CHOSEN FOR COMPANIONSHIP

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach. Mark 3:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 4-6

The Lord initiated marriage to solve one problem and that is the problem of loneliness. Genesis 2:18 says and the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Adam was lonely in the garden not alone. There is a big difference between being lonely and being alone. One can be in a crowd of people at a football match and still feel lonely. The primary reason why Jesus called His twelve disciples was for companionship. Mark 3:14 says and he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach. Their number one assignment was to be His companion, His friend, His brethren, His close associate, His confidant, etc. Their secondary assignment was to witness about Him.

There is a lot to benefit from being His companion. Firstly, in His presence is fullness of joy. Psalm 16:11 says thou with shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Secondly, in His presence is 24 hours protection. Psalm 91:1 says he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Someone once said peace is not the absence of conflict but the present of God. Thirdly, in His presence is provision. According to Psalms 23:1, when the Lord is your shepherd, all your needs and want will be taken care of.

The reasons why the Lord saved our souls can be summarized under two main heading – Companionship and Ministry. He saved you and I, so that we might be His companions and minister to Him. The disciples were sent out to preach after they had been His companion. Our personal relationship with God is more important than our ministries, this is what some of us seems to forget. A lot are busy impacting the world, doing a lot of good things, but they have neglected the prayer alter. The power to do exploit comes when you spend quality time on your knees with the Lord. Anyone who will succeed in ministry must always have time to praise and worship God. He must also dedicate time to study his bible and pray. The time many spend with God has reduced as a result of the promotion He gave to them. Many no longer fast as they used to fast before promotion, some barely have time to even study the bible because they have gained employment, a lot now come late to church because they are married, and so on.

NOTE: The bigger the promotion, the more time you will need in prayer to keep that promotion.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

AND WALK IN LOVE

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. Ephesians 5:12

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 155-157

 What is the definition of love? According to 1 John 4:8, God is love. The bible goes further to tell us about the characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 , love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy , is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not arrogant; it is not rude, does not act unbecomingly. Love is not self – seeking; it takes not account of the evil done to it. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when righteousness and truth prevail and so on and so forth.

The bible then goes further again to tell us that love is showing mercy. One of the names of our Lord is Merciful and Gracious God (Exodus 34:6).  A loving person shows mercy. If God is merciful, then love is showing mercy because God is love (1 John 4:8). Love is giving. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. A loving person is not stingy. Love is obedience to the word of God.  John 14:15 says if you love me, keep my commandments. Many children claim they love their parents but they disobey them. Do you love your parents (spiritual and physical)? Many say honey I love you but they are not submissive to their heads (husbands). Love is sacrifice. John 15:13 says greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You claim to love your wife, what have you giving up for her? You claim to love your family, what you have sacrificed for them? You claim to love Christ, what are others holding on to that you have given up because of Christ?

Love is an internal thing. It is a thing of the heart. Love is a fruit of the regenerated human spirit. Galatians 5:22 saysBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,etc. Romans 5:5 says And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.You cannot truly love except you give your life to Christ. It is impossible to love without been born again because love is a fruit of the spirit and one cannot exhibit the fruit of the spirit without being genuinely saved.  Love is soul winning. A loving person will be uncomfortable when he sees people going to hell. The love of Christ will compel him or her to share Christ with them.

QUESTION: The year is running to an end, how many souls have you led to Christ? When was the last time you invited someone to church? When was the last time you prayed and fasted for the unsaved people in your community? Many of us are asking to God to do this and do that, the Lord is asking us this morning, how many people have you shared Christ with?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

AVOIDING EVICTION

MEMORY VERSE: That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you, Leviticus 18:28

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2Kgs 2 , 2 Thes 2, Dan 6, Ps 48

BIBLE STUDY: Lev 18:24-30

The land of Canaan was once given to a group of nations. I believe the Lord gave the land to them out of mercy and love. When they defiled themselves and defiled the land, the Lord evicted them. In Jesus no position is guaranteed or secured. That is why we need to run away from sin. As far as we do not defile ourselves, our positions in the Lord are secured, our blessings are secured. Not only that, our advantage in Christ is secured. 

