WILES OF THE DEVIL

Wiles simply means tricks, strategies, tactics, deceit etc

Wiles are basically tricks or manipulative strategies aimed at deceiving

Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks.” Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 KJV

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭NLT

Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 AMP

First, it says to wear the armor of God (in full). And it gives a why: Wear it so you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. Against all of the strategies of the devil. To be able to successfully stand up against the strategies of the devil

Now, here’s what I’ve found amongst Christians, we believe since we are saved we are automatically excluded from the devil’s list. This is untrue

Yes, we’ve been brought to a higher standing. We are seated with Christ

The devil has been defeated. But we must understand that the devil still has little time in the world and he will fight to make sure as many people go down with him.

The devil will fight believers. He will wage war against believers. And if believers do not understand his wiles (first that it exists), they will not successfully stand against it.

In fact, they have no chance against him. Imagine fighting an already defeated man and losing

But there are believers losing daily to the enemy, who has already been defeated on their behalf. Why? Ignorance

What we will be doing tonight is laying out the strategies of the devil (and if time permits us, the full armor of God)

You have to be aware. The person fighting is already on the floor defeated. It’s like allowing someone without hands and legs to beat you up in a fist fight

The scripture we just read, the enemy is not bringing gun to this fight. He is not bringing cutlass or bombs. Only deception, tricks, lies, manipulations 

You know people that cannot fight by their strategy. The devil understands the gullibility of men so he uses this well against them.

“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

It is consistent with his character to lie! He is the father of lies! If they say the devil is expert at anything, it is lies (add failure to this)

And the great dragon was thrown down, the age-old serpent who is called the devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “ N ow the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Revelation 12:9‭-‬11 AMP

I need us to take note of these key words. The devil doesn’t leave you alone after the first time. He keeps coming back 

John 10:10 says the thief comes not but to steal , kill and destroy.

This particular thief doesn’t have a gun or physical equipment that destroy.

He has cunny strategies.

A lot of us are focused on village people kind of attacks. Like this is what we think of when we think of the devil but he masters at something else actually: Lies. Deceit!

What are some of the strategies the devil uses?

1. Did God really say?

This one is the oldest trick in the book. From Adam down to Remi, I’m certain the devil has used this one against every believer

Genesis  2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from a particular tree. They had received an instruction from God

The snake was the most clever of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. The snake spoke to the woman and said, “Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 ERV

What did the devil do? He approached them and tried to cast a doubt on God’s word

While Eve could see the serpent directly then, we most likely can’t see him directly. So all that we can see is the tactics, the funny strategies. But know that the enemy is tricky so he doesn’t keep them in plain sight for you except you know him and his ways well

One thing the enemy does a lot is to cast doubt on what God has told you. I’ve been here before.

God tells you I’m doing xyz at this time. You heard Him clearly when He said this and you believed wholeheartedly. Then something starts happening and before you know it , you are wondering if God really said so. You are telling yourself maybe you heard wrongly or its the interpretation

I’ve experienced this a lot of times.

Only one person is responsible for this, the devil! The minute you start wondering “Did God really say?” Know that the devil is fighting and you are not standing against him well

He will twist what God said to you

He will try to make you “unbelieve” what you received

He cannot undo what God does

But the devil can make you change position with his tricks

He puts you in a place where you are not ready to receive what God has said with his lies

Anything that makes you re-examine what God has said to you is not from God and you need to clock immediately that it is battle time. Be alert!

Satan wants you to accept what God has not said about you. He cannot change what God has said so he tries to make you believe something else because he knows faith is a key ingredient to receiving

2. Worry and Anxiety

This looks like a normal thing but I found recently that it is a strong tool of the devil. The minute you notice you are getting too worried or anxious about something, know that the devil is at work. Worry and anxiety are huge signs of unbelief.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

Say this to the devil every time he tries to make you worry about those things. Worry and anxiety puts you in a wilderness position. You get stuck.

You geT stuck first in your mind (belief) then it happens in the physical. The Israelites stayed 40years in the wilderness cos they were stuck first in unbelief. They kept worrying about the seemingly unright things around them.

Stop worrying about the things that do not seem to be right. That is what the enemy wants you to see. 

These people had manna falling from heaven daily and somehow they didn’t see it. It’s very possible that things will be happening for you, like heavy moves of God and you won’t see it.

You will be seeing other things to worry about. This also is the devil

One thing that cancels anxiety and worry is thanksgiving. Find something to be thankful for, stay on it and your eyes will be opened to what God is doing and why you should never worry

3. Taking lightly the devil and his tactics

This one is a huge problem and it’s so rampant amongst believers. A lot of people have confused resist the devil with dismiss the devil. The enemy is not just theological myth

Passive neglect of the devil is a tool the enemy himself uses. He wants you to believe he doesn’t exist to you. What happens when you don’t show up to a battle? You lose!

You have an enemy, be alert.

Of course, some Christians overemphasize/amplify the power of the devil, but this should not lead to passive neglect of the devil

These teachings are becoming common. There is a balance. The devil exists. Though defeated, he is still here for a while and his major targets are believers. He is waging a war against us, which is not physical. We must stand against him, from the place of victory (because this is where we fight from)

We do not pretend that the enemy is not fighting against us

The devil stood against Jesus

He stood against God Himself

Do you think he didn’t know Jesus is God?

Do you think he didn’t know Christ was not his match?

Yet he stood

Don’t pretend as if he is not standing against you. Position appropriately. Recognize the devil for what he is exactly and treat accordingly

4. Love for unsound doctrine

If you hate truth, there is a problem. 

“When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you to preach God's message. Do it willingly, even if it isn't the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient. The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories. But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard, telling the good news and to do your job well.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:1-5‬ ‭CEV‬‬

The time is coming when people will have itchy ears. They will go to places where they are told what they wish to hear.

“Don’t be unequally yoked”. Pastor is judgmental so let’s change church to where they understand and allow her to grow spiritually/come to Christ.

“Don’t kiss before marriage”. Holier than thou attitude. So we move to where they allow kissing but just a lirru bit of it

The Bible expressly says something but it is feeling like an attack. So the people talking are “sin conscious”. They don’t understand Grace

If everything the Bible clearly states is becoming like an attack and you are now used to going to people that give a soft landing of that word or requote to make it acceptable, there might be an issue o. That’s where the devil starts from.

Sound doctrine sometimes can come off as harsh (mostly cos of the state of the heart)

Imagine the man Christ told to leave his family, “Let the dead bury the dead”. For a willing heart, it’s to jump up in joy and start following o. For someone that doesn’t want to hear the truth:

“Why will Jesus say that? Doesn’t he have family or feelings? Does he not know we are humans?”

Always looking for soft landing or sugar coated truths is a tactic the enemy uses. Know this and stand appropriately

5. Trivializing sin and exaggerating the pleasures of sin

One of the tactic of the enemy is to make sin look normal.

“oh! It’s just a flaw”

“Everyone has weak point”

“Nobody is without sin”

He makes you feel comfortable in sin.

“It’s just kissing/lies/sex. God is not counting sin. He forgives”

It’s not “Just”

Before you know it, that sin becomes to pleasurable . You begin to enjoy and look forward to it then you move to normalizing it as one of your flaws or who you are.

This is a tactic of the devil. Be aware

Never act on immediate pleasures. Stop to think immediately you are tempted, this helps.

Every time I’m tempted to do something wrongly, I notice I’m in a hurry to. I don’t want to think about it at that moment. I start thinking and regretting when the deed is done.

The reason the enemy wants that process rushed is because he knows if you think, you won’t go ahead. You are stronger than you actually think. So always pause before you do. It frustrates the devil

6. Emotions

“I’m a very emotional person”

Erhm... good o but please be careful that this is not your drive. You cannot be led by the spirit and your emotions at the same time. It’s pick 1

The enemy targets our emotions as an opening. He crawls in immediately. 

Feel your emotions 

Feel completely, but please don’t be led by how you feel

“I get angry easily”. It is an opening for the devil

7. Logic

I know those of us that are not very emotional people are already feeling exempted from the tactics of the devil. The person you are dealing with is cunning. Most people that are not 100% in touch with their emotions are usually logical.

