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Text: John 10:10
Jesus did not come to save us from hell only; He came to give us fullness of life in the present world. God is a good God who wants to bless the people spiritually, physically and economically.
If you are not enjoying the fullness of divine blessings, it is never His fault.
The underlisted points will help you to enter into abundant life.
1.       Be sure that you have entered a special relationship with God through the new birth.
Until you become a genuine child of God, it is not possible for you to enjoy the benefits of redemption.
2.       Have a joyful approach to life, avoid sorrow of heart, complaining and murmuring. Isaiah 12:3, Psalm 118:24, Phil. 4:4. Act happy even if you are not.
3.       As much as possible be at peace with all men. (Roman 12:18, Heb 12:14). You are not to harbour unforgiveness or bitterness. Don’t keep malice or nurture hatred.
4.       Treat others gently, not harsh or critical. Everyone you meet today is a potential V.I.P., don’t be wicked under the guise of being strict. Let your graciousness be known to all. (Matt. 7:3–5).
5.       Pray to God like your father, ask Him simply and humbly whatever you need according to His will Phil. 4:16, Luke 11:9
6.       Be sure that the presence of God is with you always. Do not do anything to grieve the Spirit of God. Don’t go to any place where Jesus wouldn’t have accompanied you to.
7.       Open your mind to the wisdom of God.
Divine wisdom will open any door, secure wealth generation ideas and put the host of hell to permanent shame. Let your mind be ready to receive from heaven always. Eph. 3:10-11, Psalm 104:24, Prov. 8:1-2, 17-18

Every genuine Christian hates backsliding. The mere mentioning of the word should fill a good believer with holy anger and grave watchfulness. 1.      Result of Backsliding
        (a)     Captivity and demonic oppression. Judges 4:1-3, 6: 1-6
When there is backsliding, God stops defending the backsliding and he becomes an easy prey for the enemy. The man who has been binding the devil before automatically enters into bondage.
(b)     Loss of divine provision:  Luke 15: 13 – 16. When the prodigal son moved far from the father, he entered into a season of “want”  Provision is only sure when God is your shepherd.
(c)          Unanswered Prayers:  I Sam. 28:6, Ps. 66:18, Prov 1:24, 28. When you begin to forsake the Lord, heaven is not obliged to hearken to your voice.
(d)         Selfishness: Prov 14:14. A backslider will no longer be concerned with the things of God or fellow brethren. He regards his life first and all other things are secondary.
(e)          Unfitness for the Kingdom of God. Luke 9:52, Rev. 3:16, Ex. 32: 33 Heb. 10:26-29. No backslider has right to eternal life; he has forfeited his heavenly inheritance and is lost forever. The door of mercy is closed and the kindness of the Almighty is kept at bay.
(f)           Loss of Spiritual Power
(g)          Loss of inner peace
(h)         Loss of joy of salvation. Psalm 51:8, 12

II CURE FOR BACKSLIDING
The cross of Calvary is not only for salvation, it is also for restoration. The Like’s account of the prodigal son reveals the basic steps a backslider must take in order to get back home.
1.     Realization (Luke 15: 17). The backsliding must recognize his spiritual state. Without realization there is no recovery.
2.      Resolution: (Luke 15: 18). There is  the need to make a concrete decision to go back.
3.      Repentance: The backsliding must confess to God and be sorrowful for his sins (v. 18) Hosea 14: 1-2
4.      Renunciation: With the words of mouth, sins must be disowned. Luke 15: 18 – 21
5.      Reception: Christ must be received again like a small baby. John 1:12

The righteous shall flourish like palm tree, he shall rove up like Cedar “Psalm 92:12”
The righteous is destined to flourish ie prosper,increase,succeed,etc.But not all righteous people are flourishing.WHY?
Lets discuss some two  obstacles to abundant living.

1.       GIVING OF EXCUSES
          There are four groups of people with income.
Grp1 … Self Employed          Grp2  … Employees          Grp3… Business Owners
Grp4 … Investors
To genuinely flow in abundance you have to be a business owner / investor.      Some people know this but they are full of excuses.

•  Excuses for remaining jobless, when there are jobs to do in order to begin to earn something!
•  Excuses for not saving because of the size of what you are earning, it’s a lie.“every fruit have a seed for another fruit”

How can you eat everything? You are expected to eat the fruit and sow the seed.
Luke 14 : 17 – 21
All things  were ready but excuses kept them of inheritance (Proverb 22:13)

2.       STEALING
          Another obstacle is stealing. Stealing is of two types:
Physical stealing. Proverb 13:11, Jeremiah 17:11
As far as this kingdom is concern when you steal you will decrease.
Not immediately, but ultimately. Forging of receipts, writing expenses you never incurred all these amount to stealing. Zech 5: 3 – 4

Spiritual Stealing
No tithing or false tithes. Malachi 3:9 – 11
When you live righteously, you are free from embarrassment. It is true we are not under law, yes but we are under the law of Christ Romans 8: 12
The law of tithing came before the Commandment
Christ approved it in Matthew 23: 23.
Tithing is not optional: Even when it seems God is blessing you: you are not where God want you to be yet. You are going higher – don’t delay yourself by dodging tithe

You know what: everyone pays tithe, but only few pay theirs to God. The devil has special ways of collecting his tithe.
1.  Sickness
2. Loss of Money
3.  Disappearance  of investment
4. Over paying people
5. Wrong Purchases
6.  Frequent damage of electronics, cars, motorcycles etc.
You have a choice
Deuteronomy 15:11 / Matthew 26:11; Matthew 25: 35 – 40

Marriage is the only school where you get the Certificate before you start.
It's also a school where you will never graduate.
It's a school without a break or a free period.
It's a school where no one is allowed to drop out.
It's a school you will have to attend every day of your life.
It's a school where there is no sick leave or holidays.

It's a school founded by God:
1.On the foundation of love.
2.The walls are made out of trust.
3.The door made out of acceptance.
4.The windows made out of understanding
5.The furniture made out of blessings
6.The roof made out of faith.

Be reminded that you are just a student not the principal.
God is the only Principal.
Even in times of storms, don't be unwise and run outside.
Keep in mind that, this school is the safest place to be.
Never go to sleep before completing your
assignments for the day.

Never forget the C-word...Communicate.
Communicate with your classmate and with the Principal.
If you find out something in your classmate (spouse) that you do not appreciate.
Remember your classmate is also just a student not a graduate,
God is not finished with him/her yet.
So take it as a challenge and work on it together.

Do not forget to study the Holy Book (the main textbook of this school).
Start each day with a sacred assembly and end it the same way. Sometimes you will feel like not attending classes, yet you have to.
When tempted to quit find courage and continue.
Some tests and exams may be tough but remember
the Principal knows how much you can bear and yet
it's a school better than any other.

