IF GOD IS LOVE......................

IF GOD IS LOVE……………

Without mincing words I want to quickly say that I am neither a renowned counselor nor a trained pastor. Nevertheless, I am compelled in my spirit to write this article on one of the most controversial issues in the world and I am already aware of the fact that my points of view/ideologies on this sensitive issue will contradict to a great extent some already existing ideas.

Few months ago, I stumble at a portion of the bible that says “GOD IS LOVE”. Even though I have read that portion of the scripture several time, the Spirit opened my eyes to the mystery hidden in that statement. Most often than not I have seen/heard people discuss “LOVE” in various dimension but, I had always known there is more about love than we always thought. Today, the word love has been grossly abused and misused by humans especially in the secular world. We often hear statements like: FALLING IN LOVE, MADLY IN LOVE WITH, I LOVE HER/HIM THAT I CANT DO WITHOUT HER/HIM, HE/SHE HAS STOLLEN MY HEART to mention but a few. Initially, when I hear these wonderful statements I marvel but as time goes on I have come to realize that over ninety percent (90%) (if not more) of those who uses those statements either don’t know what they want to say or they are simply deceivers. Now I want to go straight to the point, like I said earlier am neither a counselor nor a trained pastor, therefore it is never my intensions to give lectures on this topic but suffice it to say that experience and observation makes a better teacher. Now let us examine some of the critical issues concerning the so called “LOVE”, on so many occasions I have asked boys /girls who said he/she is in love with an opposite sex to tell me why he/she thinks so and the answer has always been silly. I have come to realize after interacting with a good number of youths that in most cases, when a boy/man say “AM IN LOVE WITH HER” he is indirectly saying “I AM IN LUST WITH HER”. At this juncture, I want to quickly say that anyone who doesn’t “know God” can never Love. The reason is simple “LOVE IS DIVINE”.

