One of the battles we face as youth that hinder our spiritual growth is social media. As I grow more in the Lord I am finding social media is in fact one of the strongest distractions our generation faces in growing in the Lord.
However, if the Lord is leading you, as he leads me to stay as a means to share the gospel, connect with friends and family, and encourage them in the Lord it is still an awesome platform to have! But anything not done in moderation will definitely kill our spiritual life and social media is no different.
Here are some tips that work for me: 1. Don't download the apps if it's avoidable. I have not had the Facebook app on my phone for over a year now. So when you want to go on it, you go the extra mile and use a browser, enter the URL and go on it,not just because of impulse. 2. Turn off all notifications. For my facebook notifications I get via emails because I don't have the app, I turned it off. If you do have apps, like for IG you need an app to post, turn off notifications on the apps. 3. If you ever feel overwhelmed at all, or feel it's eating too much of your time, FAST from it! Don't feel guilty! Deactivate Facebook and mentally ask the Lord to abstain! Tell an accountability partner so they can keep you accountable. 4. Mute messages on Facebook from people who you feel are messaging you too much, and it's affecting your psyche. Don't be afraid to use the block button.God wants us to forgive, but he wants us to be wise. 5. The internet is your second permanent blueprint. If you don't want something out there do not post it. If you can't defend what you put out or feel it will cause too much controversy that's not of the Lord, don't post it.
I hope this helps.
If you have any questions,please feel free to contact me. God Bless you!
Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another
About three weeks ago
God expounded nine topics he wanted me to blog about, to edify, correct, teach,
and grow my readers. I have blogged two of the nine topics and this will be the
third.
This blog will explain why after I gave my life to Jesus Christ, I choose to
become a member of Deeper Life
Bible Church of New Jersey, a branch of Deeper Life
Bible Churches under Deeper Christian Life Ministries Ministries. Those who may know me personally and are reading this
blog are probably saying, "Janet weren't you always a member?
You basically grew up in the church"; this may be true, although in
my teenage years I had an option to go to church so I didn't
go a majority of the time. One's membership to a church does not ride on those of the parents or because
you stumbled upon it one day and wanted to go; Church
membership comes only when you are:
1. Born Again-Given and surrendered your entire life to Jesus Christ
2. Have Prayed, consulted your father God and are
being lead to attend that church. Prayer is so crucial and I will explain
why below.
While it is ok to watch some church events streamed online , God encourages us to not forsake the assembly of believers. Assembly means a physical contact with one and another. Some Christians I have encountered
have told me it's ok to watch church on the computer continuously, stay
home, and fellowship by themselves. We should seek to not isolate ourselves. Finding and going to Church permits us to know:
There are other believers running the
Christian race. It should give us comfort and provide us strength
It helps us not to isolate and keep any problems
you may have to yourself. At church the spirit of God may lead someone to
come to you, or may lead you to go to a person for prayer and conversation
that may be the push you need to remove that mountain
It helps you showcase and cultivate the fruit of
the spirit. How can we grow in patience and love unless we are around others.
Your immediate family can only help you grow so much. Your
job and school-mates may not exhibit the same grace or
correct you as needed to grow more into the ways of the Lord.
Lastly the church takes you as a family. Not to
wish this upon anyone but if you didn't have any family on
this earth, the bible tells believers the church is suppose
to take all members as members of their own family, calling each
other bothers and sisters(Ephesians 2; Galatians 6)
My churchDeeper Life Bible Church was founded alongside members
of a bible study being taught by a then member of the Anglican Church
of God, William F. Kumuyi. Now known as Pastor Kumuyi, whom gave his life to
Christ at the age of 23 on April 5th 1964, started a bible study in his
dorm room at the University of Lagos. In short the Bible study started to grow
and the members decided they wanted to leave their own churches to establish an
actual Church with Pastor Kumuyi as the lead pastor. It was given the
name Deeper Life, ordained by God because the revelations
being received were deeper than all the denominations they
congregated from.
(Logo)
It’s
important to know the church is still a NON-Denominational church,
despite what others may say. We are not associated with
any denomination, whether Pentecostal or whichever. We
follow the Bible as word for word as we can as it is inspire by God himself.
There are no denominations in heaven which is the goal of every believer.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The church now has over
1 million documented members in over 60 countries worldwide; including me, my
mother and some of my closest friends.
According to http://www.foreignpolicy.com/ Deeper Life Bible Church
is the largest congregation worldwide with the largest sitting congregation on
a Sunday Service at the headquarters church
in Lagos, Nigeria with approx. 74,000
adults worshiping together and with 40,000 children in children
church; not to mention the other members sitting on
a Sunday service all over the world.
