Your Virginity: Your Pride; Your Honour

A virgin is someone (male or female) who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. He or she is in his/her original pure or natural condition, unchanged, untouched, ‘unspoilt’ by sexual activities.
There is a way to recognize such a female (lady) who is still a virgin. She has her hymen still intact. Hymen is a membrane that partly covers the opening of a vagina in women who have not had sexual intercourse. However, some ladies who are sport women or who have had surgery performed on their vagina for certain medical condition may have lost their hymen though still a virgin i.e. though not yet engaged in sexual intercourse.
In the case of a young man there is really no way of recognizing whether he is still a virgin or not.

Biblical Perspective on Virginity
In the old testament, among God’s covenant people, Israel, virginity was a thing of honour especially among the ladies who had a token (evidence) of their virginity. Both the lady and her father took pride in her virginity. Usually the wedding night reveals whether a lady is still a virgin or not. This is because, the wedding night supposed to present the first opportunity for sexual intercourse for both the lady and her husband. The lady’s hymen is supposed to be broken that night through penile penetration into the vagina. When broken, there will be minimal bleeding which stains the bed sheet and this becomes the evidence of the lady’s virginity. In Israel, if any man met his wife as a virgin, he was not permitted to put her away. However, if not, the lady was supposed to be brought to the door of her father’s house and stoned to death for playing the whore (harlotry) in her father’s house. Deut.22:13-21.
Such was the importance attached to virginity among God’s covenant people. It was the honour, pride and dignity of a lady and by extension that of her father, that she married her husband still as a virgin. Solomon also had this to say concerning virginity in form of a parable in Song of Solomon 8:8-10
“We have a little sister and she hath no breasts; what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver; and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar,
I am a wall, and my breasts like a towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.”
This can be interpreted to mean; on the day of the reckoning (i.e. the wedding night) when our sister is assumed to have her first opportunity for sexual intercourse; if she is found as a wall (a virgin whose hymen is still intact) she will be honoured and rewarded by having a palace of silver built for her. However, if she is a door (i.e. free entrance by reason of having her hymen broken due to sexual immorality in the past) she shall be put to shame and inclose with boards of cedar. Much more importantly, if she is still a wall (a virgin) she shall found favour in the sight of her husband. In other words, she shall be held in high esteem by her husband. Lady, remaining a virgin till your wedding night is gloriously dignifying and honourable.
Although, there is no way to ascertain a virgin young man but I tell you remaining a virgin as a young man until wedding night is equally dignifying and honourable. How you may ask? Because your heavenly Father (God) who sees you in the secret of your singlehood keeping yourself chaste (sexually pure) shall definitely reward you openly. Moreso, we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give account of ourselves to God concerning all we did while on the earth. 2Cor.5:10. Therefore, either a male or a female you must remain sexually pure all through singlehood. You must also keep your bed undefiled even after marriage by remaining sexually faithfully to your one and only spouse alone. Heb.13:4

