KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 6:6 ISV” Of course, godliness with contentment does bring a great profit.”

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The scripture emphasises that godliness with contentment is a great gain. Every child of God ought to acknowledge that we are living here on the earth for our Father. We were created for His pleasure, Rev 4:11. Whatever we do, we do it to push His agenda. To strive for riches  for any selfish motive is sin and  gives a place to the  devil. Eph 4:27 ISV” and do not give the devil an opportunity to work.”

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What is the believer’s attitude to riches and abundance? The work of God is so vast, and money plays a very big role in fulfilling this great task. The child of God does not strive for riches for himself,  but  to fulfil the work of saving the lost. When the Lord died on the cross, it was Joseph of Arimthea, a wealthy man whose wealth had given him audience or influence before Pilate, who, through his influence, went for the Lord’s body from the Roman soldiers. It takes money to send the gospel  through both print and  electronic media. And one must trust God for more of it to reach the unteachable.

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In Deut 8:18, Moses, before his death, reminded the Israelites to remember the Lord who gives them power to get wealth, so that He would establish the covenant He made with the fathers. To remember the Lord as much as it is talking about knowing that their wealth comes from the Lord, to remember Him also means placing His will ahead of all they do. They ought not do anything without acknowledging His view or will concerning that thing. In this way, they would never act to satisfy their ego, as it may happen to the man who places himself at the centre of all he does. Such a one falls into the deception that godliness is a means of making money. If he places God first, then he would do all things to please him . He will be content with what he has, although he would also strive to fulfil God’s bigger view of reaching more people and blessing more lives.

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Contentment as a godly person is a great gain because he ceases to worry about the absence of what   he does not have. He rather places his trust in the Lord. This state of trust in the Lord gives the power of God an occasion to take charge of his affairs. Being content is a condition when one appears weak. It is at this point that God’s power is made perfect in weakness 2 Cor 12:10

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THOUGHT: GOD TAKES OVER WHEN YOU ARE CONTENT

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FURTHER STUDIES

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2Co 12:10 ISV” That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

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Heb 13:5 ISV” Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, ‘I will never leave you or abandon you.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 6:5 ISV” and incessant conflict between people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth. They think that godliness is a way to make a profit.”

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This time, he counsels him to be wary of those who are depraved in their minds  and also deprived of the truth. These people think that godliness is a money-making venture. This is a very corrupted view. This view is very different from the one who acknowledges that God gives us power to make wealth so his name would be glorified in our lives. God’s name being glorified is seen when the wealth He blesses us goes to promote the gospel. It blesses the poor. Abraham’s wealth was the support of over three hundred families that he supported.

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It is not for the idea of living in pleasure and pride that one should seek a relationship with God. We live in a world where money and its demand can easily make a servant of God  become covetous and start acting in all kinds of unscriptural ways.

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It is the craving for money that makes certain ministers say all kinds of nasty things about their fellow servants of God. Pastors who  contact strange powers to do ministry  are sadly corrupted by the idea that godliness is to make a profit. With such a wrong concept, they would do anything possible to make those riches. It is rather sad to hear what some of them do to  get multitudes into their churches.

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The truth is that our heavenly father knows very well we need money for His work and for our daily upkeep. His concept for blessings is to seek Him, and His righteous cause, then He would intend to add all that we need. Matt 6:33 ISV” But first be concerned about God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well.” If you approach life and God’s service this way, you are not corrupted by the lust for money , which the bible says is the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:10 ISV For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away.

from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.”

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THOUGHT:GODLINESS IS NOT ABOUT YOU, IT IS ABOUT BRINGING GLORY TO GOD

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Psa 10:3 KJV” For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.”

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Mat 6:24 ISV “No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches!

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 6:4 KJV “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,”

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Apostle Paul tells Timothy to withdraw from certain individuals. The first is the proud. He describes him as the man with an unhealthy craving for arguments and debates. He said such persons lack understanding . Pride falls short of the ways of God. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. The  key scripture says this proud man has no understanding and is devoid of knowledge, yet he is filled with a desire to argue over words.

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You may waste your precious time by associating  with such a person. You could be affected by his wrong thinking pattern. 1Co 15:33 KJV “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”  One may not easily see the grand danger of association with a man of such  poor ignorance of the ways of God. One’s  childlike faith in God and his word could be easily washed away by that close association  with this proud man.

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Our faith grows through hearing the word of God, but it would also be hampered by hearing thoughts that oppose the truth. Such an individual becomes an instrument of the devil to sow negative words and thoughts that challenge the truth.

