The Real Grace

MEMORISE:

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." - (Romans 6:14)

READ: TITUS 2:11-12 (KJV)

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

MESSAGE:

There are many preachers today who say that once a person is saved, he or she is forever saved, so the fellow would go to heaven even if he or she keeps committing sin. That is a big lie. My own Bible says clearly in Romans 6:15: "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." 

Real grace enables you to live holy rather than permit you to commit sin. What the grace of God does is give you the ability to live above the dictates of your flesh. It is by grace that you are saved (Ephesians 2:4-5). After that, the grace of God that brought you salvation will then teach you to live holy. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world". This is the true work of grace that the Bible talks about.

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. - (2 Timothy 1:9)

Please ignore anyone who tells you that the grace of God allows you to commit sin. That is a message from the devil, carefully put together to send many people to hell. The devil knows that no sinner will enter into heaven, so he carefully crafted this message for Christians to ensure that they continue to sin even after responding to the altar call, but he will fail over you, in Jesus' name.

I have had big men of God argue with me over this subject and each time, I tell them, "Let us assume that you are correct, and once I have given my life to Christ before, heaven is sure even if I keep committing sin. That means if rapture takes place or we both die, we will both go to heaven. But if you are wrong, that means if rapture takes place now or we both die, I will go to heaven, and you will go to hell. Either way, I am still correct. I would rather choose the safe path". What about you?

KEY POINT:

Grace is the enablement to live above sin, not permission to commit it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MARK 8-9

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE 

HYMNAL:  8 - I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

1. I need Thee every hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

REFRAIN: 

I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee;

Ev'ry hour I need Thee!

Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,

I come to Thee! 

2. I need Thee every hour,

Stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their power

When Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour,

In joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide

Or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour,

Teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfill.

5. I need Thee every hour,

Most Holy one;

Oh, make me Thine indeed,

Thou blessed Son!

Culled from the Redeemed Christian Church of God Open heaven manual. 2023.

THE VEBLEN EFFECT

At 23, Julius Caesar was a junior politician on the way up – and he had substantial advantages: Confidence and Brains!

While sailing across the Aegean Sea, he was captured by Sicilian pirates. They demanded a ransom: 20 talents of silver. That is about 620 Kg, worth about $600,000 today.

Caesar told them they were being ridiculous. He couldn’t possibly allow himself to be ransomed so cheaply. The pirates hesitated; they were confused. Caesar insisted the ransom must be raised to 50 talents of silver –around 1,550 Kg, worth about $1.5 million.

Now the pirates had no idea what to make of this. Normally, their captives tried to escape as cheaply as possible. They didn’t understand what was going on. But, if he said he would double the ransom, why argue? 

They let Caesar’s men go back to Rome to raise the money. And in Rome, in his absence, Caesar suddenly became very famous and well known. No one had ever been ransomed for such an enormous sum ever before.

People assumed he must be someone very special; he must be incredibly important. Thus did the demand for such an enormous amount of silver for ransom put Caesar on the political map and made him famous.

He had just invented _*’The Veblen Effect’*_. Although Thorstein Veblen wouldn’t give it that name for another 2,000 years !

Interestingly, the Veblen Effect is an illusory psychological strategy that has been in use for generations – for thousands of years. It describes the phenomena wherein consumers perceive higher-priced goods to have greater value and be much better than they actually are … _*simply because they cost more*_!

Ironically, despite all the knowledge, technological advancement as well as awareness and detailed understanding of it, the Veblen Effect continues to persist. 

There are many examples … Rolex, Cartier, Bentley, Apple, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin, Harrods, Cristal Champagne, etc.

These products may not be any better – functionally – than their cheaper alternatives, but their high prices alone make them _seem_ better, more valuable and therefore much more desirable.

Caesar effectively made himself a Veblen brand. He placed a much higher value on himself than anyone in Rome. But, as far as anyone in Rome knew, it wasn’t he who had done it; It was an _independent valuation_. Which made it credible and authentic. And because Caesar was now so highly valued, his men had little trouble raising the ransom. They returned to the island and freed him.

But Caesar wasn’t going to allow the pirates to keep that sort of money at all. As important and famous a man as he had become, it was easy to raise a huge force which he used to hunt down the pirates and take back all the money, plus everything else they had pillaged, and then execute all of them.

