Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Talk Tuesday - 15 Minute Challenge


How are your New Year's resolutions going? Are you still going to the gym or eating salads for lunch? It is hard to stick to them but here is a challenge that will pay better dividends. Find a quiet place and spend 15 minutes with the Bible and God. Read a chapter or a few verses, and ponder what God is saying to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the Word. Read it over and over, then ask yourself what is God saying about Himself and about you. Do this for 30 days. As you begin to learn to spend time with God, He will reveal Himself to you. You will begin to experience God in a deep and new way. Even if you don't believe in Jesus, ask God to open your eyes to the truth. This will be the best thing you do this year. 

Have a blessed 30 days!
Andrew Akam

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 NIV)

Monday, January 19, 2015

Talk Tuesday - What Does 'The Flesh' Look Like In 2015?

As Christians we are all called to be free. The Bible says,

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13 NIV)

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (Galatians 5:16, 17 NIV)

What does the Bible say about the acts of the flesh?

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV)

We might say that this applies to people in the New Testament. In 2015 how many of us look at tv shows and movies that glorify sex outside of marriage? You say witchcraft?  No one does that anymore. Do you read the horoscope or go get your palms read? How many of us get into fits of rage or harbour hatred towards people? Did not Jesus say this was like murder? What about Facebook? Am I saying Facebook is a sin? How many of us sit on Facebook and get jealous or envy the people that seem to have a 'better' life than we do. Let's not talk about drunkenness and the wild parties people go to.

The Bible cautions...

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21 NIV)

This is a scary thought. Why do we indulge the flesh? Because the devil is deceptive.  All these things have become acceptable in today's society, but until we see them as sin, we will continue to do them.

We are asked not to walk in the flesh but to walk in the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23 NIV)

Love,
Your Brother in Christ,
Andrew