Now, the truth to be told and using the 20-80 rule, LIVING FOR CHRIST:
1. In this World (on Earth) is 20% ENJOYMENT and
2. In this World (on Earth) is 80% ENDURANCE and
3. In Heaven is 100% ENJOYMENT
Anything short of the above is NOT the truth about LIVING FOR CHRIST genuinely in this wicked World as revealed in the Bible. True! If you personally and carefully check through the pages of the Bible, especially the New Testament, you will see more of the word ENDURE to OVERCOME countless of times compared to the word ENJOY to OVERCOME life challenges. True! (Ephesians 5:15-18; 1 John 5:18-21)
In fact, Jesus Christ Himself said thus:
These things I have spoken unto you, that IN ME you might have PEACE. IN THE WORLD you shall have TRIBULATION: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the World. (John 16:33).
This is because:
1. Immediately you genuinely identify with GOD (Light), SATAN (darkness) will come after you with everything at his disposal trying to bring you back to himself (darkness). True! (Colossians 1:12-14; 1 Peter 2:9,10; 1 Peter 5:6-10).
2. Satan as the prince of the World drives the ungodly ways, manners, cultures, traditions, principles, systems and trends of the World which you are expected to godly live in to please God in Christ. True! (John 14:39; 1 John 2:15-17; Colossians 2:8-10).
3. Many of the men and women you will relate with in the World carries and loves darkness than you in Christ that carries and love light. Therefore, they will not make your walk and work with God in Christ easy in this World. Many will use their witchcraft power to trouble everything about your life and living in Christ. In fact, Jesus Christ said we shall be HATED by all men for His sake. True! (John 3:15-21; Matthew 10:16-42).
Therefore, He (Jesus Christ) sending forth His disciples (which you and I are one today) said we his servants cannot be greater than Him our Master, that if they PERSECUTE Him in this World, they will do likewise to us. Moreover, the Bible reveals to us that as He is, so are We in this World. True! (Matthew 10:16-42; 1 John 4:17).
Therefore, a Christianity teaching that focuses on ENJOYMENT to OVERCOME over ENDURANCE to OVERCOME on living for Christ in this wicked World is deceitful in nature and not biblically driven. True! Take note, take heed!
Apostle Paul counselled Timothy just before his death thus:
But WATCH you in all things, ENDURE afflictions, DO the work of an evangelist, MAKE full proof of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5).
I discovered that these deceitful teaching of ENJOYMENT to OVERCOME in Christ over ENDURANCE to OVERCOME in Christ on Earth has made many genuine Christians discouraged because their lives and achievements in this World comparatively to the people of the World is really nothing to write home about after serving the Lord for many years now, so many genuine Christians are privately, publicly and ignorantly ENVYING the prosperity and progress of the people of the World daily. True! So sad, so bad!
King David was in such ENVIOUS state at a time until he sought the Lord and discovered that why Satan deceitfully deceived unbelievers to seek and acquired materials things, unknowingly to them, it is in exchange of their SOULS, but he (King David) will be spending eternity with God after living godly on the Earth enduring all troubles he will face living right for God. True! (Psalm 73).
Many genuine Christians have NOT yet come to terms that spending ETERNITY with GOD at last or after life on Earth is the GREATEST achievement anyone LIVING FOR CHRIST in this World now can achieve after now and many have NOT yet come to the consciousness that what is at stake now is their SOUL and that if they SUFFER and ENDURE to OVERCOME so many things Satan will bring against them here now, they will be ENJOYING eternity with GOD forever after now. True! So sad, so bad!
That is why Jesus Christ gave a story of the FINAL ETERNAL DESTINATION of a the rich man and poor Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. Jesus Christ telling of this story is not to say that every Christian must be materially poor or seek to be materially poor, but it is a story calling each one of us attention to TAKING CARE of our SOUL now over TAKING CARE of our NEEDS in this World. Jesus Christ is saying it is better to be materially poor and spiritually rich in the sight and side of God here now to make HEAVEN at last than to be materially rich and spiritually poor in the sight and side of God here now to make HELL at last. True! Take note, take heed, Heaven and Hell are real.
Now, let me shock you with this, you will ENJOY (in terms of the way the World sees enjoyment) more on Earth SERVING the DEVIL than SERVING GOD. True! But the truth is, ENJOYMENT in the way of the World is deceitful and temporary because what is at stake is your SOUL and where it will SPEND eternity after your living on Earth is over. True! Take note, take heed! (1 John 2:15-17; Hebrews 9:27).
