Looking up to having a fruitful and fulfilled day must start with God. The problem is, many do not understand how to hear from God. I read a story of a 50 year old man who wanted to know what to do with the rest of his life. He was advised by a friend to find time to be alone with God in a special retreat resort. He was assured that he will hear from God. That was strange to him! He took action on the wise counsel and found out that he left better than he came. God really spoke to him through certain revelation at that retreat. He got a clear map of where to go from there about his life.
Does God really speak to us? How do we know and how can we hear?
'Be still and know that I am God'. The easiest way to hear from God is to be still. Withdraw from the boisterous noise in the neigbourhood and have strong faith in God. Being still indicates great confidence and faith.
They that come to God must believe that He is God and a rewarder of them that dilligently seek Him.
Past victory is not an assurance that God will again speak to us if we are not still and quite before him. That was the story of Elijah. At mount camel, he pioneered a revival that led to the extermination of Baal worship. That victory did not insulate him from the threat of queen Jezebel when king Ahab gave her the report of the exploit of Elijah.
Instead of being still, Elijah trembled and fled for his dear life. But the Lord wanted to speak to him. An angel of God directed him to a place where he could be alone with God. 'And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord and behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire but he Lord was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice.'
You see,noise and activities of the world drive us away from the presence of God and adds to our nightmare. When next you want to hear from God, find time to be alone and be still. Take time to praise and thank him there, dig deep in his words and put your petition before him. He will speak to you.
Text: Ps. 46:10, 1 Kings 19:1-21
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Brotherly Barnabas
Saul was not an easy fellow to handle. He zealously persecuted the early christians and hauled them into jail. When Stephen was to be killed, Saul was the young man who helped to keep custody of the garments of the killers of Stephen.
His own conversion was soon to happen. The Christ he had persecuted became his Lord and saviour in an unforgetable circumstance. Three years after, he went to visit the other disciples but the problem was, they never trusted him. He was too dangerous to be associated with. The brethren still perceived him to be the dreaded Saul when truly he has been redeemed and with a new name-Paul.
Then came in Barnabas. When others rejected Paul, he drew closer to him. He wanted to help. He had something to offer and he never witheld it. 'And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple'.
'But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus'.
Vintage Barnabas was a special breed. He took the risk to get near the supposedly pestilent fellow. He interviewed him and was convinced of his testimony. If he had not done that, the spirit of rejection could have overwhelmed Paul and impacted negatively in his ministry.
Barnabas has laid an example of being:
Brotherly
Authentic in love
Resistant to fear
Noble
Apt to teach
Beautiful within and without
Amorous and
Selfless
He helped the new convert to get settled with the believers and helped to build confidence among them.
What role are you playing as regards new converts in your church? Do you care about them? Your kind gesture could be the magic wand to inspire them and launch their apostolic ministry. Who knew then that Paul will become the greatest missionary of th gospel then? Not even Barnabas but his investment paid off.
Show a little bit of love today. Let the other person know that you really care.
Text: Acts 9:26-30
His own conversion was soon to happen. The Christ he had persecuted became his Lord and saviour in an unforgetable circumstance. Three years after, he went to visit the other disciples but the problem was, they never trusted him. He was too dangerous to be associated with. The brethren still perceived him to be the dreaded Saul when truly he has been redeemed and with a new name-Paul.
Then came in Barnabas. When others rejected Paul, he drew closer to him. He wanted to help. He had something to offer and he never witheld it. 'And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple'.
'But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus'.
Vintage Barnabas was a special breed. He took the risk to get near the supposedly pestilent fellow. He interviewed him and was convinced of his testimony. If he had not done that, the spirit of rejection could have overwhelmed Paul and impacted negatively in his ministry.
Barnabas has laid an example of being:
Brotherly
Authentic in love
Resistant to fear
Noble
Apt to teach
Beautiful within and without
Amorous and
Selfless
He helped the new convert to get settled with the believers and helped to build confidence among them.
