<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></title><description><![CDATA[I attempt to provide answers to some of life's most difficult questions.]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PcWg!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0d0a07c-941b-4957-9a84-02e82a0548fe_1007x1007.png</url><title>Meshack Ignatius</title><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:41:24 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Meshack]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[meshackignatius@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[meshackignatius@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[meshackignatius@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[meshackignatius@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Podcast | Lessons from the life of Jesus (4)]]></title><description><![CDATA[How to shut out doubt and wrong voices]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-lessons-from-the-life-of-714</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-lessons-from-the-life-of-714</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/210046548/642576f80acbdb386e4e144d0933b80e.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-aVW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15f82c77-64ee-44e1-806b-2f427c190c07_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-aVW!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15f82c77-64ee-44e1-806b-2f427c190c07_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-aVW!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15f82c77-64ee-44e1-806b-2f427c190c07_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-aVW!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15f82c77-64ee-44e1-806b-2f427c190c07_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-aVW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15f82c77-64ee-44e1-806b-2f427c190c07_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-aVW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F15f82c77-64ee-44e1-806b-2f427c190c07_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/15f82c77-64ee-44e1-806b-2f427c190c07_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" 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class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>How to shut out doubt and wrong voices</p><div><hr></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[What repeated rejection can teach you about yourself and your value]]></title><description><![CDATA[Three things you can do when you face rejection and disappointment]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/what-repeated-rejection-can-teach</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/what-repeated-rejection-can-teach</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:10:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" 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https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!o4iZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdecdd32c-f90b-4778-b03c-f7a969b04e57_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Rejection often makes you feel like you do not measure up to something.</p><p>At first, you might think, <em>&#8220;Well, everyone faces this at some point in their lives, right?&#8221;</em></p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>But when rejection becomes much more frequent, you can begin to see less of yourself and your value.</p></div><p>Rejection is an unusual thing. It rarely attacks your abilities directly; instead, it attacks <strong>your perception of your abilities.</strong> It slowly convinces you that there is something <strong>fundamentally lacking in you,</strong> something everyone else can see except yourself.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>And after enough closed doors, unanswered messages, failed applications, and overlooked efforts, you begin to wonder <strong>whether the problem is your work or your existence.</strong></p></div><p>I want to show a few things you can do when rejection becomes a recurring visitor in your life.</p><h3>The first thing you can do is find out if you are truly worth what you say you are.</h3><p>This is probably the most difficult part because honesty with oneself is painful. We live in an age that constantly tells people to believe in themselves, but belief alone is not substance. Being confident at all times does not automatically create competence. <strong>You can be very confident and grossly foolish.</strong></p><p>Confidence may bring you into certain rooms and relationships, but your lack of competence will show you the door almost as quickly as you entered. Confidence can secure an opportunity, but competence is what sustains it. The world may initially be impressed by how highly you think of yourself, but eventually, it demands evidence that your self-perception corresponds to reality.</p><p>It is very difficult for society to dismiss gold. Society may be harsh, but people are not so foolish as to consistently undervalue something that is <strong>undeniably valuable.</strong></p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>If they are dismissing you, then maybe you are overestimating your worth.</p></div><p>Perhaps the gap is not between you and society, but between <strong>who you think you are and who you have actually become.</strong></p><p>Being honest with oneself also means not inflating one&#8217;s self-worth. Rejection is not always persecution. Rejection can also be viewed as feedback. Sometimes, life is not necessarily insulting you; it is informing you that there is a problem that needs to be fixed somewhere.</p><p>This is not an invitation to self-hatred. It is an invitation to self-examination.</p><h4>Ask yourself difficult questions. </h4><ul><li><p><em>Am I truly as skilled as I think I am? </em></p></li><li><p><em>Is my work excellent enough?</em></p></li><li><p><em>Have I mistaken confidence for competence or the potential to do something for actually being able to do it? </em></p></li><li><p><em>Have I confused effort with value?</em></p></li></ul><p>Because there are moments when the answer to rejection is not greater confidence, but greater competence, and if you do not know this, you may spend more time talking big in front of the mirror rather than burying your head in papers.</p><h3>Secondly, if your worth is not in question, then check who you are <em>&#8220;marketing&#8221;</em> yourself to.</h3><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Some of what people call <em>&#8220;open heavens&#8221;</em> is simply people <strong>positioning</strong> themselves under those who need them.</p></div><p>The world is full of misplaced value. A fish may spend its entire life trying to impress birds and conclude that it was born without worth, not because it lacks value, but because it is performing before the wrong audience. This calls to mind the popular quote about a fish being judged by its ability to climb a tree. Many people are not necessarily failures; they are being evaluated by standards they were never designed to satisfy.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>When you keep barking up the wrong tree, you may mistake the tree's inability to move for rejection. Meanwhile, the tree is innocent; you are the one camped on the wrong path.</p></div><p>When you are presenting yourself to people who genuinely need what you carry, it is easy to call the outcome a miracle or a favor. You can call it anything spiritual if you want. </p><p>Why?</p><p><strong>Because the abundance of returns often amazes you.</strong></p><p>And since we live in a world where <strong>effortless success is not the norm, right positioning begins to look supernatural.</strong></p><p>And that is fine. You can call it whatever you like, as long as you are not merely waiting for the miracle but positioning yourself for it.</p><p>The same words that earned silence in one room can erupt applause in another. The same talent that was ignored in one community can become indispensable in another. The same idea that people laughed at yesterday can become tomorrow&#8217;s innovation.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Sometimes, rejection is not a sign of <strong>inadequacy </strong>but <strong>misalignment</strong>.</p></div><p>If your value is not in question, and your positioning is not in question, then,</p><h3>Thirdly... well, there is no thirdly.</h3><p>I have seen some things in this universe that have &#8216;no explanation.&#8217;</p><p>I have seen people standing face-to-face with <em>greatness</em>, possessing everything required to become great, and yet <em>greatness </em>refused to arrive when everyone expected it to. I have seen very brilliant people buried beneath their own obscurity. As I write this, familiar faces and memories flood my mind. I have seen talented people wither away in silence. I have seen people who should have succeeded years ago still struggling to get by daily.</p><p>And strangely enough, many of them do eventually become great.</p><p>Not because the universe <strong>suddenly </strong>became fair, but because life seems to possess a healthy dose of garbage-in-garbage-out. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Inputs and what you do matter. Your persistence matters. How long you are willing to keep showing up matters.</p></div><p><strong>If they do not give up before their &#8220;time,&#8221; they eventually become what they always had the potential to become.</strong></p><h3>That said, &#8220;thirdly&#8221; would simply mean to keep showing up until your time comes.</h3><p>In the context of this discussion, I am not particularly fond of this mysterious &#8220;time&#8221; that keeps everyone waiting, so I will not romanticize it. I do not like explanations that ask people to suspend all responsibility and wait <strong>indefinitely </strong>for <em>destiny </em>to knock on their door.</p><p>Still, there are realities that logic cannot fully account for. Some people do everything right and <em>succeed </em>late, and there are others who do everything <em>wrong </em>and <em>succeed </em>early.</p><p>Life is not always a clean equation, although fair. Most times we don&#8217;t just have all the cards that life is playing. Maybe if we did, we would understand it better.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>So perhaps the final advice is this: <strong>improve what can be improved, reposition where necessary, and endure what cannot yet be explained.</strong></p></div><p>But these do not apply to all forms of rejection. Some rejections are <em>necessary</em>. Some are <em>protective</em>. Some are <em>consequences</em>. And some are simply the universe&#8217;s <em>indifference </em>toward our expectations. And this indifference has a fair explanation that we may not be able to account for at the time we are experiencing it.</p><p><strong>Not every closed door means you are not enough.</strong></p><p>But not every closed door means you are enough either.</p><p>Wisdom is knowing the difference.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Podcast | Lessons from the life of Jesus (3)]]></title><description><![CDATA[The demand and responsibility of our soul's transformation]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-lessons-from-the-life-of-588</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-lessons-from-the-life-of-588</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:03:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/209942675/c68ae5d59ac64accb4ecd68856288534.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gqtV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffd5ddaed-a588-4e93-99ce-b3eaf9b926fa_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The demand and responsibility of our soul&#8217;s transformation</p><div><hr></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[You must outgrow corruptibility]]></title><description><![CDATA[Evil communication is NOT supposed to corrupt good manners]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/you-must-outgrow-corruptibility</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/you-must-outgrow-corruptibility</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:00:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hUbi!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73356b9d-68a6-4ef0-af1d-1326e6a15894_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Evil communication <em>&#8220;doesn&#8217;t&#8221; </em>always corrupt good manners.</p><p>You are to be <strong>careful </strong>about those in your circle <em><strong>SO THAT</strong></em> you <em>wouldn&#8217;t</em> need to be careful about those in your circle. So when you&#8217;re <em>starting</em>: <strong>Be careful about your circle. But you must outgrow corruptibility.</strong></p><p>You&#8217;re not to perpetually remain <strong>at the mercy of those around you.</strong> You&#8217;re not to be perpetually <strong>running away</strong> from people because you want to <em>keep yourself pure. </em>You can do the running when you&#8217;re <em>starting</em>, and that&#8217;s fine. But you should grow to the point where you are no longer moved by <strong>ANYTHING</strong> or <strong>ANYONE.</strong></p><p>Jesus prayed for us and said,</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t take them out of the world, but <strong>keep them from the evil in the world.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>It means <strong>the plan is not for evil communication to corrupt good manners, but for your good manners to &#8220;corrupt&#8221; evil communication.</strong></p><p>I know you are wondering, but the Bible said,</p><ul><li><p><em>we should flee</em></p></li><li><p><em>that evil communication corrupts good manners, etc.</em></p></li></ul><p>I hear you, and I feel you really.</p><p>Now let&#8217;s look at these scriptures again.</p><p>1 Corinthians 15:33:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>&#8220;Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good morals.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>From 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is defending the doctrine of the resurrection. Some people in the Corinthian church were claiming that there was no resurrection of the dead (verses 12&#8211;19). Paul argues against this teaching <strong>and warns believers not to be influenced by those ideas.</strong></p><p>Paul was <strong>describing</strong> a reality, that certain associations and ideas were already influencing the Corinthian believers and leading them astray regarding the resurrection. </p><p>The statement itself is a warning and an instruction: <strong>do not allow yourself to be influenced by people whose beliefs undermine the truth</strong>.</p><p>Paul&#8217;s concern is not merely about spending time with &#8220;bad people&#8221; in a general sense. His immediate concern is <strong>false doctrine and unbelief</strong>. The &#8220;evil company&#8221; refers primarily to those whose teachings denied the resurrection and corrupted the believers&#8217; understanding of the gospel.</p><p>Therefore, contextually, <strong>1 Corinthians 15:33 is a prescriptive warning built upon a descriptive reality</strong>: Paul describes the corrupting influence already present in Corinth and prescribes vigilance against it.