Health Tips
It is important for us to know that sexual intercourse is such an act established by God within the context of marriage principally for the following reasons:
 • Pleasure. Eccl.4:11, Gen.26:8
• Procreation (Child Bearing). Gen.1:27–28; and
• To prevent fornication / adultery. 1Cor.7:1-2
This means the good use of it glorifies God, gladdens the heart of God and fulfills God’s purpose. However, the wrong use of it does not only sadden the heart of God it also endangers the life of anyone engaging in it. The wrong use of it is what is known as sexual immorality.
Sexual immorality, defiling oneself with a man or men or with a woman or women as the case may be through sexual intercourse either before marriage or even after marriage has some health implications. These health implications include:
• Risk of unwanted pregnancy (ies)
• Complications of unsafe abortion
• Sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV/AIDS
Why is this so? Usually because young people engaging in sexual intercourse are not ready or ripe for the responsibility of becoming pregnant and bearing children, they end–up with unwanted pregnancies which they often seek to abort. Also because abortion is still illegal in our country (Nigeria), they usually procure abortion from unskilled individuals and end-up with numerous immediate and delayed complications such as excessive bleeding, perforation of their wombs, adhesion of the wound’s cavity, damage to the intestine, inability to conceive later in life, womb loss and even death, just to mention a few. In the event that such pregnancy is not aborted, the young person may drop out of schools and become father or mother who cannot fend for him/herself not to talk of the baby. They become liabilities and constitute a nuisance to the society. Sometime, such young people also come down with numerous sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea, human papilloma virus infection, chancroid, genital warts, human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection, and so on. Often times, because of the shame associated with the symptoms of STI, young people would not seek medical treatments from competent hands. Hence, such STI become poorly treated and can also lead to complications. As I write, there has not yet been a cure for HIV/AIDS the drugs given to patients with HIV/AIDS only reduce the viral load in the body and they are not without their numerous unpalatable side effects.
Because of these grave consequences of sexual immorality among both the young people and the adults, medical science has come up with certain prevention and control strategies known as “ABCD” of prevention. In which:
• “A” stands for “Abstinence” that is, staying away from sexual intercourse because it only takes sexual intercourse to contract sexually transmitted infections as the name connotes. It is also the best way to avoid unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion and its complications that follow seeking to get rid of such unwanted pregnancies.
• “B” stands for “Be faithful” to a faithful partner that is not infected by any of these sexually transmitted infections especially for those who are married.
• “C” stands for correct and consistent use of Condom (which is a thin rubber covering worn by a man on an erected penis or inserted into the woman’s vagina prior to sexual intercourse) to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STIs that can be contracted through exchange of genital fluids. This means condom does not prevent against the STIs that are transmitted just through contact.
• “D” stands for Drug use for the appropriate treatment of such STIs. Contact or cluster tracing is very important; that is looking for and treating the sexual partner(s). Otherwise, if only the infected individual is treated without the partner(s), there is a high chance of contracting such STI again coupled with increased risk of spread of such STI to all partners involved in a chain reaction even among the community.
In addition to condom use, there are other contraceptive methods which only prevent unwanted pregnancies (though they can still fail) but do not prevent sexually transmitted infections. It is quite pathetic today that numerous young people who are only afraid of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infection have taken to contraceptives use especially condom; and have become liberal with promiscuity. While these prevention strategies (especially the last three) are recommended on health ground every young person who cherishes a glorious future and wants to live in the fear of God is advised to embrace ABSTINENCE at all cost.

Spiritual Perspective on Abstinence
Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, who explored a lot of pleasures of life in a godless adventurous lifestyle (see the whole of Ecclesiastes), concluded as follows:
 “But whose comitteth adultery with a woman (or even fornication be it with a woman or man) lacketh understanding, he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.” Prov.6:32
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life to keep the from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman, Lust not after her beauty in thine heart neither let her take thee with her eyelids; for by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.”
Prov.6:23-26
“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Eccl.1:3
There is a time to be single and it should be enjoyed to the peak as you live in the fear of God glorifying him with your entire life and body. There is also a time to be married and we are commanded in the scripture to also enjoy it to the peak as one:
“Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers with thee. Let thy fountains be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe: let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and pondereth all his goings.”
Prov.5:15-21
Singlehood is a time you should concentrate at building yourself up in faith. It is a time you develop in education and/or vocation so as to be economically responsible in life. It is not a time to focus on sexual immorality because sexual immorality erodes intelligences (remember biblical Samson); it causes distraction and cuts dream short. It makes a young man or woman to live in the mirage of his/her dream. It relegates to the rear parts of life. It makes one to live in regrets. Even if a young man or woman says he/she will protect against unwanted pregnancies and STIs by using condom, he/she must remember that God’s eyes are on him/her. You may escape unwanted pregnancies and STI but do you think you can escape the judgment of God? There is also a mystery of transference of spiritual virtue/substance during sexual intercourse. Meaning that engaging in sexual immorality promotes partaking in one’s partner negative spiritual virtues and influences. This is why the bible said he that is joined with a harlot has become one flesh with her. 1Cor.6:16. This means even if condom prevents against STI and unwanted pregnancies; it can never prevent against sexually transmitted demons and all forms of negative unseen spiritual virtue, influences and substances exchanged during sexual intercourse. Therefore, young man, young woman take caution and embrace abstinence. Sex is worth waiting for. So be wise. Secure your future and your eternity. Zip up!
“For the conclusion of the whole matter is fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil.”
Eccl.12:13-14.
May God’s grace be sufficient for you to keep yourself pure and chaste until your wedding night and also unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dr. Israel Adeyemi Owoade
President, Covenant and Light Gospel Mission, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
israeladeyemigmi@gmail.com
08137731718, 09092870794

