It's a matter of the heart.

It is usually said that those with a law mentality give more than those who claim to be 'under grace'. Some think that grace is a cover for selfishness.  This cannot be true.

True love gives. A man with an understanding of God's love will naturally give.

It's just that fear can make a man do desperate things. Ministers capitalize on men's fear to milk them of their hard earned money.

No one wants to rob God. Everybody wants to prosper. 

Giving is much more than not 'robbing God', it's more than the 'secret of prosperity'. Some give and prosper while others give and get poorer. After all, we are not told that the Biblical widow who gave her mite became an instant millionaire.

What does the New Covenant teach about giving? How do we give in the New Testament? How do we give under grace?

In this article , we'll take a look at just one scripture that makes it clear.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

First and foremost, the amount you give and how you give it depends on you. Give only as you have decided in your heart. It's not ten percent, twenty percent or even hundred percent. It's how much you have decided in your heart to give.

No one has a right to decide for you. You don't decide for others too.

Secondly, New Testament giving is not by compulsion. You have no right to force anyone to give. There is no place for 'forcing someone to prosper'. There are no compulsory levies in the New Testament church.

Thirdly, God loves a cheerful giver not a 'painful' giver. Give until it hurts is not scriptural. If your giving makes you sad, you have given amiss. Do I believe in sacrificial giving? Yes, I do. It ok as long as I am the one making the sacrifice not you 'sacrificing me'. 

When pastors use guilt on people it's manipulation. Justification simply means free from guilt. Stop condemning the justified.

We are free to give. When we want to and how we want to. It's a matter of the heart.

God bless you.

I'm not trying to 'make' heaven...

I’m not trying to ‘make’ heaven.

Nowhere in the scriptures are believers told to try to make heaven. Why should we try to make heaven when we are already sited in heavenly places in Christ Jesus?

As far as God is concerned, we are already in heaven.

It’s ridiculous to try and ‘make’ your father’s house. If you see a child begging his daddy to take him home instead of living on the streets, you better report to the police. That man is practicing child abuse. God does not abuse His children. As a true child of daddy God, heaven belongs to you and you belong to heaven.

Yes, the New Testament tells to prepare ourselves for that day. It’s like preparing for a wedding. Sure, I bought a new suit for my wedding. However, the suit does not qualify me neither does it disqualify me. I’m sure Ose would have chosen to marry me, with or without a suit. Sure she put a new wedding dress, but, even if she had jeans on, I would have still married her.

We prepare for heaven because it’s a special day. But our preparation doesn’t take us there. We don’t go to heaven because of what we do, it’s only because of what Jesus did.

I’m a citizen of heaven. So are you, dear believer in Christ. If I mistakenly go to hell, I’d be quickly deported because I’m a citizen of heaven.

One of the reasons our message is not convincing is because we are not sure of where we are going to. How can you preach when you are not sure where you are going to? Why should I follow you when you are not sure of your destination? The Christian orientation must change. Thank God, it’s changing.

By the way, heaven is a temporary resting place for believers. It’s Daddy’s house. When the time comes, we’ll get our own home, a brand new earth. When God created Adam, He didn’t put him in heaven, but on earth.

Are you saved? Relax, God won’t throw you away.  You can’t be saved and lost at the same time.

He that trusts in Him will not be put to shame.

God's trap?

God set a trap. Don’t fall for it. What do you mean God set a trap? God doesn’t set traps, or does He? Normally He doesn’t. This time however, He laid out a trap for the religious. It’s found in the book of Romans. Read it for yourself.

“Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 9:33.

A stumbling stone… a rock of offense. What’s a stumbling stone? A stone that makes people stumble or fall. What’s a rock of offense? A rock that makes people offended. This stone is Christ. The revelation of Christ either blesses or offends.

What’s this revelation of Christ that offends many? It’s found in the three verses before our text.

“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled AT THAT STUMBLING STONE.” Romans 9: 30-32.

