God is not Responsible for your Predicaments

I know life is full of troubles, ups and downs, fingers not being equal. Some seem to be lucky; some seem to be unfortunate despite being good and hardworking. In fact, there are people who have piled up questions that the day they see God, they'll ask them: you may be one of them too. I've not come here with a promise to provide answers to your questions but I'm already certain of one answer God will give… what's it? You want to know?

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man (James 1:13 KJV)

Glory!
God is not responsible for all of those troubles life has posed you.
Are you surprised? He is not the cause! He is not "trying" you. He does not "tempt" with such things.

1John 1:5 has this to say:
"…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5 KJV)

He is not both good and bad! He is not both light and darkness! He is alien to evil! He CANNOT do it!

But you say "but God knows all things and understands" and you're correct!
He knows, that is, He is "aware". But He is not the brain behind it! Far be it from God to be brain behind the affliction of His sons! That will be a wicked father! He knows your trials and understands how you feel, and would save you if He has the power to do so. He is surely not in charge of everything here on earth. That is why Jesus prayed "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:9-12). His will is not being done on earth here, but it is in heaven. But by prayer, we can enforce His will to be done on the earth: that's what you call testimonies. So the correct description of God's person should be by the happenings of heaven where His will is perfectly demonstrated, not by the earth here where it is not automatic.

Now let me show you. This is what God tries to do in every temptation of His children:

but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)

While you are finding your way out of the temptation, God is making the way of escape: He is not unconcerned, neither is He behind the temptation brother!

See this beautiful Psalm with me.

Psalms 23:1-6 KJV
(1)  The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
(2)  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Who made him lie in green pastures? God. Who led him behind the still waters? God.

Keep following this.

(3)  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Who does the soul restoration?... God.
Who leads in the path of righteousness? God.

(4)  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Now, who walked through the valley of the shadow of death? The Psalmist, not God anymore. Did he say God was the one who led him as in previous verses?
NO! he was responsible for that evil valley he was walking through, and he never said "God". No good shepherd will lead his sheep to such a place. But do you notice God was still with him?
Because God has promised "I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)" so that David could boldly say, "I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalms 37:25 KJV)"

Your disobedience/mistakes could lead you into the valley of the shadow of death, but in that still, God will see to it to help you make a way of escape and protect you through it.

(5)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Who does that good one? God.
God does good things only because He is only good. When it was only Him, there was no evil. When it was only Him and all creations before the sixth day when He created man, everything was good. When He made man in Genesis 1, it was still good, no evils. Until man sinned, we see death surfaced and other evils afterwards. Does this not give us a clue into the origin of evil?

(6)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

What about this in Isaiah?
Isaiah 43:2 KJV
When THOU passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when THOU walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Did He say "when I THE LORD put you in the waters"? or "when I THE LORD walk you into the fire"? Ha!! How on earth will a Father who understands the pain of His children do such a wicked thing? But take note that even when we are the ones that walked into the fire (even if He had forewarned us), He is with us to protect us and help out. God is so good!

4 Common Misconceptions About the Holy Ghost - Part 3 & 4

3. THERE MUST BE A "HOLY GHOST FEELING" IF HE IS AROUND
Many Christians are accustomed to one kind of feeling and conditioning that has been termed "Holy Ghost atmosphere". Since you heard this topic of Holy Spirit, you just begin to put up some imaginations and dreamings. The truth is, all those feelings exist only in the mind and they are based more on your background and first experience of "Holy Ghost meetings". The Holy Ghost is God and needs no feeling to validate or invalidate His presence.
God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 KJV)
He didn't say "God is a feeling and they that must serve Him must serve Him in feeling and in imaginative atmosphere"

4. I HAVE A DUTY TO KEEP THE HOLY GHOST
Another common mistake believers often make is to try to "maintain" the Holy Ghost. What you got not by your begging for it, you want to retain by begging?

Hey don't be silly! The Holy Spirit is God: you cannot "keep" or confine God if He wants to leave a place. Neither can you cast Him out
After hearing that the Holy Ghost is in you now, you are happy and go jubilating for a while; then you want to begin to do something to RETAIN the Spirit. It's the feeling that you want to retain. Unfortunately, feelings are temporal creations of the mind: it may not be real. It's sense-ruled Christians who act like that. It's such an insult. The Holy Spirit is to KEEP you and not you to keep Him. He is to sustain you and not the other way round. He will keep you to the end.

