Let's see what godliness means. From my perspective, godliness it is God mindedness, God consciousness or heaven mindedness. Godliness is seeing yourself as a model of God here on earth. Jesus said "Ye are gods ye children of the most high" (John 10 : 34). 

We know that there is only one God- The Most High. But the children of God are gods. 

Jesus asked his disciples a godly question: who do men think I am? (Matthew 16:13-20). Some of them said he is Elijah, others said he is Jeremiah, another said he is John the Baptist. 

But Peter led by the Spirit said that Jesus is the son of the Most High. 

Godly people are the children of God; worldly people are the children of the devil. By the fruit of the Spirit we know the godly, while by the works of the flesh we can know the worldly ones. 

The Mysteries Of Godliness

This describes the logic of how we become born again. Jesus said to Nicodemus that except one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

And that one must be born of the water and of the Spirit (John 3). Mystery is a word that speaks of a spiritual logic or prophecy which cannot be understood naturally. We are born again through baptism. Water baptism and most especially Holy Spirit baptism. 

Water baptism is to prepare us for the coming of the kingdom and the first rising of the dead. While Holy Spirit baptism is to empower us to be sons and daughters of God. 

Godliness Is A Seal

Godliness is a seal of sonship. The authority of angels and the authority of man on earth is being passed unto you. It's a name given to you by God. 

Psalm 1:1-4

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away."

According to David, godliness is the path of righteousness. When you follow this path you would have life at the end of the tunnel. The whole world lies in darkness (iniquity). 

The thoughts of men are becoming wicked- deceiving people with fake love. 

Ungodly people are betrayals. They are lovers of themselves and enemies of the cross of Christ. 

Those who don't have the genuine love which is the love of God are enemies of the cross of Christ.

When you follow the cross, which reflects the love of  Christ, you would find life and peace which is the end of godliness. 

Living A Godly Life

1. To live a godly life is to be obedient to God.  

2. It's to be humble and gentle in heart.

3. It's to avoid wrong company.

4. It's to delight in God's law or the word of God.

5. It's to lean not on your understanding, but to trust in God.

6. It's to walk in the Spirit.

How To Get Rid Of The Habit Of Sin

Sin is the power of rebellion against God.  Before the law, sin was already ruling man. Paul refers to sin as the spirit of the world (1 Corinthians 2:12). 

Sin is like obscuring someone from light. Sin brings shame and reproach. Sin brings darkness. The devil is the father of sin. 'Men love sin' it's because men love ignorance. 

To get rid of sinful habit be godly. Draw near to God and He would draw near to us. But sinful habits would make us to move away from God. God doesn't run from us, it is we that run away from him because of sin.

Sinful habits are common traps of lust we fall into due to our wrong ideology or weakness (emotion). You need deal with your poor ideology about life and you must also deal with your emotion. If Satan can't enter you through false belief or doctrines, he would enter you through friendship with devilish people. 

Marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman blessed by God for the purpose of love, and family. The purpose of marriage is not sex, but love and family. Family is important to God. God visited Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden as family to fellowship with them (Genesis 3). 

Family is that fellowship between God, man and his wife. God also visited Abraham and his wife Sarah as a family (Genesis 18). In family He reveals himself perfectly to us. Family is what is important to God when we look at marriage. Love is another virtue of marriage. Jesus is the custodian of love. LOVE according to John 3:16 is God giving his Son, that's sacrifice. God gave the Word to the world. In a family God expect the man to be the custodian of love. The man should be the lover while the woman should submit to him in accordance to the will of God. 

There is no story in the bible where people get married in heaven. Jesus only gave us the parable of the ten virgins to describe his marriage with the church (the bride). Sincerely, no one marries in Heaven. The Sadducee, I call them Sad to see tried Jesus with a question about the resurrection (Matthew 22). However, Jesus replied them that no one marries in Heaven, rather they all would become angels of God. No marriage in heaven as we do on earth.

God Choosing a Wife or Husband For You

As for the point of God choosing a wife or husband for you, God's will should be our desire and purpose on earth. God chooses the person that compliments you spiritually, therefore what God has joined together let no man put asunder. A lot of people marry outside the will of God including some pastors and today their marriages are hell or have crumbled. God knows the heart of everybody. We are blind in that aspect, so we are not capable to know the perfect man or woman for us. Marrying anything is dangerous!

A good wife or husband can come from the will of God, that's Heaven. Several scriptures in the old testaments pointed many a time when the Lord warned the Israelite against marrying certain women and men. Getting married to them would corrupt them and their seed (children). These men are women are from idolatry background, and knew not the way of the Lord. The Moabite women are seductresses whose intention were to defile the men of Israel. If you choose a wife without God's will you might end up with a Jezebel. 

