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”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 4:5 ” But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry”.

One other sign of a heavenly minded Christian is to do the work of an evangelist. An evangelist is one who proclaims the gospel or good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 The Lord Jesus said in John 9:4 “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: The night comes when no man can work”.

He says that he has been sent to fulfill a task. This task is to preach the gospel. To heal the sick and to set the oppressed free. (Luke 4:18) There is a time in a man’s life, when this could be done, yet there is coming a time too when no man can work. To be sent implies, you have a time to report back to your Lord who sent you and give accounts of your work.

The Lord also said in John 4:34 that “……, my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work”. What is His work?  Matthew 28:19 reads “go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. The Lord spent forty days after His resurrection to teach and to assure the disciples about, the need to spread the gospel. (Acts 1:3)

We must do the work of an evangelist. Preaching is one of the ways to dispels doubt and confusion from the minds of people. All kinds of evil, unacceptable, and abominable things go on all around us these days. The world united bodies, like the United Nations gives no serious consideration to Christianity and its teaching but is ready to accept that homosexuality is an alternative lifestyle. We can’t keep our mouth shut over things like this. We are the mouths, hands and feet of Jesus. We have to go out there seeking for a souls to save.

One day we shall all stand before our Lord, and He would say to all those who faithfully did the work of the evangelist, “Thou good and faithful servants enter into thy rest”.

I pray I would be recognized as such. What about you?

 CONFESSION*

The master is soon coming back. I have committed myself to do the work of an evangelist. I will not fail the master.

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Timothy 4:2” Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”.

Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:44 “” But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

We have learnt that a heavenly minded person would forgive his neighbour who offends him or her.

In our study for today we would consider another way that we can employ to help us easily forgive and release people from our hearts. Our key scripture says as follows “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you”. I believe most people would be saying this is a difficult thing to do. Please get this understanding once and forever, no instruction of the scripture is too difficult to be obeyed. What you need to do is to accept it and start acting in the light of what has been said. Every instruction in the scripture always carries with it the ability to obey (John 15:3, Hebrews 4:12).

Among all that our Lord Jesus said in our opening scripture is the call to PRAY for those who offend us and despitefully use us. Whenever you stand before God to pray, there comes a special release of Grace. Luke 22:43 “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him”. The Lord received strength to do what he was praying about. The Lord would always strengthen you to love your offender. Now take this point. You can’t pray for someone and hate him or her at the same time.

When you are feeling so bad about a mistreatment meted to you, ask the Holy Spirit to help you love the individual. Bless him or her, ask the Lord to deliver him or her from the trap of the enemy. The Lord Jesus prayed for those who were persecuting Him. He asked for the Father to forgive them, adding, for they know not what they are doing. He explained away their offence, He said they don’t really know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34).

You can also explain away people’s misdeeds and mistreatment meted to you.

 CONFESSION

My goal is to be in heaven, and will not allow anything to prevent me,  not even the offences people mete to me.  I will always love them by praying for them.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots””.

Acts 7:60 “”And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 50:20 ” But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive”.

The issue of forgiveness is very difficult for some people to handle because it can have very grievous emotional impact. We have to master all these negative emotions, lest it complicates our relationship with the Lord and endanger our final destination to heaven.

One man who was mistreated and should have had a difficult time handling the impact of the ill action was Joseph. He was usually glued to his Father, having aspiration to become a great man in the future. When the father once asked him to go and see the welfare of his brothers, they  caught him, attempted to kill him,  threw him into a pit ,and  later sold him as a slave to a  people of a faraway land, separating him from his beloved Father forever.(Genesis 37).

Ironically Joseph was least bitter about all these misdeeds, why? Joseph considered issues from God’s point of view rather than a personal, selfish view. When his brothers were afraid of a grievous revenge after the death of his father, he had this answer for them. Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, you thought evil against me but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people”. Joseph looked at the bigger picture about the event. He rather saw his brothers as instruments in God’s hands to bring to pass His purposes.