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Kingdom Parenting Project

Parenting, the art of raising the next generation of godly seeds, is one of the principal reasons why God inaugurated the family—the institution called home. However, only couples who see marriage not as an end in itself but a means to an end recognize this. Many couples labour at child bearing. They fast, visit mountains, receive the laying on of hands and prayer of men of God to be pregnant. Some even go extra miles medically to pay huge sum of money in the name of employing ‘Assisted Reproductive Technology’ just to ensure pregnancy and child bearing. Those who have no delay in getting pregnant are very good at “knowing” their partners (in the language of the bible) to become pregnant. Some of them consciously embrace family planning to avoid too many children, too close conceptions and too frequent pregnancies and deliveries. However couples who can do all of these to ensure child bearing, do next to nothing to ensure godly children are raised. They leave child raising to fate. They see no reason to be intentional in raising children while they are conscious and international in ensuring child bearing, they are really consciously or unconsciously non-challant about child raising. Some have even transferred their parenting responsibility to house maid. Majority have left it into the hands of the school teachers, society and even the media. Some commit younger children to the elderly ones to be trained by them. We have grossly neglected this principal purpose of God for instituting home. Even believers are not left out of this. We enroll these children in schools but we are ignorant of what godly parenting entails. We simply also can’t just give godly parenting what it demands not only because we do not know what it requires but also because we are just not ready. The aftermath of this is what we see in our society today the children that were not trained are actually selling the houses we labour to build.

·         The clowns that came out of our homes are the politicians governing us today. And you know what? “We care actually groaning under their rulership because they are bunch of wicked souls. God’s people remember that it is only.

“When the righteous are in authority that the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, (according to the scripture) the people must definitely mourn.”

Prov.29:2

·         Instead of having a wise son and a wise daughter who makes glad his/her father, we have foolish children who have become the heaviness of their mothers’ hearts. Prov.10:1

·         Instead of raising children as the heritage of the Lord who are mighty arrows shot by the hands of the Almighty God through the platform of godly parenting; we give them to the devil as the mighty weapons of destruction. Psalms 127:3-5

·         Instead of raising children like Samuel who had developed a spiritual listening ear to hear what God had in mind for His people and served as God’s mouth piece; we are raising Eli’s children-like individuals who have the effrontery to be sexually immoral even in the tabernacle of the congregation as altar boys/girls, choir members and even ushers. 1Sam.2:21-26 and 3:1-21

·         Instead of raising saviours like Joseph who through the exercise of their God-given gifts and talents are committedly rescuing their generation from intense famine; we raise a company of people who are contributing to the evil in our days. Gen.41:14-46 and 50:20-21

·         Even children of the ministers of the gospel are turning out like the children of Samuel right under their nose. Such children walked not in the ways of their fathers; instead they turned aside after greed, took bribes and perverted judgement. 1Sam.8:1-3

·          Instead of believers’ children turning out as assets to themselves, their parents and society; they are liabilities of varying degrees to themselves, their parent and society at large; and are considered as great nuisance.

These and many more are the things that are falling apart in our homes and by extension in our societies just because our centre (homes) cannot hold in intentional, Holy Ghost-directed, love-motivated and spiritual-approach to kingdom parenting.

