CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN: THE NEXUS BETWEEN MORALITY AND SPIRITUALITY

 “God delivered righteous Lot, troubled by the filthy lifestyle of the people around him because as that righteous man lived amongst them, seeing and hearing what they were doing and saying, his righteous soul was troubled day after day by their unlawful behaviours. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly from temptations, and to reserve the unjust for the Day of Judgment to be punished” – II Peter 2:7-9

In his book, James: Practical and Authentic Living, Chuck Swindoll asked, “If you say you believed like you should, why do you behave like you shouldn’t?” If we demonstrate authenticity of our identities as God’s children living in relatively ungodly environments, we would not be under pressure to compromise our testimonies. 

We live in environments which in all intents and purposes seek to stifle spiritual growth and hinder righteous living. As it was in the case of Lot, so it is in ours.

It is becoming increasingly challenging to survive and maintain one’s spiritual and moral balances in a world where antiquated immoralities have become modern moralities, where right is becoming increasingly questioned and mocked at while projecting moral and spiritual insanities as sanities.  

Our environments are so alluringly corruptive that God’s servants are being lured away by those who are in it (Genesis 6:1-5).

WHAT IS “NEXUS”?

Nexus refers to the relationship or connection between two things. The nexus between spirituality and morality is that morality should reflect one’s spirituality and vice-versa.   

To illustrate the meaning of “Nexus,” Robert Gilpin wrote, “Trade is the oldest and most important economic nexus among nations. Indeed, trade has been central to the evolution of international relations.”  

THE NEXUS BETWEEN MORALITY AND SPIRITUALITY

Humans are triune beings, possessing bodies, souls and spirits. In other words, we are Triune beings. We are composed of many things. There is a moral as well as spiritual aspects of our beings. God’s intention is that every aspect of our lives must be in consonance with His Divine Will. I Thessalonians 5:23 says:

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

To function optimally, we must strike a balance between our various components. This is to say that our physical or moral lives must be in consonance with our spiritual lives. Therefore, to strike a balance between our physicality and spirituality and make them yield to God’s Will is to find a nexus.

Recognizing a part of us that is eternal and God-like is the first step to becoming spiritual. The journey to moral and spiritual wholeness is one of intendedness. In other words, we must be intentional about it.

We must maintain our morality without compromising our spirituality. The nexus is to be humans without jeopardizing our spiritual heritage and inheritances. We must avoid spiritual lethargy and silliness.

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN: THE NEXUS BETWEEN MORALITY AND SPIRITUALITY

“Contemporary Christian” refers to modern day Christians - people who live in the present age. It refers to you and I who are alive today. 

Without equivocation, Christianity is a call to transformative life. It is a call to a life of personal responsibility centered on an active personal relationship with God. It is a call to higher living with far-reaching expectations.

Christianity calls on us not to live with outward presentability but to for an immeasurably higher and more blessed lives. It calls on us not to mouth the word, “Christian,” but to model the reality of Who we are called on to imitate His life, culture and calling.

Christianity is a call to absolute divestment of self and enthronement of Jesus in our individual lives. Galatians 2:20 says,

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [a]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

As Christians, we have been invited to model higher life of purpose and to be different from people around us. We have been called to be honourable and dignified.

CULTIVATING HIGHER MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

There are Biblical principles to help us model higher spiritual and moral lives:

1. Make It Your Daily Aim To Please God

As Christians, our daily goals should be to “please God.” II Corinthians 5:6, 8-9 says,

“So, we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ... We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”

To be “present in the body” is to live the way we would have loved to while to be “absent from the body” is to live the way God wants us to. 

2. Live Self Supervised Life

Philippians 2:12 enjoins us,

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Do not wait to be seen and monitored by fellow Christians before you live the way you should. Regulate and supervise yourself.

3. Live in God’s Presence Daily

Recognize that God is watching your every move. II Chronicles 16:9 tells us,

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.…”

GNTA translation of Proverbs 5:21 says,

“The Lord sees everything you do. Wherever you go, he is watching.”   

If people do not see you, God sees you. Knowing that God sees you and knows everything you do even when others do not should help you to know how you live.      

4. Avoid Being Like The People Around You (I Samuel 8:4-5). 

One of the most powerful negative influences which seek to pull us away and to make compromises is peer influence. Because of our need to belong, we sometimes want to become like the people around us. That was Israel’s error. Truth is, Christians are separate from the people around them and should remain so (John 17:14-16). Therefore, do not desire to be like the world around you, but make efforts to establish and maintain your distinctiveness as a “person of God’s good pleasure” (I Peter 2:9-10).

It is not the world that should determine our morality for us. Do not imitate the world around you because it has nothing meaningful to offer but riotousness and vanity. Rather than allow the world to become your role model, you should be the one to serve as its role model. The mould in which the world finds itself should not contain you.

5. Watch What You See, Read and Hear

At Mark 4:24, Jesus warns, “Consider carefully what you hear….”  At Luke 8:18, He counsels, “Therefore TAKE HEED HOW YOU HEAR.” In our popular song, “Oh Jesus I have Promised” (Songs of The Church 200), the song speaks of “Dazzling Sights and Tempting Sounds” (stanza 2). This was the challenge that confronted Lot when he lived in Sodom and Gomorrah (II Peter 2:7-8) and sought to make him compromise his testimonies.   

