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.

HAGGAR VS ESTHER PT 1

MEMORY VERSE : Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her : for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when was she brought up with him, Esther 2:20

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 Sam 4, Rom 4, Jer 42, Luke 11

There are a lot of similarities between the Haggar ( hand maid of Sarah) and Esther. For example both of them came from humble beginnings. Their parents were so poor, the bible did not even bother to mention about their families. Not only that, both were slaves in a foreign land. Both were young girls who did not know where they were heading in life. Both were very humble. For Sarah to have given Haggai to Abraham, she must have demonstrated humility. If Esther had been a proud girl, Mordecai would not have bothered enrolling her for the beauty contest that saw her become the queen.

In one way or the other, the story of these girls changed. Haggar became the wife of one of the richest man in the world at that time and Esther became the Queen of one the most of prosperous nation at that time. Later in life, Haggar was sent out of the house and Esther was celebrated.

In these series we will be investigating the reasons behind Haggai’s failure and Esther’s success. One of the factors that led to Haggar’s Failure was her attitude when she got to the top. The bible records that immediately Haggar saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes, Genesis 16:4. Haggar used to be very humble suddenly but the spirit pride entered into her . Haggar who was the hand maid of Sarah suddenly began to look down on her mistress. Esther on the other hand became humbler. The higher God lifted her the humbler she became. The fact that she was the queen did not affect how she related to Mordecai. According to Esther 2:20,Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when was she brought up with him. Please don’t ever allow any promotion or blessing to affect your relationship with the people who used to counsel you or people you used to look up to. Since Haggai refused to humble herself she was demoted while the king threw a feast for humble Esther. Haggar became an ex – Madam while Esther remained a queen all her life.

PRAYER POINT :Father, help me not loose my advantage .

CALLING IT BY ITS REAL NAME

MEMORY VERSE: and Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them, Genesis 26:18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 3, Rom 3, Jer 41, Luke 10

BACKGROUND: The Philistines are a wicked set of people. What could Abraham have done to them to warrant destroying his properties after his death? Out of envy and jealousy they went and covered up the wells he had dug with sand. Isaac dug the wells again and called them by names which his father called them.

ANALYSIS: Isaac could have given the wells new names. No one would have questioned him as to why he did that. But he did that to honor his father. Despite the fact that he dug the wells at a different time and season, he still gave them the old names. Another reason why he gave them the old names was because the old names represented something.

Words are powerful. Names are more powerful. How we describe a thing matters. I remembered as a young school boy I was suspended from school for a week and when I got home, I told my parents that I have been exempted from all school activities for a week. My wise Dad then asked, why? I had no other choice than to tell him I was suspended. I tried to play with words but I was caught. I knew that ‘exempted from school activities’ did not sound as terrible as ‘suspension’. To be suspended from school sounds very bad, but ‘exempted from school activities’ didn’t sound too bad.

Back in the days, sex before marriage or sex outside marriage used to be frowned upon by everyone including unbelievers because of the name that was giving to it. Sex before marriage used to be called fornication and sex outside marriage used to be called adultery. Today it is not so anymore , they call it names like ‘having fun’; ‘ making love’ ; ‘having a nice a time’ ; ‘spending time the night together’. These names have made fornication and adultery acceptable or look not so bad. It sounds ok when you say i made love with that sister but it sounds like a sin when you say I fornicated with that sister. Adultery is adultery and fornication is fornication not having a good time.

Back in the days anyone who partakes or commits a crime is called a criminal. Anyone who stole or robs a bank or do fraud or do credit card fraud or send funny emails with the intention to dupe e.t.c were all referred to as criminals but today it is now called ‘yahoo boys’; ‘sharp boy’; ‘fast boys’; ‘big boys’; ‘town boys’; ‘hustler’ e.t.c . A criminal is a criminal and a thief is a thief. When a woman sells her body for money or favor, it used to be called prostitution but today they call it ‘business’ or ‘runs’. We never used to hear of the word boyfriends or lovers or girlfriends. All we used to hear was fiancé or fiancée. Names can make an unacceptable thing look acceptable.

KEY POINT: No matter what we call it, what is bad is bad. God still frowns at sin regardless of how we describe the sin.

BITTERNESS HINDERS

MEMORY VERSE: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice, Ephesians 4:31

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 2, Rom 2, Jer 40, Luke 9

BACKGROUND: Between Genesis 21:12 where God told Abraham to hearken to Sarah and send Hagai away to Genesis 22:1-2 where God told Abraham to go and offer his son for a burnt offering on a mountain was a period of over fifteen years. 