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Remember  the scripture that says:Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;( 2nd Corinhians 10:5).) These wrong thoughts and words that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God must be refused or cast out from establishing themselves deep down in our minds . In the same vein, you ought not give attention to the man whose words would have the same effect on you. Just keep away from him.

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I have encountered Christians who kept company with men of reprobate minds who later started demonstrating very crooked ways. Some very good men started going out with girls and negatively affecting their homes because of the influence of such men. Certain  homes have broken up because of such negative influences. The scriptural advice is to stay away  from such individuals.

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A pastor ‘s son  entered a university as a gentle, sober student,but after just the first semester, he  had become a complete drunkard. This sad  condition was a result of the influence of friends who tried to convince  him with certain arguments. He fell into that mud of helplessness because he allowed those negative arguments to control him. He could have avoided all these by staying away.

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THOUGHT: THE KIND OF STUFF THAT FILLS A CONTAINER DETERMINES WHAT IT BECOMES.

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YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN WHAT YOU BECOME

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FURTHER STUDIES

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2Ti 3:8 KJV “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith.”

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Mar 4:24 KJV” And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 6:3 KJV” If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”

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Godliness, in its simple literal meaning, could be explained as being like God. The Greek meaning is piety or holiness. If we are to consider the literal meaning, to be godly is to imitate His holiness. God is perfect in all His attributes. He has non-communicable attributes, that is, those that He can not share or impart to men. Examples  of these are His all-mighty power, His omniscience that is His all-knowing nature, His omnipresence  , His self-existing nature and others. God has communicable nature or attributes which He shares or can impart to men. These include His loving nature, His nature as light,His justice, his holiness. To be godly is to demonstrate every one of His communicable attributes.

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From the above, to be godly means you must be loving. 1Jn 4:7 KJV Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. Secondly, to be godly is to be light. 1Jn 1:5 KJV This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:Thirdly God is just and to be godly means you must be justDeu 32:4 KJV He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

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James Sidlow Baxter ( 1903-1999) was an Australian theologian who authored a number of books  and taught   extensively on the Holiness  of God. Said it is these three attributes of God combined together that reveal the Holiness of God. To walk in love, to be light, giving no place to darkness or sin, and to be just or upright is to reveal holiness. The child of God must know that these attributes of God came to him or her when he or she was born into Christ. The child of God must naturally exhibit a godly life or a life of Holiness.

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He would be able to do so by acknowledging that he or she is godly. He must accept that he is light and should not give place to any form of darkness or sin. Dullness  or sin is alien to you. He must also accept that he is just or upright with no crookedness about him. He must pursue them.

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CONFESSION: I’m born of God, and so I carry His nature of love, light and justice or righteousness. These traits are my normal lifestyle. I am a reflection of my heavenly father in his communicable nature. Praise the Lord

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THOUGHT:YOUR GODLY NATURE IS BY BIRTH INTO CHRIST , SO LIVE IT OUT.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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1Pe 1:16 KJV” Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

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1Ti 6:5 KJV” Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

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KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 6:3 KJV If any man teaches otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

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Apostle Paul instructs that every pastor must consent to wholesome words⁹ He described wholesome words as the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine, which is according to godliness .

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This is simply the life in the Spirit. It is a life led according to the revelation of the scriptures. It talks about revealing Jesus in all that we do.  Gal 1:16 KJV” To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:” He went after God to know Him and His will for Him. Through this, he encountered God and received great insights into the way of God. Eph 3:3 KJV “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,”

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The Lord taught that to successfully lead the Christian life, one must deny oneself and take up one’s cross. Apostle Paul describes what the Lord said as dying with Christ because we were immersed or baptised into Christ on the very day our Lord died. It became effective on the day we were born again. In light of this, we no longer live for ourselves. Sin no longer controls you. Rom 6:14.

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The essence of your life on earth is to bring glory to the Lord in all you do. Your actions are a product of the Spirit whose nature is love . Love for God and man are the general expressions of your life.

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This man is no longer a puppet of his flesh. He is never controlled by the flesh and so has become  a partaker of the divine nature. He has power over demons and sicknesses like our Lord Jesus exhibited. This is the Spirit of Christ at home in another body . He does not live by the limitations of the flesh but has  become one with the divine beings of God. He has escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust( unbelief, fear,bitterness and every other works of the flesh)2Pe 1:4 KJV “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

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These are wholesome words that the man of God must preach. If he gives praise to the weakness of the flesh and the ability of the devil to control and manifest his works through him, then he is setting himself up for failure. James 3:1.