What role are you playing as regards new converts in your church? Do you care about them? Your kind gesture could be the magic wand to inspire them and launch their apostolic ministry. Who knew then that Paul will become the greatest missionary of th gospel then? Not even Barnabas but his investment paid off.
Show a little bit of love today. Let the other person know that you really care.
Text: Acts 9:26-30
Monday, May 25, 2009
Never Take God For Granted
Whenever God calls, He empowers. He also expects His servants to follow the instructions given very strictly.
There was a man of God who came out of Juda in the days of Jeroboam after the reign of king Solomon. Solomon spent his twilight in the presence of idols set up by his numerous wives. They turned his heart from God. As a punishment, his kingdom was divided and a part given to his servant-jeroboam after the death of king Solomon.
As priviledge as Jeroboam was, he never followed the Lord's precepts. He waxed strong in evil. The man of God was sent to him to warn and prophesy about the future reformation.
Jeroboam was angry and despised the word of God. This lesson is not going to be centred on the wicked king-Jeroboam but on the man of God.
We shall consider the message in the following order:
1. The Message: And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said , O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord, behold a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee'.
The message was direct and true. It was from the mouth of the Lord. The man of God did well there. He said exactly what he was told by God.
2. The Miracle: When God commissions a man, he backs him up. The message infuriated the king and he attempted to smite the man of God. That action denotes pride and disrespect for divine order. No matter what your position is in the church, never despise the ministers of God.
What happened to the king? 'He put forth his hand from the altar saying, lay hold on him. And his hand which he put forth against him dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him'.
That is the miracle. God punished the disrespectful king. If you don't want to be smitten by God, stear clear from deliberately working against his will and word. The instantaneous miracle also speaks volume about the purity of the man of God. There is power in holiness.
3. The Mishap: The man of God has been faithful to his calling and message. At a point, he missed the mark. Partial disobedience is not acceptable to God. He was instructed not to eat anything presented before him but he set that aside when a senior prophet persuaded him to eat contrary to God's direct instruction. He was deceived! But God held him responsible for his disobedience. He ended his life and ministry prematurely. 'And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way and slew him'.
That was the tragic end of a promising ministry.
Never take God for granted in your ministry and life. Be faithful to his words at all times without respect of man. This is the secret of ministerial success.
Text: 1 Kings 13:1-34
There was a man of God who came out of Juda in the days of Jeroboam after the reign of king Solomon. Solomon spent his twilight in the presence of idols set up by his numerous wives. They turned his heart from God. As a punishment, his kingdom was divided and a part given to his servant-jeroboam after the death of king Solomon.
As priviledge as Jeroboam was, he never followed the Lord's precepts. He waxed strong in evil. The man of God was sent to him to warn and prophesy about the future reformation.
Jeroboam was angry and despised the word of God. This lesson is not going to be centred on the wicked king-Jeroboam but on the man of God.
We shall consider the message in the following order:
1. The Message: And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said , O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord, behold a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee'.
The message was direct and true. It was from the mouth of the Lord. The man of God did well there. He said exactly what he was told by God.
2. The Miracle: When God commissions a man, he backs him up. The message infuriated the king and he attempted to smite the man of God. That action denotes pride and disrespect for divine order. No matter what your position is in the church, never despise the ministers of God.
What happened to the king? 'He put forth his hand from the altar saying, lay hold on him. And his hand which he put forth against him dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him'.
That is the miracle. God punished the disrespectful king. If you don't want to be smitten by God, stear clear from deliberately working against his will and word. The instantaneous miracle also speaks volume about the purity of the man of God. There is power in holiness.
3. The Mishap: The man of God has been faithful to his calling and message. At a point, he missed the mark. Partial disobedience is not acceptable to God. He was instructed not to eat anything presented before him but he set that aside when a senior prophet persuaded him to eat contrary to God's direct instruction. He was deceived! But God held him responsible for his disobedience. He ended his life and ministry prematurely. 'And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way and slew him'.
That was the tragic end of a promising ministry.
Never take God for granted in your ministry and life. Be faithful to his words at all times without respect of man. This is the secret of ministerial success.
Text: 1 Kings 13:1-34
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