Maybe you have never prayed to God yourself, or maybe you’ve prayed for years. Most of us sense the desire to pray and even want to develop a better prayer life. However, we often find that sometimes it’s difficult to know what to pray for or to even explain why we pray. Our four guests sit down to discuss the all-important topic of prayer, looking at what the Bible has to say about our prayer lives!
How Can I Have More Passion For God?
As Christians, we are to love God with all of our being—with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Many of us want to love God more than we do. We wish we had a stronger desire to serve him, obey him, and tell others about him. Our Facebook and Linkedin Lead Michael Agbonkpolor shares how can we go about cultivating a stronger passion and zeal for God.
What is the role of the Holy Spirit // The Pulse Podcast
Of all the gifts given to mankind by God, there is none greater than the presence of the Holy Spirit. For many people, the person of the Holy Spirit raises many questions as to its functions, roles, and activities. Our Director Mike Omoniyi shares how The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is active in our world and notes several roles the Holy Spirit plays in the lives of believers today.
Should Christians Build Wealth Or Avoid It / On The Table Podcast
In our culture today, there seems to be no facet of life that is untouched by money and the pursuit of it. The Bible calls Christians to have a different culture, one which pursues sacrificial giving. Our four guests discuss the all-important of how should Christians think about money management, stewardship and giving.
“Jesus was the only way out for me” // Talking Faith
Toye Akinoso sits down with James Koroma who shares his testimony on how he fled to Gambia alone from his home country Sierra Leone, aged 10 as a refugee. He then moved to the UK and lived a life of gang-related crime before finding Jesus on the streets of Manchester.
Is The Bible The Literal Word Of God? // The Pulse Podcast
Since the inception of the Bible, Christians have debated as to whether the Bible is truly the ‘Word of God’. Many people question who the author of the Bible is and wonder as to what authority it has over our lives. M.T Omoniyi shares how there are both internal and external pieces of evidence proving why Christians believe the Bible to be the word of God and is the only divine revelation from the one true God.
Glorifying God With Our Giving
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Our society is obsessed with money. It is all about gaining money, building up finances and attaining wealth, which are all beneficial when the ambition is healthy. Saying that, it is rare we see an equal promotion for giving in the same way. Giving is a crucial part of our mandate as Christians, with our example being Christ. But how often do we actually give when we see a need? What are our thoughts and attitudes when there is a call to give and why are we not as enthusiastic when it comes time to open our wallets?
Our attitude to give
The topic of giving has become more sensitive within our church communities and Christian spheres. We are too comfortable with what we believe is ours. However, if we were to understand that everything, absolutely everything we have is a gift from God and belongs to God, we might learn to loosen our grip.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it
Psalm 24:1
When a Christian finds it hard to give, whether time, money or any other resources, for a need, especially in the body, we must understand why. Jesus says in His famous sermon on the mount, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matt. 6:24). One will be disregarded in devotion to the other. We must ask ourselves if we are serving money more than God? And have we made an idol of our finances?
Unfortunately, there can be a belief that if we have “enough” money, everything will be good. We can put more faith in our finances than in the Lord God Almighty, creator of the universe. Yet, the more we give, the more we can trust God as our provider. The Word says, “give” and it will be given to you (Luke 6:38) and the word of God will never return to Him void (Isa. 55:11). We need to change our attitude towards money.
An eternity mindset
Our outlook on giving can be hindered by our mindset. If we are more focused on earthly possessions, such as money, we might be less inclined to let go. The rich young ruler was not ready to give up his finances for the Kingdom. He chose money over God and sometimes we unknowingly making the same choice in how we use our money. However, the things on this earth are temporary, including money, they fade away and soon become dust.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal
Matthew 6:19
We must remember we have an eternity of bountiful blessings to come and we are merely stewards over what God has given us. It is a blessing to be abounding and bountiful with finances, however, many times we have been ‘blessed to be a blessing’, especially in relation to the Kingdom of God.
