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Punishment for lying against the Lord and making false prophecy using His name

By
Ogba Victor
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0
3 strong punishments for lying against the Lord and making false prophecy using His name

The year we are in is a year of judgement. I became privy to this in the hour of prayer. It is the year in which God will call to remembrance his adversaries and judge them according to their works. He will punish their insolence, unless they repent fast.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14

When the Bible says God does judgment, it means that His eyes are very open to the doings of men. And that for every action we take, whether good or bad, a judgement and verdict will ensue. There is no going scot-free; there is no ‘God will overlook’. As much as we are vested in doing evil, let us also be interested in knowing that its Judgement will also come.

Lying against the Lord is an act of rebellion. It is a wilful act to deceive the church and God’s sheep to trust in lies and look away from seeking their God and to know and keep His law, in which lies their true success. Anyone who derails the church which Christ laboured in death and pain to redeem is an enemy of God.

Time of Grace and Mercy is the extent to which God will take our wicked tantrums against him. Beyond this time is no mercy, only punishment and destruction. Let us turn back to God. And let the liars who do violence to the Holy name of God repent today and harden their hearts no more. For my God shall soon sweep all His enemies under our feet. Amen

Now there are three most spelt our punishment for the sin of lying against the Lord

1. Losing the God of the call and his advantage, ie God will abandon you

This is for those who operate their lies on and off the pulpit. The easiest way to lose a ministry and a divine assignment is by losing the God who started it. The shortest route to becoming bereft of a spiritual endowment is by grieving the Spirit of the anointing. Once God is gone, the ministry is over, and soonest the grace that follows a man will become a thing of the past. Once the Spirit has had enough, he will quietly walk away, and the one who walked in manifestations will become ordinary.

Know that God’s Judgement does not fly over the heads of ministers. He is not a respecter of persons. If he judged, rejected, and turned away the priests and prophets of Israel who peddled lies, the One who does not change will do the same today.

Have you ever wondered why many people dwell on their past? They often reminisce about the miracles and signs they once experienced and the kingdom authority they used to possess. What has happened? Why are those signs so distant from them now? How has the mighty become like mere mortals? I will tell you why: when the Spirit of God has had enough, the glory, power, and ministry come to an end. And I make no apology for this, even if he is still pastoring a church. After all, Adam lived long after he died anyway.

Let us take the Judgement of God against the prophets of Israel, who spoke lies, as a lesson. God not only abandoned them, but He also rejected them and took away their ability to dream and see.

2. Punishment, curses

One who tells lies in the name of God is committing not just evil, but great wickedness against God, his angels, the church, and those whom he tells lies. He also violates God’s word and grieves the Spirit of God greatly. It is treason and an act of rebellion to work against a leader under his nose. This kind of wickedness is categorised as ‘wickedness against the Lord.’ But be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished…(Proverbs 11:21). The scriptures below will explain better.

According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense. (Isaiah 59:18)

If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. (Deuteronomy 32:41)

3. Destruction, curses, deaths for his posterity and generations

There are four passages in the Bible that describe God as one who extends punishment for wickedness to the children and their descendants – Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, and Deuteronomy 5:9-10. This means that when God begins to judge and punish His enemies—those who deceive His people and undermine His church through lies—their children will not escape the fury of God’s judgment. He will not leave the wicked unpunished.

I am a jealous God, and I will bring the curse of a father’s sins upon even the third and fourth generation of the children of those who hate me. (Deuteronomy 5:9)

Let us take a look at the case of Shemiah the liar. Take notice that his seed was a beneficiary of the punishment for lying against the Lord.

30 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, 31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: 32 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the Lord; because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord. – Jeremiah Chapter 29

Conclusion: Tell the believers to stop lying in the name of God. Tell those lying seers and lying preachers and prophetesses that it is enough. Let us once again sanctify the name of the Lord our God and His Son by speaking truth only in his name. Thus says the Lord:

For From the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 1:11). Amen!

‘Thus sayest the Lord’, the sin of lying against the Lord

By
Ogba Victor
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0
lying against the Lord

In this article, we will confront a major anomaly in today’s pulpit ministry – lying against the Lord. We shall also clearly articulate why God strongly disapproves of this pattern, which we normally see among modern ministers.

There is a sin called the sin of lying against the Lord. This evil was greatly practised by the Jewish pastors and prophets in the days when God majored on them as the apostolic nation of the world. The sin of lying against the Lord registers when men say, declare, or prophesy things and portray them as coming from the mouth of God. The idea was theirs, the word was theirs, the thoughts and imagination were theirs, but to make it acceptable and fit for approval, God’s name is attached to it, and the people latch onto it as a divine oracle and promise.

“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds. Jeremiah 14:14

Let it not seem strange to say that this sin is greater today than it was in the days of the Jews. One day, God revealed to me that the Christian church of today has done greater wickedness than the Jews. Surely, we deserve worse for our wrongdoings, especially considering the corruption of our pulpits by lying preachers.

