I'M IN A RELATIONSHIP:WHERE IS IT LEADING YOU?

Every ship that a man cruises is bound to take him to one destination or the other whether it’s friendship, relationship, mentorship, discipleship, partnership and so on.

Many, in their teenage and post-teenage years have entered into one or several relationships in life. Some ended in a haven of regrets, some, in an island of bad memories while some suffer the consequence of their journey in a lamentable state. And it’s only few that were fortunate enough to have a relationship that would make their lives better.

Isn’t it better not to embark on a journey that would lead to regret than to commit all your resources into it?

Most boyfriend and girlfriend relationship usually lead to nowhere in life. These relationships are usually entered into due to youthful exuberance and passion. And when there’s a proper understanding of life and maturity, you’ll discover that such relationship is likely not going to suit your taste or future needs.

Any relationship whose primary passion or purpose centers on the likes of kissing, petting, caressing and fondling of each other’s sexual organs or premarital sex has no future. Instead of leading you to where you wished, hearts and destinies would be destroyed.

There’s no amount of energy, monies and resources that you’d put together to make such relationship work because it’s wrong. If the foundation be destroyed, the only thing that can be done is to pull it down and start a new one.

Patching, mending, playing the fool or using your body to make it work is only an effort in futility.

Check that relationship you’re presently into! Is it leading you closer to God, purpose fulfillment, academic success or failure? Any relationship that doesn’t add value to your life would destroy lots of valuable things in your life. If it doesn’t take you closer to God, it would bring you closer to the devil. If it doesn’t make your life better, it’ll definitely make it worse.

Why would you be in such a detrimental relationship because of temporal pleasure, sexual fantasies or societal traditions? Why?

Look at your wasted time, defiled body and unaccountable resources. Why do you take pleasure in defiling the temple of God that you are? Why would you choose to ruin your life and destiny so as to please your boyfriend or girlfriend?

Friendship is meant to sharpen your life and countenance (Prov. 27:17). You deserve the best than to cast your pearls before the swine.

Did he promised you marriage? Marriage isn’t made on a platter of promise, it’s a decision that is to be prayerfully considered. If you’re not sure he’s the right person for you to journey with or she’s the right one, you’ll end up in a destination leading to failure and regrets.

Don’t get carried away by the euphoria of the moment, that he’s so caring, romantic and nice doesn’t mean you should put all your eggs in his basket even when you’re not sure. Brothers, that she appear to be the woman of your dreams doesn’t mean you should start a life with her.

Ask for His guidance before you tailor your life in his or her direction. It’s better He leads and guides you into a relationship than to lead yourself into it.

And i’m not saying having friends with the opposite sex is bad, but any relationship where premarital sex is tolerated or sexual immoralities is practiced is a destructive one. And a journey leading to regrets.

And just before you end up in ‘Had I known’, sit back, ask yourself honest questions and give sincere answers.

Let me help you with some questions:

1. Is God honored in this relationship?

2. Do we uphold sexual purity?

3. Have we defined the relationship – casual, lifelong or ‘just friends’ relationship?

4. Has my life gotten anywhere better since I entered into this relationship?

5. Do I have a conscience void of offense before God and man?

I believe an evaluation of your relationship would help you know where it’s leading you, peradventure you’re interested. Where is this relationship leading you to?

Topic: Beware of enticing mockers [Sunday 20, March 2016]

Memorise: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. – Proverbs 20:1

Read: Genesis 19:30-38 (KJV)

30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Bible in One Year: Judges 3:7-4:24, Job 39:13-25

MESSAGE:

There are many people who argue as to whether it is a sin to take alcohol or not. This is amazing; simply have to look at the fruit of an action before you know whether it is good or not. In our Bible reading, the acts of the children of Lot wouldn’t have been possible if their father had not been drunk. So in his senseless state of mind, both daughters laid with him and conceived from his seed. The children born through this means became the Moabites and the Ammonites who become sworn-enemies of the children of Israel.

Wine is a mocker that leads to uncontrollable behaviour. I have seen very quiet people who will never, under normal circumstances, say anything that will put them into trouble. But the moment these people come under the influence of strong drink, they become someone else. There are many people who have lost precious things under the influence of alcohol. Many have lost their wives as a result of alcohol. With a ‘little shot’ many have been poisoned through alcohol. There are people who have experienced fatal accidents because they were not in control of themselves. Some were duped because they were under the influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, the devil is always waiting for such times when people are out of their senses to strike. He allows some of them to suffer damages which they may never recover from.

“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.” - Proverbs 31:6

Those who cannot stay away from alcohol will always be victims of wrong decisions. They will never be able to judge well. Men of integrity who value the life that God has given to them will control themselves and not allow the desire of the flesh to derail them.

Alcohol is an instrument of unrighteousness and you should not yield to it. If you love God, it will show in your attitude to such things. God wants you to abstain from the old wine of sin and embrace the new wine of life in the Spirit of God. This is the wine of the Holy Spirit which is totally devoid of the input of man. There is no addition of chemical that will do your harm. The new wine produces joy and happiness in the Holy Ghost, while the old wine of flesh produces death and shame. You will not be a victim of mockery in Jesus’ name.

Key Point: It is a sin to engage in what destroys you

Wrong Partners: The Genesis Of All Relationship Failures

Why do marriages crash? Why does divorce occur due to irreconcilable differences or issues? Who do people tend to be incompatible several years after their marital union?

Unfortunately, many people cannot answer these questions accurately but the answer doesn’t seem far-fetched. It all lies in one sentence: a wrong partner is the major cause of all relationship issues.

A man and a Gorilla cannot couple together and become husband and wife. A dog and a woman cannot bond together as husband and wife. Never! It won’t work no matter how you woo the wrong partner, or patch them up, their unsuitableness would manifest in the future.