Generally, we understand the idea of this type of giving as specifically to a church body or organisation during a church service. However, our giving can extend further than our church.
Be moved by compassion
It is important to serve our church when there is a financial need as we aim to build up the body where we can. Having said that, we need to recognise that the body of Christ extends beyond our church walls. There are great organisations and ministries outside, sharing the good news who need financial support to continue their work. Charities which are serving the Lord and preaching the Gospel through outreach projects in marginalised countries and improvised communities. Our hearts should be filled with as much compassion when we see needs we know we can contribute towards.
We must be led by the Holy Spirit in this area and understand that it may not be every time. Nonetheless, we should always be open to give, even as small as it may seem. Jesus spoke of a woman who gave from her very last in Mark 12:41-44. Despite how it looked to the outside, her little was the most given. Jesus knew her situation. God knows our situation too, He understands what we have and what we can give. Equally, when we have received a blessing in our finances, there should naturally be a desire to give to God.
Our Lord and saviour gave the greatest gift we could ever receive. He gave His life. We are forever blessed and the sacrificial character of His giving should inspire us to give selflessly in whatever capacity.
Ultimately, when we give our money for whatever need it can support, we are serving God. Our money is not our own. We need to remember who the source is and the giver of all things. Trust in the promises of God as it pertains to our giving. Be ready to give and understand that our money will not follow us to eternity. We glorify God with our giving here on earth.
For more on the topic of giving, listen to the latest episode of the #OnTheTable podcast!
What is social media costing you?
Social media has evolved drastically over time from a means to connect and build community with others to being used to promote a business, model or even shop for clothes/products. Since social media is so accessible via our computers, iPads, and phones you will find yourself sometimes being inundated with social media notifications which at times can be overwhelming. Or just out of boredom in your spare time or at work, you can find yourself scrolling through social media newsfeeds for hours! When using social media, it is important to ask yourself the blunt but honest question – What is social media costing you?
Question your desire to use social media
I’ll start off by saying that the use of social media is not a sin, but it is important to use it with wisdom…
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere
James 3:17
One must ask themselves, why am I using social media? More importantly…how is social media using me? Are we glorifying God through our social media posts/stories or glorifying ourselves and others? When writing a post or sharing a photo, what are your motives…is to share an experience, share joy/encouragement or is to gain more likes and be validated by your followers? Your conviction regarding social media will not be the same as other people, the Holy Spirit will minister to you personally and it is important to listen. Here are a few pros and cons of social media, hence why wisdom but also discernment is important with its use.
What do we know about social media?
Pros of social media
- You can share life updates with community and connect with friends and family
- A platform to build your brand/business
- You can share motivational quotes and church scriptures
- Keep up with new releases of songs from your favourite artists
Cons of social media
- It can be VERY addictive (check your phone screen time and hours spent on social media pages)
- Comparison is rife – this can have an effect on your mental health for example how you view yourself, body image etc
- It is a highlight reel – people tend to show the best parts of their life yet rarely share their downfalls, insecurities or failures
- Dehumanisation – it is easy to put social media influencers on a pedestal and forget they’re human too
These lists are not exhaustive but highlight a few key things to consider when using social media.
How do you feel after using social media?
What emotions do you feel after using social media? Is it exhaustion, FOMO, low self-esteem, peer pressure? It could be the case that the frequent use of social media is stealing your joy. It is very easy to idolise social media and dedicate all our time/energy to it but we must remember that it will not satisfy us, “my people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water,” Jeremiah 2:13. In the presence of God, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11) and anything that removes Him from His rightful place in your life needs to be questioned. Going forward how can we cultivate a healthier view of social media and be a good steward of it?
- One thing is moderation, know yourself and your personal limits “I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12.
- Decide how you want to portray yourself on social media, you DO have a choice to be authentic or to conform to what may seem “popular”.
