PREPARATION FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

Proverbs 3:1-12; Deut.28:1-14

Many people, many Christians would like the blessings of God; to come to Church and be able to constantly share positive testimonies of what God has done for them. But unlike salvation regeneration, many other blessings of God are predicated on obedience. It is clearly set out in the Bible that obedience will bring blessing. Even in natural family life, an obedient child will always be showered with the blessings of the parents. God wants to bless us, but we must note that He requires obedience.

1.  HONOUR GOD’S COMMANDMENTS

Proverbs 3:1-4; Deut.4:40; 5:29; 28:1-14;

How can a child prove to the father/mother that he/she honours them? Simply by remembering and keeping the parents’ commands. Our Father, God, is saying to us this afternoon, Don’t forget My commandments/My instructions. If you keep My commandments, there are blessings attached – length of days, a good life, free from sickness and disease.

What are the characteristics of the Commandments of God (Psalm 19:7-10)?

(i)          They result in conversion of the soul

(ii)        They are for our good (Deut.10:13)

(iii)      They impart wisdom

(iv)       Keeping them prolongs life (Deut.6:2)

(v)         Keeping them results in multiplied blessings

(vi)       Breaking them results in untold curses

It is unfortunate that many people do not care for the commandments of God. They don’t want to go to a place where they will hear, “Do this, or don’t do that”. These same people do not have any problem when their doctor says to them, “Don’t smoke anymore or you will get cancer.” But they would not obey the commandments of God telling them to avoid the cancer of sin.

God’s grace through Christ does not license us to break God’s commandment. The commandments of God are based on love. Love towards God and love towards man is the summary of the Ten Commandments. Love is a permanent commandment.
It was love that made Jesus Christ to go to the cross to die for our sin (John 3:16). By laying down His life Jesus was obeying the commandment of the Father (John 10:17-18).

If we want to receive God’s blessings, let us keep His commandments. That is not legalism but loving God and loving our fellow human beings. It would attract favour from God and from man. It will ensure long life.

2.  HONOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

Proverbs 3:5-8; Job 11:13-19; Psalm 125:1-5

“Trust in the Lord” is one of the simplest and most profound commands in the Bible. It is positive and direct. But natural man is prone to trusting in himself, in his abilities, wisdom and intelligence. He goes his own ways. He follows his own natural wisdom. Little wonder that in spite of the advancement in every conceivable field, we still have hatred, wars, slavery, and crime against humanity of various kinds. Peace still remains an illusion.

But God’s positive, Fatherly instruction is, “Trust in Me”. When we trust in God, He will direct our paths. The very first temptation that came to man in the Garden of Eden was to distrust God. God said that man would die if He disobeyed. Satan said man would no die. He said man would be like God if He disobeyed God. Humans have since then been disobeying God, and the consequences of their disobedience are everywhere around us.

Even though the society does not encouraging trusting in the Lord, we must trust in the Lord.

Trust Him with your all your heart. Trust Him with your education. Trust Him with your future. Trust Him for your provision. Trust Him for your eternal destiny. Trust Him when you are joyful. Trust Him with your husband. Trust Him with your wife. Trust Him if you are not yet married. Trust Him when you are sorrowful. Trust Him when you are joyful. Trust Him at all times. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

3.  HONOUR GOD WITH YOUR WEALTH

Proverbs 4:9-10; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 11:24-28; 2Cor.9:6-10

We are commanded also to honour the Lord with our wealth. One thing I am thankful to the Lord about is that many of us in this Church have understood the importance of this. Giving to God constantly reminds us that everything we are and have belong to God. Giving to the work of God opens that door for great blessings from the Lord.

Giving is will usually precede receiving. The promise of God in our text is that of overflowing barn. This means plenteous provision from God. Jesus added that when we give we will receive in a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. When we give, God can stir people to give to us!

When you give to the Lord, give it cheerfully, not grudgingly. Give bountifully, not sparingly. Give according to your ability, not necessarily according to what others have given, unless otherwise specified (2Cor.9:6-10).

The blessing of giving goes beyond perishable prosperity. Giving the right way is a way of building for eternity (Luke 16:9-12).  