</p><p>So, Paul was not giving a blanket instruction that all believers ought to be afraid of becoming corrupted by negative influences. He was simply asking the <strong>growing Corinthian believers</strong> to be careful of being deceived by false teachers and by doctrines that contradicted the gospel which they had received.</p><p>It was to these same believers that he referred to as &#8220;babes in Christ&#8221; in 1 Corinthians 3:1:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>&#8220;And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>Paul&#8217;s concern throughout the epistle was that <strong>their spiritual immaturity</strong> had made them susceptible to strife, divisions, and doctrinal confusion.</p><p>In fact, the books of Ephesians, Hebrews, and 2 Peter clearly make us understand that it is babes who are often deceived by every wind of doctrine.</p><p>Ephesians 4:14 says:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>&#8220;That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine...&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>Similarly, Hebrews 5:13&#8211;14 contrasts spiritual infancy with maturity, explaining that <strong>those who are unskilful in the word of righteousness are babes, while mature believers, through constant use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.</strong></p><p>Likewise, 2 Peter 3:17 admonishes believers to beware lest they, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from their own steadfastness.</p><p>Thus, in the immediate context of 1 Corinthians 15, <strong>Paul&#8217;s warning in verse 33 was directed at believers whose immaturity made them vulnerable to deceptive teachings concerning the resurrection, </strong>and not a general statement to every believer. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>The idea is that, <strong>while they were still immature,</strong> they could flee, run, and have their good manners corrupted by evil communications. However, they should realize that this statement was not presented as an<strong> everlasting solution</strong>, but as a <strong>managerial instruction </strong>intended to guide them through a season of spiritual infancy.</p></div><p>Paul&#8217;s admonition was directed at believers who were still growing in discernment and were therefore <strong>vulnerable </strong>to deception and false teachings. The instruction was meant to <strong>protect </strong>them until they attained spiritual maturity and stability in the faith.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>The goal was not <strong>perpetual fear of contrary opinions or continuous isolation from opposing voices, or unbelievers, </strong>but growth into maturity, where they would no longer be <strong>&#8220;children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine&#8221;</strong> <em>(Ephesians 4:14).</em></p></div><p>Thus, the warning served as a <strong>temporary measure</strong> for immature believers, urging them to exercise caution while they developed the spiritual understanding necessary to discern truth from error.</p><div><hr></div><p>Jesus walked the earth for 33 years and was called a friend of sinners. <strong>He was not running away from sinners.</strong> He was inviting them to their own house and eating with them.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>He <strong>knew </strong>he was light. He <strong>knew </strong>he could not be corrupted.</p></div><p>He <strong>knew</strong> he was not at the mercy of those sinners, but those sinners were <em>at his mercy.</em></p><p>That&#8217;s why Hebrews says those who are mature have, by reason of use, been able to discern between good and evil and thus cannot be tossed about by any wind of belief system. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>This means the goal is not to avoid certain places or things because you are afraid of being corrupted.</strong></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>The goal is to rise above everything so that you cannot be corrupted.</strong></p></div><p>So on one hand, <strong>it is fine to set structures and systems to avoid being corrupted,</strong> but that&#8217;s not God&#8217;s <strong>perfect plan </strong>for you.</p><p>God&#8217;s perfect plan is that at any point in time where <strong>LIGHT </strong>and <strong>DARKNESS </strong>are placed side by side, <strong>LIGHT ALWAYS</strong> triumphs over darkness, <strong>effortlessly</strong>. </p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Podcast | Lessons from the life of Jesus (2)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Understanding divine and human timing, kairos and chronos, and how you can apply the principles of times and seasons to your daily life.]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-lessons-from-the-life-of-fec</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-lessons-from-the-life-of-fec</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:03:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/209800201/5aefb487fcb34a12a7b6bd63286c0b86.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H3Tp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa0d2eb1-e395-4e48-a333-0ff3d6868e7a_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Understanding divine and human timing, kairos and chronos, and how you can apply the principles of times and seasons to your daily life.</p><div><hr></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are you afraid of sleeping at night?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A teaser; one solution to all forms of demonic oppression]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-you-afraid-of-sleeping-at-night</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-you-afraid-of-sleeping-at-night</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:11:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nt8f!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F49490d31-b119-49dd-92f3-77ed4ee0a6bd_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Many months ago, I developed a client&#8217;s e-commerce website from start to finish and set up all the required payment gateways and everything.</p><p>Normally, when setting up an e-commerce site, you have to upload products, check whether the payment gateway is working, and do all of that. At least, that&#8217;s what most web developers do.</p><p>So, I was very surprised when another client sent me the handoff files for her website, where she sells products, and it had no payment gateway.</p><p>When I asked, she said the web developer told her that customers should purchase the products from Amazon.</p><p>At first, I didn&#8217;t understand. <em>What sort of statement was that?</em></p><p>I mean, I have a website where I sell products, and if someone visits my site to buy my goods, they have to be redirected to Amazon? Well, if the client has specifically requested that, it would have been fine, but she didn&#8217;t. This developer was making this decision all by himself!</p><p>So, I told her that it doesn&#8217;t make sense. <em>Tell this dude to set up a payment gateway so customers can make purchases directly from the site.</em></p><p>That was where the problem started.</p><p>The dude said it wasn&#8217;t his duty to do so.</p><p><em>I mean, you built an e-commerce site, yet no one can order from it, and you say it&#8217;s not your responsibility? </em>It&#8217;s like building a house and not putting a roof on it. So, what exactly did you build? Just themes and pictures?</p><p>Sigh ...</p><p>Guess what? This client paid well for the website. But her problem was <strong>IGNORANCE</strong>. <strong>She didn&#8217;t know</strong> that setting up a payment gateway was part of the responsibility of the web developer. She had been directing her customers to Amazon until we came on board.</p><h3>It&#8217;s the same story with many believers today.</h3><p>Jesus took you out of this world and gave you <strong>EVERYTHING </strong>that God has. There is nothing left that God has that you do not have, but because you do not <strong>KNOW </strong>this, you&#8217;ve been living as though you have no identity.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>All kinds of knowledge and thoughts come and mess you up, and you become prey to every prayer house in town.</p></div><p>But what you&#8217;re looking for in those men of God has already been <strong>FULLY </strong>given to you, if only you <strong>KNEW! </strong>I am not talking down on the place of receiving the ministry of the clergy; I am saying some of the answers believers often look for in prayer houses and in men are within their direct reach from God, only if they knew how.</p><div><hr></div><p>About six or seven years ago, I told myself that I had had enough of all the madness surrounding witches, wizards, and what people call generational curses. </p><div class="pullquote"><p>By the way, you can listen to my podcast on<strong> <a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/ask-a-question-series-podcast-how-9b4">how to break family patterns and generational curses.</a></strong></p></div><p>I only had to read that I had <strong>BEEN DELIVERED</strong> from the powers of darkness. And that was it. Since then, I&#8217;ve never thought differently. You will never hear me praying against any witch anywhere.</p><p>I once told someone that I sleep <strong>VERY </strong>well and very peacefully. <em>What exactly are nightmares? From whom?</em></p><p>I mean, this is coming from someone who used to have weird dreams about itches and all sorts of things. I&#8217;ve also experienced terrible sleep paralysis, or what some people call <em>&#8220;pressing.&#8221; </em></p><div class="pullquote"><p>If it seems like I am speaking so much about myself and my experiences, I believe you are not uncomfortable with that, though. I don&#8217;t know who taught us to <em>hate </em>ourselves so much that you tread very carefully whenever you speak about yourselves and what God has done for you. When I speak about myself and the things God has done for me, I am speaking about God and His might. So, I am not soft-treading around. God is not threatened because I&#8217;m saying <em>nice </em>things about myself. Some people like this <em>&#8220;I&#8217;m wretched, and God alone is good&#8221; </em>mentality. Not me. I am good. God is good. Everyone is happy and good. It is when you have something to <em>hide </em>or <em>fight </em>within yourself that you&#8217;re afraid of praising yourself. For those who have literally passed from death to life, no law binds us. Well, that&#8217;s that.</p></div><p>So, yes, I&#8217;ve been there with the <em>pressing </em>during sleep and all that. Until I <strong>knew </strong>who I was. After that, I&#8217;ve been <em>looking </em>for the ones doing the <em>pressing</em>, but they have long refused to show up. <em>They </em>already know that I am even looking for a <em>way </em>to <em>&#8220;literally experience death,&#8221;</em> so they don&#8217;t bother trying to <em>&#8220;kill&#8221; </em>me. Because what you fear keeps you perpetually in bondage. </p><p>Humans have always feared death, and that has led them to different kinds of bondage and battles over the years. All of human fear is deeply connected to the fear of death. To overcome the fear of death is to overcome the power that fear has over human existence. It is to rise above the limitations that keep people trapped in survival, anxiety, and the endless pursuit of things that cannot ultimately satisfy the soul.</p><p>The fear of death has shaped civilizations, religions, philosophies, and human ambitions. Many have spent their lives trying to escape the reality of mortality, seeking immortality through wealth, achievements, legacy, or influence. But the one who understands and transcends the fear of death gains a different perspective on life itself. Such a person is no longer controlled by the fear of losing what is temporary but becomes free to live with purpose, courage, and meaning.</p><h3>So, are you afraid of sleeping at night?</h3><ul><li><p><em>Do you plead the blood of Jesus over your body and your windows before going to sleep?</em></p></li><li><p><em>Do you have nightmares?</em></p></li></ul><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>What you need is to know who you are.</strong></p></div><p>Someone once told me how she kept experiencing attacks, even in broad daylight. She could barely sleep for weeks. </p><p>I said to her, <em>&#8220;You&#8217;re the cause of your problems.&#8221;</em></p><p>Then I taught her just a little about who she is. The last time I asked, she said she had never experienced it again. The devil has used these things to perpetually distract believers from growing and following after God. So, you spend all your years <em>casting </em>and <em>binding</em>.</p><p>But you forget that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. </p><div><hr></div><blockquote><p><strong>Hey there, &#128075;</strong>I understand that this article does not necessarily fully state the step-by-step teaching on how to <em>know who you are</em> or handle specific cases of <em>demonic attacks. </em>But that is because this piece was only written as a <em>teaser </em>to the subject of <em>tackling ignorance with knowledge </em>and not as a solution manual. You can explore other topics on this site that address different areas or reach out for a more specific guide on how to solve peculiar cases.</p></blockquote><div class="pullquote"><p>If you have troubles with demonic affliction of any kind, reach out today to get the necessary counseling that you need to handle such issues. <strong>Email</strong>: meshackignatius@gmail.com, or start a chat<a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/chat"> here</a>, or send a message privately <a href="https://wa.me/2347031998091">here.</a> God bless you.</p></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2zRj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe96a95fb-2111-4646-a445-e18c3b9cb65a_1024x608.webp" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2zRj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe96a95fb-2111-4646-a445-e18c3b9cb65a_1024x608.webp" width="1024" height="608" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2zRj!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe96a95fb-2111-4646-a445-e18c3b9cb65a_1024x608.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2zRj!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe96a95fb-2111-4646-a445-e18c3b9cb65a_1024x608.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2zRj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe96a95fb-2111-4646-a445-e18c3b9cb65a_1024x608.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2zRj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe96a95fb-2111-4646-a445-e18c3b9cb65a_1024x608.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><em>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</em></p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Podcast | Lessons from the life of Jesus (1)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lessons on understanding people, becoming one with the system that you have been sent to, and how to prioritize God&#8217;s Word above the challenges.]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-lessons-from-the-life-of</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-lessons-from-the-life-of</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:01:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/209598615/6c0158ce30e451357434534cee20c5fc.