Do You Really Believe That Marriages Are Made in Heaven?

Marriages are ordained by Heaven, but Heaven doesn't make marriages as in conduct weddings. 

Jesus was tempted by the devil on every aspect. The cross is a symbol of  the sin of mankind. Jesus didn't sin, his accusation was as a result of being the redeemer or savior of the world. 

Suicide is not only about physically taking your own life, but also praying for God to take your life.  The prophet Jonah did that. Also the great prophet Elijah did same too when he was faced with persecution from Jezebel. Samson prayed himself to death. God hates suicide even though he granted the wish of  Samson.

 Judas Iscariot who represented the devil wished Jesus to commit suicide either physically or spiritually (praying for God to take his life). At the end he was humiliated: Judas committed suicide. 

Sometimes when we get frustrated with life we resort into praying God to take our life as a way to have peace. There is light at the end of the tunnel. The devil knows that if you persist you would prevail, so he sows the seed of death in your mind.

The bible in Proverbs 18:21 says, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue."  No matter how frustrated you are, your tongue should be guided properly. Satan is after the Word and your word. 

How Satan Tried To Make Jesus Commit Suicide

1. Betrayal.

Betrayal is working against someone you suppose to work for. The betrayal Judas heart was poisoned with filthy lucre. He helped the enemies against his master. 

Being betrayed can make one to hate life, and to take his life.  

2. Denial.

Peter denied Jesus thrice. Denial suggests not identifying or allowing a person because of fear, trust or shame. Denial can weigh one down in life. It looks as if you are worthless when you're being denied. this can lead to suicidal thoughts. A lot of people have being denied their right and then some resort to suicide as a solution to their pain.  

3. Suffering.

Suffering can make one to conclude on ending his life. If one lacks endurance, he might give up on himself and resort to suicide as solution to his suffering. There are bad times and there are good times in life. Jesus endured the humiliating period. 

How Jesus Overcome Suicide

1. Predictions. 

Jesus always know the outcome of things and circumstances surrounding him. He knew all his disciples, and detected Judas as a devil incarnate. He also predicted Peter's denial which was as a result of Peter's fear. 

2. He Watched and Prayed.

Jesus watched and prayed in order to guard himself against the device of the devil in manipulating the wisdom or word of God. Satan can manipulate the wisdom of God and confuse us about the will of God. He said to Jesus according to Matthew 4:6  "  'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone' ".

3. He Believed in Himself.

Job said there is hope for tree as far it still has root (Job 14:7). Jesus believed in himself and refused to give up.

Life is all about fulfilling the law and the prophets. Life is not about what to eat or what to drink. Jesus said he didn't come to destroy the law, which means he didn't come to break God's law or to be lawless. 

Of course the Anti-Christ is the lawless one who will come. When he comes he will change times and laws (destroy the law and the prophets with his lies and rebellion) until the very end of man's kingdom on earth.  "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." (Daniel 7:25).  

Jesus didn't come to change times and law; he came to fulfil times and laws. And the fulfilment of the law concerning him is to be the sacrificial lamb. For the law demanded a better sacrifice that would take away sin from the world (Hebrew chapter 9). The book of John 1:29 says: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world".  

While fulfilling the prophets is to become a better high priest who would offer that sacrifice ones and for all. 

The human high priest were full of filt or guilt, so they weren't perfect to represent the people at the holies of holies. Even in the book of  Zachariah chapter 3, you could see Joshua the high priest puting on a filthy garment in the vision prophet Zachariah saw: 

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. (Zachariah 3: 1-3).

And also, in those days the priest were always at war with the prophets due to the fact that the prophets sought for a better and perfect high priest who is without guilt or sin. 

Two Things You Should Not Destroy In Your Life

1. The law. 

The law is the commandment of God. When you break God's law you attract punishments, guilt and curses. 

When you destroy the law you attract punishment, guilt or curses into your life. Those who are living a lawless life are destroying their life. 

Everything in life is bound by laws. Laws are like fence protecting you from threats, danger or intrusion. When you break the law, you expose your life to threats or dangers. There are physical threats. There are spiritual threats. 

The physical threats are physical dangers, like if you play with an high tension electric cable you might get electrocuted. If you smoke, you get cancer. If you steal you might get arrested by the cops. 

All these are physical threats. 

The spiritual threats are spiritual dangers, or they are curses. Like if you fornicates you invite demons into your body, since your body (your temple) is defiled. If you worship idol you will be under God's wrath and there would be disaster, dryness in every season of your life. 

If you kill, you would be killed too, for they that live by the sword shall die by the sword (Matthew 26:52). 

You can't evade the law. You can't run away from it, for eyes of the lord are everywhere to reward and to give justice to the law. One can escape from wrath of the law of the land, due to human corruption. 

