Wedding between Sis Olajumoke and Bro Ifetayo will take place at Jesus is Life World Outreach Ministries, Samaru, Zaria.
Church Representatives should please liaise with the Pastorate to finalize movement arrangement
Workers-in-Training and Baptismal Class are in progress and hold regularly after Sunday Service
Sign Language Class resumes September 6th 2015, after Sunday Service, at Counselling corner in RCCG Miracle Centre, Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos.
The General Overseer of RCCG has directed that there should be prayer meeting every morning for 30 minutes from September 1st 2015
Bible Reading: Isaiah 31:1-5
I watched the sorrows and grief upon the face of a brother from a parish of Redeemed Christian Church of God and a Deacon for that matter. Of course his story suggested that he has been in the faith for almost two decades. As I listened to him when he was recounting his several agonies and ordeals he was passing through, his emotion betrayed his faith, perplexities of disappointments and shattered dreams. The expression on his face suggested a question ‘why me? He was depressed with little or no further will to live. In the course of our discussion, he asked a shocking question- ‘Is GOD really existing? And my quick response was that yes HE exists forever and ever. I asked him, how much of confidence has he reposed on the living God and his response made it clear that GOD has never be the first on his priority list in his attempts to get out of his troubles.
The causes of human pain and grief are as numerous as the sand of the earth. ‘.. as sparks fly upward…So man that is born of a woman is a few days and full of trouble.’ When in trouble, the hearts of men everywhere yearns for some liberation. In the hours of your life crisis, this message will guide you and give you hope and courage provided you have a responsive soul and will allow God speak to you and let His word impress on your soul and spirit.
In the days of your trouble, what you do, where you go, how you react and who you see are all important especially when you happen to be a child of God. And why are they important? In the history of mankind, these issues have made differences in the aftermath of going through troubled hours.
Where come evil? “And God saw everything that He had made and behold, it was very good” Gen. 1:31. All the problems that perplex human kind, all the pain that pursues us and all the yearnings of the soul that drive us-every great problem is answered in the book of GENESIS, but then God has made a way out.
At times, what we call problems, challenges or troubles, we find out that they are due to human ignorance, folly or sin not possibly in the person who suffers but caused by some members of the great family.
At times, GOD can make storm to direct your way. Storm makes you to move faster in life; make you to think. When you face crisis everything loses its value. To HIS children, GOD can use storm to inspect us to know the kind of person we are – James 1:2-3
At times, the problem in your life may be there to protect you from destruction. Even many times God allow us to walk through the storm to perfect us; a typical life example is Joseph. He was pitted, imprisoned before enthroned.
At times, GOD often let His people reach the shore as on the planks of a shipwrecked vessel. He deprives us of the cisterns in order to make us drink out of the fountains of water. He frequently takes away our supports, not that we may fall to the ground, but that He may Himself become our rod and our staff. A typical example is Jacob when he was to confront his brother after twenty years of supplanting his brother. He devised all means to appease his brother who has determined to revenge but God came as rescue.
Every misfortune that happens to men can actually be blessings in disguise. They are often God’s instruments of transforming a man into His purpose and destiny. At times most of the grand truths of God have to be learned by trouble; they must be burned into us with the hot iron of affliction; otherwise we shall not truly receive the truths.
God brought Israelites out of the land of Egypt so that they will worship and serve him, yet He led them through the red sea instead of a shorter way of the land of Philistine, lest they see war and return to Egypt. God may be taking you gradually to somewhere.
In any case, the fact still remains that Jesus Christ will not lead any of His children through darker rooms than HE went through before. That is why He came as flesh to understand our pains.
Many in life have lost hope, even their salvation in the day of their trouble. Are you about losing yours? Don’t give up. God is thinking about what to do in respect of that situation of your life. There is also new thing about them. Many Biblical Characters experienced evil days and made God their resort. My question to you is that: at what point do you consider Jesus Christ in your present situation? You have probably elongated your sufferings because you have not resorted to Jesus Christ, the owner of your life.