DECISION DETERMINES DESTINY

DECISION DETERMINES DESTINY

Esther 4:15-27; Ruth1:16-18; 4:13-14, 17, 22; Genesis 43:13-14; Matthew 7:13-14

You must have heard this saying before that life is made of decisions. That is very true. The little and big decisions we make each day accumulate to determine our future. Some decisions are so sensitive that once we have made them, we will have to live with the consequences. And there are decisions that are irreversible. Those decisions must be taken very, very carefully. For example, decision to be or not to be born again; Decisions about who to marry; decisions about how and where to serve God; about what to study in school.

1.    LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS

Genesis 43:13-14

When the brothers of Joseph decided out of envy to sell him to Ishmaelites, it was a historic decision. It changed Jacobs’s family forever. Was it the will of God to sell Joseph into slavery? Could God have achieved what He purposed for Israel without Joseph being sold into slavery? That decision went far beyond the thoughts of the brothers of Joseph. When eventually Jacob decided to leave Canaan and relocate to Egypt, it started a 450- year era of slavery which was not apparent when the decision was taken.

What we can deduce from the life of Joseph and his brethren was that God fulfilled His purpose of building a nation, and also to allow full justice to be done to the Amorites because of their iniquity.

2.    LIFE THREATENING DECISIONS

Esther 4:15-27

Esther found herself in a great dilemma. Any action she took threatened the very life of the Jews who live in Persia, including her own life as a queen. She could not get away from the consequences of either acting or remaining silent. She needed divine wisdom. You must consider decisions carefully before you jump into them. Christians, like Esther are placed in the world for such a time as this. If we keep silence God will still find a way of fulfilling His divine will.

3.    UNCOMPROMISING DECISIONS

Ruth 1:15-18; 4:13-14;

Ruth’s decision was uncompromising. She did not think anything about the possible consequences of a Moabite widow relocating to Judah. Her decision could have meant a life and death struggle especially as Moabites were not welcome to Israel. Her sister in law obviously gave a serious thought, and in the end decided she would go back to idol worshiping. But Ruth’s decision brought her into direct contact with the royal family of Judah. Eventually, against tradition she was married by Boaz.

What if she began to consider what suffering might go through in Judah? God would find someone else to carry out His plan.

Why do people put off important decisions and others make life-threatening ones? (1)  Because of enjoyment of short time pleasure; (2) because of fear of present pain; (2) because of fear of man; (4) because of personal honour and self-esteem.

One of the most important destiny-shaping decisions is what you will do with Jesus? What will you do with His word, His message (Mat.7:13-14). Whatever you do you must get that decision right or life would all be in vain.

GOD, THE BIBLE ND JESUS

GOD, THE BIBLE AND JESUS

REASON FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE

Gen.1:1; John 1:1; Psalm 19:1-14;1 Peter 3:15-16

Have you been asked the question by a child, “Who made God”? What was your answer? Or, “What is God like”? What about, “Did God make the world or did the world com about by the Big Bang”? “How can God b one and three at the same time”? These are genuine questions children ask, and we’d better have answers for them. Even if you have not been asked these questions before, just wait, it is mater of time before a child or a godless person brings them up. The difference is that a child's question is genuine, but atheist's question is deceptive. There are predators out there – unbelieving teachers, atheist professors, skeptical friends, godless books like The God Delusion, The DaVinci Code and other writings. Then you have the children’s own hearts. We must therefore equip our children to go out there and face the world and overcome.

In the beginning there was God and in the end there will be God. In the beginning God created everything. He gave us the Bible as our guidebook and Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Anyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. Anyone who does not believe will be damned.

The Christian faith is based on evidence, not on blind faith. Concerning faith Paul the apostle said, “I know whom I have believed” (2Tim. 1:12). That evidence is found in the Bible and in creation (Psalm 19:1-14).

