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Does Scripture Inform Your Understanding of Everything?

Chinedu Agwu
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Does Scripture Inform Your Understanding of Everything?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

What is informing your life decisions?

Scripture is God-breathed and as Christians, the Bible is a manual to navigate this life on earth. Many of us do not use the scriptures as our basis for navigating and understanding different aspects of life down here on earth, we slip up and let culture do the job and sometimes this leads us into a pattern of thinking and behaving like the world. What do I mean by culture? Well, this could be anything from the media to science articles, philosophy, influence from friends etc, and these can all be an influential force that competes with the knowledge of God. Yet we are called to be spirit-led and empowered in our decision-making in the church, at home, at work, and within our communities.

In taking time in our day to meditate on scripture, we allow our minds and hearts to be renewed (Romans 12:2) and we open ourselves up to the will of God. Scripture reminds us of who we are and whose we are, aligning our will with God’s and ensuring we continue to be the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15).

What does the Bible say about Scripture?

Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,”

  • Scripture provides us with guidance, when a situation seems unclear or ambiguous…Scripture gives us clarity and clear vision when in darkness.

Joshua 1:8 says “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Matthew 4:4 says, “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

  • Scripture is our daily bread, our staple to survive each day. Without a life fuelled by the Word of God we perish and fall victim to our fleshly desires. Scripture is not an optional supplement or top up, it is an essential ingredient to sustain our lives.

Proverbs 7:2-3 says “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

  • This scripture just highlights the level of importance scripture should have in our lives. It should be our primary source of wisdom and what we prioritize above all else. Not only this but scripture should be accessible to us at anytime and anyplace, we should be so intimately acquainted with the word of God, that it is embedded in our hearts and rolls of our tongue. This is useful to encourage yourself and others but also to speak against any spiritual attack. God’s Word is our truth, and the truth sets us free.

How can we incorporate scripture into our lives?

So above are a few scriptures that highlight the importance of scripture in the bible, not an exhaustive list at all! Now as Christians how can we become more in tune with scripture and incorporate it into our lives?

  1. Write some scriptures down and stick it on your wall or a post-it note.
  2. If you’re feeling creative, incorporate it in songs or spoken word pieces.
  3. When journaling, write down the scripture you’re standing on in a particular season.
  4. Power of repetition, ask God to lead you to a scripture and repeat it everyday.
  5. When reading bible devotionals that have bible passage references, go to that reference in the bible and read the whole chapter or book.

So, I want to challenge you to inspect your own lives and assess whether scripture informs your life choices or not. It’s okay if it doesn’t, we have all gone through seasons where we have been out of sync with the Word of God. However, when you notice there has been distance, reconnect using whatever method suits you. God is near and He speaks to us to through His Word. I pray as you read the scripture that you would be refreshed and given divine wisdom to face each new day, lacking nothing and standing firm on the foundation of His Word.

Why Is It So Hard To See God As Father?

Boma Campbell
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Why Is It So Hard To See God As Father?

This is not a question that exists simply for people who may have difficult or non-existent relationships with a father or father figure. This is a question for us all – whether we are comfortable calling God Father, curious about who He is as God the Father, or struggling with the concept of a God as a good Father. No matter where we are, we all need God as Father.  

Nowadays – probably due to the popularity of the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 – many of us may be familiar with hearing God being referred to as Father. However, at the time when Jesus called God His Father, and ours, this was not the case. Although the concept of God as Father would not have been completely new to Jesus’ contemporaries, the title itself would not have been commonly used to address God. There are around 10 instances in the entire Old Testament where God is specifically called Father, and every time the context is more formal than the way Jesus instructed His audience to relate to God when He taught them how to pray. Jesus did not just call God Father; the word He used (Abba) would be best translated to English as Daddy. This indicates a level of intimacy in relationship which would have been revolutionary at the time, and is no less so today.  

A Challenging Journey

Accepting that the Creator of the universe wants to have a father-child relationship with us is a mindboggling concept, and for many, it is a journey. Having a perfect relationship with a dad, a challenging one, or none at all, can certainly affect how easy we find it, or how willing we are, to see God as Father. Those with good relationships with their dads may have no problem calling God Father, or conversely may not see a need for a paternal God. Those with issues rooted in absent or abusive dads may struggle to connect with God as Father, or may rush to Abba, seeking to have a void filled. The reality is that for every one of us there is likely to be a mismatch somewhere between our experience of a father and God’s perfect fatherhood. As such it can be a challenge to separate the two and I think the difficulty is normal. Wherever we struggle with our view of fatherhood, it is helpful to remember God’s “power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT), and we can be confident that God responds positively to any attempt to connect with Him as Father (see James 4:8).  

