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Why Do We Keep Falling Into Sin After Being Saved?

Oluwaseyi Sobogun
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Why Do We Keep Falling Into Sin After Being Saved?

Sin is the struggle we fight daily as we surrender our will to the will of the Father. The power of sin has been defeated by Jesus on the cross, yet the allures of it still entrap us. We know what to do but we struggle to do it. What is it about sin that keeps drawing us in?

Why do we keep running back to sin?

The simple answer, sin is enticing. It is what we know we shouldn’t do but do anyway because it is enjoyable, dangerous, exciting, yet fleeting. Our desire for this satisfaction births the way for sin to enter our lives. We can blame outside sources for their influence but ultimately it is always our decision to engage with the desire. 

The writer in James 1:14 – 15 explains the slow yet deadly development of sin in our lives:

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” 

James 1:14 – 15

Thankfully, death has been removed as we can be reconciled with God, even after sin, through salvation. Nonetheless, we are still susceptible to the consequences of our sin. We experience the tangible devastation and brokenness that sin can produce in our lives, in the lives of those around us. We have notable examples, in the bible, of two young men who were presented with their desires. One gave in to their desires which led to sin while the other ran from their desire, fleeing sin. These men are David and Joseph, respectively. (Read more about their stories in Genesis 39:7-14, and 2 Samuel 11).

It is important to note that at any given time we can be either of the young men. Sometimes we recognise the allure of our desires and flee; other times we do not. The bible does give us guidance on what God considers sin, but it is not a “complete” list. Although we have clarification on certain sins, we cannot categorise everything else as do’s and don’t. Sin is anything against God and His word. And as fallen men and women, we sin, we all have sinned (Romans 3:23).

How do we end the cycle?

Even so, we are not our sin. Our sin does not define us. Christ does, but we have to be cautious as there is a sin that ensnares each one of us. We must lay it aside and run with endurance the race ahead of us (Hebrews 12:1). We cannot be naive or comfortable about sin. Although sin is not a part of us and can be dealt with, there are triggers in our life that can lead us back to a habitual sin. We must identify those in this fight and remove them. Remember, we are born again as new creations who walk in a new life. We leave behind anything from the past, including these habitual sins. Below are three ways to do that:

Identify sin

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us

1 John 1:8

Our generation needs to stop normalising what God calls sin. It is time to acknowledge the sin in our lives as the only way to end this cycle is to admit it and understand that we cannot fight sin on our own. Then we should surrender to Christ who has saved us from our sin. We must acknowledge its presence in our life. Then, we can disassociate who we are, from the sin we may struggle with, and identify ourselves with who the Word says we are.

Ask for forgiveness

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 

1 John 1:9

Once we identify the sin, we confess it. We can confess our sin to God and confide in a trusted confidant. We do not have to fight alone. God loves us and forgives us. Remember, we are part of Gods family through the redemptive power of His Son (Gal. 4:5). We cannot be made right with God but for the grace given through Christ. We should never forget that we have received grace to free us from our sin and there is no condemnation against us (Rom 8:1). There is no sin greater than His love (Rom. 8:38-39).

Focus on God

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin

1 John 1:7

Immerse yourself with the things of God. We already know the flesh and the spirit cannot walk together. And light and darkness cannot co-exist. Therefore, we should focus on accepting the grace to live a life pleasing to God and trust the discernment of the Holy Spirit to fight our sin. But sin is serious and our attitude towards it needs to be one of vigilance and defence. We cannot afford to become complacent. It is for our sin that Jesus went to the cross, the highest price to pay. The way we live our lives is a matter of importance to God.

Do You Have A Lukewarm Faith?

Ayo Stephen
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Do You Have A Lukewarm Faith?

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen

Hebrews 11:1

The epicentre of Christianity is the understanding, acceptance and submission to the fact that we are saved by grace through faith alone and not by our own works. However, when we examine our hearts and the desires that motivate our actions and decisions, are we motivated by this faith to long for the hope that comes from the gospel or do we live only to gratify the needs that our flesh demands?

