Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Everyone who calls themselves a Christian should keep in mind that the world is watching them. Especially when they hold an office, like being a pastor. Our life is a scripture for others.

This verse begins with the word “Therefore”, meaning it is connected to what came before it. Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith—men and women who trusted God in difficult circumstances. Their lives testify that faith works, even when the journey is hard.

The Christian life is not described in Scripture as a sprint but as a race—a long-distance race that requires discipline, focus, and endurance. The writer of Hebrews uses an athletic metaphor familiar to his audience to remind believers that following Christ is a lifelong journey that demands intentional effort.

A weight is not necessarily a sin. It may be something good, but not helpful. Athletes remove anything that slows them down—even harmless things—because they want to win. Anything that slows your walk with God must be removed. You cannot run effectively while carrying unnecessary baggage.

Weights may include:

• Greed
• Love of money
• Distractions
• Fear and anxiety
• Toxic relationships
• Unforgiveness
• Comfort zones

Sin weakens our strength, distracts us from what truly matters, and ultimately disqualifies us if we fail to address it.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV)

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NKJV)

The true master of many people is money. In my short time on earth, I’ve witnessed much evil. Unfortunately, there are Christians and individuals in clerical roles, including ordained pastors, who harbor malicious intentions and engage in unethical behavior. Despite their outward appearance of piety and dedication to their faith, some prioritize personal gain or power over the moral and spiritual well-being of their congregations. This dissonance between their public persona and private actions raises significant concerns about the authenticity of their beliefs and the impact they have on their communities.

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

Colossians 3:8-10 (NKJV)

When others observe your actions and character, let it inspire them to aspire to be more like Christ in their own lives. Remember, our journey toward spiritual fulfillment is not a private endeavor; we can only truly finish this race well and earn the ultimate prize if we demonstrate genuine love and compassion toward one another. It is through these selfless acts of love that we strengthen our community and reflect the essence of Christ's teachings. 

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 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

John 18:10 (NKJV)

But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Luke 22:51 (NLT)

It is amazing how Jesus never paid back His enemies with evil. Who will heal someone who has come for His arrest? Only Jesus will. Jesus could have acted unconcerned about the situation that occurred at His arrest but He attached the man’s ear and healed him regardless the hate this victim had for Him. What a great lesson to learn from. 

The life of Jesus is a curriculum laid down for our study. Every Christian must study His life and live as such. Jesus never cursed His enemies. He never fought His persecutors and prosecutors. With just a word from His mouth Judas could have become mortal being without breath, but instead He washed his feet and fed him. He prayed for the roman soldiers and all those who shouted “crucify Him” instead of calling His angel to destroy all of them including priest and all the scribes.

Who has hurt or offended you? Who do you need to forgive today? Is there someone you're holding onto resentment towards? Has someone betrayed your trust, spoken hurtful words, or wronged you in some way? Who is it that you're struggling to forgive? Let's reflect on this and work towards healing and freedom through forgiveness.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

Luke 6:27-35 (NLT)

May the Holy Spirit help you to live like Jesus, who never repaid evil with evil.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I surrender all to you. Let your Spirit fill me up and use my life to show the world who Jesus is. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.

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Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.

Proverbs 4:24 (NLT)

The world and everything in it were created by words. Birds, plants, sea, rivers, animals, mountains, air and human beings were all created by God with words. By word of mouth many people have been imprisoned, and by the same many have been set free from prison. Curses and blessings are pronounced out of words. We use words as we pray. We communicate through words. Everything is by words. This shows how powerful words are. So, we can’t talk any how because our entire life depends on it. What we say can either give life or bring death. Words are very powerful than we think.

Corrupt speech corrupts the soul. Perverse talk has effect on us. Everything we say affects us one way or the other. We don’t talk and go free. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. The power of the tongue is “WORD”. Just say a thing and it shall come to pass.

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)

Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Proverbs 13:3 (NLT)

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.

Proverbs 15:2 (NLT)

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4 (NLT)

What proceeds out of your mouth tells what lies in your heart. You are what you say. What you say when you are angry actually determines what your heart contains. I have experienced this very truth and can attest to it. A truly born-again person will give a gentle speech. He wouldn’t talk anyhow because the tree of life is in him. You can only give what you are made of.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:36-37 (NKJV)

We are ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY WORD we speak. Don’t talk anyhow. I changed when I understood this reality. Nobody will escape this on the day of judgment. We shall all give an account of every word, and by our words we will either be justified or condemned.

Shalom! 

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 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 

Luke 9:23 (NLT) 

There is a price to pay for when you decide to follow our Lord and saviour Jesus. It is not rosy as preached by some Pastors. As long as you’ve accepted His call, you will suffer many things. If it was easy, many will not fall away when faced with reality of the Kingdom persecutions. Are you ready to pick up your cross and follow Jesus till the end? 

A cross is indeed heavy to carry. It represents many things a Christian must suffer for the sake of the gospel. The moment you accept the call of Jesus to belong to His kingdom, know that you’ve signed a warrant that exposes you to attacks from the pit of hell. From that moment it isn’t your will at play anymore, but the Lord’s will. “What will Jesus do?” is the script you will have to live by; unsure of what will happen next. This is a hard thing for sure, but you must live as such till the race ends. 

