[Ukemeobong Michael]

I will share my little experience about my evolution of some sort with giving a Christian teenager growing up.
I grew up in the a Roman Catholic background and I learnt early to do certain rites like what was called the Novena or some penance where I would fast in other ways like volunteering to fetch water for the needy students or just sacrifice a part of my meal in the boarding house(which by the way was a difficult thing to do if you’ve been to a boarding school). But these helped me see the world differently. Then after high school, the the Holy spirit would impress upon my heart to give beyond my usual offerings and sometimes I would trek back home because I had given my transport. I would take some food from home to another neighbour who didn’t have. All these I did because I believed that this was my way of showing obedience to God and I actually saw God blessing me in various ways and increasing me in wisdom.
Then I started listening to some prosperity messages and some of them made giving become a bit complex and mechanical to me especially when I was told of different kinds of offerings – from first fruit to seed, to breakthrough offerings and the likes. We were even encouraged to borrow to give beyond our abilities. I started struggling because I wasn’t sure if I was even giving enough. In fact, there was a time I almost believed that the only way to get God to answer your prayers speedily is to give or sacrifice something or that if you are going through a difficult time or delays, it must be that you are not giving enough😁😁.For me giving became transactional and I lost my fulfilment.
Then the Holy Spirit began to teach me again about the basic ways of giving. God is not hungry and is not looking for your money before He can bless you. He cannot ask you for what He has not given you. His commandments are not grievious.He loved us even when we did not love Him back. So you cannot make Him love you more. When He inspires us to give, it is always for our good and to train us to be like Him. Jesus said that if you’re unfaithful with unrighteous mammon, how then can you control divine riches.
Giving cures our selfishness and greed and frees us to see God as our source. We become more like God because then we are not attached to earthly things but use them as tools for God’s glory. Then God can trust us not to become carried away with the fashion and lusts of this world. Only then can the true power of God become more evident in our lives because we have crucified the flesh and have divine contentment. We can say like Paul in Philippians 4 that we know how to have contentment in whatever situation we find ourselves. I believe this is why God tested Abraham by asking him to give his most valuable item- his son. God didn’t need that sacrifice, which is why He stopped Abraham in his tracks. However, He made Abraham an everlasting blessing.For me, I plan my giving every month because God also expects us to organise our lives, but I am also aware that a need may arise to be met in the Kingdom and I will do so as I am led by the Spirit. I now strive to give from a planned, intentional, voluntary, willing and a happy position, in appreciation of God’s blessings and not necessarily so He can bless me (which He does) or to get Him to do something for me(which He does always anyway).

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thank you Nia. I think its a captivating heading. We have been trained in our traditional education system to compete with each other to reach a predetermined goal in order to be termed successful. Unfortunately, we don’t know who set the goal or determines what success is. I often think about it that our examinations are geared to favour those who can memorise data or facts and regurgitate them without recourse to others who appreciate facts differently. I see why homeschooling seems to be a trend though it has its own social challenges.

I agree that as believers, its important to infuse our children with the right concepts about life while we guide them to follow their God-given passions and purpose. In dealing with my children I try to watch how they respond to different scenarios or experiences of life, from food, to TV programs, to individuals, et. This helps me understand how to relate better and engage them better.

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thanks @phil4krist for this enriching discussion. I have just shared it on my Facebook page because so many people out there need to hear it as well.

I think this re-echoes the recent discussions on this platform and Kingdom channel live. Life is not a passive process where we say, “que sera sera”- whatever will be, will be or as some talk about “fate”. Also some may misunderstand faith to mean abandoning everything to God without any commitment on our part. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for … There has to be a hope also for faith to work. When we preach the gospel, ww create hope so that faith can be birthed in the hearts of the hearer.

This message is so important to me, because it reminds me about the blog made on this platform at the beginning of this year about Taking stock. It is crucial to have a clear plan on different areas of our lives and then in the middle of it, we take time out for evaluation and reappraisal of how far we’ve come and then see which areas we can tweak for greater productivity. As a student, what is your goal, is it to graduate with a distinction or make a mark in your field? It is possible if we set the right daily targets and work towards it. In my profession, I know my curriculum is very wide and I cannot afford to wait until few months to exams to prepare for it, so I plan to start early. In my family, I look out for how each member can be the best of themselves and try to provide the tools and inspiration to them. I actively choose my friends and relationships to be productive ones. In my personal life, I think of how to raise my standard of living by striving to replace old things to match my current level in life. There were times I couldn’t afford a brand new equipment and had to get the cheaper ones though lower quality, but as I increase, I try not to get stuck in that old thinking too, I can now go for the higher quality that I can afford. In my spiritual life, I look at how to increase my prayer time from just the one hour; how to surround myself with more spiritual materials; contribute more financially and in physical committments to the growth of the fellowship. Financially, I’m thinking of ways to increase my self- worth, productivity and investment portfolio so I can take advantage of God’s grace for my prosperity, even when it meant taking a large pay cut to go into a training position for few years, because I know, I’ll get the pay back after I finish at a higher level.