Further, Hebrews 11:6 tells us “it is impossible to please God without faith” (NLT). To see God as Father and to be comfortable with relating to God as our Father is an act of faith that pleases God, and God helps us every step of the way. Romans 8:16 says 

For the Holy Spirit makes God’s Fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!   

Romans 8:16

An Opportunity

Taking time to consider God as Father presents us all with an opportunity. An opportunity to discover the true meaning of fatherhood, an opportunity to allow God to heal any hurt inflicted by our fathers and father figures, an opportunity, where applicable, to think about the kind of father or parent God wants us to be, and wonderfully, an opportunity to experience being a child of a perfect and loving Father. We can embrace these opportunities through prayer.  

When Jesus taught on how to pray, He said:

 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy

Matthew 6:9

Holy means pure and deliberately kept apart from common, everyday things. No matter the reasons we find it difficult to see God as Father we are encouraged to let God transform us by changing the way we think (Romans 12:2 NLT). Therefore, we can pray that God’s name “Father” be kept holy in our hearts and minds, so that it is not contaminated by the cultures we live in, our experience of fathers, our expectations of fatherhood, or anything else, and that we might know God as the Father that He is; acknowledging that we are made in His image and not He in ours. 

Where is my Passion for Evangelism?

Jerry Koo
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Where is my Passion for Evangelism?

As Christians, we are often told to go out and share the Gospel evangelising to the unbeliever. The word ‘evangelism’ is often associated with standing out in the streets, handing out flyers, and telling people we meet about the Lord Jesus Christ. This is true enough, but that doesn’t show the full picture of what evangelism is. In this article, we will consider three questions: What is a disciple and how God works in us to make them? Why do we lack the motivation to evangelise? And what role does the Church play in evangelism? So, if you are curious about what the Bible has to say about these things, get your Bibles ready as we approach these topics from a biblical perspective.

What is a disciple?

Firstly, to understand evangelism, we have to look at the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus told his disciples to “Go” and make “disciples” of all nations, notice Jesus uses the word “disciples”. What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? Being a disciple means that you are taking on the likeness of Christ- sharing His love, kindness, obedience and willingness to serve God our Father. A disciple does not just believe in Jesus, but their faith in him doesn’t affect anything in their lives. But a true disciple holds an understanding that true faith impacts everything they do; whether it be eating or drinking, they do it for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  

How does God work in us to make disciples?

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul tells us to be “ambassadors of Christ” and “God makes His appeal through us”. Being ambassadors of Christ means that we represent him in every aspect of our lives. We demonstrate His righteousness in every action we make, showing his love wanting to serve God, and wanting unbelievers to repent and have faith in His grace. Hence, the short answer would be: we make disciples by being disciples of Christ.

Organising evangelistic activities is great; going out on the streets giving out flyers is good; having the boldness to talk to your friends and family about Jesus is a blessing. But scripture tells us to be that salt and the light of this world (Matthew 5:13). Salt is not salty only when it is time for cooking, salt is always salty, and it is the same for Christians. There is no such thing as a part-time Christian. Paul tells us to be ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). This is how God works through us- using our character when we genuinely demonstrate a love for God and love for people, caring for them as individuals and not a target to evangelise to.

So why do I not feel motivated to evangelise?

You may ask yourself, “Why am I feeling so reluctant to be an ambassador of Christ? Is it because I am shy? Is it because I lack knowledge of the Bible?” Well, to answer that, we need to fix our eyes on Christ, observing what motivated Him to die for us. In Luke 22:39-42, right before the enemy captured Jesus, he went to the Mount of Olives and prayed to the Father to, “Remove this cup from me”, but He also prayed, “not My will, but Yours, be done”.

Oh, what a beautiful verse it is, Jesus, while understanding what pain, physically and spiritually, He will be suffering, was able to pray “not My will, but Yours, be done”- it demonstrates Jesus’ view of God the Father. He has a big view of God and a small view of self. He understands that God is worthy of all praise and glory, deserves full obedience, and we are to serve Him forevermore. His love of God was the ultimate motivation for Him to die on the cross.