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!blsy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb17ea572-3c39-42ed-85a5-4547830fb05c_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Lessons on understanding people, becoming one with the system that you have been sent to, and how to prioritize God&#8217;s Word above the challenges.</p><div><hr></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[I'll never understand fear]]></title><description><![CDATA[You are bigger than the fear of falling]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/ill-never-understand-fear</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/ill-never-understand-fear</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:09:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GG42!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9467f01-15c4-487c-8e19-6a8d23acb8a1_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I detest not being in control of my life, emotions, thoughts, desires, etc. Not as opposed to submitting to God&#8217;s word, of course, but that place of <strong>carefulness</strong> in living that comes from <strong>FEAR</strong>.</p><ul><li><p><em>FEAR of falling.</em></p></li><li><p><em>FEAR of messing up.</em></p></li><li><p><em>FEAR of something.</em></p></li></ul><p>I&#8217;m in this group, and a question about ministers of the gospel and their chances of staying faithful if they stay apart from their spouses was raised, and yes, I see their concerns and their experiences. But most, if not all, of their counsel was shrouded in fear.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Is sexual immorality so powerful that a believer cannot dedicate themselves to God&#8217;s work apart from their spouses for a decent amount of time <em><strong>without being promiscuous?</strong></em></p></div><h3>Are we that weak and helpless?</h3><p>Again, I understand the need for caution. I understand the need for boundaries. I&#8217;m not advocating for lewdity. But I&#8217;ll never understand the <strong>FEAR </strong>from which we live our lives.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Firstly, the fear of falling is not even godly.</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Secondly, sexual immorality should not become a hindrance to the assignment God has given anyone.</strong></p></li></ul><p>Whether married or single, <strong>believers should be able to discipline themselves and have rule over themselves and their desires.</strong></p><ul><li><p><em>Married people sin.</em></p></li><li><p><em>Single people sin.</em></p></li><li><p><em>Fear is bondage.</em></p></li><li><p><em>Fear is torment.</em></p></li><li><p><em>Fear is slavery.</em></p></li></ul><p>No matter how we want to preach it, I&#8217;ll never live in fear of <strong>ANYTHING</strong>. I want to be able to <em>lay down my life</em> when I want and pick it up when I want. I want to be able to <em>rule </em>myself and my thoughts and own my decisions and mistakes. I want to be able to live above erring, but on my journey there, I want to be able to take responsibility for my actions, repent if need be, and get the &#8220;hell up&#8221; and keep walking.</p><p>I don&#8217;t know about you, but if I can&#8217;t stay apart from my spouse for a good reason, no matter how long, and not be <em>okay </em>and not act funny, then <strong>I&#8217;m in bondage.</strong></p><p>I personally <strong>DO NOT</strong> want that type of life.</p><p>It was the Corinthians that Apostle Paul told to get back to their spouses so that Satan will not tempt them, not me. I am not a Corinthian. I don&#8217;t live my life according to <strong>their way of life.</strong> </p><p>Funnily enough, the person who was giving them this counsel was not even married. </p><p><strong>So who should even </strong><em><strong>suffer </strong></em><strong>more? </strong></p><blockquote><p>People who are married and have to stay away from their spouses for a period, or someone who never got married? </p></blockquote><p><strong>Who should </strong><em><strong>love </strong></em><strong>sex more? </strong></p><blockquote><p>Those who have had sex and everything that goes with it or someone who hasn&#8217;t?</p></blockquote><p>No one is asking you to live apart from your spouse. But if you <strong>cannot </strong>do so because <strong>you will not be able to keep yourself, </strong>I wholeheartedly believe that there is something wrong with your mind and your self-control.</p><p>I want to <strong>DO WHAT I WANT,</strong> how I want, and not pressure myself to not fall into this or that. I want to do something not because <strong>I CANNOT DO WITHOUT IT</strong>, but because I just want it.</p><ul><li><p><em>With it I&#8217;m perfectly okay.</em></p></li><li><p><em>Without it I&#8217;m perfectly okay.</em></p></li></ul><h3>And this doesn&#8217;t just apply to sex alone.</h3><p>It applies to <strong>EVERYTHING </strong>in life.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Being okay with or without anything is pure bliss.</p></div><p>You cannot be manipulated; you cannot be controlled. Because control is <strong>both emotional and ignorance. </strong>You can&#8217;t control me if my emotion is not tied to what you&#8217;re offering. You cannot control me if I am not ignorant of what you&#8217;re scheming.</p><p>So if you&#8217;re in this world, but you&#8217;re <strong>entirely detached</strong> from everything in this world, you have won the battle of manipulation.</p><p>You&#8217;re a soarer. There is nothing that can stop you unless yourself. </p><div><hr></div><p>There are stories of monks who discipline themselves and their appetites to achieve ascendency. Some of them pledged their sexual lives for the sake of service to Buddha, but here we have a believer who has God&#8217;s Spirit, shaking at the sight of a naked woman, and we call it what? Holiness?</p><p>If a monk can become a master of his appetites and desires, how much more the believer in Christ? You have a higher advantage. You are literally God living in the human body.</p><p>It is okay to begin by fleeing from tempting situations, but you must not remain at that level where all you do is flee. You must rise in maturity to the point where you are not running away from darkness, but shining your light in the darkest places.</p><p>If we cannot do this, then we are slaves to our desires, and we should not be taken seriously at all.</p><p>Know where you are on the rung, but also know that you must keep pushing the bar. Don&#8217;t settle for less. You are bigger than the fear of sin.</p><p>You are bigger than the fear of falling.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Podcast | Freedom and order in Christ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The law of the spirit of life explained]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-freedom-and-order-in-christ</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-freedom-and-order-in-christ</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:01:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/209371169/1498ff3cb6419a230ab146a51e81a375.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3o5T!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fab0ad7fa-e8c3-436d-9453-1d049415bfa9_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are we equal to God? Are we Christ?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A conceptual exegesis on the believer's equality with Christ and God]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-we-equal-to-god-are-we-christ</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-we-equal-to-god-are-we-christ</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 07:01:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z7XF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd57b353a-c95c-4832-9064-0289f1d885b1_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Some years back, the Internet was enraged when the &#8220;I am Christ&#8221; mantra broke out. Clergies took turns to disprove that claim. But it is not so much as making a baseless confession without understanding the real meaning of such claims. </p><p>Man has suffered from self-inflicted subjugation for millions of years. This has warped his mind to believe that <strong>he is too bad and God is too good, </strong>which is <em>correct</em>, anyway. </p><p>But then, he believes he is so bad that the too-good God cannot redeem him. </p><p>Well, this is blindness on steroids.</p><p>He has become so blinded by his failure that he thinks everyone, including God, is a failure like himself. So, when the good God who made him told him of his love and plan to make him like himself, his senses shattered, and his failed mind could not understand why a good God should want to give all of that to a bad man.</p><h3><strong>But that&#8217;s why he&#8217;s God.</strong></h3><p>He doesn&#8217;t react to his creation, for he created reactions. He does what he pleases without a say from anyone. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>So, in his own <strong>sovereignty</strong>, he has included man in himself. Sadly, the bad man who is used to <em>badness </em>can do <strong>nothing</strong> about it. He can only submit under his maker.</p></div><p>You didn&#8217;t ask God to love you. He decided to love you. Whether you need this love or not is not your decision to make, except in accepting it.</p><p>The same way he decided to love you is the same way he decided to make you <strong>equal </strong>with himself so that you and him would rule creation side by side. </p><p>1 Corinthians 3:9:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;For we are labourers together with God...&#8221;</em></p></div><p><mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#8220;Together&#8221;</mark> means<mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> &#8220;a companion in work, fellow worker.&#8221;</mark></p><p>This is one reason why the <em>&#8220;I am Christ&#8221;</em> mantra is not <strong>JUST </strong>about a confession; it&#8217;s about <strong>WORK. </strong>But some just shout, confess, and go back to living their normal lives. So the whole essence is lost in baseless arguments.</p><h3><strong>Jesus is called the head of the body. </strong></h3><p>It means where the head is is where you are. Where Jesus is, you are.</p><h3><strong>Jesus is called the firstborn of the church.</strong></h3><p>Colossians 1:18:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.&#8221;</em></p></div><p><mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#8220;To have preeminence&#8221;</mark> means<mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> &#8220;to have the first place.&#8221;</mark></p><p>So, he is first in everything.</p><blockquote><p><em>And guess who&#8217;s second, third, fourth, etc.?</em></p></blockquote><p><strong>You and I, the church.</strong></p><p>Does the first have exclusivity? No.</p><h3><strong>That&#8217;s why we are called joint heirs.</strong></h3><p>Romans 8:17: </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and<strong> joint-heirs with Christ;</strong> if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.&#8221; </em></p></div><blockquote><p><em><strong>What does joint-heir mean? </strong></em></p></blockquote><p>It means<mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> &#8220;a fellow heir, one who obtains something assigned to himself with others, a joint participant.&#8221;</mark></p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>It means whatever was given to Jesus was shared <strong>equally</strong> between him and us.</p></div><p>So, in the things God has given to Jesus, we too are among the people God gave those same things. So, all power in heaven, earth, and under the earth has also been given to you and me, the church. Whatever glory Jesus has right now, you also have it.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;...that we may be also glorified together&#8221;</em> <strong>(Romans 8:17).</strong></p></div><h3>We will rule not just in this world but also in the world to come.</h3><p>2 Timothy 2:12:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;If we suffer, we shall also reign with him...&#8221;</em></p></div><p>So, yes, you are in the same class with Jesus. He&#8217;s our elder brother, and we are his brothers and sisters. </p><p>Hebrews 2:10:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in <strong>bringing many sons unto glory</strong>, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.&#8221; </em></p></div><p>Also, </p><p>Romans 8:29:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, <strong>that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.&#8221; </strong></em></p></div><h3>Most Bible scholars affirm that believers share in God&#8217;s nature and life, yet they draw a distinction regarding God&#8217;s power and authority. </h3><p>However, one may ask: <em>can we truly speak of equality with God if we do not possess the same life, power, and authority that come from Him?</em></p><p>The issue lies in an age-long misunderstanding of what it means to <strong>&#8220;have the Spirit of God.&#8221;</strong></p><p>From Genesis, we see that God made man in His image and likeness and breathed into him the breath of life, and man became a living being (Genesis 1:26&#8211;27; Genesis 2:7). We must note, however, that Scripture explicitly states that God breathed into man. No other earthly creature is described in this manner.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.&#8221;</em> <strong>(Genesis 2:7)</strong></p></div><p><strong>What, then, does this breath of life mean? What does the Spirit of God in man signify?</strong></p><p>To understand this, we must return to Genesis. In Genesis 1:26, the words <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#8220;image&#8221; </mark>and<mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> &#8220;likeness&#8221; </mark>describe a profound correspondence between God and man.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Then God said, &#8216;Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.&#8217;&#8221; </em><strong>(Genesis 1:26)</strong></p></div><p><mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To bear God&#8217;s image</mark> means that humanity reflects Him to creation, much like a mirror reflects the person standing before it. We carry His representation into the world. <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To bear His likeness </mark>means that we are not merely representatives; we also partake in characteristics that originate from Him&#8212;love, wisdom, life, dominion, and authority.</p><p><strong>This was the original design of humanity.</strong></p><p>If one argues that humanity lost this original state through the fall, then this is precisely what Christ came to restore. Jesus is described as the exact representation of the Father.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;He is the image of the invisible God.&#8221; </em><strong>(Colossians 1:15)</strong></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.&#8221; </em><strong>(Hebrews 1:3)</strong></p></div><p>In this sense, <strong>Jesus reveals God in human form.</strong></p><p>What Adam disrupted in Genesis, God restored in Christ. This is why believers are described as a <strong>new creation</strong>.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.&#8221;</em> <strong>(2 Corinthians 5:17)</strong></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.