Markethive

The Peter Promise Sin in our lives is not inevitable

Sin in our lives is not inevitable

Tags: Help, Holiness, Sin, Temptation
"If you do these things you will never fall" (2 Peter 1:10).

"He knew so much about the Bible; he had such a great ministry. How could this happen to him?"

People often have asked me such questions when a Christian leader has fallen because of money, sex, or pride.

The unasked question is left hanging in the air. "Since this happened to such a spiritual man (or woman), am I going to fall, too?"

I used to answer, "We’re all vulnerable. It could happen to anyone," echoing what other Christians have said in the past.

Some time ago I knew a middle-aged man in South America who was one of the most winsome evangelists that I have ever heard. But he had an attitude toward money that was unholy. He put away money that wasn’t his. Now he is no longer an evangelist. He is doing something else when he ought to be winning souls in the harvest field of Latin America.

As well, I was deeply grieved when I learned that a respected American youth evangelist with whom I had worked in the past had left his wife, his children, and his ministry for the passions of the flesh. It turned out that secretly, for years, he had been feeding a pornography addiction while preaching up a storm against immorality. Then, the inevitable happened. He started committing adultery. He had affairs going in city after city. Finally, the truth came out, and he walked out on his family.

When the truth came out, it shook me. It seemed to only prove the point: "We’re all susceptible to moral failure, right?"

I’m not so sure anymore. I now believe such thinking leads to fatalism, smacks of false humility, and flies in the face of Scripture.

Failure Is Not Inevitable
"We’re all vulnerable" isn’t true…if we’re staying in God’s Word, if we’re walking by the Spirit, if we’re obeying Jesus Christ. "If you do these things," 2 Peter 1:10 says, "you will never fall."

Peter isn’t using flowery language; he isn’t simply trying to make us feel better. These words are from the Bible; God Himself tells us, "If you do these things, you will never fall." What a wonderful promise!

Earlier in the same chapter, Peter tells us, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).

"All power" has been given to us through Jesus Christ, and His power is what enables us to live a godly life.

God doesn’t want us to shipwreck our faith, shatter our home, disgrace our church, or destroy the ministry He has entrusted to us. Instead, He has given us His indwelling presence and designed the Christian life so that we’ll succeed.

Walls of Protection
To keep us safe in His hand, God has established several strong walls of protection around us: the Word of God, including His moral laws; the Body of Christ, especially our local church; and His indwelling Holy Spirit, who is ever sensitive to sin in our lives.

But we can’t just sit around, hoping God will protect us when temptation comes our way. As John Wesley recognized during the Great Awakening, it is as Christians grow in grace and go on to maturity that they will be kept from falling.

"Paradoxically," Wesley biographer A. Skevington Wood reminds us, "to stand still is to be in danger of slipping back."

I encourage you to take action. First, don’t gossip and gloat when someone goes ahead and blatantly sins. We dare not secretly get a kick out of seeing someone else fail. Since temptations are common to us all, Scripture calls us to walk humbly in the fear of the Lord.

Second, make a radical decision to be holy as God is holy. Pray to God about your area of weakness. I did this early on in my ministry. I told God, point by point, how I behave in certain situations. I was embarrassed and recognized that God already knew how I acted, but it did me good to tell Him. Then I took Galatians 2:20 and reaffirmed with God my resolution to be crucified with Christ. I made a radical decision to be holy under every circumstance, without exception.

Third, begin a prayer group with one or more of your Christian friends. Let them know about your area of weakness–you don’t have to share in great detail. Ask them to hold you up in prayer before God as well as to hold you responsible for your actions. I meet each Wednesday with a group of respected, godly leaders in my city and have discovered great benefits.

Fourth, get back to reading the Bible. Several years ago when a rash of leaders were falling one after another, I asked my mentor, Dick Hillis, founder of one of the world’s leading missions organizations, "Why are all these guys falling away?"

Dr. Hillis thought and thought about my question. After walking with the Lord for sixty-some years, he’s no fly-by-night. Finally, he told me, "I think it’s because they were reading a lot of books about the Bible, but not the Bible itself."

