Remember The Gospel!

Today's Scriptures:

Remember the gospel!

I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NIV

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For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

"Death is swallowed up in victory."

"O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:53-58 ESV
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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Read the Bible in One Year:

September 30: Jude, Ezra 9-10, Psalm 95

Today's Meditation:

Chosen, called, strengthened, encouraged!

As for us, we always thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters
loved by the Lord. We are thankful that God chose you to be among the
first to experience salvation, a salvation that came through the
Spirit who makes you holy and by your belief in the truth. He called
you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm
and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you both in person and
by letter.

May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his
special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, comfort your
hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 NLT

Translations:

CEV - Contemporary English Version
ESV - English Standard Version
KJV - King James Version
MSG - The Message
NASB - New American Standard Bible
NIV - New International Version
NKJV - New King James Version
NLT - New Living Translation
RSV - Revised Standard Version

Send feedback about this Ezine to: bibleverses.editor@arcamax.com

REPARATIVE RELATIONSHIP

REPARATIVE RELATIONSHIP

By Pastor Bimbo Odukoya

Peju is the first of three (3) girls born to Mr. & Mrs. Abolarin. As far back as she could remember Peju’s mother had always been responsible for the upkeep of the entire family even though both parents lived together. Her father had a job but he never provided for any of the family’s needs.

Mr. Abolarin was a heavy drinker and would come home repeatedly late at night drunk, only to collapse into bed in deep sleep. In this state, he was constantly irritable. The only time Peju, her siblings and mother ever saw him was on Saturdays and even then, he would go out all-day to return very late at night. On one of such days, he slept and never woke up. He died at 46. Bola was just 14 at the time of her father’s death. Peju and her family missed him only for a while.

A year later Peju met Tunji. They soon became intimate friends. All Peju wanted was to have a close relationship with a member of the opposite sex. She sought succour to help overcome all the emotional setbacks she suffered growing-up. She wanted a father figure desperately. Peju and Tunji remained friends for about a year until he had to leave for America for further studies.

Eventually Peju also gained admission into the University and everything changed. She moved into the university hostel and soon began to make new friends. She met Mike. Mike was very nice to Peju and she felt, ‘Yes! This is the type of friendship I have always desired.’ They became very close and to Peju’s greatest joy, Mike asked her out and they began a relationship.

One day, Peju met Mike in her friend’s hostel room. They were in a very compromising position. Peju was devastated. Mike lied that nothing had happened. He however pointed out that the reason he had been tempted was because Peju had persistently disallowed questionable physical advances between them. Eventually, Peju bowed to Mike’s pressure and they began to indulge themselves in petting, which finally resulted in sexual immorality.

She initially felt very guilty about it but rationalized that since they were both in love with each other it was alright. Having satisfied his selfish desires, Mike called off the relationship. Peju became inconsolable. She felt used and had no one to turn to.

She got involved in several other relationships (some with married men), which all began and ended the same way as that with Mike.

Peju was trying to fill a void in her life; a strong desire for a father figure, which she had lacked in her developing years and so she turned to men in an attempt to fill this void. She would do anything and go to any length to maintain these relationships, which ultimately always involved her indulging in sex with them. But the emptiness remained.

PASTOR BIMBO’S COMMENTS
Proverbs 24:6 says, “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety”.

My heart goes out to Peju, who is obviously trying to fill a void in her life, a strong desire for a father figure. This, she was denied of in her formative years and so turned to men to satisfy this desire.

It is clear from our story that Peju’s father before his avoidable death did not fulfill his mandate of fatherhood. She apparently suffered from lack necessary parental support. She needed the input of a father in her life, which she never got. So she turned to the opposite sex for succour.

All Peju thought she needed was to have a close relationship with the opposite sex, but she was actually longing for succour from a father figure to help overcome all the developmental setbacks she suffered growing up; she wanted a father desperately.

