“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27 KJV)
One of the ways we lay treasures in Heaven is by giving to the poor. The early Church practiced it and laid a lot of emphasis on it. We also need to take care of the poor in our midst.
Can a born again Christian commit sin? What is the Christian walk with like? What does John mean when he wrote to Christians about sin? “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8). Then why was he saying in 1 John 2:1-2? This is clearly explained in the video.
How can one tempt temptation? There are several ways one can tempt temptation. The one I am talking about today is through exposure of oneself to temptation.
Most temptations in life can be prevented. Do not expose yourself to temptation especially when you are weak. Do not be too confident to the point of presenting yourself to be tempted. Prevent and avoid being tempted and reserve your strength for the temptations you cannot avoid.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is strange to the people of this world. It is foolishness in their eyes. Those who preach the pure truth are shamed and persecuted. Some preachers have decided to remove the scandal so that they can escape the shame that is attached to the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. Removing the scandal renders the Gospel ineffective.
What is scandal? It is a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions or disgraces those associated with it; loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety : Disgrace; malicious or defamatory gossip (Merriam Webster Dictionary).
Watch the message below:
What does the Bible say about this? The Bible says that we shall be hated for His name’s sake.
Here are some Bible verses:
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9 )
“But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues” (Matthew 10:17).
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks FOOLISHNESS; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)
If we must follow Jesus Christ we must deny ourselves and everything that can stand on our way. We should know that there’s a price to pay, there’s a cross to carry daily: “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
Jesus Christ told us that we should store our treasures in Heaven where thieves cannot break in to steal. Almost all Christians, if not all, have rewards in Heaven, but unfortunately, many people are going to miss their rewards because they are not going to make it to Heaven because of sin. Giving is good and should be taught and encouraged. Giving helps us to focus on Heaven (Matthew 6:21). As we give let’s work on ourselves so that we can enter Heaven to reap. As we store our treasures in Heaven let us also make every effort to make it to Heaven.
Pastors should also be concerned about the salvation of the people they teach to give. If they don’t show concerns even when they know that their Church members are not going to heaven it is deception. Men of God should not just teach their members how to give and sow seed in order to reap their rewards in Heaven but they should also teach their members how to be saved and make it to Heaven because it is only those who make it to Heaven that will receive the rewards of their labours.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)