Do we have the same view of God and self as Jesus has? Or do we have a small view of God and a big view of self? Thinking that we can do whatever we want and God is just here to grant our wishes? Let’s take some time to reflect on our view of God. And pray that God may reveal Himself to us, through His word, that we may have a right view of Him and ourselves.

What is the church’s role in evangelism?

We then ask the final question, what role does the Church play in evangelism? Let’s go to Ephesians 4:10-16, where it states that a church is where the “body of Christ is built up” until it attains “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God”, and the church is to “grow up in every way into Him”. In other words, the Church is where God makes and grows disciples, and disciples go out and make more disciples, and it becomes an endless cycle.

The Church is the heart of evangelism! It is a lighthouse in this dark age where wandering boats find their direction because of our likeness to Christ. And to be like Christ, we need to first know Christ. And knowing Christ always results in a big view of God and a small view of self. So, do you have that view? Does your Church promote that view? The Bible gives us a clear way to identify this; you identify it through the fruits produced within yourself and those of the church (Luke 6:43). Let’s all take some time to reflect on our fruits or lack of fruits as individuals and as a church. May it always bring us to Christ in repentance and love.

So, where is our passion for evangelism? Well, it is in Christ Jesus. So we must look onto Him, and may it shape our view of God. And may that big view of God and small view of self lead us not to cease to give Him praise.

When God says “No”

Oluwaseyi Sobogun
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When God says “No”
Prefer to listen? Listen here!

When we pray, do we always assume that God is going to give us what we ask for? Often we use phrases such as “delay is not denial” “pray until something happens” “God only says yes and wait” which are very nice sentiments. Sad to say, we may be devoted followers of Christ yet still found ourselves not receiving what we earnestly prayed for. We can understand more than any about the will of God, believing we are asking in line with His will and His Word, but we still hear no. I am not talking about ‘not yet’ or ‘wait’ but a resounding and definite no. I understand as this happened to me. However, what if after all our prayers, fasting and midnight petitions; the answer we received was ‘no’. What do we do then?

God is not your genie

Well, firstly, we need to remember God is not a genie or magician granting us our unlimited wishes. He is our Almighty Father, with a will and a plan for our life that we do not see (1 Cori. 13:12). Our relationship with God should not be focused on what we can ask or get from God. That is the world’s way of thinking. We should be seeking something deeper.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

James 4:3

Understandably, it is not everything we ask for that will be directly related to the kingdom of God but what are we asking and how are we asking. We can use the scriptures that apply to our specific situations without fully grasping the entire context. Using scriptures to justify our asking rather than to know God. When the Word says, in Psalm 37:4, God will give us the desires of our heart, it first states we should delight ourselves in Him. In Matthew 7, before Jesus speaks on ‘asking to receive and seeking to find’, He first explains, in Matthew 6, that we should seek first the Kingdom of God. Our understanding of the “good things” God can give us is preceded by our fellowship with the Father.

Remember who God is

Sometimes, as Christians, we believe everything we ask for will automatically be given to us. Jesus says, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened” (Matt.7:7). But Jesus also in the garden of Gethsemane asked in a way that many of us do not. He asked then submitted the answer to be according to the will of God.

Saying, “Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me, nevertheless not my will but yours be done”

Luke 22:42

Are we waiting for him to reveal His plans according to His will and great design or are we waiting for Him to answer as we have decided in our mind that He should? Oftentimes we can say “according to your will” but we really mean according to “how I believe your will should look in my life Lord”. 

If our Lord and saviour walked how we prayed, we would not have salvation today. If Jesus, being God in human flesh decided to act on His will in the flesh, He would have walked away in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew what the destruction of sin looked like as God, and could feel the pain, as man, yet He stayed. He chose to die. He chose to save us from our sin. 

Let us wait on God with humble and surrendered hearts. The answer to our most earnest and pressing prayers can be no, yet we can be so fulfilled because Jesus said the most important yes.

The Stronghold in Your Mind

Esther Babatunde
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The Stronghold in Your Mind

In life, we all face many battles, but the hardest and longest battle we fight is the battle of the mind. The words we speak to ourselves and the words we allow to fester help create strongholds in our minds.

For though we walk according to the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

A sermon I recently listened to highlighted the importance and power of our words towards ourselves, a topic which is very crucial for us all to be mindful of. There is nothing more powerful in our lives than our self-talk; it is potentially more powerful (in its impact on us) than God-talk. God-talk is only powerful in our lives when our self-talk aligns with it.

