TRUSTING IN THE LORD

MEMORISE: Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5.

READ : PROVERBS 3:5-8.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : GENESIS 25 – 26; PSALM 104 : 1 – 18.

It is imperative to know that God has a plan for your life. This plan takes into consideration your personality, talents, needs, potential and environment (Ephesians 2:10). God has ordained certain specific tasks for each individual Christian (Hebrews 12:1). Paul knew this and was able to say “I have finished my course”, only after he had fulfilled his ministry and his work was completed (2Timothy 4:7). I pray that you will fulfil your ministry and complete your task in Jesus’ Name. God’s plan for you is very personal. It is just for you. The plan is very detailed with everything worked out step by step (Psalm 37:23). 

God might not reveal the distant future, but His guidance will be continuous (Isaiah 58:11). God is always ready to reveal the next step to you but as usual you need to ask before you can receive (Psalm 143:8). One thing you can be sure of is that God’s will for you is always good and perfect (Jeremiah 29:11). You must also realise that you are incapable of planning your own life (Jeremiah 10:23). Only God knows the future and He is the only one capable of choosing our vocation, life partner and overall path.All the plans of God have certain things in common. For example, separation from sin to holiness is always in any divine plan (1Thessalonians 4:3) Also, God’s will always leads to doing good deeds (1Peter 2:15). You may ask, “What must I do to be guided by God?” First, you must trust in the Lord (Psalm 37:7). You can only be guided by someone you trust. Secondly, you must commit everything to Him and Him alone. Do not choose first and then ask Him to ratify. Thirdly, rest in Him and be patient (Psalm 37:7). God is a King, the King of kings, therefore honour Him and do not try to hasten Him. Fourthly, surrender to the will of God. When God finally reveals His will to you, abide by it. In revealing His will to His children, God deals with each person differently. 

However, He often guides through portions of scriptures that keep nudging the mind (Psalm 119:105). He also uses inner conviction which is given by the Holy Spirit. In addition, you can experience special revelations, dreams, visions or angelic visitations. You however need certain guidelines to help you identify the will of God. First, no will of God contradicts His word. Whatever guidance He gives must agree with His word. Also, when God speaks, He sometimes confirms it through other seasoned Christians. It is therefore advisable to seek counsel from other mature children of God. Nevertheless, you should be careful not to swallow every counsel given. When God speaks, He opens certain doors and closes others; He provides for His will.

ACTION POINT:
To discover God’s will for your life, have an open mind, pray for guidance, study the word and wait on Him.

AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.

THURSDAY - 08/05/2014 THEME:- LABOURER IN HIS VINEYARD

LABOURER IN HIS VINEYARD

MEMORISE

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.-1 Corinthians 4:2

READ

1 Timothy 3:1-7

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

 

MESSAGE

Are you a Christian worker? If you are not, desire to be one. A Christian worker is a labourer in God’s vineyard. He could be a spiritual leader occupying any of the ministerial offices or an Usher, Chorister etc. In any case, a Christian worker is a steward. A steward can be described as a person employed to manage the property of another, especially a large house or land. Christian stewardship means accepting responsibility to manage all the resources of life for the glory of God, acknowledging God as the provider. As a manager, a Christian worker is a spiritual leader. As a spiritual leader, the work of a Christian worker is an enviable one, and God attaches great importance to it. It is notable and honourable but also tasking, demanding and sacrificial. Faithfulness in this service leads to greater and higher responsibility which attracts fabulous and eternal rewards. 1 Peter 5:4 says:

 

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

 

