I CHOOSE SELF DESTRUCTION!

I CHOOSE SELF DESTRUCTION....by Evangelist Elder Elvis Abenga

Just a thought.......

In Maslow's Theory of Motivation and the Hierarchy of needs, man's need for self actualization is put at the top as the ultimate goal. Thus, in his idea, everything that man does is geared up to fulfilling the need for self actualization.

I however pose a question and take a moment to ponder....as Christians, should we be seeking for self actualization? Is the purpose of the various careers that we have, and everything that we do, just in a bid to attain self actualization?

Or shouldn't we be seeking rather for self destruction?

In Galatians 2:20 we see Paul saying " I am crucified with CHRIST, nevertheless I live, yet not I but CHRIST liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

He further proceeds in Galatians 5:24 to state that " And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

It behooves me to wonder why?

Self actualization was the genesis of the attempted satanic coup in heaven. Consider the language and attitude in Lucifer's words in Isaiah 14:12:

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer son of the morning, how art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations ! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of GOD, I will sit also in the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High"

This passage can be compared with that in Ezekiel 28:12-20.

Lucifer desired self actualization, and as he sought self actualization, he turned his eyes away from JESUS CHRIST, pride came, and after pride, the fall.

In Eden, Satan, the enemy of souls proceeded to instruct Eve on his theory of self actualization. He deceived Eve in to believing that GOD did not want her to attain self actualization. "....Ye shall not die: For GOD doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5)

In the pursuit of self actualization, man fell into sin. GOD's image in man was lost.

The purpose of salvation was to restore in man the image of GOD that was lost due to sin.

But in order for the plan to be accomplished, CHRIST had to undo what Satan had done. He had to teach humans the truth. Man had for centuries past been learning in the school of Satan, how to achieve self actualization. Man had to unlearn what he had for ages been learning.

Thus the Great Teacher taught His disciples the true way to Salvation. "...If any man will come after me," said CHRIST, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23)

He taught the path to self denial, rather than self actualization.

Thus from the Word of GOD, my greatest goal in life should not be self actualization, but rather, self denial, and complete destruction of self.

From the pen of inspiration we get the following words,

"Man must be emptied of self before he can be, in the fullest sense, a believer in Jesus. When self is renounced, then the Lord can make man a new creature. New bottles can contain the new wine. The love of Christ will animate the believer with new life. In him who looks unto the Author and Finisher of our faith the character of Christ will be manifest" (Desire of Ages page 280)

It thus remains the choice for all of us to make. Shall we seek for self actualization? Or shall we seek for self denial and destruction?

Shall we seek to satisfy self, or shall we seek to be emptied of self?

Shall we seek to have the mind of CHRIST, who being in the very form GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in likeness of men? (Philippians 2:6-7)

As for me, myself and I, I choose self denial.....I choose self destruction. In JESUS CHRIST's Name. Amen

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

This is the big question that so many ladies long to hear from their spouses. It is the big question that makes even the mighty men to shake like reeds. Fear of the unknown makes even the mightiest men to tremble and shake.

Yet, the one question that everyone needs to answer is this......WILL YOU MARRY ME?

The institution of marriage was created by GOD in the garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (See also Matthew 19:5-6 Mark 10:7-8 and 1 Corinthians 6:16)

Marriage is an act of recreation where 2 individuals are fused and joined together to become one. They become so completely one that according to Matthew 19:5-6, they are no longer 2 but one. This denotes perfect unity.

As I study the Word of GOD, I realize that earthly marriage is just but a type of the spiritual marriage. Just as a man is united with his wife, and they become one, CHRIST seeks to be perfectly united with the church, His people, that they become completely one.

In John 7:121 CHRIST makes a prayer as follows "That they may all be one; just as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may realize that thou hast sent me."

In verse 22, illustrating the perfect oneness,he says " I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the whole world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

This is the degree of unity that CHRIST sought for.

Take note that in the above verses, in John, perfect oneness is needed for the world to believe in the gospel ( from the phrase "that the world may realize that thou hast sent me"). Perfect oneness in CHRIST is what is lacking, otherwise the gospel would be done already and CHRIST would have come back.

.....................HAS THIS KIND OF ONENESS EVER EXISTED BEFORE?..............

In Genesis 11 we realize that such a oneness ever existed, albeit in a wrong direction.

Genesis 11:6 " And the LORD said, Behold the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do, and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

Here GOD admits the perfect oneness that existed in the builders of the tower of Babel, and because of such a oneness, nothing would be restrained from them. Meaning they would achieve whatsoever they sought to achieve.

If only Christians tapped to this GOD given potential of oneness with CHRIST, the work would be done.

......................MARRIAGE TO CHRIST........................

In 2 Corinthians 11:2 Paul says " For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to CHRIST."

The BIBLE seeks to present us to CHRIST as chaste virgins, in short, the BIBLE seeks that we get married to CHRIST.