*[[Eph 1:13-14]] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance UNTIL THE REDEMPE of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

4 Common Misconceptions about the Holy Spirit – Part 2

Misconception #2 - YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU DID OR DO

I say first that it is essential for Christians to portray holiness in carriage, conduct and conversation. God wants us to live holy. Mankind wants it too.

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV)

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV)

Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14 KJV)

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

However, you do not have the Holy Spirit because of something YOU did or do. Why then do you have the Holy Spirit? Let's see that from the bible (and not from the unrenewed mind)

And BECAUSE YE ARE SONS, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6 KJV)

So why do you have the Spirit of His Son?
"Because ye are sons"… Simple!

Another reason?

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which THEY THAT BELIEVE on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39 KJV)

So the Spirit was given BECAUSE JESUS HAS NOW BEEN GLORIFIED, and you have believed on Him. Faith is key here.

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and BELIEVING [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] (Galatians 3:2 AMP)

Then does He Who supplies you with His marvelous [Holy] Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among you do so on [the grounds of your doing] what the Law demands, or because of your BELIEVING in and adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message that you heard? (Galatians 3:5 AMP)

In fact, you do not have the Holy Spirit because you ASKED or PRAYED earnestly. Yes! Jesus said the Father will give the Spirit to any that ask Him (Luke 11:13) but it is not in answer to your prayer you have the Spirit now, but in response to Jesus' prayer and RIGHTEOUSNESS.

And I {Jesus} will PRAY THE FATHER, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16 KJV)

Because there is NO criterion for obtaining the Holy Spirit: a man receives the Spirit, not by His doings of the Law but by faith.

So, no believer is "IN NEED" of the Holy Ghost! The believer is not to "desire" to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why? You don't desire to have what you have, do you? If I have so much money that I'm the world richest man, can I ever "wish" or "pray" that I should have money? If you are born again, you already HAVE the Spirit. To ask for "more Holy Ghost", "fuller Holy Ghost", "refilling" is only another subtle voice of unbelief in you. What you have is ALL that may be had of the Spirit – "without measure". (John 3:34)

Now the response of each believer to the Spirit may be different. That is why not all believers seem to manifest the abilities of the Spirit. The believer who is fulfilling the works of the flesh is doing so because he is not walking in the Spirit, not because He is void of the Spirit. (Gal 5:16). ALL believers have the Spirit. Don't get intimidated in any way by how some believers have reacted in the Holy Ghost to begin to contemplate changing your confession. Don't forget it is "by faith". YOU ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN! "Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:23 KJV). Oh! "let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4 KJV) It is one Spirit in us all by one and the same sacrifice! (Eph 4:4-6).

4 Common Misconceptions About The Holy Spirit - 1

MISCONCEPTION #1: THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS ONLY IN SOME SELECT BELIEVERS

But that's not true! ALL believers have the Spirit of God in them. John says there cannot be a believer without the Spirit of God in Him.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15 KJV)

We understand that true confession is a product of one's belief. "I believe, therefore I speak…" (2Cor 4:13). So we can paraphrase 1John 4:15 as "Whosoever shall confess, having believed, that Jesus is the Son of God… God dwells in him! So whether a baby Christian or grown up one, our confession is the same, God dwells in all of us! And this habitation of God is THROUGH THE SPIRIT.

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God THROUGH THE SPIRIT. (Ephesians 2:22)

So you cannot again say "He has God, but not the Holy Spirit".

Now, never mind the way the Acts of the Apostles was written; where the apostles will after salvation pray for believers to receive the Holy Spirit. They said this because they were learners.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (Acts 8:14-16 KJV)

Oh no! They had received the Holy Spirit, because they had confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. Paul says the Spirit is the seal that comes AFTER a person believes.

In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13 KJV)

But because the day they (the twelve) received the Holy Ghost in Acts 2, they spoke in tongues and saw many other things happen, this experience made them to think until you speak in tongues like they did, you don't have the Holy Ghost. They carried on with this mentality almost throughout the book of Acts. Nevertheless, we have several evidences they later understood the truth. They were men too who must grow in understanding: knowledge did not drop on them like Holy Ghost: they had to grow in it.

It was Peter and JOHN who came to "pray down Holy Ghost", it is the same John who will later write: "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." And again, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4 KJV)
Even Peter will later submit: "for the spirit of glory and OF GOD resteth upon you" (1 Peter 4:14 KJV)

Paul finishes it off when he said, "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:9 KJV)
But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]. (Romans 8:9 AMP)
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV)

Surely every believer in Christ is filled with the Spirit of God. Oh! It is the earnest of our inheritance. How can you claim to have all things except what is the earnest of our inheritance? That can only happen because you're not one of us. God happily dwells in all of His sons. Alleluia!

