How Christians become Atheists

I've met many who previously were Christians who have declared themselves atheists and I always wondered how it all happened.

What really made them go from saying "Jesus is Lord" to "There is no God"?

After getting saved, the believer starts learning the Word of God and the Bible shows us there are practices which the believer needs to imbibe and act out.

1Corinthians 14:1 gives us two practices

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."

He gives us two practices:

1. Pursue love(we'll discuss later)

2. Desire spiritual gifts.

Many Christians don't know they are supposed to desire spiritual gifts. They think it's for Pastors. This practice is for every Christian.

1Corinthians 12:7 explains why it is so important to imbibe this practice.

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of  all:"

He calls spiritual gifts "manifestations of the Spirit"

The Holy Spirit is inside the believer and can't be seen by the physical eyes, the basic way to show what you carry inside you is through the "manifestations of the Spirit"

That's why he says "unlock by desiring spiritual gifts, the manifestations of the Spirit". By doing this everyone including the believer will see and know that God is with the believer(1Corinthians 14:25).

That will also prove to the believer and those around that God really exists.

The believer who becomes an atheists didn't stay in faith to the point of having the manifestations of the Spirit, because no one ever taught him/her the practice of desiring spiritual gifts.

Spiritual gifts were so important to Apostle Paul, to the extent he went all out to impart believers with spiritual gifts and he explains that having spiritual gifts makes a believer established in the faith.

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—

Romans 1:11 NKJV

Any believer who has no spiritual gift is not established and can easily go back into the world.

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts.

God bless you!

Evangelism 1: Tips for succeeding

Evangelism is the assignment of every christian, for Jesus said "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). It's important to understand that there is joy among the Angels ONLY when we win souls; there is no joy when we preach, there is only Joy in Heaven when a sinner repents(Luke 15:10). The Evangelist(soul winner or preacher) must employ good methods which will win souls; because, not every method of preaching will win souls.

In the Bible, we find the Apostle Paul almost converting King Agrippa(Acts 26:27) that could happen to a christian if he does not employ good methods of evangelism.
To win souls, one must put these in place:

1. The Message:

The Bible says to preach the Gospel(Gospel means Good news), the preacher(Evangelist) must know what to preach. He must understand the message about Jesus and his finished work on the cross. He must understand the purpose of the message; which is,

"To get a man(the one He is preaching to) to act on Romans 10:9".

 If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from death, you will be saved (GNT)

The message must be geared towards the purpose of the Gospel; without getting the person we are preaching to, to act on Romans 10:9, we've not fulfilled the purpose of the evangelism and have brought no joy to Heaven.

2. Be Convinced About The Message:

Do you believe what you are preaching? Are you totally convinced about the message you bear? You can't expect to convince anyone if you are not convinced about the message. In 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Apostle Paul talks of how He preached with much assurance(conviction). No one will be convinced if we preach without looking convinced.

3. Focus On The Message:

Unskilled Evangelists always ends up arguing with the person they are preaching to because they don't focus on the message. It's good to avoid doctrinal messages, avoid denominational differences and avoid making the message too complex. The Bible recommends "simplicity that is in Christ", it's good to make the message simple and straight-forward or else an argument may ensue. Arguments may put your listener on one side while you end up on the other side of the divide.

4. Let The Holy Spirit Do His Job:

The Holy Spirit is so important in our evangelism; to the extent, that Jesus warned His disciples not to go out until they got baptized in the Holy Spirit.

And while He was with them, He commanded them, "Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what was promised by the Father, which you heard about from me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Acts 1:4-5(LEB)

No matter how eloquent a preacher is, it's the job of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin. No human words(without the holy spirit) can make anyone become born again. It's the Holy Spirit who saves. While the preacher talks to the person's ears; the Holy Spirit talks to the person's heart. The preacher needs to appreciate the place of the Holy Spirit in his Evangelism. In summary, going on Evangelism without the Holy spirit, is a waste of time and effort. In Acts 10:44 we find the Holy spirit simplifying Peter's message by falling on Peter's audience while Peter was preaching.

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message.(GNT)

Praise God! What a way to end an outreach!

God Bless You as you share with others. 

The Validity of The Bible

The Bible

Can it be trusted? Is it really from God?

We'll be looking at one unique attribute of the Bible.

Which is:

Almost every miracle in the Bible was done at least twice.

Telling us, "we can prove them by trying to do same today"

1. Miracle of Food Multiplication

Many are aware that Jesus multiplied food in the Bible but,

Did you know?

Elisha was the first person in the Bible to multiply food

2Kings 4:42-44.

Showing us that Jesus trusted God to multiply bread and fish;

Because, He knew that God did the same for Elisha.

2. Miracle of dividing a water body

Moses was the first man in the Bible to achieve such a feat(Exodus 14)

Joshua did same(Joshua 3:14-17)

Elijah trusted God to do same for him and didn't need to struggle(2Kings 2:8)

Elisha saw Elijah do that and believed for the same(2Kings 2:14).

3. Miracle of Walking on water

Jesus knew about the miracles of dividing water bodies

He dared to trust God for something better.

Yes! To walk on water!!