To this end, God has called and ordained us to rise up, speak to the darkness, void and emptiness prevailing in our homes and societies (especially in the aspect of lack of kingdom parenting); so that light can replace darkness; void can give way to shape and fullness can replace emptiness as godly parents who are on a mission to raise godly children are recruited and equipped for kingdom parenting task.

If you identify with this need either as an individual pastor and/or congregation of God’s people; and if you are motivated to turn things around; we encourage you to stage a programme(s) to address this need. If you consider us suitable to fill this gap we are at your services for series of teachings on kingdom parenting in your church among parents and intending parents. We are equally available to provide ministers of the gospel, school teachers and those who are passionate about raising the next generation of godly parents and godly children necessary training required for adequate equipping.

We shall appreciate if you can organize this at your convenience and at a frequency you consider appropriate considering the urgency of the matter. The organization and the logistics necessary are in your control, all we do is provide the training as you give us your platform.

Yours in Christ’s Vineyard

Dr. Israel Adeyemi Owoade

President, Covenant and Light Gospel Mission, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria.

israeladeyemigmi@gmail.com

08137731718, 09092870794 

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Understanding Your Covenant of Exemption

It is important for us to know as believers that our redemption is essentially for the purpose of being different. 1 Pet.2:9, 2 Pet.1:3-4. That is, we are redeemed to live in a world different from that which others who do not know Christ live. We are redeemed to experience "spiritual Goshen" in the Egypt of this world. Phil.3:20-21, Jn.17:14-18.
Christ came here to raise a new breed of people who are enjoying heavenly order of blessing on this earth where gross darkness covers the people.
There is a new breed of people called the Israel of God cropped from all tribes and nations of the world through new birth; and Christ is committed to exonerating them from the hell on earth experiences though still on the earth.
We must therefore, understand that our exemption was basically ratified by redemption; ie by the mystery of Christ shed blood. This was why the scripture said in Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our sin.Col.1:14
It then follows that Christ has indeed laboured while He who knew no sin was made a sin for us; 2 Cor.5:21: while though He was rich He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich; 2Cor.8:9
Friend, we are only called to enter into Christ's labour. It is foolhardy therefore to seek to be perfect by the flesh what we begun in the Spirit. Gal.3:1-3.
It is really foolhardy to choose to be ignorant of God's righteousness (ie right standing with God that became ours through faith), and going about to establish our own righteousness by the observance of the law.
Understand that while the righteousness that is by law "doeth" that which is by faith "speaketh". God's people, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Rom.10:1-6. Hence, don't be bewitched nor brainwashed to believe that you enjoy exemption by observance of certain "works"
Your exemption and mine exemption does not answer to "fasting and prayers", nor to "tithes and offering", nor to "supposed kingdom service" nor to feetwashing, anointing oil, blood of sprinkling, holy water, name it; all those carnal ordinances of outward washing.
Your exemption and mine exemption only answers to faith.
Friend, your exemption and mine exemption from confusion, economic holocaust, oppressions of the devil, death, and so on is rooted in redemption and accessible solely by FAITH.
Faith on the other hands answers to deep seated spiritual understanding of Christ accomplishment on the cross.
Let's therefore seek deep spiritual understanding necessary for an unwavering faith required to enter into Christ's labour. Heb.4:1-11
Remember, only those who enter into His rest cease from every labour. May God give us understanding in Jesus name.

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THE PURSUIT OF REAL AND ENDURING SUCCESS

 A Sound Approach to Seeking First God's Kingdom and His Righteousness
In the previous pieces we established what real and enduring success is. It was taught that real and enduring success is defined as:
1. conforming to Christ in all ramifications-godly character, wisdom and power. Rom.8:29-30, Col.1:27-28
2. discovering, pursuing and fulfilling God's general (overall) / specific plans / purposes for one's life. Eph.2:10, Rev.20:12-15, Eccl.3:13-14
In this piece, we want to establish that the pursuit of real and enduring success is a sound approach to seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and also that it guaranteed rewards both in time (earthly rewards) and in eternity (the world to come). Mat.6:33. This means that when a believer is committed to the pursuits of becoming Christ-like and fulfilling God's general and specific plans he or she is without controversy seeking first God's kingdom and His righteousness. Let's now look at what we stand to gain when seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness as we pursue real and enduring success as stated above.

