KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:24 KJV “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,”

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Among the definitions of strive, as given by the Strong Greek dictionary, is to fight. This refers to situations where two people exchange blows or engage in armed combat. Unfortunately, some Christians find themselves in this category. For example, there are husbands who beat their wives, and there are others who become involved in physical altercations under various circumstances. Such acts, according to scripture, should not be named among the people of God.

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Why would a Christian husband beat up his wife? The scripture says the wife is the body of the man. She is bone of his bone,  and flesh of his flesh. Eph 5:28 KJV “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” If this is so, why do some men beat their wives for whatever reason? Many men have not come to such an understanding to acknowledge that the wife is their body, as he is the head of that union. The next reason why some are so violent is that they do not acknowledge the kind of Spirit that now possesses them.

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In Luke 9:51-55, the Lord sent His disciples to a village in Samaria, but when they arrived, the people had not made provisions to receive them. His disciples, James and John, asked that they call down fire to consume the people. The following was the Lord’s answer. Luk 9:55 KJV” But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” He turned and rebuked them because the Spirit operating in them does not destroy men that way. The Spirit in you is a gentle, loving, supportive Spirit. He does not fight . The Lord asked us to turn the other cheek. This was not a literal instruction but a figurative one. It meant never to be offensive. The child of God must not fight,

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THOUGHT: THE CHILD OF GOD MUST, AS A PRINCIPLE, NEVER BE OFFENSIVE.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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1Ti 3:3 KJV” Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous.”

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Mat 5:39 KJV But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

KEY  SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:24 KJV “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,”

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The Strong’s Greek dictionary gives three meanings to the word strive.

1 The first meaning explains that it is to fight. This is when two people exchange blows or engage in armed combatants

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2 The second is about those who engage in a war of words, quarrel, or dispute

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3 The third are those who contend in a law court over property and privileges

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From these three, the most suitable meaning in the light of our discussion is the second one. Our key scripture says the servant of God must not strive over words. This kind of word tango normally depends on the two persons involved. On a number of such occasions, one party quickly interrupts the presentation of the other. This is what keeps tempers high. The best way to tone down  the tension between the parties is for you, the servant of God, to allow the other party to say all that he has to say at a time and then calmly state your case. Do not aim at winning the argument, but as you speak, pray in your heart that the Spirit would direct your words and convict the heart of your enquirer.

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Please, if your knowledge about the topic of discussion is scanty ,please tell your enquirer you are not well informed about that particular topic, but rather you would come back at another time to speak clearly on that topic. If you are well informed about the topic of discussion, then just be patient and cautiously present your views. Do not mock your enquirer or make statements like ,”see how ignorant you are” Such comments would only generate wrong passions and strife.

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After your presentation, ask him or her if he is convinced about your answers. If he says yes, then explain the steps to salvation to him.If he says no, then enquire about the aspect that he is not very clear about, and if he is ready for further explanations, then just go through with Him again. If he seems to be still resistant, then  end the discussion. Keep interceding for him. The Lord is able to save him.

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THOUGHT:STRIVING IS A WORK OF THE FLESH, AND CAN NOT YIELD ANY GOOD RESULTS.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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2Ti 2:14 KJV “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.”

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2Ti 2:24 KJV” And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,”

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KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:23 KJV “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.”

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We live in a world that is very hostile to Christ and His people. There is a spirit of antichrist already in our world. This power working through men likes to pin down the message of the gospel. We must be very alert to these things so that we avoid them. 1Jn 4:3 KJV “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

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The scripture says these spirits of anti-Christ are out there  to kill your faith. If one comes arguing with you about who the mother of God is. You tell him God has no mother and that He exists by Himself, yet he would not accept what the bible says. Just forget about him and go your way. You can not strive over words with him. There is a philosophical statement that says truth is not absolute. This is an atheist or anti-God statement. According to the Bible, truth is absolute because Jesus is the truth. He is the end of all reality. He said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me. Jesus is the truth, and there is no further truth anywhere. If this person keeps saying the truth is not absolute, you do not sit arguing with him. The man of God does not strive. We do not try to prove the reality of the scripture. The scripture proves Himself.

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The scripture is never an inanimate thing; it is a living being. Heb 4:12 says the word of God is alive and powerful. If the word is alive, then the word cannot be a thing. The word is a person. You do not argue with anyone over such things. The  word wombs that were surgically removed have been replaced supernaturally. Empty eye sockets have been filled with perfect new eyeballs. Deformed, degenerated hearts have been recreated to replace the old, dying ones. Every one of the humanly impossible situations has been brought into being by the power of the spoken word. Do not argue with those who have decided not to believe. The Holy Spirit is able to make them believe.

