ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bruce Zyambo was born in Kitwe

Copper-belt, Zambia. Bruce had the
desire to go to Bible School to study
theology and become a Pastor, but could
not due to unforeseen circumstances.
Instead, he studied Electrical Engineering
and Project Management. He’s currently working for (CLM)
under M and E. He’s married to Kay and together they have one
daughter Chabota Zyambo.

T
he Lord spoke to me. (2) “Mortal man”, he said,
tell your people what happened when I bring war
to a land. The people of that country choose one
of their number to be a lookout. (3) When he sees the enemy
approaching, he sounds the alarm to warn everyone. (4) If
someone hears it but pays no attention and the enemy
comes and kills him, then he is to blame for his own death.
(5) His death is his own fault, because he paid no attention
to the warning. If he had paid attention, he could have
escaped. (6) If, however, the lookout sees the enemy coming
and does not sound the alarm, the enemy will come and kill
those sinners but I will hold the lookout responsible for
their death.
@Bruce Zyambo 2021

Firstly published in Zambia 2021 by Zambian ARTS

Publications, Kitwe, Zambian Republic.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronically, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the
copyright owner.

ISBN: 978-9983-44-142-6

Formatted and compiled by Jimmy Kayika for Zambian

ARTS Publications.

Cellphone: +260 976 796 297

Email: kayikajimmy@gmail.com

For more info call the author on the following number:

+260 96 1029760

~ ii ~
 INTRODUCTION

This book discusses issues that are useful to build and maintain
our faith as well as unfolding the hidden truth, and other spiritual
elements that are vital in this era. The intent of this book is to
enlighten my fellow believers on a number of things that has been
affecting the body of Christ; this booklet provides guiding
principles for creating a healthy environment for believers.
“Hosea 4:6, my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”

~ iii ~
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my acknowledgement and thanks to the

following

 The almighty God through the Lord Jesus Christ with

the help of the Holy Spirit
 My wife Kay and my daughter Chabota Zyambo, for
their support
 The staff at CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines
Maintenance and Engineering, and Concentrator who
supported me.

~ iv ~
SPIRITUAL
EYE
OPENER
BY

BRUCE ZYAMBO

~v~
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION…………………...………………...…………III

ACKNOWLADGEMENT……………………………………….IV

CHAPTER 1: CHRISTIANS EYE OPENER……………..……1

CHAPTER 2: THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING

LEADERS IN THE CHURCH…………………………………...24

CHAPTER 3: IT’S ABOUT THE DIVINE PURPOSE, NOT THE

TITLE……………………...……………………………………....34

CHAPTER 4: THE CHURCH AND POLITICS……..…………45

CHAPTER 5: TRUE MEANING OF SUCCESS………..………54

~ vi ~
 CHAPTER 1

CHRISTIANS EYE OPENER

We often don’t know how deep and profound certain

situations affect the direction of our lives. In 2015, the world
experienced a catastrophe because of the global recession
and the fall in copper prices. During this period, a huge
number of people lost their jobs all over the world. Hence,
most companies resorted to downsizing by cutting
production costs to avoid shutting down their respective
companies. It was such a bizarre situation because I was
among those who got affected, and it took me few months
to accept what had happened.

Before the situation stabilized, a lot happened to me and

many others. We saw what it is like to live in our society as
an unemployed parent with no source of income. The
struggle is real because society does not accept or respect a
person who has no assets. My strength was from the Bible
as it encouraged me to say, “God works all things for good for
those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
(Romans 8:28). This situation was an awakening for me to
never take things for granted because life is full of variability.
For others, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Sometimes God tends to use certain things or situations that

we may think are bad so that we understand the season and
the time as described in the Bible. Based on the recent
adversities the world is experiencing such as Coronavirus
(COVID-19), wars, economic collapses and others, the end is
near. This is no longer a mystery because most of the
things that were prophesied by the servants of God in the
Bible have come true. However, because of lack of
knowledge and spirit of discernment, many have not come
to terms with the fact that the time has come which is
described in the book of 2 Timothy 3:1-8;

1)You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days very difficult
times will come. (2) For people will love only themselves and their
money. They will be boastful and proud, mocking God, disobedient to
parents and ungrateful. They will regard nothing as sacred. (3) They will
be unloving and unforgiving, they will slander others and have no self-
control. They will be cruel and will hate what is good. (4) They willbetray
their friend, be reckless, puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather
than God. (5) They will behave religiously but will reject the power
that could make them godly. Stay away from such people. (6)

~2~
They are such who enter the homes of people and gain the trust of
helpless women, burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various
lusts. (7) Such women constantly follow new teachings but are never able
to understand the truth. (8) These teachers oppose the truth, justas
Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses; they have a depraved mind and a
false faith.

In 2 Timothy 4:1-5 the Bible says, “I solemnly admonish you in

the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will one day judge the
living and the dead when he is revealed to establish his kingdom. (2)
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is propitious or
not. Patiently correct, admonish and encourage your people with good
teaching. (3) For the time is coming when people will no longer listen
to sound and reasonable teaching. They will follow their desires and seek
teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
(4) They will reject the truth and chase myths. (5) But keep a logical
mind in every situation.

Don't be afraid to suffer for the Lord; work at telling others

the good news and diligently carry out the ministry God has
entrusted to you.

The above two passages of scripture reflect the current state

of the world. People have become lovers of money and
themselves; disobedient, without self-control, and puffed up

~3~
with pride. People are twisting the word of God to benefit
themselves and without the fear of the wrath of God.
Scriptures contains the principles that govern the life of a
Christian, and anything that goes against the principles
outlined in Scripture is not of God. Yet, in today's world,
the same type of people described in 2 Timothy 3:1-8, hold
various critical positions in churches. I have on many
occasions wondered why some people vie for positions and
opportunities to preach in churches and yet refuse to
abandon a lifestyle forbidden by the Bible.

I discovered that some people who set themselves up as

men of God and Christians are only pretending to work for
God; they are working to satisfy the lusts of the flesh. It is a
well-known fact that the world consists of two kingdoms;
the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. God has
given us free will so that we can choose whether we want to
live by biblical principles or by worldly principles. It is
imperative to remember that no human being can be part of
both kingdoms because darkness and light, good and evil
will never mix. If one has been a follower of Christ, he
should not conform to the standards of the world, even if
he is part of the world (Romans 12:1-2 / John 17:14).

~4~
The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan operate in
both the spiritual and physical realms. And the physical
realm (earth) comprises things that glorify the kingdom of
God and the kingdom of Satan. It takes the guidance of the
Holy Spirit for a person to discern what glorifies the
kingdom of God or Satan. For the Holy Spirit is a
counsellor, teacher and reminder of all that Jesus taught
(John 14:26).