When raising funds, many preachers make claims that God is telling them to collect money from the church. I once attended a church event in 2014 where a prominent preacher stated that God demanded we give 14,000 Naira because it was the year 2014. I don’t mind him raising funds for the host church, but why attach the name of God to such an absurd claim?

A preacher conducts thorough research and approaches the congregation to deliver a message, stating, “God says I should announce to you…” or “This is the message God gave me…” in an attempt to validate his ministration. While there is nothing wrong with presenting well-researched outlines and saying, “I am here to speak on this topic…”, claiming that it is a message from God is essentially lying against the Lord.

I come from Nigeria in Africa, I minister in the southeast, and I minister in a competitive system. No one wants to be hidden; everyone wants to shine and be acceptable to the audience, so that promises of favour and declarations of blessings can make one the people’s man. Those who have figured this out have become mighty in prophesying divine favours even when God is not speaking favours and blessings.  I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. – Jeremiah 23:21

Clearly, today lies a great ignorant congregation because their shepherds are ignorant in the masters of God. Their ignorance causes their worrisome crave for prophets of good things over those who have the oracle and counsel of the Lord. Does God only prophecy good things and not warnings? Do not reproofs and corrections also come from God? The words of Christ unto the seven Churches in the Book of Revelation were they full of favours and promises of good times?

Some say there are 13 persons here according to what God has said, and then 20 person comes out to give. The King of Heaven should have known the number of people before that day. But these pulpit rebels think we do not notice them, how they manufacture numbers in their heads and are lying in the name of God.

This wickedness extends far beyond just priests and the pulpit. I once attended a prayer meeting aimed at averting death based on supposed visions from God. Just as we were focused, a woman suddenly drew attention to herself by speaking loudly. She boldly declared, “This says the Lord I have removed this death from you.” The congregation erupted in joy, singing praises. Yet, just two days later, a member of that church died.

In that same congregation, there were two sisters who always prophesied during high-intensity prayer sessions. However, every single one of their declarations of “thus says the Lord” turned out to be false. When I left that church and joined another, I encountered members who routinely spread lies in the name of God, claiming them to be prophecies. Witnessing such blatant dishonesty and wickedness in the churches led me to decide never to trust the prophecies of men and women within the Christian church again.

Prophecies of the Bible misused

Some misconceptions stem from the biblical promises God made to His people. Someone reads in the Bible where God promised to be with Israel and then stands before a Christian congregation, declaring, “Thus says the Lord, I will be with you!” or “The Lord told me to announce to you, I will be with you.” Such statements are often misleading and constitute empty prophecies.

It is crucial to understand that unless God has spoken directly to the preacher, there is no justification for claiming, “the Lord says…” or “the Lord tells me to announce to you...” The individuals receiving the message are entirely different people, each with their own unique circumstances and needs. What God said yesterday is not what he is saying today. This is also a lie.

When a man climbs the pulpit and says, “God said I should tell you that it will be well with you.” This here is another lie against God. God has not told any church that it will be well with them. But only the righteous. And we know that the church today is a mixed multitude, like an undone mixture. There are wicked men, sinners, agents of Satan and all kinds of people in today’s churches. Again, it is a biblical prophecy to the righteous, but they pick a prophecy from the bible and say, “God said I should tell you!” Well, the laity, members or anyone can also pick up a biblical prophecy and say, “God said I should tell the church…”

Let us be totally certain that each time we have said, ‘thus says the Lord, God said I should announce to you…’ that God has truly said it. Be sure not to tell the congregations things and attach God’s name to it. Do not pick up a Bible prophecy and say, “Thus says the Lord to you.” These things are lies, and the punishment thereof is great, oh, I tell you.

The love of Jesus Christ which encompasses knowledge

By
Ogba Victor
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0
the love of Jesus christ

In this episode, we will be investigating the love of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind. This topic is significant because the Bible provides us with intriguing details about the love of Christ. And our scripture of emphasis will be Ephesians 3:17-19 and Romans 5:8.

To truly appreciate the love of Christ, we first need to understand human love. When everything is seen as special, nothing feels truly special. However, the love of Jesus Christ will stand out when we understand the pitfalls of man’s love.

The Love of Man

It is not exactly true that love is everlasting, especially when we consider the complexities of human nature. When human love faces stress and challenges, cracks can begin to show. Various circumstances can cause love to fade, regardless of how strong the connection may seem. Even a mother’s love has its limits, and there are many instances where parents have disowned their children.

I once had a conversation with a young man who had identified as homosexual. He reached out to me in hopes of reconnecting with his mother. He implied that her anger stemmed from his not being married, but I sensed his mother’s disdain when I spoke with her. I couldn’t help but think that her anger was likely related to the fact that her only child had come out as homosexual. I’ve seen a video of a man crying bitterly upon witnessing his sons dressed in women’s clothing.

