02 - DEPRESSION: CAUSES AND THEIR HIDDEN DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS 2

DEPRESSION: CAUSES AND THEIR HIDDEN DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS 2

(PNUR Global Day of Fasting and Prayers  06/11/2025)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt 11:28-29NIV

Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. I am glad to announce to you that God has a wonderful package for you today as we seek Him in !prayers. No matter what your needs are, remember that prayer is the opportunity that God has given to you to say something about your life. 

We started talking about depression the other day and the Lord has laid it in my heart that He wants us to dwell on it a bit longer. We all come to the point where we feel depressed and it does not matter how spiritually developed you are. You just need to know how to recognize depression and resolve it. 

Even David came to a point when he began to question the turbulence in his soul.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon — from Mount Mizar. Ps 42:5-6NIV

A depressed person is downcast and disturbed in his soul; he is suffering inside in such a way that the onlooker might not see. His mind is charged up as the circumstances around him and the devil is giving him a false signal. So, he is not able to recognize all the wonderful good things around him and his entire attention is on some problems that may not even be in existence, but a mirage. That is why most people are surprised when they hear that the person they see every day has done something unthinkable. The beautiful thing we can take from the life of David is that he knew to take his problem to God in prayer. If you are reading this piece now because you are seeking the answer to the problem of depression, let me assure you that Jesus Christ is still the answer to all the problems of the world today. His invitation is still open and all you need to do now is to run into His open arms. In our main text He asks us to come to Him with all our problems and He promised to help us with them.

The Little Boy and The Vulture

The Little Boy and the Vulture" most commonly refers to a Pulitzer Prize-winning 1993 photograph by Kevin Carter, depicting a starving boy collapsed while a vulture lurks nearby in Sudan. Kevin Carter, a photo-journalist took his own life in the year 1994 due to depression but you would be shocked when you learn the reason for his suicide. There was a severe famine in Sudan and the United Nations Organization was making every effort to draw the attention of donors to the life-threatening situation. Kevin Carter travelled to the region in 1993 as a photo journalist and captured a photo image with his professional camera. It was a starving boy who appeared to be close to the point of death resulting from the famine. Beside the boy was a vulture and the heading on the news report said that the vulture was waiting for the boy to die so it could feed on him. New York times published the photo and truly it got the desired global attention and Kevin Carter won an award because of the photo. In the course of a live radio discussion, one of the call-in contributors said that there were two vultures on that day waiting to feed on the child. One was the bird and the other was the photo man who did nothing to save the child. Many other voices joined together to condemn Kevin Carter and they claimed that he was a heartless person who preyed on the child’s difficult condition to win a global award because, according to their understanding, instead of helping the child, he took a photograph. As simple as this story seems but it got Kevin Carter depressed which resulted in his committing suicide. Unfortunately, there are still many voices supporting this false narrative.

Now, here are some proven facts; even the initial report referred to the child as a girl, he was a boy. The child did not die. The child was actually at the UNO food center location and he did survive the famine. His name was Kong Nyong. This false accusation made Kevin Carter to commit suicide at the point of his greatest success in his entire career. What they said was not true but Kevin Carter kept juggling this false narrative in his mind until he believed the lie and killed himself.

We took time to analyze this to show us that it is not always true that people suffer and die from depression because of difficult times. The truth is that some of them are in the best season of their life. As we proceed, I want you to check yourself.

We have a lot of bible accounts to support this.

Amnon was the son of the most powerful man on earth in his time, King David, who raped his stepsister, Tamar. Before he carried out this art, here is the way different versions of the bible described his state of mind.

2 Sam 13:2

And Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick for his [half] sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it impossible for him to do anything to her. AMP

Amnon became frustrated to the point of illness on account of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her. NIV

Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her. NLT

None of these translations said that he was poor or afraid. In summary, he became depressed because he felt like having sex with the girl. He wrongly believed that he was in love. When he eventually succeeded, this is what the bible said,

But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her. Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Get up and get out!" 2 Sam 13:14-15NIV

It has been established that greatest number of depressed people have the urge to kill themselves or take actions that will hurt them. 

Moses was at the highest point of his ministry when he suffered depression.

Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. He asked the Lord, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?  Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!'  I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now — if I have found favor in your eyes — and do not let me face my own ruin."  Num 11:10-15NIV

Here again, Moses was depressed because of the grumbling of the people and then he began to quarrel against God and pray for his own death. That is the point some leave the church and resort to sport gambling on Sundays.

Elijah had depression after he won an epic battle against his enemies on Mount Carmel and turned an entire nation back to God. Depressed Elijah also prayed for death.

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 1 Kings 19:3-4NIV

This is the point that pastors quit the ministry. A man who came to my office narrated how he quit his good paying job and lived to regret every action. It was depression.

In none of these instances did God answer the prayer of these servants of God. That is because their prayer was turned in the wrong direction. This may be the reason most so-called radical prayers do not receive any response from God. If you read further, you will discover that their depressed state of mind misinterpreted the situation they were into. What God offered them was a direction on how to resolve their problem. 

I want to believe that if Kevin Carter sought counsel from a matured servant of God, he would have lived longer to see his own vindication. Here is another benefit of being a spirit-led child of God. At moments like this the Holy Spirit will begin to drop some words in to your spirit to remind you of what the word of God said about your situation. Satan and his demons will also try to tell you how desperate your condition was but it is at the same time the Holy Spirit urges you to get up and visit your pastor or call another spirit-filled child of God.

