Decode 02: Why Do I Find It Hard to Forgive?

A lot of Christians struggle with one thing that seems small, but shows up big: forgiveness. This episode shows what forgiveness really means in Scripture, why it feels so hard, and how to let go.In this episode:1. It is a paradox for a Christian not to forgive, for he has been forgiven much (Saul and Stephen).2. Biblical forgiveness has two movements: aphiēmi, to send the offence away from yourself, and charizomai, to extend grace to the offender. The one doing the releasing is the one being freed.3. Forgiveness feels hard because of three entitlements: to being right, to your offence, and to your pride.4. Forgiving is character, not obligation. It starts with the mercy of God and puts on compassion.5. Forgiveness frees you.Scriptures: Acts 7 to 9, Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:27, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-14, Psalm 18:1, Psalm 25:6, Philippians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Genesis 50:19-20, Mark 11:24-25.Want to study the Word like this with others? Join the Metoche waitlist at decodingdeity.com/metocheWatch on YouTube and read more at decodingdeity.comHosted by Zōē JibunohProduced by Sean EboseleScripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved.Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

The kingdom of God has a manner of life. In the final part of Excellence = Greatness, this Message shows that what you received when you came to Christ is a package to open, not the end of the story. The Lord Jesus came from a kingdom to extend its benefits to us, and that kingdom runs on the seed principle: the mustard seed starts as the smallest of all seeds and grows into the greatest.Parts 1 and 2 looked at the character side of excellence. Part 3 turns to the spiritual side, with three seeds to sow in your life:PrayerProphecy: speaking words of power over your lifeConfessionsAnd through it all, never stop believing. Growth is gradual, and God rewards those who believe Him.Scriptures: 1 Samuel 10:23 to 25, Mark 4:26 to 32, Isaiah 37:30, 1 Timothy 6:12, Ecclesiastes 11:3, Acts 2:17 to 18, James 3:5, Hebrews 11:6.A Message by Zōē Jibunoh.

The Christian life is one of incredible accuracy, but it is not one without mistakes. Through the stories of Ananias and Sapphira and of Nehemiah's wall, this episode shows how to inoculate yourself against error with the Word of God, before it happens.Correction: At 11:39 I said Job when speaking about the righteous man vexed in Sodom. I meant Lot. "For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds." 2 Peter 2:8 KJVIn this episode:1. There is an infilling of the wrong thoughts, and it is a gradual process (Plēthō and Plēroō, two words for "filled").2. The greatest promoters of the foolishness you could manifest are those around you.3. Not being full of the Spirit leaves room for error.4. For every good thing God wants to achieve, there is one input the devil will attempt to make.Scriptures: Acts 4:29-33, Acts 5:1-11, Acts 20:32, Nehemiah 4:1-18, 1 Corinthians 15:33, John 16:13, Matthew 16:18, Philippians 3:2, 2 Peter 2:8.Watch on YouTube and read more at decodingdeity.comHosted by Zōē JibunohProduced by Sean Ebosele

Excellence isn't a one-time performance. It is built and kept through discipline. In this second part of the three-part series, we move from what excellence is to how it is sustained. Drawing again from Psalm 71:21 and 1 Peter 2:9, we unpack why greatness is not proven in a single moment but in what you repeat when no one is watching. Discipline is what carries the posture of excellence from a feeling into a lifestyle, and consistency is how the small things quietly programme your spirit over time. We explore why great people are not the ones who do extraordinary things once, but the ones who stay faithful in the ordinary until it becomes uncommon. Excellence is greatness. And greatness is kept from within.

Excellence isn't a performance — it's a posture of the spirit. In this first part of a three-part series, we lay the foundation of what excellence truly is and where it begins. Drawing from Psalm 71:21 and 1 Peter 2:9, we unpack why excellence is not merely a standard of output but a condition of the inner man. When you understand that the synonyms of excellence include superiority, glory, and greatness — and that greatness means surpassing others — everything about how you approach life shifts. We explore how excellence produces extraordinary perception, how great people carry great vision not as ambition but as an uncommon ability to see, and why consistently manifesting excellence in the small things is how you programme your spirit for a life of surpassing impact. Excellence is greatness. And it starts from within.

"Christ" is more than a name — it's a title, an identity, and a declaration that reshapes everything about how the Christian is meant to live. In this episode of Decoding Deity, we break down what "Christ" actually means, who the Christ is, and what the Lordship of Jesus demands and produces in the life of every believer. This isn't theology for the classroom — it's truth for the everyday Christian who needs to understand exactly who they are submitted to, and why that changes everything. If Jesus is Lord, nothing in your life stays the same.

What happens when prayer moves beyond words into the territory of the Spirit? In this episode, we explore the story of Jericho — not just as a military victory, but as a blueprint for Spirit-led prayer. Discover how the Holy Spirit directs, empowers, and aligns your prayers with the very purposes of God, and why His presence in your prayer life is the difference between religious routine and divine encounter.

As we come to a year's end, this timely message will help to prepare your heart as it is primarily a season of thanksgiving for everything that has happened in the past year.

Grace isn’t just divine favour—it’s your supernatural enablement to live, serve, and make impact in the Kingdom. In this episode of Decoding Deity, Zoe unpacks the true essence of grace as more than a concept, but a divine habitat for the believer.From soul winning and service to partnership and exploits, discover the four graces for Kingdom activity and how to keep the work of grace alive in your life. Learn how passion ignites grace, how your environment can affect it, and what it truly means to partake of the grace of your man of God.Scripture references include Romans 8:17, 2 Corinthians 8–9, Titus 2:11, and 1 Corinthians 15:10.Tune in and awaken to your reality in grace—because you were born to function by it.#DecodingDeity #Grace #FaithPodcast #ChristianLiving #SpiritualGrowth

In this impactful episode, we’re joined by the highly esteemed Pastor Wealth Olaitan, Group Pastor of the Teens Churches in CELVZ, for a powerful conversation on discipleship among young people today.Together, we explore the dynamics of leadership and followership in the house of God, uncovering timeless truths that are essential for raising a generation of first-class soldiers for the Lord Jesus Christ.Whether you’re a young believer, a youth leader, or simply passionate about spiritual growth, this episode is filled with insight, direction, and inspiration.Don’t miss it—you’ll be glad you listened.