ANALYSIS: Isaac was weaned between the age of two and five according to the Jewish culture. Abraham sent Hagai away around the period when Isaac was weaned. Now Isaac was a young adult (between the age of nineteen and twenty five) when the Lord asked Abraham to go and offer him as burnt offering on the mountain. We know Isaac was a young adult because he was old enough to travel on foot for three days with Abraham without his mother. Not only that, the conversation between Abraham and Isaac showed that he was young adult. Besides Isaac was the one who carried the wood for the sacrifice up the mountain.

When you carefully study the bible, you will notice that from Genesis 21:12 to Genesis 22:1-2, Abraham did not hear a single word from God. In other words for a period of over fifteen years Abraham who was a friend of God never heard a word from God. The question is why? Why would God keep silence for such a long period despite his relationship with Abraham? The reason for this is found in Genesis 21:25 -26, Abraham dug a well and the servants of Abimelech violently took it away from him. Instead of the old man (Abraham) to bring the matter before Abimelech, he just kept it inside and bitterness began to grow in him. The old man taught Abimelech was aware of what his servants had done so he began to nurse bitterness against him. It was until later when Abimelech visited him and he raised the subject of the well that he found out that Abimelech did not even know about the evil thing his servants had done. Immediately Abraham settled with Abimelech, Abraham began to hear from God again.

Bitterness is a spiritual poison. It kills one’s spiritual life. Bitterness is in the soul. It blocks one’s spiritual eyes and ears. Hearing from God becomes impossible when there is bitterness inside us. If you have bitterness against anyone please call the fellow and settle right away. For over fifteen years God was looking for an opportunity to speak to Abraham, because his spiritual ears were blocked he could not hear a single word. Immediately he emptied himself of bitterness, his spiritual ears were unblocked and he began to hear from God again. An old man of God found some fliers and began to use it for evangelism. The publishers of these fliers found out that this old man was using their fliers so they took him to court and the whole court procedure stressed this old man out. After the court case the old man began to nurse bitterness against these young men. One day he slept in the Lord and when he got to heaven Jesus told him that no one harboring bitterness is not allowed in the heaven. Out of unusual mercy, the Lord permitted him to return to make amendment.Ephesians 4:31 says let all bitterness be put away from you. Is it really worth it to spend eternity in hell because of a fellow who wronged you? Why not call those you harbor bitterness against and settle.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please rid me of every bitterness today!

BLESSED MEMORY

MEMORY VERSE : the memory of the just is blessed: the name of the wicked shall rot, Proverbs 10:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 Sam 1, Rom 1, Jer 39, Luke 8

BIBLE STUDIES : Acts 9:36 – 42

If the Lord tarries, a day is coming when we will all sleep and not wake up. If the Lord delays His second coming, a day is coming when the alarm clock will go off at 5am as usual and we will not hear not because we overslept but because we slept in the Lord. Brethren a day is coming when the bold will not be able to utter a single word again , when the strong and mighty will not be able to defend himself no more. In that day the king’s subjects will say long live the king and he will not be able to respond with his usual smile. In that day they will call Mr President , and Mr President will not able to respond. In that day the husband will say dear and the wife will not be able to answer, the wife will say honey and the husband will not be able to answer. In that day the word ‘late ‘ will now be added to our names i.e. late Mr A.

In Acts 9 : 36 – 42 Dorcas slept like everyone in Joppa but did not wake up the next morning ; her race on earth had ended. They laid her in the upper chamber and by her was memories of how she spent her time on earth – the widows she had fed ; the people she had helped; the families she had paid for their children’s tuition ; the naked she had clothe; the hungry she had fed ; the homeless she had given accommodation to e.t.c.

In that day when my body and your body will be laid down, what will be the memory beside it? Proverbs 10:7 says the memory of the just is blessed. Sister will it be all the abortion and sugar daddies you had? Bro will it be all the ladies you impregnated and denied it or those you slept with behind your wife ? Manager will it be all the staff you refused to pay their salary in time or those you sacked because they did not play the game ? Supervisor will it be the staffs you victimised? Mr Politician will it be all the money you embezzled – money meant for the community you used for yourself and family? Born again will it be all your neighbors you don’t greet? Anointed man of God will it be the truth you refused to preach because you don’t want offend some sets of members? Mr Police will it be cases of perverted justices? Believers will it be those that backslided because of you.