- Filter out followers who are not adding value to your page or who could cause you to stumble in your walk of faith.
- Finally use your social media in a way that is seasoned with grace and salt, always remembering who you are in Christ and trying not to be lost in today’s culture.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone
Colossians 4:5-6
Are We Using Our Relationship Status To Effectively Serve Our Community?
The church is so multifaceted, filled with people of different ages, genders, and ethnicities. And whilst we are commissioned to go forth and share the good news of the gospel, we are all called to live in community with fellow believers, sharpening and building one another. Would you say you are making the most of your community in light of your status? Whether we’re single, married or even widowed God can still use us as we are, to serve our community. Whatever status we fall under, we can still use our God-given privileges and gifts to advance the kingdom and support members of our community.
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another
Romans 12:4-5
Single people
As a single person, you are uniquely placed. You can have single-minded devotion to God, like Paul you can dedicate every moment of your day to the Lord’s work such as evangelism, teaching and missionary trips. If you wanted to be in the Lord’s house all day every day you could! (Psalm 69:9). Another important point is that you have autonomy, you can use your time and resources however you see fit without having to consult with another person. Now in this season, do you see it as a never-ending waiting season before the next stage i.e., relationship/marriage? Or do you view it as a time to serve your community for example offering to babysit for a couple in your church, supporting the youth team or tutoring kids from church? Is your single status purely about yourself or are you opening yourself to be used to service the needs of others around you?
Can I still serve effectively if I’m not single?
As a married person you may find that life has gone from 0 to 100 in terms of demand on your time. Your time and resources are no longer yours alone, you now have to consider another person or people when making decisions. As a wise husband, father, wife or mother you will have to manage your time between God, church, family and work. Yet God’s grace is still sufficient for you too! As a married couple daily you are representing Christ and the Church in terms of sacrificial love and agape love (Ephesians 5:22-33) but also discipling your children in the way of the Lord to serve in His Kingdom (Proverbs 22:6). Not only this, as a couple you still have a God-given purpose and God-given gifts that can still be utilised whether that is counselling younger couples, leading a bible study group, or individually serving within a team in church. Whilst married people may have less capacity than single people, they can still be purposeful individuals whilst in their marriage like Priscilla and Aquilla (Acts 18), Peter (Matthew 8), Deborah (Judges 4 and 5) and Abigail (1 Samuel 25).
Another group that can be overlooked are married people who become widowed, which is a painful and life changing situation. Widows are a vulnerable community in the church who often need financial and emotional support, love, and community. They are encouraged to remain devoted to God and His Word (2 Timothy 5:5) and remarry and rebuild their lives again (2 Timothy 5:14). These are a group of people who need life spoken into them and their situation, to be encouraged to hope in God and find solace in Him through the church community.
Yet they too can pour back into the church community once they have healed from their loss. In the book of Ruth, Naomi had lost her husband AND sons yet she still managed to play a critical role in Ruth’s engagement to Boaz through her motherly wisdom.
Is age ever a factor?
The over 50’s
In today’s modern and fast paced world, the older generation can often be overlooked and their views can be seen as primitive yet the Bible does mention that there’s wisdom that can come from lived experience. Older men and women are encouraged to teach what is good and aligned with the Word of God to the younger men and women (Titus 2:2-8). This points to the role of mentorship, having an older couple, older man or woman who can spiritually walk with you, challenge you and hold you accountable.
In summary whatever status you fall under today, we all have our part to play in the body of Christ, an opportunity to serve our community, make our mark and usher in the Kingdom of heaven. God only asks that we present ourselves as willing and obedient vessels for Him to use for His glory.
Why Did Jesus Have To Die So That We Could Be Forgiven?
Hi reader, thank you for clicking on this article. As a charity, it is due to the donation from individuals that allow us to share this article with you for free! However the truth is, less than 1% of our readers donate and in order for us to keep on going, we need your help. If you donate just £2 a month, you can help Our God Given mission keep thriving. To donate, click here.