The bible says in Proverbs 23:7, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. It doesn’t say as God thinks or what God says – it says “as a man thinks”. When the Bible says this, it is referring to your self-talk.

There’s so much power in the words we repeat to ourselves that they can either break us down or build us up. The devil understands the power of our self-talk and he uses it. Self-talk is what builds negative or positive strongholds.

What is a stronghold?

A stronghold is a fortress or a castle.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.

2 Corinthians 10:4

Castles (strongholds) are built one brick at a time. These bricks represent our thoughts and therefore our self-talk. This means the strongholds in our minds are built one thought at a time – just like a castle is built one brick at a time.

However, it’s our responsibility to build our strongholds with either positive thoughts or negative thoughts. The enemy’s aim is to make us self-destruct by getting us to talk about ourselves negatively. We must resist! (2 Corinthians 10:5). We need to stop focusing on what others think about us.

If what other people say about us can move us to the left or to the right, we will be destroyed, because we will be trapped by negative thoughts.

Ultimately, it should be more important what we say about ourselves, which must align with God’s truth about us. We must understand the impact of our self-talk so we can use it, and maintain it, to build positive strongholds in our minds.

Every stronghold isn’t negative; the scripture says in Psalm 94:22 that ‘the Lord is our stronghold’

So what happens when you build a negative stronghold?

You might have been told negative things about yourself at a time when you were very impressionable. You then took it on board and into your spirit, and begun to confirm what that person said by repeating those words to yourself – which resulted in you living your life according to those words… those sentences.

This means some people are serving a life sentence and they are not even in prison. Instead, they are living according to the negative words that were sown into them by others.

Serving a life sentence is different from having a life sentence. Having a life sentence is what you’ve heard and have got inside your mind, but serving the life sentence is when you start making choices based on that lie or that life sentence……that life sentence then becomes a death sentence!

The Bible says that death and life lie in the power of the tongue… the power of your words! (Proverbs 18:21). This means a negative stronghold in your mind can lead to the death of your future, your destiny, your relationships, your confidence, your courage…etc.

How do you overcome this?

To overcome this, you need to sow new, positive seeds into yourself. You have to speak positively to yourself, whether out loud or in your internal conversation. You must remember that death and life lie in the power of the tongue, meaning the power of your words! (Proverbs 18:21). As Jesus did in Matthew 4, you can use scripture to combat and speak against those lies that have infiltrated your mind – the word of God is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).

Scripture talks about what things you should aim to think (or meditate) on, which is the equivalent of your internal conversation. Things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). You need to think on these things rather than the lies you have believed about yourself, which do not, and can not, come from God.

You must also draw near to God. If you become overwhelmed with the negative self-talk, you need to draw close and listen to the still, small voice of God. If you are struggling to hear someone, the first thing you do is move closer to them. So draw nearer to God by inclining your ears to the voice of our Heavenly Father. It is your proximity to God’s voice that tells you what to speak to yourself.

You must also learn to pray. Prayers reach further! Your prayers have a long reach! David had a small weapon, but that weapon had a long reach and that is an example of what our prayers can do. Our prayers overcome, transform and renew. By praying and speaking the word of God, you change the negative stronghold that has trapped your thoughtlife into a positive stronghold that rejuvenates and strengthens you.

 

When We Break Our Promises

Chude Obuaya
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When We Break Our Promises
Prefer to listen? Listen here!

There are few things that are certain in life: death, taxes and broken promises. Whilst all these things are inevitable, it doesn’t make them any less painful when they occur. Broken promises may be the most painful of the three mentioned since it is the one scenario where both parties can feel the adverse effects. Promises are made to be kept and yet they are so easily broken. What makes it worse is when, as Christians, we break the promises we have made to God. The regret seems to linger no matter the sincerity of our confession. So how can we reconcile broken promises with the mercy of God?

No Confidence in the Flesh

I’m sure if you asked any Christian whether they loved God the answer will be yes. Yet, if these same Christians were to answer whether they have lived in such a way that reflects this confession the answer may change. One reason could be that we often have greater confidence in ourselves than we ought to. This was the case for Peter on the night Jesus was arrested. Jesus foretells the abandonment of the disciples before His arrest, Peter denies that this fate will befall him (Mark 14:27-29). Jesus then tells Peter that He will also deny Him three times and Peter once again rejects the possibility of this happening (Mark 14:30-31). Are we noticing a theme? Peter’s eagerness to declare his holiness made him dismiss his weaknesses. Peter had greater confidence in what he wouldn’t do rather than what Jesus had done for him (Luke 22:31-32). Can we relate? Have we in our zeal promised God we would never do a particular sin only for us to fall anyway? Any confidence in the flesh will always make us susceptible to sin. Like Peter, we must not boast about what we think we won’t do rather believe that Jesus knows better than we do.