In the volume one of this meditation, we mentioned the different possible causes of depression but I am of the opinion that most victims of depression are under demonic oppression.  Witches and wizards also cast spells on people and most of them begin to feel the stranglehold of darkness enveloping their soul. The demon of depression comes over its victim like a thick cloud and the result is that they are not able to reason freely. That is why most of them take decisions that harm their person.  We said that depressed people could harm people around them but the truth is that it is only in the secondary sense. They can harm people who are trying to keep them from harming them self. The man that killed his children, saw them as the reason he had to keep on living, or as a way to get revenge at someone else.

Let me make the following suggestions for victims of depression.

1. Recognize it as a spiritual battle. No matter what your medical report says, see it as the devil trying to oppress you.

2. Recognize that with the help of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, you will come out victorious.

3. Go into simple prayers like, “I thank you, Jesus Christ”. say it repeatedly. “I cover myself with the blood of Jesus Christ!” etc

4. If you can, pick up your bible and read the promises of God. Otherwise, repeat Psalm 23 as many times as possible. 

5. Try to share the pressure you are facing with someone. Talk to someone but prayerfully seek out someone who is not going to complicate your case with a wrong advice.

6. Consult a doctor if there is a medical connection to what you are facing, but preferably a doctor that is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

7. Do some personal warfare prayers. You can download, “Powerful Prayers by the Authority in the Blood of Jesus Christ”. It has helped many people

8. Seek out a servant of God who has some understanding in deliverance and spiritual warfare and go for deliverance. You can ask an available child of God to pray for you and command the demon of depression to get out of your life.

9. Where it is possible, do not fail to attend church fellowship. Heb. 10:25

10. Do not let your confidence in God shake. Psalm 46:10

We will be saying more on this subject in the course of our prayers today.

Remember to join the fast today.

Remember to invite other people to join us.

Remember to choose time and location for your personal prayers.

We are praying for you.

Emma your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com 

DEPRESSION: CAUSES AND THEIR HIDDEN DANGEROUS IMPLICATIONS

A locked cockpit door turned an airliner into a weapon.

On March 24, 2015, German wings Flight 9525 was cruising from Barcelona to Düsseldorf. Nothing seemed unusual. Then, when the captain stepped out of the cockpit, tragedy began. Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the reinforced cockpit door. From that moment, no one could get inside. He quietly programmed the plane into a steady descent toward the French Alps. The captain pounded on the door. Passengers screamed in the cabin. Air traffic controllers tried to make contact. But inside the cockpit, Lubitz said nothing. He simply watched the altitude fall. At 700 km/h, the Airbus A320 slammed into a mountainside. The crash killed all 150 people on board in seconds. Families, children, and an entire high school class on a trip — gone. The investigation revealed chilling details. Lubitz had a long history of severe depression. He had been declared unfit to work by doctors. But he hid his condition from his employer. He even searched online for ways to crash a plane in the days before the flight. A single locked door decided the fate of 150 people.

Depression is an emotional condition which is very rampart today and the story you just read is just one example of how it could end.  It could be caused by stressful conditions at home or the office; it could be caused by a sense of lack of personal fulfilment, especially for those who set a very high target for themselves. For example, some set a target for themselves on what age they believe that they would have bought their first car, gotten married and/or built their own house. More often than not, other factors interrupt their plans and they fail to reach the goal at the intended time. This has resulted in depression for some people.

Leaning too much on public opinion; a senior accountant committed suicide and the suicide note said that people in his office did not openly appreciate his efforts in the company and he felt his life was not making any difference. Unfortunately, he was the highest paid staff in the company and the CEO held him in esteem. 

A sense of rejection for women when they are not able to have their own baby and for the men, when they are not able to have sex with their wives. Some women have felt depressed at their middle-ages of 40s-50s when they noticed that men stopped showing interest in them for sex; this is especially when many of such women have a strong urge for sex at that age bracket. For men, when they are not able to meet the financial need of their family and unfortunately, some women nag such men to  their early graves with words like, “How can I be suffering like this as if I am a widow even when I am living with a man in the house?”

It was reported few years ago that an American lad committed suicide when he noticed he had low grades during his examination. Unfortunately, it was discovered that the low grade was the result of a typographic error. We have heard reports of pastors who suffered from depression because they were not seeing growth in their ministry. A young minister pronounced curses on the elders in his church and resigned because they kept obstructing his plans to move the church forward. These are serious emotional conditions and only the victims know how it feels.

Hormonal changes in men and women; for women at the time of menopause their entire body system experience a lot of changes and they are not able to understand them self. In the absence of an understanding spouse, this could be catastrophic and a number of them have walked out of their marriage. I got to know what andropause was when I experienced it. If not for the emotional support of my wife, I don’t know how I would have turned out. I thought I was going impotent and many other things I cannot say here.

There are those who have this unfortunate factor in their genes; that means, depression is something that runs in their family line.  That is why it is important that everyone should study their family tree, spiritually, medically and emotionally. The Lord Jesus Christ said that a tree is recognized by its fruit. It is not a death sentence if you have it on your family tree because He also said that you can work on your family tree. Matt. 12:33 to make it good. (You can learn more on the subject by reading my book, The Challenges Associated to the Family Tree. Available on the PNUR Online Bookstore. You can order directly from my office.)

Abuse of alcohol and hard drugs can lead to depression. Unfortunately, some people who are facing crisis run to these things for comfort and they end up making things worse. Gambling and pornography are major causes of depression. Anything that one does which he will not be proud to make public could cause depression.

Falling in love with someone who has no feeling for you. Many young women who have given all to a man only to discover that the man has no feeling for them, have spent the rest of their life depressed and unable to fall in love again. 

Repeated illness and especially when the causes cannot be traced. This kind of patients are often depressed. Loss of loved one has also contributed to depression.