It's one of the best schools on earth; joy, peace and happiness accompany each lesson of the day.
Different subjects are offered in this school, yet love is the major subject.
After all the years of theorizing about it, now you have a chance to practice it.
To be loved is a good thing, but to love is the greatest privilege of them all.
Marriage is a place of love, so love your spouse.
More grace from God.

There are multitudes in Egypt, there are souls in the valley of decision. Many are there groaning in bondage thirsty for freedom. people are suffering in ignorance waiting eagerly in darkness for the light you are carrying.
    Isaiah 6:8
    And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send and who will go for us?

God want you to go and bind up the brokenhearted, to go and proclaim liberty to the captives and make their heart glad that are mourning in Zion.
However, there are some hindrances, which are capable of preventing you from going forth into the service of the master.

1.    Possessions    Material possession in abundance is not in anyway ungodly. In fact, that is the will of God for His people. But you should not allow this to hinder you in any way. A man's life consist not in the abundance of the things which he possessed. 
      Rather, the value of life is measured by the amount of impact it has made on other lives

    Luke 14:18
    And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him I have bought a piece of ground, and I must need to go and see it; I pray thee have me excused.

    The man above preferred to stay with his possession. Look, there is nothing you have which you have not received, why should you refuse to serve the giver? Is he not "He that gives you power to get wealth?" Remember, he has the power to lift and the power to lower, He maketh rich and maketh poor!

2.    Secular Business
    Judges 5: 17 - 18.
    ... and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on     the sea shore abode in his breaches.
    Zebulum and Naphtali were a people that jeopardized     their lives unto death in the high places of the field.

In the great battle of Isreal against Jabin, the king of Canaan and Sisera their captain, the tribes of Dan and Asher refused to go to the battlefield, they had better engagement in their day to day business! Some are already swallowed by secular engagements and are incapable of serving God. Yes, you need to work, you need to eat but never allow that to prevent you from labouring in God's vineyard. Do your best and serve your God.

3.    Relationship
    I Corinthians 7:29, 35c
    But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth,     that both they that have wives be as though they had     none; ... that ye may attend the Lord without distraction.

Family relationship - wife, husband, brothers, relatives could serve as hindrance to entire consecration through oppositiion or through sentimental appeal,

However, if you know the importance of service and the accompanying rewards you will not give in to family pressure.

    Mark 10:29,30.
    There is no man that hath left house or brethren or     sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands     FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL.
    But he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time     ... and in the world to come eternal life.

You must discard earthly relationship to secure divine pleasure.

Elisha was neither hindered by his parents nor by those twelve yokes of oxen. Take heed, what He will offer you no earthly uncle can.

4.    Laziness
    Some people are pathologically lazy. They are simply under the oppression of the spirit of laziness. These people will never amount to anything in secular business or in God's vineyard. If you are guilty, deliver yourself now! Get ready to do something, stand against the adversary who is set to render your life valueless.

Every obstacle is surmountable, it only takes ability to receive and obey instructions. Beloved, what is hindering you? Shun every obstacles and receive divine strength. Move forward and serve. Go into God's vineyard and labour.

I curse every spirit of laziness. I curse every spirit of indifference. Every sentimental attachment hindering you is hereby broken! You are released immediately to go and serve your fathers, in Jesus precious name.

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It’s not a question of whether you’ll face trials. It’s just a matter of when. It could be that even today you’re discouraged as you struggle uphill, with more mountain ahead of you than behind, wondering when things will get easier.
Take heart. No matter what you’re facing today, or what you may have to face tomorrow, if you belong to God you can be confident there’s a powerful purpose in your pain.

1. THE TEST OF LOVE
Trials and tribulations can be a test of our love. They can reveal whom or what we love most in our lives . They reveal our priorities and desires . The Lord wants us to love Him more than anybody else or anything else. The depth of our love to God is revealed during the seasons of trials. The Lord also wants us to love our fellowmen which includes even our enemies . Therefore trials and tribulations test our love towards God and our fellowmen.

" And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. " Mark 12 :30-31

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs." John 21 : 15

" Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " Romans 8 : 35-39

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 4 : 44-48

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. " I Corinthians 13: 4-7


2. THE TEST OF FAITH
Trials and tribulations can be a test of our faith . Do we believe in God even in the midst of pain and suffering ? Do we believe in the promises of God even when everything looks impossible.? Do we trust in God even if He does not deliver us?. Do we trust in God even when we do not understand His ways and workings in our lives ? The depth of our faith in God is revealed during times of trials and tribulations.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith— of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire— may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed." I Peter 1 :6-7

"Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. " Romans 4 : 16-21

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Daniel 3 :16-18

" Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. ..." Job 13 :15


3. THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE
Trials and tribulations can be a test of our obedience to God. Are we willing to obey God even when He commands us to do what we do not like or what we wish to avoid ? The Lord teaches us obedience by leading us through the path of trials and tribulations.

"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; " Hebrews 5: 7-8

" And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. " Matthew 26 : 39

"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD......He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you." Deuteronomy 8 : 2-3,15-16

"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12 : 5-11

4. THE TEST OF SACRIFICE

Trials and tribulations can be a test of our sacrifice. Are we willing to sacrifice everything for the Lord ?. Are we clinging to the possessions and treasures of this world?. Are we crucified to the world ? . When we lay ourselves on the altar and die to our self then we can bear much fruit for the Lord. The Lord leads us to the point of total surrender by leading us through the path of trials and tribulations. He tests the level of our willingness to sacrifice for Him . The Lord sacrificed everything for us .What have we sacrified for the Lord ?
"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, Abraham! Here I am, he replied. Then God said, Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.............When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, Abraham! Abraham! Here I am, he replied. Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided. The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22 : 1-18

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple..........In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14 :26-33

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. " John 12 : 24-26

"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. " Galatians 2:20

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. " Galatians 6:14

5. THE TEST OF HUMILITY.

Trials and tribulations can be a test of our humility . The Lord humbles us by allowing us to go through seasons of trials and tribulations. The Lord wants us to have the mind of Christ who humbled Himself to take the form of a slave and became obedient even to the death of the cross. Such humility will bring great honour from the Lord. Trials and Tribulations will reveal the extent to which we are willing to humble ourselves.

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." II Corinthians 12 : 7-10

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. " Philippians 2 : 5-11

6. THE TEST OF ENDURANCE
Trials and tribulations can be a test of our endurance . How much are we willing to endure for the Lord ? Will we give up easily from following the Lord ? Will we endure till the end ? The Lord wants us to be strong in our commitment to follow Him . Trials and Tribululations will test the level of our endurance.