Thus, Caesar became both very rich and very famous.

In time, with that same combination of confidence and intelligence, he became the ruler of all Rome. And he presided over the golden age of the Roman Empire.

Expanding it from Spain to Germany, from Britain to the Middle East. Because Caesar understood that reality begins in the mind.

So, the most important piece of real estate in which to stake a claim is the human mind.

How you stake a claim in the mind is by creating a perception. And how you create that perception is by controlling the context.

Control the context and you control the mind.

Control the mind and you control reality.

A very good example of ‘The Veblen Effect’ is Johnnie Walker Double Black Scotch whisky!

The _basic_ JW Black is labelled as being at least 12 years old scotch. But JW Double Black has no age statement! 

Nonetheless, JW Double Black is sold at a higher price than basic JW Black based on the perceived notion that 'double black' must be much better than just 'black', and that is reinforced by Double Black being much costlier than Black!  That is how the human mind works.

In reality, no one knows what is so special about Double Black, except that the label claims it to be very smooth; without actually saying it is _smoother_ than Black! 

Many believe that this is simply a marketing strategy to pass off un-aged scotch at a much higher price, through the Veblen Effect!

Apple mobile phones are another such product, the phones have far less features that Android phones, have a far inferior battery life and yet are twice the price of Android phones!! A Classic Veblen effect. It's amusing that particularly the people who don't understand technology at all, fall for the Veblen effect and buy Apple products, despite them having a far higher, overall cost of acquisition.

And that is how the Veblen Effect, when properly implemented, becomes a highly successful and profitable marketing strategy … to separate consumers from their hard-earned money while simultaneously leaving them feeling good about it – and continually coming back for more!

Always be kind to somebody

  I was the poor kid growing up. My mom used to send me to birthday parties with no present, just so I could eat. I definitely got to a point where I understood and was embarrassed as hell.

In fifth grade, my friend’s mom invited me to sleep over the night before the actual birthday party. When her daughter was in the shower, the mom laid out the toys that she had bought her daughter

for her birthday. She let me pick one to wrap and put my name on.

I’m 37 now. I am still grateful to that mom. That one act made such an impact on me.

Always be kind. 

If you see someone falling behind, walk beside them. If someone is being ignored, find a way to include them. If someone has been knocked down, lift them up. Always remind people of their worth. Be who you needed when you were going through hard times.

Just one small act of kindness could mean the world to somebody today.

STOP RAISING AN OVERDEPENDENT GENERATION!

  MOST PARENTS OF TODAY ARE RAISING AN "OVERDEPENDENT GENERATION" 

1. You cook their food for them so that they can read and enjoy.

2. You help them to wash their clothes and tidy their rooms.

3. You drop them off in school every day by yourself!

4. You lie on their behalf to get them out of trouble.

5. You arrange "expo" to help them pass their exams.

6. You protect them from every danger and difficulties.

7. You prevent them from any form of pain and suffering.

8. You don't want them to suffer like you did as a child.

9. You hustle around while they watch films and play games.

10. They can't go out alone because you're always scared.

11. You take every decision for them, because you're wiser.

12. You go to their schools to fight for them and prove rights.

13. You defend them even when they're wrong and at fault.

14. You can not stand seeing them starve or go hungry for once.

15. You fight against those who try to correct them.

*I PITY YOU*

.....YOU ARE BUSY RAISING AN OVER- DEPENDENT GENERATION !!!

You think you are showing them LOVE ?

*SORRY, YOU'RE WRONG* !!!!

By the time you're no longer there and they face real life challenges, they will become helpless !!!

At that stage, they will realise the havoc you have done to them and CURSE YOU !!!

*STOP RAISING AN OVER-DEPENDENT GENERATION !!!*

Allow these children to face realities of life !!!

Be careful !!!

*Raising Responsible Children*

1. Give your children age-appropriate domestic tasks, even if you have a thousand and one domestic servants at home. It is sheer ignorance to think that doing everything for your children is a mark of honour or a way of bequeathing royalty on them.

2. Teach them to be useful and make their impact felt positively wherever they are found – in the school, place of worship, in another person’s home, etc.

