KEY SCRIPTURE: John 8:12 ” Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”.

Darkness is the power and dwelling place of the devil. Men are either in the light or in darkness. In our key scripture the Lord said He is the light of the world. He that follows Him shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. To follow Him means to be ruled by the word for the word is the light of the world (John 1:4, 5). He said those who follow Him shall have the light of life. The word of God will keep you from evil (darkness). The works of darkness includes sin, sickness and many more. These shall not have rule over you because of the light of life in you.. Remember sin will also keep you from the word if you allow it.

Many struggling with sin is unnecessary, if you are dominated by the word of God.

 The power of darkness is the absence of light. In the presence of light darkness isn’t only powerless, it is not in existence. Most of the struggles most children of God go through is mostly because they walk in darkness. Psalm 82:5 “They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course”. He added in verse 7 that “But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes”. Please just take a critical look at this short passage. Everything that happened to the people in the verse is all because they ‘knew not’. To be told is not the same as to know.. Knowing demands fellowship, attention and practice. The passage said although these people are gods, that is divine beings with supernatural power. They will die like men because they knew not.

THE EFFECT OF “NOT KNOWING” WAS:

1. No understanding
2. They walk on in darkness
3. All the foundation of the earth are out of course
4. They will die like men
5. Fall like one of the princes

All the above was not supposed to happen to them yet because they were not ruled by the word, darkness prevailed over them.

Dear child of God, refuse to be tormented by what you have been freed from. Stand therefore in the liberty where with Christ have set you free.

CONFESSION

Darkness has never overcome light. The word is light, evil is darkness. I chose to be ruled by the word. I think the word, I believe the word and I walk the word. My life constantly stays free from evil. I am reigning in life, because of the word.

FURTHER STUDIES:

Isaiah 5:13 “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst”.

Hosea 4:6 ” My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:6 “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”.

Our key scripture clearly shows that the carnally minded is death .and it is not subject to the law of God. The attitude of most Christians reveal they are not ruled by the word of God.

The church of God is the physical representative of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must be involved in doing what he was doing when He walked on this earth. He went around destroying the works of the devil and announced the kingdom of God.

We find great gatherings of Christians, only when their physical needs are being met, like healing the sick, marital blessings, financial blessings and many more. These things are good because the Lord wants His children blessed. But just call for a prayer meeting to pray for lost souls or an outreach program to reach out to the lost and only a handful of us would be there. The man who is ruled by the word seeks to do that which pleases the father. John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work”. Doing that which pleases Him gives you a very good standing to get answers to those things you desire. John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”. Remember Jesus is our master, and He has chosen us. We are alive because of Him.

The man who is ruled by the word does not live for himself but lives to please the Father.

 When you do that which pleases Him, it attracts His hands of blessing into your life.

Let your life be ruled by His word.

 CONFESSION*

Life is not a mystery, it depends on the path you may be treading. I would never be confused in this life for I have chosen the path of life and light and my way cannot be confused I do that which pleases Him always.

FURTHER STUDIES

Ephesians 4:14 ” That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

Philippians 1:20  “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death”.

KEY SCRIPTURE:  James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”.

Living a fulfilled life is the kind that is ruled by the word of God. Anytime man is in a state of worry, fear or what he may describe as a problem, is a clear sign that he is ruled by something different and not God’s word. Challenges or problems, would always abound.  You do not see problems when the word rules you.

Our key scripture shows us that our ability to be free and really exercise authority over the enemy is when we submit to the word of God.

When God’s word rules us, Satan can’t rule us simultaneously.

In the Garden of Eden, the moment Adam and Eve decided to step out of the control and dominance of God’s word, they lost everything and became slaves of the devil. Your submission to the word of God, is your authority. The source of every problem of men started in the Garden of Eden. (Read Gen. 3:1-15). The passage in Genesis chapter 3 shows us how Satan deceives men from turning away from the rule of God’s word.

1. Genesis 3: 4, Satan directly attacks the truth and implies, God is lying.
2. Genesis 3:5, God is keeping something good from you.
3. Genesis 3:5b He tells you, this thing would give you the ultimate advantage.
4. Verse 6, Men are also moved by what they see and feel because of the lie.

The above four steps are mainly Satan’s strategy to get people forsaking God’s word to accept Satan’s word or lies.

