HIS DWELLING PLACE

A Christian is a man or woman who has been begotten by God to a new kind of life. When someone is begotten of God, there comes into his life a change so radical that the only thing that can be said is that life has begun all over again for him. In His dwelling place, there's regeneration. This is called the new birth, and it happens by the will and by the purpose of God (John 1:13). It is not something that a man achieves by his physical birth. This is the work of the Holy Spirit of God.

DEFINITIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF FAITH

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.For by it the elders obtained a good eport.Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:1-6).

Faith is indispensable to every aspect of our spiritual transaction and relationship with God as Christians. Faith is fundamental to the Christian creed and conduct. From the Old Testament period down to the New Testament, all those who walked with God and served faithfully have been men and women of faith. Faith is vital to beginning,benefiting from and benefiting others through the Christian life. As Christ interacted with people to save, heal and deliver them during His earthly ministry, the singular thing He sought for was faith. The condition is still the same for believers in this end time.Faith is absolute trust in God which leads to believing His Word.

The Greek word translated as faith is.The verb form of it is, is most of the time translated as “believe”. The word faith means “to believe”, to be persuaded of” and hence, “to place confidence in”, “to trust”, “to rely upon”. Lexically, therefore, the dictionary defines faith as “belief,confidence, fidelity, or loyalty to God.The scriptural faith is more than natural faith. The Natural faith is the inmate ability of man to trust or confide in himself, another person or object, etc. The unique elements of scriptural faith which distinguish it from natural faith is its object, its source and basis. The object of scriptural faith is God while the source of it is His unchanging Word “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world” (Romans 10:17-18). Scriptural faith is equally distinct from head knowledge or mental assent to Biblical facts or to the truth of Bible records without practical commitment. Hence, in the epistle of James in Chapter 2:19-20, it stated; “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead”.

Consequently, scriptural faith is different from emotional faith which does not last beyond the spur of the moment (Matthew 13:20-21; John 2: 23-25). Scriptural faith is defined as follows: It's the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of the things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, 7, 13, 27). Faith gives form and present reality to future hopes and expectations. It is the receipt that assures the delivery of the goods paid for faith peeps into the future, visualizes the unseen and guarantees the reality of invisible things. Faith is the confidence we have in the veracity and immutability of God’s word and promises like Abraham.And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform (Romans 4:21). Faith is unwavering courage and patience to persevere, in adverse conditions while waiting for and insisting on the fulfillment of God’s promises. It also the positive confession of the promises of God believed in the heart Psalm 118:17; Romans 10:10-11; 2 Corinthians 4:13;Philippians 4:13).

Faith embraces and cleaves to the promises of God.The Scriptural faith is active and not passive. It is viable, and productive and not sterile or unproductive. True faith always achieves, and accomplishes definite, tangible things in the lives and surroundings of its possessors. Faith enables us to please God in our Christian lives and ministries. It enhances our profitability from God’s word. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:2). It is through faith that Christian experiences are bestowed (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8). Faith enables us to do the impossible (Mark 9:23), mountains can be moved and exploits done only by faith. All the promises of God can be received by faith, Healing, deliverance, provisions,Grace, power, protection etc. are produced for us through faith (Hebrews 6:12).Faith enables us to endure persecutions and trials courageously like Daniel,Prophets and Apostles did. We are kept and preserved by faith (1 Peter 1:5).

Faith grants us access to God and answers to all our prayers. Through faith, we are able to consecrate and submit to God’s will very easily (Romans 1:5). And faith guarantees a triumphant death and a place in heaven for us.The entire chapter eleven of Hebrews provides us with various men and women of faith. These heroes and heroines of faith have demonstrated the various forms and functions of faith. People like Enoch, Noah,Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, Hanna, etc. are some of the examples of faith. The consistency, constancy and conquests of their faith are worthy of emulation. Above all, the Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect example. We are to look unto Him continually.

PROFITABLE QUIET TIME AND DAILY DEVOTIONAL LIFE

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is the perfect example for all believers to emulate in everything. He demonstrated to all the importance of quiet time and devotional life with His Father in earthly ministry. Therefore, we need to follow His steps to order our steps in our Christian pilgrimage on earth as well. Quiet time and devotional life is a period set aside by the believer every day to fellowship personally with God through prayer, study, and meditation, on the word of God. It is therefore important to note that, no matter the level we have attained spiritually and the number of years we had been in the Lord, quiet time and devotion should be part of our daily Christian life. The word of God is the food for the regenerated.

