as a man, you must be more sensitive than your wife.

Wisdom should flow from a man as the head of the home. If your wife is arguing with you on every matter, you are not leading by wisdom. Wisdom will make a woman to be in silence and submit to your headship.

PRAYER: Lord, baptize me with the spirit of wisdom to function correctly in my marriage.

Christian Liberality And Benefits

Christian Liberality And Warning Against Self Deception.

 Text: psalm 126:5,6; job 4:8; hosea 8:7; 1cor. 6:9; james.2:15-17; 1john 3:17, 18; romans 2:4-6.

 Christian liberty and beneficence in general, towards the gospel minister is here compared to the seed sown and the harvest obtained. likewise, the eternal destiny of every man is anchored upon the present input to his flesh or spirit. Christians of all ages are expected and commanded to support the gospel work through giving. “but to do good and communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices god is well please”. heb. 13:16.  

 Believers are to realise that every gold of theirs belong to god and must not be kept away from him. Christians are therefore, to submit themselves to god and be willing to give with heart glowing with gratitude and loving confidence that god will not forget their labor of love. they should know that the reason god places materials blessings in their hands are to promote his kingdom on earth. we are stewards of god’s manifold blessings, god owns us and all that we have.

 Some Christians shun giving in the church for various reasons. one, they follow the example of carnal members in the church. two, some feel that the demands are too many and too frequent. three, others fell that people take advantage of their liberty to begin to make personal demands from them. four, few also feel their liberality is not acknowledge and rewarded by men. five, there are those who fail to recognize the true purpose of Christian giving.

 The purposes of Christian giving are one, to sustain the ministry. two, support the weak and the needy members. three, subdue human greed. four, supply seed for the future.five, open doors for divine blessings especially to members of the household of faith.

Some Life Implications Of The Law Of Sowing And Reaping

 

THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING

Read: The continuation of the Law Of Sowing And Reaping

TEXT: Galatians 6:6-18   M/V: Gal. 6:7,8

Some Life Implications Of The Law Of Sowing And Reaping

There are some basic truths about the law of sowing and reaping, among which are:

What we will be tomorrow will depend on what we do today. The right or wrong choices that we make today will affect the rest of our life. It is important that we sow good seeds of obedience to the word of God. In the future, they will blossom into a harvest of righteousness, for us and our generation. As the saying goes, “sow a  thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.

Reaping is not always immediate. So, there is the danger of growing in well-doing because of opposition to good in our own nature or the outward hindrances we may meet from a gainsaying and persecuting world. But we must remind ourselves of the importance of perseverance. God promises that we will reap if we persevere.

There is no shortcut to prosperity. Our hands must continually be on the plow as an opportunity or the season provides us to sow by doing well to others and working hard. While it is the time of sowing, let us sow the good seed; and let our love be, as the love of Christ, free and manifested to all. Let us help all who need help according to the measure of God-given in our lives. But let our priority be people of the household of faith.

Danger Of Perverting The Gospel

 

        Text: Gal. 1: 1-10; Memory verse: Gal. 1:8

Maintaining sound doctrine in the church.

The Galatians church had believed the true gospel when Paul preached Christ, his death and resurrection as the basis for salvation and freedom from sin. Through the influence of Judea, they were led into error. The epistle shows the prompt:  1.Response of Paul to the challenge of false doctrine. 2. Show him the determination to maintain sound teaching in the church. 3. Show that all members and leaders should be diligent to enforce sound doctrine. 4. To ensure scriptural practices in the church. 5. Preaching the truth constantly. 6. Exposure to erroneous teaching. 7. Rebuke of false teachers. This epistle is therefore reminding us that Christian life can only be sustained by a continuous supply of grace and peace from God. We can neither be all that God wants us to be, nor do all he wants us to do except by his grace. 1cor. 15:10. After being saved from sin through the initial saving grace of God, we need sustaining Grace to keep us in the faith.

Attributes Christians should manifest when correcting those who erring in the faith.

