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SELF-CONTROL

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  By Edokpa Ephraim Eseohe Introduction Self-control is a compound noun which consists of two separate words “ self ” and “ control ” and in order to understand the compound meaning of the word “ self-control ”, it is pertinent to conceptually clarify the words separately. Self Self can be defined as the union of elements (body, emotions, impulses, thoughts, sensations, appetites, will, passions, desires, interests) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person. Some words synonymous to self are flesh, ego and body. The Bible outlined various characteristics of self in the passages below  1. 1 John 2:16 KJV For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life , is not of the Father, but is of the world. 2. Galatians 5:19-21a KJV Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies
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GENTLENESS

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  By Ijachi Comfort Okah The word GENTLENESS is not new to our hearing as it is a virtue that Christ admonished us to possess at all times irrespective of where we are and what we are facing. Gentleness is a virtue which works in line with the purpose of God. We can also relate it to humility. This was one of the characteristics of Jesus Christ while he was on earth as he even told his apostles to do the same. As Christians, we must learn to be humble and gentle in heart. In Matthew 11:29 , Jesus is described as gentle and humble in heart and he modeled this to his apostles. Also, Apostle Paul urges us in Ephesians 4:1-3 to imbibe the spirit of gentleness and live our lives in unity with people so as to show them the way of Christ. IMPORTANCE OF GENTLENESS PEACE : It brings about peace and rest in our hearts as we fellowship with Christ, as well as makes us relate well with those around us, which in turn brings them close to Christ. In this way we effectively carry out our duty as Ch
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FAITHFULNESS

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 By Deborah Temitope Jacob It is no doubt that great is the faithfulness of God and that his mercies endure forever despite our imperfections. Two questions which then remain to be asked are “ what does faithfulness mean?” and “who is a faithful servant?” Faithfulness is the quality of being steadfast and committed to something or someone. It can also mean being reliable and worthy of trust. In Matthew 25:45, the Bible made mention of a faithful servant as a person who can be trusted with responsibilities. There are 4 different aspects of faithfulness according to this writer: Faithfulness to God (Hebrews 11) Having faith in God is trusting him completely. It is the proof of our relationship with God. We have faith in God because we know he never fails. Faithfulness is total obedience or belief in God's word and this will requires us to be connected to God and trust in his word completely. Faithfulness in relationships (Proverbs 28:20) In our relationship with people either f
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THE ESSENCE OF GOODNESS AS FRUIT AND KEY TO DIVINE SUCCESS

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By Benjamin Haruna Bala In Joshua 1:8 , we find a powerful promise from God to Joshua as he prepares to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. The verse reads; " Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful ." This verse is often cited as a key to divine success as in our theme this session, but what does it mean to be successful in the eyes of God? Being successful in the eyes of God is having certain characteristics that reflect God’s divine image and character. As we can find in the Fruit of the Spirit outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 , goodness which is seen as a moral excellence or virtue is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. In other words, to be successful in the eyes of God is to live a life of goodness. Living a life of goodness simply means doing good in righteousness, purity and holiness; that is to say doing good both in works, characte
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KINDNESS

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  By Salama Tisan Peter My mum told us {my elder ones and I}, that while she was young, there was this practice that was rampant: whenever a family in a compound house was hosting a guest/visitor, the neighbors would cook for the guest separately and present it to the guest. I always think about this and I truly wish we could continue this trend, although I must say that on two occasions, I have gone to visit close relatives and I have been treated this way by their neighbors. The first one bought me a carbonated soft drink and the second offered me five slices of bread and tomato-fish sauce. I must confess that I love this act of kindness and I trust God to also replicate it as He enables me. Defining ‘ Kindness ’ can pose a great difficulty because of the similarities in its qualities with that of love. This is why Apostle Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 13:4 that love is kind. I think that if kindness stands before a mirror, its reflection will be love. The meaning of k
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PATIENCE

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By Havilah Emma-Ogboji  Galatians 5:22 AMP [22] But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting] , kindness, goodness, faithfulness. When we hear the phrase ‘fruit of the Spirit’, what comes to mind?  I believe for some, it is the memories of songs from our Sunday School classes which we learnt as kids, or you may ask yourself: is there any fruit manifesting in my life?  This verse in the Amplified version goes a step further to make us understand what the "fruit of the Spirit" is: the result of His presence within us. This leads me to the question; is the Holy Spirit in you? I believe our answer is "Yes", but how patient are you in waiting and receiving from the Spirit?  Waiting for God is at the heart of living by faith. It is this hope in the trustworthy promises of God that is the ground of the Christian's virtue of
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PEACE

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  By Adeola Adepoju Oluwatobi In the orchard of Christian character, there blossoms a sweet and precious fruit: peace. Not the fleeting, fragile peace of the world, but a deep, abiding inner serenity rooted in something far greater. This peace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, one of nine characteristics cultivated in the hearts of those who surrender to God's transformative power. The Bible paints a vivid picture of this spiritual peace. In Isaiah 26:3, we are promised, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." This peace transcends circumstance, a steady anchor in the storms of life. It's the peace Jesus offered his disciples, saying, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27) Biblical Meaning of Peace There are three biblical meanings of peace namely. 1. Peace with God (2 Corinthians 5 : 18
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