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CONFESSIONS: I speak wholesome words, for it is a tree of life.Sin, sicknesses , lack and death no longer reign over me. I walk in the love of God, manifesting all the good fruits of the Spirit. Angels of God manifest to assist me. I have no fear in me for the greater one lives in me. The wisdom of God functions in me, and so I know what to do at each given moment. I bring solutions to questions in my world. I am exceedingly blessed. Glory be to God.

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THOUGHT: YOUR WORDS EITHER PUT YOU OVER OR THEY PUT YOU UNDER.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Pro 15:4 KJV “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”

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Jas 3:2 ISV For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body.

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 6:1 KJV “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed”

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The above topic has influenced certain individuals to conclude that the bible was written by the Europeans who practised the slave trade, so they could justify their treatment of their subjects. Please, this is a very corrupted view of the bible. The bible is the inspired word of God, whose history is very true ,dating as far back as it was stated. It is fully backed by archaeological evidence, empirical historic evidences , and extensive life transforming  evidences. The bible is never biased towards any group of persons ,speaking to the hearts of every class, group, culture and status of men , with no geographic, demographic or cultural boundaries. Please do not allow any wrong notions to cloud your mind from being blessed by its hard truths. To places and people who have tried to bar it from entering their lands ,the living Jesus has been physically appearing to them. Just read about mind-blowing testimonies from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan  and many more.

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I have given the above introduction and explanation to help the few who might have been wrongly indoctrinated about the divine inspiration of the scriptures.

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The historical era of the bible was marked by wars and conquests that made some automatic Lords over others. It was an existing fact that could not be brushed away but must be approached by both servants and masters in the most humane ways. Scripture, in a number of instances, counsels servants to honour their masters well, so they could demonstrate the Christlike life to them. In a similar vein, masters were also advised to treat their servants well, because they would be judged by the superior master and lord of all. Eph 6:9 KJV” And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

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Our key scripture speaks purely to servants, asking them to honour them in all things. The Christians’ obligation under whatever condition he or she finds himself is to be a worthy ambassador of Jesus Christ. We are representatives of our Lord Jesus.

His life is our life, and we are only successful as Christians if our lives reveal Him. If you are a wife, your life should not be in response to how your husband treats you,  but mainly about revealing Jesus in that home. The husband does not relate to the wife according to whether she respects him or not; he must relate to her to demonstrate Christ’s love and nature  to her.

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You are a big failure if you respond to people according to how they treat or relate to you.

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THOUGHT: SERVANTS OR MASTERS , OUR ROLE IS TO REVEAL JESUS

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Eph 6:5 KJV Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

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Eph 6:6 KJV” Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 5:25 KJV” Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.”

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The Lord said you are the light of the world; a city set on a mountain can not be hidden. He added Let your light so shine that men may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matt 5:14-16 paraphrased ). This piece of scripture, which is among what is described as the Sermon on the Mount, is very instructive. It says you, as a Christian, are the light of the world. To be light does not come by ourselves. It is an ability that God gave to us or made us. It explains that we have supernatural potentials that make us bring answers to a world in darkness.

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Every child  of God must accept that he or she has been born as a solution. In John 8:12, the Lord said he that comes to him shall have the light of life and shall not walk in darkness. In Matthew 5:15, he said we are like a city placed on a hill that can not be hidden. This tells us to remain very significant in our world. We should not be isolated in our churches, and that is all. We must be actively involved in our world, bringing solutions to the challenges of our times.

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Jesus added that we must let our light so shine that men may see the light and give glory to our Father who is in heaven. Christian businessmen must know that Satan seeks to use his children to dominate the scene. Christians must know that our great impact in all fields of endeavour is not for ourselves but to bring to bear in our world the light or the reign of God. Our Political system is massively dominated by people who do not know our Lord, and they allow ungodly systems that ultimately pollute the social fibre. Certain religious groups have an agenda to infiltrate and eventually dominate the system with their laws and culture. Every Christian must be aware that our call is to let our light shine everywhere we are.

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As light, it means we have the grace to excel, so work very hard in whatever field you find yourself.

Get to the top, for your place at the top is Jesus at the top of affairs in the Land. Pray always that the impact of Christians would permeate all areas of our lives.

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THOUGHT:IT IS YOUR GODLY OBLIGATION TO SHINE IN A DARK WORLD.

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Mat 5:14 -16 KJV “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can not be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 5:25 KJV” Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.”

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Every child of God is a bundle of good works. He or she is the home of the Spirit of God. The bible says the Spirit  is light and in him there is no darkness. Light means all goodness . Eph 2:10  says “we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we walk in them.”

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To live a life of good works as a Christian,you must  believe you are for good works. Secondly, believe that you  can always  do good works . The above verse tells us  explicitly that we are God’s design or workmanship made for good works. There is nothing bad in you. Every evil that comes to you is a prompting from an external source, and you must give no place to it.