Logic is very good o. But logic is also very dangerous.

The devil likes it when you think you can think well. You have plenty common sense.

He wants you to feel this way about yourself and assert it.

If you go to churches and people are making trouble, look well and you will find that it is us “logical people”. The devil wants you to think you think better than other believers or people around you. You have more common sense than everybody.

It’s a lie.

While God gave us this “common sense”, God wants us to be led by the spirit instead.

8. Refusing the diagnosis of God

“Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: “Here is a message from the one who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. “I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead. Wake up! Make yourselves stronger before what little strength you have left is completely gone. I find that what you do is not good enough for my God. So don’t forget what you have received and heard. Obey it. Change your hearts and lives! You must wake up, or I will come to you and surprise you like a thief. You will not know when I will come.  “But you have a few people in your group there in Sardis who have kept themselves clean. They will walk with me. They will wear white clothes, because they are worthy. Everyone who wins the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. I will not remove their names from the book of life. I will say that they belong to me before my Father and before his angels. Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:1‭-‬6 ERV

We will focus on verse 1

You have a name that you are alive but you are dead

We say that Jesus is the great physician. We come to Him for healing but one thing most of us miss is that this physician also diagnoses. Because He knows you well, He knows exactly who you are on the inside.

The devil likes us to live a lie. The devil wants the church in Sardis to believe the “alive reputation” when they were actually dead

A lot of Christians refuse the diagnosis of Christ (it comes as conviction most times)

When the Spirit brings something that you do to your notice or send people to tell you, be ready to accept.

Don’t be in a hurry to defend your self to God. He sees you completely. Take the diagnosis, accept it and use the prescribed medications

Even earthly doctors give diagnosis and prescribe medications

How much more God? When God tells you what is wrong with you, a solution follows. Don’t let pride hold you back. The enemy is counting on this. Even the church in Sardis had a way out

9. Twisting scripture

The enemy wants us to twist scripture to suit us. When the devil wanted to tempt Jesus, he brought scripture and twisted it subtly just a little. When the enemy wants to twist God’s word, he is not as obvious as we expect. Be alert in the spirit

10. Disobedience

This is a tactic of the enemy.

On the other end of obedience is a huge price we always have to pay. When God says do xyz, He is not talking for talking sake, there is something He is trying to shield you from. There is always something sacrificed on the altar of disobedience, something costly. The devil wants us to lose that something so he is looking forward to us disobeying. He entices us with by the fruit of disobedience

Be alert!

There are so many other tactics in the devil’s play book, we will probably never finish if we sit on his lying ass.

But I want us to know one thing, the devil is a liar. The Bible says he is the father of lies.

There is only one thing that cancels lie and it is Truth. Jesus Christ is Truth

Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 ERV

Let the teaching of Christ dwell in you richly

The enemy is banking on lying and twisting the truth. There is only one counter, the truth Christ says

Let it dwell inside of you Richly

Confess daily if you have to. Make it your truth

May God help us all to stand against the wiles of the devil

Amen

Women and Church Leadership

Let the women who are new converts be willing to learn with all submission to their leaders and not speak out of turn. I don’t advocate that the newly converted women be the teachers in the church, assuming authority over the men, but to live in peace. Adam did not mislead Eve, but Eve misled him and violated the command of God. Yet a woman shall live in restored dignity by means of her children, receiving the blessing that comes from raising them as consecrated children nurtured in faith and love, walking in wisdom.
1 Timothy 2:11‭-‬12‭, ‬14‭-‬15 TPT

Now, we see here Paul telling women not to speak in church.

Should they want to know anything, they should ask their husbands

A woman should learn while listening quietly and being completely willing to obey. I don’t allow a woman to teach a man or tell him what to do. She must listen quietly, because Adam was made first. Eve was made later.
1 Timothy 2:11‭-‬13 ERV

This particular part of scripture causes a lot of problem. First, context and cultural background

We must first understand the times these instructions were given. Was the instruction given with respect to the culture of those days? How does it apply to us, in our own time

G2271Greek: ἡσυχία
Transliteration: hēsychía
Pronunciation: hay-soo-khee'-ah 
 ----------
 Description: feminine of ἡσύχιος(G2272); (as noun) stillness, i.e. desistance from bustle or language:
Translation: quietness, silence.

KJV usage: silent (3x), quietness (1x).

So here is the meaning and usage of the word Silence in this verse

Note that a similar word is used in verse 2 also

You should pray for rulers and for all who have authority. Pray for these leaders so that we can live QUIET AND PEACEFUL  lives—lives full of devotion to God and respect for him.
1 Timothy 2:2 ERV

Definitely, Paul could not have been saying women should be totally silent. Women prayed in church back then. In fact, Paul's first convert in Europe was a woman.

Paul had been in women dominated gatherings. He had seen women actually prosper the gospel

And did not frown upon these things. So definitely, he didn't mean silence as in "keep your mouth shut. I don't want to hear pim"

Like I said the last time, to understand this we have to got back to the beginning

This particular letter was addressed directly to Timothy in response to problems being faced in the church at that time.

Back to context again..

Paul's major theme in his letter to Timothy is False teaching

But somehow he moves to conduct in church.

Note that he was addressing situations in this body domestically led by Timothy (don't forget this part). So to address conduct, most likely that there was misconduct

Teaching women weren't common in those days. So we can assume that the leadership of the church was men

So the take is the women then were not as learned as the men in those days and in that particular church (in the faith). And it is very possible that they were part of those advancing false teachings in the church

Learning requires submission to a teacher.

The teachers were majorly men. Tell the women in your church to submit to the authority of those who teach in stillness/quietness. To not try to exercise authority over the men leading. Respect and honor the leadership of the men God had called to lead the church.

The passion translation breaks in down also, but I prefer not to quote directly from it, as people might not understand how they got to their conclusion.

So what now does Paul mean by this

I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.
1 Timothy 2:12 NIV

Again, remember there were cases where women taught in the bible and it wasn't condemned:

Priscilla and her husband teaching Apollos (Acts 18:26). Paul reminding Timothy of where he learned the word (his mother and grandmother). This should be in 2 Timothy

Our focus in this verse is authority over a man. As it expands the meaning of the woman don't teach Paul shared.

Now, who has authority in the church in the template given by Paul? Elders in the church actually

And we know that Elders in the church according to 1 timothy are men. Not just men, married men with families and also possessing some strong characteristics

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
1 Timothy 3:1‭-‬6 NIV

So what Paul is saying in essence is: I, Paul, do not permit women to assume the office of an elder in church. As this position of authority is open to heads of household who are proven and meet other requirements

In our world today, women actually speak in church. They teach and some are even pastors but I've seen and noticed some things. Women are usually allowed to lead only under the leadership of a male pastor.

In my stay in Macedonia, I've been led by 2 female Pastors (being assistant to both). Before the first female head pastor, the former pastor was a man and when the new pastor (woman) was ordained, people actually left the church. Some stayed but to them she wasn't pastor enough. I see it in Nigeria too. A woman is head Pastor over a church and people are wondering if God is there. This is as if God's presence is tied to male leadership only

We want to involve women o, but we also want to determine the extent to which we can involve women. If I were to start a church today, a lot of people will stand against it (probably people on here too 😁)

Everyone is okay with Remi teaching o but not okay with Remi being conferred head of a church

"It's just bible study group, so we don't mind". "It's just deacon position. They are not really in charge"

I've seen this everywhere. And it is not just for our generation. This talk has been here long before now.

Now, the question for our time is. Should women lead churches? Senior pastors and elders, should it be for men alone?

First, Paul asking women to ask their husbands is because in those days, the men were more knowledgeable. The women had little or no education. Most could probably not read and write. How then do they teach if they can't?

Now, to our time.

We have educated women everywhere. I can read and write as much as the man next to me. I have the same measure of the Holy Spirit as every man to help with scripture interpretation and divine wisdom. Why then can't women still lead a church?