The Hall of Failure

In Hebrews 11 the author details the heroes of the Old Testament whose lives are marked by their faith in God. These heroes are often considered to be in the “hall of faith”. However, these men and women’s lives were not just hallmarked by faith but also by failure. Noah was a drunk, Moses was a murderer, Jacob was a deceiver, Samson was arrogant and proud, David was a murderer and adulterer. The book of Hebrews doesn’t identify these men by their sin but by their faith. That is the hope that the gospel grants us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We don’t have to identify with our sins or our broken promises. If you’re a Christian you have a new identity; you are a child of God.

Abounding Mercy

Promises to God are easy to make and hard to fulfill. God doesn’t want us to make promises in an attempt to show our fidelity. God prefers for us to simply show our fidelity (Matthew 5:37). The pressure we can put on ourselves to prove our righteousness is rooted in pride, not grace. We are not saved by the promises we try to keep, instead, we are saved because God keeps His promises (Genesis 3:15). If you’re like Peter and are crushed under the weight of your broken promises, that’s good. We should be grieved when we sin against our Father (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). But grief is not hopelessness. In our sadness, we have a Father who will lift our head up and embrace us with overwhelming grace (Hebrew 4:16). If you are worried that you have sinned too much to be forgiven, Jesus says, look to the Cross, my grace is much more (Romans 5:20-21).

Can The World Still Be Your Oyster If You Serve God?

Ayo Stephen
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Can The World Still Be Your Oyster If You Serve God?
Prefer to listen? Listen here

As a young Christian, it is understandable for there to be difficulty in our walk with Christ. This is one reason why maturity is important. As a child it can be easy to be swayed by careers, marriage, friends and so much more. As young Christians, how can we can we make the most of life whilst keeping our eyes focused on Christ?

Success doesn’t equal evil

As Christians, it is important for us to understand that success in this world does not equal evil. Yes it is true God wants us to live and have eternal life in the world to come. However, He doesn’t speak ill about success. What He does speak ill about however, is the misuse of the success He has gifted us. King David, the man after God’s heart was a successful man, as was King Solomon – and yet they were still counted as people of God. God graced Job with double of everything that was taken away from him (Job 42:10), is this not an example of earthly success?

To have a goal set for our future doesn’t mean that we will or should love God any less. If He is at the centre, first and last in our hearts, all that we do will be for Him.

Refocus your eyes

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2

To be practical in your walk with Christ is also of importance. This doesn’t just mean making time tables for when you will read your Word, or scheduling times to pray – our works can only get us so far. Instead we should reframe our focus. We need to realise we need God to live not just to become successful; setting our minds on the things above and not the things of this Earth (Col 3:2). This doesn’t mean you should forget the future ahead of you, but rather that you should not allow them to become the joy of your life. Regardless of career, marriage, life itself – your joy should always reside in God. This is because joy is not found in the things of the world, but in the Living Word Himself. At the end of the day, it is okay not to have everything because our life is in Christ, and He is everything.

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

The taunts of life will come and go, it’s a never-ending cycle. The aim of life however should not be on things which will fade away (i.e. our career, success, our romantic relationships or money). The aim is to set our eyes on Christ, to lean on Him in everything and to trust Him wholeheartedly. As we do this, He promised to make our paths straight, to make us secure in the purpose He has given to us. The God who is capable of making the heavens and earth in 6 days is more than capable of making our lives honourable before Him. This is not to say that we should be complacent, rather it should be a reminder that in our past, present and future; our successes and failures are guided by the One in whom we can find our ultimate joy.

How Can You Tell If Your Friendships Are Genuine?

Oluwaseyi Sobogun
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How Can You Tell If Your Friendships Are Genuine?

Our duty as Christians is not to merely have friendships with each other but to dive deeper into the life of another through fellowship. We should make an effort to avoid shallow friendships that do nothing to grow the other in their faith. Can we really be a true friend if we neglect faith-filled fellowship?

