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PERILS OF MINISTRY   Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthian Church, chapter 4 verse 1 says: “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not. This clearly indicates that believers have assignments they have been dedicated to. And to accomplish the assignment God gave gifts: “It was he who  ‘gave gifts’ he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God’s people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.” Eph 4 verse 11 and 12 GNB.  This is God’s appointment for ministry. Simply, it can be referred to as religious office for the benefit of the body of Christ. In the process of fulfilling this noble task, there are associated dangers and risks: hence the PERILS OF MINISTRY.   In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, Apostle Paul, a man ordained by God in ministry, enumerated some instances where he experienc...

  *_The Joy of the Lord is your Strength_* And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, *"This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep."* For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. *Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."* ~Neh 8:9-10 So as they were reading the scriptures and as the scriptures were being explained, the people came under a godly conviction, for they realized how far they had failed in keeping the law of God. *The Word of God brought conviction to their hearts. And realizing their failure before God, they began to weep* as the scriptures were being read. It's always a beautiful thing to see God's Spirit working in the hearts of people; and how the Word of ...

  *_"For as he thinks within himself, so he is."_ Proverbs 23:7 _*Be encouraged to know that you don’t have to be afraid of the battles in your mind. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Based on God’s Word, right believing is the key that unlocks the treasures of God in your life, giving you access to the fullness of His love, grace, favour, blessings, and forgiveness. Jesus has already paid the price on Calvary’s hill. The hindrance then between you and your victory is your wrong beliefs. The battle has to do with your beliefs.*_ _*The enemy knows that if he can control your thought life, he can manipulate your emotions and feelings. For instance, if he can make you entertain thoughts of guilt, failure, and defeat, you will begin to feel lousy about yourself, physically weak, and even depressed.*_ _*Our emotions are flags that indicate to us what our thoughts are. Thank God for emotions. They tell us if something is terr...

  _*Understanding the Judgement Seat of Christ and the White Throne Judgement*_ As Christians, it is important to understand the difference between the Judgment Seat of Christ and the White Throne Judgment. The Judgment Seat of Christ is a judgment that Christians will face after death, where our works will be tested to see if they were done with sincerity and in accordance with the will of God. The White Throne Judgment, on the other hand, is a judgment that none believers will face, where they will be judged based on whether or not their name is written in the book of life. In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Paul explains that our works for the Lord will be tested by fire. If our works were done with good intentions and were in accordance with God's will, then we will receive a reward. However, if our works were done with selfish motives, such as wanting to be recognized by others, then those works will not be rewarded. We must examine our motives when we serve the Lord, to ensure that we...