We go back to this word authority. This is the root cause of all the problem. There is really no danger in women dictating generally to men, domineering or usurping authority over men. There is no danger at all in this!

Not understanding this as caused a lot for our world (not just in the church).

I once heard of someone who said he won't work somewhere because boss is a woman. A woman cannot be head over him bla bla

The only person a woman does not have authority over is her husband and that is because Christ made Him head of their home.

[39]Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hill country of Judea.
[40]She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
[41]When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn baby inside her jumped, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
[42]In a loud voice she said to Mary, “God has blessed you more than any other woman. And God has blessed the baby you will have.
ERV Bible. Luke 1:39-42


[44]While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his speech.
[45]The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the Holy Spirit had been poured out as a gift also to people who were not Jews.
[46]They heard them speaking different languages and praising God. Then Peter said
ERV Bible. Acts 10:44-46

We see Elizabeth here ( Woman), filled with the spirit  and she began to prophesy. Note that she spoke after the spirit came upon her

[8]But the Holy Spirit will come on you and give you power. You will be my witnesses. You will tell people everywhere about me—in Jerusalem, in the rest of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”
ERV Bible. Acts 1:8

This was a direct promise from Jesus. That after the spirit comes upon us, we will become witnesses

What will we do as witnesses?

We will tell people about God EVERYWHERE. In every part of the world. No limit whatsoever!

When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
Acts of the Apostles 1:13‭-‬14 NLT

Inside the church and outside the church, all that have received the spirit will witness in accordance with the gifts this same spirit gives.

So if the spirit gives leadership gifts to a woman? She leads!

Teaching gifts? Teach she must

There is another myth that the leadership of women is restricted to only women. "Women can teach o, but let them gather their fellow women and discuss 999 ways to keep their men". Or they teach young girls only. These things are all around us subtly

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.
Acts of the Apostles 18:26 NLT

When Apollos (a man) started teaching and he wasn't teaching so accurately cos he knew only of John's baptism.

Guess who took him in to teach him? Priscilla and her husband

So yes, women can teach men. Women can teach their husbands. Women can also lead men

Anyone the spirit enables can lead the body of Christ, for the spiritual doesn't recognizer genders/sexes.

If women can teach in Sunday school, bible study, women meeting etc. Why can't they head or lead as teachers/pastors?

Here are all the reasons I've seen and noticed

1. Culture and Time

2. Insecurity and fragile masculine ego

3. Fear that the leader (woman) will usurp authority over her husband as a reason of this position, thereby disobeying Christ's will for their home

I think the 3 is the most valid.

I personally believe there are ways to address problem 3. Everyone has the tendency to abuse authority/position.

Yet we still give access to certain people. Train your women to understand exactly their role as leaders and their role as wives. Equip them properly for ministry. Then continue to pray for them

And for us women, the husband being head of home is not up for question. I might be his boss at work or pastor in church. I might earn more than him

None of these makes him less head. His headship is as conferred by God, so we respect this.

For point 1, culture will keep evolving with time. We will all fall in line laslas

For point 2, I believe men generally should find their security in the word of God not in their ability to Lord themselves over women. Note that this comment is not restricted to church.

Most men usually do not respect women, they believe they are more than every woman they meet.

If Uber driver is not telling you he has your type at home, it is a random man getting angry over a simple question.

A question they won't have issues with if a man asked o. A lot of us women can actually relate to this

Driver resigning when he saw his boss is a woman. According to him he cannot work under a woman

Saw another post where the driver resigned cos madam did not ask nicely when she gave description. According to him she ordered him around 😂

In fact, this particular driver before then would greet madam's younger brother as friends "Yes sir" but cannot use such terms for his madam because woman.

I have heard and seen a lot. Believe me, these things are ridiculous and definitely not the wish of God. God doesn't see any gender as less.

You are not more than anybody. Even the leaders in church, you are not more anything

You have been called to SERVE.

When it comes to the church—when it comes to spiritual things—when it comes to the body of Christ—there are no distinctions between men and women. As far as God is concerned, there are none. That's where many have missed it. They've made it a man-and-woman proposition—when it is not. It is a husband-and-wife proposition. The man is not the head of the woman in the church. The husband is the head of the wife in the home.
E. Robinson

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26‭-‬28 NLT

Every dividing line is erased. No segregation

Everyone is child enough. Can be used to whatever extent and in any capacity as deemed fit by God. As believers, we should accept and understand this.

God's Perspective on Sex, Consent and the Believer in Christ

This is one topic I feel like most Christians shy away from. You've probably heard 1000 teachings about Faith, Grace, Love etc but how many times have we actually preached about Sex.

In our world today, we are highly exposed to sexual knowledge, practices and the rest. There is so much sex in our face. I doubt you could watch a series without someone having sex. It's littered all over our music videos. Our friends talk about it. Some of us believers even hide to engage.

Everyone knows one or 2 about sex. Everyone of us (even those that are not having it). We all know something

And this rubs off on me somehow. I know Samson knows something about Sex but I don't know what
Same as our other friends in Christ

Why? Because we are doing hidey hidey

Here is the issue I have. Because Christians do not talk about these things, we don't know who has the "right" knowledge (with respect to our faith)

How do we control the narrative for ourselves as Christians since the world keeps putting this sex thing in our face. When we have questions, and we search online, the answers the search engine give us, whose voice do they echo

I've realised, people actually have questions. Christians especially. And if we do not put aside our embarrassment and provide answers with respect to God's perspective, people will get answers from the world and its culture. We will be doing that today and some other times too.

First, what is Sex?

Samson - Sex is broader than before. It used to be the rhythmic insertion of the male reproductive organ into the female's. Now, two males can have sex. Two females can have sex too. But I think in the context of this teaching, I go with the rhythmic insertion definition

Dasi - And it now has branches.. Oral sex as being one of them. I think it's the insertion of the male reproductive organ into that of the female's

Ally - How do they define sex eh😂 I think it's interaction between the male n female reproductive organs😅😂

Seun - It's all the activities (kissing, cuddling, vaginal penetration et al) involving the genitals between two people primarily (male and female) as designed by God.

So from the dictionary, this is what it means to engage in sexual intercourse:

sexual contact between individuals involving penetration, especially the insertion of a man's erect penis into a woman's vagina, typically culminating in orgasm and the ejaculation of semen.

Saw this particular definition while searching for what sex is online. Sex can actually be self pleasuring or shared with someone.We will come back to this as we go on.

Now, I want us to know this: God is pro-sex. Sex was God's idea and He gave it to us for our own pleasure and procreation. God is actually interested in sex 😁 In fact, He is very much committed to the intimate, romantic and sexual aspect of our lives.

God loves intimacy, very much. As believers, we know how much God hungers to be intimate with us?

HE SENT HIS SON TO DIE!

Now, if we do not have a relationship with God i.e accept His proposal through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we can't be intimate with Him. It is not possible.

One thing you notice in the bible is the comparison between Christ, the church and earthly marriage.
If we are following, I think we can spot a pattern.
While we might want to define sex as putting a penis inside a woman's Vagina, this is Farrrrr from it. Like way way farrrrrrrr

For the believer, sex is 100% intimacy.

We see the beauty of sex in songs of Solomon. We see the joy of physical, sexual love celebrated in the most intimate way we can ever think of. I think if we were to have a visuals of the bible thrown down from heaven, when we get to Songs of Solomon we will probably close church 😂.
Solomon wrote 1005 songs. Yet the Bible picked this one as his best.

1 Kings 4:29. God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.30. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.31. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.32. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five.

The Song—best of all songs—Solomon’s song!
Song of Solomon 1:1 MSG

THE SONG of songs [the most excellent of them all] which is Solomon's.
Song of Solomon 1:1 AMPC

Solomon wrote 1005 songs. I'm not sure how lengthy each is (as we do not have access to all). I'm sure He sang about God, life issues, problem, plenty things

Out of the 1005 songs, do you know the one God passed down to us? Songs of Solomon

The song compilation that highly appreciates intimacy and sexual relatability

And it wasn't just passed down to us. The Bible says, it's the most wonderful/beautiful song ever written by Solomon.