You must love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. You must give to the poor and shelter the homeless. You must share your meal with your neighbour and visit the sick. A husband must love his disrespectful wife, and a wife must honor and respect her annoying husband. Children must honour their irresponsible parents. You have to put self away and put on Christ. Soul winning should be your priority; preaching the gospel always. The Holy Spirit must have His way in your life. 

“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple…So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” 

Luke 14:26-27,33 (NLT) 

Death will indeed locate you if you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You must be prepared to die for the sake of your faith. You must be ready to face persecutions from your parents, brothers, sisters, friends and the entire world because you chose to follow Jesus. You have to be willing and prepared to go against traditions that are abomination to God. 

The world will hate you! Your profession, marriage, family, children, finance, and anything that concerns you will come under attack. You will be misrepresented and your character will be assassinated. You will be killed if possible. ARE YOU PREPARED TO CARRY YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS? 

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 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers. 

…So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire. But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. Then he called quickly to the young man, his armour bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his young man thrust him through, and he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place. 

Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. 

Judges 9:22-24, :52-57  (NKJV) 

There is a danger in having multiple wives and concubines, and one aspect of this danger often goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, many people have suffered the consequences of their fathers' desires and mistakes. It doesn’t matter if your father is a prophet, pastor, or bishop of a large congregation; his desires can have a devastating impact on an entire generation and even end their lineage.  Please pay close attention to what I am about to explain. 

Abimelech was born to Gideon, the renowned judge known as Jerubbaal, through his concubine in the city of Shechem. Growing up, he experienced the privileges of being Gideon's son, but there was a lingering shadow because he wasn't the child of Gideon’s main wife. After Gideon's death, Abimelech saw an opportunity to step into power. He connected with his mother's family in Shechem and skillfully convinced them to support his claim to leadership. To fund his ambitions, he used silver taken from the temple of Baal-berith, plotting to eliminate anyone who stood in his way so he could rule by himself. 

With this money, he hired reckless men and brutally murdered his seventy half-brothers on one stone, though the youngest, Jotham, escaped and later pronounced a curse upon Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem through a prophetic parable. 

Abimelech was then proclaimed king by the leaders of Shechem at the oak near the pillar in that city, becoming the first man to declare himself king over Israel. However, his reign was marked by violence and instability. 

After three years, God sent a spirit of discord between Abimelech and the people of Shechem, leading to rebellion, ambushes, and eventually Abimelech’s fierce destruction of the city, including the burning of the tower of Shechem with many inhabitants inside. 

As Abimelech continued his brutal campaign at Thebez, he tried to set fire to another strong tower. However, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head, crushing his skull and fatally wounding him. To avoid the disgrace of dying at the hands of a woman, he commanded his armour-bearer to kill him, thereby bringing his wicked ambitions to a violent and appropriate end. 

Many people have lost their lives over properties left by their fathers, primarily due to the fathers' inability to remain committed to one woman. Tragically, the children of these relationships often end up fighting and even resorting to murder over inheritance disputes. If Gideon had exercised self-control and managed his desires, many of his children might not have met brutal ends. 

Listen to me: for the sake of your children, it's important to remain faithful to your spouse. This messag

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But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43:1-2 (NLT)

Maybe you don’t know this truth so let me enlighten you. You decided to walk on the tough road and become satan’s target the moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. The world saw you as a threat the moment you believed the gospel. This is why you the world’s system doesn’t work for you.

It is not easy to walk with God and keep the faith. If I tell you that it is easy then I am lying. How do you explain talking to a person you don’t see or hear from? And you do this every day. It takes faith to pray. It takes faith to read the Word. It takes faith to worship and praise God. It takes faith to wait on God. It takes faith to get healed. Everything needs faith.

There are valleys of death and rivers of difficulty. We go through them sometimes. There are days we go through fire of depression as well. But the only reason why we come out whole is because the Lord is with us. Jesus is with us always. He promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

The Lord is the shepherd of His people. He restores the soul of His people. David said the other day when He got into a crisis that….

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”

Psalms 23:4 (NLT)

Your confidence must be in the Lord. If God says He will be with us through thick and thin, we must believe Him. He is faithful at all times. When storms hit so hard and everything we have and hold dearly is gone, we only need ‘hope’ to anchor our faith so that it will not be tossed or carried away. Hope keeps faith alive.

Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Psalms 124:8 (NKJV)

We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

Psalms 33:20-21 (NLT)

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

Psalms 46:1-3 (NLT)

If God doesn’t help you nobody will. You may say you have men who always come to your aid. But I tell you with my hands on my chest that their hearts were turned to you by the Lord. He granted you favour in their sight.

Jesus never fails. He is with us also. Just call on His name and He will answer.

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 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. 

So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council. 

The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 

At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s. 

Acts 6:8-15 (NLT) 

Wickedness is real in this world. It doesn’t matter if you have a kind and sincere heart; as long as you speak the truth, you will be falsely accused and persecuted. The people you are good to will throw stones at you. Those you try saving will falsely accuse you. 