There are numerous reasons why parents may react strongly against their children, and conversely, children sometimes reject and disown their parents for various reasons. We often see siblings live in perpetual hatred, and marriages often falling apart. While I don’t want to delve into the reasons why love may fail, it’s important to recognise that humans are wired to have rational thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions. When the reasons for which they feel or do things have diminished or are overshadowed by other circumstances, they will also change and act very differently.

Additionally, some forces can kill human love, such as disrespect, insults, lies, distrust, infidelity, and even certain spiritual influences that may cause individuals to lose affection for others. Human love often comes with expectations. When someone loves you, they typically anticipate some form of reciprocation. If those gestures are not returned or are met with negative elements, that attraction may eventually fizzle out.

The love of men has heights of expression. No matter how much I claim to love you, there are just some things that I can never do for you. I cannot die for you to live. I cannot kill my own child for a loved one. If a beloved child trespasses and is sentenced to life or death, they have to carry their own cross. Our love contract has terms and conditions.

We can summarise human love as conditional, limited in its giving, influenced by circumstances, and subject to questioning.

The Love of Jesus Christ

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:17-19

In Ephesians chapter 3, verse 17, Paul explains that through faith, Christ takes abode in our hearts. He continues by saying that when we become rooted and established in love (note that this is the fruit of love, which is unique to all saints). Now, when this love is evidently in us, and we are grounded in it, that is to say, we come to realise what love truly means, we will then comprehend what the love of Christ is.

Paul continues to tell us that we will then achieve a comprehension of the width, length and height, and also get to know the love of Jesus Christ, which is beyond all knowledge.

What does it mean when we say that His love is beyond knowledge? It implies a love that is unreasonable, irrational, and beyond understanding. Whatever is beyond knowledge surpasses human understanding. This is how Paul describes the love of Jesus.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

In Romans 5:8, Paul speaks about the love of Christ, referring to it as a demonstration of God’s love. The God who loves and the God who died for us are not different beings; they are the same. The entire Godhead has demonstrated His love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ, the second person of the Trinity, died for us. We will explore the love of Christ through three undeniable facts.

The Love of Christ is Unconditional

Unconditional love is the love that does not have any conditions attached to it. This is the primary love that God has for mankind. While certain attributes may influence our affection for one another, this is not the case with Christ. It does not matter what someone has done or what they will do; this love remains constant until the end.

Even though God and Christ hate sin and will ultimately punish the wicked, He still loves them. Even though God will punish thieves, homosexuals, liars, and other sinners, He holds strong affection for them and works tirelessly for their salvation. It does not matter whether we beat Him, spit on Him, curse Him, mock Him, betray Him, kill Him, or fight against Him—His love persists. This is why Paul refers to it as being beyond reason.

His love for those who are his enemies is why the gospel exists. That is why he calls evangelists and has commanded the church to go out, so that somehow his enemies can know and accept his love and become His friends and sons.

The love of Christ is sacrificial

Hopefully, with an understanding of the sacrificial love of Christ, believers can recognise the level of their selfishness and false profession of love. Christ’s sacrificial display of love was shown in that…

  1. He sacrificed his divinity and worship because spirits demand worship from mortal men, but he chose to abandon that exalted position and embrace humanity for our sake.
  2. He sacrificed a comfortable life and lived in poverty, sharing in the meagre meals of the poor. If he had chosen to, he could have come as a wealthy Christ, but that would have undermined God’s plan. What if Christ had been rich?

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich – (2 Corinthians 8:9)
  3. He sacrificed his life for sinners and humanity.

The love He exemplified was one that puts away pleasure, painfully labouring for the work of Him who sent Him, which is ‘MAN’. In contrast to today’s believers who profess love but hardly ever make sacrifices to substantiate it. While we claim that the love of God is in us, there is no sacrificing our time, resources, sleep, or pleasures for the sake of others and the gospel. Why is the kingdom failing today? Because believers are no longer ready to sacrifice and hazard their lives to advance it. Our selfishness is over the roof; our unwillingness to make sacrifices has stunted the growth of the kingdom of God. Food and relaxation are what we pursue today, even our Pastors today love sleep and the fatness of the flesh.

Let us understand that from the days of John the Baptist, the Kingdom of God has been advancing by sacrifice. Men who sacrificed their lives, time, relationships, marriage, love, family, resources, values, and welfare brought us the message of the kingdom. And if today we begin to become self-centred and selfish, the kingdom will go nowhere. Not even the next generation will see any light unless men make sacrifices to ensure that.

The love of Christ is Redemptive

Redemptive love is a powerful form of love that strives to save one from danger. No one who truly loves a person will be eyes open to the destruction of whom he claims to love. One scripture that encapsulates this concept is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish.” This scripture summarises that Christ has loved us to save us from destruction.