The more I thought about it, the more I could see his point. Nothing can take the place of God’s Word, not even the best biblical commentaries. Sure, an evangelist or preacher or teacher needs to do his homework. He needs to read widely and deeply. But we need to saturate ourselves with God’s Word so, as the Psalmist wrote, "I might not sin against [God]" (Psalm 119:11).

As we read the Bible, associate with godly men and women, and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, we are protected and kept safe in God’s hand.

Beware of Temptation
That’s not to say we won’t be tempted to climb over these divine walls of protection. For this reason we must beware of two seemingly innocent mistakes that make us vulnerable to Satan’s attacks: carelessness and opportunity.

Maybe we begin to hurry through our daily Bible reading or prayer time since we really don’t have much time. Perhaps we place ourselves in a tempting situation. Maybe we’re trying to serve God in our own power instead of in the power of the Spirit. It could be we’re feeling proud after gaining a victory over temptation. However it happens, carelessness creeps in and that’s when Satan strikes. The opportunity arises, and we fall into sin.

But we don’t have to go that route. The Bible promises, "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). We are not helpless victims of Satan’s whims. He can defeat us only if we let him. Remember the Peter Principle: "If you do these things, you will never fall."

The Lord doesn’t want us to panic, to be fearful that we’ll be the next to fall. He "is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy" (Jude 24).

Let’s not go around cringing, frightened we’re going to fall. We don’t need to be afraid of the world, scared that our sexuality or whatever is going to destroy us. If we are walking and growing in Christ, the Scripture says we will never fall–and that’s a promise!

Prayer
"Lord Jesus, I have the desire to do such-and-such, and I am settling the matter with you. By your power, I will not dishonor Your holy name. I’m going to live for Your glory. I am committed to live a pure life. Amen."

When faced with temptation, do you recognize the way of escape explained in 1 Corinthians 10:13? "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

What is tempting you? Talk to another Christian today and learn how to fight temptation.

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

World’s Top 10 Youngest Billionaires

By Caitlin Kindig | Updated July 12, 2018 — 10:02 AM EDT

Thanks to family inheritances, family businesses, and technology startups, there seem to be more young billionaires today than at any point in history.  According to Forbes, the youngest billionaire in the world comes in at just 21 years old, with the tenth youngest being 32 years old. Kylie Jenner is on the cusp of being the world's youngest self-made billionaire, a title that Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Facebook (FB), earned in 2006 at the age of 23. Jenner, now 20 years old has an estimated net worth of $900 million and will turn 21 in August 2018.

This list is according to Forbes' real-time net worth ranking as of July 11, 2018.

1. Alexandra Andresen
Born in 1996, Alexandra Andresen is the world's youngest billionaire, at just 21 years old. She is a Norwegian heiress and the daughter of Johan H. Andresen Jr., who owns Ferd, a Norwegian investment company that runs hedge funds, actively invests in the Nordic Stock Exchange, and has private equity investments. In 2007, Andresen and her sister, Katharina, were each transferred 42.2% of the ownership stakes and subsequently inherited the money. Andresen has an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion. 

2. Katharina Andresen
Katharina Andresen is the world's second-youngest billionaire, as only her sister Alexandra is younger. Andresen also inherited 42.2% of the Ferd ownership stakes. She is 23 years old and has an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion. 

3. Gustav Magnar Witzoe
Gustav Magnar Witzoe owns nearly half of Salma ASA, one of the world's largest salmon producers. Salmar spearheaded the industrialization of salmon farming in Norway. This stake was given to him in 2013 by his father, Gustav Magar Sr., who founded the company in 1991. Because Witzoe Sr. still runs the company, Gustav invests in real estate and tech startups. He is 25 years old has an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion.

4. John Collison
John Collison is the owner and co-founder of Stripe, a company that builds software for businesses to plug into websites and apps to instantly connect with credit card and banking systems in order to receive payments. The 27-year-old Irish entrepreneur devised the idea for Stripe with his brother, Patrick, when they were both attending university in Boston. The company is valued at $9.2 billion, and Collison himself has an estimated net worth of $1 billion.