In today's world, there are various ways that Satan uses to

manipulate the minds of people and use them as tools to
destroy man.

Dress-Code

In Deuteronomy 22:5, the Bible says, “A woman must not put

on men's clothing, and a man must not wear women's clothing, for the
Lord your God hates everyone who does so.” In the book of 1
Timothy 2:9-10, the Bible further adds that, “I want women
to be modest in their appearance. Let them wear decent and appropriate
clothing, and let them not call attention to themselves by the way they
arrange their hair, nor by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
for a woman who claims to be devoted to God should please herself by
the good things she does.”

~5~
Consider also the book of 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not
know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.”
We all want to dress fashionably and be up to date with
fashion trends; whether Christian or non-Christian, it is
human nature. Nevertheless, it is cardinal for people who
claim to be Christians to point out that not every clothing
design and label is good to wear. Some clothing designs are
specifically produced to promote adultery and fornication.

When it comes to clothing labels, most of them depict

demons and names of people who do not believe in the
existence of God. Some symbols used by clothing designers
have a hidden meaning that glorifies Satan. So if a person
wears a product with a diabolical symbol, tag or design, the
evil forces are activated and begin to control the person's
mind. In most cases, pride, an "I don't care" attitude or lack
of fear of God, and sexual attraction to people are
manifested. Christians should avoid imitation when it comes
to fashion trends, it is important to examine every clothing
design, symbol and label.

Many people are used as sexual tools by the devil through

clothing without realizing it. For example, if a person is
dressed inappropriately, exposing their body parts that

~6~
should be covered, she causes others to stumble and sin
against God in their heart. It is written in Matthew 5:28,
“whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery
with her in their heart.” This qualifies a person to be guilty of
adultery or fornication and bonds with others spiritually
without contact with the flesh. This is one of the tools Satan
uses to bind souls so that demons can access people's
destiny, and also as a conduit to transmit various demonic
diseases from one person to another spiritually. The
seductive dress code has deprived many people of meeting
the right person for marriage because of its effect. The
reason being that a person's dress code represents a
percentage of their character and level of spiritual maturity.
It also acts as a tool to fuel unnecessary erotic relationships.

Christians are followers of Christ who are to dress formally

and modestly because their body is the temple of God, and
has been purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ with a price.
Therefore, Christians must not only be restricted to
dress modestly when participating in church activities
but also publicly at all times.

~7~
Christians are not to imitate the world's celebrity’s dress
code and hairstyle people who have no respect for biblical
instructions.

The beauty of a person is not measured by outward

appearance but inward, 1 Samuel 16:7, The Lord said to
Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his stature, for I have
rejected him". The Lord does not look at the things man looks
at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at
the heart.

Music

In 1 Corinthians 10:31 the Bible says, “So whether you eat or

drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God”. In addition,
Psalms 150:6 records that, “Let everything that breathes sing
praises to the Lord.”

Music is defined as sounds that are arranged in a way that is

pleasant or exciting to listen to. There are two types of
music: gospel music and secular music.

Gospel music

Gospel music is good news, it is music about Jesus Christ,

as described in Ephesians 5:19-20, “Singing psalms and hymns

~8~
and spiritual songs among yourselves and making melodies to the Lord
in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Gospel music is inspired by the Holy Spirit, which means

that a person without the Holy Spirit cannot compose or
sing in spirit. The essence of gospel music is to worship God
and win souls. People who are gifted to sing and compose
gospel music are servants of God. There is nothing like
celebrity's and superstars in the kingdom of God, because
whatever a servant of God does, it is inspired by God and
by the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ led by
the Holy Spirit.

But in today's world because of a lack of knowledge and less

fear of God, some people have turned gospel music into an
industry rather than a ministry. The industry is about
selling and the ministry is about winning souls for
Christ. Musicians in the gospel industry who claim to be
ministers of God use what sounds like gospel music, yet it
is not gospel music because it is not inspired by God and
produced with the right motives, but a tool to generate
wealth and deceive people from the truth.

Secular Music
~9~
The word secular means having no connection to spiritual
or religious matters. The two words (music and secular) can
be defined as follows; sounds that are arranged in a way that
is pleasing or exciting to listen to without a spiritual or
religious connection, which qualifies them not be part of
the kingdom of God.

The word secular comes from the Latin word ‘Speculum’

which means unrelated to any religion or without God; it
was used to distinguish between the temporality of the
world and the eternal psalm of God.

Secular music is inspired by human imagination and the

forces of this world that deprive people's minds to transfer
their dependence on God to their own ability to achieve
what they want to achieve.

The Distinction Between Gospel Music and Secular

Music

Gospel Music

 Gospel music is inspired by God and is commonly

played in churches, Christian homes, cars and
functions.

~ 10 ~
  Gospel music is used to bring Christians into
worship to glorify God.
 Gospel music is used to minister, encourage,
comfort and win souls.

Secular Music.

 Secular music is inspired by the imagination and

forces of this world and in bars, non-believers'
homes, cars and other places.
 Secular music leads a person to worship and glorify
the things of this world; to love the world more by
excessive alcohol consumption, indulging in sexual
immorality and other profanities.
 Secular music usually promotes doping, insults and
sexual immorality.

Some Questions a Christian Should Consider.

 Why is it that the world rewards more secular

musicians than gospel musicians?

~ 11 ~
  If secular music has no hidden strings, why do most
performances take place at night in bars and
nightclubs?
 Why is it that in places where secular music is
performed and played; the lighting is dimmer, most
women dress half-naked and some men act as if they
own their lives, boasting using vulgar language?
 Why is it that we use few Gospel artists in
advertisements compared to secular artists?
 Why, gospel music has limited airplay on radio and
TV stations yet secular music is 24 hours.

Film Industry

The film industry or movie industry is one of the most

influential industries in the world because of its edge over
other industries. It combines audio and video, which is
attractive to the eyes and ears, especially with the advanced
technology in graphics and gadgets that the world has
developed. It is easier to convey any information to anyone
irrespective of age or mother tongue. However, there are
few prominent actors, actresses and producers who live
under the influence of the Holy Spirit based on the character
they portray in actual life and in some movies they take part

~ 12 ~
in and produce. It is also clear that the movie industry is one
of the most effective industries used to transform or corrupt
the way people think because of its elements, but it depends
on the source, content and intended purpose of the movie.