"He sent a man before them-- Joseph--who was sold as a slave.They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him. " Psalms 105 :17-19

"All these are the beginning of sorrows. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." Matthew 24 : 8-13

"But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven." Hebrews 10 : 32-34


7.THE TEST OF PATIENCE
Trials and tribulations can be a test of our patience . The Lord has a timing for fulfilling His plans and purposes . And often they take much longer than we expect . In the meantime we go through severe trials and tribulations and they may seem to last a long time . These seasons are tests of our patience. Are we willing to wait till God’s perfect timing ? Our impatience will only create great suffering in our lives . We must be patient till God’s time in order to inherit His promises.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1 : 2-4

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. " Hebrews 10 :34-36

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. " James 5 : 7-11

"Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her. Abram agreed to what Sarai said." Genesis 16:1-2

"He waited for seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. What have you done? asked Samuel. Saul replied, When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were ssembling at Michmash, I thought, ’Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favour.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering. You acted foolishly, Samuel said. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command. " I Samuel 13 : 8-14

Coming to church is not the ultimate in our Christian walk.The real issue is are you stable in Christ?
The beginning of a solid testimony in Christ is the new birth experience.
In Gods eyes  if you are saved, you are not relevant.
Remember the ark of Noah; for 120yrs the ark was open to anyone willing to enter.But when divine patience expired, he closed the ark.
Don’t let the ark close against you. Enter and stay inside.
Inside the ark is the only place where you have value. You
can see how He destroyed the people outside the ark without mercy.
When the salvation issue is settled others becomes easy.Here are two pillars of solid spiritual testimony.
1.Desire Spiritual Growth
As a child, if after 3years you are still crawling, your parents will be extremely worried. The neighbors see the child as abnormal, a stigma, a pitiable entity. A child that cannot be celebrated.
In similar fashion, some are in church who have become source of concern to their pastors and to the Lord! You must grow up.
How Do You Grow?
a. Strive to know more: Ask questions, read books, buy tapes, study the scriptures more and attend teaching meetings. He that increaseth knowledge increaseth strength.
b. Serve more: Service is a form of spiritual exercise and an avenue for growth and exposure.
Even if you are a worker and its like you are being under-utilized, go to leaders like Isaiah and say “Here am I, send me”.
c. Examine yourself regularly and improve steadily
2. Avoid Wrong Friends:
When you befriend liars, you will start exaggerating. Your old friends may not necessarily be the best of friends. Twenty kids cannot play, for twenty years. Law of Progress and Law of status will separate them.
Luke5:1-6
There are two sets of people in that story
i.Those eager to hear the Word
ii.Those washing their nets in regret and frustration
What was it that made Peter t have testimony:Change Of Association.
In life, there are many net washers and quitters. Leave them. Dissociate yourself from them.
Prov.13:20
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
In your journey and walk in life even in church :you will meet people who are going nowhere, life destroyers and vision killers who are looking for roommates. Run from them.
Genesis 22:5
He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
They journeyed together to a junction, then they separated into destiny and testimonies.
That you started together does not mean you will end together. You must be bold to tell some people …stop following me.
If Abraham had gone ahead with those young men, they will think he needed psychiatric treatment.
Stop them or they will stop you and your consecration and even your destiny.

 Procrastination is defined as, "to defer action, delay, to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost". One study defined it as “postponing the completion of a task to the point of feeling uncomfortable about one’s delay.” Naturally, Satan and the world system want us to waste our precious time and pass into eternity having accomplished nothing of eternal value. Thus, anything that causes us to waste our time is a spiritual issue. Thoreau captured this truth when he wrote: “As if you could kill time without injuring eternity".How many of us would drop twenty dollar bills out of our car window as we drive down the highway or smash Rolex watches with a hammer as a means of relaxation? Yet, many of us consistently waste the most valuable resource available to us—our time. Benjamin Franklin put it this way: “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that’s the stuff life is made of.”{1} From a biblical perspective, Paul admonishes us: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16)

Examples Of Procrastination In The Bible:

1.The children of Israel delayed in moving to the promised land: So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? (Joshua 18: 3 NIV)
2.Marcus Antonius Felix, governor of Judea in 52 AD, delayed his salvation when Paul witnessed to him: "And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you.” Acts 24:25
3.Songs Of Solomon 5:2-6..In that parable the Man delayed in opening the door for his beloved,when he finally opened,the bride has disappeared.

Five Types Of Procrastinators

The Thrill-Seeker: If you’re a thrill-seeker, then you procrastinate because you actually get a rush from completing things last minute. You feel that you thrive under pressure and you love the adrenaline you get from handing in work in the last possible minute. However such people never enter into their full potential because they spend so little time on their projects?
The Avoider:  The Avoider runs away from the discomfort of going through with a task that either is unpleasant or has high stakes. Avoiders are almost always too focused on what others might think. They run away from fear of failure or sometimes even fear of success.
The Indecisive Procrastinator: The Indecisive Procrastinator simply can’t make a decision. Usually, this is a result of the fear they will be blamed for a negative outcome. This type of procrastinator runs away from responsibility. After all, if they’re not making a decision, the result won’t be their fault.
The Perfectionist: Perfectionists set such high standards for themselves that they become overwhelmed. This type of procrastinator might even get started on work, which the other kinds of procrastinators usually have a hard time doing, but they fail to finish when they can’t meet the unrealistic expectations they set for themselves. Because they can’t do something perfectly, then nothing gets done at all. Cue cycle of anxiety and shame.
The Busy Procrastinator :Busy procrastinators are just too busy to actually get down to the bottom of their to-do list. Everything seems equally important and they can’t decide what to do first. Choosing only one task would mean that the others won’t get done.

Reasons Why People Procrastinate:

Procrastination is the mother of all limitations, the arch enemy of our dreams and the most common complaint from potential stars. Most people have big, bold and beautiful dreams, some people even know exactly what they need to do in order to achieve them, but for some, seemingly unknown, reason most people find themselves stuck with an inability to translate intention into action.
The major reasons for procrastination can be deduced from the types of procrastinators that we have. Yet we still need to isolate those reasons for sake of clarity.
1. Indecision: "A double minded man is unstable in all he does."  (James 1:8 LB)  When you don’t make up your mind on time,you automatically postpones action. The groom in the SOS 5;did not decide on time to open the door.
2.Perfectionism:It's hard to get anything done if it needs to be perfect, because if you're constantly criticizing the work there is always more work to be done. But the real problem comes in when you don't even want to do the work because making it perfect seems too daunting: This is how perfectionism can lead to procrastination.
3.Fear: Whenever we’re afraid of something, we tend to put it off. It could be the fear of failure or even the fear of success. What if I fail or worse yet, what if I achieve it, how do I top that? Fear can keep you from making that tough phone call, scheduling that counseling appointment, sharing your faith, volunteering your talents or pursuing your dream. King Agrippa was afraid of the unknown, that was why he procrastinated his salvation.
4.Coziness: When you are too relaxed and comfortable...sensing no need to achieve more, procrastination becomes very easy.
5.Laziness:When you lack energy or sleep excessively,the next obvious thing is to shift what want to do to another time.
6.Confusion:Sometimes the task just looms in front of you as a big block, like a building with no doors.  You walk around its perimeter and you don’t immediately see a way in.  How do you get in?  Where do you begin?  You can’t figure it out, so you set the task aside because you are confused.
7.Anger or Resentment: A very different cause of procrastination  is resentment. This person says, “I know I should be starting this task, but my spouse has been bugging me about it and I am going to show them that I am in control of my own time.”
8.Distraction:Distractions are every where.Phone calls,TV programs,Internet etc   and even low priority task can constitute themselves into distraction and waste your time...forcing you to procrastinate.
9.Low Action Identity.   Some personality have the tendency to always be slow to act. This means that despite their often highly specific intentions, they consistently defer the actualization of their intentions by procrastinating.
10. Helplessness in the face of complexity: We look at a task at hand and feel intensely un-resourceful.  It may remind us of something we had to do when we were younger, before we had the skills to conquer it (even though that’s no longer the case). Or it may actually be a daunting task at our current skill level.  Either way, the task seems far too complex, so we try to avoid it.
11.Fatigue/Stress :When you are easily tired...you automatically put yourself in a fix.Things become stagnant and procastination comes automatically.
12.Skill Deficits:Skill deficits are one of the most basic reasons for procrastination. If you lack the skills to complete certain tasks, it is only natural to avoid doing them. For example, you may be a slow reader. If you have several lengthy articles to read before you can write a paper, you may postpone the reading because it is difficult. You may even have trouble admitting your poor reading skills because you do not want to be seen as seem "dumb." Thus procrastinating may seem better than facing your need to improve your reading skills.
13. Reactive Depression: Reactive depression occurs when you have experienced a trauma in your life which has broken the normal hormonal functioning cycle that motivates you in your day-to-day life. The body has become overloaded with stress through an event, which may have been physical injury or psychological shock, causing the adrenal glands to overload then slow down. You feel like you do not have much energy or cannot be bothered do to do anything. You procrastinate about decisions or being involved with tasks.
14.Lack Of Structure: Structure (with respect to what we are talking about) simply means a pre-defined arrangement or system of getting things done. When this is lacking any complex task will never get done easily.
15.Overwhelming Task: Being overwhelmed can stifle us. When there’s just too much to do, we can freeze. There are so many urgent things to do, that it seems impossible to handle. So instead of getting on with it, against what would seem obvious, we go off on a tangent and do something entirely different instead.
16.Inability to prioritize: . Those who cannot view the tasks at hand and place them into different categories based on their level of importance sometimes have difficulty getting anything done because they are constantly switching from one task to another or trying to decide what to do next.

Dangers Of Procrastination

1.Loss Of Time: When you procrastinate, you lose precious time. Time lost can never be recovered. It is lost forever.Time is life: When people kill time they are not committing murder they are committing suicide. Every man is like a bottle of pharmaceutical, he has an expiry date. A date after which his usefulness is cancelled. Your major aim should be to achieve before you expire. Therefore, let everyday of your life count concerning your purpose for life. Williams James said the value of life is not computed by its duration but by its donation.
2.Loss Of Opportunities: The word opportunity has been defined as an occasion or situation which makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do.When you procrastinate you may lose the window of opportunity that is opened in your direction.
3.Decreasing Self Esteem:This is one of the vicious circles you might find yourself in. We tend to procrastinate sometimes because of a low self-esteem, but procrastinating doesn’t only reinforce this, it makes it even lower.
Having low self-esteem destroys lives in many ways. When we have low self-esteem we hold ourselves back, we feel less than we should and it leads to self-sabotaging acts. Procrastination eats away at your confidence, slowly but surely.
4.Inability To Reach Set Goals:With procastination,set goals becomes a tall gream.Not because of lack of ability but because of failure to act when necessary.
5.Failure In Life And Carrier: Many people didn't realize that when we continuously put things off, it will develop into a bad habit.  There are good and bad habits.  When things turn into a habit, we will do them without even thinking about it. Procrastination is a bad habit and if we do not stop the bad habits, it will have an impact on our life.  The longer you procrastinate in doing things that ensure your success, the closer it will lead you to the path of failure in carrier and destiny with certainty.