There’s a lot to say but like Paul says, its good to constantly renew our minds, so we can plan and be transformed into God’s best for us.

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Interestingly, I preached this message last sunday in church and I was glad to see a young couple who had only recently joined our Local assembly, come up to indicate interest in being actively involved in different departments in the local assembly. In our local assembly, I do everything I can to make the service go smoothly and I’m not the Pastor. I do the drumming, conga, the technical or logistics and still preach or lead prayer or anything that I’m given to do. Because like I said, its my father’s house so I refuse to be cajoled to do anything. Its how we always did it as @phil4krist can attest to. We do everything so the church (which is you and me), can be built up.

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Sure! by the Stripes of Jesus we are healed from every plague and by his death and resurrection, we have divine health. Despite the wonderful advances in medicine, true wholeness comes from Jesus!

[Ukemeobong Michael]

We will keep holding on and encouraging each other to the end. Amen

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thank you @phil4krist for this educative post. Always refreshing to talk about the concept of God’s Kingdom which is the true essence of the Christian life. I will summarize with 5 points, of the words that jumped at me in the Kingdom chat:

– Christianity is not a religion but about culture – the culture of heaven on earth.

– The purpose of Christianity is not to take men to heaven rather to bring heaven to earth – in the hearts of men.

– The kingdom is not after the earth and its properties (For me this means it’s not about acquiring big lands, cars or luxuries to prove like the world does, that we are successful) but after the world’s culture and mindset which is what determines the world’s way of life on earth. This for me is the Kingdom concept. Paul says in Ephesians 6 that we are not fighting against flesh and blood rather we should brace up against the strategies (military tactics) of the evil forces in the unseen world, acting through deception. Also in 2 Corinthians 10:3 he says, that we do not wage war with human weapons but we use God’s mighty weapons (His concept, the Kingdom concept) to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning, corrupt culture and destroy false arguments. This is why we preach the gospel that God’s influence is here now, permeating into the hearts of people.

– The Kingdom of God produces the Church. Wow! Every time someone hears this gospel of the Kingdom and opens up their heart to be influenced by this new culture, a new church is created. So its not when we open a new church office or facility that a new church is created. It reminds me of cell division in elementary biology. Each cell produces its kind by growing then dividing into several cells which become a tissue, many tissues get together to form an organ; then different organs functioning together with the same goal become a system. As we keep up with this gospel, we form a strong SYSTEM on earth governed by the principles of God.

– Lastly, the Kingdom of God is about influencing society and culture and less about religion. I couldn’t agree more. I think this is the meaning of soul winning. The soul is the seat of human will, reason and intellect which runs by information. We win the soul through the information we input in its system and for us its about influencing it to think, decide and act based on the information from God. Praise God!

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thanks Pst Rick. I believe Christianity without spiritual gifts is just another religion. Spiritual gifts remind us of our supernatural life.

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thanks Phil.

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thanks Nia

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Lol! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me 🤣🤣🤣

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Surely! I can attest to that.This is why we do what we do. We trust God for that paradigm shift in our time. Thank for sharing.

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thanks@elyon for sharing. I can say that I’m in the same boat as you. A bit introverted and just prefer my comfort zone😁. But as I get to fellowship with believers, I look out for that niche that I fill and then I realise that people like us have great grace when we tap into depths of ourselves.

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thanks a lot @purposefaith for sharing. Quite instructive. Yes there are no shortcuts or special impartation to make one suddenly mature. We need to engage in the fellowship to be built up. We need to express our God-given blessings.

[Ukemeobong Michael]

Thanks a lot @purposefaith for the wonderful examples you’ve given. You are an example of innovation in child care which is evident in the forum, parenting little ones. I’m sure you’ll have more to tell us with the arrival of the little princess. As stated here, many times people just want to get married and have kids on autopilot, without a clear plan of what they want out of the relationship. This is the source of the restlessness and unfulfilled expectations which engender strife, bitterness and dissensions. Thanks for letting us know we can actually study a few materials or courses to refresh or sharpen our parenting or marital skills.