A REFLECTION ON MORALITY

When it comes to the issue of morality, there is no absoluteness – if I may put it in that way.

Certain moral codes are defined by intrinsic values, which are representative of either an individual’s upbringing and/or certain other factors.

Religion also has a somewhat understated influence on the definition of our morality. The foregoing statement shouldn't be misrepresented as implying that religion and Morality are one and the same, neither is it saying that one is a subset of the other. Saying such will be tantamount to implying that moral-ism is an exclusive reserve for religious men/women; and that will be a fallacy, for certain atheists or rather ‘not-overly-committed’ religious men/women often keep to some of the highest moral standards even more so than the highly religious fellows.

Respecting the moral codes of others, provided they reside under the legal statutes, is very critical in sustaining peace and building positive relationships. The inability of the modern world and its people to see things or even try to rationalize things from the standpoint of others is a major cause of discord, intolerance and strife.

Life is seen in different ways by different people. The Perspective in which we see things defines our understanding of such; being able to rationalize things from others perspective creates mutual respect. You don’t necessarily need to accept an individual’s outlook. Merely seeing things from their standpoint is sufficient.

image gotten from: http://dentonbible.org/stories/culture-watch-redefining-morality/

ISOLATION: A KEY STRATEGY OF THE ENEMY

Written on: 04 – 03 – 2013

Isolation in this case can be referred to as the divide and conquer mechanism of the enemy (the devil).

This is a veritable tool of the enemy. Satan’s goal is to destroy the link between mankind and God. The most formidable way to do that is to isolate individuals and thus weaken the collective strength of a target group.

Remember, God has always highlighted the strength that lies within bond and unison in action. His word says; one will chase a thousand and two will chase ten thousand. His word also says, where two or more are gathered in my name, therein will I be. The importance of collectiveness in actions, deeds and assembly/fellowship; in Christendom cannot be overemphasized.

The devil is a very cunny creature and master strategist at that. The only thing going against him is that he never seems to learn that God has the capacity to change/turn any and every situation for the good of His children. No matter how far gone the devil thinks he has succeeded in a particular life, God is always capable of using that to His advantage. God maketh all things work for our good. God’s good plan for believers is the perpetual spanner in wheel/work of the devil.

HOW DOES THE DEVIL GO ABOUT THIS?

First and foremost, we must always realize that we are only as strong as our weakest member! Instead of pushing away that person who seems more prone to falling off the track, we ought to even draw him/her closer both in prayer and otherwise.

The devil targets the most vulnerable point, in fact he diligently seeks it out. The scripture affirms this when it says he is moving to and fro like a lion seeking whom to destroy. Note, this scripture is so apt in describing the devil in the context of this write-up because, just as a pride a lion seeks to isolate a target amongst a herd, so also does the devil and his agents work. The weakest link is the easiest target and the dirty player he is, will not hesitate to strike that individual and thus weaken the group.

We should never be ignorant of the devils devises. By causing strife and disaffection with those who are true allies, associates and friends and creating illusionary and ephemeral  bonds with fair-weather friends, sycophants and individuals who speak what we desire and want to hear and not what we need to hear(the truth – for it is only the truth that can set us free), he begins his divisive work. This brings about ISOLATION from those who are supposed to lift us up and provide support when we need it.

When he successfully draws out the weakest, he has already succeeded in isolating that person, and the sycophants and illusionary friends dissipate into the thin air, leaving him/her all alone.

At other times he doesn’t necessarily target the weakest link. Let’s take the case of Joseph as an example. He knew that Joseph was destined for greatness. He figured (wrongly I must add) that his greatest chance of destroying Joseph was isolating him from his brethren and parents. He strategically went about doing this, thus;

He first and foremost capitalized on the preferential treatment given to Joseph by Jacob – their father – to sow the seed of discord and hatred. The second step was ensuring that Joseph spoke of His dream without wisdom and without contemplating the implication of doing such. Who knows if it was even the devil that showed Joseph the dreams, for it was not revealed in the scripture that God was responsible for the dreams. After successfully doing that, he ensured that a second dream further watered the seed of strife and sowed a similar one in Jacobs’ mind thus further isolating Joseph. The rest they say is history.

Further to the above, Joseph was beginning to form a new ally in Potiphar, but yet again the devil came up with a proposition for a seemingly good ally in Potiphar’s wife, but Joseph was wise and didn’t fall for this. At the end, God came good and turned the whole story around.

Through the ages past, the devil has employed the tool known as isolation to attack great destinies. He tried it with Moses, with David and even attempted it with Christ. In Christ’s instance, he didn’t isolate Christ, He waited for an opportune time when Jesus was on His own and seemingly vulnerable, but we know how that panned out.

We know that though God has our backs, we still have to be wise and wary. Though we trust in the power of God that worketh in us, we should not underestimate the devil and definitely not rest on our oars, for the scripture says – let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he falls! 

Image gotten from: http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/isolation-20clipart

DEALING WITH MASTURBATION AS A BELIEVER

Masturbation is one of the commonest habits besetting believers as they try to curb their urges to indulge in fornication.