The psalmist said “In the day of my trouble l sought the Lord …” Ps. 77:2. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heavens and earth” – Ps. 121: 1-2. In Ps. 23: 1-3 he says “The lord is my shepherd … He restored my soul …” These were the ways and attitudes of the Psalmist.
How do you react in your own situation? Look up. don’t look around because looking around is a sign of confused man and don’t look back because it is a sign of fearful man. God says “Call unto me and l will answer thee … “Jer. 33:3. God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble” Ps. 46: 1. God said, “Behold l am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? Jer. 32:27. Also in Jer. 31:16-17, He encouraged us thus “… Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded – and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end …
It is important to let you know that as much as God is ever willing to come into your situation, you have a sacrifice to make which is – SEEK. Mathew 6:31-34 commanded us to seek first the kingdom of God and all its righteousness and all other things including peace, comfort, deliverance you are looking for shall be added unto you. In Isaiah 1:18, God made express demand from you saying “Come now, let us reason together, though your sin be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow …” This is an invitation for your total deliverance and emancipation from your present situation.
However, if you have already accepted Christ, He demanded you wait on HIM. Psalm 27:4 says ‘ one thing have I desired of the Lord, that will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His temple”. The period of waiting is usually the critical point in our lives. If not well managed, we can miss God altogether. The period of waiting is challenging and can be very difficult, but it is the promise of God to strengthen us. How soon do we forget this all time needed promise and began to help ourselves? Those of us not helping ourselves are busy complaining to whoever cares to listen. The more we complain, the more our spirit is troubled and any “advice” given us at such time, if not properly examined, will lead us into real trouble.
When you can’t hear God’s voice on that issue that bother you so much, whom did you resort to seek afterward? The Bible says “their sorrow should be multiplied that hasten after another god ..” Ps. 16: 4.
What happens if you have already gone astray; do not lose hope, only do the right thing by returning to the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘For ye were as sheep going astray: but are now returning unto the shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” I Pet. 2:25. It does not really matter how deep, or the extent, you have gone or are involved in some devastating occurrences, if you genuinely return unto the Lord Jesus. He promised to wipe away all your errors. If you have gone the wrong way in the day of your trouble, and more evil had come upon you, take a bold step today and return unto your maker. He will receive you and grant you deliverance and the liberty in His Holy spirit.
THIS DAY IS THE DAY OF YOUR SALVATION. DON’T POSTPONE IT TILL TOMORROW BECAUSE TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME YOUR WAY. DESIRE A NEW BEGINNING AND SEE HOW GOOD THE LORD IS.
Remain Blessed
Dcn. Wole Bodunde
A new session of Baptismal Class commenced on Sunday, 12th July 2015.
Please, enroll for the class if you have not
Bible Verse: Gen. 22:1-18
The Christian life is free and it costs nothing to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But, there is a lifelong subscription you pay for being a Christian. Our sacrifice is required – Psalm 50:5 ‘Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’
God is a God of covenants. From paradise lost in Genesis to paradise regained in Revelation, He is interested in people of sacrifice. Sacrifice is the central theme of Christianity. The Church is founded upon the bedrock of sacrifice. John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. This is the pinnacle of sacrifice that anyone can make.
Sacrifices are flavours we need to add to our Christian life and service if we are going to reach our world with the gospel of Christ.
The story of Abraham in this passage is a wonderful and famous story of that age. It is considered a wonder of the church, looking at the strange command God gave to Abraham and the strange obedience and all the strange issues in the command. In verses 1-2: ‘And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of’ .
A. Issues in this Command
1. The command and person to be sacrificed – V2. ‘..Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of’. The command was clear with emphasis – thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest-. Isaac was interpreted as laughter, the pillar of promise that Abraham waited on for more than 90 years. Of course before then human being has never been an item of sacrifice; why then?
