Exchange Ring In Weddings

By Carllister Ejinkeonye

Rings (including wedding rings) fall in the same category as jewelries and other forms of ornaments which heaven-conscious Christians try to avoid because of the Bible’s stand on them. In order words, it would be ironical to avoid earrings and use wedding rings.

Apart from that, the origin and foundation of any thing or practice greatly matters and speaks volumes about its wholesomeness or otherwise. As youths who are easily drawn to things that are expedient (things that are convenient but might not be proper or morally healthy) there is need to not be ignorant on this matter since youths are also known to be always seeking knowledge in various areas of life (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Wedding Rings

Wedding rings are historically known to have pagan and idolatrous origins. Much later, the practice began to find its way into some churches (like some other hitherto ungodly practices) as depreciation in Christian values began to creep into the Church. But we must not forget that God has clearly commanded us not to follow these practices but rather to strip ourselves of them (Deuteronomy 12:29-32; Leviticus 18:3, 4; Exodus 33:5, 6). The use of wedding rings was not mentioned anywhere in the whole Old Testament neither can it be found in the New Testament. Early secular marriages and the ones conducted by Christian organisations rejected the use of wedding rings, but unfortunately today, many of such organisations have embraced it like they have done other practices that help them in their bid to be like and acceptable to the world. One can even see the kind of very exposing wedding gowns brides now wear even in so-called Pentecostal assemblies. These were not there before. This is a leaven that is fast eating up the Church.

Marriage is a thing of the heart and should be a relationship cemented in the heart and sealed by the Spirit of God and not by rings that are easily disposable. It should be respected as an institution of God and respected in the heart. Spouses should allow themselves to be guided by true love and purity as the Scriptures stipulate. They should hallow the sacredness and sanctity of their union and not the exchange of rings. How many marriages have been saved from divorce or broken homes recovered by couples remembering the rings they had exchanged on their wedding day?

The fact that many are into this does not change the principles of the Bible neither does the number of years an error has lasted make it now to become truth. We are not of the world (1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:2). If we have given up many other things, then we should give up whatever is remaining for this is one of the reasons for which our Master came, to deliver us from this evil world (Galatians 1:3-4). Remember, a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Galatians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 5:6). An acceptance of this leaven opens the door to others

Take Note Of This Also:

Earrings have their origin among many nations associated with animistic and idolatrous practices and like every other thing of such origin, it spreads quickly and many begin to follow it. Earnings were once used as mark of slavery and proof of being owned by somebody (Exodus 21:2-6; Deuteronomy 15:16-17). They were associated with strange gods which Jacob had to take away from his children in order to prepare them for a new encounter with the true God (Genesis 35:1-5).

Moses destroyed the golden calf which was made from golden earrings and which Aaron referred to as the gods that brought them (the children of Israel) out of the land of Egypt in order to remove the remembrance of this evil learnt in Egypt (Exodus 32:1-3,19-20; consider Judges 8:22-27).

Today many people argue that earrings and other ornament of jewelry and cosmetics have ceased to be part of idolatrous practices but for beautification and decoration citing such scriptures as Ezekiel 16:12; Proverbs 25:12). This is a leaven that is quickly spreading among many Christian youths. The origin of a thing should be a concern to you.

Thank you and God bless.

Escape For Your Life!

By Carllister Ejinkeonye

“... and saying, where is the promise of his coming?  For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation”  (2 Peter 3:4).

The attitude of most people to issues on eternity and the end time activities and their interpretation has remained as stated in the Scripture.  They do not believe and where they try to believe they do not see the possibility of such prophecies or programmes happening in their own time.  For them the evil day is still far off (Amos 6:1-3; Isaiah 56:12), yet for any wary and wise youth who desires to see as he should see, perceive as he should and understand as he should, it must be clear to him that it is not just that time is no more but that the injury time we have hitherto been enjoying is only seconds away from the end.  We are in between the time the goal keeper catches the ball in his hand and the blowing of the last whistle of the Referee.

This is a time of serious reflection, considerations and decision for life hence the theme ESCAPE FOR YOUR LIFE!  

Let’s begin by considering specifics and peculiarities associated with our generation which mark it out as the last day generation.

Peculiarities associated with our generation (Matthew 24:32-35)

Jesus’s prediction of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem was met with a question on when these things shall be (Matthew 24:1-3).  Jesus answered rolling out the various incidents that would mark the end.  They include the signs of the false prophets, Christs and teachers, wars and civil unrest, famines, pestilence and earthquakes, persecutions, abounding iniquity and its effect, the state of the temple of Jerusalem, increase in gospel mission activities, increase in travel and knowledge, massive departures and falling away from the faith and the sign of weather and climatic change (Matthew 24:1-12; Daniel 12:4; 2 Thessalonians. 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3).

Worthy of note to every Christian youth is the fact that the level of evil and iniquity of this generation can in no way be compared to that of Sodom, Gomorrah and Noah’s generation which brought God’s wrath down on them (Genesis 6:1-6; 19:1-9).  The Scriptures rightly refer to it as a generation of vipers and an untoward one (Matthew 3:7; Acts 1:40).  It is a generation of ‘e-’ evils of diverse forms and magnitudes.  For this generation, the axe of the Lord is laid on its root (cons. Matthew 3:10).  Obviously, judgement is determined.

The Colt Tied

By Carllister Ejinkeonye

Luke 19:29-38

What we are going to look at today is more of a discourse where you will need to participate in either through emails or stopping to ask yourself some questions after each sub topic.  It is one that will make a Christian youth to differ from other youths and qualify him as God’s instrument of change in this generation.

A Tied Colt

Our text talks of a colt that Jesus sent His disciples to get for Him. There are some definite things associated with this particular colt viz.