Corruption is whereby justice is sold and bought, so the power of law becomes corrupt. But God is not corrupt. No amount of money can give you freedom from God's wrath. Know this!

2. The Prophets.

Every prophet God sends to you is to guide into the way of peace (Luke 1:79). But due to arrogance and pride so many people has despises the prophet God send to them to deliver them. 

Prophets are agent of deliverance. Hosea 12:13  says:  "And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved." 

So many people have lost out of God's blessing because they refuse to welcome the prohet God has sent to them. Jesus said in Matthew 10:41, 

 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

The bible showed us how king Ahab threw prophet Micaiah into prison because he told him God's plan against him (1 Kings 22). Also King Zedekiah threw prophet Jeremiah into the dungeon because he told him to surrender to king Nechadnezzar according to the word of the lord (Jeremiah 38:6). 

When you hate God's prophet you hate God. When you fight against God's prophet you fight against God. 

Also do not despise prophecies from God concerning your life: they are vital for your life in the end. Prophecy is an intergral part of our life. 

Fulfilling The Law And The Prophets

To fulfil the law and the prophets we need to:

1. Be a follower of Jesus and not Pastors. 

When we follow the footsteps of Jesus we fulfil the law andthe prophets through him. His personalities would be found in us. We would be walking in that liberty or freedom, not guilt or being under the curse of the law.

2. Read Scripture. 

Jesus never played with scripture, he read  the scripture witten about him (Luke 4 from verse 1). The scripture shows you who you are. 

According to James in James chapter 1, the scripture is like a mirror. Always read the bible, when you do that you will be able to fullfil Gods law and prophecies concerning your life.

3. Preach the Gospel. 

Jesus in Luke chapter 4 preached to the people the scripture written concerning him. He preached to everyone about God too. Doing this fulfills the law and the prophets.

4. Pray. 

When you pray you get your spirit empowered to do God's will. There are forces that try to stop you from fulfilling God's law and prohecies concerning you. Pray against stronghold against your life.

Thank you for reading, I'm Jeremiah.  

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,  Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.  No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”  For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 

(John 7:1-6).

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

(1 John 2:15-16).

 Apostle John was admonishing us to shun the lustful attraction of sin that draws one to perdition. "Love not the world" implies that followers of Christ should deviate from worldly lust or enticement.

The world represents the astronomical earth or the spiritual foundation of man. 

The astronomical earth reflects the earth and its system. That is, it describes the earth in relationship with the planet,  stars and satellites around the earth in our solar system. 

While the spiritual foundation of man is man's heart. 

I believe that the apostle was referring to man's heart or nature when he used term 'world'. While love points to the affection from man's heart. Our heart is an evaluation point of life, where we give value, calculate value and miscalculate value (deceived). 

The heart works in value hence John was trying to let us know the lust or deceit of the flesh, the lust or deceit if the eyes, and the pride of life is vainglorious and delusional. 

Love is true, but lust...(Whenever I see the word 'lust', I mark it as deceit. Lust means to be deceived by the desire of your flesh or your eyes.)

How Our Flesh Can Deceive Us

When your body start reacting you might have the urge to do certain things or may feel it's right to do certain things due to your feelings, biological programming or signals in your body.

How Our Eyes Can Deceive Us

When we see something our brain starts linking it up with our feelings, or other past experiences we might have had which can be very strong and tempting. We can make decision based in that.

How Can One Cease From Lust and Pride 

1. Don't be lead by your feelings.

Emotional people are easy to fool. As a Christian you need the senses of the Spirit of God, not you relying on emotion. Romans 8:14 says "As many that are lead by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God."

2. Always pray.

A lifestyle of prayer is a lifestyle of the Spirit of God. When you're active in prayer your emotion is not in control, but God's Spirit.

3. Read the word of God. 

The Bible is a book of God's knowledge. Reading the Bible opens your spiritual eyes. When your spiritual eyes are open, you will not be subject to the lust of the eyes. Psalm 119:18 says, "Open thou my eyes that I may behold the wonderous things out if they law."

4. You can go on a little fast. 

Fasting can make you live a devoted life to God. But you shouldn't overstretch your capacity. You can do it from morning till noon and break your fast with prayers offered to God. Please don't overdo it.

5. Be obedient. 

Obedience according to 1 Samuel 15:22 is better than sacrifice. No amount of what you do as a christian can replace obedience. Fasting, prayers, offerings, going to church can't. So obey the commandment of God, with that you will be disobedient to the dictate of the flesh.

Have a nice day!

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

 

(Mark 10:46-47).

Many Christians have despised the place of God's mercies in their lives. They rather think on what they can do to get blessed. Mercy is a place in God's kingdom. Even in the law there's a seat called the mercy seat (Exodus 25:17-22). When you come into the place of mercy, you come into the place of Father. 