These “Dazzling sights and tempting sounds” of today are made worse by our social and mass media through alluring forms of entertainment in all its genres. We are constantly being bombarded with negative ideas in music, movies and dresses. We are being encouraged to allow people whose lifestyles are everything but good to become our role models. 

While Lot lived in the corruptive environment he found himself, he did not “Feel lured” by the “Sights and sounds,” but “Felt righteous indignation” because “His righteous soul was tormented by what he saw and heard” (II Peter 2:8). Rather than being attracted, his sensibilities were assaulted by them; he did not give in to them, he resisted. Do not be lured by the attractions around you. 

6. Live Above Spiritual Mediocrity

Going to church is not the end of it all. Learn to be completely absorbed into the Divine and to experience God personally. At Philippians 3:10 Apostle Paul echoed says, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection….” 

7. Stop Living For The Now

Remind yourself daily – time and time again of the consequences of living in the “NOW.” Esau lived for the NOW and he suffered the consequence. Hebrews 12:16 - 17 warns,

“Let there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” 

8. Cultivate Godly Relationships. II Timothy 2:22 counsels:

“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

Because our relationships influence us (Proverb 22:24-25; Psalms 100:34-40), I Corinthians 15:33 warns us against cultivating certain kinds of relationships. Truth be told, if Dinah, one of Jacob’s daughters had not gone to “visit with Daughters of the land” she would not have been “Violated by Schechem” (Genesis 34:1-2). Therefore, do not let any son or daughter of the land violate your righteousness! 

 CONCLUSION

Heaven is so precious and our souls too valuable that we should allow our environment to destroy the beautiful life ahead of us in eternity with our Father and His Saints glorified. All we need to do to an environment that hinders righteousness is to “Say No” to all its suggestions (Titus 2:12-13).

What the Lord has in store for us are too precious to loose by messing up with low living and all forms of unrighteousness (I Corinthians 2:9).

May the Lord strengthen us to remain focused on living for Him!

 

SPIRITUAL AND MORAL GROWTH

 “After David had served the purpose of God in his own generation, he fell asleep ... and saw corruption” - Acts 13:36 

W

e are not accidents of biology, but creatures of Divine design. Even though you may not be popular, yet, Heaven recognizes that you are because He has created you to serve His purpose. King David was a man who served God’s purpose for his own generation. We are all called by God to do the same. 

How can we serve God in our generation? By living for Him. How do we live for Him? By growing spiritually and morally!   

The topic assigned to me is, “SPIRITUAL AND MORAL GROWTH.” 

There is no gainsaying that life and living are all about growth because one vital element of living organisms is growth. The day we stop growing will be the very day we will start dying. To remain ‘alive,’ we have no option but to grow. Evidence of growth is seen in the progress we make. Remaining static is an evidence of lack of growth. 

People who refuse to grow have set machineries in motion for retardation and retrogression.   

God wants us to grow. At II Peter 1:5 – 11, Bible outlines areas where He wants us to grow and the benefits thereof: 

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”    

WHY SHOULD WE GROW SPIRITUALLY AND MORALLY?

Humans are triune beings – made up of three vital elements: body, soul and spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23). Each of these elements are important. However, we seem to place emphasis on physical growth while relegating moral and spiritual growths to the background.  

While He was here on earth, Jesus set examples of what it means to grow. Luke 2:52 tells us: 

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” 

Jesus growth was total. He was not lacking in any department – spiritually, He was in His element; morally, He was sound; socially, He was untainted; intellectually, He was quintessential (Luke 2:46-47). 

Jesus is our model of growth. 

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL GROWTH?

Spiritual growth refers to the manifest increase in volume of awareness and personal relationship with God. At II Peter 3:18, Apostle Peter enjoins every Christian to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”   

Spiritual growth begins with an undying quest for God. At Psalms 42:1, the Psalmist says, “As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.” At Matthew 5:6, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be satisfied.” 

To grow spiritually, we must yearn for God. We should not be satisfied with head knowledge, but should desire to have a personal relationship with God, after all, Jesus teaches us to see God as our “Father” (Matthew 6:1-9). Consequently, you should have a Father-child relationship with God.     

When you cultivate a healthy and thriving relationship with God, you will be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man…” (II Corinthians 4:16). Consequently, you will make it your habit to “die” daily to your carnal desires (I Corinthians 15:31), seeking to be “absent from your body” and to be “present with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:-9).   

Evidence of spiritual growth in life are:

1. Heavenly mindedness (Colossians 3:1-3).

2. Total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20).

3. Perfecting holiness in the fear of God (II Corinthians 7:1). 

Aids To Spiritual Growth

The key to spiritual development is God’s Word and commitment to it: “. . . I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you and inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

When you study God’s Word, it will enable you to grow as you should. In fact, the more you study God’s Word, the more you will internalize it and the evidence will be known to everyone. At I Timothy 4:13-15, Apostle Paul told Timothy: 

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”  

One of the evidences of spiritual growth in your life is that as you stay in the Word, your actions, attitudes and behaviours will begin to turn away from the ways of the world and begin to conform to God’s Word. You will find that you desire more and more to walk according to God’s Word and repel the thought patterns of the world that are contradictory to the Word you have learnt and received.