Many people, when it comes to choosing a partner, had forgotten that when God discovered that there was no helper suitable for Adam, He took time to make a right partner, Eve for him. And it wasn’t Adam that looked for the right partner himself. And because of your exposure, experience or education, if you think you can get the right partner yourself, I’m pleased to tell you that you’ll end up with a wrong partner no matter how careful or smart you are.

Who is a wrong partner?
A wrong partner is someone that’s NOT compatible or suitable for your life and destiny, not at the present alone but in the future. Because you’re a man, unless with the help of the spirit of God, you cannot know the right partner. You may know some things about your life but you don’t know where you’re heading tomorrow or what you’d become, this is your destiny.

Without God’s guidance, all that a man can know for himself is to date or marry the wrong person. A wrong person is someone who doesn’t share the same value as you do relating to sexual purity, integrity, honesty, contentment and so on.
No matter how you preach, sermonize, ‘change’ or convince him or her, they’ll believe sex before marriage equates love or a means of testing one’s fertility.

Only a wrong person will tell you to express love to him or her through premarital or extramarital sex. A wrong person will exert a negative influence on your destiny no matter how you ‘burn’ up yourself to be loved.

What is right before God becomes wrong to a wrong partner and what is wrong before God becomes right (normal, not-too-bad) to a wrong partner.

The best that your human understanding can fetch you is to get you a wrong partner. Whether you employ dating, ‘Christian dating’, cohabiting, catching her young or become best of friends, you’ll end up with the wrong partner. A wrong partner doesn’t necessarily mean he or she is evil or bad, it only implies that you’re not suited for the purpose God has for either of you.

That she suits your life today doesn’t mean she’s the right one for you. Why? You’re a work in progress and there’s more tendency that your taste, desire, level or pursuit will change in the future.

For instance, a man may be crazily in love with a village girl because she’s humble, well mannered and a virgin in some cases. But few years the line when his level changes, he’ll be looking for an educated city girl who would fit into his present level. There’s a wrong partner in the church. That she sings beautifully well, well mannered, spirit filled, tongue speaking or appear wifely doesn’t make her a right partner for you. That he’s gifted, has great understanding of the scripture, manifest spiritual gift or becomes an envy of other sisters doesn’t make you his suitable help meet if God doesn’t deem it fit that you’re meant to be together.

If you’d not end up with the wrong person, then you mustn’t lean on your own understanding and allow God to guide you or make the right partner for you. There’s always a right partner for everyone and a wrong partner also exist. Many, due to impatience and pressure settle for the wrong person when they could have allowed God have His perfect will in their lives. She could be all you wanted in a wife but that doesn’t mean she’s suitable for you. And he could perfectly fit well into your choice of a dream man, but you’re not his suitable help meet.

You need God to guide you if you so wish so that you can escape marrying the wrong person. Do not forget that marriage is not a day journey but a lifelong relationship. The consequence of a bad marriage or relationship can be avoided if only you know who is right and wrong for you.

For friendship, you can know a wrong partner because they will blunt your ‘countenance’ as opposed to sharpening it (Prov. 27:17). But in the context of marriage, pray, be patient and allow God to workout His perfect will for you. Remember, once the problem of a wrong partner has be sorted out, a larger percentage of relationship issues has been dealt with.

Topic: Defender of the Defenceless [Sunday 6, March 2016]

Memorise: There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. – Joshua 1:5

Read: Isaiah 49:24-26 (KJV)

24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Bible in One Year: John 14:15-16:33, Job 32:15-33:7

MESSAGE:

God is worthy to be praised at every moment of our lives. He is our strength, our rock, our fortress, our shield and high tower. Proverbs 18:10 tells us that the name of the Lord is a strong tower that the righteous can always run to at any time and remain secure. The Almighty God is the security upon which one should base his life. These days when there is no nation that does not have its own share of the global security crises, it is certain that unless the Lord watches over you, you become vulnerable to the evil events flying around. God is the only guarantee and assurance of our faith; hence, you can be confident that you will always be delivered even in extreme circumstances. Sometimes, God will allow us to fall into a great calamity before He comes visiting. He does this just to reassure you that nothing is over until He says so. He wants us to have an evidence of His deliverance in our lives for future purposes.

Are you in any problem? Don’t worry, as long as you are righteous, you can be assured that help is on the way. He rules in the affairs of men to deliver the righteous from calamity. It doesn’t matter the magnitude of the problems confronting you, just believe that He is never late. He will stand by you during all the attacks of the enemies. All the lies and ganging up of the enemies against your life may be launched, but you will come out victorious because you have made the Lord your delight. Several times, God will just want to stand by you in order to convince those around you that it doesn’t matter how much the waters the enemies want to sink you in is, His faithfulness will always draw you out.

God is King over all nations of the world. He is mightier than those who are playing god in your life. As we saw His acts in the case of Paul and Silas when they were chained in the prison, the Lord will deliver you from every chain that the enemies have put around you in Jesus’ name.

Deliverance is of the Lord. It is only the Almighty God that can deliver. There is no pastor or prophet anywhere who can deliver. It is only the Almighty God who can deliver us. He saves not once or twice, but all the time. He can deliver today and if the enemy tries tomorrow, He is still on the throne. All you need to do is to hand over all your enemies to God and begin to praise Him. At the end of the day, you will pity your enemies because the Lord will destroy them so much that you will not see the trace that they ever existed. You can see why it is very good for God to be your battle axe. There is only one deliverer from the forces of darkness – the One by whose Name every knee must bow. It does not matter how defenceless you are, the great Defender will fight all your battles in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Point: Every counsel of the enemies against my life shall not stand in Jesus’ name.

HYMN 6: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

2. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer! In his arms he'll take and shield thee thou wilt find a solace there.