Please permit me to take you to the epistle of 1John 4:8 and I quote “Whosoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (NIV). Now, let us have a critical look at the verse: first, it says “whosoever does not love does not know God” if this is true which I know you equally agree with me it is true then, I can then feel free to say that the opposite is also true “whosoever does not know God does not love”. So, if this is true, then I can confidently say that, the only prerequisite to love is “knowing God”, if one does not know God then he/she CANEVER LOVE rather he/she CAN LUST. Secondly, the same verse went on to say “Because God is love” please note the metaphor GOD IS LOVE, it does not say God is like love or that love is like God rather God is love. If we accept this to be true then, I can as well say that “If God is love, then love CANEVER be stupid, foolish, mad and hurting as we often present it to be.
I just read in the Sun news pepper about a young crippled lady who claimed she falled in love with a male colleague of hers. While the relationship lasted for good nine (9)
years the young man promised to love and cherish her irrespective of her physically challenged nature and the young innocent handicapped lady foolishly allow the deceiver to be sleeping with her. Everything seems to be moving well until the lady got pregnant some time last year. Hear her:
Though physically challenged, Eunice is a paragon of beauty. That, no doubt, explains why she was attracted to Stephen the first day they met in the school. She recalls: “Stephen started coming to my room in the hostel in 1998, but proposed to me in 1999. He said all kinds of things: that my condition has nothing to do with his love for me, that he has genuine love for me and that he was ready for marriage if I accepted. And truly he acted it. He seemed God-sent to me. He was always there for me. And we loved each other. Things went on like that for eight years until I “took in” last year. I told him I was feeling funny. He took me to where we had test that confirmed I was pregnant. At first he was not cold about it. But things changed when he told his mum who is also a worker in the school. According to him, his mum said over her dead body will she see her son marry me (even though she was aware of the affair from the beginning). The pregnant was already two months then. I was abandoned to my fate
My pastor friend Pastor femi fasanya of singleaffairs ministry in his article “Don’t fall in love” recommended walking in love rather than falling in love. But I want to quickly add that walking in love can only be possible when we come to the knowledge of God through His son Jesus Christ. If one does not know God the much he can do in to fall in LUST. Someone might ask but, how do I know when I am in LUST and when I am In LOVE? I want to briefly give some guide to that question but, first I want to tell you what LUST is, I simply defined LUST as doing or strongly desiring in our minds the evil which when given the privilege we can do it with our body. Below are the few points that might be of good help to you:
- when you look at an opposite sex and all you see is his/her physique then you are probably in lust
- when you cannot get your mind off him/her even when your alone or in the mist of other people, then the chances are that your in lust/infatuation
- when all that captivates you about him/her is the physical appearance then it is likely to be lust
- when you began to see a mental image of his/her nudity then it is absolutely lust.
- When you began to have some unnecessary/uncontrolled chemistry reactions within you then know that lust is gradually setting in.
It has been observed that most of the marriages that crashed are covenanted through lust. Hence as time rolls by, the marriages began to suffer because lust can never stand the REALITY of marriage.(Please be inform that due to our human nature it always seems like there is thin line between lust and love, so the best and sure way to checkmate the two is to subject them to the HOLY SPIRIT and THE WORD OF GOD). Permit me to share this personal experience with you. While I was at the camp during my NYSC orientation, I saw a sister that humanly speaking I like what my eyes saw both her physical structures and spiritual commitment. Initially, I thought I have seen my missing rib but because I have always known the tricks of satan and the flesh I consciously subjected it to test through prayers and scriptures and to my greatest surprise within few days the funny feeling disappeared. After this experience, the Holy Spirit made me to understand that satan has succeeded in deceiving the world even most Christians into believing that lust is love.
Before I bring this article to conclusion, I want to once again re-emphasize this bitter truth: “No matter the perspective from which you want to look at it, romance and sex is never suppose to be part of love until after marriage”.
Please, when next you say I LOVE U” do ask yourself:
Do I know God? - This statement “knowing God” is not all about being a Christian or a regular church goer rather it means having an intimate relationship with God, observing, keeping with all sincererity of heart Gods commandments and instructions as clearly stated in His Word (the Bible).
Do I know what I have just said or
Shouldn’t I have said? “I LUST AFTER U” sounds crazy I guest. At least now you are being sincere and I am sure you will be appreciated for being sincere.

NB: the door of salvation is still open right in front of you; just enter through it for only then you will began to enjoy LOVE through JESUS CHRIST. THANKS AND REMAIN BLESSDED

NIGERIA INDEPENDENCE 2008

FELLOW NIGERIANS, IT IS WONDERFUL THAT GOD USED SIR. NNAMDI AZIKIWE TO SET US FREE FROM THE SLAVERY HANDS OF COLONIALISM BUT, IT IS MORE WONDERFUL एंड GLORIOUS THAT JESUS HAS SET US FREE FROM THE DEADLY HANDS OF SIN AND DEATH.


HAPPY INDEPENDENCE TO YOU ALL IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS

BRO. OGUGUA CHINEDU EMMANUEL

RESTORATION NOT CONDEMNATION

RESTORATION NOT CONDEMNATION

My dear reader, Please, permit me to share this personal experience with you. A sister in the Lord who was an executive member cum prayer warrior was caught in examination malpractice. After getting her out from the security detention, all the fellowship executive board seems to be interested in is to suspend her from executive board and prayer warrior’s meeting. My spiritual colleague and I planned visiting the sister so as to encourage her to pick up and move on but, she turned us down. She after all the embarrassment and shame decided to end the kingdom race. But, later I called her on phone and spoke with her at length on the danger of backsliding from her faith and she by God’s grace agreed to make atonement and continue the race. After some weeks I received news that the fellowship members are saying that I am encouraging sin. Beloved, if trying to restore a beloved sister who has fallen victim of the trap of the enemy mean that I am encouraging sin, so be it.

