PowerinGrace

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Christmas day has always been an annual festival celebrated by Christians across the world. Christmas season is characterized with the fun of various music, new attractive clothes and shoes, fireworks, decorations, feasting, exchange of gifts and so on.

But, I became uneasy when I read through the Bible without locating any verse that points to the Christmas festival. No verse in the Bible mentioned the birthday of Jesus to be 25th December. No verse in the Bible instructs Christians to celebrate the birthday of Jesus.

I had noticed a lot of ‘mixed-up’ in the Christendom and promised myself not to be a ‘zombie’. I don’t want to be carried away by the popular doctrines or practices in the church, but to be secured by the Word of God in the Bible.

I was shocked when I discovered the origin of Christmas!

What is Christmas?

Christmas is a word created by the Roman Catholic. It means ‘mass on Christ’s day’. History explained that the gospel of the Roman Catholic is completely different from the gospel of Jesus.

Roman Catholic gospel echoes more of Virgin Mary and idolatry practices. Everyone who watches Pope Francis during the Christmas Eve mass will agree with me that catholic embraces idolatry worship. Pope kissed a statue of Baby Jesus to kick off the mass in st Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican City.

 

Exodus chapter 20 verse 4 and 5 says: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”

Origin of Christmas

In the 4th century CE, the Roman Catholic Church had the intention to win the souls of large populace of the pagans. So, the church leaders decided to Christianize the famous pagan party called the Saturnalia festival.

 

Saturnalia festival is a pagan celebration for the birthday of ‘Unconquered Sun’.

This celebration involves wild parties, exchange of gifts and feasting in the temples of the ancient Rome.

 

The leaders of the church welcomed the pagans and their festival into the Christendom. And the population of the church rose, but the leaders could not stop the pagan festival. So they named the last day of the one week Saturnalia festival – December 25th as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

You may care to know that the first Christmas day was celebrated in the pagan style of singing naked in the streets (this had been refined to modern caroling), drinking, sexual indulgence and all other forms of unclean practices. The Christmas trees, mistletoe, Christmas presents and Santa Claus are modern ways of representing the ancient pagan rituals.

Ancient records show that Christmas has no origin from God or Jesus Christ. I would love to quote a part from the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church… Pagan customs centering round the January Calends gravitated to Christmas”.

According to Britannica.com, “December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221. And one widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the “day of the birth of the unconquered sun”.

Celebration of Christmas

Our parents, various organizations, and the government always play a big role in the joyful celebration of the Christmas festival. So, we never thought of checking the Bible, if the Lord had asked us to celebrate His birthday.

I am sure that the writers of the Bible wouldn’t have skipped the birthday of Jesus if it was celebrated. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, I implore you to search through the scriptures and find out if the genuine children of God should partake in the celebratio

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The disciples of Jesus are people who surrender their lives to the LORD. The difference between a disciple and an apostle is that the former is a follower of Jesus, while the latter is a special messenger of Jesus Christ. If you believe and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ, then you are a disciple.

Research by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace had revealed that the disciples of Jesus (Christians) are increasing at 1.32%. Christian population in 2013 is 1.99 Billion and 2.21 Billion across the world in 2014. The disciple of Jesus is leading the global population at 32%. And the top three largest National Christian Populations are United States (246.78 million), Brazil (175.77 million) and Mexico (107.78 million).

I am glad about the good news that the population of the disciples of Jesus Christ is the largest. But my question is how faithful are the Christians to the call of disciples?

How to become a Disciple of Jesus

If you want to follow Jesus, then you must be interested in the two major rules:

1. Put aside Selfish Ambition

Selfish ambition means devoting all your time and energy to temporary things of this world. A disciple of Jesus must always consider the poor, and to help the needy. Jesus says: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21)

A disciple of Jesus must be ready to deny the ‘worldly enjoyment’, because the primary aim of Jesus is to devote His time to preach the Gospel and to help the needy. Thus, the disciple of Jesus must follow the same practices.

If you are a disciple of Jesus, then always devote your free time to preach the gospel.

The disciples of Jesus will not go to games, parties, casino, clubbing, movies and all ungodly ‘enjoyment of life’. However, Christianity is not a boring life! Evangelism is full of fun when you are in the midst of the people who are eager to hear the Good News of Jesus.