Certain qualities are essential for Christian workers or labourers in God’s vineyard. The basic qualification is salvation. Such a person should also be faithful and available. A prospective Christian worker should be one that is faithful to God, to his or her human leader and to the assignment entrusted to his or her hands. A Christian worker should also be available for service. The first need in God’s vineyard is availability (Isaiah 6:8). A Christian worker should be teachable. To serve in God’s vineyard, you should be someone who can be taught by God and others. Socially, a Christian worker should be of good behaviour. As a worker, you must be friendly and be of good reputation among those within and without the church. To serve in God’s vineyard, your life should have no grounds for reproach. Morally, a Christian worker should be disciplined. If married, you should be close to your spouse and remain faithful to your marital vows. A Christian worker should be sober and clearheaded, that is, one who never drinks alcohol. Mentally, you must be prudent to serve in God’s vineyard. Prudency refers to a balanced state of mind resulting from habitual self-restraint. By implication, you should be sound-minded and in control of every part of your person. On a personal relationship level, a Christian worker should not be troublesome, but genial and gentle; not contentious, but hospitable and a friend of strangers. He must also not be covetous. The Christian worker should also not be a novice or a baby in Christ. Are you qualified to be a labourer in God’s vineyard?

 

PRAYER POINT

Pray for grace to be qualified as a labourer in God’s vineyard.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 15:1-18:21; Psalm 102:1-15

 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

6th May 14, Theme: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE

MEMORISE

Bless the Lord Oh my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1

 

READ

Psalm 148:1-4

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 

MESSAGE

What is the most important thing in life? Is it to earn a living? Is it to be wealthy, famous and revered; or is it to get saved and get to Heaven? To answer this question, we need to understand why man was created. The answer is simply to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7). Our life is expected to be one continuous song of praise to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). To praise means to honour, to worship and to glorify. To praise God is the most important thing in life. The Bible shows us that praise is compulsory for angels (Revelation 7:11-12), for the saints of God - believers (Psalm 30:4) and for nations (Psalm 117:1). Even children are not exempted from it. Candidly speaking, children know how best to praise the Lord. This is one of the reasons why Christ said that unless we accept the kingdom of God like children, we will not be able to access it. Whatever your position in life, whether you are a pastor or a new convert, whether you are a messenger, governor or president; whether you are a prince or a peasant, it is compulsory for you to praise the Lord (Psalm 148:12-13). All the creations of God are also expected to praise the Lord. God gets praises from the heavens, the heights, sun, moon, stars and wind. Psalm 150:6 says:

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

There are several reasons why we must praise the Lord. First, we must praise the Lord because of His majesty. The Lord is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He deserves to be praised. Secondly, we should praise God because of His glory (Psalm 138:5). A king’s glory is reflected in his robes and in the quality of his possessions. The Lord is clothed with light and rides upon the heavens. Thirdly, we should praise the Lord because of His greatness (Psalm 145:3). Definitely there is no one as great as the King of kings and the Creator of all things. Surely no creator can be greater than the one who created him. Fourthly, we should praise the Lord because of His power (Psalm 21:13). The Lord said that all power belongs to Him, be it power in heaven, on earth or underneath the earth. Fifthly, we should praise the Lord because of His goodness (Psalm 107:8). Has the Lord been good to you? If He has been good to you, then you should praise Him. The sixth reason we should praise God is because of His mercy (2 Chronicles 20:21). We are saved through His mercy. We are kept alive through His mercy. The seventh reason for which we should praise the Lord is His wonderful works (Psalm 150:2). These works include creation, redemption, consolation, pardon of sin, spiritual and physical health, constant preservation and protection, the hope of glory and all other physical, material and spiritual blessings. Praise the Lord!

ACTION POINT

Spend time in praises today. Praise the Lord with understanding, joyfully and with gladness.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 8:1-11:9; Psalm 99-100

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

Monday May 5 Theme: FISHERS OF MEN

Memorise:
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men - Matthew 4:19

Read: John 1:40-42

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Message:

Soul-winning is a must. Few are called to be preachers or evangelists, but every child of God is called to be a fisher of men. Every committed Christian has the opportunity to witness and lead sinners to Christ. Fishing for a soul is a definite effort to lead a particular person to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. In our Bible reading for today, Andrew brought Peter to Jesus Christ. This same Peter grew in his relationship with Jesus and became a great preacher and the leader of the Apostles. Soul-winning is mandatory. You should be involved. You may be the means by which a future world preacher would be brought to Christ. Why not start today?