Deceit has been his weapon. Hebrews 3:13 says “But exhort one another daily while it is today, lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin”. Sin is deceitful and that takes men away from the rule of the word. Decide in your heart once and forever that whatever God says is final. No other word, suggestion that contradicts God’s word must be entertained or tolerated.

 The word in you is your strength, your submission to the word is Satan dread and your obedience to the word is the overthrow or defeat of the devil.

CONFESSION

A life that submits to God’s word may have great opposition yet would constantly experience outstanding victories. I am dedicated to God and His word. If God has said it, I believe it and that settles it.

FURTHER STUDIES:

Psalms 119:89-90 Forever, O LORD, and thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

Matthew 4:4″  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: James 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed”.

A law is a standard regulation that controls or rules a people’s actions. It is also a principle that would operate and function in its line of operation when the required conditions or parameters are available.

God’s word is a perfect law of liberty, so long as men obey its dictates. As a law it is supposed to rule our lives. From our key scripture, it is called the perfect law of liberty. The word of. God is the perfect law that would liberate men from all that enslaves them.

The bible is fill with so much amazing promises of a blessed life, when one heeds to the instructions of the word of God. Let’s just look at a short passage in Proverbs 3:1–6.The following are the blessings

1. Length of days
2. Long life
3. Peace
4. Favor
5. Good understanding in the sight of God and man
6. God shall direct your path.

Life indeed is very miserable if led outside the influence of God’s word. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, men have pursued an agenda of anti-God or simply to oppose the way of God. Unfortunately they have consistently failed. The result has been anguish, mental torment, (Rom 2:9) War, diseases, (Rom 1:18–28) and what have you?

Men claim they are, wise and civilised, yet they accept homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality and incest. God’s word is more relevant today than tomorrow’s newspaper.

Let the word of God rule your life. And experience an abundance of peace. Note this, TO BE REALLY HUMAN YOU MUST BE RULED BY THE WORD OF GOD.

CONFESSION

When men sideline God’s word from their lives they become less humans. I have been made in God’s image and would maintain this by adhering to His word.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 1:26-27 ” For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet”.

Proverbs 4:10-11 ” Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.

The word is God. This should always be our understanding each time we take the word of God to read or study. The word is a living being.

Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The word ‘quick’ means alive or living. The proceeding verse reads “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.” This verse further establishes the fact that the word is a living person with an all seeing eye nothing is hidden from him. All things are naked before Him with whom we have to do. Only God has an all seeing eye. God’s word is not just written words, but the acts, nature and ways of God expressed in written form.

The word must rule us. Our thoughts, believes and actions should be solely dominated by the word. To have more of the word in you, is to have more of God in you. Jesus said in John 6:63 “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life”. God is the only giver of life and the word does the same.

We do a great harm to our lives when we treat the bible as just another book. We must approach it as Jesus personally talking to us.

 Every instruction from the bible must carry the same honour from us, just as JESUS was here talking to us.

The word ruling us means God ruling us. In John 20:29, Jesus saith unto Thomas,” Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. “You are blessed, happy, privileged if you believe, treating the word as God presently talking to you.

 Your life would take a new level of peace, power and prosperity,  when you allow the word to rule you.

 CONFESSION

God and His word are one. Whatever the word says carries the same life and authority just as God Himself. I would be forever ruled by the word.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 20:32 “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”.

Psalms 138:2 ” I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 2:9 ” In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;”

For today’s study we look at our final discussion on how the Christian and specifically how the Christian woman should dress up: The scripture said “….and sobriety not with broided (plaited) hair or gold or pearls or costly array”.

These instructions I believe may be contended by some people, yet let’s look critically at the import of this instruction. He requested that the woman must have an attitude of “sobriety”. This word means to be self-controlled, soundness of mind or soberness. In a sense the child of God must not be under the compulsive influence of getting attention on himself or herself through dressing.

Christians are not slaves to self. We are slaves to our master Jesus. No child of God must be obsessed with himself and seek for attention on himself or herself. This does not mean the Christian must look shabby and body unkempt. The Lord said in Matthew 6:17 “But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face”. This advice was to prevent those who would want to show off when they were fasting. On the other side it is telling us to keep our bodies well.  Again, the instruction in 1st Timothy 2:9, also means the child of God must not spend ostentatiously on himself or herself with broided hair, or gold or pearls or costly array. This instruction is very important because some men of God and Christians are tempted to live very expensive lives in the name of “God has blessed me”. Some have golden household utensils, fleet of cars while so many members of their congregation are extremely poor.

