HAPPY EVER AFTER?

In the film “Die another day” James Bond met Jinx a lady secret agent from a friendly country at a South American beach. After an exchange of few pleasantries, they went ahead to have fun and make love. According to the film, they were happy ever after. To them it was nothing serious, just fun.

This is the 21^st century culture that is being offered to us in our streets, schools, work place and the media. "What's the big deal; everybody is doing it", is a familiar response from many. Waiting for sex in a marriage relationship to some has become old fashion and obsolete. To them sexual involvement before marriage is irresistible and it is impossible for anyone who is sexually healthy to practice abstinence and wait for sex in marriage. Is this the truth or have we been deceived by Satan?

How a product is supposed to function for excellent result ought to be best known by the manufacturer. This is why user’s manual written by manufacturers always accompany genuine products. You are God’s product. The bible says “…God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Gen 1:27 KJV). God created us in His own image and He has given us a manual to help us function for excellent result. That manual is the word of God, the bible.  God designed all the organs in your body to function the way they do. He gave you ability to experience sexual pleasure. 

He knows what will either profit or destroy you and His user’s manual says “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exo 20:14 NIV). The commandment concerning adultery also covers all forms of sexual immorality. Apostle Paul echoed it in his epistle to the Thessalonian church when he wrote "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality" (1Thess 4:3 NIV).  If you are involved in any sexual relationship outside marriage, you are breaking God’s law. You cannot break the law of God and live happy ever after in God's world? What James Bond movies teach about premarital sex is a lie.

 The bible says “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? “Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished…But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.” (Pro 6:27-29, 32 NIV). There is no free boy or girl, woman or man. Sexual immorality always involves another person’s wife or husband in waiting. God’s promise is that adulterers and fornicators are already destroying themselves without knowing. They are like a house that is burning but the residents are yet to discover it. By the time the flames become visible, it has become too late to quench the fire. 

The bible warns, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” (1Co 6:18 NIV). Some people argue that they are faithful to one partner and are planning to marry him/her in future. To this the bible replies “They are simply laying a faulty foundation for their marriage. The bible warns “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psa 11:3 NIV) When the consequences of faulty foundations begin to manifest even the prayers of the righteous will be powerless to help until the faulty foundations are corrected.

Many have not heeded this warning and have plunged themselves into avoidable calamities. Such calamities include physical consequences such as HIV/AIDS, other STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Psychological consequences include disturbed intimacy when they eventually marry and loss of self worth. Spiritual consequences include soul ties, transfer of demons and eternal separation from God. If you have been involved in this sin, God is giving you the opportunity to quench the fires in your life today through true repentance before it becomes too late.

God has a purpose for our sexuality. Our sexuality is a gift from God for sexual fulfillment within a marriage relationship. God designed it to create the right kind of oneness between a man and his wife. It is also meant for procreation. Those who have ignored God’s purpose have only succeeded in abusing themselves sexually. Abusive sexual activities include premarital sex, homosexuality, pornography, masturbation etc. The bible warns “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Rev 21:8 NIV).

Do not be deceived by the advertisement to protect your self by wearing a condom. Wearing condoms will not stop you from sinning against God and your body, and it will certainly not protect you against the demons waiting to devour you. Do not allow yourself to believe the lie that you cannot be self controlled and wait for sex in marriage. Animals function by instinct but you are not an animal.  You are a rational being created in the image of God. This image has been defaced by sin but when you repent of your sins and give your heart to Jesus, you receive a new life and the image of God is restored with power.   The bible says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” (2Co 5:17 NIV) This new life comes with a new power for self discipline. The bible says “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2Ti 1:7 NIV)

You can receive forgiveness now. The bible says “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Act 17:30-31). God want you to repent and receive forgiveness because Jesus has already purchased it for you. True repentance involves a quality decision to stop all acts of sexual immorality, believe in Him for power of self control and make Jesus the Lord of your life.

If you chose to repent now, God will accept you, transform and make you his child. Jesus will say to you what he said to Zaccheaus (the man in the bible who repented in a similar fashion), “Today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19:9) If you desire to pray the prayer of repentance, your prayer to God should acknowledge

-          Tell the Lord you are sorry and are repenting of your sin.

-          Tell Him that you are making Him the Lord of your life.

-          Thank Jesus for the forgiveness he purchased for you on the cross.