 

The degree to which you yearn for the world’s way of living – fashion style, music choices, movies, etcetera reveals the degree to which you have grown spiritually. As you grow, your attitudes will be reflective of who you have become – new creatures in Jesus Christ, God’s righteousness and God’s prized possessions (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:10). You will come to know the value of what you have in Christ Jesus and let go of the superficial ways of the world, knowing that what you have is greater than what the world offers.  

MORAL GROWTH

Closely related to spiritual growth is moral growth. Moral growth refers to moral purity. There is a song that we usually sing at Church: 

“Holiness is the beauty of the believer, Holiness is the beauty,

Holiness is the beauty, Holiness is the beauty of the believer

– I must be holy every day” 

To maintain moral purity, you must rein in your hormone. At Ephesians 5:3, God’s Word enjoins us: 

“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness must not be named among you, as becometh saints….” 

Moral prodigality will remain a stain on your Christian garments. At Zechariah 3:1-3, we see what moral prodigality can do to a child of God: 

“And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.  And the LORD said unto Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD Who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?’ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.”

Maintaining moral purity on a daily basis must remain your prime goal. When you soil your moral garment or compromise your morality, you will succeed in destroying a beautiful future ahead of you. Therefore, avoid compromising relationships with members of the opposite gender. 

Because of dangers inherent in moral prodigality, Hebrews 12:14-17 says: 

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  Looking diligently lest anyone fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

A number of youths in the Bible have shown us how to stand our moral grounds:

1.     Joseph (Genesis 39:9).

2.     Daniel, Meshach, Shedrach and Abednego (Daniel 1:6-8).  

HINDRANCES TO MORAL GROWTH  

1. Dazzling Sights and Tempting Sounds (II Peter 2:7-8; S.O.C. 200, stanza 2).

These “Dazzling sights and tempting sounds” of today are made worse by the mass and social media through alluring forms of entertainment in all its genres. We are constantly being bombarded with negative ideals in music, movies and suggestive literatures as well as fashion trends. 

In all of recorded history, Sodom and Gomorrah were most notorious (although our generation with all its advancements in sciences and technology is trying to outdo Sodom and Gomorrah), however, Lot, who lived in that corruptive environment did not “Feel lured” by the “Sights and sounds,” but “Felt righteous indignation” because “His righteous soul was tormented by what he saw and heard” (II Peter 2:8). Rather than being attracted, his sensibilities were assaulted by them; he did not give in to them, he resisted; we read that, “his righteous soul was tormented by what he saw and heard” among people who populated his environment. 

Fame and Fortune (Hebrews 11:23-27)   

The twin forces of Fame and fortune have been judiciously employed by Satan to hinder righteous living among God’s servants in all Biblical and secular recorded histories. 

Imagine what it means to be an adopted son of Aso Rock? That was exactly the offer Moses received so that he could compromise his heritage. Thank God, he refused, aware that whatever the environment offered was only a “passing pleasure”. We are reminded that “we brought nothing into the world and cannot take anything out of it either” (I Timothy 6:7). Considering this, therefore, our environment wants us to change that which eternal for that which is ephemeral (Matthew 16:26-27). 

Becoming Like the Jones and the Joneses (I Samuel 8:4-5). 

One of the most negative forces which our environment exerts on us is through our peers. Because of our deep sense of belonging, we sometimes want to become like the people around us. That was Israel’s error. 

Fact is, Christians are separate from the world around them and should remain so (John 17:14-16; II Cor. 6:14-18). We should not crave to be like the world around us but should make efforts to establish and maintain our distinctiveness as a “people of God’s pleasure” (I Peter 2:9-10). 

It is not the world that determines our morality for us, God does. We should not imitate the world around us because they do not have anything meaningful to offer but riotousness and vanity. 

As Christians, we should become role models for our environment, not the other way. We should live above our environment, not within it. The mold in which the world finds itself should not contain us. 

Many have gone astray by joining party with the world, throwing in the towel to righteous living. Even though the world is a strong force against righteousness, yet, we have a greater force resident in us, the power of righteousness (II Peter 1:3-4; cf. I John 4:4). Therefore, to bow to our environment is to bring shame to our Father and to our spiritual family. 

EVIDENCES OF MORAL GROWTH 

Ability to say “No” 

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” - Titus 2:11-12. 

Living by Holy Spirit’s directions

 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:25 

CONCLUSION

Spiritual and moral growths are twin evidences of a Christian’s health and Heaven’s readiness. It is our personal responsibilities to grow spiritually and morally. This is not something that anyone can do for us. They are things we must endeavour to do for ourselves. 

Spiritual and moral growths are what will guarantee eternal safety. Failure to do so will be counterproductive now and in eternity. 

May we endeavour to grow spiritually and morally in Jesus’ Name!   

WHO IS TO PRAY: WHEN, WHERE AND HOW?

 INTRODUCTION     

        In journalism, six fundamental questions of news reportage are: who, what, where, when, why and how? These are what we refer to as “5 Ws and H.”  With these, you can report any news event no matter how simple or complex. They help you to elicit all the answers that would enable you to write your stories.

        The topic assigned to me is, “Who is to pray: when, where and how?” generally speaking, our discussion will be centering around the subject of prayer. This is solemn.