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I touched the back of a lady with a degenerative disc, who could not walk, but by the next morning, she could walk perfectly, with no pain and  the disc was perfectly formed.

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THOUGHT: YOU CAN’T COMPEL ANYONE TO BELIEVE, TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DO THAT

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CONFESSION: God’s word is truth. I do not strive with anyone to prove the ability of the word of God. If anyone does not believe the word, I do believe, and it always produces results, mind-blowing results, because God’s word is a living being ,active and very powerful. I am a winner, I am always triumphant in Jesus name. Glory be to God.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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1Jn 4:6 KJV” We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

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1Jn 2:22 KJV” Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

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KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:22 KJV “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

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It is great to be young. Youthfulness is a period of real physiological liberty. By this statement, I mean that as a youth, your physical features are  at their peak of strength. When one is at  the infant stage, their physical features may not have fully developed. At Old age, his features might be growing weak, yet in the youthful period, every aspect of his or her body  is at its peak of strength and performance.

It is in this very period that the body wishes to express itself in every way possible. The lustful  drive between the man and woman  is equally very high. Other passionate physical drives, such as light food ,alcohol, etc., are also very high. This poses a great temptation to the youth.

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It is in the light of all that I have discussed above that the youth must heed the scriptural counsel and flee every form of lust. Dear child of God, the truth is that despite the drive and passions of youthfulness, you have been saved from the controls and dictates of the flesh. You are not a man or woman of the senses, Rom 8:9 KJV”, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”.Do not surrender to the disposition of youthfulness.

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The flesh may long for a thing, but it is what occupies the mind that controls  your action. You are dead with Jesus, and so it is no longer your old nature of sin. Fill your consciousness with the knowledge of complete righteousness. You can do this by meditating on your true state of holiness in Jesus. Eph 4:24 KJV” And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” You can do this by saying to yourself, I have put on my new self, which is created after God in true righteousness and holiness. Repeat this for  over an hour.

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The advice is to flee youthful lust. This means  associations that would ignite your passion for wrong things must be firmly avoided. Pictures ,videos and scenes that can draw your attention towards those things  are your enemies, avoid them. The scripture also advises us on things we have to occupy ourselves with or pursue. These are righteousness, faith, charity and peace with them that call on the name of the Lord with a pure heart. This statement  also means look out for those who are not living sensually and relate more with them.

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THOUGHT:BE CONTROLLED BY THE TRUTH OF HOLINESS AND NOT YOUR FEELINGS

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FURTHER STUDIES

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1Co 6:11 KJV” And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

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2Co 7:1 KJV Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:20 KJV But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

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In our previous study, we concluded that God uses vessels that set themselves apart from carnal and all impure things  . We saw that God makes certain vessels with very high potentials . These are extra gifted, yet if they were effective, then according to the  bible , they ought to be purged. Joh 15:2 KJV “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” For any tree or person to be very productive, he or she must be purged. What does purging entail?

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In normal life, purging entails cutting off some portions of a plant and shaping it up . Purging has to do with disciplining oneself such that one restrains or controls oneself to fully fit into God’s laid-down standards. This can involve forsaking certain time-wasting habits to give yourself more hours in prayer. It also involves giving yourself to the study of the word of God and reading books of anointed men of God. Another aspect of purging is to forsake sin and all forms of carnal lifestyle that dishonour the ways of God. You can not bear much fruit without purging.

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Now, what really takes place when one is purged?1 Corinthians 3:12 tells us that one may not be a golden or silver vessel, but he or she can build with golden or silver materials that would yield results of one who is golden. Your dedication is a form of purging that  allows the Spirit to do in your life. 1Co 3:10 KJV” According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” Dear one, the main issue is about how you build. Note that it is not a luxury to consistently spend hours in prayer every day, yet after a good season of such dedicated moments of prayer, you would realise an aura around you that brings amazing results into your work.

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I have seen people who did not matter so much in the work of God. They never encountered any special divine visitation, yet their decision to allow themselves to be purged brought a great move of God into their lives. They soon realised people are touched and convicted of sin when they share the word with them. The sick get well when they pray for them.