When you live by acknowledging God's mercy you understand how to give. Jesus said freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8). Our giving is to appreciate God for His mercies. We cannot buy or bribe God to bless us. Even what we do is not actually the main reason why He's blessing us.  He blessing us is because He's willing. Remember He sends rain to both just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).

What's God's Mercy?

God's mercy is His will to show forgiveness, deliverance, protection and goodness towards us. It is the place of Father in Him. To know about blessings read my Post: The Difference Between Grace and Blessings

Not every man has the place of father in them, some has the place of devil in them. The first tabernacle has a need of a place of Father called the mercy seat. This is where God appears to the high priest. 

10 Reasons Mercy is Better Than Blessings

1. God's mercies preserve our life.

 'It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed' (Lamentation 3: 22). We are living in a wicked world, but God's mercy protects us from our adversaries.

2. Seeking God's mercies brings healing and deliverance. 

Blind Bartimaeus cried for mercy and He caught Jesus' attention (Mark 10:46-47). His healing need was met because he seek to be loved and forgiven by Jesus, which are important to the Father. 

3. God's mercies predestinated us (selected us). 

We are children of God by His mercies, for He chose us. We don't have the knowledge to choose Him. Before we were born He chose us.  Jeremiah 1 verse 5 says,

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1 verse 5.

4. Acknowledging God's mercies makes us to understand others plight.

 People go through certain problems in life not necessarily because of their sin, but they are there for you to show mercy to them. John 9:3 says,

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 

5. God's ears are ever opened to the prayers of mercy. 

Jesus gave us a parable about two men who went up to pray in Luke 18 from verse 10. One was a publican and the other a Pharisee. The publican asked for mercy, but the Pharisee was boasting of his works of righteousness. Surely, Jesus said the Publican went home heard by God, but the Pharise wasn't heard his prayers. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said Ask, Seek and knock. This can only be on the platform of mercy.  

6. Acknowledging God's mercies in your life is being rich towards God.

 Jesus gave us another parable in Luke 12:13-21, that a certain man had everything going well for him but refuse to see God's mercies in his prosperity. Jesus concluded that that man was not rich towards God. When you acknowledge God's mercy in your life you're rich toward God. 

7. Despising God's mercies in your life is sin. 

(The rich fool) From same parable, it is clear that the rich fool offended God by him holding his acknowledgement of His mercy.

8. Acknowledging God's mercies preserves your blessings. 

Acknowledging God's mercies would spare your blessings from the devourer. Under the law tithes and offerings were for acknowledging God's mercies. But under Christ it is what you do for the brother or sister around you who's in need that counts. 

9. Being merciful to people makes God to remember you in His mercies. 

When you are merciful to others God shows you mercy. Matthew 5:7 says,

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 

10. Acknowledging God's mercy is acknowledging the place of Father in your life. 

In the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), the prodigal son later acknowledged the place of Father in His life- He acknowledged the place of mercy. When we look at God's mercy we see Him as Father. 

In conclusion, mercy is before blessing. 

The thief does not come except for to steal, kill and to destroy. But I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10).

What's An Abundant Life?

Abundant life as implied by Jesus is a life without the thief. It is also receiving all the things Satan has stolen from you. Revelation 5:12, says, 

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  Revelation 5:12

Jesus was slain and went to hell to receive all these things Satan has stolen from us. Jesus referred  to Satan and his cohorts as the thief. According to him, a thief is not only as robber or someone who steals, a thief is a killer and a destroyer.

Jesus pictured a life without the thief as an abundant life, since your all labours and  blessings are safe. We need to know the thieves against our soul.  

Jesus wasn't only referring to Satan the devil. Even though he used a singular term 'The thief', I think he was being holistic since he had cited other thieves in several scriptures. Now let's know who they are.     

The Thieves According to Jesus 

Apart from an armed-robber, burglars, scammers, the following are thieves against our soul.

1. False prophets.

 In Matthew 7:15 Jesus said, 

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Matthew 7:15

False prophets are workers of iniquity who uses lies to prosper. I have explained iniquity in one of my post: The Difference Between Sin and Iniquity . Jesus said we should beware of false prophets, because they are only there for personal gains, scamming lies, and on a faith-destroying mission. It's so sad that many Christians have repented to the hands of false prophets. 

To live an abundant life, we must beware of false prophets.

2. False Christ. 

In Matthew 24:5 Jesus said,

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:5

False Christ can also be called Anti-Christ. Anti-Christ are false leaders, though an Ant-Christ can also be referred to as a false prophet, but here we are looking at false leaders in powers.  These leaders are cunning and crafty and have a deceptive nature. 

They say one thing, but do the opposite. They are your secret enemy. You might love them, but they don't love you.  

