SPIRITUAL SLUMBER – BEWARE!!!

Text: Matt 13:25-26, Matt 25:42, Romans 13:11

To slumber is to sleep, to doze off, or to rest or to be in an in-active state. Spiritual slumber, therefore, is to be in a state of inactivity spiritually. It is a state of spiritual insensitivity and not being alert spiritually. It is a period when the devil can have a hold on one, a vulnerable time to strike and be caught unaware.

The scripture says in Ps 121:3b-4, "He who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Literally, this implies that God does not sleep and slumber. He keeps watching over you so that evil will not befall you or come nearer you. This is also in consonance with 2 Chron16:9 that say, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him." Because God does not slumber, He is able to watch over you all day long. His eyes are everywhere.

God does not want you to slumber, He wants you to be alert and be spiritually active. Usually and most times it is when you sleep that the enemy comes in to do havoc. Our Lord Jesus Christ illustrated this with the parable of the weeds in Matt13:25-26, "But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared." This parable indicates that within a short period of spiritual slumber, an irreparable damage can be done. A serious havoc can be committed. It is in the interest of any believer to be alert, watchful and be active. Some activities to be involved include praying without ceasing, and being in the presence of the Lord always.

The Scripture warns us in 1Thess 5:6, "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." Brethren, being alert and active are for your own good. Also Matt 25:42 says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come". The five wise virgins got it right and knew what it is to be spiritually alert and ready, and they were able to enter with the bridegroom while the foolish five were not able to. We are admonished to be vigilant. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." We cannot afford to be inactive, the devil our enemy does not sleep, always battle ready to attack and destroy. The scripture warns in Romans13:11, "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." As a bride awaiting the bridegroom you cannot afford to slumber for the bridegroom can come anytime any day. Jesus warns again in Mark 13:35-37, "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows or at dawn. If he comes suddenly.do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone. Watch!”

Let us consider Samson as a case study.
The spirit of the Lord began to stir in Samson from birth as foretold by the angel that visited his mother before his birth. The angel pronounced that the child would be set apart for God and for the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13:5). The spirit of the Lord was always upon him in power (Judges 14:6; 19; 15:14) and this enabled him to do outstanding things with boldness and power. However Samson lost the power and strength due to spiritual slumber – he leaked the secret behind his power to Delilah, a Philistine woman.

Judges 16:13b-14, "So while he (Samson) was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabrics and tightened it with the pin." Verses 19 - 21, “Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him and his strength left him. He awoke from his sleep and thought; I’ll go out as before and shake myself free. But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison." Samson's moral failure led to his spiritual slumber. The Lord departed from him thus he lost his power and strength.

The Bible enjoins us in 1 Corin10:12, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall." If you are in faith remain in faith, hold on to it and don't slumber and if you are slumbering, awake and stay awake. In fact a whole church may slumber as indeed the church at Laodicea was said to have been spiritually inactive. Rev 3:15-16 says, "I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one of the other!  So because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth." This means you can be rejected and or replaced for inactivity.

Sometimes a believer can feel so sufficient by worldly standard and satisfaction that he may slumber. An example was illustrated by Jesus Christ with the parable of the rich fool in Luke12:16-20. The rich fool thought he was so sufficient in all things and he said in verses 19-20, "And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and make merry”. But God said to him, You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you, and then you will get what you have prepared for yourself." The rich fool relaxed and became inactive spiritually therefore God pronounced judgement on him instantly.

Brethren, beware of spiritual slumber and avoid it. You have to be active and get occupied till Jesus Christ returns.

Examples of causes of spiritual slumber:
Drunkenness – Genesis 19:33
Lack of prayer- 2 Chron 7:14
Self-sufficiency –Luke 12:19
Self-righteousness – Luke 18:11-12.
Backsliding – Hebrews 3:12
Lust of flesh -1 John 2:16
Luke-warmness – Rev 3:12

Prayer
Father in heaven, help me and see me through to the end so that I will not slumber spiritually in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SPIRITUAL DEHYDRATION

Text: John 7:37-38, John 15:1-7, 1 Cor 10:4

Dehydration (physical) is abnormal loss of water from the body especially from illness or physical exertion. Spiritual dehydration is loss of spiritual life. It is a situation where someone feels dry within. Just as physical dehydration leads to death so also spiritual dehydration leads to spiritual death.