In most cases, they specifically design films that are

produced and directed by the followers of the kingdom of
Satan to convey an immoral character directly or indirectly
either to:

 Encourage people to develop diabolical character

e.g. revenge, theft, betrayal and prostitution.
 Promote technology as a tool that can eliminate
human adversity.
 Facilitate the induction of a sense of competition,
jealousy, selfishness and the "I am better" syndrome
among the audience.
 Corrupt the mentality of man to eliminate biblical
standards of living and instil immoral standards of
living.

In 1 Corinthians 15:33 the Bible says, “Do not be deceived

dangerous company ruins good morals”. Television, laptops,
phones and other gadgets are also considered bad or good
company "why" when the content displayed is not

~ 13 ~
appropriate such as porn, lies, violence and betrayal; they
often ruin the mind but when the content is good, they build
the mind.

In Matthew 6:22 the Bible records, "The eye is the lamp of the
body, so if your eye is healthy, your entire body will be full of light."
What we allow our eyes to look at will affect our mindset,
and what affects our mindset will affect our character, and
what affects our character determines our lifestyle and
success. For every success in any discipline, there is a
specific required character attached to it.

Despite the installation of the provision of Parental

Guidance (PG), and censorship that controls all scenes that
harm morality by service providers. It's essence has not been
significant in today's world and everyone knows that movies
have a huge impact on society. They equally exposed both
children and adults to the harm of vulgarity and degradation
of moral values. Therefore, Christians should take
precautions for what movies and TV programs to watch.
The same goes for children to avoid the harmful weapons
of moral destruction of Satan's kingdom through movies
and TV programs.

Giving

~ 14 ~
Grammatically, I can consider giving as; ‘spending something
precious lavishly’, but Scriptures says in 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8,
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. Every man should give what he
has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver.” In Malachi 3: 8-10, the Bible records,
“Can a man rob God? You still rob me 'but you ask: 'how do we rob
you? "' In tithes and offerings." You are under a curse - your entire
nation because you rob me. Bring the whole tithe to the granary, that
there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty,
and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much
blessing that there is not enough room for it.”

In Matthew 6:1-4, the scriptures records, “Be careful not to do

your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do this, you
will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. When,
therefore, you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that the people may
honour them. Verily, I say unto you; they have received their reward in
full. But when you give to the needy, let not your left hand know what
your right hand does. That you may give in secret, then your Father, who
sees what we do in secret, will reward you.”

There are two kinds of giving; Spiritual and earthly, which

are described in the scriptures above. Spiritual giving
~ 15 ~
means giving following God's Word and worldly giving
means giving without regard to biblical instruction.
Often people fall into frustration because they do not reap
the harvest they expected to reap through giving, due to lack
of knowledge and lack of distinction between spiritual
giving and worldly giving

Spiritual Giving (Glory Giving)

This is the giving that emerges from the heart through faith
in God, and is done with love for God, seeks those in need
and gives help without asking for it, in secret, without
blowing a trumpet. It keeps the left hand from knowing
what the right hand has done for the needy, to pave the way
for God, who sees what we do in secret and rewards us
according to His measure.

People who give to the poor lend to God (Proverbs 19:17).

They physically give to the needy as recipients, but in their
heart, it is God they give by faith, this is the reason, spiritual
givers:

 They give yet expecting nothing in return.

 Give to help people they don't know.

~ 16 ~
  Help people who mistreat them or consider them
enemies.
 Do not segregate when giving to the poor and the
rich; the scale is balanced.
 Expect their reward from God and not from the
recipient.
 What in store does not matter, what matters is
sharing with those in need. For they do so out of
faith in God.

Proverbs 19:17 records, “Whoever give to the poor lends to the

Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.”

Worldly Giving

The human mind that disregards biblical instructions

influence this type of giving. We practise it because of selfish
ambition. Through manipulation, the needy are used to gain
social or political publicity; because of this;

 They give and expect something or other in return.

 They give only to those who are loyal to them.
 They blow trumpets when they give, and wear
cameras for political and social mileage.

~ 17 ~
  They give to be honored and rewarded by people in
various ways.
 The scale they use to give to the poor differs from
the scale they use to give to rich or influential
people. The value of a gift or service given to a
person is determined by the recipient's status in
society.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness simply means an action of forgiving

(pardoning) or acquittal of sin. It is quite perplexing that
it is so difficult for Christians to exercise forgiveness, despite
been a command from God. The Bible encourages us in
Mark 11:25 to say, "And as you stand praying, if you have anything
against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father who is in heaven may
forgive you your sins.” Some Christians record the number of
offences committed against them and have a set minimum
number of offences they can tolerate e.g. 1,2,3 and 4.
However, the Bible says in Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter
came to Jesus and asked: ‘Lord, how many times must I
forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven
times.’ Jesus answered: ‘I tell you; not seven times, but
seventy times seven.” Which is 490?

~ 18 ~
If your friend sins against you several times, and comes back
to you and says, ‘I repent’ forgive him. In short, Jesus meant
that; we should not even keep track of how many times we
have to forgive one another; we should always forgive no
matter how many times someone sins against us.

The difference between the Kingdom of God and the

Kingdom of Satan in forgiveness

In the Kingdom of God

 It is a command to forgive one another, regardless

of the magnitude of the offence.
 There is no segregation between related and
unrelated, old and young, or rich and poor.
 The number of offences does not matter, what
matters is obedience to the word of God, because
obedience is better than sacrifice.
 Forgiving others their sins is part of the
requirement for our forgiveness by almighty God.

Satan's kingdom

 Forgiveness does not exist; vengeance is a command

regardless of the magnitude of the offence.

~ 19 ~
  They segregate; it depends on the relationship for
forgiveness to apply. The offence becomes a
weapon to resort to and exploit the offender.
 They consider the number of offences and punish
the offender mercilessly.

Language

Language is a system of spoken or written communication

that is used by people in a particular country or area. God,
however, can understand any language because He is the
author. Most Christians have the habit of copying and
implementing every word they hear, just because it is used
by many or famous people, without inquiring into the
source, it's meaning and intended purpose. They disregard
the fact that the world comprises people of God's kingdom
and Satan's kingdom, just like language.

Some terms that trend on various social media platforms

and in some fields are not as ordinary as they may sound.
Most of these terms sound trendy but their original meaning
is blasphemous. There are so many ways to worship God,
so as Satan; because of ignorance people worship Satan
without realizing. It is important to check every word before
it comes out of our mouth because in Matthew 15:11 the
~ 20 ~
Bible says "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him
unclean, but what comes out of his mouth makes him unclean.” In the
book of Ephesians 5:4 the Bible says, “Indecent stories, silly
talk and coarse jokes - these are not for you, instead, let there be
gratitude to God.” Most of these trendy terms are used to
initiate people into secret societies, and to glorify Satan
indirectly.