They pretend to love the people in order to win their trust, but in their action they betray them. 

They are always trying to manipulate their followers, and during election they become loving and kind to the poor just to grab power. After they've succeeded they forget about them. 

Beware of loving such type of people, they are thieves. They want to steal your trust and further manipulate or neglect you. You can read my post: The Attribute of an Anti-Christ. 

3. Friends of Hell. 

Friends of hell are witches and wizards around you. Witches and wizards are spiritual thief. They are killers, they are destroyers. Beware!

Jezebels

Jesus spoke concerning Jezebel in Revelation 2:20, for Jezebel is a witch in the church. Jezebels are ministry destroyers. Jezebels are prophet destroyers. Jezebels are also family destroyers. They break churches and families. They are expert in the knowledge of seduction. 

They know how to open their body and to speak to people to fall for them lustfully. At night they do their real job by fornicating with innocent souls spiritually while those men (even women) are asleep. Jezebels can prophesy using the spirit of divination (a familiar spirit). This spirit is sent through a spell they cast on innocent souls. 

Sometimes these innocent men and women would be seeing a being chasing after them in their dreams. That's a familiar spirit following their movement in order to grab vital information concerning their life. 

Judas

Judas is the male counterpart . Judas are wizards .They do the same as Jezebels.  They have sex with innocent souls, choke them and afflict them while they are asleep or ignorant. Beware!

4. Demons.

Demons are destructive messengers of hell according to 2 Corinthians chapter 12. 

They usually present to our mind lustful and persuasive ideas or thoughts we often find difficult to resist even though we know they are wrong. Demons usually speaks to our mind using our own voice. Also, demons can attack a soul through dreams. 

They are strangers in our dream hired by our adversary against our soul. Satan uses demons;  witches and wizards use demons.  

5. Satan. 

Satan is the dragon, that old serpent. He's a bitter enemy of God and His children. He cruelly  seeks worship from man, and turns them against God. 

His best tactic in trapping man is his scamming lies. Scamming lies are lies that gives you false hope. He uses false hope and pleasure to take the real thing for you. No one lies more than the devil. 

What The Thief Comes To Steal?

According to the book of Revelation 5 verse 12, there are 7 things Satan and his cohorts come to steal from us:

1.  Power

2. Riches

3. Wisdom

4. Strength

5. Honor

6. Glory

7. Blessing.

We also can assume from here that an abundant life is a life of Power, Riches, Wisdom, Strength, Honor, Glory, and Blessing. 

 3 Vital Ways To Live An Abundant Life

1. Beware of the Thief.

 I've already explained who the thieves are. So beware to live an abundant life.

2. Receive Jesus into Your Life.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is the way out of the thief. Without Jesus you are still in a relationship with the thief. When Jesus comes into your life he breaks the connection between you and the thief, by exposing the thief. Accept Jesus, you accept an abundant life.

3. You Have to Pay the Price of Obedience. 

As it is said:  "Obedience is better than sacrifice." According to the law, abundant life means receiving all the blessings written in the law (Deuteronomy 28). 

Don't be stubborn as Jonah lest you would be swallowed by poverty. Abraham obeyed God, and God blessed him. Obey before blessing. Obeying  God would take you to a level in life where no man bring you down. 

Conclusion

I believe you've been blessed by this post.  An abundant life is available to every born-again child of God, and every addicted follower of Jesus. As you follow  what is written here I pray that God takes you to a level where no man can bring you down. Be blessed! 

Being the salt of the earth implies living a meaningful life. When Jesus was talking about salt in Matthew 5 verse 13, he was referring to the flavour aspect of it, not as a preservative. He said if the salt losses its savour (flavour), it is then good for nothing but to trodden under the foot of men (Matthew 5:13).

When we as christians loss our taste, that is stop living by the word of God, then we would be following men who take advantage of our lack of spiritual understanding. We would become divided in the kingdom, just as in 1 Corinthians 3. Some were for Paul, some for Apollos, and some for Cephas. 

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (1 Corinhians 3:4,5).

  "Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:22).

Be a follower of Christ  not pastors. Your flavour is only in Christ and not in copying or trying to become like a man of God. 

Jesus called us salt to mean examples of Him, or examples of the word. The salt itself is the word. When you're empty of the word, your life would be meaningless- tasteless. You follow the wrong people. You are lost in life. You are confused!

 A lot of christians repented into the wrong hands. They repented into the hands of false prophets and pastors, hence they ended up in a saltless ministry.

Saltless Churches

So many churches today are not interested in Jesus but the grace upon their pastor. Paul complained about church in Corinth. Their teachings were centered on the grace of God upon the apostles and teachers. Paul enlightened then that if they be followers of Jesus all things would be theirs (1 Corinthians 3:21). All the grace upon the apostles, prophets, and teachers would be theirs.   

