FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BRETHREN

MEMORY VERSE: blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, Psalm 1:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judg 4, Acts 8, Jer 17, Mark 3

There is safety in fellowshipping with christian brothers and sisters. There is peace in fellowshipping with the brethren. You will never find a true brother or sister in Christ get into trouble with the law because they are law abiding citizens. The life of Christian brothers and sisters maybe boring but it is problem and heart ache free. It is true they don’t do fun things like partying late at night or clubbing but there lifestyle gives peace of mind. I heard a story not too long ago that brought tears to my eyes. A Christian lady escorted her friends to a night party. While everyone was having fun, someone spiked her drink (added some drugs to her drink) and she unknowingly drank it. Before you know it some strange men took her into a room and began to have sex with her. One way or the other her friends found out what happened and reported the matter to the police. The boys were arrested and the parents of this lady demanded a blood test. The result of the test that came out showed that two of the boys that slept with her were HIV positive. If only her friends were born again, she would not have gone out that night.

When you fellowship with the brethren, evil ideas and strange suggestions will not be giving to you. When you fellowship with the brethren, they will never advise you to divorce your husband or be rude to him. When you fellowship with the brethren, they will never encourage you to participate in extra – marital affairs. When you fellowship with the friends, there is no jealousy or people talking behind your back. When you fellowship with the brethren, you will never get depressed because they are always talking about faith. When you are down, they will speak the word of encouragements to you and share bible verses that would build your faith. When you fellowship with the brethren, you don’t give up easily because faith in the power of God is always preached.
Psalm 1:1 says blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. In other words, if you want the Lord to bless you walk with the godly / brethren. If you are looking for a counselor, choose a brother or sister in Christ. The reason is that the mentality of the brethrens is very good. In all their counsels, God always come first. If those that are counseling you do not have the fear of God deeply rooted in their heart, God help you. Not that they will purposely lead you astray, but their counsel will be devoid of divine wisdom which is pure, full of mercy, impartial, sincere ( James 3:17).

ACTION POINTS: Choose your friends in Christ.

WHY HAVE YE DONE THIS?

MEMORY VERSE: and ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars : but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Judges 2: 2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Judg 3, Acts 6, Jer 16, Mark 2

BIBLE STUDIES : Judges 2:1-3

Psalm 24:1 says the earth is the Lord and it’s fullness thereof ; the world, and they that dwell therein. The Most High owns the whole world. He owns Germany, UK, Malaysia, Morocco, Somalia, just name it. Because He owns everything , He can decide to take a slave and make him a prime minister at any time. If you don’t believe me, read the story of Joseph and Daniel in the bible. Both of them started as slaves in a foreign land but the Lord turned things around and made them Prime Ministers. In my short time on earth, i have seen the Lord take a prisoner from death row and make him a Head of State in the same country. 

As the Lord had promised His friend ( Abraham) , He delivered his descendants from Egypt and gave them Canaan – a land flowing with milk and honey. Before He gave them the land, He warned them not to make league with the inhabitants of the land i.e. participate in the abominable practices of the land. Not only that, He warned them to continue to serve Him as they did in the desert. When the children of Israel got to Canaan ,they did the exact opposite . They Lord then sent an angel to ask them why they did that? The Lord was not asking a question, He was simply expressing His disappointment in the way they conducted themselves in Canaan.

Just like the Israelite of old, the Lord has brought many out of Egypt i.e. bondage, unemployment, sickness, lack, e.t.c to Canaan- a land flowing with milk and honey. Instead of serving God as they used to serve Him when they had nothing they suddenly become too busy with the activities of Canaan. Brothers who used to evangelize when they were in university no longer have time for evangelism because they are busy with work. The Lord is asking why have ye done this? Individuals who never used to miss church services when they were looking for visas to travel abroad now get abroad and forget the Lord completely. The Lord is asking why have ye done this? Sisters who never used to miss workers prayer meeting when they were looking to God for a life partner now come late or even miss it. The Lord is asking why have ye done this? 

QUESTION? Are you serving the Lord the way you used to serve Him before you got that breakthrough?

