THE YOUTHFUL AGE: Critical Point Of Life

Dear friend, do you know that the youthful age is the most crucial point of one's life? Choices and habits cultivated in this period will determine the outcome of a life. Many elders today live a life of regret today. They regret the companies they kept. Some mummies and daddies regret how they laid the foundation for chaotic marriages by clinging to some wrong friends who introduced them to alcoholism, pre- marital sex, pornography and the likes. Even though some are now born again the scars are still there. Many wish they could turn back the hands of time. With what they know now they could have made better choices. The pain is that time cannot be reversed. Dear friend, the age of the youth is not time for fun. It is not time for pornography and extreme sociality. It is not time to be the babe of the guys or the guy of the babes, it is not time for misplacement of priority and excess football if you are not called for football. It is time for work. Jesus as a youth said, ''I must do the works of Him who sent me while yet its day for the night cometh when no man can work''. The youthful age is the day time. ''Woe betides a city whose kings drink alcohol in the morning''. Do not leave the major work of life till you are in your fourties. No time is actually too late but to make maximum use of life and time it is better as a youth. Scriptures say, It is better to bear the yoke in the days of your youth''. Bearing the yoke talks about fighting the battle of destiny. Jesus, David, Joseph Daniel, Elijah etc all maximized time fighting this battle of destiny before they attained stardom. TO SIT ON THE THRONE YOU MUST OVERCOME THE THORNS ON THE WAY. It is in your youthful age you must know God's plan for your life. You don't even wait till you are married. To enjoy your mission, it is better to be on course even before marriage if possible. The youthful age is not just for fun. It is time to take responsibility for the future. It is time to make Spirit led choices. It is the time to write the vision, make it plain and run with it. Don't waste your youthful age merely roaming about looking for jobs. Get your vision clear. It will become your cutting edge. Lay a durable foundation that even upcoming generations can benefit from. Don't forget,'' IF THE FOUNDATIONS BE DESTROYED WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO. GOD BLESS YOU

TRAGEDIES OF LUST

I have come to realise that over 70 percent of the ''i love you'' on earth today was actually supposed to mean '' I am lusting after you''. So many young people are today driven by the fantasies they think about marriage and what comes to their minds first is sex. To make matters worse most marriage teachers in our age teach young people to go after the shape, size, complexion, gait etc of the spouse they desire. I am not faulting these theories but it has resulted in more harm than good. There is more lust in church now than ever before. More church goers are becoming rapists. People now dress sexually to church as though they were going to a brothel. What an age. I had to ban nollywood movies in my house because we need to guard our hearts with all diligence. I can only allow reasonable and mentally sound ones. THE TRAGEDIES 1. Most marriages in turmoil today were founded on lust and not love: The average church person seems not to know the difference between love and lust. If you marry her because of her legs, height or the way she sings, get ready for wahala shortly. 2. More rapists are emerging: Ladies can no longer walk alone in some areas today because so many young men are full of lust instead of the Holy ghost. there is no day you don't hear about wicked rape stories in our media. 3. A man full of lust can be blind folded to some truth: If you are obsessed by lust you will suffer from some dimensions. For instance it is LUST THAT IS BLIND.A man in lust will make the wrong decision that he will end up regretting. HOW TO KNOW IF HE OR SHE IS IN LUST AND NOT LOVE 1. He or she wants to have sex before marriage: Anybody that will not wait for sex till marriage is not in love with you. He or she is massively in lust with you. 2. He or she will withdraw if you withdraw the object of attraction for a while: If the lady is attracted to you because of money, if you withdraw it for a while. You will know if it is lust. She may like you because of the way you dress. change your dress style. Maybe reduce the glamour. 3. The person cannot tolerate you: A person in lust will only be with you for what he or she is getting. May be sex,money, gifts, outings etc. If a person loves you, he or she will tolerate you, loving you for who you are and believing God to change your weaknesses. 4. Lust is always in search of immediate gratification. PEOPLE IN LUST ARE ALWAYS SHORT SIGHTED. Ladies, love is beyond the fantasies you think about. It is not about the outings, the words and the feeling. HOW TO BE FREE FROM LUST 1. Renew your mind regularly with the word and pray sincerely uprooting lust from your heart. 2. Avoid pornography 3. Don't meditate on impure music 4. Flee from immoral people. 5. Don't watch erotic films even if they say its for 18 and above. 6. Discover purpose and stick with it. OH LORD HELP US TO GUARD OUR HEARTS WITH ALL DILIGENCE. PURIFY OUR HEARTS AND MAKE IT YOUR HOME. PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR MY BOOK UNDERSTANDING LOVE, LUST AND SEX

