I know the Lord is very special and i thought of what i can offer him as a GIFT.

I imagined so many gift items from a supermarket.

I thought of buying him a special wine but remembered he turned water to wine (John 2: 7-11).

I went to the bakery to make a special bread for him, but remembered he is the BREAD OF LIFE.(John 6:35)

I thought of buying him a private jet but I remembered he ascended into heaven.(Luke 24:50)

I thought of buying him a shoe. But remembered the earth is his footstool and no shoe can size his feet.(Psalms 24:1)

I thought of buying him a phone so as to communicate with people that are far away, but discovered that he is everywhere and does not need a phone.

I thought of buying him a computer connected to the internet but I found out that he knows all things that he is the knowing all GOD.

I thought of buying him a ship so he can cross the river, ocean and sea with but remembered he walks upon waters and does not need a ship.(John 6:16-21)

I thought of employing security men to guard him, nut how many can I employ that will be more than uncountable angles surrounding him.

I thought of employing special musicians like Don Moen, Ron Kenoly and CeCe Winans to play music for him but remembered that the birds of the air sing unto him and the trees of the field clap their hands.

WHAT THEN CAN I OFFER THE LORD?

I need to offer something to the Lord. There is only one thing the Lord requires and appreciates from us which is PRAISE AND WORSHIP. The Lord does not play with it he can do anything to get it. He can even raise stones to praise him (Luke 19:39-40) No wonder he said it in his word that let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Give the Lord your praise and worship him because he is worthy as i come and bow down. The Lord will not raise stones to praise him in our time in JESUS NAME (AMEN).

Sis. Damilola Durosimi.

The Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary define’s purpose as: Means, Intention, aim or function of something.Purpose can also mean intention, plan, point or idea. After salvation, it is difficult to state what your purpose in life is, because God has moved you into his purpose through the Holy Spirit. He is using you now for his own purpose in this world as he uses His son Jesus for the purpose of our salvation. If  you seek great things for yourself, thinking God has called you for this and that, you are barricading God from using you. As long as you maintain your own personal interests and ambitions you cannot be completely aligned or identify with God’s interest. This can only be accomplished by giving up all your personal plans once and for all, and by allowing God to take you directly to his purpose. Our understanding of our ways must also be surrendered, because they are now the ways of the Lord.

Exodus 9:16 | I have raised you up for this very purpose that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Proverbs 19:21 | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Isaiah 14:24 | The Lord Almighty has sworn ‘surely’ as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed so it will happen.

Isaiah 46:10 | I make known the end from the beginning from ancient times, what is still to come, I say ‘my pupose’ will stand and I will do all that I please.

1st Corinthians 3:8 | The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour.

Romans 8:28 | And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and to them who are called according to his purpose

As believers, we should aim to work by faith and not by sight. When we would not be moved by whatever situation we find ourselves knowing that it is God’s purpose that is being fulfilled in us.

Finally, according to Psalm 119:33-48 it tells us that when we walk in alignment with God’s purpose, we can be everything God has revealed in his will for us to be. True happiness comes in life when we are living in accordance with the will of God. No other way of life will make us happy or satsify the desires of the heart. In essence the word of God is like a ‘prescription’ it brings healing and joy to the heart.

Bro. Tunde Banjo

THE GOD OF POWER

The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct.

Ps 62:11 –“God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this that power belongs to God”.

• · God is all powerful, the omnipotent and wise God who executes his will by His power. That’s while in Gen 1, He created everything by His spoken word. There is power in the word of God.
• · God’s power is infinite, eternal, cannot be limited, checked, restrained or frustrated by the devil or his agents and by any man.
• · Satan deceived man to sin and fall from Grace but could not stop the plan of God for salvation which was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. And so through the power of His resurrection, we have been set free.
• · There is therefore power in the Mercy of God to save and deliver as many as would come to him- Philippians 3:10.
• · There is also power in the Judgement of God in Revelation 21:8, where all the unbelieving and wicked people will be cast into hell if they refuse to repent.
• · God has delegated his power and authority to his children to love and do wonders in the name of Jesus. “That’s while the bible says that as many that do know their God, they shall be strong and do exploits”.
• · God has given us power and the authority to preach the word, heal the sick and deliver the oppressed.
• · There is power in the word of God, in the name of Jesus, in the blood of Jesus and God has also made a wonderful provision for His spirit, the Holy Ghost to dwell in the believers.With the Holy Ghost, you will live a victorious Christian life, overcoming satan, sin and the various challenges of life.

Don’t limit yourself, tap into the power of God to enjoy the various blessings and provisions He made for you.

Sis. Bimbo Omankhalen.