TO PONDER : Will my memory be a blessed one?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus

WHEAT AND TARES

MEMORY VERSE: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles, Matthew 7:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ruth 3-4, Acts 28, Jer 38, Luke 7

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 13:24- 30

In the early stage of development, wheat and tares look alike. They have the same height, color; respond to the same conditions in the same way. As they grow, it becomes even harder to tell the difference. If care is not taken tares could be taken for wheat and vice and versa. You only know which is which until they mature. At maturity, the wheat has fruits in its head while the tares are filled with little black seeds. Tares are weeds and like any other weeds they are harmful. In elementary agricultural science we learnt that weeds reduce crop yield because they compete for water, nutrients & lights with the real plant. They reduce the value of the land. They are harmful to human beings and animals. Also some harbor insects –pests & disease pathogens e.t.c. 

The field in the parable of the wheat and tares is the church of God. There is a need for the church to be spiritually awake. Because the church of God is asleep, the enemy has sown a lot of tares among the wheat. The enemy has sown a lot of satanic doctrines some of which are it is ok to smoke cigarette because cigarette only destroys the body not the spirit. 1 Cor 6:19-20 says our body belongs to God not us. Destroying the body with alcohol, cigarette, weed, cocaine and so on is demolishing God’s temple. The wheat are the genuine Christians, those who have been washed clean by the blood of the lamb and tares are the look alike. The tares are spiritual weed in the church. Some of them just come to church to look for a husband or a wife. They do not want to be saved but they want to marry a saved brother or sister. We have them everywhere in the church - evangelism team, choir, usher, prayer warrior e.t.c. The fact that a brother is in church does not mean he is a Christian. The fact that a sister is always leading praise and worship every Sunday does not mean she is a Christian. How do you tell the difference between the wheat and tares? By their fruits. 

When the servants of the householder wanted to go and gather the tares from the field, the householder told them not to bother because whilst gathering the tares they might uproot the wheat with them. Asides from the fact that the tares looked just like the wheat, the wheat grew too close to the tares which makes it very difficult to uproot the tares without destroying the wheat. A trained servant could be able to tell the difference between the two but whilst gathering tares, he might uproot the wheat also because of their closeness. This is why heaven minded believers must choose their friends carefully. The day the wicked is going to get punished for his actions, the righteous close to him might partake in it if care is not taken. Proverbs 13:20 says he that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. The fools will get their reward but their companion would not be spared either. The companion of the fools might include one or two not so wise men.

PRAYER POINT: Father , every plant you have not planted in your church please uproot them.

DON’T QUIT

MEMORY VERSE: and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, Galatians 6:9

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Josh 3, Ps 126-128, Isa 63, Matt 11

Challenges are part and parcel of life. Been a Christian does not exempt you from challenges. Challenges will come but the good thing about it is that you will overcome them. John 16:33 says these things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. At times challenges may come and push you to the left and to the right; It may shuffle you to this side and that side; It may throw you up and down; it may even beat you blue and black but don’t worry it will not kill you but make you stronger. Psalm 34:20 says He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. God will ensure that no matter what happens, at the end you will be able to stand and give your testimony.

What we need to do in the midst of challenges is just hold on to God. As far as we hold on to God He will see us through. In the midst of challenges or during the waiting period there will be pressures on both sides to quit believing or quit everything and just do what others do but please don’t quit. Galatians 6:9 says and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Those who quit don’t win the race. Those who quit don’t testify. Quitters are not celebrated .Quitters are not rewarded. If you want the Lord to reward you with victory please do not quit.

Do not give in to pressure. Pressure to quit only comes when victory is around the corner. The darkest hour of the night is just before the turning of the morning. The pressure to quit is greatest at the moment of breakthrough. If only you know how close you are to your breakthrough you will not quit. In Matthew 4:1-11, the devil waited for Jesus to fast for forty days and night before tempting him with food. The pressure to break your fast is greatest when something is about to happen in the spirit. The closer you are to fulfilling God’s plan for your life, the more the pressure to go in to sin. The closer Joseph was to becoming the prime minister, the more the pressure to fornicate with Portiphar’s wife. When Joseph became very close, the wife of Portiphar grabbed him and said today is today, you must sleep with me. Don’t quit keeping yourself for the husband or wife the Lord is bringing. In the physical it might look as if is nothing is happening, but I can assure you a lot is happening at a very rapid speed in the spiritand that is why the devil is mounting pressure so that you quit and loose what God has in store for you.

PRAYER POINT: Father, give me the grace to hold on.