KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 4:4 NHEB ” In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, to prevent the light shining from the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”.

There is an unseen battle ranging on for the soul of everyman. The man who has received eternal life has a different kind of war to contend with.

 As our key scripture says the god of this world keeps a blinding effect on the minds of all them who have not yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Satan keeps telling lies of various forms to the man he has held in bondage. One of the biggest lies Satan gives to his victims is that he does not exist. He also discredits the credibility of the Bible. He tells some that, this life, is all there is for men and there is not any life after this life. This is the kind of war the devil and his host of demons are ranging to hold you in the dark.

The Lord Jesus described Satan as follows: John 8:44 NHEB ” You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father”. What are the signs that one is held under the spell and control of this arch enemy of men?

1. Such a person has no peace of mind. Rom 5:1 NHEB “Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;” The man held under the sway of Satan is not justified through faith and so does not have any peace with God. There is a constant turmoil in the soul of such a person.

2. Such a person is easily angered by the slightest offense. He would easily go into a rage of anger when provoked. All these are signs of the power of sin that holds him or her bound.

3. He is a man full of himself. Pride holds the best part of him. Such a person would either fall to various promptings to sin or may be able to control his appetites, yet very arrogant.

4.He may be having some strange spiritual happenings in his life. Some of these may be health challenges that will not respond to medical treatment. Some may be having some very horrible nightmares. All these are signs of Satan’s dominance over that individual

YOUR way out is to surrender your life to Jesus. He will bring you true peace and authority over the devils. Matthew 28:18 NHEB “Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”

Today make a decision to follow and serve the Lord Jesus. You can pray the following prayer.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly father. I thank you for the truth of your word. I refuse the lies of the devil and accept your word today. I believe Jesus died for my sins and accept Him as the Lord of my life.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 48:22 NHEB “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

John 16:33 NHEB I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up. I have overcome the world.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:8 & 9″for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.

Some people argue that when a man asked our Lord Jesus about how to enter into life, the Lord said in Matthew 19:17,” …. that if you would enter into life keep the commandments” These people claim that if the Lord said so then we are not saved by grace but by keeping the commandments.

Please I would like us to follow the story critically (Matt 19:16–.26 The Lord said to the man to keep the commandments if he wanted to enter into life. The man also said he had kept all the commandments from his youth. Now if the Lord really meant that keeping the commandment was the way to life would he had said anything further? The Lord added the following. Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” The Bible said when the man heard this statement he went away sad.

The Lord added that it would be more difficult for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. At this saying, the disciples asked, who then can be saved? The Lord added the following Mat 19:26 NHEB Looking at them, Jesus said, “With humans this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Please consider the statement of our Lord Jesus. He says over here that it is impossible for a man to be saved by his abilities. How then can one be saved? Our key scripture gives us the answer which agrees perfectly with what the Lord would have his disciples learn. Eph 2:8 & 9″ for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. Salvation is not in the ability of man.

Isaiah 53:6 reads “We all like sheep have gone astray.  Everyone has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. This was written about Him a thousand years before He was born. Jesus died that anyone who believes in Him should not perish

This is what the grace of God is all about.

Stop depending on your efforts to be saved. Believe on Jesus today. The following is a prayer you can pray to welcome Him into your life.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly father I surrender my life to the Lordship of Jesus today. I confess that He died for my sins and rose up to life again after the third day.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 3:10 NHEB. For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

Galatians 3:11 NHEB” Now it is evident that no one is justified by the law before God, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:8 ” for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

Most MEN believe in earning whatever they could obtain. That is good yet, when it comes to salvation it is on a higher stage. The problem emanates from people’s misunderstanding about salvation. Salvation is not just turning over a new leaf. It is more than becoming a good man. Salvation is receiving a new life. 1Jn 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life”. One is saved because he or she has received eternal life replacing the nature of sin and death inherited from Adam and Eve. Romans 5:12″ Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so, death passed to all people, because all sinned”. All men who have proceeded from Adam and Eve inherited their nature of sin and death. This error cannot be corrected by the good works of any man. There must be a completely changed nature.

