The Word of God in Our Homes

God the creator of the heaven and earth has made his word known and I believe He has a reason for doing so. Let us look at how the word of God impacts on our homes.
We can describe a home as any place where a person or group of persons returns to after the day’s activities. It could be founded by anyone but usually it is founded by a man who marries a woman to start a family. In some cases the home is a temporal arrangement, just for a period of time or occasion; in the case of one founded by marriage it is more permanent.
The home usually constitute of a house (shelter) and the person(s) living in the house (members of the home). The house is the structure which provides shelter, comfort and a form of security to the members of the home; every physical structure or appliance that is found in the house is also considered part of the house. The house keeps the members of the home together in a confined area, safe from hazards in the environment and provides a form of comfort too; but something else keeps the members of any home coming back to the house each day. In some cases the members of the home do not have a choice but to return to the same house every day and in other cases they do have a choice. In any case something propels you to go home; it maybe coercion, lack of other alternative or free will. I believe the best propellant is free will, backed with joy and happiness. This free will, comes with the realization that one is going back home after the day’s activities to find peace and get rest.
A lot of persons experience this excitement when going home but it is usually based on something temporal. Maybe, they are newly wedded, just bought a new car, have some nice visitors, made some money, got a great job, just something that gives excitement for that time or some time.
There are others who always go home with great excitement, regardless of the condition of their house or what they have encountered in the course of the day’s activities; be it that there are no furniture in the house, the roof is leaking or just lost a job, broke a leg, no food at home, name the adverse condition you can imagine that joy and happiness will still be there. This feeling is only assured when there is fear of God in the home.
The fear of God does not mean to be scared of God. The fear of God is to consider God in all your ways. A home where there is the fear of God is a home whose members consider God in all their actions and inactions, thoughts and imaginations, and in words and in silence. This fear of God comes with the knowing of God. The knowledge of God comes with hearing, reading, studying and meditating on the word of God. Though we cannot know God completely but the effort brings us closer to Him.
The word of God cannot be defined in such a way that will grasp all its attributes but let us define it as far as we have known. I would say the word of God is a dimension of God that gets things done and makes Himself (God) known.
John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (Webster)
Heb 4:12-13
For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Webster)
As we have read, the word of God is God. Thus, the more we take in the word of God by hearing, studying and meditating on it, God comes into our lives; this is another aspect of God. The word of God in us that we believe in and live by, is the spirit of God.
John 6:63
It is the spirit that reviveth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life. (Webster)
Let me try to make it clearer. From the moment you hear or read the word of God and you believe in it, that is the spirit of God in you. The spirit of God enables you to live by the word of God you have received and the spirit of God enables you to do things by the word of God to glorify God. That is the power of the word of God. It is a mystery; every spoken word is spirit and the word in the recipient is the spirit of the author. That is why the word of God should not be adulterated.
Deut 4:2
Ye shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Webster)
Thus, the word of God in us is the spirit of God in us which accomplishes what the word says. And if the spirit of God is in us, his attributes or characters will also manifest through us. The characters of the spirit of God are: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith and temperance.
Gal 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Webster)
It is this characters that a home manifest through its members that keeps them coming back with joy and happiness. A home that meditates on the word of God is sure to manifest the fruits of the spirit.
It is okay for each member of a home to study the word of God individually but it is very important for all members of the home to study together. Studying individually helps to build the individuals relationship with God but studying together ensures all members of the home study the word of God and the home edified; just as it is important for a home to get her meal from a common kitchen (mother), to ensure a balanced diet for everybody.
Once there is the study of the word of God in a home there is bound to be a transformation in the home; the fruits of the spirit will start to manifest. It might not be immediate but it is sure to occur.
The word of God brings the spirit of God into the home and its manifestation. The kind of joy, peace and happiness that will be experienced cannot be quenched by any challenge or argument. (This is only when the members of the home live by the word of God.) The love that will bind the home cannot be broken by any challenge. The home becomes a paradise.
To many, it seems impossible. Note it is not you doing it; it is God doing it through you. All you have to do is to study the word together, believe in it and live by it. You can try this in your home and let us chat within three months of trying it.
Do have a great time.
Stay blessed.

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DAILY BREAD

I and my family study the bible from Genesis, headed for Revelation. We usually take a chapter or two a day. Some months back we got to Proverbs, and we were drawn to:

Prov 30:8-9

 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you

and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’

Or I may become poor and steal,

and so dishonor the name of my God.

(NIV).

After the study and discussion that morning I asked my wife how should we now pray with regards to the revelation we just got from proverb. We both stared at each other for some time with that look of; how do we do this? Can’t pray to be rich nor poor; just for our daily bread. Then it came to me: If it was said Bill Gates (The richest man on earth) is to provide us with our daily bread. We then looked at ourselves with the understanding of what the scriptures was saying.