Written by Ifiok J. Ukobo

If you will like to help support the effort to bring back Biblical Worldview to our churches and communities, send a request to Project Coordinator, Lifebuilders Resource. Email: tralright@gmail.com

Is Work a Blessing or a Curse?

William Post won $16.2 million Pennsylvania lottery in 1988 but now live on social security. “I wish it never happened. It was totally a night mare” says Post. It is the same story for most lottery winners. They ended in poverty, debt and destruction. In our country, there is a culture of wealth through luck, raffle draws, cheating and overnight miracles that have come over many people today. The bible says “Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased” (Pro 13:11 BBE).

God intended that His blessing of wealth should be realized and enjoyed by you through excellent and fruitful labour. Healthy and beneficial prosperity always comes through excellent and fruitful labour. Poverty for individuals, organizations and communities always result when people refuse to work as they should or cheat in the effort they put in to work. The bible says “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man” (Pro 6:9-11 NIV).

God who worked to create the world and everything in it created man in his image to function just like him. He gave Adam the work of taking care of a whole garden he planted. Adam was to keep the garden and replenish it with quality work that will glorify God, manage creation and provide for the needs of man. Therefore work is not a curse neither was it invented by sin. It is the way that God functions and He intended man to function in that way too. The bible teaches that “…we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph 2:10 NIV) Also, “Jesus said… "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." (Joh 5:17 NIV)

God’s blessings target your work. The land of Canaan was blessed for the children of Israel and it became the land flowing with milk and honey. When the children of Israel obey God, God will cause them to realize his blessings through the work of their hands. Moses said, “The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.” (Deu 28:12 NIV). Those who refuse to work were to be denied the fruit of labour, the bible says “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2Th 3:10 KJV)

Accordingly, the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ commanded, “Slaves (employees), your job is to obey your human masters, not with the idea of catching their eye or currying favor, but as a sincere expression of your devotion to the Lord. Whatever your task is, put your whole heart and soul into it, as into work done for the Lord and not merely for men— knowing that your real reward will come from Him. You are actually slaves (employees) of the Lord Christ Jesus. But the dishonest man will be paid back for his dishonesty, and no favoritism will be shown.” (Col 3:22-25 Philips).

Work is a ministry that God will reward. Good workers are divine colabourers  in the task of subduing and replenishing the earth. Bad workers are wasters; the bible says “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” (Pro 18:9 KJV). God wants to promote you and give you wealth as a reward of your work. It is useless to pray for promotion while you are doing a deceitful work. You come to work late, use work time for your private matters, you lie about the time you came to work in your time book and lie about the where about of your colleagues to cover up for them. Many cheat their costumers, use substandard materials and do substandard work yet they are praying for increase in wealth. You are doing a deceitful work that attracts judgment and not the blessings of God. The bible says “The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.” (Pro 11:18 KJV)

Those who do deceitful work or are waiting for jackpot wins have wasted God given opportunity to discover their abilities, fulfill their purpose in life, experience fulfillment, enjoy rest and bless their community. Many think that hard work is for nonentities. This was the thinking of the Roman world before the birth of Christ. Three quarters of the then Roman world was made up of slaves because nobles refused to work and productivity was very low. But our Lord Jesus Christ changed all of that when he put his hands to work as a carpenter. This was a work that nobles would not do. By this our Lord redeemed the dignity of labour. This made the then Christian world to preach and reward hard work as a Christian virtue. It is this culture of hard work created by Christian civilization that brought about the industrial revolution and economic boom enjoyed in Europe and America today.

Are you a deceitful worker?  Do not excuse your attitude to work on the behavior of your boss, others or the workings of the system. Your reward does not come from them; if you want the blessings of God then it is God that you must obey.  God’s word is clear “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Pro 14:23 NIV) “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” (Pro 13:18 NIV)

Make up your mind today not to fit into this present culture of corruption but stand out as an example of believers in Christ. You have to repent of your past attitude to work.  Ask God to forgive you and give you Christ attitude to work. Make effort to obey Jesus in your attitude to work. God will fulfill his word and reward you accordingly.

If you chose to repent, your prayer to God should include the following

-          That you have sinned (Confessed all the sins you can remember to God)

-          That you are turning away from your sin (tell God the kind of change you desire)

-          That you want God to forgive your sins. (Ask God to make you clean in his sight)

-          That you are submitting yourself to Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. (Offer yourself to God to serve him as your master and Lord)

ABORTION? Which way forward.

