AM I BACKSLIDING?

if you are asking this question, trust me you are not alone…yes a lot of Christians…true Christians tend to ask this question at one point or the other. that’s why its okay to wonder but the TRUTH is…..you are!….yes you are, why? i will tell you…you are asking because something does not feel or look right anymore in your life and that could only mean you are doing something wrong no matter how small or you have stopped doing something no matter how small

that thing may be as small as watching an intimate scene in a movie that results to lustful thoughts and imagination or you reduced your bible study time or your prayer time….i know some might not call this backsliding but it is…you don’t just backslide in a day it starts from an insignificant incident

and the funny part about this is that we know deep down in us that we’re going astray.but we do nothing and say nothing till its almost late.

my dears if you are asking this.do the following whether you agree with me or not;

• get on your knees and ask for mercy
• find out what you stopped doing and resume
• find out what you started doing and stop
• a VERSE A DAY, KEEPS THE DEVIL AWAY!
• Good luck and feel free to contact me anytime by placing a comment and I’ll get to you.see more articles

Abstain from all appearance of evil

1 Thessalonians 5:22

“abstain from all appearance of evil”

evil is anything that comes from the devil.God will never tolerate evil or evil acts or evil thoughts no matter how minuet you think it is.he will never reduce his standard or holiness for you.the only thing he will do which will help and is only available to the new testament Christians is GRACE…grace ensures you get forgiveness when you repent from a sinful/evil act but don’t abuse grace by sinning/repenting and sinning/repenting lifestyle..God might be patient but he promises to “spit you out if you be neither cold nor hot” lets remember that in the camp of the Israelites 24,000 lost their lives because of the immorality of one person

Features of evil

• evil challenges the all good nature of God
• it makes you see God as very demanding
• it is disorder-because it was not there from the beginning of creation
• it is harmful and destroys your life
• it breeds the judgment of the almighty “the wicked will never go unpunished”
• it implicates others and damns them Ezekiel 18:4
• evil always seek to hide from the eyes of men
• evil seeks to dominate

1 john 5:19 “we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness”

Galatians 5:19-20 “now the works of the flesh are manifest ,which are adultery,fornication,uncleanness,lasciviousness, idolatry,witchcraft,hatred,variance,emulation,wrath,

strife,seditions,heresies,envy,murder,drunkenness,

reveling…….now you know the fruits of evil how do you overcome them

• Flee from evil 1 peter 2:10-11,2 timothy 2:22,job 31:1
• keep away from covetousness-greed and the desire to acquire and accumulate what does not belong to you or by dubious means.Luke 12:15, Ephesians 5:3.ex. of one in he bible is Gehazi the help of Elijah
• keep your thoughts and lips from evil 1 peter 3:10
• avoid stealing
• turn away from alcohol and hard drugs no matter how little
• do not hate in your heart

outside all these:

repentance and faith will guide you through.see more articles

Confidence in persecution

persecution is when a believer of Christ’  life is threatened and his environment is in turmoil caused by the ‘haters’ of his faith…hoping they can take him out of Christ in so doing.the issue here is not how much persecution we face it is how well we handle it and still stand firm in Christ,lets look at a few benefits of persecution

• Hebrews 11:35b-tortured,not accepting deliverance;that they might obtain a better resurrection
• Mathew 5:10-blessed are….persecuted….for theirs is the kingdom of God
• 2corrinthians 4:17-affliction…worked for us…..eternal weight of glory

now we are assured that persecution is biblical and Christians are expected to go through them for a greater reward.how do we know we will not be destroyed by persecutors?

• psalm 37:32,33-the lord will not leave him in his hands
• psalm 46:1-God is a present help in time of trouble
• Hebrews 13:5b,6-the lord is my helper,and i will not fear what can man do unto me
• 2corrinthians 4:8-11-persecuted but not forsaken

we do have an unmoving confidence in the presence of God in every situation we may face.he has not promised us a life without trials but has promised to be there to guide and see us through it all.and we know that if God be for us who can be against us?..no one..his WORD is yes and amen it cannot change neither can it fail.God is not man to lie so if he says he will be there through the waters and the flames and the floods THEN you can be sure he is right here with you.if you cant find him around just be STILL and you will know he is God and everything worked for the good of them that love God and are called according to his purpose.there are reasons why he lets us face persecution and there are:

Mathew 10:23/acts 8:14/acts11:19= to spread the gospel.they do not know that in condemning God’s faithful servants they help indirectly spread the word-thus arousing interest

Mathew 13:21=it shows those who are wholeheartedly in Christ

genesis:50:20/exodus 14:1-28/psalm 76:10=in every bad God shows a good.what you see as evil is for a greater good

ATTITUDES YOU SHOULD HAVE IN PERSECUTION

• Be fearless and unmovable ;Mathew 10:28/Jeremiah 1:17-19/acts 20:24
• have joy always ;Mathew 5:12/Luke 6:22,23
• never be ashamed ;1peter 4:16/Isaiah;50:7
• suffer willingly for a good cause:Jeremiah 15:15b/Mathew 5:10/2thessa 1:5

we have lots of men who suffered persecution in the bible and stood fearlessly till the end.we should learn about and follow their stead.we suffer for the word to spread but no amount of suffering could be compared to that of which Christ suffered for us to have abundant life and grace.that alone should give your joy that you are partaking in his trials and therefore will partake in his joy and everlasting peace.