2. Shoulder Your Cross Daily

Your cross is the duty the Lord assigned to you. The disciples of Jesus must use their spiritual gift(s) for soul winning every day. And if you are a disciple of Jesus, you are expected to be focused with your responsibilities every day. You must not be distracted by the debaucheries of this world.

“Then He said to the crowd, “if any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life…if a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26 NLT)

First Corinthian chapter 12 verses 6 to 11 says: “And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

If you don’t shoulder your cross daily, then it would be easy for the distractions in this world to take you away from Jesus. Examples of terrible distractions that had crept into the Christendom include: love of money, love of high positions in the church, acquisition of luxury and imitation of worldly (ungodly) style of doing things in the church.

Jesus says in the book of Matthew chapter 10 verse 38 to 39: “And he who does not take his cross and follow a

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Sabbath day is the first holiday on earth. And God the creator of all creations declared the Sabbath day to be free from work. The observance of Sabbath day had become a controversial issue across the world.

I became interested in the significance of Sabbath day when the doctor told me that my terrible body weakness was as a result of inadequate rest. The little findings I did showed that the people who rest on the Sabbath day had less occurrence of body ailment when compared to people that don’t rest.

 

What Day is the Sabbath?

God created seven days, and He made the seventh day for a special purpose to rest. Sabbath day means the day you rest from labor. Genesis chapter 2 verses 1 to 3 says: “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

If you study the history of creation, then you will agree with me that work had been a similar action for the first six days. But the seventh day is a unique Sabbath day.

It’s all about rest!!

The LORD expected us to follow His model on how to spend the seven days. We should work for six days and rest on the seventh day.

I had read about a lot of argument about the issue of Sabbath day. But no one had disputed the seventh day to be Saturday.

 

Some theologians complicated the Sabbath day by differentiating Saturday as the Jewish Sabbath and Sunday as Christian Sabbath. There is no scriptural reference to support this discrimination. The LORD ordained the seventh day as Sabbath from the beginning of the world.

 

Is Sabbath Day a Jewish Law?

Sabbath day had never been a Jewish law. It was only emphasized during the presentation of the Ten Commandments to the Israelites. The motive of God for creating the seventh day is for us to rest from all our six working days.

 

God reminded the Israelites in Exodus chapter 20 verses 8 to 11: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God.

In it you shall do no work: you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or your stranger who is within your gates.

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

The phrase “Remember the Sabbath day…” in the above Bible passage shows that the Sabbath day had been in existence since the beginning of creation.

God chose to write the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments, so that the Israelites could always remember to enjoy the rest. He made it clear in the book of Isaiah that Sabbath should be acknowledged by the Gentiles as well.

Isaiah chapter 56 verse 6 and 7 says: “Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants-Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant- Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer…”

Thus, your rest on the Sabbath day has nothing to do with the Jewish law. The LORD blessed the Sabbath day for you to rest. He wants you to rest “… Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work”… (Genesis 2:3)

Don’t be deceived by those who want you to work for seven days. It is against the six days stipulated by God in the beginning of the creation.

Jesus had never asked us to quit rest on the seventh day, when He said that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. The context of His statement was meant to correct the selfish Pharisees who

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Terrorists came into action to fulfill the prophecy of the great tribulation. And terrorism across the world had been a serious threat to the survival of Christians in the last three decades. Jesus knew that devil will recruit the terrorists to attack Christians. But Jesus has a better plan for us.

I want you to be alert, because the signs of the second coming Jesus Christ are coming to fulfillment. Terrorists are the soldiers of devil and they have the intention to kill Christians and hinder the spread of the gospel.

Jesus knew the terrorists will come on board, but He encouraged us in the book of John chapter 16 verses 33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

Global Tribulation from Terrorists to the Christians

Terrorists might not be active in your area, but some Christians are going through terrible tribulations. Below are few occurrence of terrorism across the world:

• Twelve Christians were tortured and murdered by the Islamic State terrorist group for refusing to embrace Islam in Syria. This persecution included a 12-year-old boy who had his fingers chopped off, three women who were raped and three others who were crucified.