        Prayer is powerful! It is both a privilege and a right. Prayer is a privilege because God has made available communication resource – He has given us his direct telephone line so that we can call Him 24/7. While He speaks to us through His Word, we speak to Him through prayers. We have His assurance that we can call Him any time we want and He will answer us (Psalms 50:15). This is a privilege we are not supposed to enjoy considering our human frailties, yet, God is gracious enough to keep the doors to His Throne opened so that we walk in and speak to Him one on one. While we come we are not supposed to come with fear but with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).

        Prayer is a right. It is a right given to you as a child of God to talk to your Father anytime, any day and anywhere but not just any how. We have the right to walk into God’s presence and before His Throne at any given time and under any given circumstance.

        Prayer is a powerful spiritual resource, which we must do well to take advantage of.

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

WHO IS TO PRAY?

         All flesh (Psalms 65:2). All people irrespective of race, language, political, social, educational and economic status, etcetera are invited by God to pray. In teaching appropriatory prayer, our Lord Jesus Christ used the word, “Whoever” (Mark 11:23b). Whoever is whoever! No one is exempted. So long as anyone feels the desire to pray, the door of Heaven is open.

        No issue is too small not to be brought before God and none is too heavy that He cannot attend to (Psalms 2:8). Bring any matter of concern to you to God because He cares (I Peter 5:7). God is burdened by whatever burdens us. He is concerned by whatever concerns us and is troubled by whatever troubles us.

        While emphasizing that anyone can pray, however, we must appreciate the fact that not everyone’s prayer is treasured by Heaven. While the prayers of a sinner is an abomination to God (Proverbs 28:9) that of the righteous “availeth much” (James 5:16).

        Considering that not all prayers are effective those who lead our private and public prayers should people who have “holy hands” (I Timothy 2:8).

WHEN ARE WE TO PRAY?

        In all circumstances: good times and challenging times. Those who are afflicted and sick are invited to go to God in prayer (James 5:13-14). We are to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17): morning, afternoon and night. No time is early and no time is late; every time of prayer is appropriate. Pray whenever your spirit prompts you to pray.

        We pray when we receive invitation by others to “remember me/us in your prayers” (I Samuel 12:23; cf. I Timothy 2:1).

WHERE ARE WE TO PRAY?

We are to pray everywhere (I Timothy 2:8). We pray where people are and where people are not found. If Jonah could pray in belly of a fish and God answered him (Jonah 2:1-10), we can be assured that wherever we pray God will equally answer us.

HOW ARE WE TO PRAY?

        This determines whether our prayers would sail through or not. Wrong attitudes would ensure a defeat of purpose but right attitudes would assure prayer success.

        First, we need to understand what prayer is – prayer is supplication. We must also appreciate the personality of God whom we are directing our prayers to. We must understand that God is not man (Numbers 23:19). Therefore, as we come to Him in prayer we must come with utmost reverence (Hebrews 12:28-29).

        No one should come before God barking like dog and speaking incoherently. Our prayers should be defined by deep spirituality and understanding (I Corinthians 14:15), not by meaningless words (Matthew 6:7) and disrespect to Him who alone is the Father of our spirits (Hebrews 12:9).

        Prayer is not a jamboree, neither is it an emotional exercise, rather it is a deep spiritual activity. Prayers should be made with utmost sense of responsibility. It is not what we do to impress people with our oratory but to lead the hearts and spirits of men and women to the Holy Throne of God where we are assured of help in times of our needs (Hebrews 4:16).

            Some people think that prayer is muttering (Isaiah 8:19), gyration (II Kings 5:11-12), noise-making (I Kings 18:26-29) firebrand and earth-shaking experiences (I Kings 19:11-13). When these had died down and God was not in any of them, then came “a still small voice.”

Is it not ironical that God was not in any of these earth-shaking experiences? One thing is sure: noise does not attract God, it rather repels Him (cf. Habakkuk 2:20). Have we forgotten so soon that Holy Spirit is a “Gentleman” (Galatians 5:22b). 

        Some people think that when we do not employ tear-jerking and heart-pulling methods of prayer spiced with high voices, our prayers are not heard. They classify prayers as “Powerful” and “Special” only when they shout, shake heads, cry and the like. What makes prayers powerful is praying with understanding and in accordance with God’s Word and in faithfulness (I Corinthians 14:15; I John 5:14; James 5:16f).

How should we not pray? We should not pray “Holy Ghost Fire” prayers (Luke 9:51-56). We should not pray to impress but to express our feelings and needs. We must respect God in our prayers.

We should also not pray cold and mindless prayers. Let our hearts be warm as we pray.

How should we pray? We should pray recognizing God’s presence (Job 9:11, 16). We should pray in praise (John 11:40-41). Let attitude of gratitude prevail in our prayers (Colossians 4:2). Walk into God’s presence with thanksgiving (Psalms 100:4). Soaking ourselves in praises wets the ground for an effective prayer. God not only inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3) but praises looks good on God (Psalms 147:1). When ordinary prayers fail, switch to prayer-praise (II Chronicles 20:1-26).

Pray in the Will of God (I John 5:14). When we force God’s hand to do what is not according to His Will, we will live not to like the outcome (Psalms 106:13-15).         

Pray in the Word of God (Isaiah 45:11). Bring God’s Word to bear in your prayers. When we refer to God’s Word we commit God to His work (Jeremiah 1:12).