The Psalmist understood the importance of daily quiet time and family devotion, and stated; “So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows” (Psalm 61:8). From this point of view, it’s important to know that the practice of individual quiet time and devotion cannot be overemphasized. It is important because God demands and wants all men (including women and children) to be in fellowship with Him (Genesis 3:9; Jeremiah 33:3). It is through the quiet time that we come into the presence of God (Please read John 14:15-21). The promise of Christ for all believers is that He will be with us always. This is not an abstract promise but a reality which can attained through relationship via quiet time and devotion. Beside this, it is the pivot for growth for the believers (1 Peter 2:1-2). A Christian cannot grow without spiritual food (Matthew 4:4). Therefore, the need for reading and studying God’s word, write the lesson down and pray it in. God’s friendship need careful cultivation and this demand consistency. Prayer is very significant in our quiet and time and devotion. The profit of consistent quiet time and devotion is innumerable, because herein we obtain strength for the Christian’s daily tests, trials, and temptations, solution to the intimate problems of life and comfort in sorrow and grief. In addition, we enjoy fellowship with God-head by which we receive continual cleansing, grace and power to help oneself and others. It helps us to live a consistent ideal Christian life with daily testimonies.

Despite of great benefits in quiet time and devotion, there are scores of things that can hinder us from performing this spiritual exercise. These include: gluttony (proverbs 23:1); procrastination (Proverbs 6:9); fatigue, rowdy environment; a noisy heart (Proverbs 23:7); lack of concentration, lack of good study materials ( 1 Corinthians 9:25). For truly beneficial quiet time and devotion, a disciplined life should be cultivated and the hindrances avoided. This implies; making it a must daily to have your quiet time, mastering your body and discipline it for this daily spiritual exercise, meddling not with procrastination and make definite time for its observation. There are instruments that are needful for profitable quiet time and devotion. A Self-discipline attitude like that of Job is necessary. He stated, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

It is best to have our quiet time at the break of the day – such as early hours when the mind is still fresh like Jesus did (Mark 1:35). It must be consistent. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3), and in a quiet and solitary environment (Genesis 32:24). You should possess some good study materials such as good study Bible, Bible dictionary, concordance booklets, and other commentaries. Pray before reading the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the word to your spirit, After reading through, study, meditate, and think through about what you have read for personal application and blessings, and finally close with prayers based on those things you have learned in addition to other prayer points.

THE WRITERS OF THE BIBLE

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it (Psalm 68:11). About forty authors of various occupations; Apostles, prophets, priests, prince, king, soldier, farmer, scribe, physician, tax collector, farmer, prime-minister, cupbearer, tentmaker etc. God used every usable vessel to convey His truth to the people. More than fifteen centuries elapsed between the writing of Genesis and Revelation. Nearly 400 years elapsed between the Old Testament which was written predominant in Hebrew (few verses in Aramaic) while the New Testament was written in the holy Bible is the word of God. Even though it is written by the agency of man, the Bible is the very word of God.

The evidences are:The amazing unity This unity is achieved in spite of the long period involved in the written and many authors of different occupations.It cannot be destroyed There were hammers of persecution, ridicule, higher criticisms, liberalism, and atheism but the mighty anvil of the scriptures stands unbroken, unshaken, and unchipped.Its Historical accuracy With the coming of archeology almost all the towns and places mentioned have been discovered.Its scientific accuracy. Although the Bible is a spiritual message from God and not specifically a scientific text-book, all scientific statements founds in the scriptures must nevertheless be taken literally and at face value.Its Prophetic accuracy. One of the acidic tests of any religion is its ability to predict the future. One fifth of the Bible is prophetical as at the time of writing, many have been fulfilled and others will still come to pass.It has universal influence upon civilization Western civilization is founded directly upon the Bible and its teachings.Its amazing circulation: It is the best seller among all books that are printed.Its absolute honesty.

The book did not spare men that seem to be close to God e.g. David, Moses, Elijah, Peter, etc. It exposed their sins, weakness, commitment, faithfulness and strength.Its life transforming power: The greatest proof of all that the Bible is indeed God’s word is its amazing ability to change corrupt humanity.Bible is not any book written by any man that can go for scripture. The term canon means a “reed” a “measure” or “rule” and suggests the testing of books to see if they meet the Divine standard.

The sixty-six books of the Bible is called Canon. By the year 300 B. C. (at the latest) all old Testament books had been written, collected, revered, and recognized as official canonical books. In A.D. 397, the twenty seven New Testament books were declared Canonical. There are some books in the Catholic Douay Bible which are known as Apocrypha (hidden) books, they are not recognized as inspired for the following reasons: They were not included in the Old Testament Canon, They were never quoted by Jew, Jesus or any New Testament writers. None of the claims divine inspiration. Some of them teach false doctrine such as praying for the dead. Lastly, some contain historical and geographical errors.