Is unborn baby a tissue in the mother’s womb or is it a life created by God. How can we recognize life?
About eighteen days after conception, the unborn baby’s heart has started beating. For years a beating heart was the sign of life. When a heart stops beating a person was considered to be dead. Doctors in hospitals listen to the fetal heartbeat to determine whether the baby in the womb is healthy, alive and doing well. Where there is no heart beat the baby may be considered to have died. If there is no life in the womb, there can be no death also. Death is only possible because life has been present.

Six weeks after conception, the baby has its own life long brain waves. Modern science considers the absence of brain waves in person as a sure sign of death. What this means is that the presence of brain waves in an unborn baby is a sure sign of life. The baby in the womb is a person and is alive.
According to Dr. Peter Hammond “birth is not a magical act that turns a non human being into a human being”. Therefore a non baby in the womb does not become a baby just by going though the process of birth. If a stone is what is present in a womb, it is that stone that will come out at birth.

The bible teaches that all life begin at conception and comes from God. Concerning Ruth the bible says “…the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son” (Rth 4:13 NIV). David testified of his birth in this way: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb” (Psa 139:13 NIV). God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jer 1:5 NIV) John the Baptist was able to express joy while in his mother’s womb. The scripture states that “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luk 1:44 NIV) This also shows that a baby can experience grieve, pain and joy while in the mother’s womb.  How can a woman or man blessed by God with a baby turn around to be such a source of pain, grieve and death to that baby.

Statistics from feminist activists show that about 750,000 abortions are carried out yearly in Nigeria. USA and Russia record 1.5 and 7 million abortions yearly. Some of the methods used by the abortionist include:

SUCTION: Placenta and the baby is sucked from the womb using a powerful vacuum pressure.

DILATION & CURETTAGE/EVACUATION: the unborn child is cut into pieces and brought out of the womb using surgical instruments.

PROSTAGLANDIN/SALT POISONING: the baby is poisoned in the womb or violent labour is induced to expel the baby through the use of numerous drugs and chemicals.

HYSTEROTOMY: An early caesarian section that surgically opens the mother’s abdomen and uterus and the baby is lifted out and then killed or left to die.

Which ever method is used the result is the same death to the unborn child. Many who chose abortion do have their reasons. Some of the reasons include arguments such as (a) I can not afford to have a child now (b) The child has been rejected by the father or the father is a useless person (c) The conception was a result of rape (d) A baby now will truncate my career or education. (e) I do not know the father of the baby (f) It is a child out of wedlock and will destroy my chances of marrying etc.

In all these cases, the innocent child is made to pay for what others did. Is it fair to make the innocent pay for the misdeeds and sins of others? The commandment of God is clear, "If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked." (Deuteronomy 25:1 KJV) and “You shall not murder.” (Exo 20:13 NIV)

You have been deceived to believe that there is a safe abortion. There is no abortion that is safe. A baby dies a painful and traumatic death each time an abortion is done. Abortions may also lead to infertility or other complications in the mother. Abortion helps to create a mentality within the society that some people can kill others for convenience. It always leaves behind spiritual and emotional scars. There are many childless couples who are praying to God for babies and are willing to adopt them.  Instead of killing your baby why not give him/her up for adoption.

The word of God is explicit “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Rev 21:8 NIV) The only way out is true repentance with godly sorrow. I charge you today with the words of Moses to the children of Israel: -  “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deu 30:19-20 NIV)

You may say that you did not know these things before. If you are right, then the time to repent in truth is now. The bible says “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Act 17:30-31).  True repentance involves a quality decision to stop all your involvement in abortion and other sins, confess these sins to God and ask Him for forgiveness and join like minded people to fight this scourge.
If you chose to repent now, God will accept you, transform and make you his child. Jesus will say to you what he said to Zaccheaus (the man in the bible who repented in a similar fashion), “Today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19:9) If you desire to pray the prayer of repentance, your prayer to God should acknowledge

That you have sinned (Confessed all the sins you can remember to God)

That you are turning away from your sin (tell God the kind of change you desire)

That you want God to forgive your sins. (Ask God to make you clean in his sight)

That you are submitting yourself to Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. (Offer yourself to God to serve him as your master and Lord)

You can pray now.