Be courageous

Have your emotions under check

Don’t be overbearing whenever we are dealing with erring Christian

Yet, be sincere and don’t flatter our greatest weapon against error in an unwavering affirmation of the truth. This is necessary because false teachers will try to contradict the truth, belittle us before people to scale down the impact of the gospel.

False Groups in time of Paul. Gal. 1: 6-9; 5: 7-12; 2:11-16; Acts 15:15; 2 cor. 11:4, James 2: 14- 26

Judaizers who said true gospel does not necessarily required genuine repentance and simple faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the condition of salvation.

Nicolaitanes – they believed and taught that the gospel frees, Christian from obedience to any law, whether moral, civil or ceremonial. The said Christian can live anyhow because he is under grace and not under the law.

Ebonite’s – they were strictly pharisaic and insisted on ceremonial washings and observance of Sabbath as evidence of true spirituality.

Elkesaites – they respected the virgin birth of Jesus and rewarded him as a higher or ideal Adam.

Others are agnostics and gnestics.

Some ancient and modern perversions of the gospel.

There are those who teach justification by faith and law keeping. They insist salvation does not involve believers in Jesus alone but that ceremonial laws and sacraments’ must be kept.

The Gospel of works without faith. They are called peddles. They base salvation on water baptism, receiving Holy Communion’s etc. forgetting the fact that without faith it is impossible to please God and ordinances are only meaningful after a person has her genuinely saved through faith in Christ. Heb. 11:6: John 8:24: Mark. 16:6, cor. 2:12-13

The gospel of good works only. They insist that a person should be saved once he does good works like giving alms, live morally, do religion duties, preaching often, fast and obey golden rule. Acts.10:1-6; 11:14; Eph.2:8, 9; timt. 3:4-7.

Benefits Of Scriptural Fasting

 

PRAYER AND FASTING cont.

TEXT: LUKE 11:1-13; Esther 4:1-17; James 5:13-18  M/V: Matt. 17:21

Benefits of scriptural fasting: Ish. 58:3-14; Matt.6:16-18; 17:19-21; 2chro. 7:14

Fasting and prayers are beneficial and can accomplish great things when combined with prayer and faith. Basically, fasting means abstinence from food (solid or liquid). Fasting is not optional. It is imperative – Matt. 6:16. 

It helps when one is worried – Dan. 6:18

When under judgment – 1kings 21:27

When in need or in danger- Ezra 8:21; Esther 4:16

During the time of trouble – Acts 27:9, 33.

Fasting is good for the growth of ministry and to develop our spiritual strength for the work of God – Acts 13:1-3. Mat. 17:19-21; Esther 4:16.

Note that:

Fasting was not abolished with the law of Moses, for Jesus Christ also fast during His days.

It does not make one be a false prophet, Pharisees nor an unbeliever. Lk. 18:9-14.

We can fast for gifts such as salvation, sanctification, or the Holy Spirit.

We should avoid long fasting that can tamper with our health and usefulness for God and humanity. 1Sam. 14:24-28.

Benefits of scriptural fasting: Ish. 58:3-14; Matt.6:16-18; 17:19-21; 2chro. 7:14

Fasting and prayers are beneficial and can accomplish great things when combined with prayer and faith. Basically, fasting means abstinence from food (solid or liquid). Fasting is not optional. It is imperative – Matt. 6:16. 

It helps when one is worried – Dan. 6:18

When under judgment – 1kings 21:27

When in need or in danger- Ezra 8:21; Esther 4:16

During the time of trouble – Acts 27:9, 33.

Fasting is good for the growth of ministry and to develop our spiritual strength for the work of God – Acts 13:1-3. Mat. 17:19-21; Esther 4:16.

Note that:

Fasting was not abolished with the law of Moses, for Jesus Christ also fast during His days.

It does not make one be a false prophet, Pharisees nor an unbeliever. Luk. 18:9-14.

We can fast for gifts such as salvation, sanctification, or the Holy Spirit.