Therefore, Jesus Christ clearly, boldly and timely said thus:
And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, whosoever will COME after me, let him DENY himself, and TAKE UP his cross, and FOLLOW me. For whosoever will SAVE his life shall LOSE it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it PROFIT a man, if he shall GAIN the whole world, and LOSE his own SOUL? Or what shall a man GIVE in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8: 34-38)
Apostle Paul therefore counselled us before now thus:
But GODLINESS with CONTENTMENT is great gain. For we brought NOTHING into this World, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be RICH fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the LOVE of MONEY is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, FLEE these things; and FOLLOW after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. FIGHT the good fight of faith, LAY hold on eternal life, whereunto you art also called, and had professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:6-12).
Today, the above counsel of Apostle is forgotten by many who profess to be Christians and unfortunately, many Christians do not allow the WORD of GOD to take ROOT in them to produce godly CHARACTER, COMPETENCE and GOOD WORKS in the World to the glory of God the Father because of Jesus Christ in Matthew 13:18-23 termed the CARES of the World and deceitfulness of RICHES. True! So sad, so bad! (Matthew 5:13-16).
Now, while it is good and commendable to be materially RICH in this World, it is far better and best to be spiritually RICH in the sight and side of God, even if it means materially POOR to the eyes of the people of the World. True!
That is why Jesus Christ said to the Church in Smyrna who was materially POOR in the sight and side of the World, but spiritually RICH in the sight and side of God thus:
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things said the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I KNOW your WORKS, and TRIBULATION, and POVERTY, (but you art RICH) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. FEAR none of those things which you shalt SUFFER: behold, the DEVIL shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be TRIED; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you FAITHFUL unto DEATH, and I will GIVE you a CROWN of LIFE. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches; he that OVERCOMES shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11).
Do you just read that?
Furthermore, Jesus Christ said to the Church in Laodiceans who is materially RICH in the sight and side of the World, but spiritually POOR in the sight and side of God thus:
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I KNOW your WORKS, that you art neither COLD nor HOT: I would you wert cold or hot. So then because you art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth. BBECAUSE you says, I AM RICH, and INCREASED with goods, and have need of nothing; and KNOWS NO that you art WRETECHED, and MISERABLE, and POOR, and BLIND, and NAKED: I counsel you to BUY of me gold TRIED in the FIRE, that you might be RICH; and white raiment, that you mayest be clothed, and that the SHAME of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that you might see. As many as I LOVE, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that I OVERCOMES will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches. (Revelation: 3. 14-22; Hebrews 12:1-14; 1 Peter 1:1-7).
DI'd you just read that? That is where majority of CHRISTIANS and CHURCHES currently in the sight and side of God are today. Many Christians and Churches are currently materially RICH in the sight and side of the World, but are currently spiritually POOR in the sight and side of God. True! So sad, so bad!
Yes, CHRISTIANS and CHURCHES can be both materially RICH and spiritually RICH at the same time, but most times material RICHES has the power to get so many back to the ways and manners of the World again. That is also the challenge of today's CHRISTIANS and CHURCHES. True! So sad, so bad! That is why Jesus Christ said you can love or serve God and Mammon (the spirit behind the love for money and material things of the World) at the same time. You will have to love one and hate or despite the other. True! You cannot! Take note, take heed! (1 Timothy 6:6-12; 1 John 2:15-17; Matthew 6:24).
Finally, know and note that different tribulations comes to us all differently, so ENDURE to OVERCOME that hardship or challenge you are currently going through and STAY FAITHFUL to God till you OVERCOME or if it pleases Him (the Lord), till death comes to you, than you compromising to ENJOY in the way of the World now and miss God's REST and BEST now on Earth and in Heaven someday. Please do and remember, God is ever FAITHFUL that after you have suffer for a while, He will perfect you, establish you, strengthen you and finally SETTLE you. True! Halleluyah! (1 Peter 5:6-10).
Put GOD FIRST in all your CHOICE making and DECISION taking in this World and you are GOOD to GO for His REST and BEST in Christ on Earth now and in Heaven someday. True! (Matthew 6:24-34; Romans 8:28).
God bless you.
MODIBO GODWILL
Divine Destiny Messenger,
Author & Speaker
@ The Purpose-costal Movement (TEPUM)
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