Dearly beloved ones, do not misunderstand me, serving the Lord sincerely always go with great blessings. Deuteronomy 28:47 ” Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;” The Lord blesses His children, yet this blessings should not be only focused on ourselves alone but on the wider or larger brotherhood of brethren.

 A pastor bought a pair of suit for $10,000, ten thousand dollars. He could easily afford it, that is true, yet what about the many who are starving because they don’t have. This is what the scripture is talking about (that is not having costly array) Let us live very simple lives so that many can share in our blessings.(Acts 4:32–34)

Please don’t get apprehensive and defensive about what I am saying, look at the scripture and decide to be obedient.

 CONFESSION

I am self-controlled. I am not obsessed with myself. I live to glorify the Lord and whatever I do I do to bring glory to the Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Peter 3:3 “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;”

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;”

2nd Peter 1:10 is an advice we have to heed to, if we anticipates being received into our heavenly home. He said “wherefore rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure… “. We must be very diligent about our lives as Christians so that our calling and election would be sure: We have been called, yet we have to make it sure. Think about it.

We follow up with our discussion on our dressing as Christians. In 1st Timothy 2:9 the scripture added “….with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls or costly array:

This verse should not be taken out of context. The focus is an exultation of godliness that is showing forth Christlikeness in all we do.

Now let’s look at some of the words the apostle used, ‘shamefacedness’. This word means having a sense of shame, honour, regard for others or respect. The spirit is telling us once again to be mindful about the picture or image we project with the decoration of ourselves. Romans 14:7 reminds us that “for none of us liveth to himself”. Dear fellow Christians let us not make our holy gatherings look like disco or night club centres.

 The church has been called out of the world, and must keep the world outside.

I was alarmed to see a lady supposed to be ministering in church in ‘hot pair of shorts’ with various sensitive parts been exposed. She looks like a disco dancer at a glance. No matter what some may want to describe it, this is not modest, it does not respect the sanctity of the house of God. This should be condemned in any serious Christian gathering.

In these last days one of the weapons Satan is using to draw Christians back or weaken our witness is copying the world

Dearly beloved sisters and brothers the Lord is coming back for a church that is not in bed with the world.

Let us keep worldliness far from the church, if we really want to draw them from Satan’s grip unto our master Jesus.

CONFESSION

I am in the world, but l am not of the world. I would not give room to worldliness to saturate my heart in anyway. My goal is  heaven,   my path is holiness and my focus is Jesus.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Jude 1:23 “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh”.

1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array”;

The heavenly minded Christian is mindful of his dressing: Somebody once said, ‘you would be addressed according to your dressing.’

I am very much aware that many people see dressing as very controversial issue to talk about, yet I believe the church of God must be very cautious about this aspect of our lives. Your dressing speaks a lot about who you are and what you believe in life.

Our key scripture speaks directly to women, yet I believe men must also take certain clues out of the scripture. The scripture said the women must adorn themselves in MODEST apparel. The word modest means well arranged, orderly or decorous: This implies it should not be the type that exposes certain sensitive parts of the body. Please can you answer this question for me? How do you tell that a girl or woman on the street is a prostitute? The answer is simple, their dressing is not orderly, and better still their dressing shows it.

Things get serious when a lady stands before a group of Christians either to sing, present something or lead in one way or the other, only to be dressed in a way that excites wrong passions in people. Be careful, your dressing does not cause any to fall. Somebody may ask why should somebody’s dressing cause wrong passions in others. Dearly beloved, we are all not the same.  In 1st Thessalonians 5:14 we see four categories of people in church.

1. Unruly
2. Feeble minded
3. Weak
4. All men.

There are feeble minded as well as weak ones. We are here to get people to heaven, not to do what pleases us. 1st Corinthians 6:12 says “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient….. “. Expedient means helpful. The scripture means, all things may be lawful, but not all things are helpful.

Be careful your dressing does not cause somebody to fall. Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 18:6.

CONFESSION

Heaven is my home. I am mandated to help people come along with me to heaven.  I would not in any way prevent somebody from seeking or following Jesus because of my dressing.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Peter 3:3-4 ” Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

Matthew 18:6 “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea”.