Abo

PERFECT WILL VS PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD

MEMORY VERSE: and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that of God, and acceptable, and perfect will of God, Romans 12:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judg 2, Acts 6, Jer 15, Mark 1

The word ‘good’ suggests the existence of another word ‘bad’. The word ‘light’ informs us of the existence of the word ‘darkness’. The perfect will of God in our memory verse suggest the existence of a less than perfect will of God. In other words if there is a perfect will of God, then there is also a not so perfect will of God also known as permissive will of God. I want you to know that the Lord knew you before the foundation of the world (Jeremiah 1:5). Whilst you were in your mother’s womb, He had decided His will for your life (Psalm 139:13). So you are not on earth by accident, you are here on earth for a particular purpose (God’s ordained purpose).

The perfect will of God is God’s divine plan for your life. This is what He has divinely arranged – the kind of man or woman to marry, career, ministry, and so on. The permissive will of God is what He permits. A point to note is that the fact that He permits something does not mean it is His will. For instance, if God wants a person to get married at the age of 30, He knows the exact reason why. If the person is obedient and waits for God’s timing, he will receive all the blessings God has for him. Suppose when the person reaches the age of 25 he finds a woman and decides to marry her. It will not be God’s perfect will. If the person continues to pray about it over and over, God will give him a go –ahead. But it will be God’s permissive will. He will still bless them but they will not enjoy the full blessings that come with His perfect will. 

The Holy Spirit is gentle and He will not force anyone against his or her will. The Most High wanted to be the king over the Israelites but the people saw how other nations had kings and desired a king for themselves (1 Samuel 8:1- end). It was not God’s will for the people to have another king because God was already their king but the people kept asking for a king so the Most High said no problem and gave them a king – King Saul. That was God’s permissive will not His perfect will. God did bless them, but they not receive the full blessing of God. When God was there king, they had peace but after they received their king – burdens after burdens, wars after wars. God wants to give you the best not His second best. A life operating under the perfect will of God will be colorful. To get the perfect will of God, you need to be very patient. The elders have a saying ‘only the patient dog eats the fattest bone’.

QUESTION: Which do you prefer, perfect will or permissive will? Full blessing or half blessing?

GOD VS FATHER XMAS?

MEMORY VERSE: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, Hebrew 11:6b 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Josh 24, Acts 4, Jer 13, Matt 27

I have always feel uncomfortable with the concept of Father Xmas, partly because it is not biblically but most importantly because of what it represents. At a particular time of the year, Father Xmas comes and gives gifts to children. Whether the children have been naughty or not, they get a gift. Whether they do their assignments or not they get a gift. Whether they obey their parents or not, they still get a gift. There is nothing wrong in giving gifts to children if the intention is to reward them for obeying Dad and Mum all through the year. It is actually good to reward children for studying hard at school and getting good grades. This is a good way to motivate them to perform better next year. But the concept of Father Xmas is you get something for doing nothing. Not only that, the fellow who has done nothing will get the same thing as the fellow who has worked hard.

The Most High is not a Father Xmas. With Father Xmas, whether you obey your parents or not he will greet you with a smile but God frowns at children who disobey their parents, Exodus 20:12. Whether you have been a naughty child or not Father Xmas gives you an unrestricted access to himself but the Most High does not reward naughty children with unrestricted access to Himself. Whether your clothes are dirty or not he will put you on his laps and play with you. God is too holy to behold uncleanliness. He will never hug a fellow who is not living a righteous and holy life. Oh Father Christmas is never angry, everything you do is right even when you are on the part to hell. It is true God is love, 1 John 4:8 but He is also a consuming fire, Hebrew 12:29. If anyone tells you that God is never angry, it is a big lie. Psalms 7:11 says God is angry with the wicked every day.