HOW TO OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION

1.    Get clear about what you want in life. Think well and write down all your goals in some or all of these categories: career, education, relationships, financial, physical, mindset, creative, spiritual, public service, travel, leisure, and other. When you do this your life is automatically given a specific direction and procrastination becomes more dangerous and inconvenient.
2.    Believe in yourself and in your ability to accomplish anything you want. If you’ve lost hope, know that you can turn things around. Release the fear of failure. Failure is just a learning experience. Slow and steady wins the race. A little bit done every day adds up to a lot over a year. If you have to, just fake your belief until it becomes real. Remember, you can do it!
3.    To-Do List: These are prioritized lists of all the tasks that you need to carry out. They list everything that you have to do, with the most important tasks at the top of the list, and the least important tasks at the bottom.
By keeping such a list, you make sure that your tasks are written down all in one place so you don't forget anything important. And by prioritizing tasks, you plan the order in which you'll do them, so that you can tell what needs your immediate attention, and what you can leave until later.
To-Do Lists are essential if you're going to beat work overload .and overcome procrastination. With this list you'll focus your time and energy on high value activities, which will mean that you're more productive.
4.    Have some quiet time every day And plan the Day In Advance. We are constantly plugged in to our digital world. We constantly have music or sound on. It can be a overwhelming and stressful causing us to tune out of work and life. Give yourself at least 30 minutes of quiet everyday.Use the time to pray,plan and to refocus on the tasks at hand and your ultimate purpose in life.
5.    Eliminate Distractions: It's hard to get any real work done when you keep turning your attention to what's on television or you keep checking your friends Facebook status updates. Assign yourself a period of time during which you turn off all distractions – such as music, television, and social networking sites – and use that time to focus all of your attention on the task at hand.
6.    Break your work into little steps. Part of the reason why we procrastinate is because subconsciously, we find the work too overwhelming for us. Break it down into little parts, then focus on one part at the time. If you still procrastinate on the task after breaking it down, then break it down even further. Soon, your task will be so simple that you will be thinking “gee, this is so simple that I might as well just do it now!”
7.    Identify your most productive times. If you’re more focused in the morning, set aside this time for your biggest, most complicated projects. Putting off important work until the times when you’re less productive is likely to lead to procrastination.
8.    Reward yourself at project milestones. When facing a large task, break the overall project down into several smaller milestones and set up rewards for achieving each new deadline. Make sure the rewards are things you’ll be excited to receive (for example, a new book or a nice dinner out) in order to truly give procrastination the boot.
9.    Take a visualization break. If you find yourself struggling to take action in the face of overwhelming procrastination, take a few minutes to visualize the end result you’re trying to achieve. If you’re trying to lose weight, picture your newly-fit self skipping down the beach in a bikini. If it’s a business project you’re struggling with, visualize the extra money being deposited into your bank account or your boss congratulating you on a job well done. Make your visualizations as realistic as possible and you’ll soon want to experience this same success in real life!
10.    Work on a different project: One sneaky way to get around your procrastination is to start work on another, more appealing project. Then, while you’re hard at work, switch gears and get back to the task you’re procrastinating on. You’ll find it’s a lot easier to make the transition when you’re already working than when you’re wasting around on the couch.
11.     Seek order.“The difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits. An amateur has amateur habits. A professional has professional habits. We can never free ourselves from habit. But we can replace bad habits with good ones. We can trade in the habits of the amateur and the addict for the practice of the professional and the committed artist or entrepreneur.”
Do you have a schedule that you follow? Do you have a routine in place? The best way to defeat habits of procrastination and the inability to start anything is to streamline everything. Take the guesswork out. Know what it is that needs to be done and dive into it. Don’t think.
12.    Change Your Environment: Gather only what you need to work on the task, take yourself out of your normal work environment and go to a conference room, another office, the library, a co-working space, a friend’s house — anywhere where you will not be distracted by your normal routine and people that you know.
13.    Take Mini-Breaks.When you begin to lose focus, take a 5-15 minute break away from your work area. Do something totally unrelated to work (e.g., take a quick walk, create a cute label, eat some fruit, listen to music, stretch).
14.    Embrace Imperfection. One of the reasons we procrastinate is to avoid having to make tough decisions and deal with a difficult task. If you’re trying to write the perfect paper, coming up with the perfect thesis can be so intimidating that you don’t even want to get started. Instead of always aiming for perfection, start intimidating projects by just getting started.
15.    Intensive Prayers: Acknowledge that God has given us all of the time we need to accomplish everything He wants us to accomplish. Since that is probably far more than we normally accomplish, we need to invite God to lead our time management initiative. We need to pray for a clear understanding of God’s priorities and perspective. If we are dealing with laziness, we should ask for self-control. If we are dealing with emotions such as resentment or fear, we need to ask God to take our thoughts captive in obedience to Christ. If we are struggling with anxiety, we need His peace that passes understanding. If we are struggling with perfectionism, we need to acknowledge that our total significance is found in Christ, not in our performance. Do not try to bypass this step. Time is a key battleground in the spiritual war. If we run onto the battlefield in our own power and wisdom, we will soon find ourselves hopelessly behind.
16.    Put pressure on yourself. One of the best ways to overcome procrastination is by working as if you had only one day to get all your most important jobs done before you go on vacation.
17.    Maximize your personal powers by resting: When you are fully rested you can get three times as much done as when you are tired. Some once said that you will do well by dividing your day into three. One third to work, one third to play and one third to rest.
18.    Do the most difficult task first. We only have a limited supply of willpower. Once it’s been used up for the day, chances of us tackling hard tasks are pretty slim. Dive into your hardest task when your energy level is at its highest. This will ensure the best results. When we push the hard tasks to the end of the day, it takes a toll on our energy all day long. In the end, stressing for hours over the task we’re procrastinating negatively affects all the other tasks on our list. So next time you’re scheduling the items on your list, make sure to start out with worst one. It may not necessarily be the largest, but it should be the one you’re dreading the most. By accomplishing it so early in the day, you will feel energized and productive. You’ll know the rest of the day is all downhill and cruise through the list with remarkable speed.
19.    Limit how much time you spend on something: One of the best tactics recommended is to limit how much time you spend on something. Limiting how much time you spend on a task makes the task more fun, more structured, and less frustrating and difficult because you’ll always be able to see an end in sight. There are some huge productivity benefits to the idea as well. When you limit how much time you spend on something instead of throwing more time at the problem, you force yourself to exert more energy over less time to get it done, which will make you a lot more productive.
20.    Set a mid-day alarm. There’s nothing more guilt-inducing than ending a day and realizing you haven’t accomplished a single task. We can avoid this rut by setting an alarm on our phone to ring everyday around 1 p.m. When the ringer goes off, assess how many things on your list have been attended to.
Re-plan your schedule for the remainder of the afternoon and shift it around to take care of the most important item first. If necessary, you can indulge in a second cup of coffee to jumpstart your “second morning.” By doing this, you will avoid going to bed at night mulling over all the things you didn’t get done.

Most Christians believed that it is definitely wrong  to outwardly express anger in any form. And yet anger is an emotion and God created us an emotional being. This leads to a very important question, "Is it always wrong and a sin to be angry?" To answer this, one must know the nature of anger as defined in the Bible, how it affects us and others, what the Bible says about expressing it, and how to handle it.I. What is Anger?
Anger is a strong emotion of displeasure. The New Testament uses three words for anger?
1. Thumas -- turbulent commotion, boiling agitation of feelings, blazing up, passion, anger boiling up and subsiding, an outburst from inward indignation (Eph. 4:31)
2. Parorgismos-- (wrath) anger that has irritation, exasperation, embitterment (Eph. 4:26b, 6:4)
3, Orge- An abiding and settled habit of the mind aroused under certain conditions (against evil and injustice) a just occasion for this feeling
(Eph. 4:26a; Mark 3:5) (Sometimes with a view to taking revenge that can be lasting. But forbidden in Col. 3:9 for here it includes the scope of revenge.)
II. What Are It's Effects?
1. When anger is present is produces energy in abundance. It impels individuals to do things that tend to hurt or destroy. Some of the many names for anger are aggression, resentment, hate, fury, bitterness, spite, rancor, scorn, disdain, enmity, defiance, antagonism, hostility,etc.
2. When a person is angry we say --he is mad, bitter, griped, fed up, sore, seething, annoyed, exasperated, vexed, hurt, irked, pained, hostile, ferocious, vicious, dangerous, provoked, etc.
3. Anger will motivate a person to -- hate, wound, damage, annihilate, despise, scorn, loathe, vilify, curse, despoil, ruin, demolish, abhor, ridicule, get even, laugh at, humiliate, criticize, scold, bawl out, irritate, beat up, fight, crush, offend, bully, etc. He will probably attack verbally, or subtly.
III. What Happens to the Body When One is Angry?
Many things, such as: sugar pours into the system, creating energy. The blood pressure increase maybe as much as from 130 to 230, and the heart beats faster, often up to 220 or higher.
Additional adrenalin is released, which dilates the pupils of the eyes. Muscles tense up and the digestive tract can become so spastic that severe abdominal pains are felt during or after the time of anger. People have had strokes during a fit of anger because of the increased blood pressure. During anger the person can have a fatal coronary attack.
In 2002 a news item on the BBC website was headed: Angry Young Men Risk Heart Attacks. A finding of a 36 year longitudinal study was that young men who react quickly to stress with anger are three times more likely to develop heart disease. Of course, this risk is not confined to men. Here is a list of possible adverse effects of regular or chronic anger:

• Damaged or blocked arteries-linked to elevated bad cholesterol production
• Hypertension
• Increased susceptibility to infection (because cortisol released when we are angry suppresses the immune system as the body prepares for a fight)

 IV. What Causes Anger?
Why do we become angry? Are there logical reasons for becoming angry?
1. Some people become angry when they are frustrated. When a person is blocked from obtaining satisfaction or fulfilling his desires, impulses, ambitions, hopes, or drives, he readily becomes angry.
2. A person may become anger because of experiencing pain. This may be physical or psychological. A child may turn upon the parent, after spanking, and say "I hate you!" Harsh or brutal words or experiences that hurt can also make us angry. (Job. 19:2)
3 Another reason for anger is anxiety over the threat to oneself or a possession, or a loss. But the anxiety so quickly turns into anger.
4. Injustice is still another reason or cause of anger. Injustices occur every day and are perpetrated upon people often in all levels of society, Far too little anger is expressed at times over the injustices many people suffer, yet it is perhaps one of the most valid reasons for anger.
5. A final cause of anger is selfishness. We want our own way regardless of what happens to others. Some of our frustrations could easily be traced to the fact that our way has been blocked. We could give in and let the other person have his way, but instead we become frustrated and angry. We could eliminated our anger by putting others first. Perhaps at times it is the awareness of our own imperfections that leads us to attack and become angry with those who fail to live up to our expectations. We criticize others which makes us feel better at their expense.
V. When is Anger Wrong?
1. Some Bible verses clearly tell us not to be angry. (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; Prov. 29:11, and many more.)
2. Other passages forbid provoking others to anger, and especially our children (Prov. 20:9; Col. 3:21). In Proverbs 15:18 and 16:32 we are encouraged to be slow to anger, i.e. take time to think before acting.
3. People given to anger should be avoided. (Prov. 22:24, 25; 29:22)
VI. When is Anger Right?
Ephesians 4:24 declares "Be angry and sin not.'"This does not contradict what was just stated above. "Orge" kind of anger (look earlier) is a settled kind of anger aroused under certain conditions. The person is aware of it and in control of it. There is a just occasion for anger. The reason is involved and when reason is present anger such as this can be right, if under God's control.
There are times when Scriptures would not only permit it, but on occasion demand it. Many of us think that all anger is wrong, but that is totally in error.
1. The meek are not passive people, who are never angry. Meekness is not weakness, but the person knows how to be self-controlled by the Holy Spirit, even under pressure. We must be careful when, and if we get angry. Meekness is the sanctification of anger. It includes patience and long-suffering for personal affronts, but will speak out vigorously for the glory and honor of God.
2. There are Certain Characteristics of Righteous Anger:
These will be found in the times of Christ's reactions in anger. (Mark 3; Matthew 23; John 2)
a. First of all it must be controlled, not a heated nor unrestrained passion.
b. There will not be hatred, malice or resentment.
c. It's motivation must be totally unselfish.
d. It is directed against wrong deeds, or situations, not against people.
e. It ought to lead to positive and constructive action to right the wrong.
VII. How Do You Handle Anger?
It will take a while to get victory. You don't change a lifetime of patterns over night, so don't get discouraged and give up. Try some of the following suggestions.
1. First, when angry, accept the fact of your anger, admit it to the Lord. Confess it and take full responsibility for it. Don't project the blame on someone else by saying "You made me angry." No one else can make you angry; you allow it yourself. You are to blame, and no one else.
2. Second, try to understand what You are doing to make yourself angry. It is not the situation, it is YOU.
3. Third, control your anger. It is possible, Pray about it. Think before you act. Tell others in your group, or family that you need encouragement and that you are determined to change.
4. Fourth, don't respond to anger with anger (Prov. 15:1), but rather speak softly and get control of your person.
5. Fifth, spend time visualizing how you want to respond the next time you may possibly get angry and practice it. (Prov. 15:1; Phil. 4:6-9)
6. Sixth, develop a sense of humor; it will keep you from taking yourself too seriously.
7.Use Discretion: try to positively explain away the shocking behaviour/attitude of others that want to make you angry."The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression." Prov.19:11
(Edited)

Text: II Cor. 12:1-9;11:23-28, and 4:7-11
In order to fulfill those plans for the purpose of God and become “who” God has ordained you to be, you will go through a process:a series of actions, changes or functions bringing about a desired result.”When that process is not palatable but hurting  and tiresome...it is refereed to as adversity.The word adversity occurs only once in the KJV Bible and it literally means trouble,difficulty,affliction...
It is noteworthy that adversity can come  because of our own sinful ways and failures as well as from God ministered to us by a loving Holy Spirit.
1. Adversity is not abnormal, many times it is even permitted by God.
2. God may or may not reveal the reason for what you are facing..
3. Adversity can be extremely painful and hurting, although allowed by God.
4. Adversity can be a  gift from God:though you may not immediately understand this.
5. The Devil can be the main agent by which the difficulty comes.  It might appear to be egregious. The Christian life is not designed to be a bed of roses though at the end it will be glorious.
6. God sends adversity to help, never to hinder us. God is doing good in our lives.
7. God never scolds for praying for release from adversity.
8. Paul learned God will comfort us in adversity -- He will give sufficient and timely comfort.
9. We are never alone in our adversity -- grace will overshadow us; God’s presence will be there. He will give a canopy of love and grace -- 12:9
10. While experiencing adversity we can experience God’ grace -- God is here now- in the present tense for us.
11. By grace we are enabled to endure victoriously. His power will be perfected in our weakness. This was Paul’s attitude and response. We must learn how to respond accordingly.
12. God may not see fit to remove the adversity. He is planning many good things for our growth and maturity. (James 1:1-3; Rom. 5:1-5)
13. God’s power within us reaches its peak at the time of our greatest adversity. His power is perfected in our weakness.Napoleon Hill said The strongest oak tree of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.
14. The spiritual blessings we receive in our adversity can over-shadow the pain we feel.
15. The right response in adversity develops our fellowship with God. We can move into bitterness or we can become better! We can build a closer walk or we can walk away.
16. If God does not see fit to remove the adversity He can enable us to live with it and grow through it.
17. We not only can live with it, we can rejoice in it.
18. Our present adversity may be preparation for the future lighter or heavier adversity. God is preparing for our future and preparing us for those future plans.
19. The key to enduring adversity triumphantly is to see it from Christ’s point of view, and receive it for Christ’s sake. (See Heb. 5:5-9; Heb. 12:1-4)
20. Adversity empowers us to comprehend others, and to console them in their troubles and pressures. We are able to have an ongoing ministry of encouragement to others.
21.Adversity is not meant to annihilate us but to stand as catalyst for our advancement.
22.The challenges we encounter prepares us for different phases of life.It is virtually impossible to  enter into next phase of life without facing and overcoming the next challenge.
23.Running away from adversities is running away from advancements.
24.Adversity is used by heaven to measure our strenght,loyality and stability(Prov24:10)