∙ The colt was tied

∙ No man has ever sat on it

∙ The Lord had need of it 

Let’s begin by considering the last point first. 

The Lord Had Need Of It (Luke 19:29-31).

This point in the life of the Lord Jesus was very important. It was close to the time of His death. Though He had been moving among the people without any recognition so to say, it was time for them to see Him as the Christ, Messiah and “King of the Jews” and so He needed to have a triumphant entry into Jerusalem this time. How was it to be done? By riding on a colt as had been prophesied long before now (Matthew 21:4-9; Zechariah 9:9; John.12:15), hence the statement “...because the Lord hath need of him” to round off the  last phase of His programme in the first advent.

Make Each Day And Night Refreshing Times Through Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 1:1-3King James Version (KJV)

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The Christian youth who delights in the Word of God is 

likened to a tree planted by the water side.

Below is a six-week Bible Reading Plan that can bring you to this experience.

Enjoy your day and night.  God bless you.

I Choose To Stand Out

By Carllister Ejinkeonye

YOUTHS of today are trapped in a world that is rushing after the same things. The tide of knowledge, fashion, entertainment, technology, wealth, fame, etc., is moving with such a terrific speed and overwhelming strength and carrying along with it the wise and the foolish, the rich and the poor, the educated and the illiterate, the whole and the disabled, the young and the old, etc.  The tragedy, however, is that, perhaps, only an insignificant few might stop, at some point, to consider what would eventually befall them in the now or hereafter.  It all sums up the fact that the Scriptures are being fulfilled in our very eyes:  Hell hath enlarged herself (Isaiah 5:11-14) for the purpose of accommodating the greatly increasing number of people trooping down to it as the broad way that leads to destruction gets even broader (Matthew 7:13).

Today, as the Lord's manner is, He is once again demonstrating His love and willingness to save more youths at this tail end of time through this timely counsel and warning to those who would care to STAND OUT in this adulterous and untoward generation (Acts 2:40).

What Does It Mean To Stand Out?

A brief study of the lives of some people in the Bible (including the challenges they faced) should be able to give us a good idea of what is meant here by a Christian youth standing out in a generation like ours.

    

Joseph, for instance, separated himself from the ungodly conducts of his brethren though his position in his family was such that he could easily have been influenced, intimidated and dissuaded from the truth and right way (Genesis 37:2). But he shunned evil and when he was sold by his brothers and taken to Egypt, he also fled from an opportunity to commit a very grievous sin which many other youths would have eagerly grabbed (Genesis 39:7-12).

I Choose To Stand out!

Again, among the persons selected to represent   the great Hebrew congregation in a special task concerning the future of Israel and their conquest of other nations, the edifying report and thoughtful comments of Caleb and Joshua distinguished them from their colleagues whose reports had plunged the whole nation into confusion, mourning and murmuring, and eventually attracted the displeasure of God. Indeed, Caleb and Joshua won a place in God's heart with their own good report (Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33; 14:1-12, 26-30).

Academic Excellence Through Good Study Habits

By Carllister Ejinkeonye

The ultimate goal of any genuine student is to greatly excel in his studies. This should not only be determined by the grades he is able to score during examinations. The student should equally demonstrate his mastery of a given subject with an ability to discuss and disseminate its contents any time he is called upon to do so. In other words, he must be so at home with the subject that he would be able to explain it clearly to another person. That is why the student needs to acquire effective study habits necessary for beneficial assimilation and astounding success.

As a child begins to grow, parents and teachers should recognize their obligation to instill the culture of regular, quality and diversified reading in him. The goal should be to motivate him to acquire knowledge and not just certificates, even though the certificates are equally very important and must also be obtained. The following are good study habits which if meticulously followed would help the student achieve excellent success in his academic pursuits both at the secondary and tertiary institutions. They have worked for students over the years and can still work for many more.

Despite All Odds...

By Carllister Ejinkeonye

LIFE without challenges is boring and can be stagnant and unprogressive. The ladder of challenges is the ladder to greatness, especially, when climbed by a focused fighter and achiever.  Many youths who appear to have been born with silver spoons in their mouths are hardly able to handle challenges of life and several of them fall by the wayside when the resources at their disposal run out (cons. Luke 15:11-16).  So, it may not always be how wealthy, strong, beautiful, handsome or intelligent somebody is, or the opportunities available to him, that determine how far he can go (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Most of the time, it takes much more than that. When all these fail, there is One that can NEVER fail. So, in addition to your great talents, amazing  endowments and hard work, never stop abiding in and relying on God. He will break the strongest rock before you to grant you a passageway to your target.

A youth's life is characterized by issues and challenges that can either strangulate his vision or broaden and help him to realize it depending on how he is able to take it.  In today's article, the Lord who wants to see you achieve your utmost desire would want you to know that with Him, you can make it despite all odds (cons. Jeremiah 29:11).  Now, what are these odds?

Odds, according to a good dictionary, are those things and situations that make it seem impossible for one to do or achieve something. It means actually that there must be a definite purpose, vision or target one is determined to achieve or reach which circumstances, challenges, forces or even human beings are contending or militating against. So, do you have a purpose to achieve spiritually, academically, professionally, vocationally, etc? Is your vision/desire just to be in church and have no remarkable change in your life?  Are you making do with being born again only? Do you have any aspiration towards perfection, growing in grace and possessing spiritual fruits and gifts?  (Cons. Luke 13:6-7; Jeremiah 8:20; Hebrew 6:1; 2 Peter. 1:5-9; 3:18). Is there any move to excel above your equals in your chosen field (Daniel 1:17-20)? Some young people live for NOTHING, some live for ANYTHING, but youths of purpose live for SOMETHING (cons. Matthew. 25:14-18).  Surely, you must have a target which you are pursuing.