Symptoms of spiritual dehydration

• You become indifferent, lukewarm or cold towards the things of God.
• You are no more interested in studying the word of God
• You are no more interested in fellow-shipping with other believers
• The zeal you had when you first gave your life to Christ is no more there
• Your prayer life is dwindling and the true motive for worship and service is missing
• You become insensitive to sin - backsliding
• You feel comfortable among the ungodly by walking with them and, or sitting with the scornful.

The antidote to Spiritual dehydration- Jesus Christ.

Just as water helps to flush out toxic wastes from the body and makes physical life possible so also Jesus Christ makes spiritual life possible. The Bible says in John 7:37b-38 that, "Jesus stood and cried saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, “out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water". For you to be spiritually hydrated you need to be in Christ.

The Bible says in Rev 21:6, "He (God) said to me (John) It is done, I am the Alpa and the Omega, the Beginning and End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." To avoid spiritual thirst, come to the Almighty God through Jesus Christ. Jesus offers drink for eternity and so you have to remain in Him so as to obtain your spiritual nourishment. He said in John 15:5-6, "I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." You are like a detached branch from the Vine when you become dehydrated. In other words, to avoid being dehydrated you have to be attached to the Vine; the supplier of spiritual living waters to obtain your spiritual nourishment from Him.

Jesus Christ also told the Samaritan woman who came to draw water at the well in John 4:10 and 14, ‘Jesus answered her, “if you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water….but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."’

How to avoid  spiritual dehydration

• Remain in Christ. John 15:7
• Drink the living water daily. 1 Cor 10:4
• Seek first the Kingdom of God. Mark 6:33
• Study the word, meditate upon it and live by it. Joshua 1:8
• Turn away from sins and repent of known sins. Acts 3:19
• Do not forsake your first love. Rev 2:4
• Do not forsake the assembly of fellow believers. Heb 10:25
• Stand firm in the faith. 1 Cor 16:13
• Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess 5:17
• Be involved in the Great Commission. Mark 16:15.
• Always do a self-assessment and make amends. 1 Cor 10:12, 2 Cor 13:5.

As you do the aforementioned, you will continually get refreshed; have a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. This is because the living water provides you with spiritual hydration.

Spiritual dehydration is not a situation to be in at all! It is a gradual decline ultimately leading to spiritual death therefore it is essential to be watchful.

Prayer
Oh Father, help me to remain attached to the Vine so that I can obtain the spiritual nourishment and living water I need so as not to be dehydrated spiritually. Also grant me the grace to do all I need to do so as to remain hydrated spiritually in Jesus name I pray. Amen

DO NOT BE WEARY OF DOING GOOD

Text: Gal 6:6-10, 2 Thess 3:13

To be weary is to be tired, or to be bored. 'Good' means to be satisfactory in quality, honourable, acceptable or pleasing. Not to be weary of doing good is not to be tired or bored of doing things that are acceptable, honourable, pleasing or satisfactory. Doing good entails soul winning, helping the needy and the poor, loving, caring, visiting, showing kindness, sharing, offering Godly counsel, being hospitable, showing the love of Christ with others, speaking or saying the truth, having concern and burden for the lost soul, having compassion for others, encouraging others positively and being merciful.

 

The Bible says in Gal 6:9-10, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." You are being encouraged to do good as long as you are opportuned for there will surely be a reward. The Bible says in Romans 2:7, 10-11, "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life. But glory, honour and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favouritism."
In other words, as long as you are doing good, God will always reward you.