One last contributor is demonic possession and many counsellors are not even aware of it. In fact, most of the cases that ended in suicide are caused by demons. Once you cast out the demon, the person becomes relieved.

 Mark 5:3-5

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

This scripture shows the level of danger those who stay around depressed people are exposed to;.

The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice. 1 Sam 18:10-11NIV

 King Saul had a demon and that caused him discontent; he was not happy with himself and he expressed that towards another person who he considered a rival. There was the news of a man in the USA who killed his four children and invited the police to come and arrest him.

Some depressed people end up taking their own lives. Some make the mistake of resorting to hard drugs or alcohol. Some depression resulted from the nagging wives or abusive husbands and by this they extend their unhealthy emotional conditions to their immediate families and colleagues at work. 

A Nigerian army man once opened fire on a number of his colleagues and then killed himself. It was traced to depression. Here in Port Harcourt the son of a pastor bought himself some poison and took his own life. He had returned from school a few days ago and was complaining about some things. His father saw it as one of those things young people do and left him to go to church but when he came back, he saw the lifeless body of his son in the house; he took his life.

Depression is more than just having a bad day; some things are not really in their rightful places in their mind. It is often connected to changes or movements in the brain. It could be the result of some demons driving their victim to self-destruction. What we refer to as OCD in the deliverance ministry.

 For those who are facing this challenge currently, my advice is that you have to talk to someone; preferably a servant of God you respect. I want to say to parents and ministers of the gospel, at times all the person needs are listening ears and a hug after. At times what the victim is talking about does not make sense to you, but it means everything to him or her. Just listen. If you believe that you are not emotionally prepared for it, help him or her find someone who can handle it.

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. Isa 50:4NIV

I also encourage us to try all we can, not to allow negative words out of our mouth. I remember when I used what I considered a joke at a brother, only to discover that I touched on a very serious matter in his life. I had to apologize immediately. 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Eph 4:29NIV

This is very important for pastors and parents; a woman ran to my house after Sunday service in her church with eyes drenched in tears. She had been in a childless marriage for over ten years but during his sermon, her pastor had said that most women who are not able to have children was because they damaged their womb during unlawful abortion as young ladies. I can bet that her pastor did not have her in mind when he said that.

Some women who nagged their husbands to death only began to see their mistake after the man had died. A man threw out his wife to marry another woman because she could not have a baby. The same woman got pregnant only a few months after with another man. The other man received her the way she was and her body was relaxed to conceive. Her former husband got married to another woman who deceived him that he got her pregnant. Years after it was discovered because the child was a Sickler; the man was AA genotype. He lost it all. Let us learn to be there for one another.

This also goes for the way we treat our pastors. We hear people talk and insult pastors calling them jobless people. The work of the pastor is in the same level with the teachers’, lawyers and consultants. We gladly give these people money but ignore the pastor. For some people, the pastor is more like an ambulance that is only consulted when there is bad news. The result is that most genuine servants of God have abandoned their churches and members to search for secular jobs. Fake prophets now take their place and they are exploiting people. The same people who pushed away their pastor are complaining. 

There is no one way to know the signs of depression in everyone. For some people, they sit quietly without talking to anyone. This is the worst condition because no one knows what is building inside. For some people, they complain about everything and weep over any little provocation. There are those who become violent. There are those who cover their condition with “always busy doing something” attitude. Some women get aggressive when approached for sex. They just want to remain alone. There are those who just accuse everyone of not thinking about their own problem. In whatever way it expresses itself, depression is a serious emotional condition that should not be overlooked.

Are there other ways you have noticed the signs of depression in yourself or others?

Kindly share with us at the comments section 

Emma, your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com

GOD’S AGENDA: WHERE YOU COME IN

 

GOD’S AGENDA – WHERE YOU COME IN

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 Thess 3:1 NIV

The message of the Lord is the message of salvation and deliverance for people in bondage. It is important that we understand that any delay in the flow of the gospel could mean that someone dies somewhere and ends up in hellfire. A delay could also mean that a genuine child of God somewhere will miss the opportunity to receive a very important direction in his life. That is why it should be our prayers that the message should spread unhindered. But it can only spread when it finds a vehicle to carry it. Some of the vehicles may not be very sophisticated. Yes, it may just be a piece of paper in the form of gospel tracts.

One of the most powerful testimonies I have heard on sharing the gospel randomly is that of Apostle Zilly Aggrey. He lives and has the headquarter of his church in Port Harcourt city. Before his conversion, he suffered from epilepsy and we don’t need to be told that it made his life miserable. I have the sad experience of seeing a man who suffered from epileptic attack while we were talking. This condition drove Apostle Zilly Aggrey to decide to take his life. He went to a medicine shop and bought some drugs which he knew will take his life. However, divine providence had it that the chemist person wrapped the drugs with a gospel tract. When he got home, he was attracted to the subject on the tracts, he read it and at that point gave his life to Christ. That marked his conversion and subsequent healing from epilepsy.

I still encourage brethren to print and share tracts. Even though we complain that godless people often receive tracts to waste them just like the chemist man, but the case of Apostle Zilly Aggrey should remind us that God can use bad people to fulfill His purpose.

 There was this account of some street preachers who gave a tract to a mad woman who kept pestering them to give her a copy of the tract. Initially they refused considering it a waste of scarce resources. When they could not take it anymore, they offered her one. She withdrew to a corner of the road where she sat and started eating the tract. To the surprise of onlookers, this mad woman was delivered from the spirit of insanity. She regained her sanity and that led to her conversion.