Let us briefly look at what the Scripture has to say about this:

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”. Gal 6 Vs 1 (KJV)

We have to remember that we are all vulnerable to sin. If we go to a backsliding person with the attitude that we are way above him, he/she certainly won’t respond to our help. It was from experience that apostle Paul wrote:

“For the good I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do”. Rom 7 Vs 19 (KJV)

Sin has no power over us but we still have the capacity to sin within us. Someone who is already hurting is as fragile as a glass. He/she doesn’t need our condemnation but restoration. So, when a brother or a sister has been over taken by sin let those of us who are “spiritually sound” restore him/her in the spirit of gentleness, humility and love being mindful of our own faith.

We are not commanded to condone sin but, we are commanded to love sinner. I have learnt how to pray for fellow brethren who are backsliding, facing challenges or are still struggling with one sin or the other because God has made me to understand that, it is best thing I can do for them. After all, I am not better than them either.

Reading through the Nigeria daily news paper this morning at http://www.nigeriaworld.com/ I saw some disgusting article about Nigeria such as: Nigeria: 48 years of Toddling, Forty eight years of sporting disaster, just to mention but a few. I kept on wondering if this is all the writers can tell our dear country Nigeria at her 48th birthday. My dear reader, think of this; if you are the one celebrating your birthday, 48th birthday for that matter and all people and friends can offer to you are messages of criticism and condemnation, how will you feel? Would you be encouraged to do better or be discouraged? Is it not even a great achievement for one to have survived 48 years of great challenges? How many of us instead of spending our time thinking of expensive words to use in criticizing and condemning Nigeria, have thought of what we can do to restore our dear country Nigeria from her “falling state”. While I encourage constructive criticism, let us be mindful of the way we criticize and call this great country Nigeria (GIANT OF AFRICA) names because Nigeria will directly or indirectly respond to what we say about her.

Nevertheless, I must not fail to commend the articles of patriotic writers like: Monday Irem who wrote and I quote:

Happy birthday, dear country at 48
“Nigeria as a nation-state is 48 years old since it attained independence on October 1, 1960, under the administration of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, when we were practicing parliamentary system of government.
In 1963, Nigeria became a republican nation under the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe administration.
In comparing Nigeria with other countries that became independent at the same time we did, I dare say that Nigeria is doing better in all aspects.
We should not think of what the country can do for us, but we should all think of what we can do for our dear country.
Nigeria has all it takes to satisfy her citizens.
What makes Nigeria unique despite the political crisis are the human and natural endowments.
We should realize that nobody will make Nigeria a beautiful country to live in except Nigerians themselves.
Therefore, I implore Nigerians to halt unhealthy criticisms and rather campaign for the development of our dear nation.
We should also use the available resources to improve the standards of the living of the citizens.
The Federal Government should also focus on the problems of the Niger Delta region, with a view to solving them”.

God Bless Nigeria, God bless us all, God bless our leaders.

PRAYER: God! Help us to understand more the principles of restoration and make us an instrument of restoration in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus name- AMEN


This article was written by Bro। Ogugua Chinedu Emmanuel and dedicated to our country Nigeria on the occasion of her 48th birthday

HOW GRATEFUL ARE YOU?

It was the month of November, 2007; I can’t say for a sure the specific day and date but, that particular day is indelible in my memory because of what happened that particular night. My boss has just received a call from a client asking us to come and install our home security gadget in his house in portharcourt.

“We have an installation to do in porthacourt tomorrow, so get prepared to travel to portharcourt for the job” my boss announced,

That particular night seems to be my best night after been employed in our small private company. Someone might ask what is so special about this? You see I have just finished my basic installation training after I was employed just a year after my graduation. After my training, most of the jobs we were getting is just minor job and is of great concern to me since the money I make then is equal to the commission from all the jobs I did, it is purely on the principle of “earn as you work”. Now this particular job is most rewarding job I will be doing in terms of monetary rewards. So, that night before my travel I woke up as earlier as 1am to pray, commit the journey unto the able hands of God and prepare for the journey.