You may ask, ‘why must I fish for the souls of men?’ There are several reasons why you should. One reason is the worth of a soul (Mark 8:36-37)? A soul is worth more than the whole universe. Another reason is the reality of Hell. Whether you believe it or not, the final abode of an unsaved soul is eternity in Hell-fire. Hell is a place of torment, darkness, pain and anguish forever. The third reason why you must fish for men’s souls is because of the suffering of Christ on the Cross for each sinner. With a crown of thorns on his head, nails in His hands and feet and His body covered with stripes, our Lord and Saviour lost blood and water rapidly in the scorching sun. The pains of His body, coupled with the loss of water and blood produced an agony so great that He cried, ‘I thirst.’ Must Christ suffer in vain? If you do not want this to be the case, you must let sinners know that Christ suffered and died to save their souls. The fourth reason is the emptiness, folly and vanity of this world. As a born-again Christian, you must have discovered that the world is vain and passing away with all its lusts, but those in Christ shall live in bliss forever. It is your duty to tell your friends this truth. In Christ you have found something beautiful and enduring, why not present Him to your friends and relations too! The greatest present you can give to anyone is Christ. This is because whosoever has Christ has all things (1 Corinthians 3:21b). Finally, you should fish for men’s soul because soul winners are wise. As a soul winner, you are not labouring in vain. Your reward for each soul won is great and sure (Daniel 12:3). There are certain qualifications requisite to being a fisher of men. First of these is that, as a fisher of men, you must be saved and be sure of your salvation. A blind person cannot lead the blind. You must also have compassion for lost souls, otherwise you will work with a dead, mechanical, dispassionate concern; sinners know those who are truly concerned about them.

Action Point:
Be practical. Decide to be a fisher of men today.

Author: Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Saturday May 3rd 2014 Theme: SECRETS OF CHURCH GROWTH

Memorise:
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved-Acts 2:47

Read:
Acts 4:32-33

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Message:

God is interested in the growth of His church, be it local, national or global; whatever the denominational label. Growth comes as a result of the mercy of God connected with the pastors and ministers developing the mind of Christ. Growth comes to those who allow themselves to be filled more and more with the love of God and who are not willing to let anybody perish. The church of Christ is not a place, a building or an organisation. The church is a living organism. God’s plan for His church is growth - biblical growth. God is not interested in fishing without catching (Luke 5:4-11), lost sheep that are not brought back into the fold (Matthew 18:11-14), a lost coin not sought for (Luke 15:8-10) or of ripe harvest not reaped (Matthew 9:36-38).

Ministers of the gospel sometimes lament that their churches do not grow. They present inabilities, weaknesses and shortcomings as reasons for lack of growth in their local churches. For example, many complain of lack of education. This is not tenable. God can use the unlearned for His work as seen in Acts 4:13:

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

What matters to God is sweet fellowship with Him. Some complain that they lack communication skills. This is also not acceptable because God can put His word in your mouth (Exodus 4:10-12). Another complaint is lack of experience. The scripture confirms that God sometimes commissions inexperienced children (Jeremiah 1:4-10). Some complain of lack of equipment and resources as reasons their churches are not growing. To such people I will say, “Let God get hold of you”. When God gets hold of you, materials and money are not problems to Him. God can do much with little. He can do everything with nothing. Some complain of lack of support and encouragement. This could be true, but God’s love and His promises are enough support for your church to grow. God wants your church to grow. He gives growth. A growing church should however resemble the New Testament church. It should be one whose membership and work are opened only to those who are saved. A growing church should be one that continues steadfastly in fellowship, study and prayer. Each believer amongst them should grow and become strong in the Lord. The church that will grow must be a studying church, a sharing church and a praying church with manifestations of signs, wonders and miracles, just like the early church.

Action Point:
Pray to God and trust Him for growth in your church.

Author: Pastor E.A Adeboye

ANOINTED TO BE AN INTERCESSOR.

MEMORISE: And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke 18:1

READ: 1TIMOTHY 2:1-2 

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : REVELATION 16 : 1- 19 : 10 ; PSALM 95.