 

Also in 2 Thess 3:13, "And as for you, brothers, never get tired of doing what is right." Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." In other words doing good works is not out of place or extraordinary, it is one of the reasons why God created you. Not doing good is a sin and the Bible says in James 4:17, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." Psalm 84:11 says, "The Lord bestows favour and honour, no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless." The Lord does not withhold the good things he aims to bestow you; likewise you should not withhold any good you can do for people.

 

Jesus is noted for going about doing good, healing the sick, feeding the hungry and helping the helpless. Emulate Him. Your doing good should not be limited to those you know or to those who do good to you. Luke 6:33 says, "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? In Matt 5:45, "That you may be sons of your father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Whatever good that is in your capacity to do, do it without discrimination! You are also enjoined in Pro 3:27-28, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbour, "come back later, I'll give it tomorrow "when you have it with you."

 

Brethren, there may be a tendency to grow weary in giving, serving or helping in any form. Weariness can come in the secular or in the spiritual especially when you think there is no positive outcome or when you are not encouraged or when you do not get appreciable reward. But the scripture enjoins you not to be weary and more so the reward will come as stated in Rev 22:12. "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to every one according to what he has done." Have you been serving or labouring in the household of God and nobody seems to notice you? Don't worry. Don't be discouraged, you will surely get your reward.

 

Our Father in heaven and Jesus Christ our saviour gave examples of what doing good is. After the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, God had compassion on humans for He did not want us to lose the privilege He gave us. So He sent His only begotten son to reconcile us with Him. The Bible says in John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

 

Jesus Christ did not just dismiss the crowds who had been following Him on foot. He made sure they were fed as well as healing the sick among them. When His disciples enjoined Him to send the crowds away as evening approached so that they could go and get food themselves. Jesus replied in Matt 14:16, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." Jesus fed them all by multiplying the two fish and five loaves of bread released by a little boy among the crowds. Emulate this by having compassion on people and feeding the hungry.

 

Let us consider the good deeds of some people in the Scriptures.

1. Doing good by showing mercy. The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 as told by our Lord Jesus Christ.
A man that was going from Jerusalem to Jericho fell into the hands of robbers. He was stripped of his clothes, beaten and left half dead. A priest and a Levite passed by and did not help the man but a Samaritan, as he travelled, saw the man and took pity on him. He bandaged his wounds, poured oil and wine, put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn and took care of him. He paid the innkeeper to look after him and promised to reimburse for any extra expense incurred on him on his way back from his journey. Jesus wants you to emulate the Samaritan, thus He said in Luke 6:37 "Go and do likewise."

2. Doing good by supporting the needy and widows. Dorcas was noted for her good deeds. The Bible says in Acts 9:36, "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha translated as Dorcas, who was always doing good and helping the poor." When she died, Peter's help was sought to come and revive her and the Bible says in Acts 9:39, "All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." Dorcas was revived and handed over to the believers and widows whom she had being good to. Her good deeds to the needy and widows granted her the grace to be seen and revived by Peter.

3. Doing good by helping the needy. Cornelius the Centurion–Acts 10:1-35.  The Bible says in verse 2, "Cornelius and all his family were devout and God -fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." He had a vision where an angel appeared to him and said in verse 4, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." Verse 22 says, "we have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man. "And because Cornelius was giving to the needy, a day of remembrance came and God remembered him. Verses 30-31, "Cornelius answered: Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shinning clothes stood before me and said Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor."

 

Brethren, part of doing good is giving to the needy and the poor. And you shall be remembered and be rewarded.

4. Doing good through supporting and assisting the Ministry.
Apostle Paul commended Priscilla and Aquila for supporting his ministry. They were tentmakers like him and they sometimes travel with him for the purpose of the gospel. Paul wrote in Romans 16:3, "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the Churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them". They also taught others and brought them up in the way of The Lord. They made their house available for a church to be meeting there. The Bible says in Acts 18:26, "When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollo; they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately." Both of them were caring, hospitable and supportive.

 

Brethren, these people have encouraged you in their own way. The scriptures below also emphasise the importance of doing good.