Beloved, to every event there are two sides or intentions governing that incident. God’s view point or purpose for that event, and the devils purposes about that event.

To help you overcome the emotional pains of the hurt, try to look at God’s purpose. God says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love the Lord, to them who are called according to His purpose”. To help yourself, no matter the mistreatment, say to yourself this event has happened for my good. I would love the Lord and anticipate the good result out of the seemingly bad situation.

If you approach events this way, people would not become devils to you. You would be able to easily forgive them and master the situation.

 Your heavenly home would not be endangered.

 CONFESSION

God my Father is Lord over every event, no matter how bad it is I will keep loving the Lord and do what He says. I know that in this way everything would turn out good and my heavenly aspirations would not be affected.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots”.

Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:32” And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

One sign that shows a person’ is ready to meet the Lord, is his or her readiness to forgive all them that have offended him or her..

There are countless people and a number of them claim they are Christians, yet they keep the offences of others in their hearts. It is rather alarming to hear Christians and even some men of God expressing how bitter they feel towards others. All these is a sign of Satan’s hold in that individual’s life. Bitterness is a seed of the devil planted in the heart of an individual. Hebrews 12:15 says “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”. Bitterness is the sign that, you have failed of the grace of God. It is the grace of God that makes us everything God is and has. Without His grace we are nothing and helpless. The scriptural advice is that we must look diligently. One could easily be overtaken by bitterness.

Unforgiveness is perpetuated by pride. When Joseph’s brethren sent a messenger to request forgiveness from him after the death of his father, he wept and said in Genesis 50:19 “And Joseph said unto them am I in the place of God?” What did he mean over here? It is God’s sole prerogative to punish offenders. Anyone who does it is assuming God’s role.  Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord”. Vengeance is the Lord’s role, don’t take it unto your hands. It is indeed an act of pride to assume that role. You, the offended, become rebellion before God when you assume the position of seeking vengeance. Leave it to the Lord, Your part is to forgive the offender. It is God’s duty to punish. God always wants peace and cordiality among men, wherever there is un-forgiveness, Satan has assumed Lordship of that individual. He would destroy you and others if you let him.

That is why the scripture said it defiles you and others. Forgive!

 CONFESSION

Unforgiveness is a luxury I can’t afford. Its effect is devastating and has serious eternal consequences. I will not allow my heart to be bitter about anybody. I will always forgive and leave every act of vengeance to the Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Mark 11:25 ” And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses”.

Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven”:

The Bible in one year.

Joshua 19:1-20:9,  Luke 19:28-48,  Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 13:12-14

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinth 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”

To be heavenly minded means being ready to suffer for the cause of Christ. Apostle Paul admonished Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ (2nd Tim 2:3).

Enduring adversity or contrary situations is something that every Christian who have heaven on his mind must be prepared to do (note: when I talk about adversity, I do not mean things like sin or sickness, which our Lord redeemed us from.)  These things are the scheming of the devil to frustrate and cause the child of God to surrender his save grounds in Christ.

Apostle Peter encourages us to be aware of the devil who as a roaring lion seeks somebody to devour, whom we must resist steadfast in faith, for the same afflictions are happening to our brethren in the world.

He said further that the God of all grace, who have called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after we have suffered a while, will make us perfect. (1st Peter 5:7-10)

Some of us must forsake ungodly friendship. There are some fraudulent ways of making money, which must be stopped. We may have to make great financial sacrifices to support the work of evangelism. Certain young girls who might have been living in sin, because they are living with a man they are not married to. They must break that relationship and start a new life outright.

This may call for some sacrifices and suffering, yet it must be endured. You may be grievously persecuted because of your faith.

Some may even be killed because of their faith. There are some brethren who would be ejected from their homes because they have been converted from Islam to Christianity.

