Month: May 2026

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Shortcut Christianity


In the body of Christ, rarely do we seek to be in alignment with the Word. In error, we seek to engineer novel ways of attaining what the Lord said. We are reinventing the wheel when the blueprint is already laid out categorically in scripture.

Firstly, the practice of confessing scriptures over our lives. This is beneficial, but there exists a tendency to confess scriptures yet live lives that are incompatible with them. Indeed, in instances of struggles with sin confession of the Word is a necessity and that is not what I am alluding to. I am referencing behaviors blatantly contradicting scripture, with no desire to change yet scripture confession is a habitual practice.
Undeniably, there are benefits to scripture confession including mind renewal and a heightened consciousness of truth. This results in transformation.

We are exhorted to memorize scripture, which is vital to comprehending the Word. However, stopping at this juncture truncates the process. There needs to be fruit of the Word in our lives. The Word of God is a seed and in the Bible we are likened to trees. We must bear fruit. When there is evidence of a knowledge of scriptures yet no affirming transformation, there will be stunted growth. Regrettably, this leads to behavior modifications and the world labelling us as ingenuine and hypocrites. The Word was never meant to produce parrot tendencies where we merely echo scriptures..

A look at some illustrations

One may be experiencing challenges with insomnia or night tormenting spirits and one of the remedial scriptures would be to confess Psalm 91. However, that psalm states in the first verse that “he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. The first requirement that the believer is to fulfill is to dwell in the secret place. When we live distracted lives and only seek the Lord’s face prior to going to bed for a few minutes, we have violated scripture.

Consider Psalm 23:1 : The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Likewise, violation of this verse leads to want.
We are told to solely confess our way to financial prosperity however is that biblical? Why are we violating the principles laid out in scripture?
Scripture outlines the following:

  • Giving
  • Sowing
  • Avoid debt and foolish spending
  • Learn financial literacy
  • Working diligently
  • Building wealth over time through righteous means
  • Taking care of the poor
  • Seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you
  • Casting one’s bread upon many waters

It is permissible to confess scriptures to break a poverty mindset and come into agreement with the Word. Following that we are required to do the above.

When we delve into issues of dating and marriage, we observe the same reinvention. Those who court believe that so long as they honor the Lord through purity, He will automatically bless their marital union; however, that is a misconception. They honored the Lord in one season and they are to honor Him in the next. Wisdom, understanding, knowledge and even counselling in some cases are required for a fruitful marriage. We think that if we invest all our might in serving the Lord then our marriages and homes will be in order yet the Scriptures say houses are built on wisdom, not serving Him.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Prov 24:3-4

The Lord through the Apostle Paul unequivocally stated that believers are to marry believers. Surprisingly, believers still marry unbelievers and expect the Lord to bless their union. Individuals have publicly admitted to marrying their spouses against the disapproval of the Lord. These cases oftentimes end in divorce or challenging, unfulfilled marriages.

Lamentably, there are numerous teenagers and adults who grew up in Christian homes only to rebel against the Lord. Consequently, many parents have chosen not to teach their children concerning the Lord so as not to place them under duress to be saved. Didn’t the Lord say “train up a child in the way of the Lord so that when he is old he will not depart from it?” Granted, there is a correct and an incorrect way of carrying out this command but to submit it to fortuity is an error and a violation of Scripture.

Lastly is the practice of spiritualizing everything. Believers will be found praying and fasting, while the world overtakes us and builds. Yes, man always ought to pray but many times, that’s all we do. Unbelievers do not pray yet they apply biblical principles that yield biblical results. We place all responsibility on the Lord instead of applying wisdom. When we venture into business or employment and seek to advance, why do we solely rely on prayer and fasting and not enroll in a course like the world does? We desire to have an impact on the world, yet we refuse to read other books besides the Bible. That is why we cannot assume positions of leadership in the world. We risk remaining solely a religious entity,having no participation in shaping our world.

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Remain in your own call

There is a pandemic in the body of Christ which is not viral, bacterial nor fungal in origin. It is ambition. This ambition coupled with a thirst for power and renown did not commence in our contemporary time, it was apparent in the Old Covenant. Individuals murdered others to ascend the throne not because of a zeal for the name of the Lord and his renown, but for their own selfish gain.
Following their ascension, they committed what was wicked before the Lord. This is not only evident in the faith but ubiquitous in all spheres of influence including politics,business etc. We have witnessed politicians campaigning for their party with utmost sincerity only to disappoint communities when they are in power.