The tragedy of Peju’s situation was that she knew what she wanted but she did not know how to get it. She became a cheap victim of sexual exploitation in the hands of both single and married men. Since that is the wrong solution to her problem her emptiness only remained and increased. She only reaped the fruit of frustration in saddening abundance.

So many young women have found themselves in this situation because they have confused a reparative relationship with a romantic relationship.
It is therefore essential as a single to distinguish between a reparative relationship and a romantic relationship. On no account must the two be confused as they serve different functions. A reparative relationship cannot be a romantic one. A reparative relationship is one that would develop in you what you did not get from your childhood and family life. It is actually designed to repair developmental injuries. In order words, a young girl, who grew up without her father for one reason or the other, God brings a father figure into her life, who becomes a father and repairs the damage and hurt she has suffered. Such a person becomes the father she never had and therefore provides the psychological, social and mental need which only a father figure can provide.

A romantic relationship on the other hand calls for responsibility. Any individual who desires it must be mature spiritually, socially, mentally, financially, empowered to contribute positively to the partner’s life. A person in Peju’s shoe can’t get into a romantic relationship because she needs to be repaired first.

She still needs to be invested in because she’s a needy person who is lacking something she should have had in her childhood. Developmental repair isn’t an adult need, it’s an unresolved childhood need.

In the same way that parents don’t date children or children don’t date parents; dating (romantic Relationship) is not what she needs. She needs a father child relationship. (A Reparative Relationship)

Peju therefore doesn’t need a boyfriend or a dating partner, she needs a mentor. Her focus at this stage should not be dating but mentoring. Mentors are people willing to be transparent and willing to share the secrets of their successes. Mentors do not take advantage of sensitivities. Once a mentor takes his eyes off nurturing you and begins to take advantage of you emotionally or physically, he ceases to be a mentor. When choosing a mentor, seek someone who leads by example, someone in whose life you can testify to tested and exceptional qualities. You should look for someone who not only has knowledge, but wisdom, the application of knowledge. Look for someone who has the fear of God, and by that I mean someone who is more concerned about pleasing God than pleasing you. Therefore, he will give Godly counsel. Your search should be for someone who models a level of Christianity you are yet to achieve.

Once a possible mentor (a father figure) is found, approach him sincerely and honestly and ask him if he would be your mentor and have enough time to devote to the relationship.

A mentor must have a good prayer life because he needs to pray for God to give him genuine compassion and right counselling at the right time for the dependant.

In situations where the man is married, be sure to involve the wife. Again, keep the boundaries clear. One way to do this is with an older couple that understands their role as mentors and models in your life. If the wife is part of the relationship as well as the husband, then there’s built-in safety. I know a single lady who had a very close relationship with a couple who basically adopted her as part of the family. They are still her adopted parents and mentors She is eternally grateful to them for their role in her life. Where a man is the mentor to a female romantic feeling might rear its head. They often do because of the natural emotional attachment that follows an intimate relationship between two members of the opposite sex. Therefore the boundaries for the relationship must remain clear. So, make sure you’re in a setting with built-in structures so this kind of relationship doesn’t turn romantic.

Peju ’s need for a relationship with the opposite sex is real and valid. But it must be fulfilled in non-romantic ways. If with single men. Peju must insist on a platonic kind of relationship. If with married men, she must make sure there are the protective boundaries of a restorative relationship or the built-in safety of becoming good friends with the wife as well. If you stick to these principles, chances are that you can find some deep healing in a mentor/ dependant relationship.

In cultivating any relationship, your priority focus must be that such a relationship must be God-centered. A relationship that does not have God as its foundation would ultimately fizzle out in frustration.