Just as by an earthly marriage we become one in the flesh, by marriage to CHRIST we become one spirit. That's why 1 Corinthians 6:17 says "But he that is joined to the LORD is one spirit"

.................BEARING FRUITS.....................

Earthly marriage bears fruit in terms of Children. Marriage to CHRIST bears fruit too, called the fruit of the SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22). Marriage to CHRIST bears the fruit of the spirit because from the above 1 Corinthians 6:17, we become one spirit.

Oneness in CHRIST is a condition for bearing much fruit. See CHRIST's words hereunder:

John 15:5 " I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

..................ONE MIND..........

Paul counsels in Philippians 2:2 that we have one mind. This is only possible if we all have the mind of CHRIST (verse 5)

...............THE DIVINE PROPOSAL.....

Often when a man asks a woman to marry her, he goes down on one knee and asks. CHRIST did not go down on one knee. He went to the cross.

Through the cross, CHRIST asks every human being that fundamental question........

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

AMAZING LOVE: LOVE WITHOUT INSURANCE

It is arguable that love is the most misunderstood concept in the whole wide world. Satan, being the author of confusion, introduced concepts such as lust and infatuation, in a bid to misdirect the minds of the children of GOD.

One major difference between the type of love that the world promotes, with the BIBLICAL love found in 1 Corinthians 13, is that the world's love is selfish, self seeking, and self-pleasing while the love of GOD, as demonstrated by CHRIST in the cross, is self-denying and self sacrificing.

However, a major difference that is the focus of this short write up is that, while the world's love always receives, GOD's love always gives. This is clear from John 3:16 "For GOD so loved the world that He gave...." In 1 Corinthians 13:5 we are also told that love seeketh not her own.

One thing I realized, albeit faintly, is that when GOD gave His Son to suffer eternal death, He gave His everything, and was left with absolutely nothing.

This is clear from Colossians 1:16-17 which states as follows:

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Thus from the above verses, we realize that since everything was made by him and for him, and all things consist by him, then it simply means that when GOD gave His Son to die, He gave everything. And since He gave everything, it means He remained with nothing.

This is a concept that is alien to the human mind because, as humans we always retain something after giving. It is unfathomable to give everything and remain with nothing.

That is how amazing GOD's love. That is why Hebrews 7:25 tells us that GOD is able to save to the uttermost those who come to Him through CHRIST.

When man sinned, GOD had a plan to sa

ve man, the plan of redemption. But when GOD gave His only begotten Son, He risked everything....for you and me. GOD had no insurance for His Son.

What amazing love!

Ponder about this. Would you give your life to Him who gave everything for you?

CHRIST asks you today. He says " I gave my life for thee....what hast thou given for me?"

GOD bless you in abundance as you ponder.

GOD AND CHAOS.

GOD AND CHAOS by Evangelist Elder Elvis Abenga

  Christian greetings brethren, it is yet another time to give thanks to GOD for the opportunity to share with you all on this very important series. In the last blog, we discussed the origin of witchcraft.

We were able to see that in the BIBLE, according to 1 Samuel 15:23, rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. We saw the nature of the rebellion in heaven. Today we continue with the same series.

In Revelation 12:7-9 we are told "And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not, neither was their place found anymore in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

The concept of a war in heaven, is almost unimaginable. How could war, and chaos exist in such an atmosphere where GOD dwelt?

GOD had to end the chaos, and in mercy, spared the lives of the rebels by casting them out of heaven. GOD and sin could not coexist at the same place.

In Genesis chapter 1 and 2, we get a very detailed account of the creation of the world.

Our focus for this study is Genesis 1:1-2 "In the beginning GOD created the heaven and the earth, and the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT of GOD moved upon the face of the water."

From this verse, we see the earth in chaos, formless, void and dark. However in the midst of all this chaos, we see the SPIRIT OF GOD moved upon the face of the waters.

A question worth asking is this, what was GOD doing (in the person of the HOLY SPIRIT) in the midst of all this chaos?

A glimpse is seen from the next verses (3-5) "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. And GOD called the light day, and the darkness he called Night, and the evening and the morning were the first day."

The SPIRIT of GOD was setting the stage for creation, for GOD to create light and to separate the light from the darkness.

Thus, in sorting out the chaos that existed at that time, GOD had to first create light and then separate the light from darkness.

This clearly shows us that from the beginning GOD intended that light be absolutely distinct from darkness.

GOD intended that good and evil would be forever distinct. There should exist a distinction between good and evil, righteous and unrighteous, holy and common, the mystery of godliness and the mystery of iniquity.

When light mixes with darkness, righteous with unrighteous, holy with common, then the end product is chaos.

...........BUT WHAT IS LIGHT?...................

In 1 John 1:5 the BIBLE says "This then is the message we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that GOD is light and in Him, is no darkness at all."

The Psalmist adds in Psalm 27:1 "The LORD is my light and my salvation.."