&#8221; </em><strong>(Romans 6:4)</strong></p></div><p>Creation, in a sense, began anew because humanity had fallen. Throughout Scripture, God responds to human failure not by abandoning His creation but by moving toward redemption.</p><p>The new humanity in Christ exists to address the consequences of the first creation&#8217;s fall. Yet this restored humanity also bears a greater responsibility: <strong>first, to cast off ignorance and falsehood, and then to participate in God&#8217;s work of restoring creation.</strong></p><p>This is part of the Church&#8217;s assignment.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.&#8221; </em><strong>(Colossians 3:10)</strong></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>&#8220;For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.&#8221;</strong> (Romans 8:19)</p></div><p>The Spirit in humanity is not presented in Scripture as a different kind of spirit from God&#8217;s Spirit. Rather, believers are said to partake of the divine nature through Christ.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>&#8220;He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature.&#8221;</strong> (2 Peter 1:4)</p></div><p>One may compare this to water in a cup and water in the ocean. Though they differ in measure and expression, both possess the <strong>same essential composition.</strong></p><p>Therefore, be confident in the dignity and identity that God has given you in Christ. Jesus Himself walked in full awareness of His union with the Father:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>&#8220;I and the Father are one.&#8221;</strong> (John 10:30)</p></div><p>The believer&#8217;s calling, therefore, is to manifest God&#8217;s life and character in creation, reflecting His love, wisdom, and authority to the world.</p><p>So, yes, again, you are in the same class with Jesus. And this is not for <em>eating </em>and drinking or for winning baseless arguments on social media, but for the work of the Kingdom. </p><p>We must do the works of our Father. </p><div><hr></div><p><em>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</em></p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Podcast | What does "If any man defile the temple of God" mean?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Explaining 1 Corinthians 3:17]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-what-does-if-any-man-defile</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/podcast-what-does-if-any-man-defile</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:01:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/209248231/4a4f98a9ce87e59c9490c346e5c89f57.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6qew!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F231cf5f8-2c1b-454f-b867-9748e23c4d4d_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to process grief, heartbreak, and pains the right way]]></title><description><![CDATA[A brief overview on how not to waste your pain]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/how-to-process-grief-heartbreak-and</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/how-to-process-grief-heartbreak-and</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:20:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lVnZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33383c6c-9b87-4ba9-8187-1cf072d39df2_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>When my dad passed, for reasons I can&#8217;t and couldn&#8217;t explain, I didn&#8217;t cry. I mean, I didn&#8217;t shed a single tear. </p><p>I was squatting with some brethren in the community where my parents lived, and because school was on a nationwide strike, I was working in a metal and steel company. </p><p>The brethren with me were surprised to see me getting ready for work the next day as if nothing had happened.</p><p>I was also surprised at myself.</p><p>I did not have a bad relationship with my dad, so I knew my response was not out of sentiment. I had no explanation. All I knew was that<em> &#8216;the deed had been done, and that&#8217;s it.&#8217; </em>Why it didn&#8217;t lead to tears, I did not know.</p><p>Later on, I would read about how <strong>people process grief differently.</strong> </p><h3>Some are spontaneous. </h3><p>Instantly bursting into tears, rolling on the floor, or screaming. Which is very normal and okay. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Scripture is not against mourning or crying. It only says we should not mourn as unbelievers who have no hope. </p></div><p>So even in moments of grief, we know that our pain is only because of the <em><strong>temporal </strong></em><strong>physical absence</strong> of these beloved ones. And thus, we are comforted even in mourning. </p><h3>Now, some other persons process grief internally. </h3><p>They may not cry or shout, but within them is a <em>truckload </em>of pain.</p><p>I soon began to think that perhaps this was my case. Maybe it was; I still don&#8217;t know. But one thing I know is that, during that period, I asked lots of questions, but to no one in particular. I found my answers primarily in God&#8217;s word. And this is where my exhortation today begins. </p><p>Just like the passing of my dad, your pain could be the loss of a job, a sibling, or a lover. Maybe your fifteenth relationship just failed, and you&#8217;re already getting frustrated with life and everything around you. You may not have eaten any decent meals in the past week, or your wardrobe is begging for attention. Your boss may hate or oppress you, or your family members may be the clog in your wheel. </p><p><strong>Whatever the trouble is, God uses it to do something greater in us. </strong></p><p>The popular scripture in Romans 5:3 says, &#8220;<em>we should rejoice when we run into problems and trials.&#8221;</em> </p><p><em>But why? </em></p><p>The response Apostle Paul gives here is very interesting. </p><p>&#8237;&#8237;Romans 5:3:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, <strong>for we know that they help us develop endurance.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>He says we should rejoice because <em>&#8220;problems and trials help us develop endurance&#8221;, </em>right?</p><blockquote><p><strong>No, that&#8217;s not exactly what he says. </strong></p></blockquote><p>We easily miss the phrase <strong>&#8220;for we know.&#8221;</strong></p><p>Apostle Paul says to rejoice because you <strong>KNOW </strong>that problems develop our patience. This means if you <strong>DO NOT KNOW</strong> that when we encounter problems our patience develops, you <strong>WILL NOT REJOICE. </strong>And if you do not &#8220;rejoice,&#8221; that problem or pain will be <strong>WASTED</strong> because you will respond in a way that will not lead to the development of your patience. This is why believers go through hard times and yet are not <strong>TRANSFORMED.</strong></p><p>They did not <strong>KNOW </strong>that troubles can lead to <strong>TRANSFORMATION</strong>.</p><p>So, in case you do not yet know, realise today that your troubles <strong>CAN </strong>lead to the &#8216;<em>salvation&#8217; of your soul.</em></p><p>Let me explain better.</p><p>Apostle Paul did not stop at patience; he traced it to the <strong>salvation of our souls,</strong> which is a term used to mean our <strong>transformation or maturity.</strong></p><p>&#8237;&#8237;Romans 5:3-4:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. </em></p></div><p>So, from patience we end at the <strong>hope of our salvation. </strong></p><p>Now, <strong>this hope of salvation is not the one received at new birth, </strong>because he&#8217;s speaking to believers here. They were already saved.</p><p><em>So, what hope is he referring to?</em></p><p>James 1:2-4:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.</em></p></div><p>So,<mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> &#8220;let patience have her perfect work&#8221; </mark>here is what Paul explained in Romans 5:3-4.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>The perfect work is the journey from </strong><em>patience </em><strong>to </strong><em>character </em><strong>to </strong><em>hope</em><strong>.</strong></p></div><p>So, at the point where patience has had its perfect work, you would be <strong>entire</strong>, <strong>wanting nothing;</strong> in other words, <strong>that problem has fulfilled something great in you.</strong> You would have <strong>matured </strong>or <strong>transformed </strong>at the end of the day.</p><p>Now this transformation does not happen in passivity. From <em>patience </em>to <em>character </em>to the development of the <em>hope </em>of the salvation of your souls <strong>is not a passive walk.</strong></p><p>Of course, you know what the process is like when you&#8217;re in trouble. There are diverse curves and experiences that furnish knowledge in you. </p><ul><li><p>Some may require you to go <strong>get materials and consume. </strong></p></li><li><p>Some will require you to <em>lock yourself up</em> and <strong>seek the Lord.</strong></p></li><li><p>Others may require you to go into fasting and prayers or <strong>intense Bible study.</strong></p></li></ul><p>Doing these is how you are &#8220;letting patience have her perfect work.&#8221; That&#8217;s how you are transitioning from &#8220;patience to character to transformation.&#8221;</p><p>But if you <strong>DO NOT KNOW</strong> this process, you&#8217;d easily waste your pains. Do you now see why that first emphasis on <strong>KNOWING </strong>that troubles can lead to your transformation is very important? </p><p>So, what James called<mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> &#8220;patient&#8217;s perfect work&#8221;</mark> is what Paul explained in Romans 5:3-4.</p><p>Now, let&#8217;s read 1 Peter.</p><p>&#8237;&#8237;1 Peter 1:6:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[6] So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. [9] The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.</em></p></div><p>Again, Peter is speaking to believers. He&#8217;s telling them the same thing Paul and James said. He&#8217;s telling them that they should rejoice and endure the trials and tribulations because it will lead to their transformation.</p><p>Peter calls it here,<strong> &#8220;The salvation of your souls.&#8221;</strong></p><p>This &#8220;salvation of the soul&#8221; is what Paul was referring to when he said,</p><p>Romans 5:4:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident <strong>HOPE OF SALVATION. </strong></em></p></div><p>Whenever salvation is used for a believer, it is often referring to the maturity of his soul, as we have seen in James, Romans, and 1 Peter. Some theology refers to it as the <strong>sanctification of the believer. </strong>Sanctification, not just a one-time thing, but an ongoing one. This is the process by which your soul conforms to the image of God through Christ Jesus. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>So, we have so far concluded that <strong>problems in life can lead to our maturity or transformation</strong> or salvation of our souls.</p></div><h3>Now, in case you&#8217;re asking, &#8220;How can we be sure that when we face problems it can help us become mature?&#8221;</h3><p>&#8237;&#8237;Romans 5:5:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.</em></p></div><p>God loves us and sent his Son to die for us; in doing this, he demonstrated his love for us. We can rest assured that this transformation we are looking up to will not be short of our expectations. In fact, it will greatly exceed our expectations. If God loves us enough to die for us, there is <strong>NOTHING </strong>he cannot give to us.</p><p>As you &#8220;struggle&#8221; through the pain in this world, don&#8217;t lose sight that <strong>hard times are times of building our strength.</strong></p><p>Proverbs 24:10:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.&#8221;</p></div><p><strong>Strength is built through knowledge. </strong>In fact, strength is knowledge. You&#8217;re only as strong as what you know.</p><p>See this, Jeremiah 9:23-24:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[23] Thus saith the LORD, Let not the mighty man glory in his might,... </em></p><p><em>[24] But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me,... </em></p></div><p>So, <strong>you&#8217;re as strong as you know the Lord</strong>.</p><p>Henceforth, when troubles meet you on the journey of life, I think you now know what to do. </p><div><hr></div><p>If you have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between, <strong><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">ask them here</a>,</strong> and it may become part of a future edition. If you have previously asked a question, you can <strong><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">read the answers here.</a></strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[No one ever truly settles down]]></title><description><![CDATA[Life never becomes less demanding; only your priorities become clearer]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/no-one-ever-truly-settles-down</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/no-one-ever-truly-settles-down</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:02:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DOzg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a88087e-7b84-427c-af39-eb9de5406e78_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>One of the most challenging aspects of adulthood and maturity lies in decision-making.</p><p>In the event of a difficult situation, knowing what to do, who to talk to, and where to go. Decision-making is the hallmark of adulting. </p><p>Our parents made decisions that, some of them, might <strong>still </strong>be affecting our lives <strong>today</strong>. Indeed, we should not be afraid of mistakes because we can learn from them, but not all mistakes allow you to learn from them &#8220;easily&#8221; and without dire consequences.</p><p>For instance, you can&#8217;t make the mistake of <em>marrying wrongly</em> and hope to learn from it &#8220;easily.&#8221; The battles you&#8217;d have to fight alone in that marriage can set you ten years back. </p><p>One of the most disturbing things I&#8217;ve heard in my life is when folks say something like,</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;I regret marrying this person; they ruined my life.&#8221;</em></p></div><p>What of folks who made decisions to leave their work and <em>&#8220;answer God&#8217;s call&#8221;</em> that wasn&#8217;t &#8220;God&#8217;s call?&#8221; Down the road, they would find out that they never heard God. All they had was zeal and immaturity. </p><p>Well, it&#8217;s a noble thing to serve the Lord, but you must be sure of what you heard. This world is a harsh place that punishes ignorance ruthlessly.</p><p>On the other hand, we have folks who <strong>decided </strong>they were going to get remotely comfortable first before they could begin <em>ministry </em>or <em>life</em>, but life had other plans for them. Someone was telling me last week how he wanted to &#8220;<em>hustle</em>&#8221; first before <em>settling down to serve the Lord.</em></p><p>And I said to him, </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Do you think you&#8217;d ever settle? Look around you. Who has settled down? Have your parents stopped hustling?&#8221;</em></p></div><p><strong>&#8220;Have you ever heard that the richest man stopped working because he had now made so much money?