The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ and His redemption. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (John 5:39; Please read Luke 24:24-27, 44-45). Christ is in the Old Testament concealed and He is in the New Testament revealed. To fully understand the Bible and to rightly interpret its passage, we must first receive Jesus Christ as Savior and have a clear and definite experience of freedom from sin and its consequences.

HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD

“Follow peace with all men and holiness without which, no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).Holiness is the very nature of God. Everything about His person, His attributes and characteristics is holiness. God demand holy living from everyone that is called by the name of the Lord. While God demand repentance from sinners, He demands holiness life from saints. ”But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy”. There are those who deny the possibility of living holy; such are those who profess that they know God, but in works they deny him.Inward and outward holiness is a condition for walking with God and living with Him eternally.

It is impossible to walk with a holy God with inward corruption and outward defilement. Any service rendered unto God without purity of heart has no reward. Those who bear the vessels of the Lord are to remain clean and pure within. Holiness of life is a condition for useful service. Those who substitute power for purity or exhibit power without purity will be disappointed on the last day as they will be told by the Lord “I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. The demonstration of the purity of life must be backed up with a life of purity and holiness. God will never promise us what He can never provide. He has made the provision for our holiness or sanctification through our Lord Jesus Christ. “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate”.

The Lord expect every believer to be holy, it becomes important for all Christians to submit themselves to God’s total cleansing and impartation of perfect love. Prophet Isaiah chapter 52:11 said, “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not unclean thing, go ye out of the midst of her, be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord”. Therefore, “Dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).We are to genuinely seek the face of the Lord, so that our whole spirit, soul and body will be preserved unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are conditions for sanctification (holiness) because with God of holiness that expects us to be holy, nothing shall be impossible with Him if we trust Him absolutely.

There should be a strong desire, total yielding and consecration to possess this divine nature of God. We should desire it above home, property, clothes and all the possessions of the earth.

Secondly, there must be thirst and hunger for it. We must feel it within our hearts that we are incomplete without it.

Thirdly, there must be steadfastness. You cannot seek the Lord halfheartedly and receive the best from Him.

Lastly, we pray the prayer of faith. There some who believe that God can heal the sick, raise the dead, and supply all our needs but argue that holiness of life is not possible on earth. They limit God's divine ability in human life, because there is nothing impossible for God to do for us; if we ask in faith we shall receive. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE OF EVANGELISM

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:74-75). God surely had a purpose foe investing His only begotten Son in His redemptive program;and He is determined to see that purpose fulfilled. Otherwise, the blood-washed sinner becomes a good-for-nothing saint, who like a fat but fruitless tree deserves to be felled off. But the attitude of many Christians shows they are unmindful of God’s divine purpose for their salvation. The Bible declared; “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,in this present world;Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” ( Titus 2:11-14).

All Christians are saved to serve. God’s purpose for pulling us out of the furnace of sin and placing us inside the coolness of His kingdom is not to accommodate our sins, make us His cosmic pets, nestle us in the sheepfolds to hear the soothing bleating of flocks; or regale us with the splendor of His majesty. We are saved to serve. And this purpose must be fulfilled.God has a dual purpose for saving sinners. It is to make them pure and peculiar people who will carry out the ministry of reconciliation (evangelism) on earth. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).For this reason, there can’t be a sinning saint or an idle believer in God’s kingdom. After our deliverance from the power of sin, we are brought into the kingdom and given the grace to live holily and no loafer.Therefore, each Christian should be diligent in ensuring that God’s dual purpose for his existence in Christ’s kingdom is fulfilled. The Christian must hate sin and serve the Lord (2 Corinthians 7:1). If a saint sins, he immediately loses his place in the kingdom. He could get back his position only through repentance and restitution. Unconfessed sin would not be pardoned and a saint, if he sins, isn’t freed on account of his past righteousness (Please read Ezekiel 33:12-13, 18 and Hebrews 6:4-8).

If repentance is delayed or there is no room for it, and death strikes, the former saint is lost forever.Therefore, every believer should fear sin and take time to be holy."If sin is deadly, dleness is equally perilous. It seems the two works together to steal,kill, and destroy. The devil hits the saints best with sin when the believer has let down his guard and signed off from duty. Besides, an idle believer is a bad investment for God. The Lord wouldn’t mind to wind up His dealings with such a believer or permit him to drift away into affliction and eternal damnation. Unless the believer heeds the warning, accepts His chastisement and seek pardon and readmission. Finally, every believer is called to serve. He is to serve God by doing a specific and practical duty according to the measure of grace given to him. Serve Him faithfully without reservation and expect no commendation from any man.