18082019 -Anxiety over " Next Level" Ministers

Back up your faith with obedience
ur God is awesome and
Ohis ways beyond anyone’s
imagination. This is one
of the factors that make him
the incomparable God.
Brethren, as Christians we
are taught that even if we have
given our lives to Christ, we
could still have challenges.
The good news however is that
with God on our side, we can
overcome those challenges.
May I quote Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye
of RCCG’s popular
statement that “what God has
finished cannot finish you”.
In other words, with the
death of Jesus on the cross and
his blood shed for our resumptions,
we should be confident
that whatever is the
challenge, we shall overcome
in the name of Jesus.
Faith is crucial in Christianity.
Why? Hebrew 11 vs. 1
defines faith: “ Now faith is
the substance of things hoped
for; the evidence of things not
seen’.
An employed person who
sees himself as a future employer
of labour is exercising
faith. A barren woman who
imagines herself nursing her
own children is exercising
We are still in the gym
trying to get our act
right without sabotaging
our image. I hope you
have been following all the
tips in Part 1. This is the final
belt on our etiquette tips for
using the gym, I hope you find
them useful.
6. Dress to impress
Some people find the gym
an excuse to go bare, but how
bare should you go?
Because it is a gym you really
do not want to be wearing
clothes that are too thick
or baggy. In choosing gym
wear look out for the right fit.
Some people wear gym wear
a size too small and end up
revealing way too much. Your
gym wear should be stylish,
try to colour co-ordinate from
top to bottom to portray a
good image. It should be comfortable
and clean. Don’t wear
gym clothes more than once,
especially if you have previously
sweated in it, this is not
hygienic and is a clear image
killer. Somehow I still see
women wearing blouses, casual
trousers and flats to the
faith but faith alone cannot
work. Faith needs to stand on
the two legs of obedience.
Complete obedience, to the
word of God.
Hebrews 11 vs. 6 “ But without
faith it is impossible to
please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek
him”.
Note the word “ diligently”.
The adverb qualifies the word
diligent, which my simple dictionary
tells me is “ quietly
and steadily persevering especially
in detail or exactness”.
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye
in his current daily manual
“Open Heavens”, identified
factors that make miracles
to manifest. He identified
the factors as “ Faith and
Obedience”.
He wrote, “ As a matter of
fact, disobedience is the byproduct
of having no faith”.
It is lack of faith that will
make anyone who calls himself
a Christian to begin to
consult herbalists for promotion
in the office, for an end to
barrenness or for any other
j a n e t . a d e t u
janet.adetu@gmail.com
Etiquette in the Gym (2)
ANon Government
Organization,NGO ,
Shamar Educational
Foundation, SEF, has empowered
over 200 women in
Delta State.
The facilitator of SEF, Dr.
(Mrs) Onyi Ikemefuna who
spoke to journalists shortly
after the fourth edition of the
empowerment programme at
Shamar International Group
of Schools, Enerhen in Uvwie
Local Government Area, explained
that the programme
was aimed at empowering
women, including widows,
single and married women
from different ethnic groups,
adding that the gesture was
to enhance economic endeavors
of the beneficiaries.
Dr. Ikemefuna who is a Special
Consultant to United
Nations on Women Empowerment,
also promised to key
into Governor Ifeanyi
Okowa's agenda on environ-
gym, some wear bedroom
scarves or nets, some even
come braless. It shows they
have just jumped out of bed
without a second thought,
worn the nearest thing and
headed straight out for the
gym. Some women even after
taking a shower spend more
time and detail wearing
makeup and lots of perfume
to the gym.
What is your mission for going
to the gym?
Follow the gym dress etiquette
guidelines below when
going to the gym:
1. Wear mainly lycra
wear to the gym (elasticated
easyfit)
2. Trainers are best footwear
for comfort
3. Wear a sports bra for
better support during exercising
4. Medium to long gym
trousers are better when using
equipment that involve
sitting.
5. Beware of wearing
shorts in the gym or hot pants
6. Avoid wearing your
glasses to the gym you don’t
Shamar Educational Foundation empowers Delta women
mental sanitation in Delta
State, as she urged women in
the state to always ensure that
their environment is clean.
Dr. Ivanah Thomas, a Jamaican
American, who was
a resource person at the
event in chat with newsmen,
stressed the need for women
to be 'whole' ( complete) for
them to realized their full potentials
at home and in the society.