Which Law or Laws Actually Passed? #AcceptingTheRealityOfMatthew5:17 - Part 3

There had been questions from Christians, "which of the law/laws actually passed? All, or some? When I read the old testament, how do I know which one to follow and which one to obey? There is 'thou shall not commit adultery' there; there is 'thou shall not lie' there; there is tithing and firstfruits law there; there is 'woman must not wear what pertains to the man' there: some have condemned some of these laws as past old testament: how do I know which I must keep?".

Some have provided quick head answers like "it's only the sacrifices of goats and rams the bible says we should not keep there". Some say "it's sacrifices and 'trousers' issue that is cancelled out there" because they don't like the 'trousers' issue (maybe). Some say "it's sacrificing and circumcision that is past". People just hastily imposing their opinions on the truth without carefully finding out what the bible says. Hmm… will you like us to see this together?

Yes!  We'll do!

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under THE LAW. (Galatians 5:18 KJV)

So, what passed? What are we not under?
"the law"

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Romans 6:15 KJV)

What did this say passed? "the law"

But before faith came, we were kept under THE LAW, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore THE LAW was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:23-25 KJV)

Again, the above text keeps putting it as "the law". So what passed?
THE LAW passed. What are we not under? THE LAW!

Don't add to it; don't remove from it. If any ask you what passed? Simply say "the law".

Now, it didn't say "some laws". It didn't say "a law". It didn't say "sacrificial laws" like some people have singlehandedly coined. What did the bible call it?
"the law"

We are safer to leave it like that even if it is not clear except until we later find another portion of the bible to give us examples. Don't try to clarify where the bible did not clarify by adding your own impressions to it: you're safer leaving it the way it is. You don't have to make people feel you are a know-it-all by answering everything even if it means 'scripturalising' your opininons. Be humble.

So what passed again, some laws? Hard laws? Easy-to-keep laws? No! no! no! but……. "the law".

What then is "the law"?

For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Joh 1:17

So we can safely say "the law" is that which came by Moses since it was not given by anyone else.

Did not Moses give you the law Joh 7:19

So the law is that which was gotten through Moses, so it is always called the law of Moses, and never called the law of Joshua or Abraham. So that which came by Moses today is what is passed in Christ Jesus. It's not only sacrifices and offerings that came by Moses.  It's not only tithes and offerings. It's not only 'trousers'. But "ALL" that came by Moses Jesus fulfilled to be our sanctification and righteousness.

Hmm… "ALL" Yes! Oh Jesus said it in Matthew 5:18 that not "one jot or tittle" will pass but "till ALL be fulfilled". And finally before He left, he announced their fulfillment.

And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED, which were written in THE LAW OF MOSES, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44 KJV)

ALL "the law" passed: sacrificial, ceremonies and even that which had to do with morals. The whole system had to be abolished.

And not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of THAT WHICH IS ABOLISHED:
(2 Corinthians 3:13 KJV)

By ABOLISHING in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] THE LAW WITH ITS DECREES AND ORDINANCES [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace. (Ephesians 2:15 AMP)

Please note that "the law" that is passed is that which came through Moses. Therefore whatever came before Moses is not what is (perhaps) referred to. There were things we can call instructions for certain men or societies before the law came. The Lord passed instructions to Noah; spoke to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc. That the Law is passed today does not mean you cannot have instructions in the New Testament. It also does not mean "now, you can sin". (Learn from Sodom and Gomorrah). We have admonitions from the epistles. In fact, Jesus COMMANDED us to go and preach the gospel (Matt 28:19-20), and to love one another (John 13:34).

So, we are not ruling out these: Jesus cannot fulfill preaching the gospel for us. These ones are not "the law": they are simply a reminder to us of our kingly responsibilities.

1Jn 2:21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.

Also there are certain principles (laws) which pre-existed Moses. Examples are the law of sowing and reaping.

WHILE THE EARTH REMAINETH, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night SHALL NOT CEASE. (Genesis 8:22 KJV)

This is not that which come by Moses, so be expectant to reap whatever you sow, good or bad.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7-8 KJV)

Sow respect, get the same. Sow hardwork and diligence, reap it. Sow laziness: reap hunger. Invest your time watching ungodly scenes and careless talks; sorry, you'll get it back in form of ungodly meditations and sinful habits. It's basic.