Often when we think about God, we commonly associate him with paternal or comrade attributes, i.e. a Father or friend, but rarely do we view him as a judge. Packer rightly puts it, saying;
Speak to [people] of God as a Father, a friend, a helper , one who loves us despite all our weakness and sin and their faces light up. But speak to them of God as Judge and they frown and shake their heads. They find it repellent and unworthy.
J.I Packer
In a cultural climate that is becoming more acquainted with self-love and extending grace to ourselves, why doesn’t God let bygones be bygones? Why can’t he just overlook our wrongdoings and just forgive us with no strings attached?
Holy by nature
To understand why God does what he does, we must first reckon with who he is. Knowing God’s character provides us with the roadmap in discovering the answers as to his will and thus his actions. One thing is clear about God. He is holy. Holiness speaks to the deepest and innermost nature of God, as it points not only to his transcendence (the fact that he unique, other and separate from the creation he has made) i.e. omniscient, omnipotent etc, but to the fact that his moral purity is consummate. That means that the nature of God’s righteousness is so utterly perfect that he is the standard of moral perfection and goodness against which all actions are measured by.
This holy character is so exclusive to God himself that it must separate from all things that are unholy. In Leviticus we see this separation physically; the Most Holy Place where God resides being off-limits to all people except the Hight Priest, who had to be consecrated (made holy for God’s purposes) and anointed before being able to work in such close proximity to God. Moses is warned by God to not come near the burning bush which was engulfed by God’s holy presence. The running theme is that God being perfectly holy, is dangerous to anyone that is morally imperfect.
Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all people I will be honoured
Leviticus 10:3
His holiness must never be breached, compromised or trivialised, this being a matter or life or death. Anything unclean, impure that would trespass God’s holy nature may be consumed in judgement. Judgement maintains the equilibrium so that what is holy is separate from unholy, and clean and pure separate from what is unclean and impure.
God rules with authority
God’s holiness, as previously mentioned, speaks of his all-powerful and majestic nature. This means that God, who is morally perfect, also rules sovereignly, meaning all and authority belongs to him. Ultimately it means he decides what laws we should live by. He also decides how we should be judged if we do not live by them. Rightfully so, being the standard of moral perfection, God’s wisdom of right and wrong, qualifies him to know what is just and fair play, because to know justice is to know himself. Justice flows from the righteous nature of God. We know what is wrong because we compare it with what is right and what is right is perfectly fulfilled in him.
What is fair?
Being made in God’s image – God’s inclination to long for just treatment and fair play resides in us. We rejoice when we see a killer is found guilty in court and we mourn when fellow humans face injustice. The truth is sin (to fall short of what is right), has entered us all. We are all prone to do what is wrong, to committing an error and thus to be culpable. It is God’s task to maintain equilibrium and be consistent with his moral perfection by doing what is just. At the heart of justice which expresses God’s nature is retribution, rendering to people what they deserved. If we do something wrong, we deserved to be punished for it, so that the standard of doing right is maintained. This is the reason why God cannot just forgive us. If we saw a judge let a guilty offender just go free with no punishment, it would anger us. So why should we get away with our wrongdoing?
God must punish our sin, he simply cannot thwart justice by overlooking our deeds. So how can we be forgiven while ensuring that God carries out justice by charging a guilty offence with punishment? Christ is the answer. He substitutes himself in our position. Despite being innocent and sinless he takes on our offences as though they were his and becomes the guilty defendant in our place. God’s wrath and will to carry out justice is satisfied as Jesus bears the full consequences by dying as the bloody sacrificial lamb on the cross. This is called atonement. Now because of Christ, those who believe in Christ and his work on the cross can be forgiven by God because the debt has been paid and judgement for the offence fulfilled. It is only through Christ’s sacrifice of appeasing God’s judgement of sin through the shedding of his blood that forgiveness can truly take place.