CONCLUSION

            “Oh, how praying rests the weary… prayer will turn the night to day; so, when life seems dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray….” (Songs of the Church, 100; Great Songs of the Church, 38).

        Brethren, prayer is a serious spiritual business. Let us pray without fainting (Luke 18:1) because God answers the prayers of His saints (Psalms 50:15). God through prayers can shake our situations (Acts 4:31) and set machineries in motion for our liberation from whatever is holding us down (Acts 16:25-26).

        May our prayer lives be richer, more effective and more result-oriented in Jesus’ name!

SURVIVAL OF CHRISTIAN YOUTHS IN THIS PRESENT HARDSHIP.

         I hear that you are perplexed because of the present hardships – I have bad news and good news: the bad news is that hardships will always be with us. The good news is that with PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) we will overcome.

Historically, ever since the fall of man in Garden of Eden, mankinds have been experiencing difficulties. Hardships have defined man’s existence thus far. There has never been a prosperous era: it has been one challenging era after another. Interestingly, it is these challenges that differentiate the great from the small; the weak from the strong.

Necessities that have greeted mankind over the years have been the seed of great inventions and technological breakthroughs that have defined the age in which we live. One beautiful thing about difficulties and hardships is that they separate the boys from the men. During hardships, the strong go up but the weak go down.

        We should not pray for a trouble-free or hardship-free life. Life without challenges is not worth living. It makes for weaklings. My worst days are days without challenges. The more challenges I encounter, the more I come up with initiatives, tasking my brain to come up with solutions, which in the end benefit me and those around me. Necessity has always been the mother, grand-mother and great-grand-mother of all inventions. It was said of late Tai Solarin, a Nigerian and a Yoruba by tribe that whenever he saw anyone, his peculiar greeting was, “May your days be rough!”

We all desire life to be a bed of roses, fortunately life will never be. Life is war and survival is the name of the game! Life is not a restaurant – it is a war front. You either win or you lose. Fortunately, we were all born champions. The battle commenced at conception, continues on planet earth and will cease only when we get to Heaven. As far as earthly life is concerned, it is only the militants who become the triumphant. You either rise up to challenges or you are consumed by them.

        God’s Word is replete with references alluding to greatness through the avenue of challenges (Luke 24:26). Greatness does not come cheap; it comes at a great price. For every prize to be received in life there is a price to be paid!

        Perhaps, one of the major reasons this present hardship has come is to task our initiatives so that we can individually and collectively rise to the top of the situations and become champions.

        Weep not that you are faced with challenges. Cheer up because you have challenges. Wake up from your slumbering. Roll up your sleeves and go to work in search of solutions.

        I am not here to cry with you. I am here to challenge you. I am not here with a “What went wrong” message, telling you who owes you something. The truth of the matter is that no one owes you anything – your parents do not owe you anything, your governments do not owe you anything; Nigeria does not owe you anything – you owe yourself everything! America’s greatness is anchored on this challenging statement by one her past presidents, “Do not think of what American can do for you but think of what you can do for America!”  Because of this mental attitude, America has unleashed her creative ingenuity on the world and bestrode the globe like a colossus.

Today, America has become the global leader. The moment America coughs, the rest of the world catches cold. America’s greatness is built on the debris of hardship. By all standards, Nigeria is far better endowed in natural resources and climatic conditions than America. Yet, we complain of poverty and hardships. We have no reasons whatsoever to complain. Until we individually and collectively rise up to the challenge, unleash our creative energies, we will remain victims of hardships and not victors.  

     You were created for a purpose, rise up to the occasion and fulfill it!            

HARDSHIPS AND PROBLEMS ARE NATURAL AND UNIVERSAL

        It is on records, Biblically, historically and experientially that man’s second nature is problem (Job 14:1). By definition, problem is any hindrance, burden or heartache/headache which remains a cog in the wheel of our enjoyments of life.

        There is a good side to problems as well as a bad side to it. Good – because it prepares you for a greater challenge and success in life. It is universally acknowledged that problems have a way of tasking the creative ingenuities of people, empowering them to solve existing problems and provide succour for others. The saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention” best illustrates this truism.   

        Anyone who runs away from problems of life is not qualified for the success of life. Problems have a way of launching people into greatness (cf. Acts 14: 22; Luke 24: 26). Do not pray for a problem-free life but for the grace to face your problems and overcome them. To pray for a problem-free life is like a student praying for an examination-free education. The fact remains that the higher you climb the ladder of life the higher your challenges. Do not run away from problems, learn to face them.

        The bad side of problems is that often they leave one agonizing for hours, days or weeks on end. Sometimes, they leave one frustrated and confused. But, do not worry because out of the, “Eater came something to eat and out of the strong will come something sweet” (Judges 14:14).

        God’s Word in Job 14:1 makes us understand that problems are universal. So, do not think that you are alone. There is no single person on earth without problems. In view of this, we must avoid the thinking that the world is worst on us.

UPWARD, INWARD AND OUTWARD LOOKS TO THE RESCUE

        What makes the difference between losers and winners in the battle of life? It is knowledge or a lack of it. Three keys to facing our challenges and overcoming our hardships are what I call Upward, Inward and Outward Look.