The Flavour of Salt

Salt is formed from the neutralization of an acid with a base. So salt is not too acidic or basic, salt is neutral. Salt is neutral means not being biased- having a pure heart. That's righteousness!

Salt usually dissolves in water which speaks of  baptism. Be baptized of the Spirit. 

Photo credit billygraham.org

Sin and iniquity are two things that God hates. While sin directly deals with the law, iniquity deals with the truth, the gospel. Man is cursed today because of  sin and iniquity. from here I would be defining Sin and Iniquity and showing the differences between both.

What Does Sin Means in the Bible?

Sin according to 1 John 3:4 is the transgression of the law. In other words, sin is the breaking of God's commandment. God gave the Israelites ten commandments to keep or abide in, if they disobey what is written in the commandment it is referred to as sin- a transgression of the law.  Transgression in the sense that you don't believe in God or deliberately testing God's patience. 

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.(1 John 3:4).

What Does Iniquity Means in the Bible?

Iniquity is the act of observing lying vanity (Jonah 2:8): in other words, using lies to prosper. Jesus would say to those false prophet on that day of judgment that I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23).

List of Iniquities

1. Giving out fake prophecies is iniquity.

2. Teaching a false doctrine is iniquity. 

3. Making a vow that you know you will not fulfil is iniquity. 

4. Accepting bribe or giving out bribe is iniquity. 

5. Making false allegation against someone is iniquity. 

6. Being a false witness is iniquity. 

7. Passing out a false judgment is iniquity, and so on.

Types of Iniquity

1. Perversion- An act of lawlessness.

2. Betrayal- An act of Selfishness.

What's the Difference Between Sin and Iniquity?

1. Sin breaks God's law; iniquity contradicts the truth or God's word.

2. Sin is a result of the lack of knowledge, while iniquity is a result of lack of the power of God (2 Timothy 3:5).

3. Sin is Satan's will to rule man (Genesis 4:7); iniquity is man's will to rule the world.

4. The wages of sin is death, but the end of iniquity is perdition.

5. Sin is a fall from grace, while iniquity is a perversion of God's grace (Acts 13:10). 

6. Sin empowers lust (fleshly desires); iniquity empowers lying.

7. Sin is an enemy of forgiveness; iniquity is an enemy of the truth.

In the end iniquity is the mastermind of sin, because it is what the devil uses to lure men into sin.

 
There are three levels of faith in God. But firstly we need to know what faith is all about.
 

Faith according to Hebrew chapter 11 is the substance of things hope for and evidence of things not seen. That means, faith is a spiritual truth or scriptural truth. What the Spirit of God says and what the scripture says is faith.

The Three Levels of Faith

1. Trying to Believe. 

This is the case of the father of the boy that was epileptic according to Mark 9:14-29. He said to Jesus that he believed but Jesus should help his unbelief, that means he's trying to believe.

In this level of faith, one is only convinced by signs and wonders and when there's none, he or she frowns away. The faith of those trying to believe is not based on spiritual or scriptural truth but on signs and wonders. According to James in James 1:6, such kind of faith waves as the waves of the sea. It's a doubting faith. 

 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1: 6)

As children of God we need to outgrow this manner of faith since it's not centered on spirituality but on materiality.       


2. Believe. 

This is an Abrahamic faith. Having this kind of faith makes you spiritually strong (Romans 4: 20). 

Abraham believed in God, it isn't base on materiality, but spirituality. His spiritual eyes where enlightened. That's why David cried to the Lord in Psalms 119: 18 to open his eyes to behold the wonderous things out of the law. When you believe you see the wonderous things out of the law of God. When you believe you are obedient to God's law. The children of Israel in the wilderness tempted God through unbelief. They want to see signs and wonders instead of understanding the law.

Because of their unbelief they were bittered towards God. 

Abraham is the father of those who believe in God, not only to the Jews. A father is a founder. Abraham searched in spirit and in truth and found the power of God.
 

3. Winning the Prize of Life. This is the prize of faith in Christ. Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers,

"I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. " (Philipians 3: 12-14) .

This level of faith is obtaining the price of victory, which on earth no one has obtained.

Why People Don't Believe

To believe is to be convinced or persuaded about the validity of something. One is certain to believe what he or she sees or experience. One can also believe through the mouth of a witness.  However, many still find it difficult to believe the word of God.
 

The followings are reasons why people don't believe in the word of God:

1. No anionted preacher.

How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 

And how can they preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14-15).

How can they believe without a preacher. Not everyone preaching the word are sent. Preaching is proclaiming the truth with power, signs and wonders. Jesus told his disciples to wait in order for them to be endued with power from on high (Acts chapter 1). Jesus knew that his disciples can't convince or persuade anyone without the power of God. In fact, Paul the Apostle said in Romans 1:16, that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  Without the power of God no man would be converted to the gospel.
 