3. Encourage your children to always leave a good impression wherever they go to; teach them to be courteous, respectful, friendly, cheerful and helpful.

4. Teach them good toilet manners – they must know how to keep the toilet neat for the next user, let them know that it is unacceptable to leave the bathroom floor and/or walls messed with soap, foam or any form dirt after bathing.

5. Teach your children the importance of taking good care of their body and their environment; whether they are at home or elsewhere. Remind them that responsible people don’t leave their rooms unkempt or their bed unmade when they get up in the morning; teach them to bath very well and smell fine always. It is unbearable to have a smelly young person around you; let them take care of their armpits, teeth, hair, nail, etc.

6. Teach your children to manage their used clothes and other personal belongings very well, whether in their home or elsewhere. It can be irritating to have dirty clothes or shoes, especially those of a visitor litter every corner of the house.

7. Let them pack their toiletries before leaving home. Your children should not depend on their hosts for their basic toiletries like soap, cream, tooth paste and other essentials.

8. Teach your children to dress well all the time, especially when they are spending time with another family. You probably allow your daughters to dress in bum shots and your sons to walk about with their chest bare in your home, but they may not be safe if they do so in another place. You may not know where a predator would lie in wait for a child.

9. Teach them good table manners; not the one recited in nursery schools rhymes. Teach them to chew with their mouth covered, not to make noise with the cutlery on their teeth, not to talk with their mouth full, etc.

10. Let your children know that washing only their own plates after eating is not a noble idea.

11. Remind your children that jumping into a conversation when adults are talking is a sign of being ill-mannered. Discourage this both in your home and elsewhere.

12. Help your children not to be social birds online and anti-social bugs offline. They should relate well with people around them, much more than they do with virtual folks they meet online. Please, discourage this idea of young people locking themselves in the room hours on end without communicating with anyone in the house – all because they are on phone.

13. Empower your children to uphold your family values wherever they are. But before then, make sure that your family values are credible, empowering, socially and morally beneficial.

14. Teach your children to control their appetite and learn to turn down certain offers, even when such offers come from people they know. And at home, it is not compulsory that they must taste everything they see someone eating. This will help them to take their eyes away from certain things when they are in other people’s home.

15. Always remind your children that they are the window through which the world sees you. If your children’s behavior outside is bad, the general consensus is that they lack home training. And since children are not meant to give themselves home training, it means that you failed as a parent.

16. Finally, make sure your children know God. Salvation is not hereditary; that you are godly or highly spiritual is not a guarantee that your children are saved. You must consciously and deliberately lead them to God

My fellow parents, let us try our best to make sure these children represent us well. I am sure you will feel good if you come to your children’s school and people are pointing at you as the parent of the best behaved child in the school. Won’t you?

THE SCHOOL OR TEACHERS CAN'T GIVE THEM ALL!

MAY GOD ALMIGHTY MAKE OUR CHILDREN RESPONSIBLE AND SUCCESSFUL!!.

15 Rules for Men

 1. Never go back to the woman who cheated.

2. Never let a woman disrespect you.

3. Never shake a hand sitting down.

4. Never go broke to impress others.

5. Never eat the last piece of something you didn't buy.

6. Always have the ambition to be better.

7. Protect who is behind you, and respect who is beside you.

8. Take 1-3 seconds pause after getting asked a question.

9. Don't beg for a relationship.

10. Work out at least 4x a week.

11. If you are not invited, don't ask to go.

12. Always carry cash.

13. Dress well no matter what the occasion.

14. Listen, nod, and most of all make eye contact.

15. Find multiple ways to make money.

MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Mental Health as a state of well-being in which every individual can carry out four roles: -

a.     Realize his/her potentials

b.     Cope with normal stress of life

c.      Work productivity

d.     Participate meaningfully in the community. It also includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being.

It is important to note that the bible does not explicitly speak on the topic of mental health. However, it does have a lot to say about the heart, mind and the condition of the soul. Health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a complete state of physical. mental and social well-being. It is not just the absence of disease or infirmity. Mental health is important as it affects the whole being. (Proverbs 4:23).

