Tag: Christian

Posted in CONTROLLING SELF

SELF-CONTROL

Posted on by Uplifting Christ
self-control in green and black

Self is defined by Merriam-webster.com as the union of elements (as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person. Self control is controlling one’s body, emotions, thoughts and sensations. It is one of the toughest things to do on earth. Paul told us not to conform ourselves to this world. We can only do that by controlling the self.

Controlling oneself requires the person’s conscious effort and the Grace of God. 1 Thess 4:4 tells us that each of us should learn to control his or her own body in a way that is holy and honorable not in passionate lust like the heathen. We need the grace of God plus our effort. Hebrews 12:1 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”

But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…without self control…” 2 Timothy 3:1-4.

We are living in a world where people find it hard to control themselves. It is no surprising because it is a bible prophecy. It is also a sign that we are living in the last days. Therefore, Paul said that “I beat my body and make it my slave…” knowing that if he doesn’t control the body, the body will control him (which will make it difficult for him to serve the Lord). Many people, including Christians are in jail and have suffered shame because they couldn’t control themselves.

Self Control is a Fruit of the Spirit

Self control is a fruit of the Spirit. As Christians, God expects us to walk in the Spirit so that we don’t fulfill the desires of the flesh. When a person lives after the desires of the flesh, that person can’t please God. Christians today allow their flesh to dictate for them. The body tells them what to do, how to do it and when to do it. We always want to be the first to hear the news, get the latest phone, car, house, cloth, laptop, etc without taking time to feed the spirit. Self control is a fruit that must be cultivated by every child of God. Your father is always happy when he sees you can control situations, and when you control the self.

Temptation and self-control

Satan knows that once we are able to control ourselves, nothing can come between us and God. Thus he works in ways to get us trapped in certain situations we can’t control. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. The bible refers to him as a thief. A thief can come to your house when there a chance for him; when you leave your door or window open, when security isn’t tight, etc. Satan will always attack you in the areas you find it hard to control. If you don’t drink, Satan will never use drink to tempt you. He will use something that easily entangles you. I believe you have heard people made comments like “I don’t know, I just found myself in this habit” “this behavior is part of me” “I am an addict” “Anytime I see chocolate, I am out of control” “that boy or girl…anytime I see him or her…” they make such statements as a result of their inability to control their bodies, emotions, thoughts and sensations.

A man without self-control is like a city whose walls are broken down. The enemy can attack at anytime because such person is defenseless. I have heard stories of renowned men of God who were defenseless when the enemy attacked.

 Prayer and self-control

Jesus taught us to Pray always and not give up in Luke 18:1.

“a week without prayer makes a Christian weak.” 

In these last days, prayer, among other things, is what can keep us awake as we wait for Jesus. Without self-control, we can’t pray. The scripture tells us in 1 Peter 4:7 that “the end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” Let us not be like other who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

I believe Jesus is coming soon in a way and at hour we don’t expect. Jesus said there will be (weeping and gnashing…) because many people will toil in vain. We must deny the “self”, take up the cross and follow the Master’ steps. Learn how to sacrifice today’s desires for tomorrow’s reward. God bless you

Posted in HOPE

HOPE AGAINST HOPE

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

Hope against hope means believing in what everyone thinks is impossible. It means turning deaf to the doctor’s report to say “my God is more than able to see me through”. Hope against hope means believing in the supernatural. Hope against hope means believing that All things are possible with God.

Abraham was a hero. He led a life of Faith. He had hope in God when all odds were against him. He saw God as his provider. The steps he took weren’t as simple as the story may read. A teacher once told me that every past question is easy. It is very true. When I hear stories of great heroes, I sometimes say “well, anybody at all can do this”. But in reality it is easier said than done. To live the kind of life Abraham led requires total sacrifice of our lives to God, which today is very difficult for Christians. We love the world so much that majority will rather skip Church activity to watch football games, telenovelas, movies, etc.

The scripture tells us that Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. Those times, Abraham had no Bible, no pastor, counselor, mentor, etc yet he believed in God and was fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Don’t lose hope yet because the God we serve is a God of the living, and not a God of the dead. David said in Psalm 27:13 that “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” In the midst of that negative situation, or what you see to be impossible, just say to yourself every moment that “I am still confident I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Wait for the Lord

When the promise came to Abraham, he might have thought it was going to happen right away but it took twenty – five years before it came to pass. He waited for that long before he had the son. By the way, he had a son with his maid because of his impatience. Most of us want God to answer us as soon as we press his door bell. But the scripture says if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25. Christians all over the world are suffering because of Abraham’s impatience. Though we belong to the Abrahamic blessings, his impatience has brought sorrows, pains, etc to many Christians’ homes. In Nigeria, some believers were burnt alive when they were having service. We shouldn’t repeat what Abraham did. Our little impatient can cost us our lives, our family, our generation, and even those after us. David said in Psalm 27:14 that “wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”.

God doesn’t Delay

He said in Ezekiel 12:25 “But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay”. He is faithful. Though we may feel the promise is delaying, we may start to think all hope is lost; the truth is He doesn’t delay. In fact, He is always on time. I wrote something about this (HE IS ALWAYS ON TIME), you can check it on facebook; http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150361550228289. Whatever He opens His mouth to say, know that He is more than able to perform. Be encouraged today that if you have not received what you have constantly be asking for in Prayer, in Faith, and in the Name of Jesus, God is working behind the scene. He is not going to delay. You will have it when the time is right. You may be asking for a car. But God knows that a car will destroy your life. He wants you alive, to enjoy his goodness for your life, so He will wait for the right time to answer your request. He also doesn’t want any of His blessings for our lives to lead us to hell. He wants us in Heaven. He will wait for the right time. Let us maintain the right attitude and know that whatever He has promised, he will do it in His time.

In Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon said, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Don’t rush to get things done in life because your little “impatient” can cost you your life, and everything you have. Abraham waited for 25 years, Noah waited for about 100 years before the flood came, Joseph waited, and went through a lot before he saw his dreams come to pass.

Sometimes, we lose hope when we feel the things we desire have delayed. When for years we have prayed for something but nothing seems to happen. I want to encourage you today that believe in God, and know that He will make everything beautiful in its time

Where is your hope?

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31. Hope doesn’t disappoint. Most of us believe their wealth can take them through in life. Putting our hope in material things will disappoint us and may lead us to hell. 1 Timothy 6:17 says command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. David said No one whose hope is in God will ever be put to shame.

The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. There is nothing to worry about when we place our hope in Him. When everything around you tells you to give up, when people start to talk you out, when doctors tell you the situation is beyond medical reasoning, when after all efforts you still don’t see any progress. When your own feelings tell you it is over, REMEMBER what God said “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you.” “See I have engraved you on the palm of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

God makes the promise and keeps His promise because He can and because He is good. It is only for us to say, “thanks be to God,” believe and obey. So, even though the headlines scream their daily news that sin rules the world and evil goes unchecked, and even though prices rise and markets fall, and though wars continue and diseases kill and disasters destroy, even though all of the evidence suggests otherwise, yet in hope, we will believe against hope. For our hope is in God, “who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

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Posted in GOD'S KINGDOM

SET FREE

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

Most Christians are trapped in situations, or habits they can’t control. They really need a deliverer. They are expecting someone to come in to save them. I would like to state that we are all not perfect but we can be perfect according to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews 12:1, Paul said therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and sin that so easily entangles…” Notice he said two things; One is things that hinder us from being ourselves. And the second is the sin that so easily entangles us. He used “We, and Us” to represent himself and other believers, not unbelievers. This means that as Christians, there are certain things we need to break free from. I do believe that you are in a situation, or certain habit you probably want the way out. All you have been struggling for years is freedom. The most expensive thing on earth is freedom.

My question is ARE WE (CHRISTIANS) FREE IN THE WORLD TODAY?

The scripture tells us that if the son therefore shall set you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36. From the day you accepted the Jesus as your Lord and savior, your spirit, soul and body were set free. They were changed. Jesus came to set us free from the world of sin and death. He saved us, He transformed us but the world still remains the same with its evil desires. That was why Paul advised us to renew our minds daily with the Word of God .

Jesus paid the price we couldn’t pay, and he bought the Powers we couldn’t have afforded. He purchased our freedom for us;

He gave us freedom from sin and death

He gave us freedom from sicknesses and diseases

He gave us freedom from broken heart

He gave us freedom from poverty

He gave us freedom from all addictions

He gave us all the freedom we would ever need.

WHAT WENT WRONG

When Jesus was through with His work, He ascended to the Father’s right hand to make intercession on our behalf. He told us “see, all you would ever need to continue living prosperous and victorious have been provided. I have bought your freedom for you” so He cried out IT IS FINISHED! Meaning ALL IS DONE on earth. He went to the Father to intercede for us.

Why would he do that? He is making intercession because Satan is always accusing us before the Father, Revelation 12:10. Remember Satan is the accuser of Christians. You find it in the book of Job the first chapter. We must understand that Satan has access to the throne of God. He is not cast out of heaven. He is cast out of the throne room of God, but he has access to God, and he does something before God. He accuses us.  But Jesus is there for us. When Satan realized that his accusations were of no use, he put up a new plan. He went to the Bible and saw God’s Word that “MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.” Hosea 4:6. He found out that our ignorance can kill us more than any of his actions. Thus he working to keep us from knowing the freedom God has given us through our Lord Jesus. In fact, that plan is working against God’s children. We now pay attention to news and science more than what God’s Word says. We read the Bible but there is no understanding. And the worst of all is we are searching for what God, through Jesus Christ, has placed within us. We have power on the inside of us. We have the power of attorney to function in the Name of Jesus. The scripture says at the mention of that Name Jesus, every knee bow and every tongue confess He is Lord, Philippians 2:10.

GOD ISN’T CREATING ANYTHING NEW

The freedom the world needs, the freedom your country needs, the freedom your family needs, the freedom you seek is not something God is going to create. He has already done that. When Jesus defeated Satan, and all his authorities, Jesus attained all powers in heaven and on earth. So he said in Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”. We are free forever and ever.

DON’T LISTEN TO THE ACCUSER

Satan is deceiving many. He is constantly whispering into our ears that we can’t stop that addiction, we can’t be healed, we can’t stop sinning, etc. He is a liar, he has no truth in himself. If you don’t stand now to activate the power that is on the inside of you, you will forever remain slave to whatever situation or addiction you are in.

ACTIVATE THE POWER

Be encouraged today that you have overcome the world because Greater is He that is in you. Jesus has defeated the world of evil, frustration, fear, pains, sexual immorality, sicknesses, addiction, etc. That Power is in you as a child of God. You are set free indeed.