• Islamist terrorists returned to the scene of an earlier massacre in Borno State, Nigeria and shoot nine survivors in addition to burning thirty-churches and three-hundred homes.

• A handful of devout Muslims storm a Christian college at Garissa city, Kenya and separated the non-Muslims, and execute one-hundred and fifty in cold blood.

• Ten Christians were targeted and murdered by the Islamic terrorists at South Kordofan, Sudan. This tribulation included four children and an elderly woman. Their church was also destroyed.

• Five young Christian fishermen between the ages of 18 and 22 were brutally slaughtered by some terrorists at a lake in Macedonia.

• An Iraqi Christian who refused to convert to Islam was beaten by the Islamic State and then executed.

• Targeted suicide bombings near two churches by some terrorists left fifteen dead worshippers and seventy injured in Pakistan.

• A dozen Christians on a refugee boat were thrown to their deaths by Muslims in Italy.

• On the 27th March of this year, al-Shabaab terrorist group released a video showing the brutal execution of six young Christians.

• A retired missionary couple was among four Americans taken hostage and executed in cold blood by Muslim pirates in Oman.

Terrible tribulations are happening to Christians across the world. This is an eye opener for you to believe the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew chapter 24 verses 29 to 31 explained the events that would take place after all these tribulations: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

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Bible study is the act of digesting the word of God in your heart for a healthy spiritual growth. The Christian nations across the world cannot control the abomination in their midst, because the practice of personal Bible study had diminished.

The 2012 online survey of Life-Way Research shows that only 19% of churchgoers personally (not as part of a church worship service) read the Bible every day.

But the shocking statistics for 2014 conducted by the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture says only 9% of Americans read the Bible daily.

According to the Canadian Bible Engagement study (May 2014), 55% of Canadians never read the Bible, 28% seldom read the Bible and 11% read it once a week or more frequently.

The British Bible Society released a study showing many British citizens cannot identify certain Bible stories; 43% of children have never heard the story of the crucifixion.

This sharp drop is a signal of end time tribulation where the faith in Jesus will be scarce as predicted by Him in Luke chapter 18 verses 8: “… Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

The seven reasons for a personal Bible Study are explained below:

1. God’s Identity Card

Bible study is the easiest way to identify God. The reason for the high number of lukewarm Christians is due to the failure to know the profile of the Lord Jesus Christ they accepted as Savior.

It is impossible to enjoy a good relationship with someone you can’t identify. And you will find it easy to know the identity of the Lord when you always study the word of God in the Bible.

For instance, you might not know the name of the Lord if you have never read a passage such as Exodus chapter 3 verse 14: “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

2. Authentic Road Map

This generation is filled with false Pastors and Prophets. If you obey their teachings without studying the Bible, then you will miss the right track to heaven. The Bible is the only perfect Book that describes how to live in holiness, love and peace.

The journey to heaven requires bible study. This is synonymous to your map readings, and obedience to traffic rules when driving on the highway.

If you don’t study the word of God regularly, then it is impossible to know the right lifestyles that are acceptable to the Lord. Second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 and 17 says: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

3. Bible Study yields Miracle

The study of God’s word in the Bible can ease your heart from heavy burden. It restores hope, strengthens faith and can heal your broken heart. I had never regretted studying the Bible every day.

In the past, I suffered memory loss. But, when I gave my life to Jesus and read the Bible daily, I noticed a great improvement in my brain. I’m no more suffering from memory loss! Hallelujah!!

4. Bible is God’s Amplifier

God is not dumb, and He won’t hesitate to speak, if you are ready to hear from Him. Your regular Bible study will give answers to questions bothering your heart.

For instance, I noticed my heart always becomes troubled when I play jokes. And my pastor did the same to make us laugh during the church service. So, no one told me it was wrong to be a clown! I prayed to God to explain the misery of my troubled heart.

I didn’t hear from God until I stumbled on Ephesians chapter 5 during my personal bible study at home… “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

Bible study will save you from a lot of mess in

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Forgiveness is the ability to heal a wounded heart. To forgive and forget an offense involves an emotional process, and it is not an instant event.