We have many such testimonies regarding our online newsletters which we share via WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms. A woman based in the USA sent me some seed faith and testified that she got delivered by using a prayer collection that I shared online. Another man in Nigeria sent me an offering, testifying that he followed my series on witchcraft in the neighborhood. I can proudly say that a good number of my online followers read my articles randomly online and then decided to connect.

A young pastor that met me in the just concluded Open Heavens Prayer Summit in Uyo, Nigeria called today to testify that reading one of my books, Confronting Witchcraft in the Neighborhood, just led him to deliverance from some satanic yokes while he used the prayer collections. He is a young pastor who needed some spiritual supports. He did not have a smartphone to follow online, so I just handed him the hard copies. I thank God for the new phase of his life.

I am sharing these to show you that sharing our articles and books has been used by God to reach many souls around the world. I have met people online who are from countries that I can’t find on the map but we have been able to reach them. 

Our conferences has been used by the Holy Spirit to meet the spiritual and emotional needs of many children of God and ministers of the gospel. 

I want to tell you, my wonderful members and partners that we have achieved so much because some of you committed their time and money to support us. I am glad to say that God has placed some wonderful children of God on the PNUR Platform and like we have often stated, it takes only a genuine sincere lover of God and His word for anyone of you to have remained on this network for so long; some for over six years now. But we have to go beyond just being blessed to joining the work force so the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ will reach more people.

Talking to the brethren in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul boldly said that the gospel he preached was honored among them and he prayed that, it will be OK for him if the other people he would meet in other places were like them. In fact, that is the way I feel about a lot of you. Just like the Apostle Paul, I don’t wish that the gospel I preach should end with you. I want to reach many other people and I know it is the will of God that we all should join our efforts to this end. The Lord has given me several revelations that encouraged me to persist in sharing the gospel via the social media. He has told me repeatedly that we are achieving goals beyond our imagination. We have several English language platforms, French language and Swahili language platforms. Every morning, we make sure that we send out something and we are glad to do it.

However, I want to remind us that we now need everyone of you to get involved one way or the other. When you read any article or listen to any message on our platform, we want to ask that you pass them to other people. As we saw in the case of Zilly Aggrey, that may be a message that could save a soul in danger. Our Youtube channel has many testimonies of people who got delivered because they got in touch with our messages this way. 

A lady in a part of India told me that she met Christ by following the gospel online and she is the only Christian in the community where she lives. This kind of person relies on our messages for their spiritual development. You will do well to send out messages randomly and the Holy Spirit knows how to direct it to them.

Another area we need your support is towards our conferences. From the month of August to October 2025 we have organized three major conferences in three cities and we have two more before us. It would be heartwarming if members of the PNUR Family sent us some financial support. We have the time to go and everyone cannot travel the way we do. One thing you can do is to send us your support.

Pastor Kassey and his team launched out for street evangelism and other teams are preparing to launch out too. We need money to print tracts, books, advert flyers and for other logistics. Some of our followers even forget that ministering to you online cost money and my staff need to be taken care of. You do not need to wait for when you have plenty of money to send. Those of you in D R Congo and South Africa has an arrangement to send any amount God has made available to you. Just ask your admin.

The Lord has placed this sense of urgency in my spirit and by the grace of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will continue to do the Lord’s work while we wait for His return. I don’t want to end this message without reminding you that we need your prayers too. 

Finally, we will be glad to have you as a volunteer worker in the PNUR Team. Private chat me if you need more information.

NB: we need funds to print gospel tracts, hard copy of our books and to organize more conferences. Contact us if you are led to give. +2348035724526, +2349092862555

Emma your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com

I SHALL NOT DIE BUT LIVE

*PNUR Global Day of Fasting and Prayers 23/10/2025*

_I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. Ps 118:17 NIV_

Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ for bringing us into another special day of appointment with our God. Somewhere the Psalmist said that this is the day the Lord has made, we will be glad and rejoice in it. I encourage you to tighten your seatbelt as we deal with every satanic force that want to cut short your life.

I don’t know where you are while reading this, but be assured that God’s powerful hands will touch you in Jesus’ name.

At times we hear that a certain woman died while trying to put to bed. Some believers will announce, “God has given and God has taken”. This kind of confession puts God in the position of a wicked person, who gives a beautiful lady to a young man, gives them fruit of the womb and then at the point of delivery, the same God kills the lady, leaving the man shattered from heartbreak and exposing a newborn child to the agonies of living without her mother.

This cannot be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am calling on you to throw aside such beliefs as we proceed today. It is true that the bible said somewhere that we should give God thanks in every circumstance, but that scripture did not say we should not take advantage of the available spiritual revelations that could prevent such circumstances.

No matter the situation, prayer is the opportunity that God has given to you to say something about your life.

One day Prophet Isaiah worked into the palace of King Hezekiah to pronounce a negative prophecy.

_In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." 2 Kings 20:1 NIV_

Hezekiah did not begin to quarrel with the prophet and he did not sink into depression. He proceeded straight to the throne of God and tendered his testimonial.

_Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 2 Kings 20:2-3NIV_

It is our habit to remind you as often as possible, that prayer is the opportunity that God has given to you to say something about your life. Hezekiah understood this principle and he knew that, even though he was not a prophet, God will listen to his prayer too.

He was right because God listened to him;

_Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord.  I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.'" 2 Kings 20:4-6 NIV_

Glory to God.

God proceeded to give him the remedy for his sickness.

_Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. 2 Kings 20:7 NIV_

Premature death is not your portion. I want you to note that if Hezekiah did not storm the throne with valid proof that he has lived a life of effective service to God, perhaps that would have been his end. Here again we are reminded that God expects us to invest our energy and finances for His kingdom purposes. He respects people who serve Him in this way, just as He honored Hezekiah.