Isaac ‘’who thou loveth..’’ not the bullocks, not thy servant, not thy steward of thy house, not an adopted son, not Ishmael- it is Isaac whom by name is your laughter- the child of covenant. This is by implication God is saying give me your heart, not your garment unlike His demand in Joel 2:12-13 – ‘’ Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
2. The place of sacrifice – Land of Moriah. Moriah was about 3 days journey to the place of Abraham; which is enough for Abraham to have changed his mind – but his early rising, saddling, cleaving the wood to slay his only son of promise proved his deliberate and complete obedience. This suggests to Christians that the issue of laying down one’s heart to work for God requires preparation, it should be a mindset, and it can’t be an emergency factor. It must be an elaborate adaptation to the will of God.
3. The manner – Isaac must be offered as a burnt offering. He must not only be killed, but should be killed as a sacrifice, kill him devotedly, kill him by rule, kill him with all pomp and ceremony, with all seriousness and composure of mind, with which he used to offer his burnt offerings. This suggests also to Christians that laying one’s heart at Calvary must be determined, must be for the sake of salvation. In 1 Pet. 2:1-2. ‘Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
B. What is Sacrifice
As a worker in His vineyard, it means – a sacred rendering; – a selling or giving up; – act of yielding/resigning in favour of.
Abraham broke a difficulty through obedience; the feet that Lot’s wife could not achieve at Sodom. She considered her possessions, friends and other things and thought of going back. Abraham could have considered the promise of God, his childlessness for more than 90 years, his age and what would be the reaction of his age long darling wife.
The attitude of Abraham should remind every believer that, at the point of laying one’s heart for the business of God, it may appear difficult and traumatic things to do; at times it would appear as if God is contradicting himself by trying to interrupt your life and plan, asking you to forgo your pursuit, comforts, riches, etc, and seek righteousness first.
At times God would ask you to follow Him without giving any reasons. Abraham would have been right if he had asked God why He wants him to kill the son of promise. After all, it was God that told him that through Isaac, He would multiply the world. Has God forgotten His own promise?
Abraham didn’t consider all those and even what his wife would ask him of her only son. This therefore suggests that the issue of your determination to work for God or salvation does not require consultation with your wife or close associates. It is supposed to be a close matter to your heart only.
Abraham didn’t consider what the Egyptians, the Canaanites and the Perizzites who dwell in the land would say – the eternal reproach. This should educate all believers that, in making decision, one need not bother about reactions of your environment, your social friends, etc. It further emphasizes that God’s commands must not be disputed, but must be obeyed, and one need not consult with flesh and blood about them. In Gal 1:15-16. ’’But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, [even] from my mother`s womb, and called me through his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:”
C. Understanding Sacrifice
There is no witness of heaven upon a man’s life without a sacrifice. God testifies concerning a man when He receives his sacrifice; and without faith one can’t offer an acceptable sacrifice. God is more interested in the man that is offering a sacrifice than in the sacrifice itself.
There are lots of things that can be achieved through sacrifice. For example, with the sacrifice of Abel, his name became reference point – ‘By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh’ – Hebrews 11:4. Can you imagine this? The sacrifice of Abraham is what every believer who by nature is Abraham seed is enjoying till date. – Genesis 22:15-18.
D . The role of our Heart in our Sacrifice
Heart is the centre of our being, where issues of life are. In 1 Peter “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Your heart is the basis for sacrifice. It is your heart that determines your sacrifice; you need to develop your heart for sacrificial living and for the sacrifice that counts.
E. The Sacrifice of Self
God considers the sacrifice of oneself as tremendous treasure and value. The heart and body is the first in sacrifice before gift, talents, time, money, energy or any other thing.
Why the sacrifice of self? – This Scripture will give us a lead – ICor.6:18-20. ‘’Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body. Mat.6:33. ‘’But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
F. Conclusion
Jesus has left us an example that can’t be waved aside. The patriarchs of old have done the same. What will you do for your maker in your own generation?
May God find a heart of sacrifice in you. Amen.
Deacon Wole Bodunde
The new set of workers-in-training class commenced on Sunday, 7 June 2015, in RCCG Miracle Centre.
Workers-in-Training Class will commence next Sunday, 7th June 2015, in RCCG Miracle Centre
Yesterday, 30th May 2015, was Global Day of Evangelism.
We appreciate those who came. God will surely reward you, in Jesus name – Amen