Some individuals claim they are called when they are not, for recognition, fame and status. They assume positions and callings they were not called to fill. They do not possess the grace for it; for there exists grace for the called. Many wear themselves out attempting to fit into shoes they cannot fill. These individuals position themselves to face warfare and opposition with no grace that serves as scaffolding for those who are truly called to carry that call. Additionally, they position themselves to break at the weight of the call. In a horrific turn of events, this has coerced them to seek alternative sources of power in a desperate attempt to retain the position. Furthermore, there will be an employing of gimmicks, tricks and a pulling of inspiration from the flesh due to the Lord’s absence.

This must be why the Lord will call those who are disinterested in being called. He will call those who are content in being unknown by the masses and have no desire for the platform, acclaim and fame.

This serves as a reminder to all of us to remain in our call and in what we are gifted to do. There exists a vast supply of grace to fulfil our specific destinies. Everybody in the body of Christ has gifts the Lord has given them; no one is left without. Some possess only one gift while others, numerous. Cautioningly, we are not in a competition. We are gifted for the sake of advancing the Kingdom and to execute our purpose with excellence. Evidently, an eye does not require toes like a foot does for that would hinder it’s efficacy. Likewise, the big toe cannot compare itself to the little toe, for if it were to diminish to its size, our equilibrium would be impaired.

According to joint-surgeon.com :During the “toe-off” phase of walking, the big toe absorbs a large amount of force. If it were reduced to the size of the little toe, this pressure would transfer to the middle toes and metatarsals, leading to chronic foot pain and conditions like metatarsalgia.

Similarly, this is what transpires when individuals assume callings that aren’t theirs; it creates an imbalance in the body of Christ. Some are left feeling the void and erroneously fill in those positions. An individual’s disobedience leads another into the same error. Alternatively, positions are left vacant. The Lord will consequently raise another individual for that position.

It is imperative for us to cry out to the Lord to purify our intentions and motives. We ought to walk humbly before Him for it is facile for our human nature to circumvent what the Lord is seeking to do for the sake of our own selfish desires.

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The power of sound doctrine

We cannot grow without the Word. There are certain teachings that are detrimental to the hearer. These are teachings that cause us to remain in babyhood; they are utterly hazardous to our growth. Furthermore, these teachings cause us to grow fat on the mercy and blessings of God yet require no change or action from us. In these churches, we are in a perpetual position of reception. These teachings cause us to plateau and never catapult us to soar. They promote an entitled mentality and selfishness in walking with the Lord. We are to move far from them.
These teachings say the following:

  • God wants to bless and make you rich
  • God is blessing you, receive it
  • Name it, claim it, it’s yours now
  • God is giving you this and that
  • God never wants you to suffer
  • God is opening doors for you
  • Prophesy and whatever you say has to come to pass because the Bible says you will eat the fruit of your lips. Since you prophesied it, it has to come to pass on this date
  • God wants you happy

These types of teachings are a man centered gospel that endorse God serving man. We come to the kingdom to serve, not to be served. Our prime example is our Lord Jesus Christ who came not to be served but to serve. The greatest in the kingdom is the one who serves yet these teachings inflate self when we are told to die to self. Teachings that are life giving to self are not of God. Yes, the Lord desires for us to be happy, to open doors for us and some of the things listed above are true; however, there should exist a balance. These types of teachings do not encourage believers to sow back into the kingdom when the breakthrough has come. It focuses solely on the enrichment of the hearer and their immediate family. They do not inspire any Christlike virtues to be developed in the hearer.

We should desire to grow and advance in the kingdom. Even if the desire is not there, sound teaching can stir us up and set us on the right path; that is the power of sound teaching. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Sound doctrine imparts faith to the hearer. It opens up realms of possibility and understanding. The minister is able to open up dimensions in the spirit that were hidden and inaccessible so that they lay in plain sight. When we are exposed to such calibre of teachings we cannot remain unchanged. The Prophet Jeremiah says your Word is like fire shut up in my bones. Sound doctrine and teaching possess the ability to impart this fire within us where we cannot sit idly, we are compelled to speak as the Prophet Jeremiah or to even minister.