Father Xmas does not care about your past or future; all he cares about is the moment. He does not love you, that is why he gives sweet and chocolates even though sweets and chocolates will later destroy your teeth. Our God cares about you and your future. According to Jeremiah 29:11, He wants to give you an expected end. He created heaven with you in mind that is why when He sees a fellow living in sin He is not happy. While the sweets and chocolates of the Father Xmas damage your health, the gifts of God are not only good but perfect, James 1:17. Most importantly, God does not operate on something for nothing. He only rewards those that diligently seek Him, Hebrew 11:6b.

QUESTION: God or Father Xmas?

KILL THE LITTLE LEOPARD NOW

MEMORY VERSE: Abstain from all appearance of evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Josh 23, Acts 3, Jer 12, Matt 26

A hunter went to hunt and killed a big leopard, he then discovered that the leopard had a small baby- a very little baby leopard, harmless little thing, so he took it home. When the chief (head of the village) saw the little leopard coming with him, he screamed ‘what are you bringing this little leopard to do in our village’? He said ‘oh no it is just a little harmless leopard ‘. The chief said ‘let’s kill it now’; he said ‘no no no this little thing can’t harm anybody’. So the little leopard began to grow and play with children everywhere because it is just a little leopard. This little leopard became so playful to the extent that the son of the hunter could even sit on its back and ride it around. One day (the little leopard has now become a big leopard) the son of the hunter was riding on the back of this leopard towards the village stream, the boy fell and bruised his leg on the thorn bush and blood began to flow. The leopard licked the blood and that thing in the leopard – that thing makes a leopard a leopard rose up within him at the taste of blood. The first victim was son of the hunter.

Brethren if you do not kill that little leopard in your life now, it will kill you. You may be wondering, what is that little leopard? The little leopard is that little contamination; that little anger; that little sin; that little peep at naked pictures; that little steering at woman who wear provocative clothes; that little talk of sex with your fiancé; that little lies; that little love for sleep ; that little love folding of hands and doing nothing;that little sexual jokes; that little touching or smushing or tapping of currents; that little harmless hug (those hugs that a little too long); that little telephone conversation with the opposite sex in the middle of the night; that little love for something that is not of God. If you do not kill it now, that little leopard will become a big leopard and that big leopard would kill.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 says abstain from all appearance of evil. Abstain from whatever appears has evil! Lot was a great man of God who loved a little bit of wine. He never drinks in the public, only at home. He only takes a little sip of wine once in a blue moon. After the Lord delivered him from Sodom, his corrupt daughters got him drunk and slept with him, Genesis 19:31-35. That little love for wine ruined Lot’s life forever. No one can get you drunk when you don’t drink. You only stand a chance of been drunk when you drink. David was a man after the heart of God. He would sing praises to God 7 times a day but he loved steering at women a little too long. He loved to feed his eyes just like many do today. One day he saw the wife of a man bathing and he steered a little bit too long (2 Samuel 11:5-27). Before David knew what was happening, he had already committed adultery with the wife of his soldier. Do you know David was dethroned by his son for this?

WISDOM: If you do not destroy that little harmless leopard now it will become a big leopard and that big leopard would kill.

BE FRIENDLY

MEMORY VERSE: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, Proverbs 18:24

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Josh 22, Acts 2, Jer 11, Matt 25

Unfriendliness has frustrated the grace of God upon the life of many. The reason why the glory of God is yet to manifest in the life of some is a result of not been friendly. Whatever it is you are going to become in life, you need humans. To fulfill that glorious destiny of yours you need people. No matter what you cannot do without people. Ninety per cent of the time when the Lord wants to bless a fellow, He sends people not angels. A very successful lawyer was sharing his story with us some months back when he came back from Nigeria. On his way to a town he needed to use the toilet so he parked at a filling station and approached the attendants. He asked the attendant who was at the till if he could use their toilet, she replied no in an unfriendly tone. He then approached the other attendant – a man and that one said no problem. After using the toilet, the lawyer introduced himself to this male attendant and told him that if he ever felt like visiting UK he should contact him. He gave him his business card and left.