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The seed for good works is a heart filled with  love. Love always reaches out to bless ,support and lift up the downtrodden. Love is basically selfless. Love does not consider what it would be given in turn. This is love that proceeds from the Holy Spirit. Love is the fulfilment of the law. Love is the fruit of the Spirit. Love is filled with joy, peace, goodness, kindness,  gentleness, longsuffering,faithfulness and self-control. The scripture said love is the perfection̈ of good works, for against love there is no law. Gal 5:22,23

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How can one develop a life of good works?You’ve got to renew your mind by the scriptures about who you are .You are not just a human of flesh and blood.You are a divine being like our big brother ,our Lord Jesus Christ.Heb 2:11 KJV” For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” As a divine being, there is no place for selfishness

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Finally I life of good deeds is a truly  a fulfilled life.Good works are good seeds that multiply unto an abundance of goodness unto you.This is what the Lord says about the man of good work.Psa 112:9 EasyEnglish “(Pe) He gives a lot to poor people.  (Tsade) He will always be righteous.  (Qoph) He will be powerful. And people will say that he is good.” A life of good works is truly a successful life

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THOUGHT: YOU WERE  CREATED IN CHRIST TO DO GOOD WORKS

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FURTHER STUDIES

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In all things make yourself an example in good works. In doctrine,

show integrity, seriousness, sincerity,

Titus 2:7

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1Co 15:58 KJV” Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 5:24 KJV” Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.”

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Our key scripture  tells us that some men’s sins are open that have gone ahead of them, ready to be judged. There are others whose sins are following them. These are two groups of people. The first group are those who have lived their lives and are no more. They are waiting for the end to be judged. The second group are those living presently but have not forsaken the dead works of sin. They may even name the name of Christ. That is, they are Christians, yet they keep to the works of darkness. The bible says their sins are following them. They would be judged and condemned to destruction if they do not repent and forsake their evil ways.

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The Lord says at the last moment of judgement, many shall lament, I healed the sick in your name. I performed miracles in your name. The Lord said He would say to such peopleLuk 13:27 KJV But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”

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Dear brethren ,sin is a very serious thing. Sin brought the creator of the Universe to take the form of a man to die such a painful and shameful death. He not only died for our sins, but He made provisions for total victory over sin. If you are a Christian, then you must know you have no business with sin. The bible says your life is hidden in Christ and further in God. You have the same righteousness as Jesus. If the Christian still lives in sin, then the great sacrifice of Jesus is being wasted.

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Tell yourself that you are one with Christ, for He lives through you. Yield your members to Him. Your mind, hands, and your entire body are no longer yours but for Him.

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THOUGHT:THE BENEFIT OF JESUS SACRIFICE IS OUR VICTORY OVER SIN

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Rom 6:16 KJV Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

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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.”

[3/24, 10:35 AM] S.A: SIMPLE TRUTH

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 5:23 KJV” Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”

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This opening verse has  brought lots of debate among certain people, whether Christians should drink alcohol or not. May we take the amplified bible translation of the above verse? 1 Timothy 5:23

“Drink water no longer exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” The amplified bible  brinks out the meaning of the statement clearer. It says he should not drink water exclusively but to add a little wine to it.This instruction was purely a medical prescription  for one who used to have stomach challenges.Secondly although it is found in the scripture itself is a prescription for a condition during the first century and there is no spiritual  significance .This must be the understanding given to it.

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Please note  that there are presently more advanced and better treatments for that condition, which makes that prescription very obsolete. In our modern era, no medical doctor would suggest the addition of alcohol to water to treat any form of upset stomach condition. Taking alcohol in raw form for stomach conditions like gastritis, acid reflux, nausea and vomiting  would be very irritating to these conditions. Adding it to water would significantly reduce the irritation, yet it would be far from giving the right impact.

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To all those who stand on this scripture to suggest that the intake of alcohol is wrong, they are wrongly seeking a way out to satisfy their craving for alcohol. Please note that alcohol is very addictive and one can easily be overthrown by it. I would suggest you stay away  from it to lead a more successful Christian life. I wish to put forth my candid observation about the intake of alcohol. I have not seen or known one Christian who takes so-called little alcohol, and he is really on fire for God. You can’t be taking it and be on fire. Eph 5:18 KJV “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit”This verse implies that when a man is filled with

wine, he can not be filled with the Holy Spirit, which. Is the essence of being on fire for God;stay away from it.

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THOUGHT:” YOU CAN NOT BE FILLED WITH WINE AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT”

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Pro 20:1 KJV” Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

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Pro 31:4 KJV” It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:”

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