Masturbation seemingly gives temporarily, ephemeral and deceptive feeling of happiness, in the end only leads to destruction both physically and spiritually.

Once beset with this sin or habit as the case may be, people have often found out that it is very difficult to pull out of it and drop aside its accompanying ‘evil’. ‘Accompanying evil’ in the sense that masturbation never comes alone. It tends to cause the individual to be drawn in on several negative habits as well; such as, pornography, perverse thoughts and imaginations, reading demonic and evil literatures, to mention but a few.

In order to fully deal with the demon of masturbation, we have to take certain actions/steps;

1.       Acknowledgement of masturbation as a sin and destructive habit. The first step is admittance. Admittance of masturbation as self-destroying habit and a habit that can only bring about negative consequences in the end. You must acknowledge that you need help and you need to stop the habit as a matter of urgency.

2.       Repent and ask God for mercy.

3.       Ask the Holy Spirit for help in overcoming this habit. You need to go on your knees and prayerfully ask the Lord to help you overcome this habit. Acknowledge to him, that on your own you are not capable but you can only prevail by His Grace. Tell Him that in accordance to His word, he should make His strength perfect in this weakness of yours.

4.       Memorize scriptures and meditate on them. One of the major ammo that the enemy uses to keep us in bondage to this habit is our thoughts and imagination. The trick he uses is to always plant negative and perverse imagery (probably from what we’ve viewed, heard or read) in our minds to trigger the urge. Once you sense such, you need to be alert and start quoting – either internally or loudly – the scriptural verses you have committed to memory; and the thought will flee instantly. You need to concentrate while doing this.

5.       Limit and control information. You need to ensure that you are careful of what you see, hear, or read. Carefully select the type of TV programmes you watch, the type of books you read, the type of individuals you interact and converse with, the type of discussions you indulge in. At this moment it takes very little to trigger the urge. What you internalize determines what your mind and subconscious dwells upon. While in this state, your mind is quite adept and ever willing to interprete and misconstrue any information - with the slightest hint of perverseness – to connote sexual perverseness. So you need to be very careful, and learn to curb your thoughts from deviating by applying step 3 above.

6.       Indulge in a (marathon) spiritual exercise you hold sacred. Fasting is usually an exercise that we hold sacred and in which we assume a sanctified state. We tend to not only abstain from food but other vices which we believe that God detests. So once we have acknowledged that God detests masturbation in step 1, we should then on proceed to keying into one of the numerous fasting programmes (be it RCCG’s 40 days fasting programme, MFM’s 70 days fasting programme, Winners chapel 21 days fasting programme and the likes). If none is close by then you can start one in conjunction and agreement with some brethren or friends, or even by yourself. It is not compulsory you fast through the whole programme, or even break at the specified time. The most important thing here is holding the entire duration of the fasting programme as a sacred period and a period of sanctity. Once you are able to successfully go through this period without indulging, then you have made a major breakthrough.

7.       Dealing with the demon behind it. Behind every negative vice/habit, and behind every sin, there is a demon, either pushing us deeper or enforcing it in our lives. We need to prayerfully deal with the demons (could be during the fasting) aggressively. Destroy the yoke and embargo of masturbation on your life and ask that the Lord Jesus replace it with his own, for he says make yoke is easy and my burden is light.

8.       Offer thanks to God. As believers we need to offer thanks to God at every time, in every condition and wherever we find ourselves. This is no exception! Give him the praise for helping you and leading you on the way to overcome this challenge. Thank him for even giving you awareness to see what the habit is and for providing a way of escape from it.

TO DRINK OR NOT TO DRINK?

(DEFINITIVE) BIBLICAL PROOF AGAINST DRINKING ALCOHOL

Leviticus Chapter 10 Verse 9: 

"You and your sons are not drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting or you will die"

I Corinthians Chapter 3 Verse 16:

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit lives in you?"

In this article, i will try and build the points in a sequential manner, first stating my argument and building onward. So i will crave your indulgence to please read through the article completely in order to fully grasps the point being made.

The truth of the matter, is that proponents of the belief that taking alcohol in small proportion or moderation is good and acceptable to God, are just expounding a false doctrine from the devil.

Consider the instruction in Leviticus Chapter 10 Verse 9; God specifically (through Moses) instructed Aaron and His children to abstain from wine and alcohol when proceeding into the temple.

N:B He did not say they should avoid getting drunk, it simply states total abstinence!

Now, coming down to modern times and realities. There is a new covenant brought about by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The "tent of meeting" or "temple" is no longer restricted to the four walls of a building; we ourselves(believers), have become God's temple - I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19. Therefore, the instruction given to Aaron and His children apply to us at ALL TIMES! Since we are His temple, we thus, implying that His presence abides in us, we are to abstain from alcohol.