The Gentiles that did not go after righteousness were declared righteous. Israel who pursued righteousness did not attain righteousness. What a contradiction, it’s the gospel irony.

Those who place faith in their good works to make them righteous lose it.  Those who do not deserve to be righteous gain it.

The stumbling stone and rock of offense is this: Christ makes a person righteous by faith instead of by works.

It’s the consequence of the exchange on the cross. Jesus carried our sins without committing any sins. We carry His righteousness without deserving it. Jesus became sin by grace so that we’ll become righteous by grace. 2 Corinthians 5:21

This revelation has always made the religious mad. Man has always wanted to save himself. That’s the error of religion. Man always wants to take the glory. It’s human pride. The cross makes us eat our pride. We can’t raise enough righteousness to pay God. In the context of our right standing with God, only the righteousness of Christ matters and, it’s freely given. Freely received.

Stop trying to earn righteousness. Jesus has paid for it.

Are you mad at this message? Does it make you angry or happy? Are you quick to add works to righteousness by faith?

God set a trap for the religious.

 Don’t fall for it.

Shadow Christianity

Have you watched Christian TV lately? If it's not the "anointing" on the prayer shawl,it's the significance of the "period" of passover,or it's the power God pours out during the festival of Pentecost. Have we gone back to the shadows?

Every year we keep listening to preachers glorify the "first fruit"offering.

what next? Animal sacrifices?

Jesus is the power of prayer, Jesus is my lamb, the lamb that takes away my sins. He is the first fruits, we'll follow Him in resurrection.

What part of "it is finished" don't we understand?

Why do we fall in love with the shadow, when we have Jesus, the substance?

GOD BLESS NIGERIA

“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Rom 5:20)

This verse of scripture gives me lots of hope. When there’s a lot of sin, grace comes along and triumphs abundantly.

There is hope for Nigeria. Today, October 1, Nigeria celebrates her 49th anniversary. As far as we can see, greed, corruption, crime, religious crisis seem to hold sway. But, light shines brightest in the dark.

We are too closely scrutinized in International airports worldwide. Our name seems to be soiled. People are afraid to associate with us. Why? The criminal minority with the loudest expressions.
Poor, even though we are about the 6th largest exporter of crude oil.
Colin Powel is reported to have said that the wealth of the UK and the US combined does not compare to the natural resources found in Nigeria. But, we are still one of the poorest nations in the world.

I can’t shake this feeling. Nigeria would one day become one of the greatest nations this world has ever seen. There is a lot of sin in Nigeria; this is what gives me hope. Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. The stone rejected will one day be the chief cornerstone.

God will raise the greatest gospel teachers and preachers from Nigeria, that’s His style. He that is forgiven much will love more. That’s Nigeria.
One day, Nigeria will become one of the safest and most beautiful nations in the world. The gospel will do it.

One day this dark nation will bring light to the world. Grace tells me that the least expected becomes the most expected.

I believe in the Nigerian dream. I’m proudly Nigerian. I’m a part of that dream.
God bless Nigeria.

WE ARE LOADED

And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], (Eph 1:19-20).

There is no such thing as a lack of power in Christ. Revival is when men accidentally yield to God’s power that has always been available to them. That is the problem, because they accidentally yielded, they are always looking for methods to maintain the move of God. We lose the manifestation of God’s power because we are trying to receive or maintain by our works of righteousness what God has freely given to us, free of charge. How much power do we really have as believers in Jesus Christ?