She described the Nigerian
women as strong and lovely.
"I want the international community
to know that Nigerian
women are strong and
amazing. I love them".
On her part, the Chairman
of National Association of
Proprietors of Private Schools
( NAPPS) , Uvwie Local Government
Area chapter, Mrs
Elohor Obi, who also spoke
with journalists , described the
event as awesome.The renowned
counsellor urged participants
to impact what they
learnt on others, just as she
also urged beneficiaries of the
empowerment programmes
to empower other women in
their localities.
While Abigail Ezeoni, a journalist
with NTA, who was a
resource person at the event
described the women empowerment
programme as timely.
The event featured talks on
safety, skills acquisition,
health and thrifts.
High points of the event were
the presentation of certificates,
awards and souvenirs
to participants and empowerment
of beneficiaries.
The women empowerment
programme was graced by
women from all the 25 local
government areas of the state,
including others from Lagos,
Ebonyi, Abia, Edo, Rivers and
Enugu states.
Often times, what the
Spirit of God tells us
to do, does not make
scientific sense
SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 18, 2019, PAGE 31
issue.
To obey, and obey completely,
you must be familiar with
his word and claim his command
for your life. You must
also be prepared to listen. One
can only obey a command
that you hear or are informed
about.
Many of us hear but we need
faith to obey. Often times,
what the Spirit of God tells us
to do, does not make scientific
sense.
I give an example. God told
a man of God to lay his garment
on the table for people
to touch, many in the congregation
touched and the barren
conceived.
From the point of view of
science, this makes no sense.
What gave these women the
breakthrough is not the garment
but the anointing that
the Lord had deposited in that
garment.
Brethren, you have been going
for anointing services yet
you have not received your
miracle. Why? This could be
because; your faith has not
taken you to the level that you
believe that such a simple
touch could bring in your miracle.
The story of the woman
with the issue of blood readily
comes to mind here. Luke 8
vs. 43-47 gives us the full story
but for our purpose, we’ll consider
specific verses.
Verses 43&44 “ And a woman
having an issue of blood
twelve years, which had spent
all her living upon physicians,
neither could be healed of any,
Came behind him, and
touched the border of his garment:
and immediately her
issue of blood stanched”. Verse
46 &47 “ And Jesus said, somebody
hath touched me: for I
perceive that virtue is gone out
of me. And when the woman
saw that she was not hid, she
came trembling, and falling
down before him, she declared
unto him before all the
people for what cause she had
touched him, and how she was
healed immediately”.
The Lord Jesus told her in
verse 48 “ And he said unto
her, Daughter, be of good comfort:
thy faith hath made thee
whole; go in peace”.
The anointing makes challenges
give way and once they
give way, the peace and joy of
the Lord will step in.
need them.
7. Socks is a must inside
your trainers for better grip
and to avoid the aftermath of
too much feet sweating.
8. If you are having a
bad hair day wear a sports
cap.
9. Minimal jewellery is
expected at the gym.
10. Always tie your hair
back from your face to maintain
concentration.
11. Carry a sports bag
and not a designer bag to the
gym. Leave all valuables behind.
12. Invest in different
gym wear of various colours
7. Hair Flaws
We women tend to spend so
much money on our hair, so
sometimes we would rather
avoid the gym for the fear of
ruining our lovely hair do. It
is so much easier to tie your
hair back when going to the
gym. Wearing a cap may also
help keep the hair intact. It
may sound funny but it must
be said: Don’t make the mistake
of wearing your rollers
on your head just because you
are going to work straight
from the gym. Remember
even in the gym image is everything
and perception is reality.
8. Bare Essentials Bathroom
Tactics
In the gym I know women
are all the same and really
have nothing to hide. A lot of
women I find don’t mind revealing
all their bare essentials
when getting ready in the
bathroom. A number of ladies
use this opportunity to get
ready for work and totally
take over the bathroom as if it
was their very own at home.
Sometimes it can be quite
frustrating how much freedom
some women have in
such a public place. What is
yours is yours I recommend
you act with caution when
using the shower or washroom,
not everyone is comfortable
with such environments.
Please cover up your
bare essentials all for the sake
of decency.
Brethren, how much of the
Word do you know? To what
extent are you prepared to
obey? The Holy Bible tells us
how to increase our faith in
Romans 10 vs. 17: “ So then
faith cometh by hearing and
hearing by the word of God”.