Doctor Saima Noreen and his team at the University of St Andrews carried out a related research and their outcome suggests that forgiveness facilitates forgetting. The research found that individuals are more effective at suppressing items of information associated with memories for offenses they have already forgiven.

Fred Luskin, a psychologist reported that in careful scientific studies, forgiveness training has been shown to reduce depression, increase hopefulness, decrease anger, improve spiritual connection and increase emotional self-confidence.

Research also shows that people who are more forgiving report fewer health and mental problems, and fewer physical symptoms of stress.

There are various offenses such as cheat in the marriage/office, fraud, lies and so on. These offenses might not have the same hurtful size, but God wants you to forgive every offender.

Everyone had once offended the Lord, but He forgives us and forgot our past sins. The forgiveness of the Lord made us Christians today! So, the Lord made forgiveness a mandatory trend for every one of us.

Matthew chapter 6 verses 14 & 15 says: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

3 Rules of Forgiveness for Reconciliation

Forgiveness is not an action you do in haste or under pressure. You must find out the details of the offense, and the intention of the offender.

Jesus gave the rule of forgiveness in the book of Luke chapter 17 verse 3 & 4 says: “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

1. Criticize your Offender

It’s sinful to keep malice with your offender. Ephesians chapter 4 verses 31 say: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice”.

So, the first step towards forgiveness is to call the offender, and criticize the offense through the word of God. Read the Bible passage that condemns such offense to the offender.

You might be going through a serious pain, but you must be strong to explain the scriptural implication of the offense to the offender.

2. Confirm Offender’s Repentance

The offender that deserves forgiveness and reconciliation must feel bad for committing such offense.

For instance, a rude son offended his dad by joining bad boys to steal on the street. The action of this boy brought a public shame to his father. Having rebuked the boy, the confirmation of his repentance was to renounce his bad gangs, and join the group of God-fearing boys.

3. Forgive your Offender

Forgiveness might not be easy in some heart-breaking offenses, but it is safer for you to forgive the (repented) offender.

Matthew chapter 18 verses 15 says: “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”

Forgiveness that deserves reconciliation is a two-way process which involves; repentance on the side of the offender and to forgive on the side of the offended person.

There are some occasions where the offender will not be remorseful for the offense committed. It would be impossible to reconcile with such offender. Don’t allow the bitterness to stay in your heart forever. The best options are forgiveness and prayers for the stubborn offender (who might be your enemy).

How to Handle Forgiveness without Reconciliation

Jesus explained the scenario in Mathew chapter 18 verses 16 &17:

• “But if he (offender) will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth o

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Antichrist is a commander who has battalions of soldiers called the antichrists. The Antichrist is planning a coup to overthrow the salvation of Jesus Christ in the life of the Christians.

There is a lot of news flying on the media as regards the identity of Antichrist. Some said it is Pope Francis, while some versions said President Obama is the Antichrist. Hmm! The next breaking news on Antichrist might be one of my uncles in the Government…

Do not be confused by the ‘super’ mathematicians who are too curious to interpret the prophetic messages of Antichrist in the Bible.

Let’s take the subject of antichrist from its simpler terms. Antichrist is an organization controlled by Satan, and the major ambition of the antichrist is to deceive people.

The primary aim of the Antichrist is to present himself as a better messiah. The antichrist is discouraging the Christians and the world from practicing holiness.

Antichrist and antichrists

There are two categories of people involved in the satanic organization I called antichrist. The first alphabet (A) is used as the distinguishing element.

First John chapter 2 verses 18 says: “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”

a) Antichrist is the devil incarnate that would become the world leader.This Antichrist will control the economy and governance of the world. The book of Revelation chapter 13 verses 7 and 8 explained the action of Antichrist: “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

 

b) The antichrists are the people preparing the way for the Antichrist, just like the way John the Baptist prepared the way for the arrival of Jesus Christ. Second John chapter 1 verse 7 says: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

Presently, the Antichrist has not come, but the antichrists are fully in operation.

Seven Works of the antichrist in the Christendom

The antichrists are not ghost but they are brilliant and wise people controlled by evil spirit. Antichrist (as an evil organization) has its best performance in the aspect of deceit.