Some murmur and chastise believers for making excuses and not participating in the kingdom however part of the problem is the teaching that exists in the body. No one is left the same after hearing a certain type of teaching. It literally forces one out of their comfort zone onto the field. Yes, Holy Spirit does teach the believer and the church is not entirely to blame. Sometimes when He does, bad teaching has done much damage and the truth is confronted with resistance. Some individuals are hardened to truth as consequence of the lies of bad teaching. The soil of the heart is hard. Our hearts need to be fertile for the seed of the Word to be planted and not be choked by unsound doctrines, teachings and everything posing as a foe.

The Bible tells us that we are to grow in the knowledge of God. Acquiring spiritual knowledge should not be for bragging purposes or to merely quote books but to evoke spiritual hunger, bring understanding so that we are better positioned in our gifting or call and to cause us to walk in dimensions that the author walked or is walking in. God is perpetually calling us higher.

There are certain messages that leave us with sentiments such as “that was such a good message or the pastor was on fire today”. However, that is missing the point. The message is never for excitement or nice sentiments. It is supposed to grow us up into all things in Christ and more.We should ever be growing in Christ. Additionally, unsound doctrine poses the danger of resulting in the hearer becoming religious, rigid regarding spiritual things and deficient in the knowledge of God and His ways. It produces the heart posture the Pharisees possessed. This is why the practice of quoting scripture is prevalent yet the ways of the Spirit of God are still enigmatic and mysterious to us.

In contemporary times, some believers only attend church because the music is good. That is missing the point. Church was never meant to be a feel good place. It is not a massage parlor meant to massage our feelings. We need to ask ourselves: Are we receiving strategies for our lives and those around us? Are we being equipped to take over in our sphere of influence? Are we becoming like Christ? Is our lens getting sharpened to see the Lord clearer as we proceed to attend church?

Elementary teachings are meant for babes. When we are babes in Christ, these teachings are necessary, for, advanced ones will be impossible to grasp or comprehend. However when we find that we have grown, we should pivot and look for more advanced teachings. Thus, as we are maturing, it is significant that our “curriculum” advances lest we remain babes forever.

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Glasses that aid in seeing His glory

The angels in heaven are bondservants of worship to the perpetual revelation of the glory of God. They are bound to see and respond to it. They see His glory at maximum potency, in all its might and splendor. There is nothing hindering them from seeing clearly.

The inhabitants of the earth( us) are not as privileged. Our bodies cannot withstand seeing the glory of God in that manner, it would destroy us. The Lord however desires for us to be witnesses of His glory so that we give Him the honor due to Him. He has adorned the earth with His creatures and wonders. He utilizes the sky as a canvas and like a painter, unleashes His creativity and beauty on the sky and puts His wisdom on full display on the earth. We observe how the stars and planets remain in space and do not fall on us like rain. The sun emerges faithfully each day and He gives man gifts, talents and abilities. However, people are benighted. They idolize people and their gifts. They are mesmerized by individuals and worship the ground they walk on. We are to give honor where it is due, yes, but it is largely given in a way that it commences and ceases with the gifted persons. Yet the gift was given for us to be witnesses of God’s glory! We were meant to see the gift and be in awe of the Lord, not the individual. When men pull attention to themselves, others are taken with them and not the Lord. When we see the wonders of the world, the animals that the Lord has placed on the earth and we marvel at the animals without that marvel pointing to the Lord, we have sadly missed the point. The marvel was to serve as “glasses” for us to catch a glimpse of His glory and be in awe of Him. The glory of God causes time to figuratively stand still. It causes one to freeze and marvel at the Lord in wonder. That is the point.

Next time you hear someone singing, preaching or you witness a stunning bird or creature; pause and appreciate its beauty.
Subsequent to that, be conscious of how the Lord imagined and created it or gave that gift. Finally, channel the awe at the Lord, not the animal or the individual.

Make a plan weekly to seek out the glory of God. Make a conscious effort to see it and let the “glasses” given to you in nature or individuals serve you well.

To the Great Creator.  

 How great you are. You have ardoned the earth with your beauty, light and splendor. Your creation echoes of you in varied ways. Each singing a song only taught by you to the audience in the earth. Some notice and sing along, becoming enthralled by you. Awe captives and carries them away as spoil, forever ruined by your greatness, wisdom and existence. Some like the blind reduce the song to science and nature. Creation however unbothered by their misunderstanding and indifference, continues to unwaveringly herald your existence to everyone, crossing barries of age, race and gender.it refuses to be tamed or silenced. From the modesty of the dove to the fierceness of the lion..the hardworking ant to the peacock with its glorious plumage..your existence is echoed through generations….