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THOUGHT: PURGING  PROFITS PERPETUALLY

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FURTHER STUDIES

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

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2Co 6:17-18  KJV” Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:20 KJV “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”

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Our key scripture is very unique. It explains God’s dealings with His children as well as  the role of each person in God’s vineyard. The scripture speaks further,  it speaks of God’s grace concerning God’s election , choices and gifts.

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The scripture says God does not have only one type of vessel  but has varying forms. Note: none of the vessels made themselves the particular form that they are. It is God who makes a vessel of gold, and another of silver ,wood and earth? From this context, the vessels never made themselves; it is the grace of God that formed them for specific purposes. We can draw the example from what goes on in our homes, just as the scripture said  about what happens in a great house. This can be likened to the home of a very rich man who buys various vessels for specific purposes. A golden vessel would definitely be for a very honourable purpose. An earthenware vessel would be for a far lesser honourable use.

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The scriptures also teach that the attitude and commitment that a man uses in his or her work show whether he is building with gold , silver ,clay or hay. This is about the motive and the degree of sacrifice that a man commits in doing what he does. 1Co 3:12 KJV” Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;” It is only the Lord who knows what each one is building with. Each one’s work would be judged by fire at the end of the age. If it were of gold or silver, it would stand.1 Corinth 3:13

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Back to our key scripture, the Lord says a vessel’s state matters, yet the ability of the vessel being  used depends on how clean it is. If a golden vessel is dirty with filth all over it, the earthenware vessel that is clean and pure would be chosen and used.2 Tim 2:21. The golden vessel was for a very honourable use, yet its impure nature has dishonoured it. We have seen certain highly gifted individuals, yet they are not mightily used of God , while others who may not be so gifted are used.

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THOUGHT: GOD USES PURGED VESSELS.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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2Ti 2:21 KJV” If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

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Joh 17:19 KJV And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

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KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:19 KJV” Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

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Christians  bear the name of Christ.2 Corinthians 6:15 says what concord has Christ with Belial. And what  part has he that believes with an infidel? This verse and other verses  in 2 Corinthians 6 refer directly  to the Christian. The Christian is called Christ. This is a very honourable state or name. The bible says everyone who is called Christ must depart from iniquity. Iniquity is simply unrighteousness. The believers in Jesus are called righteousness( 2 Corinth 6:14.You are also called the temple of God.2Co 6:16 KJV” And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

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In light of all these, the scripture says the Christian must leave every unclean thing. 2Co 6:17 KJV” Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”  Dear child of God, it should never be a normal thing for you to cherish sin. The bible  says you are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained that you walk in them. You are a pure breed of perfect Holiness, and living upright is your normal way of life.

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Why is the Christian called Christ? The bible says your old self died with Jesus. The new man alive in you is the Spirit of Christ. Gal 2:20 KJV” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” It is Christ who is presently  alive in you and me. Our true name is Christ. If you are  called Mark, then you are Christ Mark , Samuel is Christ Samuel, and Akosus is Christ  Akosua. This is what the  bible calls a mystery, which has now been brought to light. Col 1:27 KJV “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

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It is in the light of the above that the bible says let him who bears the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

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THOUGHT:SIN IS NOT IN YOUR MEMBERS, GIVE IT NO PLACE.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Rom 6:14 KJV” For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

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Rom 6:19 KJV I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:19 KJV” Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

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Once again, the scriptures assure that the foundation of the Lord standeth sure. This is a figurative statement referring to His immutability. This speaks  of God’s unchanging nature. God ‘s faithfulness remains constant. He knows those who are His. Nothing is hidden from Him. Heb 4:13 KJV “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” God knows those who are living for Him and those who do not.

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The bible says  anyone who has believed in Jesus has the seal of the Holy Spirit, Eph 1:13 KJV In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. God has a seal on all those who are His. The Holy Spirit is our seal. The question that each one must ask themselves is whether I am submitted to the Lordship of Jesus? Am I living to the glory of  God? The bible says God  knows everything about us. Make a decision to live to please Him in all you do.

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I want to give the following illustration to show you that God knows everything about us. Once, I sat alone in my room watching a preaching program of a man of God. As I tuned to a particular man of God, I said in my heart that’ I do not like the way this man presents his messages’.After talking to myself, I received a phone call in which the person who was over ten kilometres away said to me that the Lord says , ” You are watching a particular man of God, and He does not like the comments you are making about His servant, because you have no idea the  kind of sacrifice that this man has made for Him. This person even went on to call the name of the man of  God.

