BE WISE IN 2013

“… he that winneth souls is wise.” Prov.11:30

“… he who is wise captures human lives (for God as a fisher of men-he gathers and receives them for eternity)” Prov.11:30b (Amp)

If this is one of the scriptural definitions of a WISE MAN, then I choose to be committed to this cause by the grace of God. Yes, it takes wisdom to know that it’s only proper and fulfilling to be committed to what’s paramount in the heart of your Father. As a proper child of God, I should be concerned about gladdening my Father. Here is a peep into His heart.

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1Tim.2:4

No wonder it’s wisdom for a true child of God to be committed to capturing human lives for God by the power of the Holy Ghost. If this is my commitment, then every platform, avenue, resources at my disposal should be towards achieving this.

I have a will and can make choices, which is the greatest privilege God has given me.

“See I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deut.30:15,19

In death is foolishness and in life is wisdom. So I can expand this verses to say, before me is;

Life and good or death and evil

Blessing or cursing

Wisdom or foolishness

After God gave the options before us, He took a step further to tell us what to choose meaning, if it were possible to make the choice for us, He would have. He can only show us the answer. God, having gone this far, what excuse do I now have to make the wrong choice. My honest, objective answer is NONE. So, my resolve for this New Year 2013 and beyond is, I CHOOSE TO BE WISE. What that means is that, I will be a genuine soul winner. I will commit everything in every way to actualize it. I know where to start from is on my knees, praying for the salvation of sinners as we break the hold of the devil over their lives (2 Cor.4:4, Is.25:7) and receive power to proclaim the gospel through every avenue created.

This is my irreversible decision (TO BE WISE IN 2013). What about you?

“For the Lord God will help me,

therefore shall I not be confounded:

therefore have I set my face like

a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” Is.50:7

Maranatha!

BELIEVE GOD IN 2013

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Heb.4:11

What made the difference in their final outcome was not a product of anything other than unbelief, which is not external but internal. Which means this singular factor can determine how 2013 will play out for me. In order not be a victim of unbelief, I must make deliberate, conscious effort (which is the labour) to believe God all the way.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Rom.10:9-10

These verses confirm that it’s in your heart you believe or doubt. So we got saved by believing in the heart the word of God, and then confessing or declaring what we believe. It will interest you to know that after being saved through this process, all you will ever have of the salvation package will still be through the same process. BELIEVE in your heart and Say what you BELIEVE with your mouth.

Another way to define unbelief is to “BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART WHAT GOD HAS SAID IS NOT TRUE.” No wonder the prophet Isaiah says ;

“WHO HAS believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message (of that which was revealed to us)? ...” Is.53:1 (AMP)

So, we all BELIEVE something or a report in our heart. While some of us believe the report or word or message from God, others believe a contrary report, word or message which, in relation to the word of God is UNBELIEF.

In this year 2013, I choose to BELIEVE GOD, but for what? Here is what I believe;

“Jesus said to her, did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40 (AMP)

To see means to experience. That means I can only experience what I believe. What do I believe? What He has said. What has He said? “That if I believe, I will see (experience) the glory of God in 2013.

With all my heart, I BELIEVE I WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD IN 2013.

What about you, what do you believe? Remember;

“I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill, but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Eccl.9:11

We all have equal opportunities and time. The difference in experiences is a product of what each believes.

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” 1 Cor.10:1-5

Everything they were exposed to was the SAME, but their experiences were different which was a product of what each person BELIEVED.

“And Peter fastening his eyes upon him with John, said look on us. And he gave heed unto them expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:4-6

Notice, look on US, then such as I, not WE have. This is because we may be together but believe two different things. Peter was saying I believe you can walk but can’t speak of John though we are together, (Remember the 12 spies) because it’s a heart matter and what the heart is full of, the mouth will speak. Since John didn't speak, I don’t know what he believes.

If you are not speaking, you don’t really believe. I am screaming;

I BELIEVE I WILL SEE (EXPERIENCE) THE GLORY OF GOD IN 2013 IN JESUS’ NAME.

Shalom!

WHY CHRISTMAS? (The Reason For The Season)

"And the whole city was filled with confusion... some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confuse; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together." Acts 19:32

The reason why we celebrate Christmas cannot come by explanation but by revelation. And until you have it, you can't be a true partaker of the benefits of the season. We had a warped idea of Christmas while growing up. We thought it was just about buying new clothes, receiving and giving of gifts, a time to eat and drink and be merry. But celebrating Christmas comes by revelation.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. He's the one who gave birth to the season. Jesus is the celebrant. He ought to be the center of attraction and ought to be given maximum attention. Over the years, we've turned Christmas into our show and day and not His.

Christmas time is a celebration of who Jesus is and not who He was.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end..." Is.9:1-7. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We must know who the celebrant really is. Jesus was born a baby but He's no more a baby but a King.