Consider a parent who claims to love their children but allows them to make harmful decisions without guidance or accountability. This approach is often echoed by those who say, “I support my gay child” or “I support my transgender child.” However, true love involves more than mere acceptance. When one recognises the potential consequences of a child’s choices and fails to intervene, that is not love; it is neglect. Real love seeks the best for others, even when it requires uncomfortable conversations. Christ’s love was not merely about acceptance; it was a love grounded in redemption and the pursuit of the best for us.

How to overcome the deadly sin of Greed

By
Ogba Victor
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0
deadly greed

Having seen how deadly greed can be in the previous post, one may decide to ask the preacher, ‘What is the way to overcome this insatiable pit of uncontrolled desire?’ The answer to this lies in the word of God.

As we discussed in the previous post on greed, it is vital to note that greed is not simply an anti-body type of sin; it is a cancerous one. Unlike a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection that enters the body and creates disorder, cancer arises when a cell mutates and begins to grow abnormally. One crucial aspect of these growths is that they cannot simply be removed; they require treatments, such as chemotherapy, to effectively eliminate the cancer.

Similarly, you cannot rid yourself of greed as easily as you might choose to stop stealing, fighting, or fornicating. Greed is ingrained in human nature, and once it has escalated and become cancerous, it cannot simply be ignored. Therefore, there are strategies that can help one combat the sin of greed and overcome it. It’s important to remember that the word “overcome” implies that there is a battle that must be fought and won. The Spirit of God is happy when we have won this fight, akin to the world celebrating cancer survivors. Below is how to overcome the deadly sin of Greed

  1. Overcoming Greed through the help of the Saviour

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – (Matthew 1:21)

The bottom line here is that Jesus can help. He is the sin doctor. His saving grace is the surgery that cuts away the cancerous growth, even though surgery does not entirely eradicate cancer. One who wants to defeat greed must turn to the Saviour of mankind. It is He who has been ordained to take away the sins of His people. A desperate heart must cry out to Jesus like Barthemeous the blind, who said, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” One in need should emulate what Peter did when he was drowning. He cried, saying, “Lord, save me!” Greed kills, but Jesus came to give us life.

2. Walking in the Spirit

Certain sins do not simply disappear, especially those that are ingrained in human nature, such as envy, anger, and greed. It requires an intentional decision to follow the leading of the Spirit and to obey His prompting and His word. This is similar to advising a sick patient to avoid things that could cause cancer to return.

At some time in Paul’s life, he was faced with a cancerous plague that broke his very will to do what was right. Here is an excerpt from the book of Romans, chapter 7:15-25

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Notice that the Apostle Paul, after his lengthy reflection on his struggles in life, concludes that it is through Jesus Christ that he will be delivered from this body of death. Now, death or the body of death implies the natural state of the man who does not know the saving grace of Jesus. A dead body cannot influence its reality even if it wants to.

In Chapter 8, Apostle Paul begins another detailing of how he won his battle after Christ aided him in overcoming death’s grip.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Paul discussed the concept of walking according to the Spirit, which means willingly submitting to the guidance, instructions, and directives of the Spirit. These directives can come daily, momentarily, or even instantaneously, guiding how to live, act and react to situations. Submitting to these dictates will help to mortify the flesh.

Walking in the Spirit also entails knowing the Word of God and adhering to it. It involves understanding what the Spirit desires and acting upon those desires, even when it conflicts with one’s own will. At times, our flesh may express its fallen nature, but we must resist and say no, having already learned the ways of the Spirit. Each time we reject the desires of the flesh, the Spirit grows stronger, and we gain life. Conversely, when we align with the flesh, the Spirit weakens, and the flesh gains more ground.

The act of denying greed and doing deeds that oppose it will enable the Spirit of God to eradicate greed. This is called spiritual chemotherapy. However, one must first discern the promptings of the Spirit and His instructions. This leads us to the final step: consistent exposure to the Bible as immunotherapy.

3. Ardent exposure to God’s Word (immunotherapy)

Scripture-based immunotherapy is crucial for halting the growth of greed and other sinful behaviours. Diligent exposure to the Word of God empowers one to recognise what the Spirit delights in and what the Spirit of God despises. Listening to sermons, engaging in Bible studies, and meditation are essential steps to eradicate greed and many other sins. As David boldly declared, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11.

Summarily, to overcome greed and combat it effectively, there are three key steps to follow:

  1. Bring your struggles with greed to Jesus the Saviour.
  2. Follow and align your life with the guidance of God’s Spirit.
  3. Immunise yourself with God’s Word to serve as your protective shield.

The Deadly Sin of Greed, Why One Must Run Away From It

By
Ogba Victor
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0
greed

In this post, we will discuss one of the deadliest sins: greed. This destructive sin has the potential to ruin anyone, regardless of how highly anointed they may be.