1.    OF GOD THE UNCREATED CREATOR

Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Psalm 19:1-14; Rom.1:19-24

St Anselm of Canterbury described God as “A being than which nothing greater can be conceived”. He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, morally perfect. The universe exists because God made it. Without God there will be no existence. God is a necessary being. He is the uncaused cause of everything. Job asked the question, “Can you by searching find out God?” (Job 11:7; Eccl.3:11, 17). Just like a watch cannot know the maker, so man cannot find out the perfection of God on this side of eternity (Isa. 45:9; 1Cor.13:12). Though you spend your whole life studying God’s creation, you will not be able to completely understand a fraction of creation. God said to Abraham, “Count the stars if you are able to” (Gen.15:5, 6).

A.  God is Omnipotent. This means God is all powerful. He can create things out of nothing. Even now God can make things out of nothing (Luke 3:8). God has always existed though that may be difficult for you to understand (Isa.43:13). He can do all things (Mat.19:26; Eph.3:20)

B.    God is Omniscient. This means He knows all things, including thoughts that will form in our minds before they are formed (Psalm 139:1-16). Look at things which God made out of nothing: (Day 1: Light; Day 2: Sky and Waters; Day 3: Plants; Day 4: Sun, Moon and Stars; Day 5: Sea and Flying Creatures; Day 6: Land animals and Man; Day 7: God’s Rest. God created the most amazingly intelligent, complex and beautiful things. He crowned the creation with human beings – male and female. He fine-tuned the universe to make it tastefully habitable. We do not subscribe to changing the nature or order of God’s creation (Rom.1:22-28).

C.  God is Morally Perfect. He gave us the most beautiful laws that help organize our coexistence both in the family, in society and at large. If there is no God, then there is no moral law. All will be chaos and anarchy and nihilism. Life will be unlivable. Life will then fulfil Darwin’s evolutionary theory – survival of the fittest. If you have the power you can swallow your neighbor to dominate him. You can steal, kill, rape with no consequence to you. You will not be able to condemn war or evil. But thank God there is God. Thank God He has given us His great laws. So we can live in relative peace today.

2.    OF THE BIBLE THE MOST TRUSTWORTHY BOOK OF FAITH

A.  Bible Statistics

Is the Bible trustworthy? The Bible is like no other book ever written.

i.                 Written over a period of 1500 years.

ii.               Written by more than forty authors – Moses, a political leader and a Judge of Israel; David, the King of Israel, a shepherd, musician and warrior; Amos a herdsman; Joshua a military general; Daniel, a prime minister; Solomon a king and philosopher; Luke historian and physician; Peter a fisherman; Matthew a tax collector; Paul  a rabbi.

iii.             Written in different places – Moses wrote in the wilderness; Jeremiah wrote in a dungeon; Daniel in a palace; Paul inside prison walls; John in exile at Patmos.

iv.            Written at different times – David in time of war, Solomon in time of peace and prosperity, Daniel in time of exile

v.              Written during different moods – heights of joy, depths of sorrow; in times of uncertainty…

vi.            Written in three continents – Asia, Africa and Europe

vii.           Written in three languages – Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek

B.    The Bible’s Uniqueness

The Bible is unique in its continuity; unique in circulation. It has been a best seller of all time, with many people like me having many volumes and versions. It is unique in its translations (has been translated into 2,200 languages). The Bible is unique in its survival through time– no other book of antiquity can be attested to bibliographically as the Bible; Through persecution – in AD 303 the Roman emperor Diocletian issued an edict to stop all Christians in the empire from worshipping and to burn their Bibles. Twenty-five years later, the Emperor Constantine ordered that 50 copies of the bible should be produced at the expense of the State!

The French infidel, Voltaire boasted that 100 years after him, the Bible would be swept from existence and passed into history. Fifty years after his death, the Geneva Bible Society used his press and house to produce stacks of Bible (J.McDowell).

C.  The Bibles Internal Evidence

2Tim.3:16; 2Pet.1:21; John 16:13; Heb.4:12; Rom.12:2

The Bible itself declares that it is the word of God, not just ordinary writing of men. God moved Holy men to write the word of the Bible. The truth in the Bible was taught by the Holy Spirit and cannot be controverted (invalidated or refuted). The Bible can expose, convict and rebuke. It easily discovers what is in the hearts of men. It can encourage and comfort those who grieve. The fatherless, the motherless, the widows, the oppressed have found comfort and solace through it.