The very first place to start is to give your life to Jesus Christ. If there is anyone you need at this time, its Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has proven His steadfast love and friendship for us by laying down His life. For you to fully experience and enjoy the beauty of true and sincere love, you need to make a commitment to Jesus Christ today. Please pray this prayer if you would like to give your life to Him:

Dear Jesus, I repent and confess all my sins today. I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died and rose again. I invite you into my life to be my lord and personal saviour, wash me in your blood and baptize me with your spirit. Amen.
And for those of you having challenges relating to the issues raised in this article please pray this prayer: -

Dear Jesus, I thank you for your word, which is able to save. I have received your word and I ask for the grace to break up the romantic relationship I am in now and to stop sexual sin which I don’t need and will only frustrate me the more. I ask that you will send a God fearing mentor to me and that you will fill me with love and peace. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Did you really read this article? If you did and it pulled a string within you, you might want to talk to me about your challenges or make further enquiries about the ministry and teaching tapes.

FELLOW PASSERBY

Fellow Passerby, kindly permit me to share a few thoughts, which I believe will do you a lot of good.

In today’s world, information has become the zing thing. Information is being transmitted across the web as never before on almost every subject, anybody who wanted can avail himself or herself of whatever knowledge on earth.

With this trend, you might think that most literate men and nations are up to date on the vital aspects of life. But, sad to say; Man has made progress, researches, investigations into things deep and profound, especially when it comes to the mundane, the life here and now, but most so called educated men and women are totally naïve, ignorant and illiterate when it comes to the eternal, the life hereafter.

My fellow passerby, are you that ignorant? I don’t believe that you who always try to get the latest appliance or gadget to make life easy will be bereft of the knowledge of God!

Many seek to get the best in life, but it is a pity that the One Who is the Source of life is neither sought for nor recognized. You may or may not believe it. But, the truth is that life cannot exist without a Creator!

God, the Being who inspired the writing of the Bible, creates you. His Holy Book.

From the blessed writ, you will discover that you will be accountable to Him one day, whether you accept it or not. The good things of life, you have had are to show you how good He is, and to give you a reason to appreciate and serve Him. (Romans 2:4.)

Not acknowledging the Creator-God who sent His Son Jesus Christ to die and resurrect for man’s salvation from sin is the worst kind of ignorance.

Lack of this knowledge has made the world a place of evil, sin, immoral pleasure, violence, cheating and all kinds of vice. The true knowledge stems from the fear of God and that is wisdom. Herein wisdom: that God so rich in mercy sent His Son Jesus Christ to die and become a sacrifice for our sin. He also rose from the dead and is man’s escape route from spiritual destruction. This is the true knowledge that sets free.

Knowledge is said to be power, but it has been further observed that knowledge alone is not power, but knowledge applied is power. Medicine or drug, no matter how potent in curing a particular ailment, but if not taken in the prescribed way will not be useful. Therefore, just knowing or acknowledging mentally that God exists is not enough.

There is need for you to know Him by asking Jesus Christ to come into your life as Saviour and Lord. This will enable you to share in the privilege of becoming His child. God’s word says, “As many that received Him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God.” (JOHN 1:12.)

Acknowledge Jesus Christ today and be totally free from spiritual darkness and ignorance. Please, eschew any bias in this regard, because your spiritual condition is at stake and the only way of freedom is Jesus Christ (JOHN 14:6, ACTS 4:12.)
Being hardened to this truth will attract eternal punishment in Hell Fire. Therefore, avail yourself of this knowledge today, by giving your life to Jesus Christ. And you will never regret it forever.

Here is a simple way you can do this.
1. Believe that Jesus Christ died to set you free from your sin.
2. Be sorry for your sins and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and repent from them.
3. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your life as your Lord and Saviour.
4. Decide to live for Him.

God bless you.

For further spiritual help, please contact.
The Pastor-in-Charge
Assemblies of God Church
Plot 471-473, Zone 3, Finima.
P.O.Box 268, Bonny Island,
Rivers State.
Tel: 08035519071
E-mail: likpoko@yahoo.com




Today's Scriptures:



That I May Know Him!

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to
pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of
His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk
worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good
work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all
might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and
longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified
us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into
the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for
Him.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is
the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:9-18

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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Read the Bible in One Year:



September 18: John 18:38b-19:16, 2 Chronicles 29, Psalm 85

Today's Meditation:



Hold out the Word of Life

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.