But honestly although I grew up in the
church, I knew my church was big but I didn't know the magnitude. I didn't even
know the Lord touched the founder, Pastor Kumuyi to know of the REAL him at the
age of 23, two years after I came to know the Lord at 21. I was talking to a
Sister in my church and she articulated how many of us felt/and still feel
growing up in a church like Deeper Life. She stated growing up she felt boggled down
by what we felt were so many rules. The females weren't allowed to
wear weave ons, pants because the church believes the word of God says
woman are not to wear what pertaineth to men(Deut. 22:5) ; we couldn't get our
ears pierced, we couldn't do so many things children of the world could; Same
with the boys and dressing to church, as well as not saying or acting certain ways
of boys in the World. Stated more in my Lost Virtue Blog, I would wear skirts
and no jewelry to church,
but outside would completely rebel wear fake hair,
pants, and jewelry. I and many of us children, with parents
that became Born Again and followed the teachings of deeper life didn't
understand spiritual things, nor ever really read the word myself with any
understanding or spirit from God.
But the amazing thing was the second I
decided to yield myself to the Lord and choose to follow Him on my own,
becoming Born Again, God started to expound some of the same revelation Pastor
Kumuyi himself was hearing from God in terms of outward and inward appearance.
I have also witnessed this transformation with many children that
have surrendered their lives to Christ, who grew up in Deeper Life,
or were brought to the church by their parent.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
It's important to know as
believers we don't follow a Pastor, we follow Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith but we do know Pastor's are set apart from God to
watch over us and give us instructions.
Ephesians 4:11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Jeremiah 3:15
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
(United States National Convention 2013)
I am convinced that
since the founding of this church in 1973 the Lord has used Pastor Kumuyi's to
expound on messages that have been consistent, on teachings such as
salvation, sanctification, restitution, holiness, following peace
with all men, restitution, Holy Ghost Baptism, evangelism,
Christian appearance, forgiveness, heaven, the Christian Family,
marriage and more.
This shows the true
mark of a Man of God, like Paul in the bible.
We are to test
every spirit and the messages have not changed in this church. The
messages have stayed true to the Word of God no matter the
changing of cultures and trends (ie. homosexuality and the role of woman). As
the bible worked for the days of Old, the bible WILL work for
us living in the 21st Century. God is constant and never
changes.
So in looking for a
church to go to, I considered famous churches founded by other Nigerian
Pastors, and even some church's locally here in New Jersey and in the U.S. via
online. But the Lord established me in Deeper Life, and since I
have been going I have grown tremendously and others around me have
seen the change. I can't give you the amount of testimonies I
have received for mere obedience to the Word of God spoken
through the vessels in this church.
It's important to note
that the Church, and administration you sit under, will be held against you
come judgment day.
Although there are
no church's in heaven, whom you decided to follow without taking to the
Lord in prayer and reading the word yourself to see if it's true will be
counted against you. Not to scare you, but there are many false prophets in our
generation, that many are falling victim to.(Matthew 7)
"Deeper Life Bible Church is
not a church of rules, nor a place for certain type of People. It is for
sinners, believers, young old, Nigerian, and non Nigerian. It is for ALL.
Whether you have certain convictions of outward appearance or not it doesn't
matter. God invites all into the church with hopes all whom attend come to
truly know him and receive salvation."
It was when I received
salvation I was expounded about the many truths of the Word of God, from the
church, through the Holy Spirit within me. The spirit of God quickens all believers
and I can truly say that was the case for me from teachings I
have heard in my New Jersey Church and headquarter Church in Nigeria.
I recommend you read a full list of our
doctrinal beliefs here: www.dclmhq.orgThe
church emphasizes that once Born Again, YOU are a child of God that
has the Holy Spirit within you, so therefore God has given you
the power to pray directly to Him(John 14: 13-14,15:16,16:23-26) not through
any source like a man or object, and that the Bible is His words and to know it
is to have Life through it!
For my current YOUNGER
deeper life members. Don't be deterred by other youths in and out of the church
whom say deeper life is this and that. YOU know the truth so follow it. Jesus
was persecuted and so will we. Continue to show them about the love of Christ,
preach Jesus and God will expound the word of God unto them.
Disclaimer: I cannot say this for all other
branches of the church because I don't attend them, but I believe the same God
that planted the churches in those location will perfect the work He has
started.
It was important I
write this blog to encourage those on the fence of either leaving
or joining the Church. Yes there is no church in heaven, but you need
to make sure you are under a congregation helping you grow and teaching the
truth of the Word. Many people have also asked me why I choose to go to this church, despite the misconceptions they have heard or feel.
I need to add this. If
there is no true church around you, preaching the truth. It's important you do
NOT go. It’s better for you to seek the face of the Lord and pray for direction
in what you should do in this time. By God's grace Deeper Life Bible Church as
well as other Bible believing churches now have their sermons online to keep
you till you can congregate with a congregation. You do not want to be found in
a place of error come rapture, and the Word of God tells us rapture can come at
any time.
I pray I was able
to encourage you to find a church where you can come to know the Lord
and grow in Him.
I
also truly bless the Lord for allowing me to write this blog after
last night's bible study by our founder himself, Pastor Kumuyi on the
warnings of false prophets and a gateway to a spirit-controlled life. Please
WATCH:
God Bless you for
reading. May the truths found in this Blog be expounded unto you so you can
live an exemplary Christian Life with Heaven as your goal. Grace and
Peace.