The Human Body

The entire physical structure of man is the temple of God,

in which the Holy Spirit dwells. In the book of 1 Corinthians
6:19 – 20 the Bible says, “Do you not know that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you and whom you have received
from God? You are not your own. God bought us at aprice, therefore
honour God with your body.” In Leviticus 19:27- 28 the Bible
records, “Do not cut the hair on the sides of your head or trim the
edge of your beard. Do not cut your bodies for the dead or get tattoos.
I am the Lord.”

~ 21 ~
If one is truly a born again Christian, it means he has
received the Holy Spirit, and the body becomes the temple
of God. Therefore, one has no right to do anything with the
body except what is permitted in the Bible. This
distinguishes people of the Kingdom of God from people
of the Kingdom of Satan. A person without the Holy Spirit
can't worship God with his body.

People of the Kingdom of God

 They do not tattoo their bodies, Leviticus 19:28

records, "Do not incise your flesh for the dead or make
tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord."
 They do not abuse their bodies with alcohol or drugs
or any form of smoking.
 They do not use their bodies for sexual immorality
to gain selfish desires.
 They do not use their bodies for violence.

People from the kingdom of Satan (world)

~ 22 ~
 They tattoo their bodies with symbols and words
that have hidden meanings.
 They abuse their bodies through alcohol, drugs and
all forms of smoking.
 They use their body for immorality, fame, wealth
and to initiate people into the dark kingdom.
 They use their body for violence and for indulging
in diabolical covenants in the name of being
civilised.

~ 23 ~
 CHAPTER 2

THINGS TO CONSIDER
WHEN CHOOSING
LEADERS IN THE CHURCH

A few months ago, I was invited by a friend in Christ, Mr

Musonda, to attend a Sunday service at a church. I was very
excited and expectant, knowing how committed he was to
spiritual matters. Mr Musonda was a talented person, he lit
up every hall with his presence, and this was clear when I
arrived at the service. The reception was wonderful, but I
was not lucky enough to meet the man of God in charge of
the branch. He had an urgent matter that required his
presence. However, this did not prevent me from achieving
my sole purpose, which was to worship and look at how
others congregate. As the order of service began, I could
tell that this church was worshipping rather differently, and
this surprised me. As the service continued, I realized the

~ 24 ~
church could not function accordingly without the man of
God. I was indeed puzzled and tried to dismiss this as the
service continued, convincing myself that it was just a
thought in my mind; it was nothing serious to worry about.

As the service was about to end, I noticed something of

turmoil among the leaders. The leaders sitting in front of the
congregation wanted to express themselves at the same
time which caused an uproar. This proved that some leaders
lacked spiritual maturity, the fear of God, and an
understanding of their role. The service ended in a state of
confusion because of the unnecessary and unprecedented
actions that took place during the service. I never wanted to
show it to my friend that it did not impress me with the way
the service was conducted, I simply told him, "I am blessed;
I will be back next week".

My heart was troubled, and I came up with a plan to visit

other churches hoping things would be different, but to my
surprise in almost all the churches I visited, the situation was
similar. With the help of Holy Spirit this led me to discover
that in this era, one of the biggest challenges we face in
various churches is the crisis of leadership, most leaders in
churches today are volatile, unworthy of being a leader. I

~ 25 ~
believe it is the responsibility of the overseer to make sure
that all leaders have the required knowledge. We must also
understand that a leader is someone who establishes the
unity of purpose and direction for people to take part in.
Below are some passages from Scripture that show God's
involvement in the selection of leaders, and the character
that must be considered before we select a person as a
leader.

 1 Samuel 13:14, "But now your kingdom will not endure;

the Lord has searched out a man after his own heart and
appointed him leader of his people because you have not kept
the command of the Lord."
 Titus 1: 6 - 8, “The elder must lead a blameless life, he
must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers
who do not have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. The
elder is the steward of God's household, so he must lead a
blameless life. He must not be arrogant or impulsive. He must
not be a heavy drinker, purple or dishonest with money
Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, he must love
what is good, he must live wisely and be just. He must lead a
pious, disciplined life.
 1Timothy 3:1, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone
desires his heart to be superior, he desires a noble task. But

~ 26 ~
 let the superior be undefiled, the husband of one wife,
temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to
teach, not immoderate in drunkenness, not violent but gentle,
not given to quarrelsomeness. He should manage his own
family well and see that his children obey him with due respect.
If one does not know how to manage his own family, how can
he care for the Church of God. He must not be a recent
convert, otherwise he may become conceited and fall under the
same judgment as of the devil. He should also have an
excellent reputation with outsiders, lest he falls into disfavour
and the snare of the devil. Deacons also are to be respectable
men, sincere, not abusing wine or pursuing dishonest gain.
They must in good conscience hold to the deep truth of the
faith. They must be tried first, and then, if there is nothing
against them, let them serve as deacons. Likewise, their wives
are to be respectable women, not malicious, but temperate and
trustworthy in all things.”

The above passages of scripture show all the

requirements that a person should meet before being
called a leader. However, there are other things that an
overseer, pastor and others should consider before
appointing a person as a leader because every leader in
the church is an embodiment of the overseer, pastor and

~ 27 ~
others. In today's world, people apply for leadership in
churches, but most of them do not have the character
that qualifies a person to be a leader in the church. Yet
they have become leaders, for this reason,
pandemonium is inevitable in most churches. There are
a few critical elements an overseer or pastor and others
should consider to avoid unnecessary turmoils at all
costs in the selection of leaders in a living church such
as.

 Human understanding - for the Bible says in "what

men esteem highly is unacceptable in God's sight.” Prayer
and fasting is required so that God can intervene
and reveal what has been hidden from the people
because they do not represent themselves but the
overseer or pastor and others who represent God
through the Son and the Holy Spirit.
 Kinship - Neither blood kinship, non-blood kinship,
nor any other worldly kinship can influence the
overseer, pastor and others in the selection of a
leader in the living church. If a person's spiritual
maturity qualifies him to be a leader, they must
appoint him as such.

~ 28 ~
The most cardinal element is the level of spiritual maturity,
not what the overseer, pastor and others feel or want, but
who God has prepared, appointed and entrusted with the
ability to lead others.