In the case of Hezekiah, God gave him the medical solution but in the case of Abimelech, God instructed that a servant of God should pray for him.

_Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die." Gen 20:7 NIV_

Take note of the order that God recommended;

Restitution – Before seeking prayers for healing and a turnaround, return what he has unlawfully taken. This is not a popular teaching today. Some teach that God is so merciful that He does not mention or bother if we sin. That is not the God of the bible. Pray all you like, there are breakthroughs you will never receive from Jehovah until you do the right thing. This is one of the main reasons that a lot of prayers have not received answer. The person praying need to return what they took from others unlawfully. They need to go back and correct a misdeed against a brother or sister. It is like a password to move beyond that point.

The second thing was that, Abimelech needed someone else to pray for him. Someone with the divine mandate. Why did God not just heal him? I mean that Abimelech was talking to Jehovah Himself; wouldn’t it be faster and sweeter to hear that, “I, King Abimelech was sick and Jehovah healed me?”

Of course, it was possible, but God has placed a man here on earth to do that. That is why we will be ready to pray for anyone who will ask for prayers in today’s PNUR Global Day of Fasting and Prayers. You can send a private chat to me or any of the ministers under me asking to be prayed for. We will be glad to do that.

One more thing, Abimelech knew to approach God’s servant with an offering in hand,

_Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels a of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the Lord had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah. Gen 20:14-18 NIV_

Glory to God. Our God answers prayers and you will receive your own answer in Jesus’ name!

In both cases we have mentioned, there was imminent death and only a quick action salvaged the situation.

There is a third case and I would want us to study it together.

_Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. "My father! My father!" he cried. "The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. 2 Kings. 13:14, 20-21 NIV_

Take note;

It was the sickness that killed Elisha – he suffered from and eventually died because he was sick. Every indication says that this was a protracted sickness. Go through the bible and you will notice a pattern regarding the death of servants of God; no matter the circumstances surrounding their death, you will notice a phrase like, “he was gathered to his fathers…; Joshua grew old…; Daniel, you must rest with your fathers…; It is my time to rest with my ancestors … God said to Moses handover to Joshua because … Tell Aaron to handover because he is going to die… ”

Unfortunately, in this case of Elisha it was reported that it was the sickness that killed him.

Sudden and torturous death is not and has never been the will of God for His children.

Elisha was still passionate about his ministry. Sudden death will imply that the child of God has not finished his divine assignment. This has nothing to do with how long the person has lived but the divine assignment he has on earth. Sickness and other kinds of hardship like poverty, demonic and witchcraft oppression and lack of peace in the home are among the many factors that could drain the energy of the child of God, so that while he was yet alive, he will dissipate time, energy and financial resources struggling to remain alive. 

I make bold to declare to you that you must not welcome this as the will of God for your life.

Elisha was mightily used by God and kings and the people of many nations looked up to him for spiritual support in their battles of life. Barren wombs and dead children were restored back to life. He had a tight schedule training the school of the sons of the prophet that he inherited from his mentor, Elijah. Unfortunately, this sickness incapacitated him and that meant for the period he was sick, the divine mandate upon his life was confined. I have the feeling that Elisha hoped that somehow a miracle will happen and he will recover.

I pray for you that every force that is draining your energy will be drained away by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name!

While you are active and helping people, many will seek you out and praise you. The sad reality is that once this kind of situation comes on one’s life, most people forget about them.

Even God was not through with Elisha by divine timetable and that was why the anointing remained on his bones even after he was dead. Elisha did not handover to a successor even till his death.

In today’s prayer it is an opportunity for you to reject everything that is trying to shorten your timetable.

My prayer for you today is that any kind of sickness or difficult conditions that has attached itself on you to drain your energy will be destroyed as we pray today, in Jesus’ name.

Believe me, child of God, there are people who have died not because it was God’s time but this kind of wicked forces cut short their lives. There are people who are facing law suits that they are not able to concentrate on their divine calling; there are good children of God caught up in circumstances in their marriages, offices and other life’s ventures that they are not able to become the best version of themselves. By the anointing on today’s PNUR Global Day of Fasting and Prayers, these people must be liberated in Jesus’ name.

Declare a loud, Amen!

Our main text tells how to deal with this matter; declare that you will not die.

In the year 2015, I had a health challenge and concluded that it was my time to die. But at one time, I told my wife that I wanted to withdraw to a prayer mountain and seek the face of God. I was glad that I did because God told me that I was not under any witchcraft or any other kind of satanic attack. He told me that He was the one that wanted to call me home. The Lord presented before me and my wife eleven things that I was doing wrong. He said that He did not want to lose me.

The good news is that after I repented and promised to make amends, immediately, He healed me. That affliction has not returned again till date.

I believe that there were some issues between God and His servant Elisha which was not resolved. At times it could be the result of depression coming from many negative behaviors towards the servant of God and decides to succumb to death.

Child of God, do not succumb to death, sickness or any kind of negative condition. Rise up in faith and declare with the Psalmist;

I shall not die; I will live to declare the works of God.

God promised to do for you the very words that comes out of your mouth. Your confession must be in line with what God has said about you in his word.

I shall not die!

I shall not fail!

I shall not be defeated!

I cannot be barren!

I cannot abide in lack or poverty!

I will overcome every challenge before me today!

I have the authority through the Lord Jesus Christ to overcome every demonic and occult powers!

This year will not see my end!

I will see the end of this year!

Now go into prayer;

“Every power of premature death, get out of my life now, in Jesus’ name!”

“Every power of sicknesses and frustration in life, I command you to get out of my life now, in Jesus’ name!”