Names of people who were persecuted in the bible (Paul and his companions/timothy/Moses/Jeremiah/john the Baptist/Paul and silas and lots more)

Living effectively

6.7billion of humans have one thing in common which is CHANGE!…so do not try to avoid it,face it and accept it (when its positive and in line with the bible)see more articles

my lifegaurd walks on water

 

you know that as christian we face challenges also as the unbelievers the difference is not the size of our challlenges but the way we handle them. we have an unending confidence that no matter what we face someone knows,cares and will see us through….DONT EVER FORGET THAT!!!!

HE IS INFINITELY MORE POWERFUL THAN MAN…trust in his strenght not yours,

2 peter 2;9 the lord knows how to deliver the godly

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how to effectively handle dissapointment

YES!!!! we do know our redeemer lives and for that alone we can face tomorrow, not just the day,but all the days of our lives….being a Christian does not make you immune to disappointment nope!, but it helps you deal with them. you will know you cant afford to hate them or ourselves, we have to forgive cause its for our benefit not theirs…its

okay to shed some tears but it would be better if your teary period does not exceed a day, hmmm, that must have gotten to you right?..let me give you some personal do’s and don’ts of disappointment

DO’S AND DONT’S

• don’t be eager to make new plans: i used do that a lot too….absorb the pain first and heal it before making plans on how to exclude that person from your life.only then will you make wise plans that wont be based on their actions but your life.
• don’t lay the blame entirely on one person! it takes two to tangle, it takes two blind men to collide…..
• don’t try to inflict pain or revenge, it will only hurt you and make you exactly like the person who hurt you
• don’t say i don’t care when you really do..admit you are hurt and you will be halfway up your healing road
  don’t assume you know the whole story,if not immediately but try to listen to them before conclusion
• don’t develop bitterness
• examine your actions and pick out where you made mistakes,no matter how little and apologize
• talk to a Christian friend or counselor
• offer FORGIVENESS

and you will be be God’s little angels of peace and virtue!see other christian articles

feel free to mail me infotheacademy@yahoo.com

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take your cross daily

Lukesee more related articles 9:23 “and he said to them all,if any man will come after me,let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”

in order to carry our cross daily i.e living daily in the consciousness that you are not living your life but Christ’s, to be able to act and respond to your surroundings the way Christ would have…you need to first put away all attributes of SELF.

deny every self-centered life (attributes of self)

• self sees God as very demanding
• self loves to be noticed
• self is not happy when someone else excels above him
• self shows false humility
• it is proud,arrogant and self promoting
• self readily believes the worst of others
• it wants to be pitied
• it does not like criticism
• self is concern with physical merriment

HOW TO OVERCOME SELF

Ephesians 4:22-24/Romans 7:18

put off all former conversations

renew your spirit and mind with the word constantly

put on the new man of righteousness and holiness.see related articles

how to effectively handle dissapointment

YES!!!! we do know our redeemer lives and for that alone we can face tomorrow, not just the day,but all the days of our lives….being a Christian does not make you immune to disappointment nope!, but it helps you deal with them. you will know you cant afford to hate them or ourselves, we have to forgive cause its for our benefit not theirs…its

okay to shed some tears but it would be better if your teary period does not exceed a day, hmmm, that must have gotten to you right?..let me give you some personal do’s and don’ts of disappointment

DO’S AND DONT’S

• don’t be eager to make new plans: i used do that a lot too….absorb the pain first and heal it before making plans on how to exclude that person from your life.only then will you make wise plans that wont be based on their actions but your life.
• don’t lay the blame entirely on one person! it takes two to tangle, it takes two blind men to collide…..
• don’t try to inflict pain or revenge, it will only hurt you and make you exactly like the person who hurt you
• don’t say i don’t care when you really do..admit you are hurt and you will be halfway up your healing road
  don’t assume you know the whole story,if not immediately but try to listen to them before conclusion
• don’t develop bitterness
• examine your actions and pick out where you made mistakes,no matter how little and apologize
• talk to a Christian friend or counselor
• offer FORGIVENESS

and you will be be God’s little angels of peace and virtue!see other christian articles

feel free to mail me infotheacademy@yahoo.com

LiveJournal Tags: as,able,christian,how,do,you,handle,dissapointments,in chalengin,relationships,with,partners,spouse,colleauges,friends and family,forgiveness,strenght,faith,love

Word to the Wise (Spiritual Word Of The Day)

Word to the Wise (Spiritual Word Of The Day).