We should avoid long fasting that can tamper with our health and usefulness for God and humanity. 1Sam. 14:24-28.

The Biblical Pattern For Prayer And Fasting Part 2

TEXT: LUKE 11:1-13; Esther 4:1-17; James 5:13-18  M/V: Matt. 17:21

Examples of people who observed prayers and Fasting in the Bible.

Moses – Ex. 34:25; (2)  Ahab  - Ikings 21:27 (3) Ezra – Ezra 10:6

4.   Daniel – Dan. 10:3 (5) Christ – Luke 4:2 (6) Paul – Acts 9:9

7.   The Antioch Church leaders – Acts 13: 2 (8) Paul and Barnaba’s Acts 14:23. All of the above-observed fasting and prayers according to pattern and received answer from God. When we also observe it in line with God’s command we shall get a result, an even greater result.

Conditions for answer and hindrances to prayers and fasting. Jer. 29:11-14; 33:3; 2Chro. 7:14; John 14:13,14; Psa. 91:14, 15.

Various passages of the scripture radiate with God’s promises to answer prayers Psa. 91:15; Luk. 11:9; John 14:13, 14. The only form of prayers that God answers must be offered to one, the Father-Matt. 6:6, John 16:23; two, Through the Lord Jesus Christ – John 16:23,24; Matt. 18:20. We are therefore enjoined to One, pray continually in faith – Mk. 11:24. Two, wholeheartedly – Jer. 29:13. Three, with forgiving spirit – Mk. 11:25. Four, with perseverance – Lk. 18:1. Five, in righteousness and obedience – I Tim. 2:8; IJohn 3:22. 

There are no hand and fast rules as to the proper posture to assume before we can pray to our Father in Heaven. These are various positions as reveals in the Bible. One, bowing down, bowing the knees or head(Psl. 95:6; Rom. 14:11, Ex.4:31). Two, falling one’s face, kneeling (Ikings 8:54). Three, standing, sitting, lying, looking up or lifting up or spreading out the hands (ITim. 2:8, Ex.9:29. Four, others include weeping, talking, agonizing, and groaning.

To avoid distraction, you close your eyes. So that you can fully concentrate on God. Note that, praying and fasting without repentance and salvation from sin is a waste. It is a waste to observe prayer and fasting, one, without transformation of life and characters. Two, without righteousness.Three, Holiness. Four, disobedience Deut. 1:43, 45. Five, secret sin – Psl. 66:18. Six, neglect of mercy – Prov. 21:13. Seven, stubbornness – Zec. 7:13. Eight, bloodguiltiness – Ish. 1:15. Nine, doubt – Jam. 1:6&7. Ten, self – indulgence – James 4:3.

The Law Of Sowing And Reaping

 

TEXT: Galatians 6:6-18   M/V: Gal. 6:7,8

MEANING OF THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING. Gal.6:6,7; Gen.8:22; Luke 6:36; Job 4:8; Prov. 22:8; Hos.8:7; Rom. 2:4-6; 1Cor. 3:13-15.

From creation, God set to govern life on earth and regulate the choices and actions of men. Sowing and reaping are called a law or principle God established from the beginning. His covenant with Adam and all creation is: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” ( Gen.8:22). This law works for sinners and saints alike. 

Sowing conjures a picture of a farmer planting seeds of crops he intends to harvest in the future. The businessman calls it an investment. Relating to the scripture, it is written that “…to him, that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward” (Prov. 11:18). Therefore, every man is a sower who will reap his harvest.

The implication of this law is that there are consequences of choices and actions. Many tend to make choices without, one, considering the consequences. Two, live their lives as if there are no consequences. Three, the deception is in thinking that there are no consequences when in fact they are just delayed. It is not until later years that the truth becomes clear and we discovered just how true they are.

The law hooks us today because One, we dwell too much on the present. Two, we have no regard for the future. Three, we have forgotten the fact that there is a price to pay for all choices and actions. Four, we don’t remember that God cannot be mocked. This lesson grants us insight into the future by enabling us to consider what kind of consequences we can expect from our actions. This is expected to be a matter of faith to believe God for what He has promised.

