Identity Theft
Identity theft is rampant in our times. We are warned, protected and even insured from those that steal identities. Identity theft is stealing and or living with someone elses’s details, posing to be someone you are not.
Knowing your identity is one thing, walking in the knowledge of who you are is another. Now not even knowing your identity is another level entirely though a lot of us suffer from knowing our identity and it being stolen from us.
The enemy has been stealing our identity a long time ago, right from the garden of Eden. When one lives like he or she doesn’t know who they are, where they are from and what power they have in this life through Christ, they have lost their original identity. The devil is the originator of identity theft and when we assume what the bible doesn’t say about us, we have fallen victims to identity theft.
In the world today, we are identified by race, culture, behavious and attitudes. Even christians identify by this criteria first before anything else. I dare to say that Identity should first be categorized in Christ Jesus. We should understand who we are in Christ, what behaviours, attitudes and dispositions or beliefs should we have, what should we be known as, what identity should we flag around as a chosen nation and a royal priesthood under God.
A person who lacks knowledge of God through his word is an easy target for identity theft. He or she lives a lifestyle not described by Christ, the Messiah. They mock the things of God by their behaviours and utterances yet expecting the “goodies” that God allocates. One who let’s his identity in Christ to be stolen from him is living in another man’s shoes, that man being the devil.
Have an identity check today: has your identity been stolen?
The Blueprint
I recently read an ariticle featured on Essence Online about a couple who are still happily married 83 years and counting. This story, though simply shared, sparked a great deal of thought as I reviewed the marriage status around us.
Speaking in Jesus House, Pastor Agu began a 4 part series on marriage and gave tough but thorough insights to this topic. The reason for this teachings sparked from discussions especially within brethrens who have no hope, respect or value for marriage, the younger generations do not see role models or true examples of love in a home between couples so are not looking forward to getting married, some do see the need to be married but do for the wrong reasons with no understanding, the media and everyday occurences do not encourage one to value marriage either, sad but true.
“The blueprint for marriage belongs to the creator himself, he designed it and put a stamp of ‘it is good’ on it” echoed Pastor Agu as he taught an attentive congregation. He continued and explained that for us to understand this blueprint, we need to ask the inventor. A lot of us don’t ask the inventor rather we seek answers from people who have no idea what the creator’s intention and purposes are.
It’s the hardness of our hearts, ignorance and lack of biblical and spiritual knowledge that causes us to end up where we are today explained Pastor Agu. The maker has the blueprint, to get the blueprint we need to connect to the creator of it. We need to own up to actions and responsibilities clearly defined for us if we want to partake in this covenant.
I once heared someone say marriage is not for babies, learning and growing in Christ I would agree that it’s truly not for babies in Christ, its for the spiritually mature in Christ.
Complete obedience to God’s word will cause a complete fulfillment of his word due to our obedience, the blueprint is God’s print so let’s get with the program the way it is originally designed.
This series is needful and a timeless message for all generations no matter your status, its never to late, order for Blueprint For A Succesful Marriage through the Jesus House website.
Addicted
With the influx of so many technologies that support our habits, many of us have become slaves to things that we may or may not be proud of. (Isn’t it funny how the best tool the enemy uses against us is the power of distraction getting us involved with things that steal our time with the Father?)
In order to put this article in perspective, I needed to get to grips with the meaning of addiction; which (in my definition) is to be enslaved by something (situation, habit, person, and item) where we ‘feel’ the need to continually and consistently feed.
The thing I ask is this: why do we get addicted to things of the world and not things of God? Is it so enticing and somewhat ‘cool’ to be a part of these addictive craziness and not even know the depth of damage it causes?
Reflecting on all these with the help of a gospel song called ‘Addicted’ by Frank Edwards (a Nigerian born gospel artist) I needed to evaluate all my addictions to see and validate where I am in God’s will. I decided to do a case study on myself and turned myself off from everything addictive so I can test my addiction levels. After a few days of withdrawal symptoms, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I began to forget and not ‘itch’ when those addictions were not satisfied; my flesh was finally being controlled by the Spirit! Within that time, my closeness to God, his ways and his will were clearer and more real than ever before. I saw that I was addicted to so many things that though not visibly harmful now, still contributed to my slow pace regarding achieving my goals in Christ.
Addiction is of various forms, in varying degrees and on various things. A lot of us (Christians too) struggle with addictions which are common and uncommon, some of us may not even know it is an addiction. I dare to say that anything that takes the place of God and His WORD is an addiction.
We slowly become what we hear and see and what we feed will grow. The only thing we should be addicted to is God, God and God alone!. There is so much to learn and know and because we may never know it all, we must then strive to (with the little time we have left and if Jesus Christ tarries) by spending time digging God’s statues, his ways and his plans and also spend time understanding what the Kingdom is all about.
What addictions are you struggling with? Anything can be controlled by God, talk to us now through walkwithme@dvsoul.org.uk