Sex is sweet. Sex is beautiful. Again, sex is very sweet (don't ask me how I know abeg, read the bible)

Sex is God's gift to man and Should be enjoyed as often as we can think of. But there is a caveat: Such level of intimacy should only be explored within the confines of marriage.

God is not a subscriber to casual sex or we are in a relationship sex.

When we make love (as God wishes), we experience the joy of unreserved passion. We discover how to give ourselves in complete abondonement, not in anyway unhindered, to another. If you pause, this phrase almost sounds like what happens in worship.

How can such level of intimacy be casual?

If we look at the first chapter of Songs of Solomon from verse 2 downwards, there is so much mention of love. Sex in God's perspective is love making, more like love giving. The detailing in each verse is amazing and sensual.

I think I have to normalise saying: I can't wait to give love. Instead of I can't wait to make love (it's not jollof rice 😭😭). This is how it was intended by God, that in giving, each participant is fully satisfied

This is what happens with sex. We are not just expressing the love we have for each other, we are giving it and ourselves in all fullness.

Giving stuff/gifts to your partner is sweet. But nothing beats the intimacy of Sex as it is beyond an expression of love, it is giving of that love and self in all entirety

Sex is not just thrusts, thrusts and thrusts, No! We see expression and the beautiful act of lovemaking in this book of Solomon's songs (we will explore it properly when we get to that part in our bible study)

Sex is sweet
Sex is intimate
God loves Sex, He is pro-sex
God wants us to enjoy sex completely

Now, to our caveat: Sex is designed for marriage

All of us unmarried people have no business whatsoever  with sex in practice (and this will include oral sex). If I buy banana, cucumber or a dildo and use it on myself, i am practicing sex. Remember the definitions from the beginning.

Sex can be self pleasuring (I was shocked when I found out too). Oral sex is a type of sex.

Us single believers have no business with sex, in any of its variations. We say sex is giving of self to another, an expression of love, total devotion in complete abandonment to another. First, this kind of giving can only be done within a certain level of commitment (we call it marriage). Second, we can't be doing this with more than one person.

It's clearer why adultery and idolatry have been referenced together in scripture. It's a grave sin against your own body. How can you give yourself to woman A and then to woman B? How many self do you have?

Let's never forget the sacredness of love giving/sex inside of marriage. Married or unmarried, please do not forget

Question: Remi what happens with those of us that have had sex before?

I figured this would be on the minds of some of us (alongside other questions), so I will be taking time to answer them. First, you need to stop having that sex. This is not God's wish and you know it

One thing the devil does is mess with our conscience. He brings the guilt of these acts every time. This violation against our own body can actually affect fellowship with God, that's how much a big deal it is.

Now, I know saying Stop won't just cut it. But you can actually really stop, I say this in all honesty. Of course, not by your power. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for help, even as you set some boundaries physically in your relationships

Another lie the enemy tells is this: You have started already, just continue. You are already damaged goods. You already sinned

See, that guy is a big liar. He is the father of lies. Sexual sin is sin, just as every other sin. Only difference is, it is against your own body, self and being. When the blood of Jesus was being shed, it didn't jump and pass sexual sin o

So receive the forgiveness and washing away of sins that Christ freely offers. God really washes us so white

Your past sexual sins do not define you or decrease your value or the value of your purity. So you've had sex before and you want to stop or you've stopped already, your sexual purity is not less or second hand compared to Samson that has never had sex

In God's sight, you are as sexually pure as the one who has never had sex (thanks to Jesus)
So don't listen to whatever the enemy says about this. You are back on track. Clean slate

For you reading this today, It is never too late to start over. Jesus actually wants to help you.

(Please if you have any questions or need to confide privately, my DM is open)

Now that we are all on the same page (I believe),  what about the demands of our bodies?

"Ha! Remi, but I get horny. What do I do? 😭😭" Well, me too. In fact, me three.

Remi gets horny too. (Glory to God). We are All sitting on this table together

So don’t continue to refuse your spouse those rights, except perhaps by mutual agreement for a specified time so that you can both be devoted to prayer. And then you should resume your physical pleasure so that the Adversary cannot take advantage of you because of the desires of your body.
1 Corinthians 7:5

Our focus is on the last part.... Cos of the desires of your bodies

It is a natural thing to have these desires, very natural. How do we enjoy lovemaking/sex in marriage should we have no desire for it?

It is actually very okay and normal to feel horny, very okay. Now, here's the place a lot of us Christians miss it. We shy away from this truth about our bodies, which is wrong.

Knowing this truth is not a bad thing, neither is it wrong.

You know what is important? What we do with this truth after knowing it.

A lot of us take knowledge of body desires as a go ahead to engage in sexual activities. Actually, No!
For most women, I know we have our hormones acting up almost every month, at a particular time.

What is this knowledge to me as a woman? Thank you God for the desires of my body. This knowledge is my body saying, should I marry tomorrow, it is ready to give love and respond to it

It is my body really acknowledging that it is normal. It is on track with God's will for intimacy in Marriage and ready whenever I am.

So yes, this is the social conditioning of my mind towards every hormonal balance. (I refuse to call it imbalance especially for the sake of this conversation 😁)

I don't know how it works for men but I understand the bodies respond also to certain things in desire. This is all your proof that your machine gun is konking and ready to work, when it is time for work (marriage). No testing anything before marriage please

If we watch movies, when a man impotent/infertile, they ask questions circling this part. Do you get aroused? This shows that it is a normal thing, when we get to a particular age.

Again, knowing/acknowledging these things is not a go ahead for anything. Rather, it gives us a perspective of our bodies and the God's divine will for us in marriage (which is plenty enjoyment in fullness). And it guides us in being in control too.

You know your body, now allow your spirit be in control. Set your mind on heavenly things, as sex is not your business yet. Purge yourself of contents that expose you or increase your urge for sex

Now that we know what sex is and how God feels about it, let's move to CONSENT

What is consent?

Seun - It is an agreement given at a given time to allow ones partner have access to their body.

Sumi - I think its seeking one's opinion before taking a decision or going ahead wih smthing

Thank you very much. You guys are correct

It is Basically agreement to engage in any sexual activity.

Now, as believers we are not having sex, so why talk about consent? Asides trying to treat our past, so we can work on retribution where necessary, our relationships also need consent. And a lot of people don't understand this concept

You meet Christian men to hang out and before you know it, somebody's tongues is inside yours.

Did I tell you I want to be kissed? What's your hand doing on my breast just because we went out together?

I've noticed that we wait until someone objects instead of truly obtaining consent before proceeding. This is true for the secular world also.

Truth is, Consent is very unsexy. But you see that awkward first conversation? It is best to have it

You can proceed with all the sexy you want when you guys are married. Most ladies don't know what to expect from dates, visiting a friend (believers even) cos people do not understand that No means NO. And you should not try to see if it's a NO or yes

Get your yes before you try to kiss anyone or engage in any sexual act. Be sure the other person wants the same

Now, I will move to a part that affects us a lot as believers.


Consent in relationships

Most believers enter into a relationship and of course they discuss boundaries. Please if you don't, start now (no matter how spirikoko your partner is). Discuss all the areas.

Can we kiss or it's just peck? Are we allowed to hold hands? Should we meet only in public places?
Etc

Set your boundaries with your partner. If I agree with a partner that no sex, I see no reason why you should be dragging my pants down while kissing me. If we both agree to just holding hands, your lips should not be trying to touch mine, except there is an understanding between us.


"Remi, but some women don't talk or say anything cos they are shy. So they want you to use your discretion". Whoever cannot talk, please leave them alone. Women hate having to push your hand away or scream No. It breaches trust and it's a violation of their bodies.


Now, note that consent goes both ways. It is not only women that give consent, men should too. And we women should learn to respect this. Don't be found trying to seduce a man. Opening your breast or any part of your body in seductive measures. They didn't tell you they want to see anything

You like a man, tell him or pray about it. Don't go about violating them. Consent is not the absence of No. Consent is the presence of YES

Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity . Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests.
Philippians 2:3‭-‬4 TPT

Put others first. Don't be after your own interests only. Honor God, Honor other peoples bodies and even their decisions.