In contrast, it is a psychological disorder affecting one’s mood, thinking and behaviour. The term mental illness covers a broad range of disorders from mild depression to schizophrenia – a condition that impairs a person’s ability to think, feel, process and respond to life situations in an appropriate way. Mental illness can distort our view of God and others and as well contribute to sinful behaviour.

There are some cases of emotional issues in the bible such as

a.     Depression. 1 kings 19:1-4

b.     Loneliness. 1 kings 19;10

c.      Hopelessness. 1 kings 17: 9-12

d.     Suicide Matthew 27:5

e.     Rejection. 1 Samuel 18:7-8

f.       Insanity Mark 5:1-5

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

It is the desire of God for believers to live a peaceful and fulfilled life (Genesis 25:8; Jeremiah 29:11). However, there are some believers who are not operating in this realm of God’s intention for them. This may be as a result of some of these factors; -

a.     Childhood abuse          Proverbs 17;22b

b.     Trauma/neglect             2 Samuel13:19

c.      Loneliness                       1 Kings 19:10

d.     Discrimination/oppression    James 2:6

e.     Poverty                              Proverbs 10:15

f.       Loss of loved ones         2 Samuel 18:33  

g.     Debts                                   Proverbs 22:7

h.     Low self-esteem               Numbers 13:33

i.        Severe stress                     1 Samuel 30:4,6

j.        Family difficulties/challenges Genesis 34:30 etc. Also in some cases, spiritual forces have a direct effect on mental health 1Samuel 16:14; Mark 5:1-5.

To overcome mental ill-health and enjoy emotional well-being, you must understand that

1.       Failure and challenges are part of human life Proverbs 24:16

2.      Investing in good social network and godly relationship are important 2 Samuel 9:1

3.     Loneliness and isolation which are risk factors for depression and suicidal behaviour should be avoided. Proverbs 17:22

4.     Good sleep helps the brain restore itself. Proverbs 3;24

5.     Regular exercise expunges toxic chemicals from the body. 1 timothy 4:8

6.     Drug abuse is not an option for good health

7.     Healthy thoughts are necessary always. Philippians 4:8.

Conclusively, good mental health is necessary for good daily living. Therefore, take care of your health.

God bless you.

Source: The Redeemed Christian Church of God Sunday School Manual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YOU ARE NOT HOME YET.

After forty years of faithful service to the Lord as a missionary to Africa, Henry Morrison and his wife were returning to New York.  As the ship neared the guy dock, Henry said to his wife, "Look at that crowd.  They haven't forgotten about us".  However, unknown to Henry, the ship also carried President Teddy Roosevelt, returning from a big game hunting trip in Africa. 

Roosevelt stepped from the boat, with great fanfare, as people were cheering, flags were waving,  bands were playing, and reporters waiting for his comment, Henry and his wife slowly walked away unnoticed.  They hailed a cab, which took them to the one bedroom apartment which had been provided by the mission board. 
 
Over the next few weeks, Henry tried but failed to put the incident behind him.  He was sinking deeper into depression when one evening, he said to his wife, "This is all wrong.  This man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody throws a big party.  We give our lives in faithful service to God for all these many years, but no one seems to care." 
 
His wife cautioned him that he should not feel this way.  Henry replied "I know you're right, but I just can't help it.  It just isn't right."
 
His wife then said, "Henry, you know God doesn't mind if we honestly question Him.  You need to tell this to the Lord and get this settled now.  You'll be useless in His ministry until you do."
 
Henry Morrison then went to his bedroom, got down on his knees and, shades of Habakkuk, began pouring out his heart to the Lord.  "Lord, you know our situation and what's troubling me.  We gladly served you faithfully for years without complaining.  But now God, I just can't get this incident out of my mind..."

After about ten minutes of fervent prayer, Henry returned to the living room with a peaceful look on his face.  His wife said "It looks like you've resolved the matter.  What happened?"
 
Henry replied, "The Lord settled it for me.  I told Him how bitter I was that the President received this tremendous homecoming, but no one even met us as we returned home.  When I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But Henry, you are not home yet!
It is not yet time to congratulate ourselves neither is it time for us to tell ourselves that we have done enough. Heaven is the home and as long as we are not yet there, we have to keep pressing on.
God help us!