One of the greatest powers of the Bible is its transforming power. It changes people. Sinners, adulterers, murderers, thieves have regularly had their lives turned around by reading and applying the words of the Bible to themselves. It can change your life if you read and apply it.

D.   The Bible is Indestructible

     “No other book has been so chopped, knifed, sifted, scrutinized and vilified. What book on philosophy or religion or psychology…has been subjected to mass attack as the bible? With such venom and skepticism? With such thoroughness and erudition? Upon every chapter, line and tenet? The bible is still loved by millions, read by millions, and studied by millions (More Evidence that Demands a Verdict, J. McDowell quoting Bernard Ramm). No other book in human possession offers so much to the reader.

3.    OF JESUS THE ONLY SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

Gen.3:15; 12:3; Isa.9:6; 63:1-3; Luke 4:18-21

The Old Testament had quite a lot to say about the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ – His birth, His forerunner, His ministry, His passion, His resurrection, His ascension, His second coming were all predicted in the Old Testament Scripture. Jesus Himself applied Old Testament Scripture to Himself. He claimed that the entire Old Testament scriptures were written concerning Him (John 5:39-40, 46, 47; Luke 24:44). All the feasts of the Old Testament were fulfilled by events in His life

His conception was announce by the angel Gabriel. He birth was heralded by angels. The unique entrance into history is a great sign of Christ’s deity (Isa7:14). He was born of a virgin.

Christ Jesus had a solid claim to be God (John 1:1-5, 9-14; 5:23-24; 14:8-9; 8:58)

Notice how He spoke authoritatively in His own name in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice also how He manifested the power to forgive sin – something only God can do (Mat.9:2; Luke 7:47-38)

His disciples understood that He was God (Phil.2:6-11). Christ was fully God and fully man when He came into the world. He is the express image of God to the world (Col.1:15-17; 2:9; Heb.1:3).

He is the Son of God as well as the Son of man. The influence of Christ and His Church in the world is incalculable. We do not have enough time today to go far with the study of Jesus.

What we do today is to echo His call to all men (Mat.11:28-30). If any man is thirsty, If any woman is thirsty, let them come to me and drink (John 7:37-39).

The Climax of Christ’s coming into the world is that He is coming back again (1Thes.4:13-18; 1Cor.15:51-58). He came as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He has offered salvation to all who would come to Him.

He who believes in Him shall not be condemned, but he who believes not shall be damned (John3:18). That is the final act. Either you believe or you don’t believe. But I urge you to believe today and be saved for there is salvation in no other person and there is no other name given for man’s salvation.

THE MOUNT CARMEL CONTEST

 

 

 

THE MOUNT CARMEL CONTEST:

TURNING THE PEOPLE BACK TO GOD      

 

1Kings 18:1, 17-21, 23-25, 26-29, 30-40

When the promise concerning John the Baptist was given, it said that he would go before God in the spirit and power of Elijah and turn the children of Israel back to God (Luke 1:17). Elijah was a man passionate for the Lord of Hosts. He was troubled by the apostasy and idolatry of the children of Israel. At a point it appeared to him that Jezebel had wiped out all the prophets and righteous men of God. But God always holds the trump card (1Kings 19:10, 19). He had 7000 men who have not bowed to Baal.

1.  A GREAT DECISION: CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHOM TO SERVE

Elijah was fulfilling specific divine commands as he went back to Israel from Zarephat in the following ways:

(i)                  The Place to go: Israel.

God was still dealing with Israel not the gentiles at this time. He was preparing the ground for the coming of the Messiah. Gentiles would know God more intimately when the Messiah comes.

(ii)                 The Person to see: King Ahab.

King Ahab had gone into gross idolatry through the influence of his wife Jezebel, and together they had taken almost all Israel with them. Elijah was sent to confront him. We should not condone sin. If you see sin in your husband or wife do not condone it. If you see a brother/sister sin in the Church do not condone it (Rom.15:14; Gal.5:13; Gal.6:1). Seek in love to restore the person.

(iii)                The Purpose: To restore Israel to Himself.