There’s so much at play in these situations. It isn’t always as easy as “yes is yes”

Some people's yes do not weight in the law. Our focus tonight will be Nigerian law

For example, I am 17. I cannot give consent to date you or kiss you, a 25 yr old man. Section 31 (3) (a) of the Child's Rights Act 2003 states that, “Where a person is charged with an offence (of unlawful sexual relations with a child) under this section (31 of the same act), it is immaterial that the offender believed the person to be of or above the age of eighteen years.”

I'm not sure what the law says in Cameroon, Ghana and every other country. But I know most countries have 18 as age of consent. As believers, we should not be dating anyone under 18.

They look mature ❌
They act mature ❌

They are not legal and can't give you any consent


Question: What happens if I've had sex with someone or touched anyone without gaining consent in my past? I know God has forgiven me. Is this enough?

Truly, the forgiveness of God is enough in terms of giving you a clean slate. But it is not enough in terms of moving on. First, you must admit you've abused these people

Second, you should reach out to them. It's very important to reach out to those you've abused in the past. Yes, ordinary kissing without consent is abuse. Apologise to them and most importantly pray for them.

You see, most victims of sexual abuse almost never move on from it. They remember everything vividly. Even memories from as early as 4 years old, a lot of us do remember. While you've moved on and accepted Christ, they are most likely still suffering ptsd from that one experience.

They are making decisions about their bodies based on that encounter

They might not forgive or give you audience, but it is important you do. Also, if they decide to take you to court for rape, true repentance factors in Retribution. Whatever happens, most important thing is you are saved and God has forgiven you. Sometimes, we have to pay for our crimes here on earth (regardless of our salvation stance). This doesn't mean God didn't save you or He didn't forgive you. No.

A section in the Nigeria law provides death sentence for sexual relations with a person under 11

Question: What if we were both under 18 when we had sex?

This is not a crime with respect to the law. (I think except one party is 3 - 4 years older). Will look it up in the constitution.

Now, does this mean it is right? No

God's design for sex is inside of marriage. Nonconsensual sex is ALWAYS wrong. Consent also doesn't start/end with sexual stuff.

If I tell you I don't like certain words/conversations, you should respect it. If I don't like being pestered, leave me alone. If someone is interested in you, this thing is very easy o.

As simple as Abc.

When someone says No/Stop, they do not mean try harder. They meant exactly what they said and you should take it as such.

Also, I feel Christians sometimes try to play around sexual assault. Why are you standing with an abuser? Why are you giving 10k reasons why the victim is also at fault?

Over the years it's been noticed that The church  minimizes (or ignores altogether) issues of consent and sexuality. We’ve joined and sometimes led the chorus of indifference or victim blaming.
In doing so, we are failing  to acknowledge the murkiness surrounding sexual consent, we are passing down judgments instead of grace and compassion.

We need to open our ears and hearts to the pain and confusion around us, to believers and nonbelievers alike navigating the issues of sexual assault and consent.

People in the church are struggling. Yes, these things happen even inside the church.Women are constantly on guard as they attempt to date, never sure what a man will try to do to her or when she may be in danger. (no, church brothers are not excluded from the men we are scared of. Not even pastors)

There are people in your classes, your workplace, and in your congregations who are hurting and ashamed because they have been pushed further than they wanted to go. Because someone didn't understand No.

Some have been harassed and others were abused or assaulted. Many only find further shame and heartache when they turn to the church.

We are light of this world, we should be leading the way—a voice of compassion and hope in conversations surrounding abuse.

Where others question and seek to blame, we can listen and offer empathy and prayers.

Where others turn a cold shoulder to a problem that hasn’t caused them pain, we can learn and take a stand.

We can acknowledge inequality, advocate for the vulnerable, and call for better standards. As disciples of Jesus’ justice, we should be leading the way in teaching and embodying safe, respectful sexual relations.

Yes, the church is part too. We members are dating abi in a relationship. We are holding hands or even kissing. Let's not pretend this is not happening.

We should change our attitudes and try listening to those who have been assaulted or someone who was pressured to go further than he or she wanted to go, we should remember this truth:

“Only the church can speak of God’s unconditional love, unfailing grace, and power to restore the fallen and heal the broken.”

This is the example Christ has left us. I pray that we are all more empathic towards victims. That the church comes to understand no abuse is small. We reach out to the broken and hurt in love. We are not part of those who hurt God's children by taking advantage or violating their bodies

I also pray for everyone here that has been a victim of sexual abuse

That God heals us all, He takes away the triggers. He helps us to move past that occurrence. He helps us to see our worth in Him. He helps us to forgive. God's love and healing flows in us.

Amen

How To Use The Concordance in Studying The Bible

Our study will be in 5 outlines:

1. What is Concordance?
2. Why do we need concordance?
3. How to use the concordance for effective bible study - Tips
4. Practical bible study using concordance
5. Precautions to observe in using the concordance

Question: is anyone here familiar with Concordance? Do we know what it is?

Chelsea - Its an alphabetical list of words with references to a certain text or passage

Samson - Bible dictionary sort of

1. What is Concordance

Concordance is a bible, an index of words in Hebrew or Greek showing the Pronunciation of the Hebrew or Greek words, the transliteration and definition of same . It also shows other words this Greek word can be translated into (as used by KJV) it shows the number of times it appears and the verses it appears.

You'll most times find it translated into KJV English.

It helps the reader/user to compare how these words are used in other chapters for better comprehension.

2. Why Concordance?

We use concordance because:

The bible we have today wasn't originally written in English language.
The OT was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, while the NT in Greek, Koine Greek specifically.
History has it that the English Bible is the fourth level of translation from the original Hebrew/Greek bible.

Also, we need concordance because of translation errors as recorded in the bible translations we've. The KJV is the most closest to the Hebrew and Greek bible,  and even so,  most of the 1611 English used might not be applicable to us today.

Let me also add to this that the Hebrew and Greek is vast than English. Especially Greek,  it is wider,  unlike English that is limited in application. Most times a word in the Greek can mean 10 different things in English language and the AMPC version of the bible helps us see this.
This is also a reason to have and use the Concordance

This is one of the reasons why we see something like Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5 "...deliver him to Satan for the crucifying of the flesh" and we sometimes get confused.

Using concordance also helps us understand the Bible better. We can understand the thought of the writer being communicated as we study.

Let me give an example:

For my Yoruba people here: lets say i'm talking to Omotola  and i want her attention, i'll say something like "tẹti silẹ"

Literally in English it means "put your ears to the ground", but that is not what I mean. What's intended to communicate was Omotola ,listen attentively" but a non Yoruba person might go by the literal meaning and miss the though being communicated.

Also, I  should say - There is nothing spiritual about concordance it doesn't depict how spiritual a person is.

3. How to use the concordance

1. We should have the Bible concordance on our phones and of course our usual English Bible. (I'll like to say that you'll mostly find concordance being translated in the light of KJV translation).

2. While reading our normal English Bible, we might come across a word that is not clear in usage, we launch our concordance and check up the word. We check how it is used, it's literal and figurative meaning, it's relative words used elsewhere.

3. We also compare its usage. Is it a verb, a noun, an adjective, a conjunction? These are the things to look out for.

4. After checking the above, we check it's definition. The concordance will always give you definitions.

5. We might need to check the root word for some Greek words, this will be given in the concordance.

Just as in English,we have a root word,  it is same for Greek/Hebrew. E.g, We derive purposefully from purpose in the English language.

We'll understand Better when we get to the practical aspect.

4. Practical usage of concordance in studying the bible

5. Precautions

There is nothing spiritual about using concordance. Using concordance or not is not a gauge of spirituality.

Let's remember that beyond checking the Greek meaning or Hebrew,  CONTEXT IS KING.
we can know all Greek words and still miss what the author is trying to communicate.

We should study the pretext
We should understand the context
We should study the post text and with the aid of concordance, we'll have an effective bible study.