Fellowship meets Friendship

Fellowship with our friends is more than meetings on a Sunday or bible study. It should be integrated into every encounter, including our Friday night dinners, Saturday brunches and match day Sundays. When we meet with our friends who profess the same faith, do we consciously discuss faith, spiritual journeys and Christ, or do we leave that to specific times on a specific day, like Sunday after church? We need to make a habit of praying together, encouraging one another, and sharing the Word in our friendship groups. The two need not be separate as they can be more fruitful when combined.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near

Hebrews 10:24-25

This verse refers to the meeting of believers to discuss things pertaining to the faith. However, the Scripture does not specifically refer to a certain type of gathering or a Sunday service. Fellowship does not have to take place in a church or church setting. We can decide to move our fellowship meetings or bible studies to sociable areas. Prayer and reading of the word can be done after a meal shared among believers as they did in Acts 2:42;

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42

Christ at the Centre

Many of us desire close and intimate friendships as much as we desire fellowship with other believers. It would be a blessing to create scenarios to foster both types of relationships. Sadly, we may find ourselves surrounded by many acquaintances with few we can really call friends. Characteristics of a friend will differ between individuals and we usually seek a mutual understanding with another before creating a friendship. Thankfully, amongst believers, we have a commonality in Christ. This is a great foundation for developing deeper connections.

And all who believed were together and had all things in common;

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes; they received their food with glad and generous hearts”

Acts 2:44 & 46

Here are a few helpful things we can do to create fellowship where genuine Christ-centred friendships can be born:

  • Start with the people already in our life – there will be believers we already have fellowship with or friends we want to create a deeper connection with; start with them. 
  • Schedule an event – this could be a coffee morning, a prayer walk or a weekend bible study, choose one event and plan; better yet, we can invite a friend to a pre-existing event/organisation.
  • Make it regular – the best way to continue to remain in communion with others is to ensure the meetings are regular enough to continuously build the relationship. We can try once a month to start and ensure we do not leave it too long.
  • Enjoy the process – ultimately, the gathering of fellow believers should be joyful, full of gladness and leave our hearts encouraged, ready to declare the good news of Christ (Colossians 2:2).

Deeper Friendships

Essentially, there needs to be a balance between ‘enjoyment’ and faith-based gatherings in our friendships. When we meet with our friends, instead of discussing the latest news, sporting event or pop culture reference, we can use the time to pray. Our usual times on facetime, zoom calls or over the phone can turn to a time of focused prayer, even for as little as 30 minutes. Equally, a nice outing to a restaurant can be extended to include moments of bible study, or exhortation. This should be done on occasion to maintain the seriousness of these types of gatherings. Nevertheless, whatever the event, we can ensure we have meaningful conversations whilst enjoying ourselves.

At the end of the day, we can choose to talk for hours on temporary topics, for momentary satisfaction, or we can commune in the presence of God together for a lasting impact. The choice is ours. The wise King Solomon in Proverbs says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Without question, the type of interactions we have will determine the nature of the friendships we keep.

Do You Pray for the Church?

Chinedu Agwu
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Do You Pray for the Church?

The church is going through trials and exposure in how it is failing in taking care of its sheep, cracks are becoming apparent, and one could think, “Can the church still stand after receiving so many blows?” The simple answer is yes. Nothing is new under the sun, for years the church has experienced persecution but also where sheep have gone astray and there has been strife amongst members. Yet the gospel message still prevailed, God still empowered people to live for Him through His Spirit and most importantly, Christians would unite to pray together. My question for you is, do you pray for the church? For your leaders? Each and every member of the body of Christ needs covering for we do not fight against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6).

Devote yourself to prayer

In Colossians 4:2 it says “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,” the devil is tenaciously looking for a foothold, an opportunity to dismantle the body of Christ and create division. With news about misconduct within the church such as child abuse, adultery amongst pastors and worship leaders or manipulation of church members to receive more tithes for personal gain- it can be discouraging.  Yet it is important for us to remember that as human beings “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus,” (Romans 3:23-24). So when the Bible says to walk habitually in the Spirit, scriptures such as 1 Peter 5:2-3 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4 are useful in regards to interceding on behalf of people; but they also give direction on being a good steward of the position you carry within a church.