Israel’s place in God’s plan was so important that though they had gone astray, God sought to bring them back to himself. Today God seeks to reconcile the world to Himself (2Cor.5:17-21). God wants us to be the Elijah of this age.

(iv)               The Promise: To send Rain after 3 years of drought.

The withholding of rain was a sign of God’s displeasure with Israel and a judgment against Baal, a fertility god who was believed to help fruitfulness of crops and women to bear children. God was showing His people that He God, not Baal controlled the rain (Psalm 65:9-13). A choice must be made between worshipping God and following the god of this world.

What do people worship today? People idolize money, music, sex, drugs. Some have erected the altar of materialism and acquisition-ism. Others build shrines of worldliness. All these will fail in time of adversity. God is calling everyone to repentance. He would send back the rain after Israel turns back to Him. He would send back His blessings when we turn from all forms of idolatry and evil. God will then restore His goodness to us.

 

2.  A GREAT CHALLENGE: THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE, LET HIM BE GOD.

1 Kings 18:17-29; Daniel 11:32; 2Cor.10:3-5

“The God who answers by fire, let Him be God”. This is a bold challenge. Elijah was a man of God. Israel had lost the true worship of God under the reign of Ahab and Queen Jezebel. King Ahab was a contemporary of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He came to power 4 years into the reign of Ahab. He was a good king who feared the Lord and walked in His ways (Chron.17:3-6).

He heard from God. His word was from God. His action was from God. Therefore he had no fear of Ahab, no fear of Jezebel, no fear of Baal and no fear of his false prophets. If we must overcome the tough challenges of life, we must know our God. The people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits (Daniel 11:32; 2Cor.10:3-5). The righteous is as bold as the lion. When we pursue the life of holiness and purity and righteousness before God, we will be fearless.

God is calling them to make a choice (1Kings 18:21). Joshua gave a similar challenge to the children of Israel (Josh.24:15); Moses also (Deut. 30:15, 19). Have you chosen life? New life in Christ Jesus (John 14:6)? Have you been born again (John 3:3, 16)? Are you still between two opinions? Choose life! Jesus, or rather let Him save you. Let Him come into your heart. Let Him sanctify you. Let Him baptize you with the Holy Spirit. That is the blessed life!

Contrast the boldness of Elijah the prophet and the powerlessness of the prophets of Baal. Their God was a dumb idol that could not speak (Psalm 135:15-18). They mutilated themselves in their fruitless effort to rouse an idol. Their idol put them to shame. But those who trust in the Lord shall not be put to shame (Psalm 128:1-6). Therefore put your trust in God not the idols of this world.

3.  A GREAT DISPLAY: FIRE FROM HEAVEN!

1Kings 18:30-39; Hebrews 10:19-23; Lev.11:44-45; Heb.12:14

Elijah made some very important preparations before he called God to accept his sacrifice.

(i)                  He repaired the altar of God that was fallen down

(ii)                 He rebuilt the altar with twelve stones – representing the twelve tribes, showing deep connection between them and God.

(iii)                He put wood there and prepared the bullock and put them on the altar. He drenched it with barrels of water, so that when God answered, it will be unmistakable

We learn here the importance of preparation to approach unto God – by the new and living way (Hebrews 10:19-23). Do you rush into the presence of God without preparation? Have you repaired the altar of your heart? Did you know that your heart is the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor.3:16-17; 6:19)?

When Elijah prayed, the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed all the sacrifice and the wood and the water and even the stones. That was intense fire. God is a consuming fire. Nothing that is unholy can stand before Him. If you want the fire of God to fall as a result of your prayer, sanctify yourselves and be holy (Lev.11:44-45; Heb.12:14). God will purge his creation by fire. Every sinfulness of man will be consumed with fire. Nothing unholy will be able to stand. Like the 850 prophets were slaughtered, so God will consume every unrepentant sinner with everlasting fire. Repent today and turn to God and hell will not be your portion.