Financial Stability

Financial stability does not qualify any person to be a leader

in a living church, what qualifies a person is a spiritual
maturity exhibited by the person which is also stated in
1Timothy 3:1. Many churches have fallen victim to
unnecessary turmoil because in choosing leaders, they have
been guided by their financial ability and the support they
give to the activities of the church. They never focused on
possessing the required character of a mature Christian who
can lead churches according to biblical guidelines. This
often ends up scattering the congregations and questioning
the credibility and authenticity of the overseer or pastor and
others.

Physical Involvement

Some people are physically involved in the church but

spiritually they are not. They do not bear the fruit of the
spirit and they are spiritually stagnant. Hence, they vie for

~ 29 ~
leadership in a living church based on their involvement.
This is dangerous for the congregants because they do not
have the spiritual maturity required to lead others. Physical
involvement is an element that falls under spiritual maturity.
Achieving spiritual maturity requires a combination of
physical and spiritual involvement and the daily application
of God's Word to every situation.

Qualification

Having theological or worldly qualifications does not qualify

a person to be a leader in a living church. We do not live by
sight but by faith, for we all know that faith is the assurance
of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen
(Hebrews 11:1).

Those who operate under the influence of the Holy Spirit,

who is a teacher, counsellor, and admonition by faith must
deal with matters of the Spirit. Qualifications build up our
minds but do not give spiritual maturity. It is the fear of
God, biblical knowledge and application of God's Word
daily that qualifies a person to be a leader, not qualifications
alone.

Loyal Members

~ 30 ~
There are two types of loyal members, there are those who
are loyal to God and God's man, and there are those who
are loyal to the overseer or pastor and others but are not
loyal to God. The later type of members are disobedient,
spiritually immature and lack the qualities to lead the
congregation and struggle for leadership. This poses a
challenge to some supervisors, pastors and others on how
to encourage and motivate such members. Sometimes
supervisors, pastors and others are tempted to compromise
on the leadership qualities required by the Bible to
compensate such members, leading to leadership
malfunctioning.

It is well known that Jesus is the foundation of every living

church, and all authority has been entrusted to him.
However, earthly leaders in a living church play a very
important role to ensure that they ran smoothly all activities
and according to biblical standards. Leaders in the church
are the earthly pillars of Christianity; any compromise with
the biblical standards required of a leader can cause disaster,
confusion or damage to the whole church and the image of
Christianity.

~ 31 ~
Poor leadership discourages old and new members and
stunts the growth of any congregation in terms of
membership.

Welcoming Visitors to the Congregation

Welcoming guests may seem as simple as drinking water, but

it is one of the most delicate ways that requirestremendous
dedication from ushers. Often, how a person is greeted
determines whether they will become a member of the
congregation or open up to share their purpose for visiting.
In most cases, when a person visits a congregation, it may
mean they are looking for a place to gather to expose
themselves, get to know, love, befriend, receive financial
and spiritual help such as; counselling, prophecy or develop
their gift or calling. Therefore, it is so important to treat
every visitor as God's guest and not as a stranger, regardless
of their appearance, age, financial status or position in
society.

In the book of Romans 15:7, the Bible states: "Receive one

another as Christ received you to bring glory to God" and in the book of
Hebrews 13:1-3, the Bible further adds, "Love one another
as brothers. do not forget to entertain strangers, in doing so, some people
~ 32 ~
entertain angels without knowing it, remember prisoners as if you were
their fellow prisoners, and heal the sick as if you were suffering
yourselves.”

The following are things to avoid when receiving guests:

 Segregation between rich and poor guests in terms

of attention and respect, because we serve a God
who does not favour or segregates, guests are very
observant and sensitive to how they are greeted and
treated.
 Communication through gestures creates the
impression that it is unwanted and unwelcome.
However, verbal communication combined with a
smile and eye contact boosts confidence and
motivates guests to relax and eliminate tension that
prevents them from expressing themselves.

~ 33 ~
 CHAPTER 3

IT'S ABOUT THE DIVINE

PURPOSE, NOT THE TITLE

Once in a while, my colleague and I organize mini-seminars

where we invite Godly men with unique gifts from different
denominations to share their experience of living as a
servant of God, revelations and other useful information
that can build others.

I remember one event that happened during the seminar

when the men of God were introduced to the audience; I
was amazed to learn that some men of God had changed
their titles to suit the perception of some people who had
succumbed to the evil spirit of competition. They believe
that some titles are superior to others, disregarding the fact
that titles are determined by the gift given to a person
according to his purpose in life. I could not contain myself, it
was strange to me, even some men of God whom I had
known for years as pastors were transformed into prophets
~ 34 ~
and others into apostles. For a while I thought I was
imagining all this, so I consulted my colleague who was
standing next to me, to my surprise he too was perplexed.
From that moment on, I realized this trend would dominate
and negatively affect many men of God if not addressed.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, I discovered that to
eliminate the syndrome of giving some titles superiority over
others, one understands that a spiritual gift is given freely or
voluntarily. This is given from God, enabling or
empowering His people.

Ephesians 4:7 says, "But to each of us he has given a special gift

through the generosity of Christ." and in the book of 1 Peter 4:10-
11, “God has given each of us a gift from his great variety of spiritual
gifts that we must faithfully use to serve one another. Do you have the
gift of speaking? Then speak as if God himself were speaking through
you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do so with all the power
and energy that God provides, and then everything you do will bring
glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever
and ever amen!”

The above two passages of scripture are a reminder to all

Christians that no one is born without a gift. It further
reminds us of an important thing that our gifts are not given
to us to make us rich and to intimidate others, or as a tool
~ 35 ~
to determine our level of faith. Gift are rather given to serve
God faithfully and help one another because we are servants
of God. People should see Christ in us, as stated inMatthew
5:16, “In the same way, let your good works shine out forall to see,
so that all may glorify your heavenly father.”

We Are One

Conflicts are inevitable and are part of everyday life, they

arise whenever individuals or groups disagree with each
other. It can happen even to a Christian as long as he is here
on earth in a human body that is subject to human nature.
However, if it happens to a Christian, it must be resolved
before sundown as instructed in the Bible.

In today's world, we all witness divisions among Christians,

which paves the way for Satan, the opportunist to introduce
a technique called ‘the principle of division,’ to divide and
rule Christians. Satan uses the titles attached to our gifts to
create a false impression in the minds of weak Christians.
This makes men of God who think or feel that they are
smarter than others, wiser than others and holier than
others.