THIS is the reason our Lord Jesus had to die for all mankind. There was the need for the shedding of blood so our sins would be forgiven. Heb 9:22 ” According to the Law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”. Salvation is purely an act of God’s grace. It is not by any works of man, but simply counting on what Jesus did by laying His life as a ransom for all mankind.

What then is grace?  The grace of God is all the goodness of God expressed through our Lord Jesus Christ towards men. In salvation it is the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus for all mankind. Anyone who accepts it as his or her death receives the very life that Jesus gave. This life is called eternal life. 1John 5:13 ” These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life” .As you can see we are not saved by our works but by counting on the goodness of God shown to all mankind through our Lord Jesus .  Everyone can be saved if only you would believe on Jesus death for your sins. Someone asked, can a man continue living in sin and still claim to be saved, because he believes in Jesus? To still live in sin may mean you did not receive the life of God. You can’t have a new life and continue in the old ways. Dearly beloved one, open up your heart and truly believe on Jesus for a completely new life and a righteous way of living.

PRAYER

Thank you, heavenly Father, for giving over your Son Jesus to die for me. I repent from all my wrong ways and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 3:16 ” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life”.

John 1:12 ” But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name”,

KEY SCRIPTURE: Revelation 20:15 NHEB “If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire”.

GOD the judge of all flesh is a just God. All men would be judged according to their works. Rev 20:12 “I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. “This scripture teaches us all that, one day, each person would be judged according to all that he did in the flesh. There are some people in places of authority who treat their subjects like rubbish. Dear one, understand you are a man like every other man. You would not be given any special treatment from others. You would be judged. Those bosses who demand sex before they give employment, would one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged for exploiting poor girls.

Certain politicians have stolen so much money from the state. They go to Christian gatherings and make fat donations thinking this would appease God. Don’t deceive yourself. Is your name in the book of life. Rev 21:27 NHEB There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. “What is your lifestyle? Some people go round teaching that the soul of a man is mortal and just as the body ceases to function at death, the same happens to the soul. This is an erroneous teaching. Death is not just a cessation of life but a separation of the spirit from the physical mortal part. James 2:26 NHEB. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. Your spirit is the real you. It is the presence of the spirit in the body that gives it life. Your body is called a tent or a temple. 2Co 5:1 NHEB. For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, everlasting, in the heavens. This body is described as a house. Live with the consciousness that you would live forever but you would be judged.

Apostle Paul spoke about certain men whose names were written in the. He knew their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. Anyone whose name is written in the book of life knows certainly that his or her name is written therein. Phi 4:3 NHEB “Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” Paul knew that these men had their names in the book of life. Do you have your name in the book of life? If you are not sure then your name is not there. You have got to be sure. To do so you must surrender your life to the Lordship of Jesus. You have to follow and serve the Lord diligently so you would make your calling sure.

YOU may say the following prayer. Do this from your heart.

PRAYER

O heavenly father, today I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord of my life. I believe in my heart that He rose up again after the third day. Help me Lord to serve you till I meet you.

FURTHER STUDIES

Revelation 3:5 ” He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” .

Revelation 13:8 ” All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of who has been killed”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 1:22 ” Professing to be wise, they became fools,”

Besides a mad man or woman whose cognitive abilities may be greatly impaired every other person believes his or her actions are wise. Stupidity or wisdom of an individual is in relation to the ultimate results of their actions. The following scripture shows us the pathway of those the Bible calls fools. Rom 1:21″ Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or gave Him thanks, but their thinking became nonsense, and their foolish heart was darkened”. According to the Bible the path to folly begins with refusing to give glory to God. Pride always comes before a fall Pro 16:18 ” Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”.

I would narrate a true story which vividly proves the truth of the import of the scripture in Proverbs 16:18.