5. Evan Spiegel
Evan Spiegel is the co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc, a camera company which operates Snapchat — a photo messaging service that delivers temporary photos between friends. Snap Inc has a market cap of $16.7 billion as of July 11, 2018. Spiegel studied product design at Stanford University, where he met his co-founder and fellow billionaire, Bobby Murphy. Evan Spiegel is 28 years old and has a net worth of $3 billion.

6. Ludwig Theodor Braun
Ludwig Theodor Braun owns 10% of the medical device company B. Braun Melsungen, which was founded in 1839 as a small pharmacy that sold herbal remedies. Now, the company manufactures injection solutions and surgical instruments. The company had over $7.9 billion in sales for 2017. Braun is 28 years old and has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion.

7. Bobby Murphy
Bobby Murphy is the second half of the co-founding pair that brought Snap Inc to the marketplace, and he also owns the company. Murphy is older than his fellow co-founder Spiegel and studied mathematics and computational science at Stanford University. Murphy is 29 years old and has an estimated net worth of $3 billion.

8. Patrick Collison
Brother of John Collison, Patrick is the co-founder and CEO of Stripe, the company that allows businesses and individuals to easily accept payment over the internet. Stripe's big-name investors include Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. Collison is 29 years old and has an estimated net worth of $1 billion.

9. Wang Han
Wang Han inherited wealth from the shares he holds in Juneyao Air, a major airline company based in Shanghai. He inherited the shares from his deceased father who founded Juneyao Group which also has business involvement in retailing, education, and food. Han is 30 years old and has an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion.

10. Lukas Walton
Lukas Walton is the grandson of the famous founder of Walmart Inc. (WMT), Sam Walton. He inherited his fortune as well as one-third of the family estate from his father, John Walton, who died in a plane crash in 2005. An active investor and philanthropist, Walton owns stakes in Walmart, First Solar, and Arvest Bank. He is 32 years old and has an estimated net worth of $14.2 billion.

 

Read more: World's Top 10 Youngest Billionaires | Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/101415/worlds-top-10-youngest-billionaires.asp#ixzz5RTXl2rsa 
Follow us: Investopedia on Facebook

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Restored Sexuality- God’s plan for sex

God’s plan for sex

Written by Joy on 14/06/2016
Series: Weekly Devotional
Tags: Lust, Marriage, Sex, Sin
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 5:10
God created sex to be a beautiful gift. In Genesis 2, God says it was not good for man to be alone so God created the perfect partner, a woman, so they could become one flesh. The chapter closes with the statement, “they were both naked and felt no shame.” Sex creates a unique relationship that involves physical, emotional and mental unity and completion.

If sex is blessed by God, what makes it immoral?

Blessings Lost
When we forget God has authority to set limits, blessings are lost. “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.” (Romans 1:28). Your phone works best when you use it the way it was designed. In the same way, God designed sex to work a certain way. Rejecting His design leads to darkness, confusion, secrecy, shame, and judgement.

Blessed Design
God used His infinite wisdom to design sex in the beginning. God does not need to “evolve.” He does not change his mind based on our opinions. Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation give a very clear picture of the kind of sex that pleases God. “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24). God approves of sex when it is between one man and one woman who have made a lifelong commitment to marriage. Jesus confirmed this to be an unchanging truth in Matthew 19.

Are you willing to trust God’s wisdom and love and follow his guidelines?

Blessing Restored
“He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.” (Colossians 1:13-14). We no longer have to sit in the darkness of shame and confusion. Jesus has made us children of light! (Ephesians 5:8-11)

“You cannot say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies…If we belong to Christ our body is not our own but a temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore we should honor God with our body.” (1 Corinthians 6:13, 19-20). Obedience to God’s plan for sex is a choice we make when we want to please God, not ourselves (Colossians 3:1-17). God has given every Christian the Holy Spirit to teach us truth and empower us to obey it.