EXAMS FRAUD! Dealing with a faulty foundation

On the 4th of March 2010, a Swedish pilot was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport as he was about to fly 101 passengers on a Boeing 737 to Turkey. His offence was that he was using a fake commercial pilot license.

How would you like to be flown by this Pilot Or better still, how would you like a doctor that cheated in exams to pass or purchased a fake university certificate to handle a surgical operation on you, your parent, relatives or friend? Many people will shudder at these suggestions yet they engage in cheating and helping others to cheat in examinations. They are bringing a terrible curse on themselves without knowing.

What is the purpose of examinations? It is to find out who is ready with required knowledge and skills to handle specific types of responsibilities within the society. It means that those who are allowed to fly others in an airplane must be those that possess the required knowledge and skills to fly. The same goes for builders, doctors, architects, teachers etc. Examinations helps us to know who has acquired the right knowledge and skills to treat our brothers, build our bridges, make our drugs, judge our cases etc.

Every time you cheat in examinations or help another person to cheat, you are not only helping to defeat the purpose of examination, but you are also enthroning the culture of corruption in the government and general society. Abraham Lincoln said, “The principle of schooling in one generation will become the principle of leadership in the next generation”. This is bad enough yet there is something worse. When you cheat in exams, you are breaking the 8th commandment that says “You shall not steal” (Exo 20:15 NIV). Anyone who tries to make progress in life by breaking God’s law is actually laying a faulty foundation for his career and happiness. He has yielded the foundation of his future to the devil. The bible warns “Neither give place to the devil (Eph 4:27 KJV).

This warning is important because problems will arise in the future as a result of the faulty foundations that has been laid. Prayers from the most holy of men will not solve these problems. When the devil decides to make use of the grounds that have been yielded to him nothing less than a true repentance that comes with restitution will do. The bible warns again “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psa 11:3 KJV).

If you say you are a Christian yet you cheat or help others to cheat in examinations, your salvation is in doubt. Jesus said “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Mat 7:21 KJV) He went ahead to teach how to differentiate between the fakes and the genuine. He said “…by their fruit you will recognize them”. (Mat 7:20 NIV) What type of fruit are you bearing?

You may argue, if I don’t do it others are doing it and are getting ahead of me. Are you saying that Jehovah Saboath cannot make room for you in this world without you cheating? Where is your faith? Are you having a form of godliness but denying the power of it? Jesus said “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mar 9:23 NIV). I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)

Exam cheats give themselves and society a faulty foundation. They steal the rewards that rightly belong to those who have worked hard. They help create a system of reward that benefit the wicked and punish the righteous. They promote a culture of mediocrity. God’s word is unequivocal, “…you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God”. (1Co 6:8-10 NIV)

You may say that you did not know these things, if you are right; the time to repent in truth is now. The bible says “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Act 17:30-31).  True repentance involves a quality decision to stop all your involvement in examination cheating, confessing these sins to God and ask him for forgiveness and join like minded people to fight this scourge.
If you chose to repent now, God will accept you, transform and make you his child. Jesus will say to you what he said to Zaccheaus (the man in the bible who repented in a similar fashion), “Today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19:9) If you desire to pray the prayer of repentance, your prayer to God should acknowledge

That you have sinned (Confessed all the sins you can remember to God)
That you are turning away from your sin (tell God the kind of change you desire)
That you want God to forgive your sins. (Ask God to make you clean in his sight)
That you are submitting yourself to Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. (Offer yourself to God to serve him as your master and Lord)

Blasphemy! Will God hold us guiltless?

       At a Christian function in Lagos not too long ago, an invited comedian opened the program by saying “ I don’t want anybody pleading the blood of Jesus here, you people have used the blood of Jesus so much that it has now dried up. Maybe we should start using the blood of God the father from now on.” The large crowd roared with laughter.  For most Christians gathered at that function it was a very funny joke but the bible calls it blasphemy.

      Have you noticed that in order to make people laugh, comedians often resort to the mocking of church worship activities, Pastor’s deliverance prayers and bible verses turned upside down. Most Christians find this mocking of Jesus, His word and His Church very amusing. In fact most of the so called comedians that are really into this thing call themselves Christians. Yet what they are doing and other Christians find amusing is nothing less than blasphemy. If the same things were to be done to some other religion, adherents of that religion will immediately invoke the punishment of blasphemy on the comedians.