Let’s read the remark of Jesus to the Pharisees who were the first set of antichrist in the book of John chapter 8 verses 44: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

1. The antichrist intensified their efforts when the soldiers watching the tomb of Jesus were bribed, and compelled to spread the lies that Jesus’ corpse was stolen. The book of Mathew chapter 28 verse 12 to 15 says: “When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”

The deceitful works of the antichrist made majority of the Jews to lose faith in Jesus Christ.

2. Another successful work of the antichrist is the misconception of the scriptures in the church. One of the deceits established by the antichrist is that God does not care about what you do with your body. (Misconception of Romans 8:10 is one of their quotes).

The antichrist (who claimed to be Pastors) in most churches had been able to deceive a lot of Christians to do whatever they lik

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Grace of God is a special help to save us from any trouble of life. I experienced a remarkable grace of God many years ago in the Polytechnic. I had a terrible illness during my final examination. And I used all the drugs prescribed by the doctor, but none could cure the illness. I was unhappy, because I might fail the exams and suffer an extra year in school.

On the third day of the exam, I could not leave my room because I had no energy to lift myself. I did not have the imagination of going to the grave, but I saw death staring at me.

I cried out to God with all my strength for His mercy and grace. And a wind of healing blew into my room, and I was healed miraculously through the power in the grace of God. This grace of God marked the turning point of my life to become a genuine Christian.

 

How true is the Grace of God?

• Noah enjoyed the Grace of God

The grace of God had been available since the beginning of the world. Noah and his family were the first to enjoy the grace of God. They were saved from the first destruction of the earth. Genesis chapter 6 verse 8 says: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

• Lot acknowledged the Grace of God

Lot did not support the sinful lifestyles of his neighbor. And he was saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah through the grace (favor) of God. Genesis chapter 19 verses 19 say: “Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life…”

• Moses saw the Lord through the Grace of God

Moses was one of the few prophets who saw God and the grace of God upheld him from dying. Exodus chapter 34 verse 5 to 9 says: “Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there… So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped… I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us…”

 

Grace of God is real and abundant in our generation through Jesus Christ as written in the book of John chapter 1 verse 17: “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Am happy we are not under the sacrificial law of the Old Testament. Grace of God is enough to save us through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. And His resurrection is the power that seals our salvation into eternal joy.

Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the power of sin dominated the heart of man. But, God chose to give us a permanent deliverance from sins by releasing abundant grace to our generation.

Whosoever belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ will enjoy the grace of God. John chapter 3 verse 16 says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The grace of God is the ticket you need to embark on the holy journey to heaven.

 

What are those things the Grace in Christianity can’t do?

1. Grace of God is not a license to live like the worldly people.

Romans chapter 6 verse 1 and 2 says: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

2. Grace of God does not stop you from obeying the instructions of Jesus Christ in the Bible.

Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7 verse 21: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

3. Grace of God is not a Robot

I always felt uncomfortable when some ‘Christians’ told me that they were praying for the grace of God to take away the hard-to-leave sins in their lives. Unfortunately, I discovered that the hard-to-leave sins are worldly actions they love to do.

Don’t give the excuse of lack of grace for your continuation in sinful practices. You might be sitting on a gun powder! Romans chapter 6 verses 14 and 15 say: “For sin shall not have dominion ov

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Tithing was initially practiced by Abraham when he gave Melchizedek a tithe of the goods he recovered from the war. (Genesis 14:17-20). The Lord gave the law of tithing to the Israelite, so that they can imbibe the habit of giving to the needy. (Numbers 18:26)

I chose to write on tithing, because of the growing numbers of new converts in the church whose faith had being affected by the exaggerated teachings of some greedy Preachers. Tithing has nothing to do with your salvation in Jesus Christ.

 

What does the Bible Say about Tithing?

God adopted the strategy of tithing as a way of establishing abundance in the temple, and as a source of help to the poor Israelite. The Bible explained the full details of how tithing should be done in the Old Testament.

 

Deuteronomy chapter 26 verse 12 to 15 says: “When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year-the year of tithing-and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them…”

If you had spent more than three years in a church that believes in tithing, then the Pastor must not collect your every third year tithes from you. You are to share the tithing as described in Deuteronomy 26:12-14. Any contradiction to that law by anyone is a sin.