2. Traditions of the Elders. 

The elders or leaders can be a stumbling block to people in believing the gospel. The elders or leaders can be in the family setting, religion or the society. The elders being in power can set laws or give orders against the gospel. Like in countries where Islamic or sharia laws are practiced the gospel is forbidden by their laws.  

Also, if you're born into a family were Christianity is not practiced, but other religion, then it's certain that you are not going to believe. Except you see signs and wonders or facts to doubt that religion before you can be converted from it. That's why we need to pray that God should turn our leaders to the truth, or to destroy rebellious leaders (power of darkness) standing against the gospel.
 

3.  Self Worship. 

A church goer because of  materialism pretends to believe in God. Such are hypocrites or dogs. Paul spoke concerning them in Phillipians 3: 17 -19,

   For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

4. Temptation. 

Satan can turn one away from God, or make one to see God as liar. When such a person suffers he or she usually blames God, but never see his or her fault in his problem or suffering.  Such persons believe that God exist but he is unfair, unjust as far they are concern. They pass judgement on God whenever things go wrong. That makes them to doubt the word of God.

How Can We Have Faith in God

I believe everyone have faith, but the problem is where we put our faith.  Our faith (receiving faith) is where we put our hope in. Turning to the wrong channel breaks our connection from Jesus.
Jesus said "Take care how you listen " (Luke 18: 8).

When you're addicted to Jesus you receive from His life. You can be addicted to Jesus by being a follower of the word and not Pastors. Follow the truth preached and written in the scripture not personalities. I do listen to teachings from different pastors but  I compare it with the truth that Jesus has shown in the scripture. If such teaching falls short then it should be trashed.  
 
   
      

Narcissism is a personality disorder, whereby one shows the lack of empathy for others and the desire of grandiosity for themselves. What does the bible has to say about this?
 

Narcissistic  characters were found in the bible. From King Saul to King Nebuchadnezzar to Heman, and then the Pharisees.  But there is more to this character: this according to Jesus in Luke 11:24-26 is certainly a spiritual problem- A wicked spirit which has possessed the people of the world.
Wickedness is narcissism. When someone cannot feel love or compassion for others it's because of  wickedness, and wickedness is a spirit. Jesus said,

 "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.'' (Luke11:24-26).

This spirit is what Paul referred to  as the ruling spirit (Colosians 2:8). Those who are showing the lack of empathy and extreme selfishness are being possessed by a wicked spirit. This spirit makes them selfish with pride and arrogance. They hate others whom they consider not submissive or beneficial to their ego.
 

There are Things  That can Breed Narcissism or Wickedness

1.  The Leaven or Doctrine of the Religious Cults (Pharisee).
2.  The Leaven or Doctrines of Political Cults (Herod).

Jesus warned his disciples against those two groups. Today there are a lot of churches that are a form of  religious cult. They worship their pastor as God and have a tradition (doctrines) that makes them extremely submissive to the cult. These make their followers to be blind to the truth and then wickedness sets in. The followers crave to be influential like their idol pastor. People are defined by who they follow. It is hard for these people to feel for anyone rather than their idol pastor or prophet. An idol pastor or prophet is a leader of a religious cult.
These political or religious groups tends to breed a one-sided form of faithfulness. That means, they want to have a total control over the lives of their followers. And they use their  doctrines or tradition  to influence them. Jesus is saying, Beware!
 

 
The Pharisees and Saducees and Herods however do not pity the poor, rather according to Jesus they devoured  the poor and widows; they collect sacrifices, tithes, many offerings, heavy taxes and levies from the poor. Those who want to be like these men would be narcissists because these men and women are without good conscience. The wicked spirit has possessed their heart and makes them to devour the poor, and to change God's law through their doctrines and traditions. "

And the Lord said unto him, “Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

 Luke 11:39
 

How to Set Yourself Free From Narcissism or Wickedness

Do you find yourself in this state, where you only want fame and power at the expense of others livelihood? Then you need to set yourself free from this, because the kingdom of heaven is coming.  God hates wickedness and those who practice it.  
 

How You Can Set Yourself Free
 

1. Clean Yourself from  Political or religious cult. If you know that what I've explained above is manifested in your church or any group you're into, then you need to beware of such a groups, lest you'll be corrupted more. Reject their false teachings and traditions.
 

2. Make a prayer of Deliverance. As I have said in one of my post Living Under Satanic Oppression deliverance is to be set free from evil leadership and evil spirits. Also, I said earlier that wickedness or narcissism is a spirit. We need to pray through the light of God's word. The book of Psalms is filled with prayers of deliverance. Pray for God to deliver you from the Pharisees and the Herod (narcissistic leaders in your life). And that He should help you not to follow or listen to them again.
 