BEFORE YOU SAY 'I DO' :

So many marriages are full of regrets and unfulfillment today. If you ask most married people if they are given a second chance would they marry the same person? If they are to answer you sincerely most of them will say NO. Single friends, please delete the fantasies in your heart about marriage. Marriage is great and lovely but you cannot enjoy the dividends if you think the way the average single thinks. You can only enjoy the God ordained institution by laying a solid foundation. Take note of the following 1. Get genuinely born again and expose your self more to the word and the Spirit of God so that you can grow into maturity: If the two partners are spiritually matured, unnecessary frictions will be eliminated. So many married people find it difficult to reconcile differences because of immaturity.It is not a matter of age but grace and grace comes from your submission to God's word. 2. Get your divine mandate clearly: God has work for you on earth. It does not necessarily mean establishing a church or becoming a preacher. Discover purpose before marriage. I have discovered that your assignment to a large extent will assist you in knowing God's will in marriage. 3. De congest your heart of lust: Most turbulent marriages were founded on lust and not love. So many brothers in our campuses have got their hearts flooded with lust because of the erroneous marriage seminars that centres on external qualities. 4. Don't get involved with random sampling while trying to get a relationship: Let it never be that a brother or sister will say you broke their hearts. It has far reaching consequences. Trust God to lead you to the one He prepared for you. Life is not random sampling. If you are confused don't go ahead until you get divine approval. 4. DON'T START A RELATIONSHIP(courtship) IF YOU WILL NOT BE READY FOR MARRIAGE IN AT MOST TWO YEARS TIME: Long courtship does not necessarily translate into a blissful marriage. I was told of a catastrophic marriage that had 14 years courtship. Most relationships that started on campus failed. You don't need to be in haste. Marriage is not all there is about life. There is time for everything. So many singles could not keep a pure courtship because of the length of the courtship.(I can give you more insight on this if you contact me). HE THAT BELIEVETH SHALL NOT MAKE HASTE ISAIAH 28: 16 5. FORNICATION SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED IF YOUR MARRIAGE IS TO BE BLISSFUL: Any man that cannot wait for sex till marriage may end up an adulterer. Keep your body under subjection. TO BE CONTINUED

SEVEN GREAT TRAGEDIES THAT CAN BEFALL A MAN

In an age bedeviled with depression, regrets and the likes it is possible to live a fulfilled life. Gods thoughts towards us are always thoughts of peace and not of evil. However most times men fall into some challenges because of their choices. Below are seven great tragedies that can befall a man on the journey of life. 1. REFUSAL TO BE BORN AGAIN : If you are not saved you are not safe. Any man outside God's kingdom is heading for a disaster in this world and in the world to come. 2. LACK OF VISION/PURPOSE: When purpose is not known, Myles Munroe says,'' Abuse is inevitable''. Scripture says ''Where there is no vision the people perish''. 3. WRONG MARRIAGE: It is better to remain unmarried like Apostle Paul than to marry the wrong Person. Wrong marriages has succeeded in capsizing the ship of so many. 4: SEXUAL IMMORALITY: This has more grave consequences beyond your imagination. It is not cheap. By means of a whorish woman, a man is reduced to a loaf of bread. There are so many men of destiny reduced to loafs of bread on the bed of immorality. FLEE 5. WRONG ASSOCIATION: A wrong friend can become a cargo that can sink a man. Beloved, your association determines your acceleration. 6.ABSENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit is the Commander in Chief of this dispensation. Absence of Him in your life deprives you of power, direction and counsel. 7. ETERNAL DAMNATION: The greatest tragedy that can befall a man on earth is to close his eyes in death and open them in hell. The fires of hell is beyond description. It is not a place you should wish your enemy to be. Hell reduced the rich man into a beggar. Any man that dies without Jesus is doomed for the fires of hell. FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME. GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS TODAY