Comparison Kills, Complacency Poisons

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:16

You may have heard that comparison is a silent killer in which jealousy, envy and eventually hate is bred – however what about complacency? Complacency poisons the mind, forcing us into a stagnant state in our walk. This may continue until we enter a place where we completely forget about God.

The great thing about the God that we serve is that He is all merciful (Lamentations 3:22-23). In Revelation 3:16, God highlights His disdain for lukewarm faith, however mercifully warns us to change our ways, meaning there is still an opportunity for us to correct our ways. It is important to hide this Word in our hearts, remembering that although we may become complacent in our walk, He is always ready to welcome us back like the prodigal son.

To continue in the sin, thinking grace may abound however, is foolishness (Romans 6:1-2). The Scriptures liken this to a dog who returns back to its own vomit (Proverbs 26:11). Let us examine ourselves, being intentional in our walk with Christ, by the grace of God, keeping our minds fixated on the things to come and not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2).

Christ is the example, not Man

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

2 Corinthians 13:5

We are called to be help our brothers and sisters in Christ, rebuking and encouraging in love when necessary. In all, we are called to be a family, holding each other accountable, in love. It is thus understandable that this can cause blurred lines between accountability and the comparison of man. Although our brothers and sisters in Christ may read the Word ten times a day, or pray ten hours per day – our goal was never to aspire to them but always to walk with Christ in the race. 2 Corinthians highlights this, telling us to examine ourselves. The only way in which we can do this is through the Word, and the Spirit who reveals and will surely show us our flaws and our shortcomings in our walk.

However, do not be distressed by this, for even in our weakness, His grace is sufficient enough (2 Corinthians 12:9). So take heart, the one who has conquered the world (Jn 16.33) will surely guide you in conquering the flesh also.

Christ at the centre

But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.

Revelation 2:4

In the famous words of Paul Washer, Christ should not just be the first in our lives, but the first, second, third – the list could go on. To put into perspective, our first love should be priority in everything we do and think.

Picture you have a husband/wife who you declared you loved so much. Will you not make sure you do everything possible to make them happy – checking your actions to ensure you do not hurt them in any way.

 So it should be for God.

As His bride, He should be our first love. Through placing Christ at His rightful place in our hearts, we are compelled by the Spirit to live for Him, despite having sinful hearts that are prone to drift from Him. Eventually as we put our faith in Christ and hope for the eternity that is to come, our desires will become a product of faith from a true gospel, and not a fallacy in a false gospel perpetuated by self worship.

Does it Matter What I Watch on TV?

Shumi Mararike
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Does it Matter What I Watch on TV?

Television can be a unifying force, particularly during the summer. There’s something tangibly different as you walk into your workplace or campus. You feel a surge of energy that flows through your offices, staff rooms and university buildings amidst the lively conversations concerning last night’s football and the episode of Love Island. With entertainment becoming such an integral part of our lives, this raises an important question: does it matter what I watch on TV?

Watch What You Consume

Health and fitness enthusiasts declare “you are what you eat.” Avid readers say “you are what you read.” “Eat” and “read” can be substituted for “listen to” or “watch”. The premise is this: what you consume may impact the person that you are. Although this varies, what you take in has some influence on your thoughts, desires and public witness to non-believers. This is why what you watch on TV, and all that you consume matters.

Guard Your Thoughts

There is no blanket ban on watching TV, nor do we have a checklist of what we should/should not watch. Nonetheless, it’s not everything that you can or should watch – you must be discerning. What we consume should be viewed through the lens of how our union with Christ which calls us to focus our minds on that which pleases God (Colossians 3:1-3). Right thinking is integral to righteous living. Christians are to have God-honouring thoughts – to pursue what is most excellent and pleasing to Him.