1. EARTHLY REWARDS: If you are committed to pursuing real and enduring success,
🔹 you live a glorified life i.e. a life that is superior to the force of sin, death and the devil that are plaguing the world with darkness. 2Cor.3:18, Rom.8:1-2
🔹 you enjoy divine provisions for instance, Elijah's needs were supernaturally met when he doggedly committed himself to the pursuit of his God-given assignment. 1Kings 17&18
🔹 you're preserved and protected to complete the assignment. Acts 13:36
🔹 your life brings glory to your Maker. Mat.5:16, Col.3:17
🔹 you receive the inheritance i.e. all that redemption offers. Col.3:23-24, Acts 20:32
🔹you become famous. Ps.74:5, Lk.436-37
🔹 you're commended for the wisdom proffers doing so. Prov.12:8

2. ETERNAL REWARDS: Include
🔹 better resurrection. Heb.11:35
🔹 crowns, five different crowns: incorruptible crown. 1 Cor.9:25; crown of rejoicing 1 Thess.2:19, Dan.12:3; crown of life Jam.1:12, Rev.2:10; crown of righteousness 2Tim.4:8; crown of glory 1Pet.5:2-4
🔹 privileges promised overcomers in Rev.2&3
Of a truth seeking first the kingdom of God has a promise of life which now is and that which is to come. It's wisdom then to pursue real and enduring success for that is the rest indeed.

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PRECIOUS IS THE BLOOD

"In WHOM (Christ) we have REDEMPTION through His BLOOD, the FORGIVENESS of sins, according to the RICHES of His GRACE." Eph.1:7
Precious is the blood that saved us.
Precious is the blood that redeemed us.
Precious is the blood that set us free.
Precious is the blood that delivered us.
Precious is the blood that adopted us into the beloved.
Precious is the blood that gave us an inheritance among the saints.
Precious is the blood that planted us as the branches into the true Vine (Christ) to which God is the Vinedresser.
Precious is the blood that bought us.
Precious is the blood that delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Precious is the blood that bailed us out of every condemnation and established our justification unto righteousness.
Precious is the blood that declared us justified, righteous and glorified.
Precious is the blood that freed us from the clutches of our enemies--sin, death and the devil to serve the living God.
Have you been to the fountain opened at the side of Jesus for cleansing?
Today is your opportunity to do so tomorrow maybe too late.
Behold, Christ is standing at the door of your heart knocking if you'll hear and open the door, He shall come in and sup with you and you with Him. Rev.3:20

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MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD

“And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.’
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Gen.2:26-28
We understand from scriptures, as highlighted above, that man was not a product of evolution as science suggested, but that instead, man was created by God in His own image. This means man was a well thought out and divinely orchestrated creature of God. No wonder the psalmist said,
“I will praise thee: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made …” Psalms 139:14.
In the beginning, when God started the entire work of creation as recorded in the book of Genesis, the process of man’s creation was also well spelt out in chapter 2 and verse 7 of that book of beginnings.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground; and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”.
This verse unfolded the revelation of a three dimension to the creation and existence (manifestation) of man. That is, man was created a spirit that has a soul and lives in the body. The body of man was formed of the dust of the ground. The spirit of man originated from the breath of God—the Father of all spirits. While the soul of man was the end result of the breath of God (man’s spirit) inhabiting the dust-formed body. When God breathed into the nostrils of the man’s dust-formed body, God, the Eternal Spirit poured Himself into man. This breath of life, which was the very essence of God’s Spirit and Life, did not just only constitute the image of God inside the dust-formed human body; but it also powered man to become a living soul. This God-powered living soul (man), was supposed to exist, explore, manifest and deplore all of God’s potential (as embedded in the Spirit and Life of God – ZOE) in this natural earthly realm of existence.
This, then, is the mystery of divine creation of man!
“The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” Job 33:4.
Remember, if like begets like; then, God the Spirit and the Source of Eternal Life cannot give birth to man in the creation other than in His own image as the spirit and the life of God.
This means that, the invisible God, with all of His divine attributes, as fully packaged in His Spirit and Life (ZOE) poured Himself in the same fullness into the visible, terrestrial dust-formed human body. It then follows that, man was the exact visible representation (replica) of the invisible God. Man was created the very image of God who was supposed to operate on earth the exact way God was operating in heaven. What this means was that: while God the Father of all spirits is having heaven as His own domain, man, the replica of His very being is created to have the earth as his own domain. For it is written:
“The heaven, even the heavens are the LORD’S: but the earth he has given to the children of men.” Psalms 115:16.
Please understand that man was supposed to do on earth exactly what God does in heaven not just because man was made the king of the earth but because man had inside Him all of God’s substance and stuff necessary to make that happen.
I submit therefore, that the Spirit and the Life of God inside man was not just the image of God in man but the very glory of man’s creation by the divine hands of God. This was why angels exclaimed:
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained.
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him? For thou has made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things under his feet.” Psalms 8:3-6
This means that the glory and the honour with which man was crowned:
1. was the Spirit and the Life of God. Likewise, the same
2. mandated and empowered man to exercise dominion over all other creatures God created.
Therefore, to unravel the glory of the image of God (which man was made of originally in the beginning of his creation), it becomes necessary for us to appreciate the substance and the operation (manifestation) of God’s Life (ZOE) and God’s Spirit that constituted, this image of God inputted into man. We shall do this by unravelling the divine attributes (peculiarities) of the Spirit and Life of God. These include:

HOLINESS, DOMINION AND POWER
“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is and is to come.’ ” Rev. 4:8.
As depicted in the above verse of scriptures, the Spirit and the Life of God, identified, experienced and proclaimed by the beasts and the angels of God’s presence is holy, dominion-full (Lord, God) and powerful (Almighty).
It means the substance, the stuff, the essence and the manifestation of the Life and the Spirit of God in God Himself is holiness, dominion and power. It was so obvious and vivid to the extent that the angels and the beasts that surrounded the throne of God made a song out of it. So, when God’s Spirit and Life was poured into the dust-formed body of man, man’s body was filled and permeated with the holiness, dominion and power of God.

IMMORTALITY, BRIGHTEST OF LIGHT AND THE BLESSING
“…O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:…” Psalms 104:1-5.

“…who is the blessed and only potentiate, the King of kings, and Lord of Lords,
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, who no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Tim. 6:15-16.
The verses of scriptures above also revealed other virtues of the Spirit and the Life of God which are immortality, brightest of light and the blessing. They also buttressed the greatness and the power of God. The Spirit and Life of God is immortal and shines as the brightest of light. Likewise, the blessing of God that makes rich without adding sorrow to it is also domicile in the Spirit and the Life of God. These same virtues were other attributes of the Spirit and the Life of God found in man as the created image of God.
 Man was supposed to be immortal. He was to reflect God as he shines the brightest of God’s Light he was made of. The blessing of God in man as the image of God was to give a Midas touch to whatever he lays his hands upon. There was supposed to be no iota of darkness within and around him. He was supposed to exude the blessing, immortality and light to the fullest on the earth as God does in heaven. Death did not even exist when man was created let alone he having to dominate death. He was immortal created to exist forever in a complete, unabated form as the image (Spirit and Life) of God.

STRENGTH BEYOND WEARINESS AND FAINTING
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.” Isaiah 40:28.
The everlasting God does not faint nor is He weary. By pouring Himself into man at creation, God’s Spirit and Life that transcends fainting and weariness invested the dust-formed human body to put him above weariness and fainting. What I am saying is that the glory of the image of God in man was divine strength that weariness and fainting cannot tamper with, diminish nor abate.
This means when man was created in the image of God, he had strength the way God has it and he could not be identified with weariness and fainting just as God is devoid of these.

