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.

YOU ARE INVITED

Majesty, worship His Majesty.

Unto Jesus, may all glory, honour and praise.

Majesty, Kingdom authority,

Flows from His throne,unto His own,

His Anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.

Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the King.

Majesty, worship His Majesty.

Jesus who died, now glorified,

King of all Kings...

Your worship will determine what flows from your life.

Your highest attainment comes through glorifying God who is worthy of all glory.

PUTTING THE NAME OF THE LORD TO WORK

Prov. 18:10 says “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” The strong tower is not a place but a name- the name of the Lord Jesus. The righteous will find safety from destruction, satanic harassment, safety from failure, reproach, setback and devastation only in the name of the Lord.

A name is an identity. When you call a person by name, you recall all there is to that person. When you talk about the name of the Lord, it implies authority, rank, character, power, majesty and excellence. For example, if you went to purchase a product, you immediately want to know what brand it is because the brand name determines the value you will place on it.

In these times of uncertainty, it is only in the name of the Lord you can find safety. But, how do you run into the name?

In Acts 4:31, the high priests recognized and understood the power in the name of Jesus that they “straitly threaten them and commanded them not to speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus…” But the Apostles had a revelation of the name of Jesus when they responded by saying, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12. See also Rom.10:13).

Salvation is more than just becoming born again. Salvation is a total complete package of deliverance all round. That is, deliverance in your home, business, marriage, finances etc. Consequently, you cannot gain deliverance, freedom and total liberty in any area satan has harassed or caged you in no other name but in the name of Jesus. Any prayer that is not stamped in the name of Jesus, were just words rehearsed.

The reward God the Father gave to Jesus for the work of redemption is that name. You run into the ‘strong tower’ by calling upon the name of Jesus, but the calling is with a heart of conviction and understanding that the name will work for you. Jesus becomes responsible when you call Him into any issue. It is only in the name of Jesus that everything about you can be kept and preserved.

In the Old Testament, the covenant people only enjoyed a glimpse of the dimensions of the Lord per time, but the beauty of the New Testament is that all the dimensions of God is packaged in one and handed to us in Jesus. Every knee, tongue, sicknesses will bow to the name of Jesus. Your circumstances/situations all have a name and they will bow to the name of Jesus.

The name of Jesus was given and it can be taken. We are co-partakers of all that Jesus inherited. We are joint heirs with Him. Jesus declared that all that the Father had given Him; He kept in His name. So whatever is lost now is due to the fact that you refused to keep it. John 17:12.

In order to keep all that God has given us, it must be kept in the name of the Lord. So begin to use the name of the Lord in every issue, matter and situation and watch the Lord go to work.

SELF– Hindrance To The Great Commission

Today, God is looking for men and women who will forget themselves, their needs and desires and go after His own need and watch Him bring their needs to pass. The main thrust of the kingdom is still “go ye into all the nations and preach the gospel.” The great commission has not changed.

The only reason you’re on earth after you got saved is so that through you many more will come to Him and know Him. There are people who have never heard the name of Jesus, meanwhile, satan is doing a quick job of sending men to hell, but God wants men in the field and all He’s asking is that you reach out and tell someone that Jesus is alive and died because of him/her. It is not about you coming to church, but you are in church to get equipped in order for you to live, as God wants you to and become an example to your world. The church is not for God to meet your needs, they've been met already.

If you are not bringing men to the kingdom, you’re wasting away and living a wasted life. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses…” (Acts 1:8) The reason for the Holy Ghost is not just for speaking in tongues or for causing commotion in the camp of the enemy. Yes! He does all of that, but it is to give us boldness, to energize us to become witnesses?

Who is a witness? A witness is one who produces proof. It is one who gives evidence that Jesus is alive. The value of your life is your kingdom worth; the value upon your life is how much you can forget yourself and go out and reach somebody by first getting the person saved and then come into the knowledge of the truth of God’s word.

How many of you have really suffered anything for the word of God? (See Paul’s account in 2 Cor.11:23-26, read book on The Heavenly Man). You have not yet resisted unto blood. (Heb.12:4) Anyway, God is not even calling you to suffer and shed your blood; all He’s asking is that, you should forget yourself and talk about Him.

The major reason we’re not reaching out is SELF. It isn’t as if you planned it but the cares of this world, the normal challenges of the everyday life has distracted you from the main reason you are alive. Paul declared, “For me to live is Christ to die is gain.” But for most of us, it is, “for me to live is me, so that all the goodness of God will be seen in my life.”

Matt 6:19 says you’re to “take no thought…” but rather “seek ye first the kingdom of God…” Every excuse we give is centered on Me, Myself and I. (See the account in Matt.22:1-5). Self has to die. The reason God wants us comfortable is so that we can think more of Him and about His business.

The sign that you are wise is that you’re turning many to righteousness. That’s wisdom, that’s the way to shine (Dan.12:3) and it may just start with you encouraging somebody. The Philippian church was in deep poverty but they gave.

Sometimes also, we may be feeling as if we've not measured up to the stature of Christ and you know satan is the accuser of the brethren, he’ll come and tell you that you’re not good enough to talk/preach the gospel, but the ministry of reconciliation is not about SELF. It isn't about doing things at your convenience but there is a sacrifice you must make to obey God, discipline yourself in the faith so you can rise up and talk when you have to talk.

Paul declared, “I put my body under…” 1 Cor.9:27. There’s a discipline of your faith as a believer. You must make up your mind to follow God. There’s no higher calling than to do the reason for which He came to die. Paul pressed, we also must press.