As I was praising and thanking God for that particular potential job, God drops a question in my spirit- HOW GRATEFUL ARE YOU? When this question was asked I have to pause and remain silence, since I have come to know that whenever God ask a question He is not seeking for an answer rather he wants to pass a message through that question. As I seriously ponder on why the question should be asked at this glorious moment that I was lost in the sanctuary of praise, worship and thanksgiving; it was done on me that I have been very ungrateful to God for all the blessings and favour he has granted unto me all this while. Some of the questions the Spirit asked me that particular night are this:

You are now praising and worshiping me just because of this job?

Do you know there are some of your mates academically and age wise who are no longer living today?

Do you know there are some of your mates in school who could not get to final year with you?

What of those who could not graduate due to one academic problem or the other?

Do you still remember that a good number of your mates are just sitting at home waiting for the NYSC?

After considering these series of simple but powerful questions, I can’t but ask God to forgive my ungratefulness.

David was such a man that knows how to always appreciate God for his mercies. No wonder God called him a man after His own heart. Hear the voice of David (the psalmist):

Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits. Psalm, 103VS 1-2.

Let me ask again once again- How grateful are you? This is one of the vital questions you must sincerely answer if you want to live a joyful and happy life. Many Christians today are experts when it comes to making requests and supplication from God but becomes very stingy in thanking God for his mercies and grace. Like Biblical David, we must learn how to thank and appreciate God for his Goodness and mercy in our lives. We should always remember that “thanksgiving is a pre-requisite to unlocking more of God’s blessings, mercy and grace. How often do we easily forget the wonderful and miraculous work of God in our lives and families? Beloved, now let us be sincere to ourselves:

Do you still remember that healing God granted you?

Do you still remember how He graciously saved your soul from the stingy hands of sin?

Do you remember how He granted you that admission even when your performance wasn’t all that wonderful? Or should I ask of the gift of life and health? What of that job, prosperity, life partner? to mention but a few.

I have personally observe that human being are always on the fast lane and are in a haste to ask God for blessings and favours without spending quality time to thank Him for already received ones. Today, you must make it a point of duty to thank Him. Don’t be economical when it comes to praising, worshiping, thanking and dancing for the LORD, they reveal to a great extent the degree of your gratefulness to God.

The best way to measure the degree of your gratefulness to God is to critically analyze your prayer life. What proportion of time do you spend in thanksgiving and adoration? Do the analysis with all sincerity of heart and you will never regret you did.

I have a song I love so much and it is my pleasure to sing it for you. You can also join me to sing it:

OH! LORD, I AM VERY VERY GRATEFUL,

FOR ALL, YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME,

MY GOD I AM VERY VERY GRATEFUL,

AND I AM SAYING THANK JESUS.

THANK YOU MY LORD.
You can go on and worship Him
REMAIN BLESSED

NORE MORE HIDING!

NO MORE HIDING!

I have come to realize through experience and observation that one of the greatest undoing of mankind is mans inherent attitude of always trying to hide his sins and mistakes from God and fellow men. In a bid to hide our sins and mistakes from God and fellow human being we do more harm than good to ourselves.

This article which I tittled “NO MORE HIDING” is written so as to expose satans long existing tricks against mankind cum help those who are still struggling with secret sins to be open and sincere to themselves by accepting their sins and mistakes, make confession to God and also go an extra length of looking for an adequate person they can confide in for help.

Juliana (not real name) was just 17 years when she finished her senior secondary certificate examination. She then travels to one of her cousins in Cameroon to spend her summer holidays with him. One thing lead to the other (using her exact words) and she slept with her counsin. While this abomination last for close to three years her cousin took up the responsibility of paying her school fees as well as taking care of her other financial needs; an attitude her parents wrongly interpreted as a kind gesture of her cousin towards her. But, as years roll by Juliana realized that she is no longer her usual self. It all started by having some strange dreams which will shortly after having the dreams began to manifest in her physical life.
From loosing her retentive memory (as she use to be a very intelligent and brilliant young girl) to loosing interest in her looks, depression that its origin is not traceable. The situation got too bad to the extent that whenever she sees any girl who she feels is prettier than herself, she will feel so grieved in her heart. For close to three years she was been tormented by satan until that fateful day.