Although we can’t expect secular TV shows to promote Christian virtues, they may still be useful and harmless to watch, posing minimal threat toward the transformation of our lives by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2). However, an explicit scriptural prohibition which is championed on our screens deserves zero attention. Where absent, you must ask whether you are dependent on it as suggested by an inability or unwillingness to abstain (1 Corinthians 6:12). Also consider your media consumption’s impact on your spiritual growth (1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23). Asking yourself these questions will help to guard our thoughts from any negative influences and draw your attention away from what is most worthy of your focus.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8

Guard Your Heart

God does not bypass the mind as He transforms the heart. In Scripture, the heart often symbolises who a person is at the core of their being. Vauter describes it as “the centre for volition and the intellectual catalyst for feeling or action.” In other words, it represents our will and influences our actions. We commonly underestimate the impact of what we consume on our thoughts and desires. Relationship-centred reality shows could cause one to esteem their perception of relationships above the biblical portrait. You may pine after their portrayal of love and intimacy should you be unguarded. The content of a show may stir up a craving for controversy and gossip. Thus, what we consume affects our desires more than we think.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”

Romans 12:9

“Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Romans 13:13-14

Guard Your Witness

The faith we profess and the values of the God that we serve must be evidenced in every facet of our lives – including the type of media we consume and how we engage with it. Being a person of integrity requires a consistency between our morals and our actions in both private and public. Why is this necessary? Firstly, because it honours God. Secondly, you may be the only reference point someone has in understanding what it means to be a follower of Jesus. You are a witness of the gospel in both word and deed. So don’t consume what may mar your witness for the sake of fitting in or downplaying its flaws and detrimental effects.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

James 4:7

As your favourite shows return, consider whether you tuning in will affect your thoughts, desires and witness. These are to be patterned after Christ and the new nature received by those who repent and trust in Jesus for salvation (Ephesians 4:22-24). It is not mandatory that we exclude ourselves from everything, but we must be discerning.

Being Honest with God When We Sin

Boma Campbell
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In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve knew God did not want them to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but when they were tempted, they both disobeyed God. “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees” Genesis 3:7‭-‬8 NLT. After trying to cover up the sin they went on to pass the buck; Adam blaming God (verse 12) and Eve blaming the snake (verse 13). Adam and Eve’s responses to their sin are still doing the rounds today. The root of them all is shame, whether we know it or not.

Whilst we are probably not literally rocking fig leaf fashion, or ducking behind the trees, we may be pursuing perfection to cover up things we are ashamed of, or avoiding intimacy with God or other Christians because we think dwelling in our shame for a certain amount of time means we are really sorry. We can also frame ourselves as the victim and blame circumstances, people, or even God for our sin.

Solution to Shame

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1: 8-10

Admit it

We must accept this as a fact and not pretend to be perfect. After all “even perfection has its limits, but [God’s] commands have no limit“. Psalm 119:96. This does not mean we should not try to do what is right. In fact, we must put effort into doing what is right because “faith without works is dead“. James 2:17, 26.

We admit we do sin whilst having faith that our sin is covered by the blood of Jesus. When we are aware and focussed on the sacrifice of Jesus, we will not happily keep choosing to do what we know is wrong. Being in close relationship to the One who suffered and gave His life in love for us will cause us to put our energy into doing what is right and pleasing to God, and being committed to changing when we fall short. This is why Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength“. Matthew 22:37-39.

This first step is crucial. If we move on to the next step without coming from a place of believing that Jesus is our righteousness, our clothing that covers us better than fig leaves and animal sacrifices, we will struggle to accept that the contrite (truly sorry) confession of our sin is all that is needed, and we will be unlikely to confess our sin, or be able to accept God’s response.

When we admit that we sin, we do it with the perspective of Isaiah, who said: “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness”. Isaiah 61:10.

Confess it

We must tell God what we have done wrong and that we are sorry, asking for God’s help to address the root of the issue and help us to make amends with other parties where possible. Often we know when we have done wrong as soon as we have done it, but sometimes we are in denial, or we truly think we are in the right. Therefore it is a good idea to spend time praying like the Psalmist: “God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way— the path that brings me back to you.” Psalms 139:23‭-‬24 TPT. Then, we should listen expectantly for whatever God has to say. A situation or conversation might spring to mind, prompting us to consider our actions and confess the sin accordingly.

Believe it

When we do this, we should be confident that “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness“. 1 John 1:9. It is fine if we have to repeat the steps at first because what we hold on to for a long time can leave an imprint after it has gone.

We can also be confident in the knowledge that Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses, as He was tempted in all points yet without sin. So we can ‘come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need‘. Hebrews 4:15-16.

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).

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