LIVING BEYOND RESISTANCE

Every man desires acceleration and fulfillment in life, however,so many are unable to move ahead because of resistance. They give up on their pursuits too soon. The bible says, ''If you faint in the days of adversity then your strength is small''. Dear friend, the devil and his cohorts will only resist you, your dream or treasures if they see its positive potential. There are other factors that resist people. They include; depression, discouragement, envy from competitors, unnecessary hatred and the likes. You will face resistance if you are significant. Nobody throws stones at unripe mangoes because they are good for nothing. They only throw stones at the ripe ones. The authenticity of your dream is determined by your stamina against resistance. You can live beyond resistance. You can decide to be unstoppable and irresistible. Isaac kept trying to fulfill his dream of re-digging the wells of his father, Abraham but the philistines kept on resisting. He refused to give up and they could not stop him because the power at work in him was bigger than the opposition of the philistines. He had to dig the third one before they left him. Beloved, keep knocking on that door, it will open in a short while. Keep on digging, you will find that treasure one day. Apostle Paul lived a life beyond resistance. In fact he was ready to invade territories notorious for resistance. Joseph was resisted by his brothers, Portiphars wife and other circumstances but he could not be stopped. Jesus was resisted severally even up to death but He was unstoppable. He said,’’I must do the works of He who sent me ….’’ HOW TO LIVE BEYOND RESISTANCE *STAY CONNECTED TO THE IRRESISTIBLE GOD: Without the irresistible God, no man has the capacity to withstand the opposition of adversaries. Disconnection from this God opens a man up to calamity. Daniel lived beyond resistance in Babylon because he could not be disconnected from God. ASSISTANCE FROM GOD IS ALL YOU NEED TO DEMATERIALISE ANY RESISTANCE. *KEEP YOUR VISION CONSTANT: If your vision or desire is of God, it will come to pass. Keep waiting on God for strength. Jesus was able to endure the cross because of the joy set before him. The vision of the glory ahead gives you the stamina to withstand opposition. In fact what authenticates your vision is your ability to stand with it through thick and thin. YOUR PERSISTENCE ON THE VISION WILL DEFLATE THE WHEEL OF ANY RESISTANCE. *YOU NEED A STRONG CONVICTION: So many people live life carelessly. They have no conviction for anything. IT IS YOUR CONVICTION THAT FUELS YOUR STAYING POWER. A man without a strong conviction can be swayed easily by any wind. You need a strong conviction to withstand resistance. *FINALLY, PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. God bless you.

THE GAINS OF CALCULATED RISKS

Leaders are risk takers. You cannot take a lead in one sphere or the other without taking one form of risk or the other. Life is a call to one form of adventure or the other. It is risky not to take risks. So many people have ended up as failures in life not because they had no dream or vision. They had plans but actualizing the plans required one form of risk or the other and they did not have the capacity to undertake the risk. Until you undertake certain dimensions of risk you will remain stagnated for a long time. You can never become a champion without taking a form of risk or the other. It was risky for a little shepherd boy of 17 to dare terrorist and gigantic Goliath. It was risky for Abraham to hear a voice at night asking him to go to a land''I will tell thee of'' and yet he left. I wonder how he was able to convince his wife. It was risky for a man to believe that he will die and resurrect after three days. What if He did not resurrect. All these People became voices in their generation by taking the risk. John the baptist took the risk of going to the wilderness to live. It was unusual but he became a force to be reckoned with. Until you leave your comfort Zone and take some risk, your dreams and visions may remain a mirage. I heard of a man God told to start a church in the 80's. Around the 90's he was still trusting God to start probably because of too much analysis and questions. Too much analysis leads to paralysis. Take a step but ensure you are led by God. Don't forget, without faith, it is impossible to please God. Some persons especially men are over 40 and unable to get married for fear of the unknown. Some people are still unemployed because they are scared of taking certain risks. If your friends are always helping you to remain in your comfort zone then its time to quit. When I was about getting married nobody around me gave me a chance because they felt I was too young and did not have a job( the devil made sure I lost my job about four months to my proposed wedding day for no reason probably to frustrate our vision). They wondered what was chasing me. Even my pastor did not believe it was going to work out. He indirectly counseled me out of it. I appreciated their counsels because physically speaking a man taking such a step in such a situation was heading for a disaster. However I just knew it was my season and I grabbed it. I cannot tell you how it happened by the wedding took place. We had both the traditional and the church wedding. It was not funny but today by the mercies of God I thank God for the grace He gave me to take that risk because it paid off and is still paying off. Within three months of my wedding strange doors started opening.Massive inspirations started flooding my heart. Never think never, write that proposal. Take that step. Talk to the person you need to talk to. Take the risk but calculate it well under God. Conclusively, suffice to to say that no man can ever become a champion without one form of risk or the other. Challenges are the breakfast of champions. However do not take risks blindly. Be sure God is leading. If it is God,your safety is guaranteed. He is not a waster of men. GOD HELPS MEN WHO ARE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO PLAY THEIR OWN PART OF THE COVENANT.TO WIN THE PRIZE, YOU HAVE TO PAY A PRICE.