The law of sowing and reaping is universal and applies in both spiritual and physical realms. Everything in nature reproduces its kind. Life is like an echo, you get what you give out. Harvest follows sowing; effect follows cause; so every man will reap what he sowed. Those who sow to the flesh (those who indulge their flesh in all forms of sensuality livings) will reap corruption, sorrow, pain, and damnation, while those who deny their flesh and cultivate the spirit in obedience to divine demands will reap peace and eternal life. 

As the seed is sown, so shall the harvest or reward be to the sower in the present and the next world. Any labour directed to please the flesh shall come to corruption and perdition, while labour in the spirit and fear of God will of necessity produce a harvest that will last forever with God. This principle is unchanging.

The biblical pattern of praying and fasting

TEXT: LUKE 11:1-13; Esther 4:1-17; James 5:13-18  M/V: Matt. 17:21

The subject of prayer and fasting is very vital for successful Christian living and services.  As no individual can continue living without breathing, so no Christian can remain spiritually alive without praying or without making use of the benefits of fasting.  Fasting accomplishes a good number of things in the life of the believer. These include, one, chastening and humbling of the soul before God (Psa. 35:13; 69:10), two, Crucifying the appetite to give time to seek the Lord (2Sam. 12: 16-23), Three, Focusing one’s attention on God to the exclusion of all else (1Cor. 7:5). Four, it aids in temptation (Matt. 4:1-11). Five, Helps in exercising power over demons (Matt. 17:14-21). Six, Make prayer powerful and effective.

Reasons why it is necessary to pray and how often should we pray. Psa. 42:1, 2; Exo. 22:23; Matt. 7:7-11; 6:16; 17:21; Isa. 55:6, 7.

From the Bible references, prayer means communing with God. It is the soul’s desire for God (Psa.42:1, 2), a cry or supplication (Exo.22:23), an appeal from child to the father (Matt. 6:6), an instinct that must have utterance (Luk. 18:7, 13), beseeching or calling on the Lord (Exo. 32:11; Acts 7:59), lifting up or pouring out the heart and seeking the face of the Lord (Psa. 27:8; 62:8).  

We should note that though, prayer is supposed to be the most natural thing for men, the flesh is often most unwilling to pray. Hence, God’s various instructions in the Scripture. We are commanded to seek the Lord and the wicked is enjoined to forsake his ways in prayer of repentance (Isa. 55:6, 7). We are enjoined as believers to ask, seek and knock (1Chro. 16:11; Matt 7:7-11). We are commanded to pray without ceasing (1Thess. 5:17).

Biblical pattern of praying and fasting. (1Tim. 2:8; Psa. 5:3, 8; 55:17; Luk. 6:12; 4:2; 2:36, 37; Acts 13:2; Dan. 6:10; Exo. 34:28)

The Scripture makes it clear that we can pray everywhere and every time. (1 Tim.2:8). We have examples and pointers to the appropriateness of praying daily- morning (Psa.5:3). Night and day (Psa.88:1; Luk. 6:12 ;), thrice daily (Psalm. 55:17; Dan. 6:10), without ceasing (1Thess. 5:17). God expects every believer to be constant in prayer as this is the magnet that will attract His power upon our lives when exercised in faith and righteousness. Prayer becomes more effective when combined with fasting. 

Benefits In Praising God At Midnight

 

 Text: Act 16:20-26

KJV: And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

21

KJV:vAnd teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

22

KJV: And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

23

KJV :And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

24

KJV: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25

KJV: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26

KJV: And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Verse 25 is the main subject of the matter. 

Actually, Paul and Silas were partners in ministry, they have beforehand preached the gospel and perform miracles. 

Through them:- 

  Lydia was converted

  The damsel possessed with devils as been delivered.

The magistrate took them up, jailed them, and instead of them wearing sadness and sorrow, they were fully happy to be counted worthy of suffering. In the course of the suffering, they praise God and they were appreciative. Hmmmmmmmm, to a mortal man.