Let’s look at our text once again. It’s exceeding greatness of power. If the Bible had said, “greatness of power” it would have been awesome but it says more than that. It says “exceeding greatness”. Exceed means to surpass, to be greater than, to go beyond the limit of. Wow! The power that is available to you in Christ is greater than greatness! It’s surpasses greatness, it’s beyond great power.
You are loaded with power. We are sufficient in Christ. Jesus is not just enough, He’s too much. We don’t lack power; we’ve been blessed with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
How I wish that the revelation of the Gospel really dawns on us. We don’t pray for more anointing, or a new anointing. We are the body of Christ. The same Holy Spirit that was upon Jesus is at work in us NOW.
All things are ready for you now.
It’s unbelief to look for more when you already have everything. We are not God chasers, we’ve found Him, and we are getting more and more revelation every day.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Eph 3:20).
We see the word “exceed” here again. Abundantly means more than enough. God is able to surpass abundantly. He is able to do more than you can ever ask or think. But, how is He going to do it? The text gives us the answer! According to the power that works in US! We are loaded. The power that works in you is more than enough.

I believe in the finished work of Christ. Jesus is enough, He is more than enough, and He’s too much. He lives in me!
I’m anointed. I don’t pray for more power, let’s pray like Elisha prayed for his servant, let’s pray that our eyes will be opened!
In Christ, we are not trying to become, WE ARE.
Our greatest struggle is to stop struggling.

SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN...

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? (Rom 6:1).

This verse is one of the most misunderstood in the whole New Testament. Many times we read into it what we think it says not what it really says. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” is not the same thing as “if we continue in sin will grace abound?”
The first does not challenge abounding grace but only challenges our response to abounding grace. The latter, challenges abounding grace. Two totally different questions.

Let’s answer the second question. If we continue in sin will grace abound? The answer is YES! Grace always abounds. Why do I say so? Two verses before our text, Paul answers the same question.

But the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, (Rom 5:20).

The price that was paid is far greater than any sin that anyone can ever commit. Sin cannot stop grace because grace is the cure for sin. Man’s extremity is only God’s opportunity. You can’t out spend God’s grace, it’s inexhaustible.

Where sin abounds grace abounds much more.

Some argue that in this verse, grace means power over sin. I totally agree that grace many times mean power over sin but not in this verse. If grace means power over sin in this verse then Paul’s question would have been irrelevant. How can you ask whether we should continue in sin that grace may abound if grace is power over sin?
Grace here talks about God’s everlasting mercy, His forgiveness.

Should we continue in sin because grace always abounds? The answer is a resounding NO!
Why? Paul gives the answer.

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:2).

The reason that we do not continue in sin is not because grace will not abound. Grace always abounds. Paul says that we do not continue in sin because we are dead to sin.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus killed the old sinner on the cross. I was crucified with Christ. The cross is not just the revelation of the death of Christ. It’s the revelation of my death. The liar is dead, the fornicator is dead, and the thief was killed on the cross. The old man is dead, and buried. Dead men don’t bite.

We are dead to sin. The problem is that we are just getting to find out.


Even so see yourselves as dead to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus. (Rom 6:11). Bbe.


In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God. (Rom 6:11). Cev

If I continue in sin will grace abound? Yes. Do I abuse this right? No. why? I’m dead to sin and I’m now getting to find out.

WHEN GOD BEGINS TO SWEAR...

For this [is as] the waters of Noah unto me: for [as] I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. (Isa 54:9)kjv

For this is like the days of Noah to me: for as I took an oath that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so have I taken an oath that I will not again be angry with you, or say bitter words to you. (Isa 54:9)bbe

I once promised Noah that I would never again destroy the earth by a flood. Now I have promised that I will never again get angry and punish you. (Isa 54:9)cev

When God begins to swear you better take note. The integrity of a man is determined by the reliability of his word. If I give you my word and do not fulfill it, I lose integrity before you.
The integrity of God is tied to the reliability of His word. When God says something, He means what He says, and says what He means.
In the old covenant days God made a vow concerning the coming new covenant. What did He vow to do? He said that in the days of the new covenant He will never get angry with us again. God will never ever get angry with you again. NEVER!

It doesn’t matter what you did, it doesn’t matter what you are doing, it doesn’t matter what you’ll ever do, God will never get mad at you.