The lack of knowledge and spirit of discernment facilitates

this among Christians. In the book of 1 Corinthians 3: 1 -
~ 36 ~
23, “Brethren, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly
babes in Christ. I gave you milk and not solid food because you were not
yet ready for it. And indeed, you are still not ready. You are yet
worldly. For if there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not
worldly? Do you not act like common people? For when one says: ‘I am
Paul's colleague,’ and another: ‘I am Apollo's follower,’ are you not
men? What is Apollo and what is Paul? Only servants through whom
you have come to faith, for the Lord has assigned to each his task. I
planted the seed, Apollo watered it, but God made it grow. Soneither
he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes
things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one
purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his toil. For we are God's
co-workers, you are God's field, God's building. By the grace that
God has given me, as an expert builder I have laid the foundation, and
someone else is building on it. But let each one be careful how he builds.
For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has already
been laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation,
using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw. He will show his
work for what it is because the day will bring it to light. Fire will reveal
it, and fire will test the quality of every man's work. If what he has built
survives, he will receive his reward. But if it burns, he will suffer loss;
he will be saved, but only as one who escapes through the flames. Do you
not know that you yourselves are the temple of God and that the spirit of
God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple
~ 37 ~
of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, and you
are it. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think that he is wise
according to the measure of this age, let him become a ‘fool’ that he may
become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. As it
is written, he seizes the wise in their craftiness’. And again, ‘The
Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are vain’. Therefore, boast no
more of men! All things are yours whether Paul, or Apollonius, or
Kephas, or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or the future all
things are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”

In 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, the Bible says, “So then men should

regard us as servants of Christ, and as those entrusted with the secret
things of God. Now it is required that those entrusted with trust should
prove faithful therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait
until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what we hide in darkness and
reveal the motives of men's hearts. Everyone will receive his glory from
God.”

I Corinthians 12:28 records, “And in the church God has

appointed first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then
workers of miracles, also those who have gifts of healing, those who can help
others, those who have the gift of administration, and those who speak
in different tongues.” in Romans 12:3-8, the Bible also records,
“For by the grace that has been given me I say to each of you, Do not
judge yourselves more highly than you ought, but judge
~ 38 ~
yourselves soberly, according to the measure of faith that God has given you.
Just as each of us has one body with many members and do notall
these members perform the same functions? So also in Christ we who
are many forms one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have uncommon gifts according to the grace given to us. If aman's
gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it isservice,
let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach. If it is caring for the needs
of others, let him give generously; if it is directing, let him rule diligently; if
it is showing mercy, let him do so joyfully.”

The above Scripture passages remind us that despite having

different gifts and the names associated with them, we are
all one, servants of God destined to carry out divine tasks,
entrusted with God's mysteries. We must therefore show
ourselves faithful.

No one can lay any other foundation than the one already
laid by Jesus Christ, and we can do nothing without God.
To avoid using the standards of this world to measure our
wisdom for the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the
eyes of God.

We must not judge before the appointed time; we must wait

until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hide in
darkness and reveal the motive of man's heart. In Christ we

~ 39 ~
are one body with many forms, we have gifts accorded to
us by His grace.

Ephesians 4:11-13, records, “And he gave some in; Apostle,

Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. Their job is to equip
God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of
Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in the faith
and knowledge of the Son of God that we are mature in the Lord,
measuring up to the complete standard of Christ.”

 Apostle - means - Messenger, one who is sent; any

of the twelve men whom Christ told people about
Him and His teaching.
 Pastor - means - An overseer in charge of a
Christian congregation or group whose role is to
teach God's Word, provide discipleship, etc.
 Prophet - means - A person sent by God to
interpret the times and human hearts; a person who
issues divinely inspired revelations.
 Evangelist - means - A person who tries to
persuade people to become Christians, especially by
travelling around the world or country and holding
religious meetings.

~ 40 ~
  Teacher - means - A person whose job is to teach
the good news of Jesus Christ and God's love,
inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Who Is the Greatest?

Mark 9:33-35, the Bible records, “They came to Capernaum.

When he was in the house, he asked them: ‘What were you arguing
about on the road?’ But they were silent because on the road they had
argued about who among them was the greatest. Having sat down,
Jesus called the Twelve and said: "If anyone wants to be first, he must
be last, and the servant of all." In this passage of Scripture, Jesus
did not list any titles to determine who is greatest in the
Kingdom of God, but He said that the humble one who
considers himself to be last and servant of all is greatest.

A qualified and spiritually gifted servant of God

We obtained qualification by passing an examination or

completing a course. The essence is that a person acquires
the knowledge that is needed to do a particular job or
activity. Qualifications are earthly ingredients that are
attained with the ability of the human brain and can be
attained by any person as long as they can read, understand
and have adequate resources to cover all expenses.

~ 41 ~
In today's world, many Bible schools have sprung up
offering various programs related to spirituality, which are
necessary and helpful for every Christian to build his/her
mind. However, many have succumbed to the
misconception that one can receive any spiritual gift or
calling after graduating from a Bible school. This has caused
instability in various denominations around the world.
Christians must understand the difference between qualified
and spiritually gifted servant of God.

A Spiritually Gifted Servant of God

A spiritually gifted servant of God is appointed by God to

carry out the task God has commissioned him to do?
Consider the following scriptures on this subject;

1 Timothy 2:7, “And for this purpose, it has appointed me a herald

and an apostle - I speak the truth; I do not lie - and a teacher of the
faith of the truth to the Gentiles.”

Acts 9:15, “But the Lord said to Ananias go! This man is my chosen
instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and
before the people of Israel.”

~ 42 ~
2 Corinthians 29:11, “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the
Lord has chosen you to stand before Him and serve Him, to minister
before Him and burn incense.”

Qualified Servant of God

A qualified servant of God is someone who has got an

earthly qualification after passing an examination or
completing training. A person may be qualified as a servant
of God, but without a spiritual gift from God to perform
the task. The qualification therefore, does not make the
person develop a spiritual gift; God gives it. A person does
not need a certificate, diploma, degree, master's or doctorate
to be a servant of God, but a spiritual gift and the Holy Spirit
who is a teacher, counsellor and admonition. Bible schools
are helpful for spiritually gifted individuals and Christians
who desire a solid understanding of the Bible.

Having higher qualifications in theology and other courses

related to spirituality does not make a person more spiritual
or greater than other servants of God with low
qualifications. It is by the grace of God through the Son and
the Holy Spirit that entrusts and grants each person a great
anointing to reveal deep spiritual revelations, and show the
dominant power of God.