To get at the best in anything, you need facts. I consider facts as the father of success. Every success in marriage is fathered by facts, not luck. Quite a number of people have very peaceful and harmonious homes. Some are not even Christians, but they have unconsciously engaged the vital law of success in marriage the law of sense. Many have put the blame for their troubled homes at the door of the devil. But I believe the devil is not to be blamed for some of the problems we find in homes today. Some of them are self-caused. The Bible says by wisdom is a house built and by understanding it is established (Prov. 24:3-4). Wisdom has a way of establishing peace and serenity in the home. But it places a responsibility on you. Men with successful homes have accepted the responsibility of loving their wives, and the wives have also accepted the responsibility of submitting to their husbands. The Bible sense for getting into marriage or for enjoying a successful home is accepting your responsibility in designing or determining your destiny.

I believe that shortage of sense is the reason for problems in the home. Marriage is neither a myth nor magic. It is a relationship consciously entered into. You can't wake up one morning and find somebody by your side. That happened only once in the garden of Eden, never to happen again. Marriage is a good thing established by God, for the benefit of man. But to enjoy the benefits, it must be entered into as God intended it to be. Starting right is the solid foundation for success in marriage. The Bible says in
 Psalm 11:3:
  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Success in marriage starts even before a couple enters into marriage. A sure foundation sets the pace for a successful home.
1. Finding The Person
"How do I get into marriage?" is the first question you must ask. The answer is in
 Proverbs 18:22:
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord. "Whoso findeth..."
 not, "Whoso prayeth or fasteth", or "Whoso his father giveth a wife..." Finding a wife is a conscious act. It doesn't happen in a sleep or dream. You enter into marriage with your senses alive. You consciously engage yourself in a finding process, by opening your mind and eyes to locate who you can spend your lifetime with. The finding process is not spiritual, but a practical one. You open your eyes wide to find a partner. After finding, you evaluate what you have found, if it is what you really want or not. For a believer, there are two basic criteria for determining who to marry.
Must Be A Believer
No matter the counsel, dream, or vision, there is no meeting point between a Christian and a sinner. The Abrahamic covenant demands that you marry among your kinsmen only. You're not permitted to marry strangers.
In simple language, the unbeliever is out of the question for a believer, no matter how you feel about it or how much you would have loved to.The Bible is clear on this.
 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: forwhat fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
Considering an unbeliever for marriage is completely out of the question, no matter how well you are convinced that someday he or she will be saved. If you go on in a relationship with an unbeliever, it is easier for you to backslide than for you to get him saved. This is because it is easier to be pulled down from a height than to be pulled up from a well or valley. It is Scripturally unsafe for you to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. No matter what possession the unbeliever has, he is out of the way. Even if she is the most beautiful lady on earth, she is out of the way. Even if you claim he looks gentle, there are many gentle devils. A gentleman does not mean a saved man. You may say, "In fact, since I knew him, he has never hurt a fly." You will be the first fly he will hurt! You don't need to pray or think about considering an unbeliever as a marriage partner. God gave us brains so we can let Him rest. God doesn't listen to prayers that negate His Word. Your friends and church members may hear your groaning in prayer, but God won't, if it contradicts His Word.
Agreement
The second criterion for making your choice on who to marry is agreement. The Bible says:
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?   Amos 3:3
You ask yourself, "Do we agree? Are we working towards a common goal?" If you desire a successful home, then you must sincerely answer these questions. You don't need prayer to be able to answer them.
If the person is bothered about your prayer life, then you're not heading in the same direction. If she feels uncomfortable when you read the Bible, then you should not bother about her. If your going to church is a concern to him, you might end up in a shrine. If he can't stand your relations, you can't have a good home. "Are we agreeable?" Answering this question has a lot to do with your ability to analyze issues. After these two criteria have been met, then you can make your choice of a marriage partner. Don't be afraid to make your choice, because even God respects your choice (Deut. 30:19). To marry someone you don't like makes you a fool.
Propose
The next thing to do is to propose to the lady. You go ahead to communicate to the person of your choice, your desire to marry her. When you propose to a lady, give her a chance to decide whether she wants to marry you or not.If she is in a church where some protocols are to be followed….dont allow that to frustrate you.
When a lady says "No" to your proposal, go and look elsewhere for a wife. She has a right to choose who she wants to marry, so don't blackmail or stampede her into marrying you by telling her God said she is your wife. Everyone has a right to decide who he or she wants to marry. Marriage is by choice, not by force.
 
2. Courtship
 After proposing to a lady and she has agreed to marry you, the next thing to do is to obey the Biblical injunction to prove all things (1 Thess. 5:21). No matter how much you're convinced that you have made a right choice of who to marry, you need to prove the relationship. The courtship period is the time to prove your relationship. Proving all things is the essence of courtship. It gives you the opportunity of proving your choice. Yes, your spirit agrees that you have made the right choice, but you still need to prove all things. So, take time to prove your choice. Courtship is a fact-finding period. Marriage without courtship naturally ends in crisis, because there was no opportunity to get to know each other and prove whether the choice made was wise or not. Impatience is responsible for many marriage failures in the west today. A lot of marriages in America today don't last for more than three months, and the data keep getting worse by the day. This is because a man can meet a lady on the subway and say to her, "Hi, I am Thomas. Can you go out with me this Saturday? After that, can we be married the next Saturday?" The lady says, "Why not?" Their next meeting after that is on their wedding day. But very shortly after, Thomas says to Jane, "Jane, I am sorry I met you. It is the greatest mistake of my life. Let's call it quits." A woman can just walk out of the house, saying, "I'm tired, I'm fed up." She leaves her home, leaving a note in the hand of the baby. The baby munches half of it, and the man returns home to meet the remaining half! This is why there is need to prove the relationship by knowing one another well enough before getting into marriage. Courtship can be broken. This should not be mistaken for divorce. There is a no law in the Bible that says one can't break a courtship. Courtship is only a period of proving your compatibility. If you are not compatible, then the relationship should end there and not continue any further. If your ideas and ideals are not similar, common sense demands that you call it quits.
Many who have problems in their homes today saw the problems ahead, but they still went ahead, like a horse and a mule that have no understanding. You say, "How can I break our courtship? Our group leader already knows." By the time you start boxing yourselves at home, your group leader would have gone to work! Which group leader are you talking about anyway? I was the leader of my group when I decided I didn't want to marry the lady I first was engaged to any more. Courtship is a covenant culture for a successful marriage. It gives you the opportunity to change your mind in the process. So one month is not sufficient for courtship. Two months is risky. Man is a complex being, so you need enough time to logically and analytically assess your choice, and get to know each other well. The proving process is the personal responsibility of the individuals involved, because they are the ones to live together. Do not allow your parents or Family to prove your spouse for you.