      What is blasphemy? It is a show of disrespect for God, His name, His attributes, His acts, His word or His Church. It is treating that which is sacred as common. The third commandment clearly states that “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exo 20:7 KJV). God promised to punish every irreverent use of his name and as a corollary, things associated with his name.

      Peter said “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”. (1Pe 3:15 KJV).  To sanctify means to separate God as Lord in our heart, completely different from us, belonging to a uniquely exclusive realm with authority above everything else. It means to treat Him and esteem Him in our heart as incomparable to anything we have seen or heard or imagine. It means to stand in a perpetual reverential awe of him, ready to give an intentional reverential response to Him always irrespective of our external circumstances.  This is not what we see in our comedians.

      Rather than separate Jesus in their heart as Lord these so called Christian Comedians are not afraid to join themselves to Jesus and treat him as one of them. They use the word ‘we’ to refer to themselves and Jesus. They make irreverent references to His name, His words, His actions and His promises. When Moses, though a prophet of no mean standing with God, made the mistake of joining himself with God at the water of strife by saying “Ye rebels; must we fetch (here Moses join himself with God and referred to himself and God as we) you water out of this rock” (Num 20:10), God immediately rebuked him and said “Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” ( Num 20:12 KJV). In this scripture, Moses failed to treat God as awesomely different from himself. He was able to join himself with God and refer to both as ‘we’. No wonder, true to his word, God did not hold him guiltless.

       If God did not hold Moses guiltless, what makes people think that they who have trivialised the name, word and the Church of Jesus Christ will be left unpunished? Is this not why the scriptures says “Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. (Eze 5:11 KJV). This is the lot of those who refuse to retrace their steps.

In worldview Wars, Ifiok J. Ukobo exposes the hidden, but very aggressive, war of worldviews being waged against righteousness in our personal lives and community. This battle has now arrived in every home, community, and country. We are under attack, and the battle front spans our schools , media, national policies, and pulpits. Families are breaking down, children are becoming rebellious; communities no longer have shared values, and a cultural flux is emerging. In Worldview Wars, the author presents practical ways to win the battle in your life, family, and community. This book will renew your mind and help you to stay free and bring freedom to others that have been taken captive. You will also discover practical strategies that will help you to teach your children a biblical worldview and arm them against deception. "

Worldview Wars is a timely book. it arrives at a time in the war - when truly heavy ordinance is needed. It will be a game changer. Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

DOWNLOAD A COPY HERE

     You may say that you did not know these things before now. If what you are saying is right, then the time to repent in truth is now. The bible says “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Act 17:30-31).  True repentance involves a quality decision to stop all acts of blasphemy and stop supporting and consuming blasphemous arts and comedy. Confess these sins to God and ask him for forgiveness then join like-minded people to fight this scourge.

     Brothers and sisters, let us take a stand against this blasphemy. Let us not patronize their shows nor buy their CDs. Let us teach our children true reverence for God. We should refuse to sing choruses that do not show appropriate respect for God.  As we sanctify the Lord in our hearts, we will experience His sanctification in our lives. And the blessing of sanctification will be ours. May the Lord grant us grace to sanctify Him in our hearts and lives in Jesus Name.

DRESSING BIBLICALLY

For parents who are bent on modesty and propriety, their children often wonder why other parents allow their children to wear all kinds of trendy clothing while their own parent do not allow them. If your dos and don’ts about dressing is not based on solid and clear biblical explanation, you will come across to your children as being unnecessarily strict, old fashion and inflexible.

The bible teaches that “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.” (Pro 22:15 NIV). This folly is manifested in all facets of children’s life including immodest clothing.  And it is going to be overcome not by reliance on the force of our own laws but by the power of the Word of God.  The bible says “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psa 119:9 KJV).

It is helping our children to understand the ‘why’ behind God’s commandment on dressing that helps our children to acquire a personal vision of obeying God in that area.  Because there are many questions in the heart of our children in this area, I will not attempt to answer all of them at one time. In this article, I am answering just one question that will help give our children a good starting point as they develop a biblical philosophy for fashion.

Why do we wear clothes?

