The Revealed Truth 2: The Bible and Smoking

Recently, I was preaching and answering questions from neighbours on some issues from the bible then one of them asked this question, “Is smoking a sin?” I would like to add this, “If yes, where is it written in the Bible?” I paused for a while before continuing with Holy Spirit inspired answers I gave same day which I will be sharing in paragraphs below. This is the same question many smokers ask hence the “revealed truth”.

Before I proceed, I hope you have read the part one (1) of the revealed truth and if not, click here. For sometime I shall be revealing some truths from the bible as the Holy Spirit Grants revelation(s).

Higher Living says Stop Smoking.

Whenever Satan wants you to do anything wrong he gives you reason that makes them right before your eyes and he positions you in the company of people who won’t see anything wrong with it, where you will get a maximum support and thumbs up.

Let’s start by answering the first question. Smoking is a Sin. To the second question. It is no where written in the bible. From Genesis to revelation, you can’t anywhere God said or instructed, “do not smoke”.

Why and how is it then a Sin?

Every Cigarette pack has this written on it “Smokers are liable to die young” It has being proven that smoking leads to a lot of diseases such as cancer, and other terminal diseases. But many have paid deaf ears and are blinded to that simple warning of early death.

The sixth commandment in the bible says “You shall not murder.”-Exodus 20: vs 13. – God’s commandments written by God Himself to Moses, the Israelites and to us the present “Abrahamic” descendants. Smoking is suicide – an act of murder. If God therefore hates – frowns at murder it also means Smoking is a SIN.   Every smoker is a potential murderer – committing suicide – SINNING against God. God hates SIN.

The above I believe is the biblical stand on smoking.

I will not fail to state that God is the chief judge - who sees and knows the reasons behind our  actions. Some do smoke because of cold etc. but we do not have excuses for going against God's will.

Yours for the Lost,

Precious.

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Revealed Truth: The Wise Men’s Visit to Jesus.

The bible tells of us of Paul’s advice to his spiritual son to always study the bible at all times. The kind of study referred to here is an in-depth kind – a study with the Holy Spirit as the teacher and interpreter.

Higher Living - www.preciousways.blogspot.com

People are always lead astray because of the wrong or inadequate knowledge which they have. Hosea 4 v 6 tells a lot about this.  I have always told people not just to listen and accept from the pulpit but also make your own research (study the bible) through help of the Holy Spirit to find out more truth about what you heard from the altar – that is why you have access to the bible and the Holy Spirit residence in you. Many of us are just listening without further studying. What you hear from the altar can either shape or alter your destiny. 

This article is not meant to ridicule any teachers or student of the word. To the teacher, pastors, etc we need to teach with the Holy Spirit inspired accuracy because we are dealing with destinies –bishops, governors, presidents, etc.  

To the sole aim of the article:

Matthew 2 vs 1:7 (You can read the whole passage)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

From the above passage you will notice that the wise men were not three. Hey! Before you think me stupid go through the passage again. The bible said wise men and not three wise men like we have always being told from the pulpit or by Sunday school teachers. Even when you do a google – image search on this same topic, you will see three men assumed to be the three wise men. 

People assume that they were three simply because of the gifts they presented. They could be twenty (20) persons who contributed towards the gifts or whatever is the case. The bible is not a book full of assumptions. Teachers of the gospel should not teach base on assumptions. Teach by precision. It was never three men but three gifts that were presented. 

This is why I said earlier everyone should study his or her bible. Don’t accept everything from everyone concerning the bible hook, line and sinker. That is why you have access to the bible.

Precious Omoregbe

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His power and Grace did it all

Power: Dynamic ability to cause changes and Grace: undeserved pardon (writer’s opinion about grace) and does not work by luck.

Every Christian is saved by the grace of God. Grace did it all not by our own physical efforts – by strength shall no man prevail 1 sam. 2 vs 9. No one should therefore boast of his own ability when it comes to salvation. Psalm 33:16 “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength” We are escaping the enemy, Sin which leads to eternal damnation only by the divine intervention of God through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is because He loves us (His creation) and this is why it is not His desire for any to perish.

The love of God is unconditional. Romans 5:8. (NIV).  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. He did not just die for us after being saved; He died for us while we were still drunkards, drug addicts, arm robbers, fornicators, liars, adulterers, blasphemers etc. The scripture shows God loves the sinner and the saved equally. It is the love of God over our lives that brings about the grace factor.

Now you that got saved had your deliverance by grace.  Salvation is a gift. You only get it believing in the source – God. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- Ephesians 2 vs 8.  You do not labour for gifts – they have being paid (sacrificed) for by the person providing it. Christ has paid for it (your salvation) already – through His death. We did not labour for it but grace did it all.

Acts 15:11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Romans 9:16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

Who would have saved a gangster like you heading for life imprisonment, demon possessed? What would have qualified you to be called a pastor after your wasted years of killing, stealing, fornication and committing series of abortion – sexual impurity and all manners of mischievous acts? Grace did it all. He sent someone (somehow) to preach to you out of His abundant and unconditional love and you got saved. Grace called you into His palace when you never deserved it. His love for us called us back from our journey to hell. His power and grace did it all.

Precious Omoregbe

Christians: Our Love and integrity.

Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.

And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. (Duet. 22 vs 1-2).

Sometime ago I posted this on facebook but today same word struck me again. I have decided to write a little about it. 

 

The Christian community today has lost trust, love and unity. This has made fear, hatred and evil jealousy to eat us up. There is this cold war honestly undeniable going on in the body of Christ-individual and denominational. The above scripture is a full expression of love and how He wants us to live as Christians, neighbours and families. It is unfortunate that brethren do not trust each and so we do not expect to recover missing items. Is this not the reason why phones gets missing in the church, purse gets missing offering hours, why pastor will announce, “Grab your bags during offering/thanksgivings”.

The opening scripture is a picture of how we are supposed to be our brother’s keepers. We all seem to be guilty of this fact.

The Ox referred to in the message does not necessarily mean an Ox. It could be a pet of any kind, wallets, clothes, Visas or other viable documents. It could also be someone you need to preach to - saving a lost soul.

May I ask this question, how many of us will see our property with a friend/stranger which is missing and will not get angry and perhaps call in the police? And it could be he/she found it missing and decided to keep it till you come looking for it.

Now it could be the other way round, you found a friends belongings won’t you take it and never give it back to him especially if it is something you love and you do not have it? Lost! 

God want a sanctified Christian; life, relationship and community. This passage touches each time I read it. Hope it affects your life too.

Love to get comments from you.

Precious.