A CASE IN POINT: 

Samson was to avoid alcoholic drinks because the Holy Spirit was to rest on Him; so why should our case be any different? A true believer ought to possess the Spirit of God! If we have the Spirit of God living in us, then it follows that we should abstain from alcohol 

Image gotten from: http://indianhealthjournal.com/2014/05/best-ways-to-quit-drinking-alcohol/1622.htm

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

Essence of family in God’s overall scheme of things

Family and its importance cannot be overemphasized. This text/article will hopefully help you see it in a different and more positive light.

God is all powerful……

He makes decisions and acts as He pleases, and still yet He is unquestionable and answerable to No one!

With that said, it is worthy to note that God is a master planner. Though He is well within His right to act in any fashion that pleases Him; He doesn't just take steps or make rules or decide on a course impulsively or ‘just because He can’. You can be assured that whatever He does or decides to do are just portions of the larger picture, that is, they are all necessary actions to attain His ultimate goal , which unite HIS family with Him in a state of PERFECTION and purity.

God cares for nothing more than (His) family and uniting them with HIM at the end of time. That is why the devil has sought to destroy man; He wants to “hurt” God where it will hurt the most.

Note the analogies in the scriptures pertaining the kingdom, the church and the body – they all point in one direction; family.

Family here is not the corruption or bastardization of it that the world tends to portray these days. Family here refers to Father, Mother and kids, with them all living together and the parents legally married with the children conceived and brought up in wedlock.

Have you ever wondered why God didn't just create (male)man in ‘bulk’?  Why did He stop at Adam? Why did He create Eve out of Adam and not dust? Why didn't He just create males or just females? He has the capacity to do all those, but He had something specific in mind which he wanted to achieve.

The human body is something that the scripture has used interchangeably with the family as analogies for the church and for each other.

Now let’s take an instance of an individual who has been blind in one eye for quite a number of years(possibly his entire life) and that individual has become quite adept at going about His daily activities with just the parts available. 

We have a second individual who happens to have recently lost one eye. Note, both individuals definitely realize the importance of having both eyes, but the latter individual will most definitely have more value for the missing eye, in fact he might feel that he couldn't possibly lead a normal life again. The first person has always known himself this way, and thus feels that he is living as normal a life as anyone else.

Now let’s build the hypothetical case study further; a well renowned thief of body parts suddenly comes to each individual, dangling their missing eyes to them. He gives them a condition to repossess the part and have them affixed back (let’s assume that only that particular eye will work for them and only the thief can restore them). He states that they have to bequeath their entire possession to him! Who do you think will be more inclined to accede to his request? The second individual it is; but why? He holds his missing eye to a much higher devotion than t

he first individual. Though both individual understand the importance of having both eyes, the first individual doesn’t have the dependence on His missing eye that individual B (the second individual) has. 

The first individual represents the false/wrong image of family while the second stands for what family should be.

God doesn't just want us to understand the importance of other family members; He wants us to be totally dependent on each other. Why you may ask? The church is God’s body, and hence his family. He wants us to translate our relationships within our earthly family into the body of Christ. But how can we do that without first experiencing and living it? That is why we are born into families so that we naturally have that bond, unfettered and unconditional loyalty, total dependence and utmost regard for everyone and a natural order with everyone knowing His/her place and not challenging others for their positions. For this to be manifest in the church, God needed to build this into our natural psyche through personal experience and not just indoctrination or because he said so.

Humans have a natural tendency to learn best from personal experience rather that what they have been told, instructed to do or read. That is why God desires us all to have a “proper” family experience and not the bastardization of it thereof. That is also why this is the devils most attacked area. He attacks any principle in order to cause a distortion of this. 

Written on: 23 – 02 – 2013

Image gotten from: http://cffic.org/

ABOUT THE BLOG

I am a seeker of truth. I very strongly believe that as believers(in Christ Jesus), we are called to seek out the truth. John Chapter 3 verse 32 says; 

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"

Knowledge of the truth is the genuine key to a Christians freedom.

Knowledge is a hidden treasure and a biblical assertion to this point is seen in Proverbs Chapter 2 Verse 4, which draws an analogy between knowledge and silver - which as we all know is a hidden treasure.

Colossians Chapter 2 Verse 3 states that this knowledge(of the truth) we seek for is hid in Christ Jesus. Much comfort is gotten from knowing that as a true believer, Christ abides in us and we in Him, because He hath given us of His Spirit (I John Chapter 4 Verse 13). With that said, it stands to be said that we ought to seek out the truth with all the we've got, as that is the key to our Christian well being.

This blog is an avenue for me to place articles which i have written over the years (and still writing), in my endeavour to find answers to questions bothering me on issues of Life and the (Christian) Faith. 

Opinions in these articles are gotten from research and much ponderation on (life) issues.

As i don't consider myself as one having access to all truth, or as being the custodian of knowledge, i decided to place the articles in a way that will give avenue to others who will better explain and give me better insight into underlying issues treated in the articles. 

Also, i hope it will help others who are having some of these issues at the back of their minds.

I sincerely hope this blog will help in getting us all to think more on the issues of the Faith, as well as, kindle a fire in us for the study of the bible that will ultimately elevate our relationship with Father to a greater level.