As a child of God, God gives you sufficient for the present day. This is regardless of whether your stomach is full or empty, your pocket is full or empty, sales was high or zero, as long as you are a child of God, God has provided enough for you that day.

Some days back, I opened shop for sales of books I sell. That whole day I did not sell a book. When I got home that day I gave God thanks for the sales of that day.

The very next day before I could finish setting up for the day and getting to the point of sales, I sold the highest number of books I have ever sold in a day. When I got home that day, I gave God thanks beyond the way I gave Him thanks the previous day. You can imagine my appreciation. At that moment it came to me that I have not yet understood what it means for God to give me my daily bread. The following questions started popping up:

• Was God less good to me when I had no sales?
• Did God provide me my daily bread when I had no sales?
• Did Jesus Christ appreciate God less when he gave thanks for only five loaves and two fish and appreciated more when there was a remnant of twelve baskets?

John 6:11-13

• When 1 Thess 5:18 says:

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV).

Does it mean that our gratitude should depend on the circumstances?

The answers that came to me were as follows:

• God’s goodness towards me on the day I had no sales was the same as on the day I had the highest sales.
• All I needed on the day I had no sales or any other day I seem to be in need ( be it health, finance, material or otherwise ), God has made provisions for me and that was why I lived beyond that day and alive today.
• I believe Jesus Christ was as grateful to God when he had just five loaves and two fish as when he had fed the five thousand people and having twelve baskets full as remnant.
• When 1 Thess 5:18 tells us to give thanks to God in all circumstances, it does not imply we should give thanks in relation to the circumstances.

God’s goodness towards His children does not depend on circumstances and His provisions for us are never depleted. He gives us our daily bread. Ex 16:4, Luke 11:3. What I can draw from this is that every child of God that has not backslide, God provides his/her daily bread. As long as you are alive all your needs have been provided for; others may not see it but you see it, you use it and you give thanks to God.

Mind you, you will have to collect the bread; that means some work on your part.

Note Gods bread is worth more than billions of dollars….

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TITHE

(Let’s end the debate on Tithe)

Before we go into the topic of tithe proper, let us understand that we have a home in our local church. Your local church is where you find rest and peace after your six days of work. We get that rest and peace when we fellowship with other believers in the house of God, your local church; so your local church is also home. Just like every other home that is founded on the word of God, God is the foundation through Jesus Christ. And if God is the foundation of a home, the home is sure to stand any challenge.

God always makes provision for His children to meet any challenge. Thus, in every home that is founded on God, there is a store room loaded with provisions; maybe physical or not. For these provisions to manifest physically, God uses you and me to gather these provisions together. In the case of our homes we return to everyday, God places a man (in some cases a woman) through whom He provides food and other needs for the members of the home. That is why God is very angry with any believer who does not provide for his home.

1 Tim 5:8

But if any provideth not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (Webster)

God makes away in every believer’s home such that there are always provisions in the storeroom. Likewise, God at all times has ensured that there is food in the storehouse of His house.

Before the coming of Jesus Christ, God instructed His children on how food (provisions) would be gathered in His house.

Deut 26:12

When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thy increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled: (Webster)

Mal 3:10

Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now with this, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Webster)

With these and other instructions God gave, there was food in His House. But after the death of Jesus Christ I have not read of his disciples paying tithe, though there was a form of contribution that the apostles received that God honoured. We will find these in:

Acts 2:44-46

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart, (Webster)

Acts 4:32-37

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power the apostles gave testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that was in want: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made to every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Webster)

We find that though the scriptures did not tell of any tithe or first-fruit, they apostles and they believers’ needs were provided for. They had a form of collection that made sure there were provisions in the storehouse of the church (the house of God).

We will find that despite the fact that the scriptures did not state God giving the apostles specific instructions like in the Old Testament, He honored their form of gathering into the storehouse. A confirmation that God honored the method adopted by the apostle could be seen in:

Acts 5:1-11

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, (his wife also being privy to it) and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thy own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied to men, but to God. And Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and expired. And great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered to her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. Then Peter said to her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then she fell down immediately at his feet, and expired. And the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. (Webster)

I cannot tell what the apostles called the collections, maybe they called them gifts, offerings, tithe, vow, first-fruits, donations, pledge, seed or whatever name they might have called it, it did not matter; the bottom line was that they made collections and it was distributed to anyone as he had need until there were no needy persons among them.

Take note from the readings, in most (all) cases they gave more than a tenth of what they had. A believer is not bound by law but by the love of God. Let the love of God lead and direct us.