Hebrews 12:1-3 admonishes that you should lay aside every weight, everything that will stop you on the track. The race is for the kingdom and you are to carry along everyone you meet on the way. It is not how much you have in your bank account, or how much clothes you have, but it is in how many are coming into the kingdom. Whatever is a weight should be put aside and seek ye first the kingdom; seek the kingdom way of doing things, the establishment of the kingdom, the purpose of the kingdom etc. Do not allow SELF to become a hindrance to preaching the word.

Philemon 6 says, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” (NIV)

The knowing and understanding and the experience of all that is in Christ is in sharing your faith.

LABOURERS FOR THE HARVEST

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

Truly, the nations are ripe and the doors are wide open. The hearts of men are really fainting because of the unfolding events or happenings, failing predictions, surprises, and the unexpected are the order of the day – politically, economically, geographically etc. the harvest is plenteous and opportunities abound to bring in the harvest. However, in the midst of all these, something is obvious, we are either not seeing the opportunities or we lack the will to pay the price. Before I come back to how our eyes can be opened to the opportunities or have the will to pay the price, let me elaborate more on the PLENTEOUS HARVEST and OPPORTUNITIES.

China and India accounts for one third of the present world population from recent records. That is a really big fraction, and they have little or no gospel influence, vast majority know nothing about JESUS, by the time you add that to the vast number of unbelievers in other parts of the world, you can imagine the mass population heading for hell. This becomes very frightening when you know that the world’s population is increasing at an alarming rate present. There is no nation or continent in the earth that is not experiencing population increase.

Our present challenge as a church is that, we have refused to become flexible in the hands of God. While we are still relying on the conventional pattern to bring in the harvest, satan has almost successfully caged it. God is counting on the unconventional and new strategies to bring in the harvest. This is war, so there must be constant upgrading of strategy. Is it any coincidence that the two most populous nations in the world are presently one of, if not the two most travelled nations in the world presently?

China, for instance is attracting the world to it through its trade, innovations and their experts are being sought out all over the world. It’s regarded as the No.1 export nation in the world of goods and man power.

India is now a place people go for medical attention, further studies. Growing up, Paris used to be the place for holiday, now DUBAI in the United Arab Emirate, has taken over for ‘holiday makers’, shopping etc. That’s the zone that poses the stiffest opposition to the gospel, yet a free trade zone. The whole world is now a global village, there’s hardly any part of the world you cannot travel to for one reason or the other by air, water and in some cases, road and the internet connects you with the world, in addition, telephone services have being made a lot easier.

These openings and connections are divine and they are for us to take advantage of for kingdom advancement. The days of conventional missionary activities cannot get the job done, every member of the body must arise with a SENT MENTALITY and through every opportunity to connect and enter, be the light that will shatter the darkness by the wisdom and power of God, turn hearts from darkness to light, from the power of satan to God. (Mk. 16:15, Acts 26:18)

Back to where I left off initially, the opportunities abound far more than what I have highlighted, we can’t see unless our inner eyes are opened, the task of bringing these harvests is not for weaklings, babies but labourers. Labour is not for children but men. The Lord turned to His disciples (CHURCH) not the government, Politicians etc and said we need much labourers not church goers, members but LABOURERS for these plenteous harvest. Why LABOURERS? It is because, to bring in the harvest is work and He gave a clear prescription on how to recruit the labourers. He said to His disciples (church) pray to the Lord of the harvest. So, if this plenteous harvest will not waste, the solution and take off point is PRAYERS.

However, Jesus did not only clearly state that the real need for the harvest were labourers but that the labourers (men, workers, toiler, teacher) are few, small etc. that is,

• Many professing Christians but very few with a clear sense of purpose and responsibility
• Many people but few workers with the vision of God and committed to the vision
• The work on ground, bringing in the harvest is not for a select few but for MUCH, MANY, ALL because the harvest is MUCH, PLENTEOUS, GREAT. Everyone, part of the body has a vital role to play. It is for strong and determined labourers, not weaklings.

If Jesus’ prescription is PRAYERS, then you can be sure that satan will fight us from praying through other activities, distractions, weariness, lukewarmness etc (Mk.4:15) or even when we pray, we pray the wrong prayers for the wrong reasons. We must however note that anything of God that will last and stand the test of time must be birthed and sustained in PRAYERS. For example, STRONG MEN (Matt.9:38), WORD (Acts 6:4), PRAISES (Acts 16:25, 2 Chron.20).

Only Him, the Lord of the harvest can send forth (force out, thrust out) labourers by ENVISIONING and EMPOWERING them and as such, we must rise up to His call to pray which means it’s His desire to but without us asking Him, He won’t (that’s serious, what a connection, responsibility). For this kind of prayers to be effective, they are usually

• Corporate: Ps.110:3 (thy people) Acts 2:1
• United- One accord: Acts 2:1, Ps. 133:1-3
• Fervent- Extremely hot, intense
• Focused: Clear direction
• Consistent: Maintain momentum
• Continual: without ceasing, stop or interruption

Actually, from scriptural research, I discovered that Prayers that have always turned a generation to God, cause revival, reawakening etc also had these characteristics.

Scriptural references – Joel 2:15-18, 2 Chron. 20, Acts 1:14; 2:1, 12:5-12

It’s time for the body of Christ (corporately, individually) to rise up to the burden of her head and honour His call to pray. We should be actively at work on this assignment now with a great sense of urgency. It should become our LIFE MISSION. He is not just the head but also Lord (Master) of the church. 

See the vision of His church.

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon my altar, for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Is.56:7

But see what we turned it to;

“And said unto them, it is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matt.21:13

We must remember He said;

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” Matt.24:14

Without our actively and continually praying His prayer request, that cannot be fulfilled.

LORD OF THE HARVEST, SEND FORTH BY THE HOLY GHOST LABOURERS INTO THE HARVEST IN JESUS’ NAME.

MARANATHA!