A group of young boys and girls were going for a camp session. They all joined one of their colleagues who had a car. They picked the last girl whose mother bid them farewell. The mother also added may the Lord be with you. This girl out of arrogance said, ‘there is no extra space in the car for God to be with us.’. He can have some space in the car boot, she added. As they left, their car was involved in a very fatal accident. The car was so badly wrecked such that everybody died instantly. The police came to check the extend of damage. They realized, that although the car was so badly damaged nothing in the boot had been destroyed. Everything was intact. Even a crate of eggs in the boot had not scattered, or not one egg was broken. Indeed, a haughty spirit always preceded destruction. They were not prepared to give a little honor and respect to God and spite Him to His face, by apportioning Him a place in   the boot. He actually protected all that was in the boot.

Beloved brother or sister, life is spiritual and so be wise. You may not be doing as this girl did, yet you may be despising God in a way. Give the glory that is due God to Him. Stop being wise in your own eyes, and humble yourself before the creator of the universe. He would forgive all your rebellion and save your soul. Choose the wise way today. Repent of your sins and let Jesus be the Lord of your life today.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly father, I   acknowledge that, I have been very rebellious against your word. Forgive me my sins. I confess that Jesus is the Lord of my life. I will follow you all the days of my life.

FURTHER STUDIES

James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore, it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverb 29:23 ” A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.”

KEY SCRIPTURE :2Peter 3:4 and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

Has Jesus delayed in coming back? This is a question posed by one who may be anticipating His coming back. To those who do not consider whatever the Bible says, they may say, He is not coming any way. Their popular song is “since it was written all these years that He is coming everything has been as it is and we have nothing changing”. This believe and assertion has driven many into passivity and carelessness. This ‘disease’ can attack some Christians who would neglect their Christian disciplines. They could become cold and indifferent to God’s call for commitment, service and holiness.

Dear one, don’t be deceived about the so-called delay: the signs that point to His, soon return are more convincing and clearer today, than just five years ago. The Bible spoke about the revelation of the antichrist who would enforce the use of a number on the forehead and righthand of all people. Rev 13:16 “He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead;” Dear one, the Bible was written a great number of years ago with no knowledge of biochips in sight. There are a number of nations which has introduced the biochips. The stage is set for the revelation of the antichrist. Do you realize the world united bodies like the UN is very hostile to Christianity and the Bible? The Bible said iniquity would abound and indeed it is worse in our time than any other time. Civilization is supposed to be at its peak yet in almost all the elite nations, activities like homosexualism. Lesbianism, beastiality, and all kinds of trans gender practices are promoted and accepted. What should convince you further that we are getting to the close of the age, or the coming of the master. There have been clear signs in the heavenlies pointing to the coming of our Lord. Dear brother or sister do not be deceived His coming has not delayed.

Listen to what God says about you in the light of the so call delay. 2Pe 3:9 ” The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. He says he has not delayed rather He is waiting on you to repent. He does not want you to perish in eternal fire. You would be the greatest loser to keep singing the chorus, He is not coming again, only to realize He has come. You are safer to accept His message and meet Him unashamed at His coming, than to be stubborn and meet Him unprepared. Note this: you have two major ways to meet Him. 1.When you die and depart this life you would meet His judgment. 2.You may also meet Him when He returns for the righteous.

YOU can be prepared to meet Him in death or when He comes the second time.  You must surrender your life to His lordship over your life today. You may pray the following prayer sincerely.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly father, I repent of every rebellion to your word and your love for me. Forgive me my sins. I welcome Jesus to be the Lord of my life and savior of my soul. Thank you, Lord. Amen

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Peter 3:17 ” You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.”

2Peter 3:15 “Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 1:11″ Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”.