~ 43 ~
 Conclusion

In most cases, preachers who are not spiritually gifted but

worldly qualified to preach fall prey to the logical type of
preaching and the philosophical type of preaching. This
means preaching without the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
totally based on research and human understanding,
offering no spiritual impact except to motivate the hearer.
This is the reason some people who gather in such churches
cannot be transformed, despite being committed members
for a long time. The prophetic ministry has suffered sharply
by so-called prophets who are devoid of the spiritual gift
and yet can foretell or prophesy about the future using evil
spirits of divination (Divination means the activity or craft of
finding out and telling what will happen in the future).

Spiritually gifted prophets are led by the Holy Spirit, so they

speak according to the instructions of God through the Son
and the Holy Spirit as in the Old Testament.

~ 44 ~
 CHAPTER 4

THE CHURCH AND

POLITICS

When I was travelling from Luanshya to Lusaka, I had an

encounter that made me realize that the relationship
between the Church and politics has a great impact on our
society. It was when the bus driver turned-on the mini TV
installed in the bus and a man of God appeared on the
screen giving a sermon on Church and politics. The sermon
was amazing, everyone on board was excited, which you
could tell from their beaming faces. It was only when he
said: "A true man of God must obey the law of the land
and cooperate with the authorities when necessary",
which caused an uproar on the bus. One thing I noticed
was that people did not refer to Scriptures to support their
opinions. Few had Bibles but they were not fully used to
convince others due to lack of understanding.

Few Christians who tried to convince others were

criticized, accused and challenged until we arrived in Lusaka,

~ 45 ~
but my spirit was not at peace with what was happening on
the bus. For me as a servant of God, it was an awakening
that was also a signal that we are not working hard when it
comes to preaching the Word of God. After all, it is our duty
as servants of God to encourage people to read the Bible
more often to eliminate ignorance on some sensitive issues
such as the church and politics.

Whenever the word ‘Church’ is used, it represents the body

of believers and its leaders gathered for worship and not the
building in which they meet. When the word ‘Politics’ is
used it is also associated with a political party, which is a
political organization that subscribes to a certain ideology
and seeks to achieve political power through representation
in government and comprises active politicians.

The church is influential because of its role in our society,

but in today's world, the church has become more
vulnerable because of infiltration by false men of God and
the love of money among believers and leaders. Sound
preaching is rare because many preach to impress people
and satisfy their desires rather than to glorify the Kingdom
of God; the same is true in politics.

~ 46 ~
Many have joined politics based on how some politicians
abuse their offices to generate wealth for themselves, and
the state of the world has driven this today; measuring a
person's wisdom and intelligence based on their wealth. In
this era, it is obvious how some politicians and some men
of God in charge of congregations use each other for
personal gains at the expense of congregants. Some
churches are used for political purposes and this has led to
congregations that are governed by genuine men of God
being subjected to various tribulations.

The devil has exploited human desperation for wealth to

manipulate the relationship between the church and
politicians and political parties. However, for any country to
prosper, there is a need for men of God and politicians in
the ruling and non-ruling authorities to work together in
harmony because each influences a certain percentage of
individuals in a country.

The Church and The Ruling Authorities

The following are some passages from Scripture in line with

the biblical instruction on the church and ruling authority:

 Ephesians 6: 5-9, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with

deep respect and fear; serve them sincerely, as you would serve
~ 47 ~
 Christ. Try to please them at all times, not just when they
observe you as slaves of Christ. Work enthusiastically as if
you were working for the Lord and not for men. Remember
that the Lord will reward each of us for the good we do,
whether we are slaves or free. The Lord treat your slaves in the
same way, do not frighten them, remember that you both have
the same Lord in heaven, and He has no favorites.”
 1 Peter 2:13-14, “For the Lord's sake, respect all human
authority, whether the king as head of state or the officials he
has appointed, for the king has sent them to punish those who
do wrong and to honor those who do right.”
 Romans 13:1-7, “Everyone should submit to the
authorities because all authority comes from God, and those
who are in positions of authority have been placed there by
God. Anyone, therefore, who rebels against the authorities is
rebelling against what God has established, and will be
punished. For the authorities do not strike fear into people
who do right, but into those who do wrong. You want to live
without fear of the authorities, do what is right and they will
honor you. The authorities are God's servants, sent for your
good. But if you do wrong, of course, be afraid, because they
have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent
precisely to punish those who do wrong. You must therefore be

~ 48 ~
 subject to them, not only to avoid punishment but also to have
a clear conscience. Pay taxes also for the same reasons, for
government employees must be paid; they serve God in what
they do. Give to everyone what you owe, pay taxes and
government fees to those who collect them and give respect and
honor to those in authority.”
 1 Timothy 2:2, “Pray thus for kings and all who are in
authority, that we may live peaceably and quietly, marked by
godliness and dignity.”

The above Scripture passages point to the cardinal

elements that every Christian should keep and put into
practice towards the ruling powers in the church and the
world. Although the Bible says that, we are not of this
world, as long as we are part of this world, every
Christian must obey the laws of this world so that peace
may prevail. Below are some elements that all Christians
should consider:

 All authority comes from God.

 To be obedient to our earthly masters.
 Not to threaten people who are beneath us, for we
have the same master in heaven, and he has no
favorite.

~ 49 ~
 To respect human authority, whether the king is
head of state or the officials he has appointed.
 To submit to the ruling authority not only to avoid
punishment but also to keep a clear conscience.
 To work hard even in the absence of a superior for
the glory of our God through the Son of the Lord
Jesus Christ.

Do's and Don'ts, Servants of God Towards

Political Party and Politicians

Do's

 A servant of God may register as a voter and vote

for any political party and politician but must keep
it to himself.
 A servant of God may interact with and contribute
to any political party, be it ruling or opposition.
 A servant of God may pray and advise any politician
irrespective of his/her political affiliation.
 The Servant of God may offer guidance and
reconcile political parties and politicians, but it must
be done secretly in supplication.
 A servant of God may speak the mind of God to
any politician or political party as instructed by God

~ 50 ~
 through the Son and the Holy Spirit, and it must be
done in secret.
 The servant of God may receive gifts on behalf of
the church from individuals and any political party
or politician, as long as nothing sinister is involved,
and the needy, widows, widowers and orphans must
benefit. However, there are other gifts that a servant
of God may receive on a personal level such as
recognition and others from individuals, politicians
and political parties which he must not share with
anyone but they must not affect God congregations
and other politicians, a political party in any way; in
terms of decision making and attention.

Don’ts

 A minister of God should not be partisan or openly

affiliate with any political party to avoid divisions
among congregants.
 A minister of God should not publicly endorse any
political party or politician, as this may cause an
uproar or disperse the flocks.