Greed is characterised by a selfish, excessive, and insatiable desire for more than what one needs, often manifesting as a relentless pursuit of wealth, possessions, power, or status. It extends beyond basic needs and can lead to harmful consequences. Unlike simple needs, greed is characterised by an endless, often unprincipled pursuit of more.

A greedy individual seeks to accumulate wealth, riches, power, and recognition, often at the expense of others, disregarding moral standards and ethical methods. Despite their efforts, they are never satisfied and continue to look for ways to exploit people and opportunities to fulfil their desires.

Do you see the world as it is today? It has been shaped by greed. African nations have been devastated by greed. Greed has torn apart many families and destroyed many homes. Greed has turned many nations into war zones. Some deadly pandemic which savaged millions was caused by greed. Christianity lost its potential to change the world due to greed. Greed has brought disdain to the pulpit today, especially in the Western world. Greed derailed the church and destroyed peaceful coexistence.

Greed as a cancer:

As I understand it, cancer is not an antibody; rather, it is a body cell that has grown out of control. Greed operates similarly. Every person is capable of feeling greed to some extent, but unless it is countered by God’s word and practised through righteousness and His grace, no one can overcome or prevent greed from developing into harmful behaviours. Unlike Ebola, which can kill instantly, cancer slowly deteriorates a person, gradually draining away their strength and vitality until death is imminent. This is how greed can destroy individuals. It creeps in and eventually turns them into shadowy versions of themselves. When greed enters a Christian’s heart and goes unchecked, it is only a matter of time before they become spiritually lost after death.

Signs of Greed:

There are early signs and late signs of any deadly disease; likewise, there are signs that show greed is brewing and budding in our hearts.

  1. The lack of contentment: Discontentment drives many people to desire things that they cannot legitimately obtain. Even when they achieve a certain level of their desires, it is never enough for them. This phenomenon is evident in many African politicians.
  2. The Love of Money: This has caused men to do unspeakable things to gather riches and wealth.
  3. Stealing: One who steals is just one who is trying to satisfy his greed.
  4. Exploitation: Willing to use fraudulent means to cheat and get something from others for personal gain. 

Greedy figures in the bible:

Greed is an old sin. The bible avails us with stories on the deadly nature of the sin of greed.

  1. The first greedy being was Satan. He had everything: power, majesty, glory, and beauty crafted. Extremely anointed, but his greed for more power and glory corrupted his heart until he no longer saw God as God and wanted to become God himself. All of creation has not recovered from the avarice of Satan.
  2. Achan was a biblical figure who fell victim to greed and ultimately faced destruction because of it. He stole and took war booty despite the Lord’s instruction for Israel to destroy everything after battle. His actions had dire consequences, affecting both himself and the nation of Israel.
  3. King Saul was also a notably greedy figure. Despite having everything handed to him by God as the king of Israel, he was never satisfied. He even took the little things for himself, spiteing the God who had anointed him with oil. This sin led to his downfall and rejection by God. Not only was his lineage denied kingship, but greed also opened the door for even greater abominations, which he did. Ultimately, greed led to his own death and the destruction of his family and others.
  4. Judas Iscariot is known in the Bible as the man who betrayed Jesus and sold Him into the hands of those who murdered Him. Greed was his ultimate weakness. It is also noted that he was a thief, stealing from the purse used for God’s work. He sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. His end was horrible, but that is what greed did to him.

What greed does to a man:

  1. Greed will lead a man to betray his loved ones, betray his family, betray his conscience, betray his people and betray those who have done them good, and betray their God.
  2. Greed kills the conscience and hardens it in the wake of insatiable pursuit.
  3. Greed is a killer of love and can transform individuals into the worst versions of themselves.
  4. It brings about a lack of peace, unhappiness, and anxiety.
  5. Greed can ruin a believer’s relationship with God.
  6. Greedy people make ultimate enemies along the way.
  7. After destroying and sucking away every atom of humanity and diluting mercy, pity, and the fear of God, greed will in the end take individuals to eternal damnation in hell.

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” –Luke 12:15

Read: How to overcome the deadly sin of Greed

Seven (7) Areas of Christian Holiness Consecrations

By
Ogba Victor
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Understanding the concept of holiness is quite straightforward if one recognises that holiness is part of the inherent nature of God. He is the Holy God and works among us as the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of Holiness. Therefore, holiness is integral to God’s character. The Bible, in many scriptures, emphasises the command to be holy and pure, stating that without holiness, no one will see God, and that because God Himself is holy. Consequently, I have taken it upon myself to enlighten God’s people about the seven areas of holiness.

By definition, holiness is the separation from the filth of the world and the consecration to the nature of God. It involves consciously and intentionally choosing to embody the very nature of God by steering clear of things that do not reflect His character. In essence, seeking to be holy means imitating God and Christ, who is the ultimate embodiment of holiness.