My take on tithe is that a believer should give (as much as he can afford) whatsoever his local church demands of him, regardless of what it is called, as long as it is geared towards providing food (provisions) for the members of the church; by this a believer is obeying the word of God.

It is up to the leaders of the church, who should also be beneficiaries if they are in need, to do the distribution. If they fail or become greedy, God will deal with them. Remember the sons of Eli (1 Sam 2:12-36), it was as if God was not going to punish them but at the appointed time God dealt with them (1 Sam 4:12-22). Please do not judge the leaders of your church, the consequences will be terrible; see the case of Moses, Aaron and Miriam (Num 12:1-16). You can tell them their wrong if you can or continue to pray for them. God knows the situation and He will act in His time.

Let the love of God guide us in our giving….

 

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LOVE

Love has been defined in several ways by many authors; we will look at it as it is seen from the word of God. From the bible we see love as a binder in the relationship between God and man, and, man to man.  Love keeps all that have life together in sweet fellowship. For God to fellowship with man He had to love man; this He showed by sending His only begotten son to die for man (John 3:16). Likewise, for man to have fellowship with God, he has to love God with all his heart, soul and mind (Matt 22:37-39). Thus, love is a binder; it keeps all parties of a union together.

Every nation, community, church, household or any other group of people need love to stay together, willingly not forcefully. Thus love could be described as the character of the individuals of a group that keeps the group together willfully. For a man and a woman to get married and stay married they need love. Also, for any household to be happy together every member of the household has to have the character, love. Some have said love is a feeling but we see love as a character which can best be described by it attributes. The scripture gave us the attributes of love;

1 Cor 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (NIV)

When any man or woman has all these attributes he/she has love. Jesus Christ told us in (Matt 22:39) that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. Who is our neighbor? Our neighbor is anyone we have encounter with, (Luke 10:30-37). The encounter could be momentary, for a while or for life; you and a passersby could be momentary; you and your colleague at work would be for a while; while, you and your wife/husband would be for life. For the encounter to be pleasant there must be love amongst the individuals involved.

Having love for your neighbor as your self is not what you can achieve on your own, no matter how hard or how long you try. Love comes naturally to them that truly love God. When you love God, you love Him with all your heart, soul and body. You will fear him, thereby obey his word. It is the spirit of God which came upon you when you became born again that helps you to love God in this way; on your own you cannot. When you are in this state of love with God, the fruits (characters) of the spirit of God, starts to manifest in you;

Gal 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (NIV)

Love is a character of the spirit of God that is in you. Thus, you express love towards everyone as your character. It is you just being yourself.

I will not sleep with a harlot; not because I love my wife so much but because I love the harlot too. Neither would I leave someone who declares me his enemy, under the rain (though, I will be as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove). Love is what keeps a couple harmoniously together when all the physical attraction is gone.

Love is very important for the harmonious living in every home. Every member of a household should have love. Without love the home cannot bind together, there will be crisis. When love becomes the character of every member of a home, they become indivisible and will not fall under any challenge. The home becomes a paradise.

Please find our ebook titled: LET’S GET MARRIED AND STAY MARRIED, it will be a blessing to you; you can bless others with it too…….Click here it is free. To donate Click here.

Let’s get Married and Stay Married

Let’s get Married and Stay Married is now available.Click here and get a copy of the ebook.

This book helps to build happy homes. Every man or woman that is yet to be married will get to know how to start a happy family. Also, married couple who started on the shaky marriage foundation will set the foundation right and have, paradise at home.

Whatsoever the challenge you are facing in your marriage, with the right marriage foundation you will overcome. This book helps you to ensure you overcome and have a happy home.

Paradise at Home

Paradise in the mindset of a lot of people is a place where they go to after death, if they are in right standing with God. Many religions are based on this belief. Thus, they are careless of their lives on earth and focus more on the life after death.

Base on the word of God (The Bible) there was paradise on earth; Adam and Eve lived in paradise on earth. God must have had a reason for placing man in paradise on earth, despite the fact that there is paradise in heaven. We believe Gods intention is for man to live in paradise at all times. Adam and Eve were in paradise in the Garden of Eden, we can be in paradise in our homes too; the Garden of Eden was home to Adam and Eve.

When you have paradise at home, you will have a better understanding of heaven and when you get there, you will not be a stranger; you will still be at home. Paradise is a place that is characterized with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Your home can have all these characteristics and it will; on your own you cannot but with God, its a piece of cake.

We are here to make clear what the word of God says concerning various aspect of the home. Here is an ebook that is of great help to every home: Let’s Get Married and Stay Married. Available soon.

Paradise at Home

Let our homes be were we find rest and peace.