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every other name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..." Phil.2:9-11

We are celebrating Jesus Christ our Lord, The Anointed One, The Master of the universe, The Master over life's situations and circumstances. WE are celebrating what He has done, what He is doing, what He can do and what He will do through us, in us and for us. He is the name that has been given to us fr victories. (See also Rom.8:31-39)

Christmas is actually the time for sober reflections than a time for merriment. You should be able to ask yourself these questions: Who is He? What is my relationship with Him? Where's the evidence of what He has done in my life? Do i really know Him? If you don't ask yourself these questions, it becomes just another day to you and it fizzles out. All you will do, is put on fine apparel, eat; but when you "catch" a revelation of the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of it can start today and will continue all life long.

"...Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem... there came wise men from the east... and are come to worship him... they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh..." Matt.2:1-12

We are able to talk about how He was born because of how He ended. Jesus ended well; thus the reason for the season is a call to worship. As you are reminded of the birth of Jesus, you have to:

• Look for Him
• Find Him
• Worship Him
• And give Him a gift

Christmas is the time to worship God afresh; it is a time to encounter Him. Christmas time is also the time to offer Jesus gifts and the first and most precious gift one can offer Him, is the gift of winning souls. it is the season of showing someone the way of salvation. Luke 15:1-7, Prov.1:30

Besides also, the sweetness of the celebration is not in what you were able to put on (apparel) or what you were able to do, but it is actually in how many were able to benefit; how wide your arms went in putting a smile on the faces of people.

This season is an opportunity for good works. When you are reaching out to men, honouring those who deserve honour in your life and around you, you are stretching that hand of mercy. As you show that act of kindness, you are actually giving to Jesus, this makes Him happy and His power will break upon you afresh.

You can't celebrate Him and not have Him.

CORPORATE WORSHIP

Your serving God starts between you and Him (God), but it doesn’t end there. One, who claims to be genuinely serving the Lord and does not have a covenant family he/she is identified with, is not serving the true God. When a man truly encounters God, there will be a yearning in His heart to fellowship with his fellow brethren.

When Paul met with the risen Lord on his way to Damascus, he asked Him (Lord) who He was and the Lord told him. Paul then went further to ask what he must do and the Lord told him where he was to go and who to see. Thus, Paul’s encounter did not end with Him. (Acts 9:1-12)

Consequently, a genuine walk with the Lord can never end just between both of you.

Daily, we ought to be provoking, exhorting and encouraging ourselves to always come together. (Heb. 10:19-25). You become weakened and limited when you take our coming together for granted. If by the time you start feeling that coming to church and fellowshipping with the brethren is a struggle, better check it because something is wrong with your walk already.

The truth is, no one wants to identify with one who has no background-that is, one who has no root.

In corporate worship, your becoming a part of a house must be by the leading of the Spirit. It is the Lord that chooses where you are to worship. (Deut.12:1-14) This also extends to those who are living with you. (Members of your household) There will be various churches, but you must identify yours by His Spirit. Your walk with God must have root and also in a covenant family.

Also, there must be order. You must belong somewhere. You cannot be seen here today and there tomorrow. Locate where you are supposed to be and stay there. Don’t just belong to any church or become a freelance Christian. You must belong to a spiritual family where you are truly committed; this is your first and foremost evidence that you are committed to Him (God).

Examples Of Those Who Had An Understanding Of Fellowship With God

• David saw the benefit of serving God and thus exclaimed it in Ps. 84:10
• Jesus had the custom of fellowshipping. He went to church. We must willingly serve God and make it a lifestyle. (Lk.4:16, Mt.12:9, Mk.1:21)
• The disciples of Jesus were continually in the temple because they knew it was from there they were empowered to go and excel. (Lk.24:50-53) “So continuing daily with one one accord in the temple, and breaking of bread from house to house… Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer…Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia… there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures.” (Acts 2:46,3:1,17:1-2) The Apostles had a custom of fellowshipping with one another; they had time of going to the temple, going from house to house and praying together. What is your custom?

Benefits Of Corporate Worship

1. “He sent His word and healed, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Ps.107:20) The word in season is sent to a man who is where God has put him and at His appointed time, which He has chosen.
2. You are blessed and strengthened when you are involved in corporate worship. Ps.84:4,7.
3. When you are planted and rooted, you will keep flourishing. Ps.92:12-14
4. You will wield a high level of command and authority. Mt.18:19-20
5. Certain battles that cannot be fought and won alone are fought and won as a group. Acts 4:23, Dan.2:17.

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" Hebrews 12:28

HOW TO FIND FULFILLMENT IN JESUS

There is this beautiful hymn we sometimes sing:

Trust and Obey

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and Obey.

If you are not finding happiness (fulfillment) in Jesus, it has nothing to do with satan, neither does it have anything to do with the challenges you are facing, but it does have everything to do with “trust and obedience”, and until you come to that point where it finally dawns on you that you need to trust and obey God, fulfillment in life will elude you. That is, You will be unable to find fulfillment in Jesus.