Holiness of the Eyes

As believers, we are expected to maintain purity in our eyes, as they are one of the windows to our minds. Keeping our eyes holy involves a conscious decision to avoid harmful images, such as nudity, pornography, and inappropriate visuals often seen in music videos. Additionally, we should strive to refrain from looking at the body parts of the opposite sex to keep our vision uncontaminated and honourable.

Holiness of the tongue

Holiness in the use of the tongue is demonstrated through honesty and a commitment to avoiding lies and deceit. Practices such as slander, reviling, gossip, backbiting, cursing, and using vulgar language are all examples of unholiness related to speech. Additionally, singing worldly music that glorifies immorality and sin is also considered unholy, as spiritual individuals understand that such actions do not please God.

Holiness of the Ears

The ears serve as a vital window into the inner consciousness of a person. Whatever is listened to is likely to reflect in the individual’s behaviour. As believers, our ears are meant to align with the very nature of God. Therefore, we teach that listening to worldly songs that do not glorify God and promote sin and immorality is unholy. How do we know this? Because Christ Himself would never have listened to those demon-inspired songs. And yes, we are called to be holy just as He is holy.

Holiness of the Mind

Holiness of mind addresses inner holiness because only God can assess the mind and know those whose minds are pure. Hatred, malice, evil thoughts, unforgiveness, and thoughts of sinful pleasures or lust are all examples of a tainted heart.

Holiness of the Hands

Those who continue to fight, steal, make offensive gestures, and engage in other sinful acts using their hands are not holy.

Holiness of the Body

Body defilement is evident in sexual immorality. Fornication, adultery, incest, homosexuality, transgendering, lesbianism, and bestiality are all ways of defiling the body and engaging in utter unholiness. Believers must distance themselves from the defilement of their bodies, which are temples of the Most High God.

Holiness in Dressing

This aspect of holiness is one that we need to emphasise to the churches of today, as it seems we are following the ways of the world rather than God and His Spirit. The Bible speaks about decency and modesty in how we dress. For some reason, clothing seems to be getting shorter and skimpier day by day. Gowns are becoming shorter, skirts are getting smaller, and trousers are fitting tighter. It appears that Satan has influenced many fashion designers who deceive our young women with seductive and inappropriate outfits.

Our worry is for those who claim to have found Jesus and are supposedly called unto holiness, as it is written: “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:7. We worry that they put on these ungodly vestments. We fear most because somehow these robes and garments have found their way into churches. There seems to be a little dressing purity in today’s churches and in the Christianity of today’s believers who mention God but have no iota of godliness or ‘God-likeness’ in their appearance. If the word Christian means Christ-like, are we truly like Christ when we put on seduction and unholiness? Is Christ unholy? Will Christ applaud us in those semi-nude outfits? But these unholy vessels say they are Christians and call on the name of our God.

Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. – (2 Timothy 2:19).

Our young men must also learn to dress decently and not reveal their inner garments in public. We also know that there are men who dress to seduce weak women. But it should not be so with you, oh Christian, for we were called unto holiness.

Now we know that there is one who seeks to lead both men and women into sin and destruction – the devil. Those who create fashion trends that promote ungodliness are more aligned with him. Those who advertise such unholy clothing are similar to him, and believers who choose to wear these garments contribute to his work of leading others into sin and destruction. These will God judge with Satan on the last day unless they repent and return to Holiness.

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, … and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. – Revelations 11:18

Holiness of the Feet

Finally, there is the holiness that relates to the use of our feet. A believer’s feet is not to be found in the house of idolatry. His feet should not be seen in the house of harlots and prostitutes. For even God and angels find such places repulsive, why should a believer be found there?

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” – Leviticus 19:1&2

God’s problem with the pastoring of many priests, pastors and church leadership

By
Ogba Victor
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pastors

The phrase “my people perish for lack of knowledge” is a biblical verse from Hosea 4:6, which means that destruction comes from a lack of knowledge, particularly divine prophecy, principles and processes, and counsel. Lack of knowledge leads to poor decisions, spiritual decline, and negative consequences for God’s people.

It must be recognised that it was the priests and pastors of the Jews who led their followers into destructive ignorance. This misguided approach to pastoring is alarmingly common in today’s churches, commonly referred to as “pastoring to oneself.”

Take, for example, a shepherd who is meant to lead people to God, positions himself as god before the people. Consequently, the people are deprived of the knowledge and spiritual experience that comes from a true relationship with God; they become overly reliant on their pastors.

These pastors build their own disciples instead of disciples of Christ. Members who know their pastors, love them, feed them, give unto them, but they do not know God, neither do they give Him His due honour and fear. This is why believers of today can fight and do all kinds of things to defend their pastors, without considering the mind and judgments of God. For they were not engineered to love and have God at heart before any other man. This practice is nothing short of evil.