Our key scripture encourages us that these afflictions are light compared to the weight of glory that we would have eternally. In the light of this do not give up. Another meaning of the word suffer is ”to allow or to endure. This means you could have disallowed it, yet you have willingly accepted to go through. You do so, in order to please the Lord.

We must consider our Lord Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 12:2).

There is an incomparable glory laid ahead of us, so do not give up.  Hold on till you overcome. It is those who endure to the end, who would be saved.

CONFESSION

I have a glorious and eternal home. No sacrifice I endure presently is comparable to the exceeding weight of glory. I would keep my faithfulness to the end.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Romance 8 :17.” And if children, then heirs -heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Mark 13:13.”And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

KEY SCRIPTURE:1 John 3:2-3  ” Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure”.

 According to Acts 17:31 the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead, is an assurance to all men that, one day He would judge ALL MEN in righteousness. You have to be very careful with the way you live

 The Lord was asking a question in Matthew 24:43-51, about certain two characters. Of this two, which would you be? These were stewards or servants who were placed over certain people to take care off. The Lord described one as faithful and wise servant who did whatever he was supposed to do. He lived in readiness for the coming back of His master, although he did not know when the master will come. The second was unfaithful and foolish, who acted against his masters instructions, not anticipating his return. He suffered the consequences. His portion would be with the hypocrites, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Dear brother or sister let us be the wise and the faithful ones. Our key scripture tells us that our Lord is coming back again. We do not know fully what we shall be, but we do know that, when He appears we would be like Him. He added that if any has this hope in Him, He must purify himself, from the state of filth in this life.

The message is that be prepared to meet your Lord. One can easily be tempted to lose his or her focus and get so engrossed with the things on this earth.

 We have to be earthly relevant yet we should be heavenly ready.

This is Apostle Peter’s advice to us 2nd Peter 3:11, “Seeing then that all those things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness”. We must all heed to this advice and purify ourselves from all sins of the spirit and the flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The truth is that God is not a respecter of persons and each person shall be rewarded according to what he would do in this body.

Be heavenly minded and, prepared for the coming of the Lord.

  CONFESSION

I am prepared for His appearing, I separate myself from the sins of the flesh and spirit and live in readiness for His coming.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinthians 7:1 “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”.

1 Peter 4:18 “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:1 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God”.

The new creation is born from above, dispatched to this earth to show men the life of heaven, yet he does not loose awareness of his heavenly home.

Hebrews 13:14 says “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come”. We come from above and this place is not our lasting home”. This point must come home to every child of God. Many people live as if this place is all that we have. The Bible spoke about the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 that, “they did not receive the promise, but having seen them afar off   were persuaded of them, embraced them, confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth”.(Hebrews 11:13b). This way of thought or thinking should influence everything we do. Our time on this earth is for the father ”s business. (Luke. 2:49)), we are here to fulfill a task and a mission for our Lord. We are His representatives to show forth His glory to men..   We are to get them from the lies and deceptions of the enemy of their souls and the vanities of this world to get them to come along with us to our glorious home.

It is good we talk about winning and reigning in this life but our purpose for all these is that the glory of God might be seen and men would turn unto our saviour and Lord.

Our Lord Jesus, who is our great example, conquered in this life. He has set the tone for us.  In His teachings, He always made it clear that we have a heavenly home to go. There is going to be judgement and rewards (2nd Corinth 5::10).  We must not get too engrossed with the affairs of this life and loose awareness of the eternal place to be.. Jesus advised that we ‘cut’ off anything that may hinder us from getting into the kingdom of God.  (Matthew 18:8). It implies therefore that, there is nothing too dear to loose now that may be compared with the pain of going to hell. This makes it a very serious matter to be attended to.  BE HEAVENLY MINDED.

 CONFESSION

We are not just here to enjoy the excitement of living in this world, but to fulfill our task and then report back to our headquarters. I would always keep in mind my mission here, and my ultimate glorious destination.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Mark 9:45 ” And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter half into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched”:

1 John 3:2-3 ” Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure”.