Now continue to pray and I will come back to you.

Remember to encourage other people to join the fast.

Remember to fix a time and place for your personal prayers.

You know I am praying for you.

Emma your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com

ONLY GOD CAN DO THIS

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Rom 8:28-30NIV

Nobody believed that Ugochukwu will one day show interest in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was not the kind of unbeliever that persecuted his wife. In fact, he would be the one to remind her that time was running out against her for church, even though Helen felt he was trying to hurry her out so he could bring in one of his numerous girlfriends. He was a heavy drinker but was never seen drunk. That has remained a surprise to all his friends. Some of his friends stole money from their wives but Ugochukwu drank from his salary. He was not into taking hard drugs but a heavy smoker of cigarettes.

Helen tried all she could to make him to change but it turned out futile. It was his drinking and smoking habits that forced her to leave her mother church to her present church. The pastor of her new church had time to visit and pray with her husband. One funny thing was that Ugochukwu gave rapt attention each time the pastor came but immediately after he would join his friends at the drinking place.

He was also into gambling but she only heard when he won some money. she knew that he won if he came home with jumbo sized bread and “suya” for her. It was her pastor that asked her to stop rejecting his gifts and to also stop quarreling with him if he returned late.

If not for the encouragement of his pastor and his wife, Helen would have left Ugochukwu for Ukachi, her former boyfriend. Ukachi was married too but complained that his wife was giving him problems as well. Helen and Ukachi felt that they made a mistake by not getting married. That was the point they were when Helen met Pastor Ike and everything changed. She started giving more time to God and church activities and Ukachi returned to his wife. Unfortunately, the battles in her own home persisted.

One midnight Ugochukwu got up from bed and went to sit outside. He stayed like that for a long time and refused her entreaty to come inside. He stayed there until it was daybreak and then went to take his bathe, dressed up and sat down in the living room. It was a Sunday morning and so she also dressed up for Sunday service.

Not wanting anything to distract her with a long discussion, she stepped out to church without saying anything to her husband, but she was surprised to see her husband walk into the church right behind her. She did not know how to respond but went over to join the church workers’ prayers. However, that was how Ugochukwu started attending church.

From that first day, he was never late to church and he asked many questions during the Sunday School session and the pastor did his best to give all the answers. He asked the most questions on the day that the pastor discussed tithing and offerings. In fact, at one point Helen asked him, “Are you the only one in the church? Let others say something too.”

One obvious change since Ugochukwu started attending church was that he stopped drinking and smoking. It was clear that he was no longer into gambling and so the family had more money and peace of mind. But one night he woke Helen in the middle of the night and asked for her attention.

“Sweetheart, since that day the pastor discussed tithing and offering, I have been receiving a message from the Holy Spirit”.

Helen sat up to hear what the Holy Spirit had told her husband who has been only few months in the Lord.

“I believe that Holy Spirit is telling me that ten percent is too small to give for God’s business in the church. He is asking me to give fifty percent of my monthly salary to God every month”.

Cold shivers ran throw Helen’s veins and she could only manage one sentence, “That cannot be the Holy Spirit.” She said and turned to sleep.

To her alarm Ugochukwu went on to tell the pastor what he believed that God told him. She did not know what the pastor answered him but at home she tried to explain to him that the voice he heard was not from God.

“My dear, I don’t know why you are finding it difficult to believe me, but you remember how I squandered my money in those days on gambling, alcohol and smoking. You could not stop me. Why are you trying to stop me now, that I want to serve God with my resources?”

Helen had tried to control her temper but this time, she lost it. “Must you always want to torture me and our children? Yes, those days you squandered your salary and I and the children suffered. So, you want to return us to the suffering again by giving the pastor half of your salary.”

“Did I hear you right? So, you believe that the money we give to the church is given to the pastor?”

“If not him, who else?” Helen thundered back.

He never talked about it again. She knew him that when he kept quiet that way he would proceed with his decision and there was nothing she could do. So, she took out time to visit the Pastor’s house and, even she herself was shocked the kind of words she used at the pastor.

“So, you want my husband to hand you over his salary. How is his family going to survive? You have brainwashed my husband and you think it will work for you?”

She said many other things that accused the pastor of things she was sure was not true, but she was doing everything that the pastor will reject the fifty percent from her husband. After her noisy ranting she walked away angrily.

She did not tell her husband where she went but she heard him talking with the pastor over the phone. He left the house and returned three hours later.

“So, you went to insult the pastor. You said it was the pastor that deceived me to give all my money to the church. Is that the kind of Christian you have been? Listen to me; I am not giving my money to the pastor and the pastor cannot stop me from giving my money to my God. I will go ahead to give the money and if you don’t like it, go find another church because I must remain in that church.”

That was how it stood and he proceeded with giving the money even though the pastor tried all he could to discourage him.

“Pastor, I am not giving my money to you. Your responsibility is to record the money I brought. I used to waste more than that amount when I was living in sin”.

Helen felt vindicated when Ugochukwu was laid off at his work place after three months. She went ahead to mock him and the pastor before whomever would listen.

The next shocker was that Ugochukwu told the pastor to provide him with tracts because he believed that God wanted him to spend his entire life preaching to the unbelievers in order to win them to Christ. Helen now became an instrument of persecution. She denied him food and mocked him almost every day he comes back from evangelism. This did not discourage Ugochukwu.

He had a friend who was a senior military officer and he decided to focus on Captain Tanko until he repented and join him in church. They used to be drinking and gambling partners and so all his officers knew Ugochukwu.

Tanko would tell his officers to tell Ugochukwu that he was not at home but he would warn the officers, “Liars will be in hell fire. You must not lie to me.”