Your creation, my dictionary

As I look on Your creation it feels as though a pair of glasses have finally been put on me. A dictionary has been placed in my hands. Languaging has been given to enhance my understanding and remove the babblings that remained. My lense has grown sharper to see more vividly your greatness and majesty….

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The heart of parenting

The true heart of parenting is this: Hannah said to the Lord, if you give me a child, I will give him back to you. This is the guideline of what true parenting entails. The Bible states that children are a gift from God. Therefore the child belongs to God before they belong to the parents. Parents are likened to stewards or managers. When a child enters this world, they are utterly helpless. They are likened to a blank sheet of paper. The parents are given the role not only to rear the child but to teach them the ways of the Lord so that when that child has matured and possesses understanding, they will follow the Lord and fulfil purpose. Everyone on this earth has a purpose. Everyone has to fulfil what God has predestined for them.

Consider the following stories in scripture

When the Lord purposed to use Joseph, He permitted his brothers to sell him into slavery and lie to their father, claiming that he was eaten by wild animals. Jacob agonized over the death of his favorite son for many yrs. Joseph’s suffering did not end there. Potifer’s wife seduced him and he fled from the scene. This landed him in prison for 12 years. The Lord did not intervene; he chose to prepare him for his destiny in that prison. When He was finally a ruler and his brothers came to Egypt seeking for food, he said they should bring Benjamin. They pleaded with him so that they would not do that because due to the “death” of Joseph, their father had grown increasingly attached to the boy. Jacob was still grieving the “death” of Joseph yet the Lord did not spare him the pain. Why? It was not about him; however, about what the Lord wanted to do through Joseph.

Additionally, our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sin at the age of 33. Mary witnessed the child she bore endure excruciating pain. She watched on as he took his last breath yet, the Lord was fulfilling the Father’s will. That moment was not to intentionally hurt her.

When a parent’s ambition overrides the Lord’s will

Today, many parents inadvertently obstruct the divine path by imposing personal ambitions on their children. Although they may observe that their child is artistic, they will coerce the child to pursue traditional professions such as law in efforts to uphold the intellectual status in the home. The child pursues their parents desires and misses their purpose in life. I read a story where a young woman who was mid enrolled in nursing school was instructed by the Lord to go to Bible school. Shockingly, her parents disowned her for that decision. When parents don’t exercise caution and disregard discernment, they can unwittingly cause their children to miss the paths the Lord had meticulously preordained for them.

The strategy of the evil one

The enemy capitalizes on the authority of parents to steer their adult children in the wrong direction and cause them to miss their purpose entirely. He is cognizant of the fact that many possess an inherent reverence for their parents and therefore seek their approval. Thus, they will obey them. The Lord warned us that whoever loves parents more than Him cannot be his disciple( Luke 14:26).

Regard fearing the Lord and fulfilling purpose above only job acquisition

The role of a parent is to teach their child that they belong to the Lord. They should steer the child in the direction of the Lord’s leading. They should not obstruct clear direction from the Lord.

A job is not the highest achievement in life. It may be rewarding to witness your child mature to be responsible and be able to pay their own bills. Yet, the highest satisfaction a parent should feel is when their child has accepted Jesus Christ and fulfils destiny. Sadly, this joy is achieved through minimum effort. When the child matures, secures a job and is a responsible adult, most parents feel that they have fulfilled their role. If that child only manages to be a responsible citizen yet misses their destiny, did that parent truly steer the child in the right direction? The answer is no.

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Trauma

Unresolved trauma does not disappear. It blends in the background of our lives and taints our perception. It acts as rose colored glasses, causing us to see life through distortion. It determines how we process our experiences and our reactions. Thus when we are triggered we react disproportionately. We may overreact to something that someone who is not wounded like us would be unbothered by. Experiences have their own definitions however when we are harboring trauma, it alters the definition. Therefore something that is not injurious can be viewed as a threat by an individual.

Meditations as a gateway for the enemy

We are created to host the presence of God. We are atmosphere carriers. When we meditate repeatedly on what is negative, we send frequencies into the atmosphere and demonic entities that “vibrate” at that level can’t help but be drawn to us. Like attracts like and so they find an agreement with us. Hence our meditations create a medium and environment for their expression.