Text: Mark 11:23, 24

Believing that receives is not something humanly produced; rather, it is a believing faith imparted to the believer`s heart by God himself. Sometimes the fulfillment which true faith desires is granted immediately; at other times it is not. Yet God gives the faith that the prayer has been heard and the request will be granted. The uncertainty concerns the time of fulfillment, not the granting of the request. Jesus said in Matthew 9:23 ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’ This statement must not be taken as an unqualified promise. The ‘all things ’does not mean everything we can think of. The prayer of faith must be based on the will of God. It never asks for anything foolish or wrong, James 4:3. We can ask God to help our unbelief and doubt like the father of the demonic boy in Mark 9:24 ‘…Lord I believe; help thou mine unbelief.’ We have a God who cares and sympathizes with our weaknesses and He is willing to help us if only we trust and depend solely on Him.

Jesus frequently commented on the nature of true faith. He speaks of a faith that can move mountains, cause miracles and healing and accomplish great things for God. What situation are you passing through right now, just believe for all things are possible if you believe and trust God. True faith is given to a believer on the basis of God’s love, wisdom, grace and kingdom purpose in order to accomplish the will of God and to express His love for us.

Doubt and unbelief are enemies of success. They are also the ageless enemies of faith. When courage and confidence are absent in your life, it is an evidence that faith is not in control. Don’t be a doubter for doubters are not usually decisive. Doubting peoples halt between two opinions. They are not even sure of the certainty of whether or not the steps they are taking will be effective.

The prayer of faith is forever effectual. Doubt is the greatest obstacle to an answered prayer. You ought to believe in yourself and also in your ability in order to make progress. Doubt will keep you perpetually to be undecided and in confusion of what actually will work for your success. You can learn to take actions on your plans for success by exercising faith on the God of all possibilities.

Statement of Fact: God can do everything but fail

Prayer:  Help me dear Lord, to believe that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

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THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

TEXT: PSALM 115:12-13

The fundamental truth in the bible passage today is that God is faithful and unfailing in His promises to His Children. “The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great” (Psalm 115:12, 13). Faithfulness and truthfulness begins with Him and is an integral part of His nature, character and actions. He is totally committed to whatever He has promised in His word and it is impossible for Him to lie.  “ Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things , in which it was impossible for God to lie … ”  (Hebrews 6:17,18).

    Like the Psalmist, we need to put our confidence in God and trust in His ability to pilot us through every situation in life. It is hopeless to put your hope in Men and Idols who are incapable of delivering you from every situation (Psalm 115:4-7).   The Lord is mindful of His people. When you grow weary and face uncertain situations in life like turbulence in marriage, business failures, academic challenges, temptations, persecutions, discrimination, injustice, undue pressure at work etc , remember that because of His faithfulness, He is able to keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8).

If you are facing strong temptations towards sin, find strength and encouragement in the truth that, God is faithful, He will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). If you feel like your situation is impossible and your hope in God’s promises is waning, remember that God is the help and the shield of those who put their trust in Him. If you are overwhelmed by the difficulties of life, remember that it is “because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not; they are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him” (Lamentation 3:22, 23, 25).

   While God expresses His faithfulness in divers ways, He expects His people to draw close to Him daily with a true, loyal and devoted heart. The dead and those who are destitute of good works cannot appreciate God’s faithfulness.

Things to reflect on.

Ponder on the faithfulness of God and have quality time to praise the Lord.          

The Love of God

The Promise of a new heart and the Fulfilment of this Promise

A) The Heart of Man

• Biblical description of man’s heart 

- The foundation of man’s reasoning, thoughts, passions, affections, motives and intentions – Matthew 15:18-19

- The hidden man – 1 Peter 3:4

B) The heart of the unregenerate man caused by the effect of sin:

Only evil continually - Gen 6:5 ‘And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.’

Will not seek or love God, full of filth and is ungodly – Psalm 14:2-3 ‘ The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. vs 3 ‘They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.’

Wicked, Deceitful, Sick – Jeremiah 17:9-10

Point for discussion:

- Genesis 4:6-10 – Cain’s heart was wicked and sick

- The Israelites’ wicked heart of unbelief

- King David’s story in 2^nd Samuel 12:1-9 and his prayer request in Psalm 51:10 after he realised the state of his heart.   King David realised this need after he committed the sin of adultery and murder and did not realise his terrible state until God sent Nathan the prophet to him.

- The fool who denies the existence of God in his heart    

- Ephesians 4:17-19

Ask members of the group to cite more examples of the various manifestation of the natural (carnal, unregenerate) man’s heart.

C)  God’s promise of a new heart

God gave this promise because of His love for man

Ezekiel 11:19-20

Ezekiel 36:26-27

Jeremiah 31:31-34

D) The fulfilment of the promise is made available through Christ

-  Romans 10:9-10; 2^nd Corinthian 5:17; 2^nd Peter 1: 3   

E) The fruit of the new heart is love – Love of God received, man becomes able to love God, to love himself and love his fellow human beings.