&#8221;</strong></p><p>Oh, if it were that simple, everyone would be doing that. And that&#8217;s how you&#8217;d be settling down; days will turn to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years. Before you look back, 20 years had gone by.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;No one&#8221; ever truly settles down.</p></div><p>That time will <strong>never</strong> come. </p><p>The way I like to see the world and life is this:</p><p><strong>Just as breathing is constant, so is your walk with the Lord.</strong></p><p>You don&#8217;t say, <em>&#8220;Let me stop breathing for now and do this and come back later to breathe.&#8221;</em></p><p>Rather, you breathe primarily and then do other things on the side. Likewise, <strong>your walk with the Lord should be the only constant thing in your life.</strong></p><p>You serve the Lord Jesus primarily, and then you do other things on the side. It is from this plane you make all decisions. </p><p>Well, that doesn&#8217;t mean it&#8217;s now going to be easy, though.</p><p>It&#8217;s still one of those things about adulting. </p><div><hr></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A reminder of our realities in Christ]]></title><description><![CDATA[How to properly pray for the territory as a believer]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/a-reminder-of-our-realities-in-christ</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/a-reminder-of-our-realities-in-christ</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:01:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/208943249/64aba978e1890a95c5f8bc3100c4b14f.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JTt7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F80e72f69-a620-47b3-a924-c9c31e16dcba_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong>[<a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a>]</strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong>[<a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a>]</strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jesus only is how we understand God]]></title><description><![CDATA[Defending the character of God from the life and teachings of Jesus]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/jesus-only-is-how-we-understand-god</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/jesus-only-is-how-we-understand-god</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:00:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bm4h!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F99606438-6d34-4578-a33d-9fb2fcaacd6b_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>When we say Jesus is God. We mean to say that <strong>whatever Jesus says, it is God that said it. </strong>It means Jesus cannot contradict God, and God cannot contradict Jesus. </p><p>Now, the Old Testament saints didn&#8217;t have Jesus <em>manifested </em>to them as we do today. Before God came as Jesus, he had to preinform the world of what he would do. To usher in Jesus and make their hearts ready to receive him, he gave them prophets, who spoke about God in various degrees of limitations. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>They were limited because what they had was a <strong>shadow of the real thing.</strong></p></div><p>They prophesied about Jesus and the salvation to come, and they did so through the <strong>lenses of their limited understanding at that time.</strong></p><p>So, when you read <strong>&#8220;God said,&#8221; </strong>for instance in the Old Testament, you must know that that<strong> &#8220;God&#8221;</strong> was speaking <strong>through the veil</strong> to someone who did not know or understand his ways fully because Jesus, who came to show us who God really was, had not yet come.</p><h3>So, how did the saints of the Old Testament interface with God?</h3><p>Hebrews 1:1 (NLT):</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8237;&#8220;Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.&#8221;</p></div><blockquote><p><strong>KJV</strong>: <em>&#8220;God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,&#8221; </em></p></blockquote><p>So, all the speakings of God as we read them in the Torah were <strong>through the prophets. </strong></p><p>Prophets were humans; don&#8217;t forget this. <strong>They didn&#8217;t even totally understand what they were speaking about themselves. </strong></p><p>&#8237;&#8237;1 Peter 1:10-12 (NLT&#8236;&#8236;):</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[10] This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. </em></p><p><em>[11]<strong> </strong>They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ&#8217;s suffering and his great glory afterward. </em></p><p><em>[12] They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. </em></p></div><p>So, they themselves often wondered when this whole thing was going to happen. Meaning they themselves couldn&#8217;t have had a <strong>perfect understanding</strong> of what God was planning through Christ. </p><p>It is not just in the matters of the knowledge of the coming Christ that these prophets had limited understanding. Most of their instructions and dealings were classified as <strong>the shadow of the real thing. </strong></p><p>Hebrews 10:1 (KJV): </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;For the law having a <strong>shadow of good things to come,</strong> and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.&#8221; </p></div><p>The law had a <strong>shadow</strong> of good things to come. This is the law that was handed over to these folks by the prophets, including Moses. </p><p>John 1:17 (KJV): </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.&#8221;</p></div><p><strong>So Moses&#8217; law was a shadow of the real thing to come.</strong></p><p><em>Why?</em></p><blockquote><p><strong>Because Jesus Christ is the only one who can perfectly explain God to humanity.</strong></p></blockquote><p>Hebrews 1:3 (KJV):</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;.&#8221;</p></div><p>Jesus is the <strong>EXPRESS </strong>image of God&#8217;s person. So, in simple terms, if Moses said something about God, if Jesus says something else, abandon Moses and stick with Jesus.</p><p>In his ministry, Jesus would often say, <em>&#8220;The law said this, but I say unto you...&#8221;</em></p><p>And about the law, Jesus would say, <em>&#8220;I am the fulfilment of the law.&#8221;</em></p><h3>How did he fulfil the law?</h3><p>He came to show us <strong>a better way to the Father. </strong>He came to reveal to us who the Father truly is <strong>amidst all the things said about him in the law and prophets.</strong></p><p>Hebrews 7:22 (KJV):</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.&#8221;</p></div><p>So, in this same light, <strong>Jesus&#8217;s testimony about God is greater than the testimony about God from the writers of the Torah. </strong></p><p>On the mountain of transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus in the presence of Peter, James, and John, and while Peter (not having understood still the ministry of Jesus perfectly) wanted to venerate the law and the prophets, represented by Moses and Elijah, a voice said:</p><p>Matthew 17:3-5 (KJV):</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>3. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. </em></p><p><em>4. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. </em></p><p><em>5. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.</em></p></div><p><strong>&#8220;Hear ye him&#8221;</strong></p><p>And what happened next?</p><p>Matthew 17:8 (KJV): </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man,<strong> save Jesus only</strong>.&#8221;</p></div><p>The law was taken away! The prophets were taken away!</p><p><strong>Only Jesus was left because he&#8217;s the ONLY one we should hear.</strong></p><p>So, when reading the Bible about God doing this and that, you must read it with <strong>Jesus&#8217;s explanation in mind,</strong> knowing that the writings of the scriptures are explained in Jesus, who is the perfect representation of God to man. </p><div><hr></div><p>Read the full apologetics on the <strong>deity of Jesus as God</strong> in this publication, </p><ul><li><p><em><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-jesus-and-god-the-same-person?r=5v2ehd">&#8220;Are Jesus and God the same person? (Part 1)&#8221;</a></em></p></li><li><p><em><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-jesus-and-god-the-same-person-242?r=5v2ehd">&#8220;Are Jesus and God the same person? (Part 2)&#8221;</a></em></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The theory of fluidity (Explaining Romans 15, Part 2)]]></title><description><![CDATA[How believers with greater revelation should express love toward those at different levels of understanding]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/the-theory-of-fluidity-explaining-625</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/the-theory-of-fluidity-explaining-625</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:00:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/208815032/b11a587fa8dd652c01f42e192c11a4d6.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" 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https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ojax!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F987a4499-d21c-4b0e-b9e1-f3c39ab1483e_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" 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y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong>[<a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e">Submit your Question</a>]</strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong>[<a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a>]</strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why the world is broken]]></title><description><![CDATA[... and the way out]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/why-the-world-is-broken</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/why-the-world-is-broken</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 07:01:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FOmp!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48c67345-0374-4a44-97b1-f5f2835213b7_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FOmp!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48c67345-0374-4a44-97b1-f5f2835213b7_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FOmp!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48c67345-0374-4a44-97b1-f5f2835213b7_1024x608.png 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https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FOmp!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48c67345-0374-4a44-97b1-f5f2835213b7_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FOmp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48c67345-0374-4a44-97b1-f5f2835213b7_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FOmp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48c67345-0374-4a44-97b1-f5f2835213b7_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><em>Why are there wars?</em></p><p><em>Why do earthquakes happen?</em></p><p><em>Why do floods sweep a whole community away?</em></p><p><em>Why do people die?</em></p><p><em>Why do babies die?</em></p><p><em>Why are there natural disasters?</em></p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>The answer to these questions lies in man. <strong>Man is the &#8220;source&#8221; of the bad things in life. </strong></p></div><p><strong>I will explain.</strong></p><p>When people quiz life and fail to understand what happened from the beginning, they either drift to become atheists or agnostics. <strong>But these extremes do not give answers to their questions.</strong> It rather masks them. </p><p>Evil exists in the world because man, who was given charge of creation, veered away from the plan. <strong>This veering away from the original plan is what we refer to as sin.</strong></p><div><hr></div><p>For context's sake, observe this story.</p><p>There is this ancient Yoruba lore about a revered ancestor who received specific instructions from the gods on how to perform a sacred ritual to ensure the prosperity and well-being of the tribe. However, out of curiosity or perhaps arrogance, the ancestor disobeyed one crucial aspect of the instructions.</p><p>Instead of using a particular type of sacred wood for the ritual, as directed by the gods, the ancestor opted to use a different wood that was more readily available. Despite warnings from elders and shamans, the ancestor proceeded with the ritual using the substitute wood.</p><p>As a consequence of this disobedience, the ritual failed to yield the intended results, and a curse befell the tribe. From that moment on, the Yoruba people began to experience a series of misfortunes and hardships, including crop failures, sickness, and conflicts within the community.</p><p>Despite efforts to rectify the mistake and appease the gods through subsequent rituals and sacrifices, the curse persisted, becoming deeply ingrained in the fabric of Yoruba society. </p><p>Generations later, the consequences of the ancestor&#8217;s disobedience continue to manifest in various forms of societal dysfunction and adversity experienced by the Yoruba people.</p><div><hr></div><p>Now, let&#8217;s assume this lore was true. </p><p><em>Would the Yoruba people in generations to come be fair <strong>to blame the misfortune of their crop and health on the gods?</strong></em></p><p>Certainly not.</p><p>The revered ancestor who deviated from the rudiments of the sacrifices was the one who <em>subjected </em>the entire tribe to chaos and suffering.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>This is the same story of the earth and its woes.</p></div><p>Adam was given charge of the earth. He even named the animals. But then, he left God&#8217;s plan, and this took with him the whole of creation into rebellion.</p><p>Apostle Paul would put it this way:</p><p>Romans 8:20,</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;For against its will the universe itself has had to endure the empty futility resulting from the consequences of human sin...&#8221;</p></div><p>&#8237;&#8237;Romans 8:21,</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;all creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience...&#8221;</p></div><p>&#8237;&#8237;Romans 8:22,</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;To this day we are aware of the universal agony and groaning of creation, as if it were in the contractions of labor for childbirth.&#8221;</p></div><p>So, natural disasters are man-made. Famines and fire outbreaks are man-made. Evil in the world is man-made. </p><h3><strong>What is the way out? </strong></h3><p>This is where the story gets interesting.  </p><p>The way out of evil is not <strong>world peace </strong>forums. It is not <strong>human rights.</strong> It is not savvy, technological innovation. In fact, as we experience more advancement in technology and science, these tools in the hands of the same evil man will further bring chaos to man and the earth. </p><p><em><strong>Who created nuclear bombs, God?</strong></em><strong> </strong></p><p>Okay. </p><p>To this day, the effects of the Hiroshima atomic bomb are still felt in long-lasting effects on survivors and their descendants.