Some pastors recklessly and audaciously state, “I am the God they see.” This kind of statement must be well rejected. I believe and preach that every member of the Christian church should personally encounter and know God. All, if possible, should see and hear from Him. All believers must establish a connection with Him and develop their own gifts and covenants with Him. However, these experiences can only be fostered when pastors are genuinely committed to nurturing a congregation that truly knows their God.

I had a colleague—a pastor—who once shared a deeply troubling story with us about a tragic loss. A man faced a spiritual attack the night after his return from his village. As he was dying, his wife tried to contact their church pastor to no avail. She also tried to reach her pastor’s wife on the phone, but she never answered, leaving her without help. Desperate, she called my pastor colleague, but his phone was off. And by morning, the man who was struck died.

The grieving wife confronted this colleague of mine, saying, “If you had just answered your phone, my husband would still be alive.” On hearing this, I was offended, realising that misguided pastoral leadership had contributed to this man’s untimely death. Let’s be clear: God cannot take responsibility for this tragic outcome. Those who pastor this woman and her husband will take the first blame for not discipling members who know their God and can wield his power against evil.

At first, God was small in the life of this man and his wife; that is why adversity prevailed. For those who are far from God will perish- (Psalm 73:27). That this woman was looking for help from her pastor and pastor friend is a pastoral failure. Furthermore, her lack of knowledge of the Word of God reflects poor discipleship. Her inability to access the power of God shows shortcomings in both pastoring and church membership. Ultimately, God will not bear the blame for these failures.

Meanwhile, the demised man lived a few hours after being struck, meaning he did not know what to do to turn back the hand of the adversary. This family was clearly ignorant and bereft of the things that could have saved this man’s life.

It is the pastors and priests of God’s people whom God has appointed to develop God’s people in the knowledge of God, on the word of God, on the power of God, on the things that will work for their deliverance on the day of adversity. It has been given to ministers of the gospel to warn, rebuke and correct members who err in their nonchalant attitude towards their relationship to God. When the People do not know all these things, they will be vulnerable and will soon become prey for their enemies.

When I voiced my perspective and frustration, my colleague attempted to stress the importance of ministers in the lives of their congregants. However, I firmly refused to be swayed. Yes, ministers are huge in God’s plans for his church, but this over-reliance and dependence on the prayers and proclamations of their pastors is a serious error. And yes, many pastors enjoy the attention. They believe that the dependence of God’s people on them makes them relevant. What they are truly after is love and goodwill gestures.

He must increase, but I must decrease

John the Baptist in John 3:30 was met by his disciples, who had also told him that many in Israel are now going to Jesus for baptism: the attention has shifted from him. Yeah, many, and even some of his followers now follow and listen to Jesus. John reminded them that he was sent to fame Christ. He is not the Lord, and the people must know and follow their Lord. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is expressed as pastoring men towards their God.

Failed membership

Failed membership occurs when a pastor diligently plays his role, but the members are determined to go their own way. Members who do not prioritise attending Bible study, prayer meetings, and church service. Therefore, God’s true pastors should never stop warning the people about the consequences of being a church member without a willingness to grow in their walk with God and in the knowledge of the Lord. We cannot stop telling them that many dangers await those who are not serious about kingdom discipleship and recalibration. And more than anything, pastors must pastor God’s sheep unto their God.

‘keeping Oath’ – the great lesson believers should learn from Herods murder of John

By
Ogba Victor
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'keeping Oath' - the great lesson believers should learn from Herods murder of John

In the book of Matthew, Chapter 14, we encounter the tragic narrative of John the Baptist, whom Christ called “more than a prophet,” and how he lost his life. John was brutally murdered; King Herod ordered his head to be cut off to uphold an oath he had made to his daughter.

This scripture presents a crucial lesson for believers—not from the martyr, but from the man who orchestrated John’s beheading: King Herod. The account clearly shows that Herod was neither happy nor eager to have John killed. However, he felt obligated to follow through on his oath, made in front of many, to avoid being seen as a king who makes promises but fails to keep them. This act reveals an important detail about King Herod: he was a man of his word, always bound by his own vows and commitments.

Often, we observe that individuals who make vows to Satan and take oaths in darkness strive to uphold those commitments, even to their own harm. This raises an important question for believers today: What about our vows—the promises we made before God, the commitments we made when we began following Christ, and the pledges we took when we agreed to work in His vineyard? Where are those vows? What have we done with them?

Today, many believers who made vows to love Christ to the end, to follow where He leads, to be a true soldier, to die at their post, to go wherever He leads, to go wherever he sends, and to do whatever he says have all abandoned their words of oath and vows. What about marriage oaths believers make before God, the Church, and many? Many have thrown those altar vows out of the window? When forming churches or denominations, we make vows to follow Christ and to be led by His Spirit. But after a while, we begin to follow the board, agree with influential people in the church, bow to General overseers and church leaders, and the society begins to reform our views. As for the Spirit of God, He has to adopt and adapt to the choices of church leaders.