I had shortly finished presenting a seminar when a young pretty girl handed a letter over to me. Immediately I got home I quickly opened the letter only for me to behold the story of young innocent girl who has fallen victim of molestation by an “occultic cousin”. I wouldn’t want to bother you with all the depressing detail of what happened after her opening up her secret sin to me but, suffice it to say that; today Juliana is now leaving a happy life in Christ.

I know that the story might sound like a mare folktale but believe you me sincerely it is true life story.

Did you remember the incident that took place at the Garden of Eden between God and Adam? Please, permit me to take you to the word of God in Gen 3 VS 10
“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked and I hide myself”.

Reading through this verse a couple of years ago, I began to have a flash back of how I over the years tried to hide my sins and mischief from God and fellow beings. Adam had committed the greatest sin on earth “DISOBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENT And INSTRUCTIONS OF GOD”. He has broken his covenant with God and instead of him to accept his failure and ask God for forgiveness, he chose to hide himself from God regardless of God’s voice calling on him. But, can one really hide himself from God? Hear the word of God through His prophet Jeremiah

“For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes” Jer 16 vs 17.

No matter where we ran to we cannot hide from God. The nakedness of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is of great spiritual significance.

This is one of the greatest strategies satan uses against mankind: (both believers and non-believer) taking them to the so called “hiding place” where he can then finish his wicked work on them. Learn to be “naked” before God, stop hiding those sins, nature, weakness, mistakes etc. After all, he knows about them more than you probally do; He only wants you to admit them and confess and He will forgive and help you out.

As I round up this article, there is this interesting story I would like to share with you.

A boy coming back from bird hunt which proved abortive sighted the duck of his grandmother and decided to try his skill with the sling. “Fiam” the pebble went out and hit the duck straight away on the head and the duck died instantly. The boy in a bid to hide his mischievous act immediately carried the duck to go and hide it only for him to hear the voice of her younger sister calling on him.
Oh! Chinny has seen me he lamented.
Over the months, her younger sister Chinny used this mistake his to subject him to doing all house cores meant for both of them to do by threatening to tell his ground mother that he killed the duck if he refuses to oblige to her request. Until, one day the boy decided that enough is enough by owing up to his ground mother about the incident. To his greatest astonishment, his ground mother also saw him on that fateful day and was just waiting for him to come and confess.

A story you may call it but, how often has satan held us captive in our sins and mistakes by continually accusing us of our past sins and taking undue advantage of us. Don’t listen to him because he is just an accuser, GO AND SORT IT WITH GOD! That is what matters.

It is crucial for all to know this powerful truth. Satan is afraid of light, truth and openness anywhere, anytime.

ONCE AGAIN, NO MORE HIDING!!!

BR. OGUGUA CHINEDU EMMANUEL

OBEDIENCE BEFORE PERFECTION

For many people perfection is their watch word but, little did they realize that Obedience should come first. Many great potential has been wasted cos Many potential great people keep on waiting for perfection which may finally not come.God is far more interested in our obedience to his will and instruction than He is in our perfection. Did u notice how He told Abraham to move without giving Him details of where he is going?.

In life, it is crucial for us to learn obedience n make it part of our life rather than keep on waiting for perfection which may nearly be unachievable. Look around u and u will see Mr. "am waiting for the perfect job",Sir."am waiting for the perfect car", can u also see? Miss. "am waiting for the perfect partner" etc. Most often than not we fail to realize that things that are perfect have already come to an end.

This year God has expressly spoken to my heart- 2008 is a year of ACTION. I might not have a blue print of the WHOLE but, I have taken one vital decision -ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE. I have resolved to seek the right things, not perfect things, seek the right people not perfect people, seek the right Job not perfect job, oh! my dear you can help me to name them for I took it for granted u probably know them more than I do.

Once again OBEDIENCE not perfection.

STILL REMEMBER JESUS LOVES U

Bro. Emmanuel