Man becomes a partaker of God’s nature – 1^st John 4:15-17;  2^nd Peter 1:3

Each of us having a new heart, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a new spirit of faith, hope and love 2^nd Corinthians 5:17

Galatians 6:15

The Secret of a Happy Life

Text: Psalm 127:1

        Life is nothing without God. God created man with great aspiration to progress and move forward in all spheres of his endeavours. This desire had kept man labouring without ceasing. This restlessness and discontent generally develop themselves in man seeking outward escape from things, circumstances and miseries that can limit them. It is, however, regrettable that these man-made ways of escape generally carry us, as they did the Israelites out of one trouble, only to land us in another.

           Man’s effort will continue to be futile except he receives help from God. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127: 1).

We are utterly helpless except we trust and depend on God for our life, direction and sustenance. David knew this and inspite of the various adversities he went through including the many attempts by King Saul to kill him, he depended on the Lord. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). Our Lord Jesus authoritatively affirmed “…for without me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Efforts of man can be ultimately successful only when they receive the favour of God. This is because “it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Romans 9:16). You can overcome the current challenges of life you are going through only when you realize that God is turning the adversities and misfortunes of life Satan plans to choke you as stepping stones to climb the ladder of success in your life. What are your testimonies? Have you allowed the voice of Satan and his agents to overwhelm you with unbelief and doubt that you can never make it in your marriage, business, studies and in all endeavours of life? Now is the time to make an enduring decision to follow Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

          God wants us to depend on Him the Giver and Sustainer of man’s life. It is when a man discovers God and His saving power that the secret of a happy life can be revealed to him. When a sinner repents of his sins, he receives pardon and power to live successfully and happily in times of sorrows. You cannot live without God for Life without Christ is full of crises.             

Things to reflect/ponder on

• List some practical things that you need to do daily to show your dependence and trust in God and ask Him to empower you.

 Worthy of Praises

TEXT: Psalm 107:1, 8, 21, 31-32

An appreciative spirit is a sign of good conduct and attitude. Such attitude always attracts additional benefits. At whatever point in life, there is always something for which to be grateful unto God. The deliverance from the foolishness and negative effects of the sinful life, freedom from the afflictions of the wicked one, answers to prayers made to God in our times of sickness, trouble, distress, uncertainties and fear and the gracious salvation from eternal destruction should attract spontaneous gratitude from the depths of our hearts unto the great God. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:21).  What shall we say of the wonders of His creation and the works of His hands which are daily manifest in the air, on land and in the deep waters. The whole realm of nature as beautifully made, are all under His firm control.  Fools may not appreciate God, but the discerning ought to. “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing”. (Psalm 107:22). 

            This is the time for us to look back in retrospect of all the dealings and doings of this wonderful God in our lives and raise up an altar of praise unto Him who is worthy of all praises and adoration. Think of His provision, protection, preservation and countless other blessings He has heaped upon you, the family, other brethren and the church. What a great God we serve who will never abandon His children no matter the challenges they face in life. Raise praises to God and make it a regular feature and pattern in your life as it attracts the presence and blessings of God into your life.

Things to reflect on.

Ponder on your blessings from the beginning of the year and have quality time to praise the Lord.            

If I was a bird…
Would I fly away every time I saw the wind turn?
So I wouldn’t have to learn..
Learn what it feels like to deal with any stress or pain…
When there’s a storm, to avoid taking on responsibility again,
Would I just fly away?
Or perhaps if I was a snail…
I could get left behind from all the drama,
Which perhaps I would much rather,
Because I wouldn’t have to make another big decision,
To have the mentality to make it with such fine precision,
Perhaps no-one would notice me at the back,
And I could just stay quiet on the straight and narrow track,
Or just… maybe if I was a whale…
No-one would be brave enough to offend me…
Or surely if I could just be…
Be something else, perhaps a zebra…
That way people couldn’t read me to then tease me
They would ask am I black with white stripes?
Or white with black stripes?
Was I feeling good with a tint of bad?
Or did my heart feel happy or feel sad?
It would be confusing to work me out,
At least no-one could use my emotions to push me about,
Or perhaps if I was an elephant,
No-one would walk over me,

Perhaps I would never feel intimidated or uneasy,
Or what if I was a cat,
I could be daring and brave,
With nine lives until the grave,
Well so they say,
I could go in and out home when I like each day.
But what I know is that God has made me…
To face the times when people may offend me in the day,
To face it when there’s hurtful things people say,
To be open and straight with God and to trust,
And to me to have faith which is a must,
To stay protected in God’s heart,
So I can distinguish who has respect,
And true love for me from the start,
I am human, I am a child of God, I am me,
And there’s no other creature or person God has called me to be.

A POEM PENNED BY MISS CATHERINE GARDNER.