There are some people who never smile. The reason why some singles are yet to find their life partners is because they are unfriendly and never smile. The question is who wants to live with a brother or sister who is not friendly? I always joke that whilst praying for a life partner, if i dream and see a sister who is frowning, when I wake up I would use the blood Jesus to cancel the bad dream. Why? Because I know moods are contagious. If you stay around happy people you will become happy and vice versa. Most of what we call the work of demons and house hold enemies are not at all. They are mostly the result of our unfriendliness. The reason why many are yet to be promoted despite how good they are at their job is because they are not friendly. The reason why many fail at interviews is because they are not friendly. I was indirectly involved in the recruitment of some staffs at my place of work. Two of the CVs were from former employees. One of them was unfriendly and the other was very friendly. The unfriendly fellow had the all required training and certificates but the friendly one only had experience. At the end of the day we picked the friendly one over the unfriendly one. Despite the fact that the friendly one had no certificates, my boss had no choice than to bend the rule for this fellow. The truth of the matter is who wants to work with an unfriendly colleague? No one.

I discovered that unfriendly people pay more when they go to buy things in the shop. When the seller is busy offering soft drinks and tea to friendly customers, he will be charging the unfriendly customers exorbitant price. Why? No one wants an unfriendly customer. Once they see that you are unfriendly, they will charge you exorbitant price to scare you away. I went to a shop with a friend to buy some items and the Indian seller told us it cost 140 pounds. My friend in a friendly tone said ‘accha let me give you 40’. The seller replied ‘accha please make it 60’. Accha means something good in Hindi. Anyway before i knew what was happening, my friend took out 40 pounds and the seller gladly handed over the item to us.

WISDOM: It pays to be friendly.

WHAT IS INSIDE WILL SHOW ON THE OUTSIDE

MEMORY VERSE: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh, Luke 6:45.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Josh 20-21, Acts 1, Jer 10, Matt 24

A lecturer went into a classroom with two oranges of the same size – one was yellow on the outside and the other was green. He asked the students ‘of these two oranges, if i ask you to choose one which one will you choose?’ They all said the yellow one. He then asked ‘why?’ They said because it will be the sweeter. How do you know? You haven’t tasted it; we haven’t cut it open; you cannot see the inside; how do you know that the yellow one will be the sweeter asked the lecturer? Their reply was the outside shows. What is inside will definitely show on the outside. When you see a lady walking around dressed like a harlot you know what is on the inside. When you see a young man dressed like a thug or a hooligan you know what is on the inside.

When a fellow is mad, he is mad on the inside but does it show on outside? Yes of course. In the olden days how do we know when someone is getting mad? The hair on the head will begin to look funny. That will tell you there are several mad people in our offices; all you need to do is take a look at the hair. They may call it style to deceive you but it is what is on the inside that is coming out on the outside. There are some people who think that in other to get the youths into the church we need to dress like them, talk them, behave like them e.t.c. That is complete rubbish. The youths are looking for a role model – an elder they can look up to or copy. The youths want to come up to where the elders are but the elders are going down to where the youths are. There are many who say in other to get the unbelievers into the church we need to be not too spiritual or a bit worldly. Brethren the unbelievers love spirituality. That is why you see them practicing yoga and other forms of meditations. Back in the days unbelievers look up to the believers on how to dress, but now believers are looking up to the unbelievers how to dress. What a shame!

Before i gave my life to Christ, i used to visit brothels. I discovered that there is a way harlots dress when they are on duty and off duty. When they are on duty at nights i.e. at the brothels, they wear skimpy clothes that expose their body parts to attract customers. Once they are off duty i.e. in the morning on their way home they were long skirts and cover up to inform us that they are off duty. Only harlots on duty wear skimpy clothes that reveal their thighs or expose body parts that are meant to be covered. If you are not a harlot on duty, why wear skimpy clothes or expose body parts that are meant to be covered? The sad thing is that it is some parents who buy these dresses for their daughters. These parents fear their child more than they fear God. The truth of the matter is such parents do not love that child. They do not care. The worst part is there are some husbands who allow their wife to dress up like a harlot. They encourage their wives to show a bit of cleavage or wear short dresses. Such men do not value their wives.

PRAYER POINT: Father , have mercy on the world.