How can that be? Praising God while in distress, is it even possible ??? Though seems to be impossible and difficult, but Paul and Silas did. 

As believers, we must know that when prayers are been made, when fasting has been made and vigils have surfaced. Yet, you discover the problem persists. The next charge to adopt is praises

 Looking through the experience of Paul and Silas in the prison, You will discover that  Paul and Silas were:- 

1. Despised but yet praising

2. Humiliated and yet praising 

3. Hated and yet praising

4. Troubled and yet praising God. Most people will look and think life will always bring the better side, but obviously, it won't. Because to as many who will live godly,

They will have to suffer persecution. Or do we think Paul and Silas were praising God because they were happy?? 

That midnight, they were in the prison to suffer for what doesn't worth it. Paul could have faced Silas and say, we shouldn't have preached to that extent, Silas could have faced Paul and tell him, he's the cause of the problem, They could have stood against each other and neglect appreciation. But they didn't.

For Paul and Silas, that midnight of praise was a night of:- 

1. Suffering

2. Hatefulness 

3. Dragging 

4. Trouble 

5. Agony

6. Despising

7. Jailing

8. Sorrow 

9. Floggings, of course, they were beaten 

10. Scourging 

11. Underrating, of course, they were brought low 

12. Commotion 

13. Wound, they were wounded 

14. Insult 

15. War. 

And like many bad things we can quantify with it. Looking through these 15 corresponding names to give that night, We will discover, that indeed it was a night of suffering. It's a lesson to us as believers, that whatsoever we are passing through as a child of God, we should learn how to praise God. Through praises, healing will come, help will come, deliverance will emerge and great shall be our experiences.

It's more blessed to be a praise giver,

There are numerous benefits whenever we praise God.

Part of the benefits embedded are:- 

1. Heart are melted

2. Souls are convicted 

3. Decisions are inspired 

4. Hope are made alive 

5. Battles are won 6. Captives are delivered 

7. Chains are broken 

8. Doors are opened 

9. Sinners are converted. 

Let us be reminded, that the jailor got converted through the great manifestation of God's power through the praises of Paul and Silas Act 16:26-30

KJV: And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

27

KJV: And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28

KJV: But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29

KJV: Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30

KJV: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? We are facing a lot of challenges today which in one way or the other is stressful to our living. 

The question comes to you, How long can you praise God? 

To what extent can you praise God in the face of 

trials, 

temptation, 

persecution, 

failure, 

agony, 

depression and the likes?  

May the Lord help us in Jesus name

How To Know False Knowledge In Christianity

 

Text: Colossians 2:1-8

Introduction

Paul the Apostle warns us to be on guard against all philosophies, religions, and traditions that emphasize humans functioning independently from God and His written revelation.

Today, one of the greats philosophical threats to Christianity is "secular humanism". 

What does the philosophy of humanism teach?

 1. It teaches that humanity, the universe, and all that exist consist only of matter and energy shaped into their present form by impersonal chance.

 2. It teaches that humans have not been created by a personal God, but are the product of a chance process of evolution.

 3. It rejects belief in a personal, infinite God and denies the Bible as God's inspired revelation to the human race and many more.

The philosophy of humanism began with Satan and is an expression of satan's deception that humanists as those who have exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served created things rather than the creator ( Romans 1:25)

Moreover, we must also be careful of wrong doctrines in Christendom today. It is worthy to note that many magicians, soothsayer, and devil incarnates are masquerading as 'angels of light' ( Matthew 24: 1-3, Luke 21:8)

However, the only way we can be fully on alert is to have the knowledge of Christ himself - which we can only get through constant studying of the word of God and through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

The devil will appear as the angel of light to deceive many. (2corinthians 2:11), empty deceit and principles of this world, hence, we must stand firm in the truth which is Jesus Christ.

Food For Thought

Beware of false knowledge, the only through knowledge is in Christ Jesus. Seek it.

What have you learned personally from this lesson?