The enemy is a strategist

When the enemy attempts to enter our lives manually and is resisted, he cunningly utilizes trauma or pain. For instance, a spirit of depression exists in the bloodline and seeks to attach to a believer. If it attempts to but fails due to that particular believer possessing a sanguine personality and persistently choosing joy, praise and worship, a strategy can be created to traumatize that believer. This will be an attempt to place them in a place of weakness. Trauma alters the brain, it literally alters brain structure. A pathway is then created for depression to lodge successfully. Many believe that since the scripture states a curse without a cause will not alight then the enemy will pass over that individual. However, the enemy is a strategist. Even if we will not directly commit a specific sin that will cause the curse to alight he can manipulate and utilize whatever weaknesses and wounds that exist in us to cause that curse to land. Hence the exhortation to watch and pray.

Consequences of trauma

Trauma intoxicates us. It causes us to lose sobriety. The Lord said we must be sober minded. This does not only refer to abstaining from alcohol however to guarding against trauma and everything that could alter our perception and cause us to lose sobriety.
As human beings, we are created to be adverse to pain and have an affinity for pleasure. When we are wounded, we make decisions that ensure that we never hurt again. Yet the Lord did not create us to be trauma-led. He wants to lead us by His Spirit. Trauma and pain dethrone Him in that area where we are wounded. It also affects how we hear. Many are not hearing from the Lord, their wounds are leading and directing them. Some have uttered words such as “I will never be in love again because women/men have taken my love for granted”. The Lord could be desiring to send that individual a spouse however trauma has the key in its hand and has locked the heart in pain. Trauma brings unnecessary restrictions and limitations.

Trauma sets us up for being driven and controlled by pain. It wounds the soul and we malfunction in that area. Many successful individuals are driven by the lack of affirmation they never received from their fathers. “They were told they stacked the puzzle pieces incorrectly in a harsh tone and they have been attempting to restack them ever since” someone said. Some were consistently put down in efforts to get them to achieve at their best, consequently, they have adopted a perfectionist mindset, unable to relax even when their body is exhausted.

What trauma is isn’t

Trauma is not always grief. Rejection can be traumatic, loss of a job, poverty, prolonged spiritual warfare, sickness, the list is endless. When our souls are wounded they require healing. Unhealed wounds give the enemy room to work. Demonic spirits can inhabit these wounds. It gives them a legal right to afflict us.

Be watchful over the soul

We need to ensure that we watch over our souls. We should speak life over them and guard them. A person can say something hurtful and wound our soul. The Lord told us to guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God;for I shall yet praise Him , the help of my countenance and my God( Ps 43:5)

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Using our will to follow Christ

The Lord said to love Him with all our hearts and soul. The soul comprises of the mind will and emotions. Habbakuk 3:17-19 says Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, though the labour of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold And there be no herd in the stalls .Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet ; And He will make me walk on my high hills. Instead of succumbing to the barrenness and hopelessness Habbakuk chose out of his own volition,an act of his will to rejoice in the Lord. We do not have to be at the mercy of our circumstances. The Holy Spirit can fortify us in such a way that we are enabled through our will to remain connected to Christ as our Vine. The Lord says remain in me and I will remain in you. The Lord gave this command being cognizant of the fact that we will face disappointments, heartache, pain and everything else that would give us reason not to remain in Him. However, He also expects us to choose Him in spite of it, and we can. Here are other instances where the will was used to remain in the Lord:

This one thing that I do, forgetting the things that are behind and pressing on to the high calling in Christ(Phil 3:13)

More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ( Phil 3:8)

Though he slay me yet will I trust in Him( Job 13:15)

I will stand upon my post and see what He will say to me( Hab 2:1)

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth(Ps 34:1)

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more( Ps 71:14)

I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living(Ps 27:13)

I will walk in my integrity(Ps 26:1)

These are but a few illustrations given to us in scripture concerning the participation of our will in following and remaining in the Lord. The Lord  is sovereign however we are expected to do our part. There are instances where He moves on our behalf however there are times where we have to choose Him as He has chosen us. 

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Sanctification

Sanctification means to set apart: sanctification means separation-HA Ironside

According to HA Ironside’s book; Holiness, The false and the true there exists the following types of sanctification:

-Absolute sanctification: it is by the one offering of Christ on the cross
-Progressive sanctification: it is by the Spirit and by the Word
-Sanctification by the Spirit: it is internal. It is an experience within the believer.
-Sanctification by the blood of Christ: it is eternal. It is not an experience; it is positional. It has to do with the new place in God’s eternal favor occupied by every believer. It is an unchanging and unchangeable position, to which defilement can never attach in God’s estimation.

I want to focus on sanctification by the Spirit and the Word.