Are you going to find out what pleases the Lord and choose to live by it?

Pray this week:
Show me, Lord, where I am not pleasing you in my attitudes and actions regarding sex.

Do you really know what Scriptures say about sexual sin? I

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Avoiding Sexual Sin and Violation

Avoid taking advantage of someone else

Written by GodLife on 21/06/2016
Series: Weekly Devotional
Tags: Holiness, Love, Lust, Sanctification, Sex
Don’t violate or take advantage of a fellow believer in such matters. As we told you before and warned you: the Lord will settle the score with anyone who does these things.

1 Thessalonians 4:6
First Thessalonians 4:4-7 is about being sexually dishonest. Getting someone to sin with you is violating them, and God promises those who do these things will face consequences. Has someone taken advantage of you? Have you taken advantage of someone else? Here are some things God wants you to know about your responsibility to your sisters or brothers and how to avoid sexual sin and violation.

Flattery can be dangerous
Flattery means praise that is not honest. The person doing it always wants something in return. Is it OK to call another person ‘hot’ or ‘delicious’? It is not. These words describe food. Why use them for people? A person is not an object. Proverbs 6:26 describes how immorality makes objects of both of you: “…one is brought down to a loaf of bread.”?

Love makes you pure
To know what true love is, we can look at God Himself. (1 John 4:8, 16) First John 3:16 says: “We know what love is because Christ gave His life for us. We should give our lives for our brothers.” Christ gave Himself up for us. (Ephesians 5:25-27) His sacrifice made His Bride pure. That is what love is. Leading someone into impurity is not love. Using a weak person and making them do shameful things is the opposite of love.

Lust is the death of love
King David’s son Amnon thought he loved princess Tamar. He convinced David to send her to him while he pretended to be sick. “…he grabbed her and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ ‘No,’ she said. ‘Don't force me to do such a degrading thing! That's awful! How could I ever hold up my head in public again? And you—you would be completely disgraced in Israel’ …he would not listen to her; and since he was stronger than she was, he overpowered her and raped her.” (2 Samuel 13:11-14) Afterward, Amnon hated Tamar and sent her away. This act later led to Amnon’s death and war in the nation of Israel.

Are you worried that a relationship has gone wrong? There is hope: God is not just the example but the source of love, and he can redeem it.Turn away from sin to trust Him. If you ask, He will send the Holy Spirit, who will bring His love into your life. “Hope never makes us ashamed because the love of God has come into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

Pray this week:
For women worldwide who are being sexually assaulted every day.

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

PLAY BLACKJACK and POKER — FREE CASH GAME EVERY NIGHT and EARN BIG

TIME TO GET PAID???? !! Soooooo ….. Make sure to keep your eyes on our calendar this month! Two 24-hour free roll tournaments — one for poker and one for blackjack! Come on and get qualified so you can play for cash and prizes! There will be big winners???? Always free, Always fun! PLAY BLACKJACK and POKER FREE CASH GAME — TONIGHT! Registration starts at 10 PM EST and closes at 10:10 Sharp — Do not Be Late! Play free games and earn money FREE !! https://yiggiy.com/?Ref=RBM24-FE53P 

Yiggiy September PLAY! BlackJack and Poker -Come on and play… Get yourself registered and invite friends to come and play! Come win Cash and Big Prizes???? Yiggiy games are always FREE and always FUN????????

Come join the fun and share with your friends!???? 
Tonight is Yiggiy's $100 Blackjack Freeroll! 
Hit that like button, Get registered and Share…. 
See ya at the tables???? 
Yiggiy. Always Free, Always Fun! PLAY FOR FREE AT AND EARN REAL MONEY: https://yiggiy.com/?Ref=RBM24-FE53P

Get ready Yiggsters!????
On Sept. 25th & 29th we will unleash the Yiggiy beast! 
(Not really a beast, but that sounds good????)
FREEROLLS, nonstop for 24 hours! 
Blackjack on September 25th & Poker on the 29th!
Isn't that cool!!????  https://yiggiy.com/?Ref=RBM24-FE53P 

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Helping Those Who Question

Regard the curious as thirsty for living water.