Prayer is an ordinance of God. It should be noted that both Christians and non- Christians pray. The prayer that God will answer however is one from a sincere outpouring of the heart to God. It should be done through Christ and with the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit. Prayers should be for such things as
God has promised according to His word. Prayers should be made for the good of mankind and the church, and should be made in faithful submission to the will of God. Prayer is a requirement which all children of God should give considerable attention to for their joy to be full (John 16:24).

People engage in all sorts of prayers. Experience has shown that the most interesting of all types of prayers is intercessory prayer. Every child of God is called and anointed to be an intercessor ( 1 Timothy 2 : 1 – 2 ). This denotes praying for others – whether they are members of your family, church or others for whom God has laid a burden on your heart. Intercessory prayer is one prayer every Christian should engage in. It is important and greatly rewarding. It could take the form of wrestling for the salvation of a soul or praying for his or her deliverance. We are also enjoined to pray for nations and leaders, be they local or international. One reason you should engage in intercessory prayer is because it is good and acceptable before God. Intercessory prayer brings peace, prosperity and power. It brings victory when problems and troubles arise and it brings victory when other prayers are not answered. There are many reasons prayers are not answered. Many people pray and their prayers do not ascend to God because they are not willing to forgive those who offended them (Matthew 6:15). Anger and quarrelling are other reasons prayers are not answered (Timothy2:8). Other reasons include: unwillingness to make peace with others (Matthew 5:23-24), heartlessness and insensitivity in family affairs (1Peter 3:7), carnal motives ( James 4:3), disobedience (John 9:31) and pride. Intercessory prayer is mandatory. To engage in intercessory prayers, you should first and foremost have a burden for others. This means, you should have an empathic understanding for others.

This should be followed by your willingness to clear your way before God and to plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and others. Intercessory prayer becomes effective when we pray creatively (Romans 4:17 ), without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17), with unquestioning faith ( Mark 11:22), with authority (Luke 10: 19), with boldness for the unprecedented (John16:23), and in unity under a corporate anointing (Acts12:5).

ACTION POINT:
Unite with someone today in prayer of agreement for your nation.

AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.

HOW PREPARED ARE YOU?

MEMORISE

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding - Proverbs 4:7

READ

Matthew 25:1-2

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 

 

MESSAGE

Wisdom has been described as the right application of knowledge. This is reflected in a person’s active and constant preparation for success. A wise man prays when others play, fasts when others feast and plans when others loaf around doing nothing. There is no gainsaying the fact that spiritual and physical success depends on active and constant preparation. One who fails to plan has already planned to fail. How prepared are you?

 

A study of the scriptures will reveal many ingredients for active and constant preparation. These include determination, endurance, seriousness and faithfulness. Determination is an indispensable requirement for spiritual and physical success. This is resolution and firmness of purpose. It takes determination to be successful in life, business, marriage and ministry. How determined are you? Added to determination is endurance. To endure means to suffer, to undergo pain, hardship, difficulties, problems and all sorts of hard situations without giving up. There is always a price for good success. Endurance requires discipline – self-discipline. To enjoy spiritual and physical success, you have to discipline yourself. Discipline your appetite for food. Discipline your desire for sleep and comfort. Discipline yourself in prayer and fasting, and discipline your tongue. Another ingredient for good success is seriousness. This is the active part of determination. Seriousness means acting on success. It is possible for someone to desire to be successful, endure pain, hardship and difficulties without becoming really serious about success. To demonstrate seriousness about success, you identify those things that will make you successful and act on them. One who is serious about success does not play with opportunities. He or she would rather make the best use of them. An important aspect of seriousness is faithfulness. To achieve good and enduring success, you must be faithful. Faithfulness denotes being completely loyal to a cause. You must be faithful to God who is the author of good success. You must be faithful to yourself and the assignment entrusted to your hands, and you must be faithful to others. It takes strong will to be faithful, and the one who aspires to be faithful must be diligent. Diligence means whole hearted searching. In your quest for good success, seek the Lord with all your heart and serve Him in holiness and truth.

ACTION POINT

Think about opportunities you have missed in the recent past, what better level of preparation would have helped you to take those opportunities. Start preparing for your next opportunity now.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Revelation 12-15; Psalm 94

  

Author: Pastor E. A ADEBOYE