Let's not forget, the whole essence of this is to understand the author's thought being communicated and not to be doing Greek/Hebrew scholar upandan.

EQUALITY: GOD'S VIEW OF HUMANS

When we were arranging the sermon topics for this month, it didn't even occur to me that we were preaching this on international women's day up until this evening.

But then, we serve an intentional God. He notes everything 😁

So before I begin to teach, I'd like everyone to comment, please.

What do you think God's view is on Equality?

What is your own view on Equality as a believer?

Olamide: Fairness and justice

Nkiru: Sons! Everybody is seen as a son! No sex definition

GraceMercy: Fairness

Samson: There's no male nor female in God's eyes. We are his children. Simple. I respect you because you are God's creation, not because you are male or female

The issue of gender equality has been a problem forever I believe. Recently, the talks on this topic has increased. As believers, it is important that our stance aligns with God's stance.

So first, we will have to know what God thinks about Gender equality. I've seen plenty of takes on God's view. I've seen/heard so many "Your God is Misogynist". If I were to get a dollar every time I heard this, I'd be a millionaire by now.

So tonight, what we will be doing is checking God's view on Equality.

The Bible pretty much provides answers on pretty much everything we need answers to.

So to know God's view? We check that He has already said

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26‭-‬28 AMPC

Matthew 20:1-16
[1]FOR THE kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning along with the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.
[2]After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
[3]And going out about the third hour (nine o'clock), he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
[4]And he said to them, You go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will pay you. And they went.
[5]He went out again about the sixth hour (noon), and the ninth hour (three o'clock) he did the same.
[6]And about the eleventh hour (five o'clock) he went out and found still others standing around, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?
[7]They answered him, Because nobody has hired us. He told them, You go out into the vineyard also and you will get whatever is just and fair.
[8]When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first. [Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:15.]
[9]And those who had been hired at the eleventh hour (five o'clock) came and received a denarius each.
[10]Now when the first came, they supposed they would get more, but each of them also received a denarius.
[11]And when they received it, they grumbled at the owner of the estate,
[12]Saying, These [men] who came last worked no more than an hour, and yet you have made them rank with us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.
[13]But he answered one of them, Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
[14]Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this man hired last the same as I give to you.
[15]Am I not permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? [Or do you begrudge my being generous?] Is your eye evil because I am good?
[16]So those who [now] are last will be first [then], and those who [now] are first will be last [then]. For many are called, but few chosen.

I will start with Galatians

Back then according to traditions, standing before God was measured by how religious men were, how much they kept the law. Also, women were seen as less. Those days were heavy Patriarchial times. I doubt any of us women could come out and preach the gospel as at then.

Paul corrected this school of thought in this chapter

According to him, every believer is seen as a son regardless of their observance of the law.

This brings me to women and marginalization in society. One thing I've noticed in our world is we require women to be more in order to access certain rights

Basic human rights are presented to women as rewards of good/morally upright behavior.

Our basic human rights should not be dependent on what we do or don't. We do not have to earn it.

This is the same as our rights in Christ. A woman attains a position of authority and messes it up then we all conclude and agree that the society is right for not giving women such opportunity

"oh! Diezani stole. It's her type that makes the society not take women seriously or refuse to include us"

This is falsehood. The society not giving us that which is our right is not because some people misused it. It's simply because women are seen as less.

Men steal every day
Men start wars every now and then
Men do things that are wrong but their rights are not cut off

For every one woman that's got an opportunity in the big field and steals, there are a thousand men that have been there and done that. Just as all believers are son in Christ without needing to access their basic rights in Him based on works, so is every human enough.

We do not need to be treated right because we are good or we did something. We should be treated right because we are humans (Nothing more/less)

Now, does this mean equality came into play after Christ?

The answer is No. The narrative when it comes to God as always been Equal

Genesis 1:26-28
[26]God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. [Ps. 104:30; Heb. 1:2; 11:3.]
[27]So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. [Col. 3:9, 10; James 3:8, 9.]
[28]And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.

Let us make mankind in our own image. And He went ahead to make mankind, male and female, both in His likeness.

We are all equally made in God's image. Male and female. Rich and poor. Believers and unbelievers

ALL equally made.

Now, one major issue we have had in our society is recognizing that though we are equal, we are different.

Our strengths and abilities are unique and do not in any way make any more than the other before God.

All of mankind has been created in the image and likeness of God and because of this one reason, everyone is valuable in the sight of God.

I think as Christians, we actually recognize and believe this

I mean everybody will surely agree to this

But I've seen that even while we agree to this when it is time to walk the talk, problem arises. Even in biblical history, women have been treated as less.

I believe this is due to cultural incorporations and traditions. The Bible does not support the opinion that women are inferior to men. God made them, both male and female, in His image. Not one person less.

QUESTION: Remi sometimes people argue that since God(Christ) is a man, it's obvious that women should be under men (Soumi)

Remi: I'm going to answer this since no one did, while we wait for comments on the last question.

Samson: God is not man. God is not a male. God is too big to be restricted by gender. God is Spirit.
Women should not be under men. There's an equal playing field for everyone. However, in the context of marriage, spiritually, the man is the head of his wife. His wife. Not any other wife. And he's not to lord it over her, but serve her in love, just as Christ loves the church. [END OF QUESTION]

First of all, God is not man. God is God. He doesn't conform to any gender. God is spirit. And this is why scripture says there is no male or female in Christ.

Women are not under men. I am not under Samson or Seun or any man. I am seen as equal with them before God. All sons


Now we go to Matthew.

This passage is a very interesting take from our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this passage, we see the parable of the workers in the vineyard.

We are going to break down this parable in the following order. First, we pick the proverb in it.

The Proverb:
The first shall be last and last shall be first

This is a very interesting one.

The first person to come will become last. This will mean that the role for first is now empty.
Those that came last will become first, this will mean that they are elevated to fill in the position of the first.

Remember we had those who were first before now in the last category.
Because the last will become first, it also means that this former first seaters will be updated to first back along with everyone in the last category.

So everybody is now First. Everybody is now the same. Everybody is now brought to the same playing field/level.

So the proverb in the parable is The first shall be last and the last first

I once explained to us that the meaning/translation of parables is usually not derived word for word.

So in explaining the parable, we need to pick out certain things to understand the context and what exactly is being said.

So first, we have brought out the proverb in that parable and broke it down

That everyone eventually becomes first. We see that all the workers were treated equally according to the proverb in Matthew 20. Everyone that came later was treated as though they were from the beginning. No maligning

Now, to the Parable

A certain rich man has a big land/estate. Every day, from 6am to 6pm, laborers are employed to work.
These are not permanent workers. In fact, they had to stand at the roadside every day to get a job for that day. They lived on daily wages. No work today means no money.

One thing to note is that these people were underprivileged kind of.

Now this man employed laborers daily and paid them well, more than they'd receive on a normal day most likely.

So the laborers start working at 6am.

He goes again at 9am and finds people who weren't working (probably underprivileged). He hires them.

He went again in the 6th hour and did the same.

Same as the 9th hour

Now, I want us to notice what the man says to the workers as he employs them:

He told them, ‘Come and work for me in my vineyard and I’ll pay you a fair wage.’
Matthew 20:4 TPT

I will pair you a Fair wage. I was so happy when everyone defined God's view of equality as fairness

“Hoping to finish his harvest that day, he went to the town square again at five o’clock and found more who were idle. So he said to them, ‘Why have you been here all day without work?’
Matthew 20:6 TPT

Now this man goes out again at 5pm (close of the day is 6pm) and He meets more people.

The agreement was the same : I will pay you a fair wage

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard went to his foreman and said, ‘Call in all the laborers, line them up, and pay them the same wages, starting with the most recent ones I hired and finishing with the ones who worked all day.’
Matthew 20:8 TPT

Now at the end of the day, everyone gets paid the same wage.

First, we see one thing in this parable:
Everyone got the opportunity to work on the field (regardless of timing and access to get to the field early)

Equal playing Ground! Our God is one of Equal opportunities!