</p><p>Creation is garbage-in-garbage-out. Truly, no energy is lost but is converted from one form to another. The ozone layer is being depleted primarily due to human activities, specifically the release of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and certain types of solvents and propellants. These substances are commonly found in products like refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosol sprays. </p><p>Their release into the atmosphere leads to the destruction of ozone molecules, resulting in thinning of the ozone layer.</p><p>Today and in more centuries to come, the consequences of ozone depletion are leading to increased exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which can lead to higher rates of skin cancer, cataracts, and other health issues. It can also affect ecosystems and biodiversity, impacting marine life, plants, and even microorganisms. </p><p>We do not know what could break out in the year 4030 because of the heavy depletion of our ozone layer caused by <strong>our activities</strong> today. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Every human action against nature has consequences.</strong> Some of these consequences can come in our time or gather momentum to erupt centuries after us. </p></div><p>Changes in UV radiation levels could affect climate patterns and contribute to global warming. </p><p>I could go on and on.</p><p>I am not a student of ecology. Just a simple reading can give you all this information at your fingertips.</p><p>What about the consequences of vegetative destruction?</p><p>My dad, God bless his soul, was my geography teacher back in my secondary school days. This man would make you fall in love with geography, earth science, etc. Some things can be fascinating for real. It&#8217;s a shame we just can&#8217;t do everything in our lifetime. For some of us, our minds are so wild that we want to explore all forms of knowledge, but time and this body are limitations.</p><p>Oh my ...</p><h3><strong>Back to my question: What is the way out?</strong></h3><p>I&#8217;ve shown you already that man is the architect of his problems. By leaving the divine plan, he has brought upon himself all these woes. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>So, to fix his mess, he must <strong>go back to the plan.</strong></p></div><p>That&#8217;s why <strong>salvation </strong>is not a<strong> &#8220;church, heaven, or hell&#8221; thing.</strong></p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Salvation is about creation, governing all of the science and the knowledge around you back to the original design.</p></div><p>It is bigger than you <em>&#8220;lied to someone and went to ask for forgiveness&#8221;</em> (I am not saying this is wrong or not important). It&#8217;s bigger than who to marry, what to eat, drink, etc. That&#8217;s what Jesus said.</p><p>Luke 12:23,</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.&#8221;</p></div><p>Salvation is a route back to God&#8217;s plan for creation, <strong>not to go to heaven or escape hell. </strong>This is what Apostle Paul says again about our salvation and how it relates to the liberation of ourselves and creation:</p><p>&#8237;&#8237;Romans 8:21-23,</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;All creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience with us the wonderful freedom coming to God&#8217;s children.&#8221;</p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>[22] To this day we are aware of the universal agony and groaning of creation, as if it were in the contractions of labor for childbirth.</p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>[23] And it&#8217;s not just creation. We who have already experienced the first fruits of the Spirit also inwardly groan as we passionately long to experience our full status as God&#8217;s sons and daughters&#8212;including our physical bodies being transformed. </p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>[24] We were given this <strong>HOPE WHEN WE WERE SAVED.</strong> (If we already have something, we don&#8217;t need to hope for it. </p></div><blockquote><p><strong>Other translations say: </strong>&#8237;&#8237;<em>&#8220;For this is the hope of our Salvation.&#8221; </em>In other words:<em> </em>THIS IS WHY YOU WERE SAVED.</p></blockquote><p>This draws a perfect connection from the troubles of life, science, nature, etc., back to <strong>salvation </strong>and ultimately back to God. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>If you look at what man has been able to achieve without God, what do you think Earth would have looked like with God?</p></div><p>Your mind cannot comprehend this <strong>yet. </strong></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are Jesus and God the same person? (2)]]></title><description><![CDATA[A theological argument on the Deity of Christ and the identity of the Father, Son, and Godhead: distinct Persons or the same divine Person?]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-jesus-and-god-the-same-person-242</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-jesus-and-god-the-same-person-242</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 07:00:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pullquote"><p>Going through my diaries from 2024, I came across this write-up about the infallibility of Christ as the Godhead. I&#8217;m not sure whether I authored all of it or if most of it was from research. However, towards the end of the writing, I did find a reference to a website. Although the website does not contain all the information in the writing, it does include a list titled &#8220;<em>160 Reasons Jesus Christ Is Almighty God.&#8221; </em>I am republishing that write-up here because I believe its central argument remains worth considering. Where the original drew from external sources, I have retained them where possible. My goal is not merely to reproduce an old note but to preserve and share a line of thought that continues to be relevant for anyone seeking to understand the identity and divinity of Christ more deeply.</p></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I7kM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd1f3434a-1657-4c17-990a-cea06b30f2d9_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>This is the second and last part of this study. You can read the first part here: </p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-jesus-and-god-the-same-person?r=5v2ehd">Are Jesus and God the same person? (1)</a></p></li></ul><p>Let&#8217;s continue with the study.</p><h3>6. A New Testament case study from Revelation</h3><p>Here we shall find Jesus applying the words of Isaiah found in chapters 41:4, 44:6, and 48:12 to Himself. A reminder of what the Isaiah verses say:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, am the first, and with the last &#8212; I am He.&#8221; </em><strong>(Isaiah 41.4)</strong></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but Me.&#8221; </em><strong>(Isaiah 44.6)</strong></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Listen to Me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by Me: I am He; I am the first, I am also the last. [13] My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens;&#8221; </em><strong>(Isaiah 48.12-13) </strong></p></div><p>Turning to Revelation 21.1-7, note especially verse 6:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[1].&#8221;Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. [2] I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. [3] Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God&#8217;s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. [5] Then the One seated on the throne said, &#8220;Look! I am making everything new.&#8221; He also said, &#8220;Write, because these words are faithful and true.&#8221; <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[6] And He said to me, &#8220;It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life.</mark> [7] The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.&#8221;</em></p></div><p>The voice from the throne is God speaking. These are the key words in verse 6: <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#8220;I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.&#8221; </mark></p><p><em><strong>Does it have a ring to it? Rather similar to &#8220;I am the First and the Last,&#8221; right?</strong></em> </p><p>Now let&#8217;s look at the next and last chapter of Revelation. Chapter 22.12-16 :</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[12] &#8220;Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to what he has done. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. [14] &#8220;Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. [15] Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. [16] &#8220;I, Jesus, have sent My angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star.&#8221;</em></p></div><p>Note that all the above verses 12 -16 are in <em>&#8220;red typeface&#8221;. </em>That signifies it&#8217;s Jesus speaking. Verse 16 confirms it too: <strong>&#8220;I Jesus&#8221;.</strong></p><p>Verse 13 is the clincher ... </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220; I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.&#8221; Here Jesus draws both references &#8220;First and Last&#8221; AND &#8220;Beginning and the End&#8221; to Himself.</em></p></div><h3>7. Jesus receives worship</h3><p>Here Jesus claims equal status and equal honour (which includes worship) as God the Father: <strong>Because He is the Father manifested as Christ.</strong></p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.&#8221;</em> <strong>(John 5:23)</strong></p></div><p>Of the many facets of Jesus&#8217; deity, always the biggest clincher of all is that He &#8216;<em>demanded&#8217;</em>, received, and never rebuked worship of Himself.</p><p>We <em>worship </em>Jesus because He is truly God. Jesus came to earth as a humble servant<em> (Philippians 2:7-8).</em> He came to serve, not to be served, and to give His life as a ransom for many<em> (Mark 10:45)</em>. His mission on earth was to die for the redemption of sinners; for this reason, God became flesh. Hence, it was not His primary role on earth to demand His creatures worship Him &#8212; <strong>believers did this naturally, responding to His first loving us</strong>.</p><p>However, in John 5:22-23, Jesus states that the purpose of the Father giving all judgment to Him was for the result of all honouring the Son in the same way <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(kathos)</mark> they would honour the Father. The honour that is given to the Father is clearly divine honour &#8212; namely, reverential worship. Therefore, Jesus asserts His essential equality with God by expressing that the worship/honour given to the Father is to be given to the Son, and if one does not worship/honour the Son, he or she &#8220;does not honour the Father who sent Him.&#8221; </p><p>Further, we find many examples in both the OT and NT where Jesus was worshipped in a religious context, and He accepted it (Daniel 7:14; Matthew 14:33; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:13-14)</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Worship strictly in this context we are discussing means &#8220;reverence paid to a divine being.&#8221;</strong> </p></div><p>If Jesus was offered and accepted worship, then by doing so He was confirming His divinity. This is important because some deny the deity of Christ, relegating Him instead to a lesser position than God. <strong>Yes, Jesus accepted worship.</strong> Not as a lower person in the Godhead, but as God alone! He was and still is worshipped. Without His inclusion, it would be impossible to please or worship God. The Bible could not be clearer. </p><p><strong>Examples where Jesus was worshipped:</strong></p><ul><li><p>The wise men worshipped Him from the moment He was born. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.&#8221; </em><strong>(Matthew 2:10-12)</strong></p></div></li><li><p>The leper worshipped Him at his healing: </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, &#8220;Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.&#8221;</em> <strong>(Matthew 8:2)</strong></p></div></li><li><p>The synagogue ruler worshipped Him: </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;While He was saying these things to them, behold, there came a synagogue official, and bowed down before Him, saying, &#8220;My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.&#8221;</em> <strong>(Matthew 9:18-19)</strong></p></div></li><li><p>The disciples worshipped him in the boat. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, &#8220;Truly you are the Son of God.&#8221;</em> <strong>(Matthew 14:32-33)</strong></p></div></li><li><p>The Canaanite woman worshipped Him. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, &#8220;Lord, help me!&#8221;</em><strong> (Matthew 15:25-26)</strong></p></div></li><li><p>The mother of James and John worshipped Him. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down, and making a request of Him.&#8221;</em> <strong>(Matthew 20:20-21)</strong></p></div></li><li><p>The blind man worshipped Him at his healing. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, &#8220;Do you believe in the Son of God?&#8221; &#8220;Who is he, sir?&#8221; the man asked. &#8220;Tell me so that I may believe in him.&#8221; Jesus said, &#8220;You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.&#8221; Then the man said, &#8220;Lord, I believe,&#8221; and he worshipped him.&#8221;</em> <strong>(John 9:35-38)</strong></p></div></li><li><p>The women worshipped Him at the empty tomb. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. &#8220;Greetings,&#8221; he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.&#8221;</em><strong> (Matthew 28:8-10)</strong></p></div></li><li><p>The disciples worshipped Him at the Ascension. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him&#8221;</em> <strong>(Matthew 28:16-17)</strong></p></div></li></ul><p><strong>All these acts of worship were in obedience to: </strong></p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.&#8221; </em><strong>(John 5:23)</strong></p></div><h3>8. Who resurrected Jesus?</h3><blockquote><p><strong>The question: </strong><em>&#8220;Who resurrected Jesus?&#8221;</em> goes to the heart of divine power and authority. It&#8217;s a litmus test of Jesus claims to  divinity.</p></blockquote><blockquote><p><strong>Answer: </strong>In Acts 2:24, Peter says that <em>&#8220;God raised [Jesus] from the dead&#8221;</em> (see also Romans 8:11 and 2 Corinthians 4:14). Romans 1:4 (and possibly 1 Peter 3:18) seems to say that the Spirit raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11 clearly says that God will resurrect believers &#8220;through His Spirit&#8221;). And in John 2:19 Jesus predicts that He will raise Himself from the dead (see also John 10:18). <em>So who exactly resurrected Jesus from the dead? Was it the Father, the Son, or the Spirit?</em></p></blockquote><p>The basic answer is that <strong>&#8220;God has raised . . . Jesus to life&#8221;</strong> (Acts 2:32). The Father is God, and the Father raised His Son to life on the third day after the crucifixion (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:4). The Spirit is also God, and the Spirit had a part in raising Jesus from the dead. The Son is also God, and the Son, too, was responsible for His own resurrection. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>These three manifestations are of the same person and spirit, not three different beings.</p></div><p><em><strong>How can a dead man resurrect himself? </strong></em></p><p>Jesus was more than a man who died; He was the eternal Son of God incarnate as man. Wicked men could kill His body, but they could not change His eternal nature or diminish His divine power. In John 10:17&#8211;18 Jesus says something that no mere mortal could ever say: </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;I lay down my life&#8212;only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.&#8221;</em> </p></div><p>No one else in the history of the world has ever had the authority both to lay down his life and raise it again.</p><p>Furthermore, Jesus said, </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;I am the resurrection and the life&#8221;</em> <strong>(John 11:25). </strong></p></div><p>He did not say, <em>&#8220;My Father is the resurrection.&#8221;</em> He claimed to be the resurrection Himself; <strong>life resides with Jesus, </strong>and He has absolute authority over life and death (Revelation 1:18). Jesus is God. <strong>He could say He would raise His body on the third day because He is part of the One Being of God.</strong></p><blockquote><p><em>Who resurrected Jesus from the dead?</em> </p></blockquote><p><strong>God did,</strong> and by that we mean<strong> all three Persons of the Trinity were involved. </strong></p><ul><li><p>All three Persons of the Trinity participated in creation (1 Corinthians 8:6; Genesis 1:1&#8211;2). </p></li><li><p>All three are involved in salvation (John 3:6, 16). </p></li><li><p>And all three are responsible for the resurrection of Christ Jesus.</p></li></ul><h3>9. The doctrine of a three different God is of pagan origin and is still today</h3><p>All through the ages, a lot of pagan concepts of god include a being with <em>three faces but one body; </em>this satanic doctrine was brought into Christianity by the Roman Catholic Church, and many churches have been drinking of that wine since.</p><p>The  doctrine is confusion at its peak, as many Christians try to balance up between Father, Son and Holy Ghost as some sort of higher and lower class of beings, when praying.</p><p>In short, ALL that the Father does the Son does in like manner: because the Father is the Son manifested in flesh.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Then Jesus replied, &#8220;I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way.&#8221;</em> <strong>(John 5:19 HCSB)</strong></p></div><p>Then we find the Spirit only speaking what He hears from the Son. (John 16.13)</p><p>Likewise, in reverse order we find the Spirit glorifies the Son (John 16.14) and the Son glorifies the Father (John 14.13). This is why Jesus did not overtly seek or demand <em>&#8216;worship&#8217;</em> for Himself while on earth, which would have put Himself, not the Father, centre stage. Jesus always gave the glory to the Father (in that way acting as our example too). </p><p>He did this knowing that His body would be taken up and returned to its original estate as the Father and eternal Godhead.</p><h3>Philosophical Implications</h3><p>Jesus receiving from the Father and glorifying the Father rather than Himself does not rule out His deity. <strong>But showing us by example how we should be.</strong></p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Having greater authority doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean that the person is greater in essence, or that the one who is in subjection to another is inferior in nature to the other. To assume otherwise is to make a categorical mistake, a category fallacy, treating two distinct categories (nature and authority) as if they were one and the same. </p></div><p>Jesus publicly showed himself lower than the Father he spoke of, and at the same time proved to his disciples he is One with the Father.</p><p>The following citation puts this in perspective:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after DESTROYING every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For &#8216;God has put all things in subjection under his feet.&#8217; But when it says, &#8216;all things are put in subjection,&#8217; it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.&#8221;</em> <strong>(1 Corinthians 15:24-28)</strong></p></div><p>Here is a classic example of how one manifestation of the Godhead can relate to another manifestation or give something without this implying that one of the manifestations isn&#8217;t God or separate individuals.</p><p> Note that the Father subjected all things to the Son, and that the Son gives to the Father the kingdom. Christ&#8217;s sovereignty and supremacy are clearly seen in this passage since he can destroy all other powers and authorities, bringing them into complete subjection to the Father. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Thus, the Son receiving authority to rule no more disproves that he is God more than the Father receiving the kingdom from his Son disproves that he is God also, but these two are ONE.</p></div><p>Another thing to keep in mind is that, according to the Scriptures, Christ voluntarily came down from heaven to assume the role of a slave, a servant. While on earth, Jesus subjected himself to the authority of the Father, doing nothing of his own initiative, but only doing the very thing that the Father commanded and desired:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, &#8216;You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.&#8221;</em> <strong>(Matthew 20:24-28)</strong></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.&#8221; </em><strong>(John 6:38)</strong></p></div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>In this article we have the core evidence for the deity of Jesus the Messiah. It is by no means complete, but it is a comprehensive case. </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Muslims and other sceptics who wish to overturn it will have to present a similarly robust and comprehensive blow-by-blow rebuttal of each strand of evidence presented here. <strong>Merely going to a single verse will not cut it. </strong></p></div><p>Muslims who deny the deity of Jesus the Messiah can only ever attempt to deny it one cherrypicked verse at a time, but when faced with the cumulative weight of evidence in its totality (albeit still incomplete) they are overwhelmed by it and have nowhere to hide and nothing to say.</p><p><em><strong>We cannot close without a mention of Jesus as Creator. </strong></em></p><blockquote><p><strong>Jesus Created ALL things:</strong> Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2, John 1:3, Ephesians 3:9 </p></blockquote><blockquote><p><strong>God created all things: </strong>Acts 14:15, Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 42:5. </p></blockquote><p>Jesus is our Creator God: <em>160 Reasons Jesus Christ is Almighty God, http://www.scionofzion.com/160_reasons.htm, </em></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The theory of fluidity (Explaining Romans 15, Part 1)]]></title><description><![CDATA[How believers with greater revelation should express love toward those at different levels of understanding]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/the-theory-of-fluidity-explaining</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/the-theory-of-fluidity-explaining</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 16:02:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/208535097/d92952004024eb1ca335455a27405938.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" 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y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Have questions about life, faith, spirituality, existence, consciousness, the world around us, and everything in between?</p><p>Submit your question, and it may become part of a future edition.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://tally.so/r/GxgN4e"><span>Submit your Question</span></a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><strong>Want to explore?</strong></p><p>Read previous questions and reflections from the series.</p><blockquote><p><strong><span>[</span><a href="https://www.meshackignatius.com/t/ask-a-question-series">Read answered Questions</a><span>]</span></strong></p></blockquote>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are Jesus and God the same person? (1)]]></title><description><![CDATA[A theological argument on the Deity of Christ and the identity of the Father, Son, and Godhead: distinct Persons or the same divine Person?]]></description><link>https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-jesus-and-god-the-same-person</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.meshackignatius.com/p/are-jesus-and-god-the-same-person</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Meshack Ignatius]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 07:01:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pullquote"><p>Going through my diaries from 2024, I came across this write-up about the infallibility of Christ as the Godhead. I&#8217;m not sure whether I authored all of it or if most of it was from research. However, towards the end of the writing, I did find a reference to a website. Although the website does not contain all the information in the writing, it does include a list titled &#8220;<em>160 Reasons Jesus Christ Is Almighty God.&#8221; </em>I am republishing that write-up here because I believe its central argument remains worth considering. Where the original drew from external sources, I have retained them where possible. My goal is not merely to reproduce an old note but to preserve and share a line of thought that continues to be relevant for anyone seeking to understand the identity and divinity of Christ more deeply.</p></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qGop!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6581eb4f-2cf7-4a8a-9dd2-f8819c281832_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>There have been many debates about the Deity of Christ. While many Christians sincerely confess that Jesus is God, some interpretations of the doctrine of the Trinity have been used to suggest that the Father is a higher or greater Deity than Christ. As a result, the full revelation of Jesus as God has, in some cases, been obscured.</p><p>This write-up seeks to bring balance to that discussion by showing that affirming the absolute Deity of Christ does not require diminishing Him in relation to the Father. Rather, it argues that the Father is not another deity above Christ, but Christ Himself revealed in another dimension of His divine manifestation.</p><p>Let&#8217;s see what the scriptures say.</p><h3>1. God is One</h3><p>If the Bible teaches that God (and only God) has certain characteristics and proceeds to apply them to three Persons called the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then they are all one God (since the Bible teaches there is but one: Dt 6:4; 32:39; Is 43:10; 44:8; 1 Cor 8:4-6).</p><p>In my research, I have found 40 passages that mention all three Divine Manifestations of the One God. Here are eight of them (just one-fifth of all):</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Isaiah 61:1,</strong> <em>&#8220;The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, . . .</em> (cf. 61:2; Jesus applies this to Himself in Lk 4:16-30)</p></div><p>Luke 3:21-22 . . . when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[22] and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, &#8220;Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.&#8221;</em> (cf. Mt 3:13-17)</p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>John 15:26,</strong> <em>&#8220;But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me;&#8221;</em> (cf. 14:26)</p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Acts 2:33:</strong> <em>Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.</em> (cf. 7:55)</p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Acts 20:28: </strong><em>Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.</em></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Romans 15:30</strong>: <em>I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,</em> (cf. Eph 2:18)</p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>1 Corinthians 6:11 . . .</strong> <em>justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.</em> (cf. 1 Pet 1:2)</p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>2 Corinthians 13:14:</strong> <em>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.</em></p></div><p><strong>Is the Holy Spirit directly referred to as God? </strong></p><p>Yes; here is the best single passage along those lines:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Acts 5:3-4</strong> <em>But Peter said, &#8220;Anani&#8217;as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? [4] . . . <strong>You have not lied to men but to God.</strong>&#8221; . . .</em></p></div><p>Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit; at the same time, he lied to God; therefore, <strong>the Holy Spirit and God are synonymous: one and the same.</strong></p><p>This sort of thing occurs over and over in the Bible: <strong>equivalent characteristics in many respects are applied to all three Divine manifestations:</strong></p><ol><li><p><em><strong>Who raised Jesus from the dead?</strong></em> Well, it was God <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the Father</mark> (Gal 1:1; 1 Thess 1:10); it was also <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jesus Himself</mark> (Jn 2:19; 10:17-18); and it was <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the Holy Spirit</mark> (Rom 8:11). Because the three manifestations is of the Same Spirit which is Christ.</p></li><li><p><em><strong>Who gave the new covenant?</strong></em> The <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Father </mark>(Jer 31:33-34); <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jesus </mark>(Heb 8:1-13; 10:29; 12:24; 13:20); the <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Holy Spirit</mark> (Heb 10:15-17).</p></li><li><p><em><strong>Who sanctifies believers?</strong></em> The <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Father </mark>(1 Thess 5:23); <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jesus </mark>(Heb 13:12); the <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Holy Spirit</mark> (1 Pet 1:2).</p></li><li><p><em><strong>Who is the creator?</strong></em> The <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Father </mark>(Gen 1:1; Is 44:24; Acts 17:24; Eph 3:9); <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jesus</mark> (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:8, 10); the <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Holy Spirit</mark> (Job 33:4).Job 33:4.</p></li><li><p><em><strong>Who indwells believers?</strong></em> The <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Father</mark> (1 Cor 3:16a; 2 Cor 6:16; 1 Jn 3:24); <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jesus</mark> (Jn 6:56; Rom 8:10; Eph 3:17); the <mark data-color="#f1c232" style="background-color: rgb(241, 194, 50); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Holy Spirit</mark> (Jn 14:16-17; Rom 8:9, 11; 1 Cor 3:16b). </p></li></ol><p>The Bible even describes this in terms of different combinations: </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>Father and Son</strong> (Jn 14:23); <strong>Father and Holy Spirit</strong> (Eph 2:21-22; 1 Jn 3:24); <strong>Son and Holy Spirit</strong> (Gal 4:6).