The Upward Look (Psalms 121:1-2)

        The upward look is a look unto the Lord (Psalms 34:5; Psalms 123:2). The upward look was the solution to problems faced by Israelites in Jehoshaphat’s days (II Chronicles 20:12-15).

        Why upward look? Because Heaven has the solution for earthly problems (II Kings 6:26-27).

The Inward Look (Philippians 1:16; 2:13)

        “God is at work in you.” This is to say that if God is at work in me, I should have an inward look. Sometimes the key to solving our problems is right inside us. Unfortunately, many do not look inside themselves but keep running helter-skelter. The upward look often leads to the inward look.

        Sometimes when we go to God or cry to Him, He directs us back to ourselves (Exodus 14:14-16). The inside look could be a look at our abilities, talents and opportunities. Sometimes it could be a look inside our houses or environments to see solutions (II Kings 4:1-7). 

        Before complaining and running around in despair and frustration, look inside yourself, your house or your environment.

The Outward Look (I Corinthians 10: 13) 

        There is always a “way out.” What it takes is a careful look - outward and the solution will be seen lying either carelessly or carefully stashed somewhere, awaiting our exploration and exploitation.

        The problem with many people is that they do not look around them. God has provided “open doors” of escape (Revelations 3:8).

        When faced with certain problems, after consulting with Heaven in the upward look, examined yourself in the inward look, then lift up your eyes for your redemption is near in the outward look (cf. Luke 21: 28).

CAPACITY-BUILDING: A PANACEA

Capacity-building is increasing your ability to become relevant in social, economic, spiritual and professional scheme of things.

WHY CAPACITY-BUILDING?

1.   Capacity-building keeps you ahead of your peers and competitors. Knowing what others do not know is a plus for you.

2.   Capacity-building is sharpening yourself (Ecclesiastes 10:10). Capacity-building is understanding your Unique Selling Points (USP) – knowing what you have that others do not have and knowing what you can do that others cannot do or do them the exact way that you do them.

3.   Knowing what makes you different, what you can do differently to add value to people and positioning yourself strategically is what makes for capacity-building.

4.   Increasing and applying knowledge. Application of knowledge to specific needs is a secret many people are not willing to share easily with you. Knowledge and its proper application is a major success-factor in life.

5.   Capacity-building breeds poly-functionality. Your ability to switch from a mono-functionality mode to a poly-functionality one makes for capacity-building.

SECRETS TO MAKING MONEY      

        When we talk of hardship, people most time refer to lack of money. Because money answers all things (Ecclesiastes 10:19), lack of it makes hardship a common property.

How then do you make money? This is the secret of ages. There is no particular model. What works for one may not necessarily work for another. Succinctly stated, while money-making requires elements of financial intelligence, it principally has to do with commonsense. The hard aspect of commonsense is that it is not common. No one can be taught commonsense by attending Harvard University, Lagos Business School, etcetera. It is available to all of us in larger quantities. The key is possessing ability in identifying and utilizing commonsense.

        In money-making, commonsense teaches you to look where others overlook, to see worth in worthless things and places. In money-making, you must learn to respect Kobo for Naira to be able to honour your invitation to make your treasure box its abode. To make money, you must first of all:

1.   Identify a need.

2.   Identify source of meeting identified needs.

3.   Being the bridge between the need and the needy.

4.   Setting machineries in motions towards harnessing the opportunities available and your potentials as the go-getter.

ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE; GAIN SKILLS

        We live in a knowledge-driven world where our abilities to unleash our potentials are a function of what we know and what we can do with what you know. In view of this, you must endeavour to learn, unlearn and re-learn. Proverbs 4:7 states that “…Wisdom is the principal thing.” To be sure, knowledge is the younger brother to wisdom.

Next to knowledge are skills. To add value and strategically position yourself to unleash yourself, skills become the next ally you need. Skills are innate potentials transformed into marketable qualities. Some skills are inborn while some are learnt. If there is a skill you think you need to actualize your entrepreneurial objectives, go, acquire it. The difference between LEARN and EARN is the letter “L.” Therefore, your ability to earn is a function of your ability to learn. Learn something, acquire some skills, no matter how infinitesimal it may seem, improve on that skill and you will be surprised at how a great entrepreneurial effort will spring there from. 

DEVELOP AND MARKET YOUR SKILLS

Exercise your giftings – Fan your gift into flame (II Tim. 1:6-7). Tell the world who you are and what you can do with who you are (John 7:3-4). Although, this piece of advise given to Jesus in John 7:3-4 by some of His kinsmen was in bad faith, it obviously is one of the most PR and advertising counsels anyone would give or receive. It all boils down to this – tell the world who you are and what you can do. Nobody knows the stuff you are really made of until you say it by yourself. You are your own best PR and advertising agency. Dare anyone to dare you on that which is or are your unique selling points. A trial will go a long to convince anyone who is doubtful of your claims. 

CONCLUSION

    To empower yourself economically requires more hard work than goodluck. There are two types of luck - one is illusory but the other is real. Real luck is when opportunity meets preparation.

    Do not befriend mediocrity. Avoid the company of lazy people. Work hard and give no sleep to your eyes. Pray and seek the face of GOD (Job 8:5-7, 21).   

    Thank you and may God richly bless all of us in Jesus’ name! 

MODERNISM VERSUS CHRISTIANITY

 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”  (Colossians 2:8).