Thus GOD is light. Everything appertaining to GOD, the Word of GOD and godliness is light. That is why anything that speaks not according to the Word of GOD is because there is no light in it (Isaiah 8:20).

Darkness and light have no dealings. In fact, darkness does not comprehend the light (John 1:5).

The world today is in a sad state, man has attempted to mix light and darkness. The distinction between light and darkness is disappearing slowly. In our churches, we barely can see a difference between holy and unholy. Holy music is mixed with unholy music. We see people in unholy attire in a holy environment. We barely do realize that the mixing of holy with the unholy brings about chaos....and GOD HATES CHAOS.

Belshazzar learnt this the hard way in Daniel 5 when he used the holy vessels of GOD for unholy drinking and purposes (verse 2-3)

................DESOLATE........

In Luke 13:34-35 CHRIST laments over Jerusalem, and how it had rejected Him and His prophets and says

" Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem, which killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee: how often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD."

CHRIST signified his absence from Jerusalem, as Jerusalem's house being left desolate.

In Luke 19:41-44 He proceeded to explain the deslolation that would happen since the Jews knew not the time of their visitation (Luke 19:44)

In Jeremiah 2:12-13, GOD fortells desolation of His people as they had forsaken Him.

Absence of CHRIST from our lives, brings desolation and chaos.

...........CONCLUSION........

GOD hates chaos. In our lives we often have chaos, and all we see is darkness. But GOD waits upon us to call upon Him so that He can fix the chaos in our lives, he can speak light.

To the chaos and storms in our lives, He is ready to speak "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39)

WITCHCRAFT IN HEAVEN AND THE ORIGIN OF SIN

Key text : 1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."

Questions have always been asked as to where sin actually came from. From Revelation 12:4 we realize that the Satan cast down 1/3 of the angels in heaven. How could one being, who dwelt in the very presence of GOD, the highest of all angels....sin.....and how could he deceive such a great population of angels?

...............DID GOD CREATE AN IMPERFECT BEING?.....................

It has been suggested often by skeptics that by creating a being that was prone to sin, GOD actually created an imperfect being. Nothing could be further from the truth. The word of GOD remains instructive to us.

In describing Lucifer before he fell, the BIBLE has this to say,

Ezekiel 28:15 "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee."

GOD created a perfect being, perfect in all his ways. So perfect was Lucifer, that he was appointed the covering cherub (Ezekiel 28:14).

But the question is.....WHAT REALLY CHANGED?

A quick answer is this.........the principles of witchcraft had started operating in his heart, and he let this principles develop to such an extent that they overtook him completely.

Now in the above key text ( 1 Samuel 15:23) we get to realize that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Thus by engaging in rebellion against the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, he was engaging in a certain species of sorcery that is the most dangerous of all forms.

Isaiah 14:12-14 details the operation of this witchcraft in Lucifer's heart in the following words:

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer son of the morning, how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the nations ! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of GOD, I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north,I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most High"

He sought to be like the most High in power and position, but not in character and personality.

..............BUT WHERE DID SIN REALLY COME FROM?......................

The title of this series is "Mysteries at War". This is because the BIBLE discloses to us the operation of 2 mysteries that have been at war since Lucifer's rebellion and will continue to the second coming of CHRIST. They are:

1. The Mystery of Godliness

1 Timothy 3:16 " And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory"

2. The Mystery of Iniquity

2 Thessalonians 2:7 " For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way"

The BIBLE terms the origin of sin as a 'mystery'. Something unknown.....a secret. In Deuteronomy 29:29 we are told that the secret things belong to the LORD our GOD.

However GOD is a revealer of mysteries (Daniel 2:28, 47 Psalm 25:14) and He reveals the mysteries at His own appointed time to His people.

.......BUT ACCORDING TO ISAIAH 45:7, DOES GOD CREATE EVIL?...........

Isaiah 45:7 " I form the light and create darkness: I make peace and create evil: I the LORD do all these things"

This verse has often been misquoted and used by the enemy to imply that GOD did create evil. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When we read the verse, we realize that it makes use of opposites to bring a contrast e.g. light and darkness. Now hermeneutics tells us that we need to interpret the BIBLE verse wholly. Since darkness is the opposite of light, then the word evil, in this context denotes the opposite of peace i.e. calamity.

...........THE WHOLE WORLD UNDER SORCERY...................

Sadly, the BIBLE tells us that in the last days, the whole world will be under sorcery. the same sorcery that led to the falling of 1/3 of the angels in heaven, will enchant the whole world.

Revelation 18:23 tells us that by sorcery shall all men be deceived.

The question is, does this include Seventh-day Adventists, will we resist the devil and his power of sorcery (James 4:7), will we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of the testimony (Revelation 12:11) or shall we be ensnared by sorcery?

Philippians 4:13 " I can do all things through CHRIST which strengtheneth me."

From Nairobi Kenya, I wish you all happy sabbath and blessed night as you meditate upon these things.

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