After a while, Tanko surrendered. He would sit down and let Ugochukwu say all he wanted and then pray for him. Tanko would generously give him enough money that could carry him for every week. Tanko’s wife was happy with the new development and she would fill her car with food items and ask one of the officers to send them to Ugochukwu’s house. In no distance time, Ugochukwu no longer lacked anything for himself and family.

It was about this time that there was a military takeover of the government and Tanko was appointed a military administrator. Tanko was from northern Nigeria and he was appointed the military administrator in a southeast state. He could not speak Igbo language and have little knowledge of the terrain. While he was narrating all this to his wife, she reminded him that his posting was in the state of his friend, Ugochukwu. Tanko was too happy to appoint Ugochukwu as his personal assistant.

The last time I heard Ugochukwu’s performance in his church, God has used him to transform his church. Many people who sought the attention of the military administrator knew that they needed to join Ugochukwu in church and by this many souls were won to Christ.

How would you respond if you were in Ugochukwu’s position?

Do you think that Helen was right in her position against the 50% gift to the church?

I will love to get your reactions

Emma your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com

SPIRITUAL FITNESS

How to Train Yourself to Be Spiritually Fit.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Tim 4:7-8NIV

In a family where members live according to godly principles, there are crisis and challenges which you will never hear among them. Godly living will protect your finances and direct the future of your children and those around you. There is the peace of mind that is only possible if you live godly lives. Our main text says that it will make sure that you eventually make heaven at last.

My short time in the sporting world has been of a great benefit to my life and health. One time I was able to escape being knocked over by a vehicle because I side-stepped; the fast move of both legs saved me from danger and I learned this during my training days in boxing sports. There was this news of a commissioner in one of the Nigerian states who fell and died while on a walkout with the state governor. The matter was that the deceased was not used to taking a jogging but that day he joined the governor in a sense of official duty. He died because he was not used to it.

Out text scripture compared physical exercise with spiritual exercise and called on us to imbibe both even though he opined that spiritual exercise has greater benefit. I want to use this opportunity to ask my reader to get involved in any kind of physical exercise on a daily basis because it is a good way to prepare for a healthy old age. Let me add that eating healthy meals is part of the ways to remain healthy and strong. This will be a talk for another day.

Having said that, our emphasis is on spiritual fitness and the Living Bible version captured it accurately;

Don't waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too. 1 Tim 4:7-8TLB

The Apostle Paul asked us to avoid two things if we want to develop spiritual fitness because they could distract us;

Godless myths.

There are many teachings going on in the church today that fall into this category; teachings that do not glorify God but only serve to stir up confusion in the mind of the hearers. Such teachings tend to show to the hearers how much the speaker has come to know through reading different books but the teachings do not add any value to their spiritual life or wellbeing. I have come to discover that young Christians are attracted to this kind of topics and, as a young pastor, there is no doubt that Timothy could make that mistake. So, Paul told him to avoid them.

Old wives’ tales.

In this category are those who are always complaining of the many wrong ways the church treated them. Many of these wounded people try to call out what they consider as the errors which ought to be corrected in the church. The error with this kind of people is that they use an experience they had in one church to judge all the other gatherings of believers around the world. Some complain of how some Christian leaders abuse church funds because of what they noticed in the church they once belonged, but they forget that there are many other congregations where the leaders are taking care of the church and members from their personal earnings. They are complaining about sin in all the churches because of what they observed in one place but they have not gone round all other congregations to see the difference for a balanced view.

Trying to talk sense into the heads of these people will be a waste of time. The best thing for any serious Christian to do is to avoid them. Don’t even try to engage them in a sensible discussion. These are distractions.

On the contrary, we are called to train ourselves to be spiritually fitness. Take note that if we are to turn out as godly or spiritually fit in this corrupt world, we are supposed to train ourself in that light. That is quite engaging; we are supposed to stand up and get into some things and activities that will direct our life to godliness or spiritual fitness or soundness or spiritual health. It will not be out of place to say that, if my reader is not living a godly life, it only shows that you have not trained yourself to be spiritually fit.

It calls for a decision and then positive actions (exercises) initiated in the area of godliness.

Here are some ways and things you could do as a Christian if you want to be spiritually fit or healthy.

Prayer. When we turn to God in prayer, we expose our minds and body to the presence of the Holy Spirit. The more we yield to prayer the more power we have to do good, turn from evil and triumph over the powers of darkness.

Reading and meditating on the bible. As we discipline ourselves to read the bible, our heart is illuminated by the presence of the author of the bible and our mind is transformed (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Rom. 12:1-2). PNUR has one year bible reading plan. You can ask for it if you don’t have it yet.

Reading and listening to gospel messages. Besides the bible, train yourself to read good Christian literature and listen to gospel messages daily. On the PNUR platform we send out daily messages but some people think that they are too long and others think that daily posts are too many. Instead of complaining, train yourself to read and follow them. Remember it is the same thing as training yourself in sports. Practice will bring you to perfection.

Fasting. Just like our main text said, fasting will help you in the physical and spiritual. A believer should fast at least once a week and the PNUR Global Day of Fasting and Prayers every Thursday also provides you with that privilege.

Fellowship. Go to and belong to a body of Christian believers. The bible says that it is wrong if we don’t go to church to have fellowship with others. Heb. 10:25

Christian service. Find something to do in the church or fellowship you belong. It is one sure way to hold yourself accountable and with the desire to measure up to the godly standards in midst of other saints. One area of service is by giving your money to support gospel outreaches.