If you don’t hear the word,
you cannot believe. If you believe
and refuse to obey, you
may never testify to a miracle
Ṫhe Holy Bible tells us Faith
and Action work together to
produce miracles. When you
obey, you are taking an action
or engaged in an activity.
Therefore, you should expect
a miracle.
As recorded in Mark 11 vs.
20&21 Jesus cursed a tree and
it dried up from its roots.
Peter reminded the Lord
that he cursed the tree and it
has withered. Jesus replied according
to verse 22 “ And Jesus
answering saith unto
them, Have faith in God”.
Why must we have faith? Jesus
said in verse23 “ For verily
I say unto you, That whosoever
shall say unto this mountain,
Be thou removed, and be
thou cast into the sea; and
shall not doubt in his heart,
but shall believe that those
things which he saith shall
come to pass; he shall have
whatsoever he saith”.
Brethren, from the words of
the Lord Jesus, it is clear that
there is a lot you have to do to
bring about the manifestation
of your miracle.
You must find time to attend
good church programmes
that are in line with the word
of God. It is not enough to
declare yourself a Christian
9. A Fruit or Two
Exercise does make us peckish
and even hungry. If you are
fortunate some gyms provide
a variety of basic fruits like
apples or bananas for their
members to help replenish lost
energy. In your bid to alleviate
your hunger be careful not
to overdo the taking. An apple
is a sufficient after exercise,
don’t take more than one
it would create a wrong image
of you if you did otherwise.
10. Dining Etiquette at the
Gym
If your gym has a cafeteria
be careful not to indulge in
too much food so soon after
exercising. Most cafeterias
will offer juices, smoothies and
teas with breakfast bars, light
salads, soups and sandwiches.
Watch your intake at this
point the real essence of eating
would be to regain
and sit at home claiming to be
praying on your own.
Engaging in fellowship with
other Christians helps to increase
our faith. Listening to
testimonies is faith lifting and
can lead one to the steps to
take to have a miracle.
If you saw the crowd of parents
that presented babies that
God gave them as a result of
their steadfastness with the
Lord, during the just concluded
67th annual convention of
RCCG, you will have no
doubt that with God all things
are possible.
Are you or someone you
know waiting on the Lord for
babies and other goodies, then
be at the Redemption Camp
or connect with the Holy
Ghost night of September 6,
2019 titled “ Lifted into Glory”.
It is a programme that
will bring an end to all forms
of fruitlessness.
Laughter Foundation Ministry
also has an on-going programme
that holds every Sunday
for couples who want to
be fruitful.
Other churches have similar
programmes. Find time
to attend.
By the grace of God, whatever,
you lack now, the Lord
will give you an overflow in
the name of Jesus.
For whatever reason you
shed tears of sorrow, our God
with whom nothing is impossible
is able to replace those
tears of sorrow with tears of
joy.
Be prepared to play your
part and be assured that God
will honour his word in your
life.
Have a fruitful week.
strength not to satisfy your
appetitive. Eat in grand style
even if it is only a salad and a
smoothie, remember you are
being constantly watched.
While discussing with others
avoid talking about your favourite
or worst food. There is
no need to start counting calories
as most foods will be specific
with health intentions.
Avoid any form of gossiping
especially over someone’s
weight or image.
11. Rapport
The gym is also a good opportunity
to meet new people.
Many people go the gym do
what they have to do and leave
immediately. To exchange
common pleasantries and introductions
appears an impossible
task. You never know
where you can meet each other
again or if that person can
be a valuable acquaintance.
The world is so small it is important
to maintain a good
first impression everywhere
you go. Likewise engage in
good rapport after all you will
surely learn something new.
Do not hesitate to be the first
to introduce yourself, be brave
and courageous. In the same
light choose when you want
to engage in conversations
avoid being a rumour monger
and a nuisance.
Well I hope I have been able
to through more light on proper
conduct in a public place
like the gym. It is the New Year
take out time for health and
wellness. It’s the new you.
Goodluck!
The facilitator of Shamar Educational Foundation ( SEF), Ambassador ( Dr) Mrs Onyi
Ikemefuna(4th from left) and Dr Ivanna Thomas with participants in a one day women
empowerment programme titled ' Whole Women On The Move' organized by SEF at
Enerhen Community in Uvwie Local Government Area , Delta State.