From our bible study, the first thing we come to realize is that the land of Canaan evicted its previous occupants. I pray in the name that is above every other name that you will not be evicted from your land of Canaan in Jesus name, amen. It is disheartening, disappointing and shameful for a fellow to work very hard, engage in many battles before entering his promise land only to be evicted almost immediately. I pray that this shall not be your portion in Jesus name,amen. Friend, it is possible for a fellow to be evicted from his land of Canaan, that is why you and I need to be very careful. It is far harder to receive a blessing than to lose it. It can take years of fasting and fervent praying to get a blessing or particular gift of the spirit, if care is not taken one can lose the blessing or gift of the spirit through fornication. It takes only a few minutes to lose the blessing or the gift of the spirit if care is not taken. I pray for anyone who has lost a particular gift of the spirit or the other that the Lord will restore those gifts in the mighty name of Jesus name, amen.

In every blessing God gives to us, there is something inside it that is capable of ejecting us if we sin. The blessings God has given a fellow can turn against him if he offends the owner or the giver of the blessing. There is nothing as sad as been evicted. What makes it so sad is that the fellow might not get a second chance. It was God who appointed Saul as the king of Israel. When he defiled himself through disobedient, God replaced him with David; King Saul was evicted from the throne. You may not have been the first person to occupy that position or political office or post in the church of God. If you are not ready to meet God’s terms of residence, that post, political office will spit you out. I know you will do everything to meet God’s terms of residence so that senatorial seat will not spit you out. 

ACTION POINT: To avoid eviction, investigate what led to the eviction of your predecessor or the people who have occupied that post before you and run from it. Some of the things that defile a man are bribery and corruption, favoritism and tribalism, fornication and adultery, pride and stubbornness etc.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.

THE STRONG MAN

MEMORY VERSE: Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house, Matthew 12:29

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kgs 1, 2 Thes 1, Dan 5, Ps 46-47

In Matthew 12: 22 -29 they brought a demon possessed man who was blind and unable to speak to Jesus; a force stronger than him had possessed him and prevented him from making progress. Jesus healed him so that he could see and talk. Whilst everyone rejoiced with the family of the man who was healed, the Pharisee began to condemn Jesus. They said He performed miracles with the power of Beelzebub. When Jesus realized what they were thinking, He said to them, “every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed.” He then explained to them that it takes a strong man to put a fellow in bondage. It takes a stronger man to deliver the fellow from the strong man and it takes a stronger man to bind the strong man and spoil his house. Mark 12: 29 says or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house.

Who is the strong man? The strong man referred to in this passage is the demon that possessed the man. Strong men are demons. The first thing you need to know about strong men is that they are invisible to our physical eyes. Although they are invisible, the havoc they wreck is visible. We see from our passage that although the demon responsible for the man’s challenge is invisible, the blindness and dumbness he caused are visible. Ephesians 6: 12 says for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The second thing you need to know about the strong men is that they are wicked and stubborn. They will not move unless they are moved with force. They have no emotion and the only language they understand is violence. Matthew 11:12 says from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

It is important that you know that the strong men are strong and only bow to the power of God. The strong men are everywhere and they operate at different levels. One needs the spirit of discernment to recognize their operation. They operate in our places of work, in our communities, our schools, just to name a few. This is why we all need to take our spiritual lives serious. This is the main reason why we cannot joke with bible studies, fasting and praying, living a life of holiness and so on. This is why we cannot continue to live in sin. This is why family altar in every family is mandatory. Any parent not taking his or her ward to Sunday school is depriving that ward of the opportunity to grow spiritually. Lastly to stop the activities of the strong men we need the power of God. To put an end to their activities in our homes, families etc, we need to be endued with power from on high. To stop the activities of the strong men on our roads, we need power! To recover what the enemies have stolen from us, we need power.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please endue me with power from on high.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus

UNDERSTANDING TERRITORIES

MEMORY VERSE: and Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him, Mark 12:17

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 22, 1 Thes 5, Dan 4, Ps 45

Mark 12:17 says and Jesus answering said unto them, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him. From this verse we deduce that there are things that belong to Caesar and there are things that belong to God. Taxes belong to Caesar and tithes belong to God. A true believer is faithful in the payment of his taxes to the government. A believer should not defraud the government in taxes or employ schemes to evade tax payment.

In the animal kingdom, knowing one’s territory is an important key for survival. God help any goat that wanders into the territory of hyenas or wolves. The lion is the king of the jungle. He is very strong and bold. As strong and bold as lions are, they never hunt in the river. Firstly, a lion that hunts in the river will die hungry. Operating in an unknown territory leads to suffering and fruitless efforts. Secondly if care is not taken, a lion that hunts in the river may end up becoming lunch for a crocodile. Knowing and understanding your territory is key to your survival in the ministry or business. The whale is the biggest mammal in the world. The whale is so big it can swallow any animal. How come the whale only swims in deep waters? Due to its enormous size, swimming in shallow waters will pose unnecessary challenges for the whale. A fellow who operates in the wrong territory will be exposed to unnecessary challenges.