Many ministers who initially made vows to follow only the will of God have strayed, now pursuing their own agendas and desires. The God to whom they pledged their commitment has been pushed aside, and alarmingly, many are actively working against Him and His plans for the Church. They have clearly forgotten the early days filled with tears and solemn promises never to turn back. Preachers who boldly declared they would never compromise have succumbed to the temptations of money, power, and influence. Church politicians have successfully bought over pastors who once vowed to serve no one but Christ.

Christian hymn– ‘In the cross‘ and others which we sing as a way of vowing our faithfulness and submissiveness have become empty rhetoric for many. Many Saints who sang them have become enemies of the old rugged cross. Those who sing ‘Until I reach my home‘ have recklessly discarded the true compass of Home and aligned themselves with those destined for eternal damnation. These have willingly embraced darkness by participating in occult practices within the church. What can we say about clergymen who claim to sing ‘Thy will be done’ while actively working against God’s will, transforming themselves into church politicians?

We have neglected our vows; we have broken our promises. Today, there seems to be little faithfulness in the church of God. But in times like this, God would that Herod’s unwavering commitment to his own words would be a lesson to every believer. And that all His people would remember, and turn back to the vows they made before Him and begin to keep them.

The God of Faith – How God was the first to exercise faith

By
Ogba Victor
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I have at times in the past wondered why God demands His people to be men and women of faith. The word of God reveals that without faith, we cannot please Him; without faith, there are things we cannot receive from Him. But the answer lies in the fact that the supreme God Himself, being the God of all things and having all things subject to Him, also lives, walks, and works by faith. He who has all things under His control is also subject to faith. Therefore, faith is a crucial factor.

There are words that can be used interchangeably with faith like trust and belief. While faith itself is the evidence of things hoped for, the proof of what is yet to be seen. Meaning that while we are yet to see the reality, we work as if to say we have seen it already. We make ‘B’ plans as if ‘A’ will surely work.

If we use trust to illustrate faith, we will speak of it as unwavering belve and hope. The attitude we will further exhibit is to make future plans because we believe that they will not fail. The Scripture relates to us various areas where God has shown us His great and unwavering faith.

  1. God’s faith is shown in the Creation

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. – Hebrews 11:3

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:1-4

When I reflect on the creation narrative, I can’t help but wonder where God obtained the design and creation template. Were they simply His imaginative ideas? After all, He had never created anything before, so how did He know that speaking could bring things into existence? He was driven by nothing but faith—the belief that when He spoke, it would come to be. Without doubt, He spoke everything into existence. It’s interesting to note the point where God looked and saw that the light was good. This suggests that He was amazed by the brilliance of His creation, which came into being with just a spoken word.

2. God showed his faith in His redemption plan

The fact that the thoughts of men were wicked, evil, and callous, the sensible response would have been to act cautiously to avoid failure. Yet in the redemption plan, God chose faith over fear, firmly believing that the sons and daughters of God’s kingdom, willing to give everything—even their lives—for Him, would arise from the grand plan. If he had prioritised caution over faith and held back from fully committing to this plan, he would not be witnessing the remarkable success he sees today. The heavens would lack the great cloud of witnesses that now exists. His willingness to take a leap of faith propelled him forward, so he confidently closed his eyes and embraced the plan.

3. Faith shown in His calling and predestination

For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with stewardship. – 1 Corinthians 9:17

Once again, God demonstrates great faith in His calling and predestination of His saints and ministers. The Apostle Paul asserts that he has been entrusted with the gospel to preach. No one can place something into the hands of another unless there is some level of faith that the person can meet expectations. This applies not only to the Apostle Paul but also to us as His servants and ministers. God exercised His faith by calling us into His vineyard and designating us as His ministers. Although many have disappointed Him and caused Him to reconsider the trust He placed in them, He continues to bring new people into His work and predestines future generations by faith.

Conclusion

Now we understand why God delights in faith and insists upon it: He is a faith being. Even now, He continues to work, curating plans and making investments based on the faith. We can be certain that when the Bible says, “The just shall live by faith,” The Just King and God Himself also lives by faith.

‘I Serve Not A Man’ modern hymn – Ogba Victor C. Dominic

By
Ogba Victor
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Choose for you this day
Decide all today
To serve the Lord God 
And not a man

Chrous:
To serve not a man
To serve not a man 
To serve the Lord God 
And not a man 

Can we not afford
Can we not accord
To serve the Lord God 
And not a man

How gainful for us
How gracious for all
To serve the Lord God 
And not a man

What miles would we go
What heights would we climb 
To serve the Lord God 
And not a man

Oh come all ye lands 
Oh, come great and small
To serve the Lord God 
And not a man

Hymn written by Ogba Victor C. Dominic (2025)

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