UNSEARCHABLE UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM BEYOND COMPREHENSION
“Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite.”
Psalms 147:5.
“… there is no searching of his understanding.” Isaiah 40:28

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Rom. 11:33.
The Life and the Spirit of God is made up of the unsearchable understanding and wisdom that is beyond comprehension. And as we have unfolded above, man became the image of God because God poured His Spirit and Life into him.
It therefore means at creation, man as the image of God, was loaded with unsearchable understanding and wisdom that was beyond comprehension. Just as God founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding (Prov. 3:19); man was also supposed to be a co-creator with God through the operation and manifestation of the Spirit and Life of God which he was made of in the same dimension of wisdom beyond comprehension and understanding that is unsearchable which God was operating with. And just as the heavens both declare the glory of God and show forth His handiwork (Psalms 19:1); so also is the earth supposed to declare man’s glory and show forth man’s handiwork after the order of God. The same way we sing of the excellence, beauty and perfection of all that God created we are supposed to sing of the excellence, beauty and perfection of the creative ability of God in man in terms of wisdom and understanding demonstrated in co-creating with God.
Let me conclude by saying, the operation of the Spirit and Life of God in man after creation as manifested in terms of the above listed virtues / attributes, made man to truly reflect the image of God. Because man was made up of the same substance as God, he was thinking in the class of God and he named all the animals created by God correctly. Gen. 2:19-20.
Likewise, though Adam (the first man) was put to sleep when God was forming Eve, he knew what transpired and this made him to exclaim:
“…This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Gen. 2:23.
Beyond every doubt, God’s image (man) was crowned with glory and honour at his creation because the Spirit and the Life of God was the very substance and essence of his creation. And man exuded the Spirit and the Life of God as highlighted above the same way God exudes it and designed him (man) to exude it.

[powered by Covenant and Light Gospel Mission, Ile-Ife, Nigeria]

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Recognizing the Need of the Body of Christ

The greatest need of the body of Christ is NOT prayers, nor prosperity, nor healing & health, nor oratory nor elaborate church, nor world wide ministry & denominations but individual and collective renewed minds. Our labour therefore as believers is to concentrate efforts at getting our mind renewed. Our labour as ministers of the gospel and founders of ministries / churches is to provide biblical teachings inspired by the Holy Spirit targeted at renewing the minds of the believers.

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DESIRE THE WORLD TO COME

"For here have we no continuing city but we seek one to come." Heb.13:14
"But now they desire a better country that is an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Heb.11:16
Understand that we live in an imperfect world. It is an earthly environment invaded and perverted by the devil as man permitted by reason of the fall in Eden.
It is a place where the consequences of the fall (sin) is pronounced.
It is a world where the force of death that makes everything to go bad/wrong is greatly at work.
It is a world where man is greatly a victim of the force of death.
Man has devised for himself certain interventions emanating from facts and figures that are based on researches to alleviate the problems. However, these devices of human wisdom can only make the situation of this world better but never perfect.
The good news is that Christ came here to make the world much better than human wisdom can afford. John 10:10
Because of this He introduced the force of life by reason of His death and resurrection that reverse the trend; i.e. now makes things to go well for believers.
As important and enormous this is it is greatly at the mercy of man's faith and the fact that devil, death and hell are yet to be hauled into the lake of fire.
It therefore means even for the redeemed things can only be much better than human wisdom can offer i.e. near perfect but still not perfect.
While we as believers seek to optimally enjoy the best that is available in Christ in the now, we must never lose sight of the world to come.
Because, in the world to come, everything shall be perfect. There shall no longer be desires because all needs are met. It shall not hurt nor destroy in God's holy mountain because the presence of God is ushered unto the earth in full force eternally. Much more importantly death, hell and even the devil shall be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone. Rev.20:10,14
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev.21:4
It is wisdom therefore to desire the world to come, stop living miserably as if we have no hope. Instead, purify ourselves in hope while we wait for the appearance of that glorious world to come. I will be there! Will you be there?

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