Stephen was a man full of grace and power. He was like Jesus, very merciful. In the course of preaching the Gospel of Christ, a lying tongue rose against him, and that was the beginning of his journey to the grave. Like Stephen, many people have been buried because they were in the image of Christ. They loved their enemies and prayed for those who persecuted them. Will we stop preaching because of persecution? Absolutely not. 

Anyone who is anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel has the glory of Christ. This is why it is a great thing to serve the Lord. God always glorifies His People even in the midst of trials and tribulations. 

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. BUT HE, BEING FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GAZED INTO HEAVEN AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD, AND JESUS STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, AND SAID, “LOOK! I SEE THE HEAVENS OPENED AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD!” 

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

Acts 7:54-60 (NKJV) 

Who do you look to when you are persecuted? Stephen looked unto Jesus. For this reason, he cursed not his murderers. But rather he prayed for them. This is a hard thing to do but it proves the authenticity of your faith as a Christian. Jesus prayed for His murderers, likewise Stephen. In the end both of them are seated at the right hand of the Father. Such an everlasting glory. Always pray for those who persecute you. 

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 

Revelation 2:10 (NKJV) 

It is not easy to love the Lord. Jesus has made it clear to us that we will suffer for His name sake. We cannot love the Lord and not go through tribulation. Loving the Lord means being obedient. Obedience and faithfulness until death comes with a crown. There’s glory in tribulation. Don’t be afraid. 

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 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:1 (NLT) 

One of the most challenging subjects to address is love. In a world filled with wickedness, especially among believers, the term “LOVE” has sadly been reduced to just a word. However, love is a spirit, love is a person, and love is an action. 

It is a wonderful thing to love one another with brotherly affection. Such love compels us to lay down our lives for each other. It’s disheartening to see how Christians often treat one another poorly, lacking compassion. Cheating, falsely accusing, betraying, assassinating character, persecuting, and even hurting one another occur far too frequently. The most troubling aspect is that often, the leaders—those who should be guiding—behave worse than the followers. 

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 

Romans 12:10 (NKJV) 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 

John 13:34 (NKJV) 

The essence of the law can be summed up in one word: love. A moment will come when we all stand before the judgment seat of God, and each person will give an account of their actions in life. The standards for judgment will not be based solely on faith in Christ, but rather on the faith that expresses itself through love. The questions will be: “Were you kindly affectionate towards one another with brotherly love? Did you forgive quickly? Were you merciful?” 

Many of you may have never preached the gospel or visited a prison. You may not have visited the sick or fed the hungry. However, these actions are the true work of a Christian. If we love the Lord, we will share our faith with others and engage in these acts of kindness. Love is not just a word; it is an action. 

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (NLT) 

Without love, even the greatest abilities, achievements, and sacrifices hold no true value. Love is portrayed as a foundational virtue that is patient, kind, and selfless, enduring through all situations. Ultimately, while other gifts and knowledge may fade, love remains eternal, highlighting its significance in our interactions with others and in fulfilling our purpose. 

It is not our actions that prove our love; rather, it is our intentions and the depth of our feelings. It is possible to sacrifice yourself without truly having love in your heart. True love is compassionate, does not keep a record of wrongs, and forgives swiftly. Love never fails. 

Become like Jesus, who loves us sincerely. Be willing to lay down your life for your brother. Let brotherly love continue. 

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 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! 

Proverbs 15:23 (NKJV) 

In my podcast yesterday, I discussed why most marriages do not last or stand the test of time, and one reason I mentioned was poor communication—saying the right things at the wrong time and the wrong things at the wrong time. It will shock you that most of us have caused more harm than good with our words. We had the right information, but decided to let it out at the wrong time. This careless act of not thinking twice before we speak has terminated destinies and relationships prematurely. 

Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. 

Proverbs 25:11 (NLT) 

Words hold great power, and it's important to use them carefully and wisely. Sometimes, what we say can deepen wounds rather than heal them. Once spoken, a word cannot be taken back. If you question the power of words, simply observe your surroundings; everything you see was brought into existence through language and later shaped into form, including yourself. The tongue holds more power than you may ever realize. 

“The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 

Isaiah 50:4 (NKJV) 

Unfortunately, formal education does not guarantee true wisdom. What we consider knowledge may be seen as foolishness in the eyes of God. A genuinely wise person learns directly from God. They gain understanding and receive wisdom from the Lord. Their speech is controlled, and they offer timely words that heal the broken-hearted and bring peace to the souls of others. 

Why won't you ask God for the wisdom to speak? Some may question its importance, but it truly matters. We need wisdom in our communication. A lack of wisdom has led to the collapse of many marriages, destroyed relationships, prematurely terminated destinies, closed great opportunities, and ended precious lives. 

May the Lord bless you with the discernment and understanding to know when the moment is right to share your thoughts and words. May you be guided to offer your insights and encouragement at just the right time, bringing comfort and clarity to those who need it most. 

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forevermore. Amen. 

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