INTRODUCTION

It is no gainsaying that since Satan could not destroy the Church of Christ through outright physical persecutions, he has decided that the best way of doing this was to destroy her message by making her compromise her beliefs and practices. This was the tactics he employed amongst Israelites as they journeyed from Egypt to Promise Land. He sent “mixed multitudes” amongst them who kept on introducing one thing after another (Exodus 12:38). These mixed multitudes were the ones who called on the faithful Israelites to revolt against established authority, led complaints after complaints; sought to go back to Egypt in rebellion and the like. It was only when the “mixed multitudes” had been removed was Israel able to focus on God and His commandments (Nehemiah 13:3).

Brethren, I am convinced of the presence of “mixed multitudes” in our midst. It is an incontrovertible fact that Satan has been planting his messengers and secretly delegating them to infiltrate the rank and file of Christians and to corrupt their message (Galatians 2:4-5) as well as making “people to rise up from among the church, speaking perverse things” (Acts 20:29-32). As early Christians did not allow them any breathing space, so we will not allow them.

This matter was so grave that Holy Spirit had to make God’s servant Jude to change the subject of his discourse and to make him address the minds of believers on the issue of guarding jealously that which they have been committed to (Jude verses 3-5). If we do not fight to protect what we have, we are bound to lose out in the end (Revelations 3:11).

        In II Peter 2:1 God spoke of “…damnable heresies….” Of a truth, modernism is one of the vehicles through which Satan, using his agents are bringing in damnable heresies into the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

WHAT IS MODERNISM?

            Etymologically, modernism means an exaggerated love of what is modern, an infatuation for modern ideas and "the abuse of what is modern." A modernist, therefore, is one who esteems modern times above antiquity.

Modernism is the offshoot of New Hermeneutics, which is characterized by feelings and not reason. The epicenter of New Hermeneutics theology is that as long as one feels good about anything religious, then it must be acceptable. It does not matter what one feels about – whether it is right or wrong in God’s sight, feelings must prevail over reason. For instance, God’s Word declares that marriage must be between Adam and Eve but feelings says, “No”, marriage must be between Adam and Steve (I Corinthians 6:9; cf. Romans 1:27).

On the contrary, reason says that as long as God says it in His word, it must be truth; it does not matter whether what I feel is good or not - that which God said must be true and should be adhered strictly to (cf. Romans 3:4; Isaiah 8:20).                           According to Stanley Grenz (2011) modernism was a reaction to a ‘cold, hard fact’ in favor of ‘warm, fuzzy subjectivity’; it is about experience over reason, subjectivity over objectivity, spirituality over religion and outward over inward. Modernism is religious liberalism! 

Modernists are those who claim to know God, or to be spiritual, but they deny one or more of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith (cf. Titus 1:16). Modernists are those who claim to follow Christ, while simultaneously attacking the very foundations of His teachings.

Because of modernism, the focus of society has shifted away from the question, “What does the Bible say?” to the question, “What do you feel?” “Feeling,” as a way of discerning truth, has replaced “Bible” in our modern culture. Feelings are the primary input in regard to sense experience; and so whether we are content, discontent, or whatever, it all depends upon what we feel about something. This is the core of modernism.

Modernism refers to new methods of serving God as opposed to the old fashioned way in which it had been (cf. Jeremiah 6:16; Acts 2:42). Today, there are new methods of praying, teaching and practicing Christianity. These are done with reckless abandon with no one expected to criticize what is being done. To do so will bring the anger of majoring on you.

Modernism or Theological Liberalism has been defined as an intentional attempt to modify the doctrines and practices of the Church to conform to modern ideologies. Modernism promotes new approaches, which to a large extent leads to compromises and dethroning Biblical authority; setting aside established practices in preferences for their modern practices. Galatians 1:6-8 encourages us to reject novel messages contrary to that which have already been received, no matter who is peddling them.

        Modernism has sought to change the:

1.           Message and requirements of salvation.

2.           Church organization.

3.           Core Christian messages.

4.        Emphasis from spiritual to material issues. Under modernism, dressing has become something else. The world now tells the Church what to do rather than the Church telling the world what to do.

5.           Lowering the essence of and the demands of God’s grace (Titus 2:12-13). Today, God’s grace has become a license for anything (Jude v. 4).

6.           Encouraging liberal approaches to Biblical interpretations.

7.           It has led to "paradigm shifts."    

MODERNISM VERSUS CHRISTIANITY

Modernism versus Christianity is akin to saying witnesses of men versus the witness of God. I John 5:19 testifies that, “If we receive the witness of men, then the witness of God is greater.”

Modernism is the witness of men while Christianity is the witness of God. The question is, whose report should we believe? The report of men or the report of God? These days, people are comfortable with reports of men much more than they would with the reports of God.

Our resolve in the midst of these modern trends should be Joshua’s response to the modernistic tendencies of his day: “As for me and my house we will serve Jehovah!” (Joshua 24:15). As for me and my house, our song remains:

 “Give me that old time religion (3x);

  it’s good enough for me.

  If it was good for Paul and Silas (3x);

  it’s good enough for me.”

Attempts to modernize the things of God did not start today. Nadab and Abihu attempted it and were taught the bitter lessons of their lives (Leviticus 10:1-3). King David tried it and God showed him that He should not be toyed with (I Chronicles 13:1-12; I Chronicles 15:12-15).