Preaching. Philemon. Verse 6 said that as you tell others about your faith, you grow in your understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. The reason preachers seem to know more is because they have to study to teach others. The same will apply to you. Preach in your office, preach in the buses and on your street.

Exercising your spiritual gifts. 1 Tim.4:14, 2 Tim. 1:6 tell us that it is our responsibility to exercise our spiritual gifts. The only way to know if the gifts are there is when you pray for the sick or try to cast out demons.

Praying in tongues in a regular occasion. 1 Cor. 14:2-4 says that we build up our spiritual muscles when we pray in Tongues. Praying in Tongues is also a spiritual disinfectant. If you have not been filled in the Holy Spirit, desire for it and ask someone to pray for you. I received mine through personal prayers.

Have prayer partner(s). This is also very important. Have someone you pray with and interact with in spiritual matters. Someone said, show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. Keep appointment with a small group of prayer partners and be intentional about it. These days you can have a prayer partner in faraway places and you pray over the phone.

Beloved child of God, as you follow these simple guidelines, the Holy Spirit will find it easy to control your life and with His strong presence in and around you, you will find it easy to live a godly life.

In a moment of any kind of spiritual emergency, you will step out spiritually fit.

 I would want to get your questions and reactions.

(If you desire to join the PNUR Family Network and be added to our ministry WhatsApp platform, please chat with me +2348035724526, +2349092862555)

Emma your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT JEWELRIES

Did the bible or God at any point condemn people who use jewelries?

There are subjects I don’t discuss because I consider them as a distraction; they add nothing neither do they really deprive us of anything as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. yet, satan and the enemies of the Church have exploited such subjects to create further confusion among followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This subject has often raised heated arguments for those who support and those who oppose use of jewelries.

The views of those who oppose use of jewelries

When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.'" So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb Ex 33:4-6NIV

This is the main scripture those who oppose the use of jewelries quote in their defense. They suggest that in this scripture God meant to say that it was those jewelries that made them sin by making idols. According to them, from that point God condemned the use of jewelries and declared it an abomination.

Some of them also quote the following scripture,

So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Gen 35:4NIV

They opined that Jacob also declared that jewels were abomination to God.

They also quote the following scripture to support their position

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear 1 Peter 3:3-6NIV

They refer to the above scripture to prove that the New Testament condemns the use jewels.

The points for those in support of use of jewels. 

If we want to be truthful about Exodus 33, we must take that scripture before Chapter 33, and then we will see that it was God that gave them the favour that brought those jewels. 

"And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians." Ex 3:21-22NIV

The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. Ex 12:35-36NIV

We must also accept the fact that the bible was very specific about the reason that they took off their jewels at one point. It was in the process of mourning for the judgment that they had brought on themselves that God asked them to take off the jewels as sign of punishment. That scripture said that they were already taking it off before God asked them to remove them. 

When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.'" So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb Ex 33:4-6NIV

After this point, there is no scriptural indication that God proclaimed jewels or ornaments an abomination, rather we see in the subsequent chapters that God asked them to use the same jewels in His service

Moses said to the whole Israelite community, "This is what the Lord has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece Ex 35:4-9NIV

From this scripture we can see that they still had some jewels in their custody after what happened earlier. God never proclaimed jewels an abomination in this place or any other place in the bible.

In fact, God referred to Himself as the jewelry of His people

Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number Jer 2:32NIV

If jewels were so offensive to God, I am very sure that He would not have referred to Himself as an abomination. Instead, we see in other scriptures that God boasted about decorating His people with jewels

"'I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. Ezek 16:9-13NIV

True bible position about jewels.

It is difficult to prove that God hates jewels or sees them as abomination without perverting the bible; ant that is what those opponents of jewelries do. 1peter3:3-6 does not in any way condemn the use of jewelries. The statement is like when somebody tells a pastor, “What makes you a pastor should not be your suit or clerical robes. Rather you must imbibe the discipline of a true man of God”.

 It will be totally wrong to conclude that the statement implies that suits or clerical robes are wrong.

Apostle Paul expressed this view somewhere else

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God 1 Tim 2:9-10NIV

The right word is expressed here; modesty. Not exorbitant or wasteful or extravagant in their dress manner. 

This scripture brings in something else; braided hair. Some theological school of thought argue that women should not dress their hair beyond use of hair thread. This also is not from scripture. Those who argue against “attachment” ought to know that the hair thread is made from the same petroleum materials as the “attachment”. Though there are cultures where people groom their hairs for sale. This is a matter of choice. If one is not comfortable with them, it is wrong to turn it into doctrinal issue,

Some even link it to jezebel; I am often shocked when I read servants of God mutilating scriptures to score their point.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not see an ornament or jewelries as a bad thing. In the parable of the prodigal son, here is the way He described the reception that his father gave to him and I hope that you remember that this is a type of the heavenly Father.

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. Luke 15:22-23NIV

“.. the best robe ... ring on his fingers, sandals on his feet and plenty of meat”, and that is for those who think a good worshiper of God will not eat meat.

In describing the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, read this;

The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. Rev 21:19-21NIV 

See the different kinds of precious stones presented in connection with God’s agenda for the Church and the coming kingdom. All these are presented in a positive light.

My position with regard to such matters is in the words of Apostle Paul;

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Rom 14:1-3NIV

Indecent dressing is totally unacceptable. My father was a missionary when women come to church with only leaves across their private parts and their breast. Yet, it was never reported that he raped a woman. If we have problem with our flesh, we should ask God for grace, rather than attack the opposite sex. 

I will love to have your reaction.

Emma your brother emmanjnwosu@pnurnigeria.org

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#churchfamily #sounddoctrine #charismatic #jewelry #jewellery