Our Lord Jesus after His work on the earth did not vanish into thin air. He met with His disciples numbering about one hundred and twenty people and gave them His final instructions. He was raised and received by the clouds into heaven. Two men in white dress, who were apparently angels stood with them and said,”…….. this same Jesus who is taken from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go.” This is a very significant event. The highlights of the angels’ statement are

 1.This same Jesus.

 2.Taken into heaven

 3.Shall come back in like manner.

Our Lord Jesus lived among his disciples taught them and was finally crucified, yet He rose from the grave. It was that same Jesus who would come back to the earth again. The next statement to consider is He was taken into heaven. There is a place called heaven where the righteous shall be. Thirdly the angels said He is going to return in a like fashion. The Lord Himself describes how His coming would be. Mat 24:30 KJV “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. The  Bible says all men shall see Him, descending on the clouds with great power and glory: but they would do one other thing., they  would mourn at seeing Jesus come down. Why would they mourn;

1.They would mourn because they would instantly realised all that was said to them was the truth

2 They would mourn because they would not be ready for all the judgements that await them.

3.They would mourn because the lake of fire will be looming at them.

4.They would mourn because they could have believed but they did not believe or accept it.

Dear brother or sister there would be another group of people who would be rejoicing at the coming of Jesus. These would be those who lived for the glory of Jesus. They would be those who believed in Jesus and surrendered their lives to Him. These would also be the people who would be expecting the return of Christ. It would be a very glorious time for some of us but the worst day in the lives of many. This should not be the case for you. My dear reader or enquirer, don’t continue to be defiant and stubborn, there are too many evidences pointing to the fact that this particular event will take place and may take place very soon.

DON’T BE caught unawares, be ready for the Lord. You can do so by praying the following prayer

PRAYER

MY Heavenly father, I come unto you in Jesus name. I surrender my life to the Lordship of Jesus. I welcome you Lord to be my savior. Thanks for saving my soul.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Thess 5:2 KJV” For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night”.

2 Peter 3:10 KJV” But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:6 ” For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace;”

Every human being has a master of some kind. He or she is a slave to one thing or another. The kind of master you have determines the life you will live. There is a master called the flesh who is known to many of us because a lot of people are ruled by it. The Bible in some occasions uses the word carnal for the flesh. The scripture vividly shows how many men and women get enslaved by it. Rom 8:5 ISV “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit” .The Bible says, those who live after the flesh Set the minds on the things of the flesh. Once the mind is captured the rest of the body follows suit like train coaches following the engine or head.

The flesh is a very harsh taskmaster because, it makes misery of all those it enslaves. I have seen middle aged men, because of lust of the flesh forsake their wives and family to go for girls as old as their own children. They spend so much on them and eventually they end up sick and broke. Some of the youth bound by the flesh cannot ignore very dangerous substances like Tramadol (Tramol), cocaine, heroin and many more. If God does not intervene, their end is always fatal. There are some who can’t pass the night without having sex of some kind. Some practice internet sex. Much is left to be said about those held by pornography, alcohol abuse and its related reproaches. Everyone held by the flesh in whatever form it may be is in great distress. Every one of them sincerely wishes he or she could be free from this master, yet it appears almost impossible to be free.

Why is it so difficult to come out of the grip of this supposedly harmless master? The truth is that there is a hidden master who hides behind the scenes using the flesh as a bait to enslave its victims. If this master was to come in his full form everyone would have rejected him. Eph 2:2   “that you once practiced as you lived according to the ways of this present world and according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now active in those who are disobedient. “This spirit is Satan. He is holding you bound

Inspite of this gloomy condition there is a way out, how? Just change your master. There is the best master who laid down His life for you. He will set you free from your current masters, the flesh and Satan. There is a life of peace, power and preservation available for you. It will take only a decision to make it possible. Sincerely decide to make Jesus the Lord of your life today. Determine to stay in church and never go into the world again. You may pray the following prayer.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, with my whole heart I surrender to you. I believe in Jesus who died and rose up from the grave. I confess Him as master of my life today

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For the desire is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”

1 John 2:16 ” For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not the Father’s, but is the world’s”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 14:6 ISV “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The Lord Jesus said emphatically to His disciples and effectively to all men that He is THE way. This statement gives no room for any other person, system or religion to suggest an ALTERNATIVE way. Our Lord seriously distinguishes Himself as outstanding in every area where one could make any comparism. Why does Jesus stand out?