If you worship in a church which is under the law of tithing, then don’t allow greedy Pastors or false doctrines to put you into trouble. You must follow the law to the letter by sharing your every third year tithes among your pastor and poor people in your area.

The Bible also mentioned the importance of tithing in Malachi chapter 3 verse 10a: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house …”

God does not eat human food, but He does not want the Priests and their family to die of hunger in the temple.

 

The Promises of God to Tithe Givers

God understands that tithing must come from a joyful heart. So, He chose to reward every tithe giver as a way of encouraging them to do more.

Let’s read the promises of God to tithe givers in Malachi chapter 3 verse 10b -12: “…And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts…”

Tithing in the New Testament

My careful study of the Old Testament shows that tithing had been the major source of income for the priests. The tithes from the successful farmers are also the source of help for the poor in the community. I searched the New Testament to find out if tithing is a continuous law for the Christian, but I noticed something more interesting than tithe.

Tithing in the Old Testament was a peripheral of the act of giving generous offering in the New Testament. Jesus Christ did not give any teaching on tithing, unlike other commandments recorded in the book of Mathew chapter 5, 6 and 7.

Jesus made a reference to tithe when He scolded the Pharisee for practicing tithing without a righteous lifestyle. Mathew chapter 23 verses 23 says: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”

 

Generous Offering is more valuable than tithing

Tithing is giving one-tenth of your income. But, g

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Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and His primary assignment on earth is to help sustain the salvation of Jesus Christ in our lives. Holy Spirit is a powerful being. You can receive the Holy Spirit into your own spirit by submitting your power of choice to God.

 

Apostle Peter explained further in the book of Act chapter 2 and verse 38: “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Your invitation to the Holy Spirit is the first step for Him to help you. I have realized in my life that it is impossible to live a holy lifestyle without the presence of the Holy Spirit in me. Thus, the Holy Spirit can help you in various ways:

1. Holy Spirit Exposes Secrets of Sin

You cannot stop sinning if the Holy Spirit is absent in your life. The presence of the Spirit of God in you will serve as a beam of light to expose all the darkness of life. He speaks to your heart to explain the bad implication of participating in any sinful action.

You can’t stop sinning by your own strength through attending a school of theology, or exhibiting the spiritual gifts such as; speaking in tongues. But the Holy Spirit can help you to live a sinless life when you allow Him to take charge of your spirit, soul and body.

People without the Holy Spirit normally do what is bad, and thought they are doing something good. Jesus says in John chapter 16 verses 7-9: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin…”

 

2. Holy Spirit Teaches Righteousness

The Spirit of God is the best teacher of righteousness. He is the only One that could explain the details of holiness to your mind.

You might wonder how someone reading the Bible daily could still involve himself/herself in unrighteousness. The reason is simple! Such person did not allow the Holy Spirit to teach him the righteousness in God’s word. John chapter 16 and verses 8 say: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of…righteousness…”

The ability to become righteous cannot be achieved by your power. But, when you accept the Holy Spirit as your Teacher, then your righteous lifestyle shall be sustained in this sinful world.

 

3. You Will Escape Hot Judgment

Holy Spirit sees ahead of you, and He knows what will happen in the future. The presence of the Spirit of God will help you to understand the intention of God to good and evil doers.

Sometimes ago, the Holy Spirit told me that God is not pleased with the world again. “The world is just like a spoilt orange, and God will crush the earth very soon.” This message has a scriptural support in the book of Revelation chapter 21 and verse 1: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”

This information the Holy Spirit spoke to my mind helped me to have a good understanding that God will not joke with His judgment. All atheists should wake up from their slumber!!

 

4. Holy Spirit; the Best Reminder

You will agree with me that we find it difficult to remember all information on every occasion. That is the main reason for the reminder apps on our smart phones.

Holy Spirit is the best reminder apps for your spiritual success in life. Jesus knew it might be difficult for His followers to remember all His teachings. So, He made a promise in the book of John chapter 14 and verse 26: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Holy Spirit has been my best reminder, even at the point of stumbling into sin. He speaks the word of God into my mind, and I qui