God is not surprised when you miss it. All the sins you’ve ever committed and all the sins you’ll ever commit are like past tense before Him. He saw them before they ever happened. God lives in the past, present, and future today! He’s never taken by surprise. Relax, don’t try to impress Him, He’s God, remember?

Justice has been satisfied. Two thousand years ago, Jesus paid the entire price for the sins of the whole world. His anger fell on Jesus once and for all times. The debt that we owed God has been paid. God is no longer angry because He has no right to be angry.

This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Heb 10:16-17)kjv

In the new covenant, God does not remember our sins. There is nothing to get angry about. God doesn’t remember your sins, why remind him of them.

If God does not remember your sins, you have no right to remember them. If God is not angry with you, why get angry with yourself.

Forget the past, move forward. God is not angry.

FREELY RECEIVED

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Mat 10:8).
Freely you have received , freely you give. We normally quote this portion of scripture when we want to take offerings in church. Even though it may apply to offerings, Jesus wasn’t talking about offerings’ in this verse. He was talking about healing the sick and demonstrating God’s power.

Jesus said that the ability to heal the sick and demonstrate God’s power is FREELY RECEIVED and should be FREELY GIVEN.

It’s because we don’t know that the power to do miracles is freely received that’s why we “backslide” when a big man of God fall’s. We don’t seem to understand why such a “great man of God” would have sin in His life. Nobody does miracles because He’s a great man of God. Those who do miracles do it because God is a great God of grace!
That man of God is not doing miracles because he paid the price; he is doing it because Jesus paid the price! These great men are human just like you, if you doubt me ask their wives! Don’t get me wrong. I’m not writing this to glorify imperfection; I’m writing it because of you, because of me. God can use you. He can use us in spite of our imperfections.

I wish this next point would dawn on us in church. The demonstration of God’s power should be freely given. Nowadays, we are giving offerings to receive everything from God. “If you want to be healed, so a seed”, “if you want a job, sow a seed”, “if you want a wife, sow a seed”, Jesus didn’t minister like this. He didn’t tell blind Bartimaeus to sow any seed, did he? Miracle ability is received freely and should be demonstrated freely. My God is not for sale.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Rom 8:32).
Freely given us ALL THINGS. How many things? ALL THINGS. In Christ, ALL THINGS ARE FREE. Christianity is the revelation of the free things that God has given to us in Christ. There are no price tags on God’s gifts. If God’s best gift, Jesus is free, He won’t charge for lesser gifts. If you sell what doesn’t belong to you, you are a thief. Let’s not make God’s house a den of thieves.

Freely we have received. Let’s give freely. Thanks.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS?

For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Rom 10:3).

What was their problem? They were ignorant of God’s righteousness. How were they ignorant of God’s righteousness? They tried to establish their own righteousness. What is wrong with establishing your own righteousness? You won’t submit to God’s righteousness.

Did you notice that it doesn’t say that they tried to establish their sins? Their crime wasn’t sin, it was their righteousness!
What is righteousness? The good things that you do for God.

The emphasis of the Gospel is not what we do for God; it’s what God does for us! Religion, is what we do for God. Christianity is what God does for us. Their crime was that they based their faith on their righteousness instead of God’s righteousness.

It’s not your fasting, it’s not your holiness, it’s not your prayers, it’s the cross of Jesus that saves you.
We teach the unbelievers to repent of their sins, that’s okay. We should also teach them to repent of their self righteousness.

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
(Luk 18:9-14)
The Pharisee fasted twice every week [nothing wrong with fasting], paid his tithes, he was not an extorter, he was not in adultery, but he wasn’t justified. Why? He trusted in his self righteousness. The publican was ungodly but he was justified, why? Because he placed his faith on God’s mercy.

What is wrong with righteousness? Nothing. I believe in righteousness, God’s righteousness. My boast is the lord. Thank.