When we ask this question, most of the time the answer given is that we wear clothes in order to cover our nakedness or protect ourselves from the weather etc. Covering our nakedness and protecting ourselves from adverse weather conditions are some of the benefits of wearing clothes but not the reason for wearing clothes.  Adam and Eve were naked at creation, they were neither ashamed nor had they need for clothes. Need for clothes arose as a result of sin. When they sinned, sin distorted nakedness and evoked in the naked person and the one who behold the nakedness some embarrassing responses. Sin distorted nakedness by making it an object of lust and shame. Adam and Eve felt this shame and tried to hide themselves from God by sewing for themselves aprons of fig leaves for clothing. But their aprons were insufficient as a covering. God in his mercy provided for them sufficient clothing of coats made of animal skin.

Till today, people who have not lost their sensitivity to righteousness are still embarrassed about the stirring of sin wherever nakedness is exhibited. We therefore wear clothes because sin entered the world and changed the equation concerning nakedness, provoking sin and shame by it.  By wearing sufficient clothing, we prevent sin from expressing itself in us and others through our nakedness. Skimpy, skin tight and revealing clothing are insufficient clothing and therefore cannot stop stirring sin. Adam and Eve were able to make for themselves aprons of fig leaves but God judged it as insufficient clothing and made for them coats of skin. God replaced skimpy apron with full  coats of animal skin.  Gen 3:7, 21

In worldview Wars, Ifiok J. Ukobo exposes the hidden, but very aggressive, war of worldviews being waged against righteousness in our personal lives and community. This battle has now arrived in every home, community, and country. We are under attack, and the battle front spans our schools , media, national policies, and pulpits. Families are breaking down, children are becoming rebellious; communities no longer have shared values, and a cultural flux is emerging. In Worldview Wars, the author presents practical ways to win the battle in your life, family, and community. This book will renew your mind and help you to stay free and bring freedom to others that have been taken captive. You will also discover practical strategies that will help you to teach your children a biblical worldview and arm them against deception. "

Worldview Wars is a timely book. it arrives at a time in the war - when truly heavy ordinance is needed. It will be a game changer. Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

DOWNLOAD A COPY HERE

God through Apostle Paul commanded “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; (1Ti 2:9 KJV). To be shamefaced is to possess the ability to be embarrassed by insufficient clothing. What Paul meant here is that every child of God should dress in a way that shows that she is embarrassed by insufficient clothing. Adam and Eve, having just fallen from a state of innocence were still able to respond with embarrassment to the awareness that they were naked. This is why they tried to hide themselves form God. They saw themselves as being inappropriately clothed before God. Every Christian is equipped to respond with a similar sense of embarrassment to insufficient clothing in the presence of people other than their spouses.  If a Christian is not embarrassed by insufficient clothing before others, he/she has lost his or her shamefacedness.

Many times I come across ladies in particular who fill uncomfortable in their low neck line blouse or shortness of their skirts. Often they keep pulling up their skirts or pull down their blouses. This is a manifestation of a struggle with the last ounce of innocence left in them.

Finally, we must ask ourselves the question, what is my clothing stirring up in me and in others? Is it helping to stir up sin in others or is it a covering that eliminate shameful and embarrassing responses from others. Mary Quant, a London designer considered to be the mother of miniskirts, said on November 13, 1967, “Mini clothes are symbolic of those girls who want to seduce a man”. Another fashion designer Leo Narducci, speaking about the philosophy of his design said women who wear his revealing styles are those who are “sure of themselves, who think of sex more openly and are not concerned about nudity”.  Apostle Paul said “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (Heb 10:24 KJV). We, children of God choose to provoke others unto love and not unto lust. We choose to dress to limit the effect of sin on us and those who behold us.

Written by Ifiok Ukobo
General Coordinator of TRLR & Lifebuilders Resource

Why is God allowing Boko Haram to kill Christians in North East Nigeria

Recently a youth asked me this question: if God is that powerful, loving and good, why does he allow Boko Haram to destroy innocent people, why does he allow those who serve him to be killed by Islamic fundamentalists. Why does He allow evil to happen to good people?

This youth was questioning the existence of God. What was going through the mind of this youth is whether the so-called scientists are right in saying that God is a creation of ignorant cultures as a coping mechanism for issues in life they have no answer.

This person was not against God. He believes in God but wanted a faith that brings head and heart together. He wanted to reconcile his intellect with his heart but was finding it difficult because he could not answer some questions. An anti-intellectual stance by some well-meaning Christian leaders on issues that concern our faith has largely produced believers with compartmentalized lives, a people who cannot integrate their faith into everyday life.

If this question was a faith extinguisher for this youth, it could mean that several other youths do have the same doubt. For ease of instructing others, I want to give you a seven-point answer to this question.