Anyone who claims to be the only savior should have certain unique qualities. He was born of a virgin mother without a human father. Mat 1:18 ISV ” Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah happened in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they lived together, she was discovered to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. “He lived a sinless and unique life. Heb 4:15 ISV” For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet he never sinned”. He lived a life of outstanding miracles. Healed multitudes of their sicknesses, fed thousands of people, raised the dead after four days. He walked on water and turned water into wine. He was finally crucified, (whiles the prime judge, Pontius Pilate declared, He finds no fault in Him.) but rose back to life on the third day. His grave remained empty.

As the true savior He continually shows Himself alive to various kinds of people. Many hardened and psychologically sound Muslims have encountered the risen Christ. They all repented from their faith and bowed to Him. He continuous to work miracles in the lives of all people of all races. By a simple and sincere prayer. He always shows up to bless and deliver the troubled. Dear reader, don’t be confused by the so call multiple religions, or philosophy, science or the traditions of men. Act 4:12 ISV There is no salvation by anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” He said He is the only way, and He has proved it He is able to save any who call on Him. If you are in another faith and wondering which is the way just pray sincerely now. Saying Lord Jesus, I want to know you, let me know you are the only way. If you would say this prayer sincerely, He would show you He is the only way.

CONFESSION

Dear Lord Jesus I declare you are the only way, the truth and the life. You are my Lord and I would live to honor you. Amen.

FURTHER STUDIES

Colossians 2:8 ISV” See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to the Messiah,”

Colossians 1:16 ISV” For by him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether they are kings, lords, rulers, or powers.   All things have been created through him and for him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 3:9 KJV And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

The Lord called Adam and asked, where are you?  God is all seeing and all knowing, why would He ask about the whereabouts of Adam. Please listen, the issue is not about the physical location of the man, but the heart condition and its choices. God had created Adam and Eve and given all authority into their hands with just one condition, that they kept an allegiance to Him. They listened to the devil, obeyed his suggestions and broke that allegiance. Their heart was gone away and had taken on a nature of sin and death. They have gone away from His presence. They were insight yet they were lost.

Today, to all men who have not yielded their hearts to God He is asking and calling where are you?  This is not just an ordinary call, but from a heart of love and pain. You were made in beauty, power and splendor, yet many of us have become slaves to alcohol, lust, drugs, crime, murder, anger, witchcraft and all kinds of satanic controlled natures. The following is what man has become Romans 1:29 KJV “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,” The heart of men gropes in the dark whiles our father is light and lives in the light. God is calling for you, saying my son, where are you? My daughter, where are you? You may be in church yet your heart is so far away from the Father, filled with lust, unforgiveness, self-centeredness. It is not where you are physically that matters, but where is your heart or what is the state of your heart.?

In the case of Adam and Eve, the Lord God killed a lamb and used its skin to cover their nakedness. Now God gave Jesus to die for us, and has made Him to be sin for us so that we can become the righteousness of God. Righteousness is God’s garment to cover your nakedness, caused by sin. He would give you a new heart. Accept to come to Him, repent of your stubbornness and surrender your life to Him. 2Co 5:21 KJV “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. Dear one God is crying for you to come home today. If you fail to come today you would cry out ‘blood’ tomorrow, but it would be too late, you may pray the following prayer.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly father, I am sorry   for my rebellion against your word. I confess Jesus as the Lord of my life today and declare that He was raised to life again after the third day. Thank you, Jesus.

FURTHER STUDIES

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV ” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Ephesians 2:12 KJV” That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”