Principles pre-existed Moses and remain. But that which came by Moses was until Christ.

And so the Law was in charge of us until Christ came, in order that we might then be put right with God through faith. Now that the time for faith is here, the Law is no longer in charge of us. (Galatians 3:24-25 GNB)

In conclusion, it is in fact one of the most important admonitions for us in the new testament to stand in the liberty of grace and we are STRONGLY charged to REJECT any form of the law. You must receive it! Remember, to God, obedience is better than sacrifice, to hearken is better than the fat of rams. (1Sam 15:22)

IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. (Galatians 5:1 AMP)

Accepting The Reality Of Matthew 5:17 Part 2

We are not under the Law

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17)

In the previous part, we saw how the above verse is not passing an instruction for the Christians to "keep the law", but rather Jesus stating His earthly mission. Today, we see church people whenever they want to "spoil" the Christian through the instrumentality of legalism, and they are tackled "sir, but we are not under the law", they quickly respond "even Jesus said He did not come to destroy the law…" and they usually don't complete the statement because it does not favour them. We saw in the previous part how that a FULFILLED law means a FINISHED law and dispensation. It's real and true! We are not under the law!

Whether you like it or not; whether you wish it were so or you feel bitter with it; the fact remains: we are not under the law but we are also not under lawlessness and licentious living: we are under grace. Alleluia! We are not under lust; we are not under addiction; we are not under any beggarly element of the world: we are under grace. He didn't leave us under futility, but under where His exceeding love and forgiving power glows in us and through us causing us to blaze in holiness and righteousness PERMANENTLY.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, but under grace. (Romans 6:14 KJV)

…because WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, but under grace? (Romans 6:15 KJV)

But if ye be led of the Spirit, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. (Galatians 5:18 KJV)

Choose one please: "led of the Spirit" or "under the law". You cannot be led of the Spirit and still be under the law. And also stop claiming to be a son if you are still under the law: because the spirit of His Son is sent by Him made under the law to redeem them that were under the law and create a new people no more under the law.

We are not under the law! Let everyone who finds it hard to swallow that truth remember he is rejecting God's concluded decision. "If ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart" (Hebrews 3:7-8)

When Stephen said of how he saw the heavens open and Jesus standing when he was being stoned, the bible said the people "stopped their ears". Stopping your ears at the truth does not stop the truth from being true. Let us cooperate with God and accept and enjoy the reality of Matthew 5:17. Alleluia!

Accepting the Reality of Matthew 5:17

JESUS NOT DESTROYING BUT FULFILLING THE LAW - Part 1

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17)

Many do not understand what this above bible verse is saying. Do you think it is instructing you to KEEP THE LAW? After now, you won't ever use this verse to instruct Christians to keep the law, because that's not what it's saying. Because the next verse says:

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18 KJV)

So is Jesus saying ALL jot or tittle of the law will be kept when He said all will be fulfilled?

Some others have said He is saying He has come to "enforce" or "raise the standard" of the law. Please stop twisting scriptures. Jesus said "fulfill"! Please let "fulfill" be "fulfill"! Now even if I don't know what "fulfill" means, since Jesus said HE (not me) has come to do that word, and He has come and gone now, then He must have done whatever that word means because He said on the cross "it is finished" (John 19:30).

When Jesus rose from the dead, this is what He said:
And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be FULFILLED, which were written in THE LAW OF MOSES, and [in] THE PROPHETS, and [in] the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)

So He must be referring to Matthew 5:17 when He said "the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you" becaue that is where He said "ALL things (jot and tittle) must be FULFILLED, which were written in THE LAW OF MOSES, and [in] THE PROPHETS concerning me". So that Matthew 5:17 was never about me, but about Jesus' mission statement. Jesus said, "I did not come to destroy, but I (not you) WILL fulfill it" So whatever Jesus did in His lifetime on earth must be the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.

If that is understood, we must accept the reality that today over 2000 after the life and death of Christ that the law is long fulfilled and thus past. Hmm… this is where people run away. When something is fulfilled, then it means it is no longer required. Simple! "fulfilled" means "accomplished". The demands of the law have been satisfied today! Stop acting like Christ never ever came to this earth! Stop ignoring the impact and difference Christ made by His coming!

"[Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]" (Galatians 2:21 AMP)