3. Walk in the Spirit. When you turn from darkness to light, you need to walk in the light. Walking in the Spirit is walking in the light. The spirit of God is the light in the word of God. You must first be baptized in the HolySpirit, know him, before you can walk with Him. The HolySpirit is God in form of a voice. When you're baptized with the Spirit or filled with his fire, because His fire is His power, then you'll begin to hear from God. Your spiritual senses would come alive. Your spiritual ears, eyes, tongue, skin would feel God.
 

To be baptized in the Spirit, you have to wait on God, that is, live a holy life. Live as if God is visiting you today. Prepare your heart for God by despising everything that is false. Holiness means staying away from things that are false. Don't identify yourself with whatsoever that the bible or Jesus condemns. Anything that God condemns is unholy. And anything that God accepts and blesses is holy.
 

3. Preach Against It. When Jesus delivered Paul, he made him a preacher against the Pharisees whom he (Paul) once followed. Jesus turned him against those wicked leaders of the religious cults and the political cults. If you don't preach against those false doctrines or traditions you once followed it means you still support them.

 

The Grip of Narcissism

What narcissists want to achieve is to have total control over your life. At first, they act to be nice and good,  which is a bait for taking control over others. Once they got your loyalty or support, then they learn about your important need in life and  act as the source of your important need. All they want is to have total control over your life.
 

Leaving a narcissist makes them feel unimportant in life; their only way of feeling important or expressing their self worth is by having total control over others. Since people would always subscribe to a fighter as a leader instead of a peace maker, narcissists tend to walk their way up in leadership. 
If you have a narcissist Pastor he or she will acts as if they are always there for you, but the truth is, that is a way of expressing their self worth. Such Pastor would try to keep you in his or her power by making you to believe that without them and their church you are nothing. He or she presents himself as your Lord and personal savior. Same if you have a narcissistic boss or father, he will always want to use his  office or authority to make you feel less worthy and to believe that your life is in his hands. Narcissism is a self-worth disorder.  

 

What Motivates A Narcissist

Narcissists are motivated by anger towards others success, even though it's their brother or spouse. This  makes them feel less about themselves when they see their peers progress or succeed. In the mind of the narcissist he compares himself with others. He feeds on baseless comparisons.  If he or she is a boss he makes childish and useless comparisons among his subjects and becomes the perfect judge that no one can compete with. They feel Super Human.
 

Working under a narcissist means you don't exist when value is to be given to such team. He or she feels like the giant in the team while the others are grasshopper. He takes pride in your work. You will only be wasting your time working with a narcissistic boss. 


          
    
        

       


    

photo credit:verywellmind.com

 The Three Levels of Happiness

Physically a wine is an alcoholic drink that is usually made from grapes, but can also be made from other fruits. Strong wine are also called spirits. In the spiritual sense a wine is the power (spirit) or person that drives one crazy (into obsession). He or she would be empowered by the presence of that power or person. 

"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."  (Matthew 10:20).

He or she would be chained by the beauty of that person or power until he fulfills that desire. Wine is a chainer.  

When one is drunk he or she has lost his or her power to the wine. The wine gains total control of the mind of such a person. Wine is powerful!

The Two Spiritual Wines

1. Wisdom

2. Whoredom.

Wisdom is the principal thing. Wisdom can be defined as the ability to understand mysteries and mastery. Mysteries are prophecies, while mastery is practices or principles. To understand means to unveil the truth of mysteries and mastery: to unveil the truth of prophecies and principles (or laws). God has given us His Spirit (wisdom) in order for us to understand the prophecies written in the bible. 

Revelation 1: 3 says, 

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Wisdom is a spiritual gift from God. It is the Spirit of God. In the book of Daniel, it is seen that Daniel had the spirit of wisdom in him, which was referred to as the spirit of the holy God whom dwelling is not with men.

 Daniel was able to interpret all dreams, solve all doubts, and decode every dark sayings because of this spirit. This Spirit works miracle. 

Without wisdom, the spirit of wisdom, miracles would be impossible. This Spirit tells us what we need to do. In John chapter 6, the bible says Jesus already knew what to do- that's wisdom.

Whoredom on the other hand is greed and sexual immorality. Sexual immorality comes with hatred and depression, with destruction lurking.  

Sexual immorality can be the forbidden fruit that many young men and women want to eat in our world  today. Whoredom has brought division upon families, career, and callings. 

 A lot of men and women have failed their family because of the forbidden fruit (whoredom). A lot of men have failed in their career.  Adam and Eve failed the seed because of the forbidden fruit they ate. 

Conclusion  

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18