~ 51 ~
 The servant of God should avoid segregation, both
the ruling party and the opposition are children of
God and are necessary for every country.
 The servant of God must guard, respect and value
the pulpit as it is a sacred place, only church
activities should be done in the pulpit such as
preaching the word of God, church announcements
and others, no authority is greater than the authority
of God. We should take away all political donations
and other announcements regarding political
developments from the pulpit. The pulpit is sacred
and must not be used for campaigning or political
gain. A politician may stand in the pulpit in the
church only if he or she is a leader or member of the
same church performing church activities.
 A servant of God must not reprimand any politician
or political leader during a church service or in
public, whether of the ruling or opposition party. If
it is a command from God, it must be done in secret
and in supplication.
 It is not advisable for a servant of God to wear
political regalia in church or public.

~ 52 ~
  The servant of God should avoid displaying any
symbols of political parties, whether in church or
public.

CONCLUSION

Both men of God and politicians are human beings with

feelings, and some of them have families to look after.
However, it is the duty of the servant of God and other
church leaders to ensure that political talk is avoided among
congregants, especially in church premises at all times, and
allow no political party or politician to influence the church
contrary to what is prescribed in the Bible. The church is
not under any authority except the authority of God
through the Son of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit. All actions of the church must be under what is
prescribed in the Bible.

~ 53 ~
 CHAPTER 5

TRUE MEANING OF
SUCCESS

Fresh memories come flooding during my high school

years. We would sit and discuss our version of success; my
peers would express their thoughts on the subject, and they
had different views. Almost all of them wanted to be
associated with success and wished that their parents were
also successful in life. They could mention the names of
people they considered successful. At that point, I never
understood what they meant or how success was defined.

As teenagers, it flooded our minds with concepts that were

so unrealistic. We often associate success with tangible
objects or belonging, and with a difference in lifestyle. For
some of us who came from struggling homes, it was very
easy to see the difference. But when we finished high school,
joined the community and entered the actual world, not
everything was golden. I discovered that most of the people
~ 54 ~
who were considered successful were mostly bankrupt,
defaulted on bank loans, and others had problems such as
corruption charges. I also discovered that people who own
various businesses are not sure if they are successful because
they too are trying their best daily, like a poor person, to
maintain their wealth. Others are directly connected to the
dark world, subjected to diabolical sacrifices to maintain
what they have been allotted in the name of success.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we have found that the
world does not offer success because success is within us.
Often, people attribute earthly achievements as successes
that are temporary and uncertain, and many have
succumbed to an unscrupulous misperception that
interprets the state of being a billionaire, millionaire or the
holder of a doctorate, degree, diploma or the owner of
multiple businesses and properties as success in life. In the
book of Romans 12:2, the Bible says, “Do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you
may discern by examination what is the will of God, what is good,
what is acceptable and what is perfect.” Proverbs 21:2 records, "He
who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and
honour", and in Matthew 16:26 the Bible says, "For what shall
it profit a man, if he shall gain the entire world, and suffer injury to

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his soul or what can a man give for his soul". In Luke 16:15 the
Bible records, "That which is highly esteemed among men is
abominable in the sight of God". Matthew 6:33 records
something interesting as well, "But seek ye first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness, and we shall give all these things to you".

The above scriptures are clear enough for what is cardinal

for all human beings to seek the kingdom of God and his
righteousness. This is the only way a person can discover
genuine success and its purpose; which is to identify his/her
purpose in life and use it to serve others through the gifts
given to us with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Knowing our purpose in life is the greatest and true meaning

of success in life. Therefore, being rich or having high
academic qualifications does not make a person a successful,
as this is just an addition to supplement our purpose here
on earth.

In today's world, many people are enslaved by the wrong

perception of success, and this has led many to neglect
genuine success in life. This has turned into the love of
money, for it is the root of all evil (1Timothy 6:10). Satan
has taken advantage of this by exploiting the false

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perception of success that had been instilled in people's
minds, causing people to become;

 More desperate for success.

 Fearless of biblical standards of living to succeed.
 More selfish and self-centered.
 Morally corrupted for success.
 Ignorant of the spirit of unity, helping others and
loving one another.

Worldly achievement's can never satisfy a person who does

not know his purpose in life. Despite having wealth and
worldly power through positions that give access to almost
everything the world can offer; it will be in vain. Some
people are rich, highly educated and have power but do not
know their purpose in life. Others have at some point
thought that having wealth, high academic qualifications or
a prominent position in authority was the true meaning of
success but it is not; they live a life without direction, full of
frustration. No wonder we see rich people, those with high
academic qualifications and holder of senior positions
indulging in fornication, adultery, drugs, and others resort in
acquiring unnecessarily expensive things like cars, planes,
clothes, houses and other items just to feel that sense of

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contentment. The devil has manipulated their minds; they
feel satisfied and successful when people praise their
possessions, which is a fallacy.

Below are some scriptures that confirm the existence of

God's purpose in every person.

 Exodus 9:26, “But I have raised you for this very purpose.
To show you my power, and that you may proclaim by my
name in all the earth."
 Romans9:9-16, "…And yet, before the twins were born
or accomplished anything good or evil, that God's purpose in
election might stand." …Therefore it does not depend; it does
not depend on the desire or effort of man, but on the mercy of
God."
 Jeremiah 1:4-5, “The word of the Lord came to me to say
before I formed you in your mother's womb, I knew you; before you
were born, I appointed you a prophet to the nation."
 John 18:37, ‘You are therefore a king!’ said the Pirate,
Jesus replied: ‘you are right in saying that I am a king. In
fact, for this reason, I was born and for this I came into the
world, to bear witness to the truth. Listen to me, all you who
stand on the side of the truth".

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  Psalm 57:2, "I cry out to the Highest God, the God who
fulfils (His purpose) toward me."
 Acts 13:36, "For when David had served the purpose of
God in his generation, he fell asleep; They buried him with
his father, and his body decayed."

TO END

In the book of John 19:28-30, the Bible says, "When he had

received the drink, Jesus said: "It is done." With this, he bowed his
head and gave up the ghost," in the book of 2 Timothy 4:1-8, "I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith."

Even we are not born into this world by mistake or to be

wealthy, academically highly qualified or to have an
influential position; we are part of this world because we
have a task to fulfil according to God's plan. It does not
require great wealth, high academic qualifications or having
a prominent position in ruling authority to identify and carry
it out, but the Holy Spirit, faith, obedience, commitment,
perseverance, endurance, prayer and fasting. The ultimate
success of every person is to identify and execute their
purpose in life.
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 Mathews 10: 6-8

Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go,

proclaim this message:

‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick.

Raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,
drive out demons.

Freely you have received; freely you should give

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