Written by GodLife on 11/09/2018
Series: Weekly Devotional
Tags: Questions, Answers, Reasons, Evangelism, Apologetics
Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.

1 Peter 3:15
Have you ever asked a question, only to get another question as an answer? It’s not that uncommon, and it doesn’t mean the other person is avoiding your question. Here’s an example:

“So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’” (Acts 8:30-31)

People ask questions for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes they aren’t really asking for information—they either already think they know the answer or are raising a question as a cover for something. Here’s an example:

“But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” (Luke 10:25–29)

Jesus answered this question with one of the greatest parables in the Bible: the story we call the “Good Samaritan.” Even though the young man’s goal was to “justify himself,” Jesus worked creatively to reach him. 

It’s a good test of our walk with Jesus when we’re gracious with those who ask questions like he was. What are some ways we can do that?

Are all questions… even the not-so honest ones… opportunities?
The only way to avoid uncomfortable questions is to only associate with those who are certain they know all the answers. And this shows the value of questions. They imply the questioner is teachable. Both Peter (see 1 Peter 3:15, above) and Paul assumed believers would live lives that created opportunities to answer questions: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5–6) 

Will they come whether you’re ready or not?
Jesus actually made it clear that people would question us–and that it’s a good thing, a way for God to be glorified.   “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16) A believer’s nature is meant to be an invitation for questions. We can’t be hidden, even if we try. God meant it to be like that as a way for His purposes to be worked out. (See Philippians 2:12-16)

How did Jesus use questions?
Did Jesus Himself get tough questions? You bet. Did He always answer them directly? No; in fact, He often answered questions with questions his critics couldn’t answer. “Then some of the scribes answered, ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’ For they no longer dared to ask him any question.” (Luke 20:39-40). Very often, Jesus’ challenging questions were for the benefit of the surrounding listeners as well as the questioner. Every time I read these exchanges it makes me want to grow in my ability to answer and ask good questions.

Helping others who question, then, is Christ-like, isn’t it? It’s an opportunity to help the teachable, a way to fulfill God’s purposes for us, and a chance to embrace conformity to the image of Jesus. The next time you are questioned, how will you make it an opportunity to bring truth and love to the questioner?

Pray this week:
Lord Jesus, I want to be more like You. Show me where fear and pride make me defensive and keep me from helping others who question.

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Many investors wonder why NagriCoin requires completing KYC procedure

All about KYC

Many investors wonder why NagriCoin requires completing KYC procedure and how to do that. With verifying process implementation, our investors and airdrop/bounty participants ask about similar issues. Today, NagriCoin team will answer the most popular questions about our KYC.

What is KYC? KYC or Know Your Customer is a process of verifying customer’s/client’s/investor’s identity. It reduces the risk of illegal manipulations inside NagriCoin ecosystem and protects our investors.
Why do I have to go through the KYC process? There are new laws being introduced globally on cryptocurrency transactions that make this a necessary step.
Do the participants of the bounty campaign and airdrop should pass KYC? Yes. We ask every token holder to pass KYC, including airdrop and bounty participants.
Why did you add KYC for everyone? Today, KYC for all token holders is a basic requirement of all top exchanges. We respect our customers and want them to have an opportunity to buy/sell tokens at the best exchanges. It has even more advantages for our bounty participants and the airdrop token holders: with the help of KYC, we ensure we issue your tokens appropriately.
Do I need to pass KYC before getting bounty/airdrop tokens? Why? Yes, you need to pass KYC before getting bounty/airdrop tokens. As we said earlier, all centralized exchanges require this process no matter if the tokens were airdropped or purchased. Also, we do that to protect you and ensure no violation of the bounty program are done. This is a process everyone has to pass including team members.
How to pass the KYC procedure? NagriCoin started supporting Telegram passport. Therefore, to pass our KYC, you just need to upload your documents and share your information with us. If you want to pass KYC without telegram passport, use Authenteq https://authenteq.com/. You should download its app for Android and iOS . Pass verification process using selfie and document scanning in the app. After receiving confirmation, scan QR-code on the left side of the screen. If everything is done right, you will get one more confirmation.
BlockchainKycTelegram
Like what you read? Give Nagricoin a round of applause.
From a quick cheer to a standing ovation, clap to show how much you enjoyed this story.