3. Proceed
 After you have satisfactorily proved your relationship, you can then go on to the next stage of informing members of your Family about the relationship. This is the time to meet each other's parents and Family members. You are not permitted to proceed, until you're satisfied with the available facts about each other. When you are satisfied with your proofs, then go ahead and make announcements. You will lose respect before people, if today you introduce somebody to them, and come back tomorrow to say you are no longer marrying each other.
4. Protect Each Other
While in courtship, there is the need to protect the relationship from incurring the anger of God. You must protect your destiny by protecting yourself from defilement. Hebrews 13:4 says: Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Courtship period is not the time to prove if your fiancee can be pregnant or not. That is not allowed in the covenant. It sows a seed of shame for the future and turns God's favour away from you. The covenant demands that you protect the relationship from defilement. The honour of marriage is an undefiled bed. For those who are ignorant of this, the former things God has overlooked. Those who know it pay heavily for disobeying. I was in courtship for six years. One day, the enemy told me, "I will make sure you fall into fornication." I told my wife-to-be what the devil told me, and said to God, "If I ever go into it, strike me with leprosy." That settled the matter, as I wasn't ready to be a leper. Every beautiful thing has a price tag. So protect your relationship, and you will enjoy dignity at the end of the day.
5. Protest
If in an attempt to protect your relationship certain unpleasant things develop, then you have the right to protest.
 Protest means pointing out the unacceptable issues you have discovered in one another before marriage. You have the right to tell your fiance(e), when you discover an unacceptable thing with him or her, "No, no, no, I can't take that!" You can tell him or her, "That step is not acceptable. It is wrong, for so and so reason." If you can't understand yourselves before you get married and start living together, you will never have an outstanding Family. You need to know what goes well, and understand the reasons behind it. You had earlier agreed on certain terms, and then suddenly there is a change or a deviation. You are allowed to react, in order to put the issues right. That way, when you are married, there will be freedom of communication. Disagreements should be allowed from both parties.
6. Prepare For The Future
 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.  2 Chronicles 27:6
Jotham became great because he prepared his ways. Behind every great accomplishment is great preparation. In any task, your output is naturally a function of your preparation. God cannot prepare for you. He said,
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord"   (Matt. 3:3).
You prepare for marriage by taking practical steps towards marriage. What you're not prepared for, you can't succeed in. You can't be a squatter and want to marry. You can't afford to continue living the way you were living before you got married after marriage.

Marriage is not for boys in the kingdom; it is for men. If you want to enjoy the full blessings of God in marriage, be mentally, spiritually and physically prepared for your home.
 Matthew 19:5
 ...For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
A man leaves, not a boy! Marriage is not for girls and boys, it is for men and ladies. Peace and maturity in the home is a function of the parties involved. In recent times there are too many boys and girls in marriage, giving birth to babies. Marriage is for the matured. Maturity has nothing to do with biological age. It is a personal development, that demands that a man or woman be responsible. For instance, to want to get married without a job, a house, and the basic needs of a home is a sign of gross irresponsibility. It is scripturally not permitted for parents to sponsor their children's marriage. If a man can't handle the necessary expenses for his wedding, then it is dangerous to entrust a human being into his care. Maturity determines serenity. Harmony and peace are all products of maturity, therefore, you need a matured mind and body. There is nothing more frustrating than being tied to the apron strings of your parents. Christianity does not equal stupidity. Your mind must be sound. Until you can stand your ground, you are not a man. You're not permitted to marry, until you accept full responsibility for your choice.

7. Possess
When all these are fully in place, you can then march to the altar together to be  joined as husband and wife. This is the appropriate time to possess your husband or wife, and the home is born. It is at this point that the young man can now stand in front of many witnesses and say, "I, Victor … or I, Samuel…wed thee…" The man is set for the home. He is in shape both mentally and physically. He is leaving boyhood for manhood. Until these processes are fully in place, it is not safe to marry. It is only at this point that you can be convinced that you have a goodly heritage, and that a great future is established for your home. It is then you can be sure that you are heading for something very colourful and glorious.
...For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  Matthew 19:5
This is the foundation. For your home to be successful, the couple must both leave their parents to cleave to each other. You can't enjoy peace in your home when for every small decision, you run home to mum and dad. It means you never left home in the first place. A boy can't leave home; only men can. Neither can a girl leave home; girls live at home. Immaturity is the reason why many couples are in a house, but are not at home. They are married to their spouses quite alright, but they are at home with their parents. Your parents or Family members are not supposed to be involved in the initial moves for marriage. They should not be involved, until all the facts have been properly analysed and a decision reached.
marriage is fathered by facts, not luck. Quite a number of people have very peaceful and harmonious homes. Some are not even Christians, but they have unconsciously engaged the vital law of success in marriage the law of sense. Many have put the blame for their troubled homes at the door of the devil. But I believe the devil is not to be blamed for some of the problems we find in homes today. Some of them are self-caused. The Bible says by wisdom is a house built and by understanding it is established (Prov. 24:3-4). Wisdom has a way of establishing peace and serenity in the home. But it places a responsibility on you. Men with successful homes have accepted the responsibility of loving their wives, and the wives have also accepted the responsibility of submitting to their husbands. The Bible sense for getting into marriage or for enjoying a successful home is accepting your responsibility in designing or determining your destiny.
The race is not permitted to begin, until after these things have been put in place. If you are absolutely responsible for your choice, then you won't look for someone to blame. You will not fail! Your home shall be the haven God created it to be, in Jesus' name!
 
Written By Bishop David Oyedepo (Edited by me)