"As the night was ending, Jesus came walking on the sea" Matthew 14:25(NET)

Peter saw Jesus and remembered that "what God can do for one, He can do for all"

Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water" Matthew 14:28(NET)

Jesus said to him "come." Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus Matthew 14:29(NET)

4. Miracle of raising the dead

Elijah was the first person in the Bible to achieve this feat(1Kings 17:17-24)

Elisha, who was Elijah's servant saw how Elijah did his and trusted God for same

And raised a dead child(2Kings 4:20-37)

Jesus raised 3people from death

The Widow's son(Luke 7:11-16)

Jarius' daughter (Mark 5:35-43)

Lazarus(John 11)

Peter did same because He saw how Jesus did it(Acts 9:36-41)

Paul did the same(Acts 20:7-12)

Praise God!

Miracles didn't happen more than once in the Bible, by chance.

It's for our learning:

For whatever things were written before, were written for our learning,

That we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures

Might have hope Romans 15:4(NKJV).

Because it happened then, it can still happen today again.

If ONLY you can dare to believe

All you need is to believe!

"What do you mean, 'if I can'? Jesus asked. Anything is possible if a person believes"

Mark 9:23(NLT).

God Bless You.

Three Definitions of Sin

Many Christians don't recognise that the Bible has three eras in it. The read and try to practice everything they read believing it's all for them. Paul admonished Timothy:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15HCSB. 

Showing us, a Christian can WRONGLY teach the Word(as many are doing today). The three eras have different definitions of sins as follows;

1. Before the Law:

"Sin was defined as knowing to do good but refusing to do it."

Therefore, to the one who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17 LEB)

There was no law given; men had to be a law to themselves. In that period people did what was right in their eyes. People lived based on their morality.

2. Under the Law: 

You shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatever is right in his own eyes (Deuteronomy 12:8 WEB).

Moses told the Israelites; the days of living based on morality was over; that it was time to live by the Law. Under the Law Sin was defined as 

"The breaking of the law"

Captured in "Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law." (1John 3:4 HCSB).

3. Under Grace:

"Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17

Isaiah 55:11 explains what it means for God's Word to be fulfilled:

The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do. (NCV).

Notice that God's Word always returns to God after it is fulfilled.

Glory to God!

When Jesus died the Power behind the law returned to God;

"Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom." Luke 15:37-38 (WEB).

The law was fulfilled and the power behind the law returned to God.

"Christ ended the law so that everyone who believes in him may be right with God." Romans 10:4(NCV). 

Christ has made us(who believe in Him) righteous. Therefore, we are called to live by faith(Galatians 3:11). 

The new definition of sin for us is:

"Anything not done by faith"

"But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23 LEB).

In Galatians 5:6 we are informed our faith must work by love.

Therefore; "Anything not done by faith which works by love is a sin".

 Don't do something because the law says to do so. Do it because it's a manifestation of faith which works by love.

1Timothy 1:9 "knowing this, that the law is not given for a righteous person but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners,"

You are the just; live by faith!

God Bless You

How To Study The Bible

Reading the Bible and Studying the Bible are two different things. They are both important. A believer must spend ample time reading and also studying.

The more a believer reads his Bible; the easier his study will become.

Each day, a believer must read/listen to the Bible being read(in audio format).

Bible Study Methods:

1. Book by book study:

This is staying on a specific Book of the Bible and trying to find out how the writer intended his readers it to understand it. Also, to find out how those to whom it was written for; understood it.

This is also done to find out the context of the writings so we don't quote out of context.

Example:

Many Pastors/Church leaders ignorantly abuse Romans 2:1

They always quote that verse out of context; when a follower shows up late or is found wanting in his duties.

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man...."

but, that's not what that verse is talking about.

Here's the full verse:

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." (Romans 2:1).

Each Bible Writer had a peculiar way of thinking and way of communication. By studying a Believer will discover the differences in the communication of each Writer.

2. Topical Study:

The Bible is a collection of Canonical writings; but, it is not written in Topical arrangements. A believer will have to study about individual topics, since the Bible isn't arranged that way.

A believer must recognize the 3eras differentiated in the Bible

-before the law

-Under the law

-Under grace

Each topic must be studied with this understanding(Check the topic "Three definitions of sin").

Each era has a different teaching for most topics. It's unfortunate; many Christian leaders mix it all up.

Example:

Before the law, people had to offer sacrifices for their sins(Job 1:5).

Under the law, the High Priest had to offer sacrifices for people's sins(Hebrews 5:1).

Under Grace, "Jesus has washed us from our sins" hence, we no longer have the nature of sin(Revelation 1:5).

3. Character Study:

A believer may love the life of a Bible character; because of the consistency which they displayed in aspects of their lives.

Example:

King David never lost a battle all his life. The only battle they ALMOST lost; was the one he didn't attend(2Samuel 11). That's fascinating! A believer may appreciate that and decide to find out what King David did that made him that way.

Daniel the prophet, was said to be a man with an excellent spirit; which made him preferred above his contemporaries(Daniel 6:3).

In character study, you're trying to find out what made the Bible character such a success in specific aspects of his/her life.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

God Bless you.