Worthy, You are worthy, King of kings, Lord of lords You are worthy 2x.//For the life You gave us we come to say thank, for Your Son Jesus Who died on the cross, I just want to say Baba ooo, Ese.

Heavenly Father we Thank You, we come before You to worship You and to honour You for Who You are. Thank You Father for waking us up this morning all to the glory of God. Once again Lord, we are grateful and we stand in awe of Who You are. Father, Thank You for watching over us, protecting us from entice of the enemies. Thank You for frustrating all their plans towards us. Glory be to Your Holy Name Amen!

Beloved just note that it is not that alarm on your bedside that woke you up this morning. God touch woke you, else try putting an alarm besides a dead man and see how far. So I want you in humility of heart to give God deep worship. Reverence Him from the very depth of your heart. Enthrone Him afresh in your life and see Him working anew in your life. Praise God. Mercy rejoices over judgment and save us

Taking further step in faith class. Today we are considering the next stage in faith development which according to fowler’s contribution to development is identification and Beginnings of Internalization/

Stage Two: Identification and Beginnings of Internalization. These persons are still highly dependent on the input from external authorities. They receive Christian content and direction primarily from external sources. What distinguishes these people from stage one people is that they are beginning to filter their life’s experiences and thoughts through their rudimentary personal faith. They begin to realize their own personal responsibility for their spiritual growth. Just like a child knows it is hungry and must eat, so these people realize the need to pursue spiritual nutrition. People begin to ask, “How does my faith interact with what I am being told?” They continue to go to others to find out how their faith is to function and interact with their experiences. Discipling and mentoring become important here because authorities are still considered models to copy. Categories of faith development and faith thinking are few and still immature (some are just plain shallow).

So what should be done to individual at this stage is to intensify efforts in being them to the understanding of Who God is.

Dear reader is that the stage you are today? Make effort to grow spiritually. Do not leave your spiritual development to chance because it is far better than any career development you will ever get. If you grow in stature of the secular without proper development of your spiritual life, it is very likely that you will clash to zero level if you are ever tested by your Creator, so beware.

Coming to the teaching of the day, we have an interesting topic. Is a call for us to separate ourselves from everything that charm us away from God and be closer to Him. As we also read so many things are out there beckoning on us to distract us from God:

“Be ye separate.” 2Corinthians 6:17

The Christian, while in the world, is not to be of the world. He should be distinguished from it in the great object of his life. To him, “to live,” should be “Christ.” Whether he eats, or drinks, or whatever he does, he should do all to God’s glory.

You may lay up treasure; but lay it up in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, where thieves break not through nor steal. You may strive to be rich; but be it your ambition to be “rich in faith,” and good works. You may have pleasure; but when you are merry, sing psalms and make melody in your hearts to the Lord.

In your spirit, as well as in your aim, you should differ from the world. Waiting humbly before God, always conscious of His presence, delighting in communion with Him, and seeking to know His will, you will prove that you are of heavenly race.

And you should be separate from the world in your actions. If a thing be right, though you lose by it, it must be done; if it be wrong, though you would gain by it, you must scorn the sin for your Master’s sake. You must have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Walk worthy of your high calling and dignity. Remember, O Christian, that thou art a son of the King of kings. Therefore, keep thyself unspotted from the world. Soil not the fingers which are soon to sweep celestial strings; let not these eyes become the windows of lust which are soon to see the King in His beauty—let not those feet be defiled in miry places, which are soon to walk the golden streets—let not those hearts be filled with pride and bitterness which are ere long to be filled with heaven, and to overflow with ecstatic joy.

Then rise my soul! and soar away,

Above the thoughtless crowd;

Above the pleasures of the gay,

And splendours of the proud;

Up where eternal beauties bloom,

And pleasures all divine;

Where wealth, that never can consume,

And endless glories shine.

Beloveth, let us walk worthy of our calling. Shun acts that are not edifying. Business that will bring dishonor to your heavenly father who you profess. Recently, a friend of mine, a supposedly a giant in the kingdom came to introduce me to a business that I believe is not genuine, she may not know but coming from a financial background knew that there is a flaw somewhere. After that encounter, I went to God in prayer for a word from Him, I was not praying that God should me protect while I am doing the business, I simply ask God to be manifest His power and glory in my life. I will rather be poor than make money in unclean way but I also know that I will never be poor because Christ became poor that I may be rich in His stead. Praise God.

Beloved, howbeit that a child of God be numbered among the acts of children of darkness. May God help us and lead us in righteousness because of our enemies, the devil who do all to ensnare the children of God. Let’s get going:

“Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies.” Psalms 5:8

Very bitter is the enmity of the world against the people of Christ. Men will forgive a thousand faults in others, but they will magnify the most trivial offence in the followers of Jesus. Instead of vainly regretting this, let us turn it to account, and since so many are watching for our halting, let this be a special motive for walking very carefully before God.

If we live carelessly, the lynx-eyed world will soon see it, and with its hundred tongues, it will spread the story, exaggerated and emblazoned by the zeal of slander. They will shout triumphantly. “Aha! So would we have it! See how these Christians act! They are hypocrites to a man.” Thus will much damage be done to the cause of Christ, and much insult offered to His name.

The cross of Christ is in itself an offence to the world; let us take heed that we add no offence of our own. It is “to the Jews a stumblingblock”: let us mind that we put no stumblingblocks where there are enough already. “To the Greeks it is foolishness”: let us not add our folly to give point to the scorn with which the worldly-wise deride the gospel.

How jealous should we be of ourselves! How rigid with our consciences! In the presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds, and impugn our motives where they cannot censure our actions, how circumspect should we be! Pilgrims travel as suspected persons through Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there are more spies than we reck of.

The espionage is everywhere, at home and abroad. If we fall into the enemies’ hands we may sooner expect generosity from a wolf, or mercy from a fiend, than anything like patience with our infirmities from men who spice their infidelity towards God with scandals against His people. O Lord, lead us ever, lest our enemies trip us up!

Did you just read that we be jealous of ourselves? Yesterday we saw a jealous God and today we are instructed to be jealous of ourselves that is being jealous of our high calling in Christ. Guide it with all diligence. Let us be rigid with our consciences especially in the presence of our adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds and motives.

Beloved be yea separate from the world. From their actions, their way of live and never you forget this that ‘is God that teacheth Thee to profit (Isa 48:17).’ So be mindful of how you walk. Make effort to develop your faith because it is your weapon against the adversary. Don’t forget that the confession of your mouth is as powerful as your actions. So beware of how you speak. So that the devil will not hold you captive.

Beloved, we encourage you to continue in faith (Act 14:22).

Remain bless in the Lord.

Evang Ifeoma Ohondu

 

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IFEOMA OHONDU is the founder of the MattersoftheHeart foundation, a platform where issues affecting our everyday life are discussed and where necessary proffer solution. She is part of the end time army, who will not break their rank to fulfill the urgent call of God upon her life by declaring His word to the helpless, the doubting, the comfortless and the dying world. The world will experience great restoration and healing in the Word of God through her ministration. She is a voice to emphasize key spiritual truth about Faith, Healing and Encouragement.