</p></div><p>What one manifestation does, the others also do in <strong>complete agreement and unity,</strong> and the manifestations &#8220;interpenetrate&#8221; each other. Christian theology has 50 cent words for this: <em>circumincession</em> (Latin) or <em>perichoresis </em>(Greek).</p><p>Lots of things are very difficult to understand yet firmly believed; for starters: quantum mechanics, the physics of black holes, the nuclear fusion that occurs in the center of our sun, and the &#8220;bending&#8221; of space and time (Einstein&#8217;s relativity). Physical reality has turned out to be very &#8220;weird&#8221; and unpredictable. Theology is also sometimes striking and seemingly &#8220;odd&#8221; and unfathomable. <strong>This should not surprise us at all (since God is an extraordinary Being).</strong></p><p>Cumulative arguments based on scores of individual indications become very compelling: much as a large rope, consisting of many individual strands woven together, is exceedingly strong. Such is the nature of biblical indications for the Godhead. We find them at every turn. No one should be led astray to think that the Holy Trinity, as a doctrine of three distinct beings, is &#8220;biblical.&#8221; </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>Having seen the many reasonable proofs, we believe in faith that all the manifestations of God throughout the scriptures point to the working of one deity and not three as many claim, and<strong> that deity is Christ.</strong></p></div><p>Thus far, then, we have some compelling reasons for Jesus as God. Unfathomable? Yes. Paradoxical? Yes. Illogical or incoherent? No.</p><h3>2. Jesus as God in fulfilled prophecy</h3><p>Next, I simply give 20 prophetic scriptures and their New Testament fulfillment that teach that Jesus is the one and only God.</p><p><strong>Revelation 1:7-8 says that Jesus is the Almighty.</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Genesis 17:1 says that the Almighty is God.</p></blockquote><p><strong>John 8:58 says that Jesus is the &#8220;I Am&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Exodus 3:14 says that the &#8220;I Am&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>Acts 3:14 says that Jesus is the &#8220;HOLY ONE&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 43:15 says that the &#8220;HOLY ONE&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>John 8:24 says that Jesus is the &#8220;I Am He&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 43:10 says that the &#8220;I Am He&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>Revelation 22:13 says that Jesus is the &#8220;First and the Last&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 44:6 says that the &#8220;First and the Last&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>I Corinthians 10:4 says that Jesus is &#8220;The Rock&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>Psalm 18:31 says that &#8220;The Rock&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>John 5:21 says that Jesus raises the dead.</strong></p><blockquote><p>And 1 Samuel 2:6 says that God raises the dead</p></blockquote><p><strong>John 8:12 says that Jesus is the Light</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 60:19-20 says that God is the Light.</p></blockquote><p><strong>Matthew 25:31-46 says that Jesus is the Judge</strong></p><blockquote><p>And in Joel 3:12 it says that God is the Judge</p></blockquote><p><strong>Colossians 1:16 says that Jesus is the Creator of angels:</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Psalms 148:5 says that the Creator of angels is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>Hebrews 1:6 says that angles worshiped Jesus</strong></p><blockquote><p>And in Psalm 148:2 it says that angles worship God</p></blockquote><p><strong>2 Corinthians 11:2 says that Jesus is the &#8220;One HUSBAND&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Jeremiah 31:32 says that the &#8220;One HUSBAND&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>Matthew 23:8 says that Jesus is the &#8220;ONE MASTER&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Malachi 1:6 says that the &#8220;ONE MASTER&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>John 10:16 says that Jesus is the &#8220;One SHEPHERD&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 40:11 says that the &#8220;ONE SHEPHERD&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>Acts 4:12 says that Jesus is the &#8220;ONE SAVIOR&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 45:21 says that the &#8220;ONE SAVIOR&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>Luke 1:68 says that Jesus is the &#8220;ONE REDEEMER&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 41:14 says that the &#8220;ONE REDEEMER&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>Revelation 19:16 says that Jesus is &#8220;LORD OF LORDS</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Deuteronomy 10:17 says that the &#8220;LORD OF LORDS&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>Philippians 2:10 says that Every knee must bow to Jesus</strong> </p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 45:23 says that Every knee must bow to God</p></blockquote><p><strong>John 1: 3-10 says that Jesus is the &#8220;ONE CREATOR&#8221;</strong> </p><blockquote><p>And Genesis 1:1 says that the &#8220;ONE CREATOR&#8221; is God</p></blockquote><p><strong>John 1:49 says that Jesus is &#8220;KING OF ISRAEL&#8221;</strong></p><blockquote><p>And Isaiah 44:6 says that the &#8220;KING OF ISRAEL&#8221; is</p></blockquote><h3>3. An Old Testament case study from Isaiah </h3><p>Muslims, and for that matter Jews, do not know about the duality of prophecy (both far and near events). The far or ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 goes far beyond Ahaz to announce the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus Christ.</p><p>Firstly, a reminder of what it says from verse 10:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;[10] Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz: [11] &#8220;Ask for a sign from the Lord your God &#8212; from the depths of Sheol to the heights of heaven.&#8221;</em></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[12] But Ahaz replied, &#8220;I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.&#8221;</em></p></div><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>[13] Isaiah said, &#8220;Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? [14] Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you [note in Hebrew, the word you is plural] a sign: The virgin will conceive, will have a son, and name him Immanuel.&#8221; </em></p></div><p>(i). We know this passage speaks of Jesus because the Holy Spirit says so through Matthew: </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,&#8221; which is translated, &#8220;God with us.&#8221;</em> <strong>(Mattew 1:23)</strong></p></div><p>(ii). We know this passage speaks of Jesus because the prophecy is addressed not only to Ahaz but also to David&#8217;s entire house</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em> (O house of David!).</em></p></div><p>(iii). We know this passage speaks of Jesus because it says the virgin shall conceive, and that conception would be a sign to David&#8217;s entire house. Those who deny the virgin birth of Jesus like to point out that the Hebrew word translated as &#8220;virgin&#8221; <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(almah) </mark>can also be translated as &#8220;young woman.&#8221; The idea is that Isaiah was simply saying that a &#8220;young woman&#8221; would give birth, not a virgin. While the near fulfillment may have reference to a young woman giving birth, the far or ultimate fulfillment clearly points to a woman miraculously conceiving and giving birth. This is especially clear because the Old Testament never uses the word in a context other than &#8220;virgin&#8221; and because the Septuagint translates it categorically as &#8220;virgin&#8221; <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(parthenos).</mark></p><p>(iv). We know this passage speaks of Jesus because it says, </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>He will be known as Immanuel, meaning <em>&#8220;God with Us.&#8221; </em></p></div><p>This was true of Jesus in fact, not only as a title. Immanuel speaks both of the deity of Jesus (God with us) and His identification and nearness to man (God with us).</p><p>(v). Jesus is truly Immanuel, God with us. &#8220;Christ, indeed, was not called by this name, Immanuel, that we anywhere read of . . . but the import of this name is most truly affirmed and acknowledged to be fully made good in him.&#8221; </p><h3>4. More proof texts for a multi-personal God from Isaiah </h3><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;For I Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, <strong>AND YOUR SAVIOR</strong>, give Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. &#8220;You are My witnesses&#8221; &#8212; this is the Lord &#8217;s declaration &#8212; &#8220;<strong>AND MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN</strong>, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I AM HE. No god was formed before Me, and there will be none after Me. I, I am Yahweh, <strong>AND THERE IS NO OTHER SAVIOR BUT ME.</strong>&#8221;</em> <strong>(Isaiah 43:3&#8237;, &#8236;10&#8237;-&#8236;11 HCSB)</strong></p></div><p>I have emboldened that part of the text that is referring to the fact that <strong>it was Jesus speaking who at that time was known as Yahweh or Elohim.</strong></p><p>Then another passage from Isaiah: </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Approach Me and listen to this. From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time anything existed, I was there.&#8221; And now the Lord God has sent me and His Spirit.&#8221; </em><strong>(Isaiah 48:16 HCSB)</strong></p></div><p>This passage should be noted in full context, Isaiah 48:12-17:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. Surely My hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together. Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? [Yahweh] or the LORD loves him; he shall carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, and His arm shall be against the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken; indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful. Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, from the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.&#8221;</em></p></div><p>The identity of the speaker is clearly the God of Israel because He calls Himself &#8220;the first and last&#8221; in verse 12. This title had already been used of Yahweh of Hosts in Isaiah 44:6:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Thus says [Yahweh], the King of Israel and his Redeemer, [Yahweh] of hosts: &#8216;I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.&#8217;&#8221;</em></p></div><p>The Hebrew for <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#8220;I am the first and I am the last&#8221;</mark> is the same in Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12.... </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>This God is further identified as <strong>&#8220;the Yahweh of armies&#8221;</strong> in Isaiah 44:6.</p></div><p>The divine title <mark data-color="#ffff00" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#8220;the first and the last&#8221;</mark> means that He is the first God and the last God because there are no other gods before or after Him. He alone is God.</p><p>The speaker in Isaiah 48 is further identified by doing things that only God can do, such as <strong>absolute foreknowledge</strong> (vs. 3,5,6), <strong>creation </strong>(v.13), <strong>sovereignty </strong>(v. 15), and <strong>omnipresence </strong>(v. 16).</p><p>Who else but the one true God could say:</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.&#8221; </em><strong>(Isaiah 48:11)</strong></p></div><p>No one should have the slightest difficulty in identifying the speaker as God. The context of the passage and the grammar of the text are both very clear. &#8216;Trinitarians&#8217; (I believe you understand my use of this word already) fail to see how the speaker kept saying &#8220;I,&#8221; &#8220;my,&#8221; etc., showing God is ONE and the fact that he manifested as Jesus or the Holy Ghost doesn&#8217;t <strong>duplicate </strong>or <strong>multiply </strong>him.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><em>&#8220;Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, from the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.&#8221; </em><strong>(Isaiah 48:16)</strong></p></div><p>If the passage is interpreted in its natural and normal meaning, there are three persons in this passage who are all God! </p><p><em><strong>But how can God be sent by God if there are no several Persons within the Godhead? </strong></em></p><p>Let&#8217;s break it down: </p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>God is all-powerful; he can be in one billion rooms at the same time. God is seeing everyone on the planet at the same time, billions of people, because God is everywhere at the same time! He can sit on every seat in a stadium at the same time and be the players and the commentators all by himself! </p></div><p>Since the Father <em>sent </em>the Son and the Spirit in <em>Trinitarian </em>theology, they concluded that God and the Godhead must consist of three distinct individuals, even though the Bible had clearly stated there is only one God.</p><h3>5. A New Testament case study from John&#8217;s gospel</h3><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>John 17:5:</strong> <em>&#8220;And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.&#8221;</em></p></div><p>If we examine this passage where Jesus prayed in the garden before His betrayal, mock trial, and death, we find a few important facts:</p><ol><li><p>Jesus existed before the world.</p></li><li><p>At that time, Jesus was (in) with the Father.</p></li><li><p>When Jesus was with the Father before the world began, He had the same glory as the Father because He was the Everlasting Father!</p></li><li><p>Jesus&#8217; request to the Father in this prayer is to be restored to that glory.</p></li></ol><p><strong>From these facts we can also make some certain deductions:</strong></p><p><em><strong>Jesus laid aside the glory that He had (in) with the Father because:</strong></em></p><ul><li><p>When He was praying, He was in the form of a human.</p></li><li><p>Because He prayed with expectancy to have that glory restored, He had some reason to lay it aside, which of course would have been some kind of plan that required Him to take the form of a man.</p></li></ul><p>From the derived facts and implications, you should develop a few questions:</p><ol><li><p><em>What was Jesus&#8217; plan that made Him leave the splendor of glory?</em></p></li><li><p><em>What does that plan mean to me?</em></p></li><li><p><em>Since Jesus was in glory with the Father before the earth was, that must surely mean He truly was God wrapped in the flesh of a man?</em></p></li></ol><p>This concludes the first section of this study. In part two, we will examine the next five points in this argument.</p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>