In the sky birds fly at different altitudes. Small winged birds don’t fly too high because of the wind currents at high altitudes. Operating in an unknown territory is dangerous and it could lead to physical harm. While eagles fly close to the sun, hawks dare not try it; any hawk that flies too close to the sun will be roasted by the heat from the sun. Operating in the wrong territory could cost one his life. This is why it is important to know one’s territory and remain in it. If the Lord has called you to into the teaching ministry, don’t venture into deliverance ministry except you are also called into the ministry too. If your territory is tailoring and fashion design, don’t venture into brick laying or plumbing. Stay where God has established you. That’s where He will use you to touch the world.

ACTION POINT: Pray that the Lord will reveal your territory to you.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.

THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO GOD

MEMORY VERSE: and Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him, Mark 12:17

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 21, 1 Thes 4, Dan 3, Ps 44

The Pharisees hated Jesus with a passion. Some of them loved him but the greater majority would do anything to kill Him. On a particular occasion, they sought to trap in words so they asked Him if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus requested for a penny and they gave it to him. He then asked whose picture and title are stamped on this penny. ‘Caesar’s’, they replied. He told them, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s, Mark 12:17.

There are things that belong to God and there are things that belong to Caesar, in other words there are things that belong to God and there are things that belong to men. This begs the question, what are the things that belong to God? Heaven and earth belongs to God, Genesis 14:19. Psalms 24:1 says the earth is the Lord and the fullness there in. Haggai 2:8 says silver and gold belongs to God. According Psalm 75:6-7, no one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. It is only God who judges, He brings one down, and He exalts another. There are many more things that belong to God for example your tithes belongs to God. Nonpayment of tithes is seen as robbing God, Malachi 3:8-12. Not only that, our body belongs to God. According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 our body is the temple of the living God; therefore we must glorify God in our body.

John 3:27 says a man can receive nothing, except it be given from God. Despite the fact that virtually everything belongs to God, there are one or two things that belongs to us. One of it is our decision. God told the children of Israelite ‘today I am setting before you life and death, choose life so that you may live’, Deuteronomy 30:19. God can guide you towards a decision but He will never make the decision for you. It is true that promotion comes from God, but the decision to work hard is yours. Our words and confession also belongs to us. According to Numbers 14:28, whatever God hears you say is what He will do for you but whatever you say is your prerogative. What you confess is what you will possess. The moment your confession changes, your possession also changes.

ACTION POINT: Decide to succeed and begin to confess success.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus

UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU ANSWER IT

MEMORY VERSE: shall we give, or shall we not give? But he knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, why ye tempt me? Bring me a penny that I may see it, Mark 12:15

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 20, 1 Thes 3, Dan 2, Ps 42-43

The Pharisees sought to trap Jesus in words , so they asked Him a tricky question in public. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? Jesus knew the reason for the question , He understood the motive of the inquiry so He requested for a penny. When they brought it, He asked them; "whose picture and title are stamped on it?" "Caesar’s", they replied. He said in that case, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s, Mark 12:17. 

It is essential that before you answer a question, you understand the question. The reason why many students don’t do well in exams is because they do not understand the examiner’s question. When you don’t understand the examiner’s question, you end up answering your own question instead of the examiner’s question and this inevitably leads to poor grades.

It is also very important that you know the intent behind the question. The reason why many don’t do well at interviews is because they do not know intention behind the questions. A classical interview question is what is your greatest weakness? The answer many give is ‘I haven’t any’. Firstly, that answer sounds arrogant and it shows a lack of self-awareness. To answer such a question, you need to understand the question. Not only that, you need to know the intention behind the question. The interviewer has noble intentions, he or she simply wants you to discuss about the skills that are not critical for the job and weakness that you have improved on. Answering a question you do not understand can lead to embarrassment. Answering a question you do not understand can lead to poor grade and if care is not taken, it can lead to failure. Understanding a question before answering it, can save one’s life. The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus in words, because he perfectly understood the question and their intentions, he was able to give them an answer that saved His life.

SUMMARY: It is better to keep quiet than answer a question you do not understand. 

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.