As a believer, your real focus should be having fulfillment in Jesus and being fulfilled.   

• Beyond the desired result is fulfillment, which should be the ultimate or starting point.

• In between trust and obedience is knowledge. You cannot trust whom you do not know and you will not bother to inquire of who you do not trust; neither can you obey what you do not know.

• The evidence of true knowledge is this: for a person-trust, for the word-obedience. The answer to most of our prayers is instructions.

• There are some things you are doing that you have to stop doing and there some things you are not doing that you have to stop doing.

What is trust? A firm belief in, reliability, honesty, veracity, justice, strength etc of a person or thing.

To lean on, be confident of, to put one’s confidence in.

To hope (Nah.1:7). You cannot fake trusting God. When you trust Him, He becomes your stronghold. (Is.26:3)

If you truly trust God, you will obey Him, because your trust in God finds expression in your obeying Him.

What is obedience? Act or practice or quality submission to another’s rule. It also means compliance with law and command.

You can only find fulfillment in the life of obedience. That’s why the greatest sacrifice you can offer is obedience. Even your receiving from God is tied to keeping His commandments and doing what is pleasing in His sight. (1 John 3:22)

You must keep all of God’s commandments. When you go aside from each one, you go farther from blessing and fulfillment, but the reverse is the case when you are fulfilling them.

Some Examples Of Those In Scripture Who Trusted And Obeyed God: The Resultant Effect.

Noah: Genesis 6:22, 7:23. He trusted in what God said completely.

Abraham: Genesis 22:1-3, 12-17

Joshua: Josh. 11:15

God is committed to fulfilling His part of the covenant when you fulfill your own part. “And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers… and the Lord gave them rest roundabout… there failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” (Josh. 21:43-45)

Obedience positions you to receive from God. It is a life of obedience that will bring you to a place of distinguishing; and when you comply with the laws of God, you are forbidding a life of struggles.

RELEVANCE OF DEVELOPMENT

The world around us is becoming complex and competitive such that your level of relevance and longevity will be a product of your growth, and development and how much you are armed with relevant information.

The price you pay for remaining where you are and maintaining the statusquo is too expensive.

In order to last in your chosen field and operation, you must develop because if you don’t, you would merely be existing with no relevance, and overtime, it goes to affect your system.

Besides, developing yourself may start with you but it must not end with you. No matter how much you develop, if you are not making effort to develop the key people around you, you will be swallowed up and will never walk straight but bent; for you cannot grow above the level to which the people you are walking/working with are developed and enlightened.

Jesus, our role model was relevant all round because He developed all round. There was no situation that saw Him handicapped or took Him unawares. He was fully informed and aware.

The early church was like that also. Their gathering was not just for mere gathering. Whatever they did had relevance and came to bear in their day to day life, in their environment and in their community.

Nevertheless, you must know the order.

3 John 2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth.” It is an all round development, from the spirit, the soul and to the body. (See also 1 Thess. 5:23, 1 Tim.4:8)

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul speaking, was also showing us the order there by making us to know that if bodily exercise profits a little, that means spiritual exercise  profits more. Do not just concentrate on the spiritual ignoring the bodily exercise. Paul was simply showing us the order and the priority.

HINDRANCES TO DEVELOPMENT

Environment- A lot of times, because of the environment we find ourselves, we adjust and allow it to influence the way we operate. You must look beyond your environment. Even God understood this when He told Abraham in Genesis 13:14, to “lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place thou art…” Besides, God may have even brought you into the land as an instrument for change. So you must maintain and upgrade your standard in spite of what happens there.

Background – Where and how we grew acts as a hindrance to our development.

Experiences – It could be someone else’s or yours.

Culture – Our beliefs and practices.

Company – Your Company (i.e. those you hang around with) is like your world, so you have to watch it.

WHAT DO I DO AND WHERE DO I START?

Be flexible – That is, be willing to learn and change. Be able to come to the point whereby you can say, “All I know is not all I need to know.” David never knew his being with the sheep would one day aid him in killing Goliath and ruling over God’s people.

Be open for correction, exposure and adventures.

Where are you? And what’s relevant to where you are now? And how is it relevant to where you are going?

YOU NEED THIS

“GETTING A PUSH”

Life can be compared to the game of football. That round leather only responds to ‘taps’ and ‘kicks’. When you stop tapping and kicking, it stops rolling. And of course, when it stops rolling, it can never reach the goal – the net.

Everybody needs someone to tap and kick him now and then. Without this, one may become complacent and unable to progress.

Experience teaches that those who provoke you end up promoting you.

To realize your destiny, put yourself under an environment that is highly provocative. Submit to someone who can trouble you out of your tranquil state.

COME YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME!

Join us at LOVE FAMILY CHURCH as we celebrate our thanks to God at our END OF YEAR THANKSGIVING SERVICE.