Nagri-HL is the future of modern agriculture, because this fertilizer is 100% organic and non-harmful for plants and animals. Revolution of the agricultural sector have only started and NagriCoin would play a significant part in it! Good time to invest your money on. More investment more profit. Don't lose your chance!
https://nagricoin.io/#sect_token

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Jesus said I will build My Church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it

How Does it Work?
Jesus said, "I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it" (Matthew 16:18). But how is Jesus building His Church?

Series: New Believers Guide

So how does the Church work? Jesus said, "I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it" (Matthew 16:18). But how is Jesus building His Church? Ephesians 4:16 tells us the answer: "As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow." Did you know that you are meant to play a crucial part in God’s family?

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42

Don't Miss Out!
Imagine for a moment a young boy who never wanted anything to do with his family. He never came out for family dinner, but just ran in his room when he got home from school. He never did any chores around the house, refused to clean his room, and pushed his brother whenever he saw him. In addition, this boy had it in him to become a great soccer player, but he never let his dad teach him how to play. Think of all that child would miss out on! Not to mention how the family would suffer as well.

"Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart." Acts 2:46

Just Like a Family, the Church has a Give-and-Take Relationship
— like how people need the oxygen trees give off and trees need the carbon dioxide people breathe out. Just the same, you need the Church, and the church also needs you. Look at mutual benefits of being in a church:

You are Protected
Just as a house keeps people protected from harm, so God's house keeps Christians safe from false teaching. God gave this instruction to pastors: "So guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock — his church, purchased with his own blood — over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders" (Acts 20:28).

You are Taught How to Follow Jesus
1 Peter 2:2-3 says, "Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness." Newborns can’t feed themselves; they need someone to help them. Pastors and teachers help you grow as a Christian as they feed you the spiritual food of the Bible and help you know God better.

You Learn How to Love Your Family
Jesus said, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:34-35). Being part of a church family helps you learn how to love others and their differences and show the love of Jesus to the world.

You Discover and Use Your Gifts
Have you ever had someone tell you that you are good at something you were unaware of? God has given you spiritual gifts, and your church family can help you discover them and learn how to use them. The Bible says, "Since you want spiritual gifts very much, seek most of all to have the gifts that help the church grow stronger" (1 Corinthians 14:12). As you use your gifts, the church is strengthened and grows.

You Need the Church and the Church Needs You
What are the gifts God has given you to build His Church? Maybe you haven't discovered them yet. As you join a spiritual family, you grow as a Christian and help the whole body of Christ to grow as well.

"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

Watch the video  :   https://youtu.be/pM6Y9VZKmK4

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Do You Have to Go to Church?

Let’s find out the true meaning of church.

Written by Joy on 30/11/2014
Series: Weekly Devotional
Tags: Church And Community
“Do not give up meeting together as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

There are church services on television and the Internet. But is it ok to stay at home and watch a church service? Or do we have to go to a physical church building? Let’s find out the true meaning of church.

Church: The Body of Christ
When God talks about the church, he isn’t talking about a physical building. The church is all the people in the world who have put their faith in Jesus, sometimes called the body of Christ.

Christians are instructed to meet together regularly. (Hebrews 10:25) Many Christians go to church buildings (local churches). But if there isn’t a local church near you, don’t worry. You can meet in a house church, a secret meeting place or a public place where you can fellowship. The important thing is to meet with other Christians so you can learn, fellowship, and work together to teach others about God.

Divide and Conquer: Enemy Strategy
It’s not easy to overpower a group of people because there’s strength in numbers. But if you divide them, you can easily conquer. The Bible even talks about the benefits of being with another person instead of being alone. “Two are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

As Christians, we have an enemy who wants to divide us. “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8). Satan tries to separate you from other believers because he knows you are weaker when you are alone. When we are in a group, we can support each other, hold each other accountable and pray for each other. Satan will not be able to drag one of us off into the wilderness of unbelief, doubt, or despair.