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I was alone in my room, yet He revealed everything I was saying in my head to another person. God knows you totally. You can not hide from doing anything outside his awareness. If you do right, He sees you; if you do wrong, you are still before Him.

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THOUGHT:THE LORD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU, SO JUST LIVE RIGHTLY

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Psa 139:4 KJV” For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”

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Psa 139:8 KJV” If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:17 KJV” And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus.”

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Apostle Paul admonishes Timothy to be wary of those who teach error. He said this kind of teaching is like cancer that eats up the flesh and ultimately destroys the whole body. This, he mentioned, was Hymenaeus and Philetus. Hymenaeus taught that the resurrection had already occurred. 2 Tim 2:18. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he stated that he had given him to satan so he learns not to blaspheme. This statement that Apostle Paul made reveals a very important truth about Christianity. It shows that this faith is purely supernatural and very real. When Ananias and his wife Sapphira tried to lie to the church ,Apostle Peter gave them over to satan to destroy their body which happened in reality, Acts 5:1-10. A certain faith would have physically attacked the culprits and killed them.

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Back to our topic, we ought to be very much aware of erroneous teachings. One such teaching, which is even taught on state platforms, is that Christians and Muslims are serving the same God. This is a very big error and has led certain untaught people to be led astray. The Quran clearly teaches that Allah can not have a son, while the bible teaches that God is our Father, whose Son is Jesus. The Quran also says in Surah 4:157 that Jesus was not crucified. But rather it was made to appear that he was crucified. The whole message of the bible is about God’s redemptive plan for humanity. The peak of this is faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. The Quran  teaches that one can finally be accepted into heaven if one’s righteousness exceed his sins.Well, the bible says we are saved by grace through faith, that is to believe in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

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The Lord Jesus taught that Christians must love and pray for those who persecute them. The Quran teaches differently. How could we be serving the same God? This is not true, and those who teach such things must stop it. According to the bible Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only life; no one comes to the Father besides Him. The Quran says Jesus is just a prophet, but the bible teaches He is God the I am, and the Alpha and Omega(Joh 8:58 KJV Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.)(Rev 22:13 KJV I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.).I have heard certain Muslim clerics ask where Jesus said in the bible that he is God. These two statements clearly show that he said he is God.

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These teachings clearly show that Islam and Christianity are never serving the same God. Do not overthrow the faith of some individuals with such teachings.

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THOUGHT: IT IS NEVER TRUE THAT CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS ARE SERVING THE SAME GOD.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Act 4:12 KJV” Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

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Rev 12:9 KJV” And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

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KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 2:16 KJV “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”

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Apostle Paul advises Timothy to shun profane and vain babblings . Profane speech is ungodly discussions whiles vain babblings are empty or useless words. The scripture said this would breed more ungodliness. Proverbs  4:23 admonishes us to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues  of life. Words are always seeds. Scriptural ,godly words would definitely build faith and stir up more godliness. Unscriptural or profane words would foster more ungodly desires, leading to a very vile or wrong disposition

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How do we encounter profane and empty words ? We may have such people speaking profanely normally, people who do not recognise us as holy servants of God. These people may be our classmates, our childhood friends or any kind of group that is worldly. The scripture said shun such words getting into your mind and hearts. How do you shun such words ? You may stay away from such  associations, or you politely ask them to change the topic if you happen to be in their midst. Never assume that you are so spiritual that bad seeds would not grow in you if they find themselves in there.

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As much as you must prevent  people from sowing ungodly seeds into our hearts, you must also keep yourself from watching videos that have the tendency to corrupt your morals. There are certain pornographic sites that should be a no-go area for you. There are  also some films that do not make any positive contributions to your faith or morals, but can rather affect both morals and faith in a very negative way. 1 Th 5:22 KJV” Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

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Present-day social media is waging a relentless war on most Christians. This has raised lots of believers with no love for the master. They are almost always embedded in mobile phones . They are definitely not watching faith-based activities that can support their faith or morals, but rather worthless scenes that have nothing Christian to do with it. The end results are Christians with no passion for prayer, soul-winning or love for God. May we heed the apostle Paul’s counsel to shun every form of profane or vain babblings.

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THOUGHT:WRONG WORDS ARE SEEDS WITH A VERY DANGEROUS POTENTIAL

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FURTHER STUDIES

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1Co 15:33 KJV Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

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Eph 4:29 KJV” Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

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