So when we say that men and women are equal, the rich are created the same as the poor? We should also walk the talk and make sure we are making deliberate moves for all to have an equal right to the playing field.

Now, when it was time to pay, those who came late were paid first and those who were first saw the payment method and expected more than them

"We were here before them"
"We are stronger than women"
"We have more needs than women"
"They are poor so should do with anything given"

All of the above is same family

What did the master say?

He told them He gave as agreed. He gave everyone what is fair!

Now, the problem with the first comers wasn't that they weren't given a fair wage. That was a really fat wage for a day. The problem was they couldn't stand someone else getting the same without doing as hard as they did.

Now, in today's world people apply this logic too. "Though she's a woman and we work the same hours, I don't think she does/deserves as much all because I'm a man"

Everyone deserves equal playing ground and should be treated fairly

Is God against equality?

No! The idea of equality has taken by the Americans came from God Himself, the creation story.

Equal in Giftings

Every gift of the Holy Spirit is not peculiar to a gender. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about receiving the gifts of the spirit, He did not indicate a difference. It wasn't stated that men first before women. No order was given because, in Christ, there is no gender.

Equal but different

Though created equally and given access to all things (Eve was also given dominion over all things made just as Adam), we are all different and unique in our beings.

We are distinct in capabilities and functions (as we deem fit/choose) and for the human race to function properly, we must recognize our uniqueness and work together as one.

So then, I have to insist that in the Lord, neither is woman inferior to man nor is man inferior to woman. For just as woman was taken from the side of man, in the same way, man is taken from the womb of woman. God, as the source of all things, designed it this way
1 Corinthians 11:11‭-‬12 TPT

Our uniqueness and differences are actually complementary, every part needing each other to survive.

I'd like to ask us this question: Does our difference in design have a direct implication in the role we play in society and life in general?

Toye: Yes it can

To answer this,

Yes (but it applies). The only place where there is specified gender roles that is not bound by time or culture is in the institution of marriage.

This means that it is only in marriage that we have each gender tied to a specific role. And this is because marriage is designed as an institution. In every organization, everybody has a role to play.
From manager to desk officer. In marriage (with respect to scripture), the man is the Head of the home as an institution

Outside marriage, this doesn't apply. So no man is my head. Nothing like I have your type at home, whatever type you have it stays in your house and your leadership ends there.

Outside the marriage institution, there are no fixed gender roles. All of us have equal access to the gifts of the spirit (both male and female). So if it is a female that has the wisdom of innovation, she innovates. If it is a female that is the gift of leadership, she leads?

A man will not have to automatically take the head or lead position because he is a man or as a reason of his genitals. Everyone is entitled to roles as equipped

Never based on gender.

I have not been called to submit to every Kunle and Tayo I see on the road. All the Emekas and Ebukas are not my head because of the genital.

The Proverbs 31 woman, we see that she ran a business. She was CEO. She wasn't ordered around at the pleasure of men or banned from speaking.

Now, even in the home where there is an order of  leadership, the woman is still equal in worth and is to be respected even in this head/helpmate template for marriage

Dear men,
Your wives are equal in worth with you. What differs is roles! To treat them as less is sin

Unfortunately for all of us, there have been points in the history of the church where it has been taught that women are less, should be quiet, fit for bearing children or relegated to the kitchen. This is not the design of God. I will just reiterate all the points as we bring the teaching to conclusion

God created everyone equally, in His image

We've all been offered equal access to the playing field

Though equal in worth before God, we all are created uniquely and differently

We all have equal access to the gifts of the spirit

We are all sons, not one less

We all have different roles to play in the society and this is based on choice and as led by the spirit not genitals

In the institution of marriage, the husband is the Head of the home

The man is not the Head of every woman

The man being head of a home is a role.

In the marriage institution, the husband and wife differ in the role but both are of equal worth in the sight of God as they were bought with the same price

As believers, we should stay with God's standard and demand that women be seen as much human as men are because God made us all in His image

Like Jesus, we should never segregate women in the church. While roles and relationships differed, He treated everyone as same, with love equally

I pray for everyone that we are able to fulfill our God-given roles (both in the society, marriage, and church), doing so in love and humility as we show the world God's wonderful design and His call for Salvation, open to all (man and woman).

Amen

THE WRATH OF GOD

In the past months, we've had a lot of questions concerning God's wrath. Matching God's nature as Good and how the Bible attributes anger to him also.

Tonight, we will be explaining what exactly God's wrath/anger means.

What is Wrath?

Wrath is often translated as extreme anger, fierce anger, indignation, punishment or vengeance.

Another definition of wrath is that it is a response to perceived wrong and injustice.

Anybody can express wrath. And since anger is an emotion, wrath is also an emotion.

As we all know, God is not an emotionless God, He feels just like us. In fact, it is because He feels that we can feel. Now, this doesn't mean that God's expression of emotions with regards to situations is the same as man's. In the fall, a lot of things changed. Most of the Godlike attributes man inherited at creation became tainted. This is why the expression of emotions by man is different from God's.

The wrath/anger of us humans is not to be compared with God's. When we think of anger in our own human sense, it is difficult to reconcile God to such.

This is because human wrath is most times misplaced, unholy and unjust. So our standard cannot be the standard for God's wrath.

I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire,
Isaiah 27:4 NET

What we term as God being angry with us is not what is anger is (basically).

I'm not angry. I care. Even if it gives me thistles and thornbushes, I'll just pull them out and burn them up. The Message

This explains it better.

When we hurt God (which man has done so well from the fall), He doesn't stop caring.

"Oh! I sinned. God is angry with me"

God is not!

"But the Bible says God has wrath"

Yes. We are getting into what that means

God's wrath is not an uncontrolled passion/emotion as we see in a man.

Far from it

So what then is the Wrath of God?

It is His necessary, just and righteous retribution/judgment against sin.

It is God's Holiness (His nature) stirred into activity against sin (nature)

So we can say that God's wrath is His divine being's response to Sin (nature). Like a natural response. It is not activated based on sin in activity.

So God's wrath is not incurred upon me every minute. When I lie, He is angry When I fornicate, smokes remove from His nose. Nah. Far from it

God's wrath is the natural response of sin; the nature that was activated at the fall of man.

Natural response. Cause and Effect. It wasn't a decision made by God after the fall
It is a decision from His Holiness which is the foundation of everything.

So when we say things like God is sending people to hell at the judgement, this is wrong. SIN is what sends people to hell and this is where the gospel comes in.

Often times, we hate to preach topics like this or make statements like I'd rather preach on Grace than talk about sin (I say this too. I'm comfortably on this chair).

While our focus is on God's Grace, love and mercy revealed in Christ to man, we should not forget that the message of the Gospel begins with a statement about the wrath of God which is a natural response to Sin.

If man did not fall, no wrath. If the wrath of God wasn't activated at the fall, then there wouldn't be a need for this Gospel we preach.

Romans  1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

I've been thinking a lot if someone came and told me "God's wrath in revealed against your ungodliness"  while I was a sinner, how would I have felt? Of course, they would have been right but what would have been my response. For the far gone ones maybe a feeling of indifference

Whatever is said is the truth but it is a hard one. I don't know what my response to it will be. I also know it is not something I'm telling to an unbeliever (Except the Holy Spirit puts hand in my mouth).

While I'm not so sure yet on when this conversation should be had, I feel like it really should be had.

You see, most of the questions we've all had about God and His character, it stems from not knowing exactly what we've been saved from.

We do not know the depth of man's sin and the wrath incurred thereof, which we deserved.

How do we understand Grace completely, if we do not know the law (our rightful punishment inside of it)?

It is why certain things happen and we are asking God why He did them.

"God why?"

God, why what?

More like "Sin why?"

Or better put "Man why?"

As I grow in this faith, I'm coming to understand that a lot of us do not know the debt Christ paid.

We sing it o

"My Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay"

But we don't fully understand the terms and how bad that debt was. Don't know if anyone feels this way also.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23 NET

Adam's rebellion brought sin into the world. Every man born in the Adamic nature inherited the new addition to his genetics, sin.