United in Love: Jesus’ Prayer
Jesus prayed for us to be united. (John 17:9-11). He told us to “Love one another” (John 13:34) and “Encourage one another” (I Thessalonians 5:11). You’ll be able to do all of that and more when you’re united with other believers by meeting together. If you haven’t put your faith in Jesus yet, become a part of the body of Christ today and you can begin meeting with other believers too!

Pray this week:
That God will direct you to a local church where you can belong and how you can be an encouragement to other believers.

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Is Online Church Enough?

Online church services are a great resource — make sure they don’t become your only community

Written by GodLife on 04/09/2018
Series: Weekly Devotional
Tags: Church, Church And Community, Fellowship, Online Church
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25
Balancing Online and Physical Church 
My husband and I found a great church. This place has excellent, Bible-based teaching, opportunities to serve, with a young, growing membership. The church offers multiple service times and great music. Unfortunately, we ended up moving. “No problem”, we both thought. “We can just go online and watch the services. At least that way we can still get great teaching while we look for a church in our new town.” 

Here’s what we discovered. Finding a church can be hard! Especially when the one you attended before was so great. Some weeks it was easy to say, “let’s just watch online today.” That counts, right? 
No matter where you live, you have to decide what to do about church and community, both online and in-person. The reality today is the online church community has so much to offer and may feel like an easier place to fit in. Many people are a part of multiple communities, online and offline. How do you balance them? Can one substitute for the other? 

The purpose of going to church
Notice I didn’t say “the purpose of church” because ‘church’ is not a physical place. the church is made up of people who follow Jesus. As Christians, we work together as “the church” to share the love of Jesus with others. Acts 2:42 provides some of the reasons for church. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” 

You can do many of the same things online and offline. You can share Jesus’ love, learn about Jesus, and read the Bible. With so many sermons and studies online, it is easy to find just about any material you need to help you grow spiritually. Online church allows you to build community fellowship globally and expand your perspective, while your local church may be limiting your connections to people who are just like you. So why go to a physical church rather than bonding and worshipping only in an online community? Physical touch, serving and gathering are just three reasons.

Physical touch
Britain recently appointed its first ‘minister for loneliness’ acknowledging how isolated many people have become. Part of that isolation is not simply mental loneliness but a lack of connection physically, too. I remember my mom saying several years after my father died that one of the hardest things she faced was not having daily physical contact with anyone — hugging, a touch on the hand, and just close proximity to another person in the room. There were those around Jesus who needed to hear His message in this way because there are people who are best wired to receive communication about love by physical touch. "And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." (Matthew 8:2–3)

Going to church is a way to physically connect to followers of Jesus and remind ourselves that we are not just mental or spiritual beings but we exist together and have a common purpose. 

Serving in your community
Sure, you can give money through your phone to help others — even those in your neighborhood. The community church makes it more personal. As the church opens its doors in times of disaster or through helping local families with specific needs, Jesus can shine through your face when you participate in service. James 1:27 tells us: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” 

Gathering
We are here to gather with other believers in Christian fellowship, and a smartphone can never completely replace that. The term “church” in Greek (ekklesia) means a called assembly. In ancient times when a city called its people together for a certain purpose, this was always called an ekklesia. My husband and I once had a “Skype dinner” with some friends who had moved away. We just wanted to see their faces and eat together like we did when they lived near us. While it was fun, it wasn’t the same as being together. 

Balancing your online church practices with your physical ones can be a challenge. Both have so much to offer, it can be tempting to replace one for the other. How you use those resources God provided in a balanced way is a decision you have to make. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” (Ephesians 5:15)

Pray this week:
Father, show me how to serve you. Lead me to more fully be a part of the church in all areas, through worship, teaching, giving, fellowship and prayer.

Do you struggle with balancing your life online and offline? Do you view your community church differently than online church?

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member