 

 

 

CHRIST'S SEARCH FOR FRUIT

CHRIST’S SERACH FOR FRUIT AND NOT LEAVES

Matthew 21:17-20

The story of the barren fig tree is not a parable but a true story. As Christ looked for fruit in that tree, He is looking for fruit in Christians – fruit of repentance, fruit of righteousness, and fruit of godly living. Believers are likened as trees in the Bible (Psalm 1:1-3; Jer. 17:7-8). When Christ comes back, He will look for fruit from all believers, not appearance only, but righteousness, holiness.

The Difference Between Faithful and False brethren

Col.1:2; Prov.20:11; 2Cor.11:26; Gal.2:4-5; Mat.21:28; 13:47-50; John 6:25-27, 60, 66-71

In His teachings Jesus spoke a lot in contrasts: faithful/unfaithful Christians; true/false believers; genuine/counterfeit followers; deep/shallow followers; dependable/undependable believers; in every Church there is always the good and the bad, the saint and the sinner, heavenly and earthly, saintly and sensual. Faithful brethren are saintly, righteous and holy. But those who publicize their own goodness are false. False brethren say “yes Lord”, but afterwards they do not obey afterward. These lack salvation, godliness true holiness, and righteousness. They will be separated from God in the last day.

If there are no provisions, false brethren cannot abide. Sometimes God can withdraw provisions and opportunities to test those who are true brethren and expose those who are false. False brethren always labour for things which are temporal. They never put value on things that are eternal. Such people are in the Church not because they want to go to heaven but because they want their temporal needs met

To join the faithful band of brethren, you must realize your errors, repent and do the will of God thus bring forth fruit meet for repentance (Mat.3:8). Faithful brethren are those who come to Church as sinners but have had their lives transformed by the word of God, prayer and repentance.

The Danger And Delusion Of False Brethren

Mat.21:19; 23:28, 33; Acts 8:9-13, 18-22; Mat.7:21-23, 26-27

“Let no fruit grow on thee forever”. This is a terrible pronouncement from the mouth of our gentle Saviour of whom it was said, “A bruised reed shall He not break and a smoking flax shall He not quench” (Isa.42:3). This would appear as hash but the Lord was teaching us a lesson here. Fruitless trees are useless and since Christians are called trees, fruitless Christians are useless to the Saviour. They are in danger of being cut down (Luke 3:9; John 15:2, 6).

A beautiful, outward form of religion is not acceptable to the Master. That is like having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2Tim 3:5). Remember Simon the Sorcerer, he was a false believer and God’s judgment was upon him (Acts 8:18-24). Like Simon, false believers are still in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. They need to repent immediately and seek for God’s mercy.

False believers are like the foolish man who built his house on sand. The winds of adversity, the rain of trials, the floods of persecution blew upon the house, but it could not stand because it was founded upon sand! How solid is your Christian life? Is it built on sand or is it founded upon the Rock?

The Decision And Dedication Of Fruit-Bearing Brethren

Psalm 119:30, 32, 47, 60, 63, 128, 11; Ruth 1:15-19; Mat.7:24-25

Decision is very important if a believer is to be a true believer bearing the fruits of righteousness and true holiness. They have “chosen the way of truth”. They have resolved to “run the way of God’s commandments”. To be a true believer you need a decision, you need resolve.” Family pressure will come, to divert you from your resolve. Winds of trials and temptation will come to blow you off course. Your own impatience, lack of discipline, worldly tendencies will conspire to pull you from your desire to follow the Master.

But if you are determined like Ruth; If you are resolved like her, to follow your master wherever it leads; If you are prepared, if necessary, to suffer for Him, then you are a true believer. Ruth went with her mother-in-law into a life of “uncertainty”. There she discovered that God makes uncertainty, certain. You will feel Him near you. You will receive His help.

If you are a Christian with a resolve like Esther (Esther 4:16), you are willing to go for the Lord even when it is not convenient, you are willing to die for the sake of the Master, you will do exploits.

To do this you will need to seek sanctification of the Spirit, so that your heart is not divided between the Lord and the world, between the Lord and your family, between the Lord and your other pursuits. Dedicate yourself to serving the Lord and bearing fruit in His vineyard.

When you do this you will build your faith house on the Rock. Winds of adversity cannot blow you down. Floods of persecution cannot wash you away! The Lord will watch over you and preserve you till His coming.