1. First, if there is no God, there cannot be anything called evil because evil can only be known and measured against a standard of good. Apart from God and the morality that flows from Him there is no standard – and therefore no evil either. The fact that we can recognize certain things as evil is one evidence that God, the perfect good exists.

2. God created the world good but man’s rebellion at the garden of Eden brought evil. There are consequences for our rebellion against God. Sin is the origin of evil. Sometimes God shields us severally from evil in this world because of his mercy. At other times, He allows consequences of our choices to play out in this world. In the case of Boko Haram, we do not know everything about why he saves some people and allows others to be killed. The fact that we do not know these things does not mean that God does not know. We can trust Him who gave His Son for our redemption to do justice.

3. We do know however that God does deliver his people in response to faith. God’s people also have chosen to be martyred as an act of their faith. If God has not called you to be a martyr, the appropriate response to affliction is to pray and expect deliverance. The bible commands, “is any among you afflicted, let him pray” (James 5:13).

4. God has promised justice, and everyone eventually gets justice. God’s children who were killed get justice in eternity. Those who killed them also get justice in eternity. It is difficult for us to understand how eternity effectively make up for the loss we experience in this world. But God who is the author of both worlds and gave us ability to enjoy this world, assures us that we will be satisfied with his justice when it is revealed in eternity. David accepted this position when he said, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness". (Psa 17:15 KJV).

5. Those who have been killed as God’s children have not missed out. God has transported them from an inferior place to a superior place. Imagine a loving father who took his son out of a village school in Zamfara and brought the boy to live with him and school in Abuja. It may be a loss to the boy’s friends in Zamfara but not a loss to the boy or his father. Obviously, they are in a better place. Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 NKJV).

6. Why did God allow them to die such a painful death, the youth also asked. Their death may not have been painful as many people suppose. When we imagine how they died, we are imagining a situation for which we have no grace to bear. The writer of the Book of Hebrews tells us that grace is given at the time of need (Heb 4:16). Some people who have come face to face with life-threatening situations have always wondered why they acted boldly and reasoned normally until the threat was over. Others remember how they did what was considered impossible, something they could not replicate at normal times. What happened in the two occasions mentioned above is that grace for that occasion was given to them. Many people reported feelings of great fear after the threat was over. God told Apostle Paul, “my grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:9 NKJV).

7. Lastly, no one is truly innocent. The questions we are dealing with fall within the generic type that says, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” The Bible says that we were born in sin. Even as babies, we were sinful human beings in small bodies. When we grew up, we added sinful choices to our sinful nature. Therefore, everybody deserves the wages of sin. The fact that good things happen to us despite our sins make us to constantly respond to God with grateful hearts. Therefore the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people” should be, “Why do good things happen to bad people”? The answer is because our God is merciful.

THINK RIGHT AND LIVE RIGHT

Why think right – Because when you sow a thought, you reap an action, you sow an action, you reap a habit, you sow a habit, you reap a destiny. As a human being you operate through thoughts. Your actions, habits, character and destiny begin with your thoughts. If your thoughts are wrong, your actions will be wrong and you will end up with a wrong destiny.
The bible says in Matthew 15:19-20 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man". You cannot stop thinking but you can choose what to think about. If you are born again in Christ, you have become a new creation and you have the mind of Christ. What this means is that you are no longer under the power of devils to think every thought they suggest to you, you now have the power to choose what to think. This is why the bible says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things". (Php 4:8 NIV). Right thoughts are thoughts that accord with the word of God and evaluate all of life from heaven's perspective.

Why live right - Right living result from right thinking. The bible teaches that (Proverbs 23:7)  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."  Right living is what progressively positions us to experience the life God planned for us. The bible says in Psalms 37:37,  "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace". The perfect man in this scripture does not mean a flawless person but one that fears the Lord and seeks to please Him. We may not be perfect in our actions because we are still growing in knowledge, but we can be perfect in our love for Jesus. A person with a whole hearted commitment to Jesus will think with the mind of Christ and walk as He walked. This is the right living that will result in peace.
This must not be understood to mean that right living is a merit that somehow earns us blessings. All that we receive from the Lord, we receive by grace. It comes with the salvation we received on account of Jesus death and resurrection to atone for our sins. However, right living pleases God and positions us to receive what has already been provided in Christ. Wrong living positions us away from God's favor and we miss out on God's blessings. God gave Joshua the road map to good success when He commanded him in Joshua 1:8,  "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success".  This is how it flows from the Word: Read it » Think it » Do it » Prosper » With good success.