We live in a wicked world however, the Lord ensures that it serves to be a salutary experience for His saints. Each day contains unique challenges that serve as opportunities for spiritual growth. When we align our will with the Lord’s path, the Holy Spirit empowers us to strengthen our spiritual resolve and manifest His divine nature.This arm of sanctification requires our participation.As believers, we read the Word and pray however once we interact with the world we do not seize the opportunity to walk in the Spirit. Somebody angers us and we retaliate or get offended. When stuck in traffic or in long or snaking queue , many give into impatience instead of seeing it as a golden opportunity to exercise patience. Many love those who love them and give only to those whom they will receive their money back. We jettison these opportunities by choosing the flesh. That is why we never mature in Christ. It is not about how much knowledge one has acquired but the degree to which one has transformed into His image. The call is to be sanctified here on earth for there is no sanctification process that will transpire in heaven.

Sanctification is more than the spiritual disciplines that we adhere to as believers such as fasting, prayer, serving or even giving. We can adhere to these disciplines and not to the sanctification process.
Sanctification of the Holy Spirit and the Word involves yielding to the Holy Spirit and obeying Him.

We may find certain things to still be acceptable to us but not to the Lord. As we proceed to submit to His work of sanctification we will find that certain behaviors become unacceptable. The Spirit may do His sanctifying work even as we consistently spend time seeking Him. We may notice that certain behaviors disappear without our physical effort.He causes us to “meet Him where He is” so to speak, making His standard deep seated, personal convictions. The Lord is committed to making us holy.

While all believers share in the gift of salvation, the degree of individual sanctification does vary. This distinction explains why certain behaviors evoke deep conviction in some, while others remain unperturbed by them. To illustrate, some may find secular music permissible, yet as one matures in faith, the biblical exhortation to remain untainted by the world becomes a personal mandate. Since such music originates from worldly influences, a more sanctified perspective often views it as incompatible with a life dedicated to the Lord. The money changers were permitted to sell in the synagogue, yet when the Lord came He overturned their tables in holy anger and uttered ” stop turning my Father’s house into a market place!”. The leaders of that time who claimed to believe in God saw nothing wrong with this. The Sadducees and Pharisees did not act as He did. This variation in conviction exists among believers.

The process of sanctification often creates a sense of isolation, not only from the world but occasionally within the church itself. It is a path that can be solitary; as one disciplines the flesh through the empowerment of the Spirit, they may find themselves amidst fellow believers who have not yet embraced that same measure of devotion.

When the Lord saved us, He liberated our flesh from its lord, sin, so that He could be our rightful Lord. Our nature will always be expressed through the body. The flesh possesses the power to rob us even of our true personality. The Lord made us in his own image that means He initially made us to have a nature like His. Sin however robbed us of experiencing it and oppressed us to the degree that we helplessly displayed a carnal nature. The carnal nature robbed us of all possibility of experiencing the freedom rooted in our original, true nature which is God’s nature. Not only that, it robbed us of our true personality and authenticity. When we choose our carnal nature and we find ourselves impatient, using filthy language, displaying a bad attitude, we suppress our true personality.

Sin distorts our personality

The Lord has a pleasant personality. He is not stressed, depressed, feeling defeated nor is He negative. He is always hopeful and due to these factors His personality is pleasant. Additionally, when we walk according to the Word, choosing to be patient when our flesh is irritated, gentle when tempted to be rude, overlooking offense when it is apparent, our attitude completely shifts. We will notice that it is as if we are a new person. We will notice that we are not grumpy and negative.We will experience a complete transformation. We become the unadulterated version of ourselves, free from the contamination of sin’s influence on us and it shows in the nature and personality we display!

Walking in step with the Spirit reflects the nature of God and restores our authenticity

That is why when we truly yield to the Lord and choose to walk in step with the Spirit and those who knew us prior to being saved bring up our past, we cannot even relate. Yes, we are saved and the old has passed however that version was not the real us. That version was marred by sin. There exists attitudes, wounds and behaviours in our bloodlines that get passed down, committing the same crime. They bend us out of shape and contort us, therefore robbing us of our authenticity. We may notice that the anger we see on our father’s side of the family is in us too. This then leads to an angry, impatient and proud persinality. The Lord restores our authenticity through walking according to His Word. Unforgiveness makes us bitter and critical. Unchecked desires make us secretive and destroys our innocence. But when we forgive, we are peaceful and joyful. When we are self controlled we retain our innocence and purity and we walk in integrity.