THE TRAGEDY OF MATERIALISM

TRAGEDIES OF MATERIALISM Materialism is a state in which an individual becomes so obsessed with possessions, money and comfort at the expense of spirituality. From my close analysis of the African continent, I have discovered that one of the greatest enemies of her growth and development is materialism and the second is like unto it, absence of contentment among the leaders and many followers. So many people think they are on earth just to live large and acquire everything they can acquire. People measure success today by how many cars, houses, lands, etc they have. If success to you is about how much you have acquired, then you are of all men most miserable. That is why an individual can afford to use public funds to acquire a vehicle of about 60 million when some of her close neighbours and may be family members can barely afford two square meals per day. You hear stories of an individual buying a wrist watch of 11 million naira just to show class. We hear of people who choose to buy things in places where it is sold ten times the actual price. Wasting money just to show that they belong to a higher class. I think it is madness. True success and greatness is measured in the impact made on your generation. Any man with so much possession without impact is a poor man. Do not envy such. Beloved, it is not wrong to have the good things of life. At least the scriptures say, ‘’He became poor that we might become rich’’. But if your quest for possessions becomes an obsession to a point that it erodes your spirituality and conscience, then you are heading for a disaster either in this world or the world to come. Jesus said, Beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things he possesses’’. (Luke 12:15) FEATURES OF MATERIALISTIC PEOPLE - They are never content with what they have. - They always want to have the latest things. They always want the latest cars, clothes, jewelleries, chains, electronics etc no matter the cost. They just want to be current. - They always compare themselves with others in terms of possession. Don’t forget, the bible says, ‘’ Those who compare themselves with others are not wise.’’(2cor 10:12). - They are covetous people. - They buy expensive things at the expense of needy family members and other people around them. - They take crucial destiny decisions all the time based on the monetary or materialistic gains. A materialistic person will pick a job that is unfavourable to his spiritual development. - Materialistic people believe we are just here to look for money. - They may be poor now but at their level, they desire or go for things above their means. THE TRAGEDIES 1. Materialistic people cannot make generational impact. This is because most of them are not truly selfless. No matter how hard they try to impart their world with what they have, they do it far below their capacity. 2. Materialistic people cannot transform society. Woe betides a people whose leaders are materialistic. They will use the resources of the public for their personal comfort. 3. Materialistic people are closer to the devil than God because the devil is the ‘oga’ of materialism. He told Jesus during the temptation to bow to him (devil) and get material things. Jesus refused. The devil could easily attack materialistic with some ailments traceable to their connection to material things. Some people get sick and even die because of perishing possessions. 4. Materialistic people are heading for a godless eternity in the world to come. Jesus says, ‘It is easier for a Carmel to pass through the eyes of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’’ Mind you, the man Jesus was talking to was a materialistic man. He was so attached to his possessions that he could not obey Jesus. I think Jesus was actually referring to his attachment to what he had. I don’t think God wants His children to be poor. In fact I personally believe it is our heritage as God’s children to have in abundance in order to be a blessing massively to our world. You can’t say you are blessed and yet begging bread. What God does not like is materialism. (Read Matthew 19:16-23) As I mentioned earlier, there are poor people that also fall into this category because many of them are materialistic at heart. They first of all are covetous. Always wishing they had money to live glamorously. They would criticize materialistic people because they don’t have money yet. If you give some of them good money, the original content of their heart will find expression. They may end up being worse than the people they criticized. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE. GOD BLESS YOU.