Every one of us, we were guilty. Every single person. Not one left

The biblical order for the Gospel is always first the warning of danger:

Man had sinned and sin has been judged from that which all things were built upon (righteousness). The judgment also known as the wrath of God declares man not good enough for God's greatness. Man is condemned to eternal death

But this is not where it ends, it follows immediately with God's escape plan, the means of pardon.

They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:24 ERV

Hallelujah

So here is the progression

Before we can truly understand what Grace is we must first understand the wrath of God

Before we can understand Christ's death, we must first understand that it was man's sin that necessitated it.

Before we can fully grasp God's mercy, love and Graciousness, we have to first see and admit man's rebellious, sinful and guilty ways.

In fact, Romans is ordered in this way. Paul's letter to the people In Rome was structured in this manner

If we do not see anything wrong with the Adamic nature and Adam's rebellion, then we cannot understand God's wrath. And ultimately, we would not think we need any saving

Because, Saved from what?

So far, we've established that the wrath of God is not God having an uncontrollable rage or losing His temper over everything we do
(God is actually very patient with man. His patience is why this world still exists as it is)

It is also not vindictive bitterness

From everything we've shared, we've seen that God's wrath was created/incurred/brought into activation by sin (as revealed in nature)

It is the same way with what God has done. He wanted to show his anger and to let people see his power. But he patiently endured those he was angry with—people who were ready to be destroyed.
Romans 9:22 ERV

Next:

The wrath of God is everlasting

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. But those who do not obey the Son will never have that life. They cannot get away from God’s anger.”
John 3:36 ERV

While God created an escape plan, righteousness demands a payment for the debt man incurred when he sinned.

For those of us that ask, why can't God just step in and we start over again
Or cancel the whole Adamic sin for a fresh start.

There is no bribery and corruption when it comes to righteousness. You can only find justness here

For anyone to be removed from this wrath (rightfully deserved), the dues had to be paid (in full)

There is no other way outside of this

Also this due, only one person was able to pay it to cancel the debt.
Only one and that's Christ.

This means that no matter how good you are, no matter how much you obey the law. If Christ had not come, none of these things count. Because the debt is not owed as a result of deeds but a nature man activated.

Now, we will ask, what of those who are not privileged to know God. Are they just condemned like that?

This makes God angry because they have been shown what he is like. Yes, God has made it clear to them.  There are things about God that people cannot see—his eternal power and all that makes him God. But since the beginning of the world, those things have been easy for people to understand. They are made clear in what God has made. So people have no excuse for the evil they do.
Romans 1:19‭-‬20 ERV

No excuse whatsoever

All men have evidence of God, From philistine to Gentile to Igbos to Yorubas to Egyptians

God has been revealed to all men. Our response to this revelation is largely in our hands

Off the sermon
In Romans 1, we see that Paul was also addressing Sin as in deeds. ( People have no excuse for the evil they do)

This is because the revelation of God shown to man is very much perfect. It doesn't just save man from His Adamic nature, it is so powerful that it stops production from that Adamic nature. Can that which has ceased to exist give birth?

No!

If we say the Adamic nature is dead, then we cannot bear its fruit. Only that which is alive can birth.

Again, there will be no excuse for evil

So God's wrath is reserved for the ungodly which is every man basically

Now, here is where it gets sweet for us

God's wrath is Justified in Christ and restrained from the godly (those who believe in Christ)

We just said every man deserved sin and became ungodly automatically, no thanks to Mr. Adam
So how did we move from ungodly to godly?

The word we will be examining today is Propitiation

I love this word so much.

I'm an Anglican so I practically grew up hearing this word every Holy Communion service. In fact, that part of the Liturgy, they are meant to pick one of 4 prayers (scripture) but I love the last one so much. So so much

" Hear what Saint John says:
If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 2:1

I also loved the sound of this in Yoruba

"Ohun si ni etutu fun ese wa.."

Means he is the Propitiation for our sins

But you see, I never understood the full effect and meaning of those words until a few years ago. Also, in that prayer, as quoted from 1 John 2:1, there is an emphasis on Christ being Righteous.

There is a reason

I will come to it and explain as I've come to understand.

Back to Propitiation

This word is used just 6 times in the bible but it is a great blessing for man.

To propitiate simply means to turn away wrath by offering a gift

He was given as an atonement for our sins.

Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away too.
1 John 2:2 ERV

Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. I love how simplified this is. Jesus is the offering/gift given to turn away God's wrath FOREVER

So when we talk about God's wrath, for the believer in Christ, it is just a reminder of how much we should cherish this Grace we have received. It is not something to be bothered about

It is a call for thanksgiving. That we deserved something and God Himself found a way to make sure we didn't get it.

Because Jesus died, Justice has been served. Because Jesus made Himself the Propitiation, God's wrath is turned away Forever (not on and off or for some days. Forever!). Because Jesus died, Grace and Mercy is now available. Man is no longer the one who is come short of God's Glory/Greatness

This offering brought about an elevation back to a standard.

As real as God's wrath is, we see even how more powerful God's love and mercy is

So now when we see people ask questions

"Why didn't God just do xyz?"
"Why can't God just do abc?"

Our answer should be:

God already did more than the abc and xyz. He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins

He died in our stead

There is nothing more than can be done.


God did the highest that can be done for me already

And it is perfect!

So when we say Paid in Full? It means exactly Paid in Full

Now, what happens with those of us that believe but we are still burdened with guilt especially cos of our sin struggles

I think every believer has been here at some point in their lives.
This feeling that God is angry at me and foaming in the mouth because I did something

Hmmm... Of a truth, God hates sin. In fact, He doesn't like it when we sin

But God is not angry at you. Even while we were in the world, God's anger wasn't at us. God's wrath is revealed against Ungodliness and unrighteousness which is basically a sin

God's wrath is not revealed against man. No!

The only emotion God has revealed towards man is LOVE. And this love was revealed while we were yet in sin

See, if you will discard everything I have ever told you on this platform, you see this one? Tight it to your chest.

God loves you, dieeee (literally, cos He died for you)

I understand you have sin struggles
I understand sometimes it weighs you down
But you see, it is time to stop focusing on your sin struggles and allowing it to bring fear of condemnation (God's wrath)

On Propitiation...

Scripture says He is YOUR advocate in Heaven. In the court of law, they will say the accused is duly represented by Barrister abc

So in another lingo, Christ is your representation in Heaven. If I send somebody to represent me in a meeting, it means that if you see them, you have seen me. This is to say if Jesus is our representation, then if you've seen Him, you have seen us.

And what is the key representation note?

Jesus Christ, THE RIGHTEOUS

Gloraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!

You and I, we are duly represented as RIGHTEOUS in Heaven. Even with our sin struggles

So don't ever see yourself as less or think that you deserve God's wrath

Well, you did but not anymore. Someone was offered on your behalf. By your belief that He truly did this for you, you accepted Him as your sacrifice and representation in Heaven.

The message of God's wrath is incomplete without the message of God's Grace

Does it now mean we should farabale and kukuma sin in the eye of the carton because we are duly represented in Heaven as Righteous? I can see Apostle Paul spitting out like a correct Igbo man as He says God forbid

Another translation for the Greek phrase Μη γενοιτo is :

By no means! Let not such a thing be mentioned or thought of

Igbo people will say Alueme!

The message of Grace is not licensed to sin. It is freedom from it and its hold in our lives

For whatever it is we are struggling with, God knows. He knew way before. This is why the Holy Spirit is here to help us.

That which we've received is a complete package. We are not just saved from that which we deserve, whatever grip sin had over us is also removed. We are made slaves to righteousness.

When we say Paid in Full, it is not because we want to speak English. Jesus really did this for us.

I remember this hymn:

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from I'm Manuel's veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stain

Every stain of guilt was dealt with completely.

For those who are not saved, we must note that they are subject to the wrath of God as deserved.

Now, more than ever we must go all out and show them this which we have freely received. Preach the Gospel.

There is no other name under heaven given whereby men must be saved.
Tell men about this name.