If God could not spare those who trifled with Him and with His Word (Jude verses 6-20), I am convinced that He will not spare the modernists of our time! The lessons of Scripture do not speak in vain (I Corinthians 10:1-12; Romans 15:4). Therefore, modernists should beware!

WHAT DOES MODERNISM SEEK TO ADDRESS?

Modernists say that they are on a “mission to restore/reform the Church.” To restore or reform the Church, they are employing human reasoning and elevating human feelings above plain teachings of God’s inerrant word. This explains why there are several attempts to bring in novel ideas and practices. At the heart of these is human thinking.

The truth is that when men exalt their rationality and reason and seek to repair the Church by their own devices, the plan will ultimately fail because included with man’s sinful nature is a fallen mind that is not capable of proper reasoning without divine intervention.  

It was T. M. Clement (1999:16) who wrote, “Those that set a truth apart, have truth in part and from the truth depart.” When modernism blends elements of truth with modern interpretations and practices, what obtains is corruption. It was Bamaiyi (undated) who in a paper presentation on “The Effect of Syncretism on Christian Spirituality” stated that “adding an incompatible belief corrupts the original religion; rendering it no longer true… those who seek to incorporate a new view, belief, or practice into a religious system actually distort the original faith.”

DANGERS OF MODERNISM ON THE CHURCH

Ingredients of the Gospel have always been contested by Satan and a myriad of different forms or methods of “salvation” have sprung forth since the time Christ walked the earth. 

The greatest danger that philosophies of modernism pose are to somehow compromise the message we present to the lost in such a way as to lead them astray.  If that is accomplished, Satan has won an important battle.  Apostle Paul’s words to the Colossians still ring true today, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”  It is incumbent upon Christians to recognize the tactics of the enemy and be aware of his attempts to use them against the cause of Christ. 

With modernism, the danger is greater still because not only the presentation of the gospel is being attacked, but the message of the gospel itself is in danger.  Without hearing the truth and practicing the truth no one can be saved

ELEMENTS OF MODERNISM IN TODAY’S CHRISTENDOM

A major element of modernism today is Pentecostalism and Pentecostal influences. Pentecostalism has watered down the Gospel message and opened the door to all manners of abuses. There are many false claims, dreams, visions, false revelations, false prophecies and various other forms of deceits.   

        Because of modernism fired by the embers of Pentecostalism, Christianity is gradually becoming a plaything and an all-comers’ affair. Biblical authority has been eroded as sacred doctrines have been thrown overboard. Sorcerers, sorceress and magicians now have a field day. Sacred ideals have become commonalized while abominations have become idealized. Women whose duty is nowhere near the pulpit have taken the centre-stage of ministry (I Corinthians 14:34-35; I Timothy 2:11-12).    

RESPONDING TO MODERNISM

1.   We need to be ever mindful of Acts 17:11 and be like the Bereans, weighing every new teaching, every new thought, against Scripture. We must not let our experiences interpret Scripture for us, but as we change and conform ourselves to Christ, we interpret our experiences according to Scripture. Unfortunately, this is not what is happening in circles espousing Christianity today.

2.   Indeed, we must stand against error and compromises in all their forms.  Tertullian came out strong against the infiltration of Gnosticism into Christianity when he stated, “What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem?  What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? What is it between heretics and Christians? … Away with all attempts to produce a mottled Christianity of Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic composition!”                                                    

3.   The early stood for what they believed and would not allow even an angel to change it (Galatians 1:6-9). We must mark those who teach contrary doctrines and avoid them (Romans 16:17-19). We must not support them or fellowship with them. Congregations should not allow them near their pulpits or teach their Bible studies, talkless of serving as their ministers. 

4.   We must "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing," (Matthew 7:15).  Call it "witch hunting"?  Well, it is still what Jesus commanded.  Be on the lookout for infidels in your congregation.   

5.   "Earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 3).  One is a poor Christian who is not insulted when Christ's teachings are questioned or compromised. “Contend earnestly,” we are commanded.  Defend the Bible and Christ!!

6.   Do not put yourself and your children under the influence of such false teachers, for "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1-3). 

7.   Do not bid any modernist Godspeed who has abandoned the doctrines of Christ and His apostles. To do otherwise is sin (II John 1:9-11).               

CONCLUSION                                                                                                Modernism has come to steal our Faith in God’s Word, corrupt our worship of God and put us in company of Satan and all apostates. If we do not fight against modernism, we will be won over by it.                            

Knowing that men’s teachings and practices make worship of God vain (Matthew 15:8-9; Mark 7:7-13), should we, therefore, sit idly and watch Satan steal, kill and destroy our most precious Faith through modernistic doctrines and practices? Nay! It is a do-or-die affair.                                                             The future of the Church is hanging in the balance. Modernism has come to make us bequeath to future generations that which is not the Word of God (cf. II Timothy 2:2). Will we give to our children fish or snake; bread or stone? (Matthew 7:9-10). The choice is ours. If early Christians fought to maintain the integrity of God’s Word so that we can enjoy the freedom we have in Jesus Christ today, we should do no less (Galatians 2:4-5). 

Thank you for your time and attention. God bless us in Jesus’ name!