Praying for the church to stand in the midst of adversity

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

John 15:18-19

Outside of misconduct within the church, there are people who wish for the demise of the Church. That may sound hard hitting but sadly this is true. Whether that is other faith groups or politicians, not everyone is open the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the great commission. Only recently we experienced the COVID pandemic which initially meant church buildings were closed and the congregation was separated. Yet we proved that although the church building was shut, the church was VERY much still alive and active. Going forward there may be new government rules/laws which could test and challenge our faith as Christians in the area of education, healthcare and business yet in this we must remain firm.

Let us remember…

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Pray for the persecuted church: The body of Christ worldwide

Persecuted Christians:

Worldwide Christians are killed because of their faith, places of worship are attacked and our fellow brothers and sisters in faith are unjustly arrested or imprisoned some even abducted; yet their faith in Jesus remains even to the point of death.

Christian Freedom International and Open Doors are examples of organisations in the UK who help persecuted Christians. Their work in helping these Christians has involved:

  • training Christians and church leaders to support them through the trauma they may have suffered
  • providing advice and support to Christians who have been victims of disaster
  • speaking on behalf of Christians to help raise awareness of the situation they are in

Below are a few prayer points for the persecuted church you can include during your prayer time:

  • Pray for justice to prevail and that Christians would be granted freedom to worship without persecution.
  • Pray for Christians in Kaduna Nigeria, who experience unfair treatment.
  • Pray for Christians in China who are constantly under surveillance in church, and crosses and other Christian imagery have been replaced with pictures of President Xi Jinping and national flags.
  • Pray for Christians in India who are attacked and harassed for their faith and foreign funding of Christian-run hospitals, schools and church organisations has been blocked.

These are just a few examples of martyrdom all around the world for the sake of Jesus Christ, as a body let us pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that God will infuse them with courage and transcendent peace in these challenging times. Most importantly, that they would keep eternity in mind, where they will be able to live forever in the presence of their heavenly Father. Let us also pray for people within our church and leaders, that we would be Christians who live a life worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1).

How Do We Enjoy Summer After Lockdown?

Anna Hunter
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How Do We Enjoy Summer After Lockdown?

Summer 2021 is highly anticipated; COVID-19 put a stop to plans last year and everyone is itching to get back to a way of normality. Where people have been ‘locked down’ and unable to socialise or go out, there is a massive hype for what this year may bring. This may present challenging scenarios when it comes to living in a way which is pleasing to God and keeping our witness as a priority. The question remains; how do we enjoy ourselves this summer?

Can we still enjoy summer this year?

As Christians, our mission is to spread the gospel and tell people the good news! Matthew 28:19 reminds us that sharing the good news of the gospel isn’t simply a suggestion. It’s a command that Jesus set out for us. This therefore should be at the forefront of all we do, every day and every season of the year in every opportunity presented to us. Each day brings different challenges; temptations will never be too far away. This life is a battle and we may want to have a carefree summer in this world, thinking it will ease our mind from these worries. And while it might – we can’t afford to be off-guard as temptations can lead us astray and ruin our witness with unbelievers. Our primary aim is making Christ known and we can’t exchange that for few brief moments of summer’s pleasure.

‘Hot girl summer’ is a phrase which is currently being spun nonstop on social media, and it has many connotations attached. The expression is connected with an explicit song, and promotes going out, being our authentic selves without judgement.  This comes with things of the world attached and arguably things we shouldn’t involve ourselves in as Christians. The phrase sits beside ‘living your best life’ – but there is no better life than walking with Jesus. It is not about ‘rules or regulations’ but the renewing of our minds. When we apply our hearts to understanding and hearing the voice of God (Proverbs 2:2) our natural functions change – just as the heart works to filter out waste products from our blood, God will reshape our lives. It is like seeing through new eyes, those things that others deem as fun or we potentially used to enjoy ourselves will no longer be appealing. The world is truly full of empty happiness and promises; there is a ‘God-shaped’ hole in our hearts which simply cannot be filled with anything else.

Living for the audience of one

God calls us to be set apart, for we are not seeking approval of this world.

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is good, pleasing, and the perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2

This bible verse, along with many others reminds us to look to God rather than looking at the world. As we go through our journey with Christ, the decisions we make are formed with a greater understanding of what is right and wrong.

We can still enjoy ourselves

So, ultimately should we involve ourselves in the trends of the summer? It does not say in the Word that we can’t have fun. God wants us to be joyful and be a witness to those around us. We cannot hide away from the world; we need to be among people so we have the opportunity to tell them about Jesus. We must be bold as we live out our faith, showing unbelievers that we are the salt and light of this world all while we enjoy our summer.

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