 

 

In worldview Wars, Ifiok J. Ukobo exposes the hidden, but very aggressive, war of worldviews being waged against righteousness in our personal lives and community. This battle has now arrived in every home, community, and country. We are under attack, and the battle front spans our schools , media, national policies, and pulpits. Families are breaking down, children are becoming rebellious; communities no longer have shared values, and a cultural flux is emerging. In Worldview Wars, the author presents practical ways to win the battle in your life, family, and community. This book will renew your mind and help you to stay free and bring freedom to others that have been taken captive. You will also discover practical strategies that will help you to teach your children a biblical worldview and arm them against deception.

 

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Book recommendation - WORLDVIEW WARS: Let No One Take You Captive
Forward by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

The right destiny – There are two destinies confronting everyone. The first one is prepared by God for His children. In the book of Jeremiah 29:11 it is referred to as "thought that I think towards you," "thoughts of peace" and "expected end".  The other is prepared by the devil for his children in hell. Moses presented the two destinies to the children of Israel. In Deuteronomy 30: 15, 19 Moses said:  "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; .... I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live". Heaven is presented as life, good and blessing, desirable things that starts in this life and continue in eternity. Hell is presented as death, evil and cursing, undesirable things that starts in this life and continue in eternity.
The journey to either of the two destinies starts with our thoughts. When God wiped out the world of Noah,  He pointed to their thoughts as the reason. Genesis 6:5 says  "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually".  The bible teaches that unrighteousness that will drown people in perdition starts from the thoughts. Isaiah 55:7 says  "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts..."

Changing destinies from death to life involves changing our thoughts.
The Holy Spirit want to use the word of God to paint new pictures of reality in your heart, He wants to paint the thoughts of God concerning you. He says  in Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end".  He gave you the mind of Christ and His word so you would think His thoughts and enjoy His plans for your life. When people are complacent in their thought life, they invite destruction. In Isaiah 59:7 the bible says  "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths".

Conclusion
Think about this in Proverbs 12:5  the bible says "The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. Proverbs 15:26 says "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words".

WHY YOU CAN'T OVERCOME EVIL WITH EVIL

     

   Do you ever wonder why things go from bad to worse when you return evil for evil. Prior to the exchange, the thinking always is that returning evil for evil will protect you against the other party. It will stop them from taking an undue advantage of you or that it will be a deterrent to the other party. Unfortunately the expected result is not always the case. Rather than an experience of peace, things always go from bad to worse. The scripture teaches, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  (Rom 12:21 NIV).

     We are overcome by evil when we succumb to Satan’s desire for us to return evil for evil. A sin done against us always opens door to death (i.e. the power of Satan) in our relationship with the sinner (Rom 5:12). Sin always put the power of Satan to work in the things that relate to the sinner. When the offended party returns evil for the evil, he opens a fresh door for death in that situation. Consequently things go from bad to worse. This is why it is impossible to overcome evil with evil; rather evil for evil relationships deepens the operation of the power of Satan in that relationship or situation. The bible says that as children of God, we overcome evil with good.
     When we chose to obey God and return good for evil, we open a door to life in that very situation. Every good  done in obedience to Jesus releases the power of life that swallows up death.  This is why the bible says “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Pro 15:1 KJV). Life that is released through a soft answer destroys the power of  death that came with a quarrelsome person.
    The promise of God in the Bible is that "Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous." (Pro 14:19 NIV). Why evil bows before the presence of the good is because the power of Jesus is activated through righteousness. When we confront evil with good, we open a door for Jesus to wield the scepter of His Kingdom over the situation. God in the book of Hebrews said concerning Jesus "...Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." (Heb 1:8 NIV). When we obey Jesus and return good for evil, we unleash the power of Jesus to swallow up the power of Satan in that situation just as Moses' rod swallowed up the rod of the magicians.   
       Choosing always to see things God’s way and obey him rather than decide to handle things your own way always bring life and peace. The scripture says “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”(Rom 8:6 KJV).
       Let us go out there and overcome evil in our family, neighborhood, work place, church, cities and country with good through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let's be the change we want to see in the world. Be renewed and empowered in Jesus name.

written by Ifiok Ukobo