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Good morning Steemians, hope you all had a great night. Here is the final series of "Enticing Pitfalls to Evade." It hopes to be rewarding.
9. LACK OF INTEREST IN THE CHURCH AND KINGDOM WORK:
It is very disheartening to see some believers missing out from the blessings of contributing to the kingdom work. Becoming a church prostitute should be totally discouraged. Everybody should endeavor to identify with a Bible believing church and help in building that church. Develop a mentality of giving for the purpose of kingdom expansion and you will overcome stinginess and its accompanying implications. Don't think that by giving out your money, materials, your knowledge or your time, you are deriving yourself of the joy the things bring.
In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive. Acts 20:35[AMP].
If you want something, you must first need to give, don't feel you are doing anybody a favor.
And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]. Gal. 6:9-10. [AMP].
Give the type you will love to receive.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2Cor 9:6-8. [NIV].
Give and you will find that inner joy that you did. Commit to a church: give regularly to the course of the kingdom.
10. PRAYERLESS LIFESTYLE:
Asking God for anything can only happens in the place of prayer(alter). A person that prays less lives a common life, whereas a prayerful person lives an extraordinary life.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matt. 21:22 [NIV].
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. James 4:2. [NIV].
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7[NIV].
To make your prayers effective, you must remain in God and be a partaker of His kingdom's heritage.
11. BEING ASHAMED OF GOD:
To be proud of God starts by not being ashamed of the person standing next to you. Anybody who is ashamed of identifying with God through genuine repentance is indulging in a private sin.
If you are proud of God, tell Him to people, live Him for people to see. That is the only proof of not being ashamed.
"Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead. Prov. 9:17-18 [NIV].
And by allowing yourself to be overwhelmed by sin, you become a slave to sin, and sin your master.
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity, for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 2Peter 2:19[NIV].
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6-12-16[NIV].
God is generous in His blessings, but there are some sets of people who enjoy God's abundant blessings more than others.
To feel that God is with everybody including you when you know that there is emptiness and dryness inside you is a costly assumption. A man that Christ has never redeemed from all iniquities and transgressions can never possess genuine zeal for glorifying God. In order to attain the height of exceeding fruitfulness, put aside every argument and self justification and turn to Jesus in humility and repentance, make His word your command and His lifestyle your own, then there is enough grace in Him to bring you peace and total restoration to make you live up to God's standard and requirements so as to share in the blessings of His death and resurrection.