Matt 16:27, "For the son of man is going to come in His Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done”. So keep doing good and do not be weary for your reward will come.

 

1 Corin 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of The Lord because you know that your labour in The Lord is not in vain."

 

Romans 2:6, "God will give to each person according to what he has done."

 

What good deeds are going to be credited to you? Start to do good now and do not be weary of doing so till the Kingdom comes. Finally be reminded that the Bible says in Rev 22:12, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to every one according to what he has done."

Prayer.
Dear Lord, you have admonished and encouraged me to do good, I thank you so much Father. Please grant me the grace to do good and not to be tired or weary of doing good until your Kingdom comes in Jesus name I pray. Amen

PEACE OF THE LORD

Text: Isa 9:6, John 14:27, John 16:33

Peace is an occurrence of harmony characterized by lack of violence, conflict behaviour hostility, retribution, turmoil and war. It is freedom of fear, anxiety, quarrels and disagreement. Peace connotes harmony, tranquillity, rest, pleasantness, joy and comfort. Peace of the Lord is peace coming from God through Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Isa 9:6 that, ”Jesus is the Prince of Peace". God is peace and the peace He gives is not the kind the world gives (John 14:27). God nourishes peace in men through Jesus Christ and Jesus dwells in you with peace. It is only when we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ that we can experience the true peace of mind. God has peace in abundance and He can send it to you like a river (Isa 66:12). He is capable of speaking peace to your situation and to still the storm of your life (Mark 4:39).

The Bible says in Ps 29:11, "God blesses his people with peace”. Are you His? If yes, expect Him to bless you with His peace. When Jesus sent out His disciples in two's to be spreading the good news and to be healing the sick, He told them that when they enter a house they should first say, "Peace to this house" (Luke 10:5); "If a man of peace is there your peace will rest on him, if not it will return to you." This means that Jesus is a carrier of peace and He passed it to His disciples. The peace flowing through His disciples can flow through anybody that belongs to Him.
 

Peace is a gift from God, it is unquantifiable. It cannot be bought. It is one of the legacies Jesus passed unto us when He said in John14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give. I do not give to you as the world gives." He also said to His disciples in John 20:21, "Peace be with you!" And Jesus is still saying same to you. Everybody wants to have an experience of and enjoy the peace of The Lord but alas! Do we all have the Prince of Peace? You can only enjoy real peace when you have the Prince of Peace. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. In John 16:33, Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world." In Jesus, there is peace and when you come to Him, He dwells in you with His peace.

 

Phil 4:6-7 admonish us not to be anxious about anything but to come to God with prayer, and petition with thanksgiving, anxiety robs individuals of peace. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit which a believer should have and exhibit is peace. It is one of the attributes of a true Christian (Gal 5:22). The Bible also enjoins you to be at peace with all men. Brethren, you need peace of The Lord in all spheres. Peace within, in the family and at home, in the church, in the community and environment, in the country and in the world at large.

 

Apostle Paul's letters of encouragement to the believers always start with "Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and The Lord Jesus Christ." Paul knew that peace is with Jesus and His Father. His final greetings to the Thessalonians (2 Thess 3:16 reads, "Now may The Lord of Peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way." It is only God that can give you peace in the heat of battles, in the middle of trials and in the centre of crises and at all times. Are you worried, troubled, anxious, fearful, disturbed or lack peace? The Prince of Peace is knocking on the door of your heart, allow Him to come in and His peace will rest upon you and flow through you like a river and calm your spirit, soul and body.

Let us consider some people in the scriptures who experienced the peace of the Lord in times of storm, trials, tribulations and persecutions: Stephen, Paul and Silas, Daniel and the three Hebrew men.

Stephen – Acts 7:55-60. Stephen had a sense of peace when he was been stoned because he knew whom he believed and what awaited him. Verses 55 -56 say, "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, "I see heaven open and the son of man standing at the right hand of God. Verses 59-60 say, “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord do not hold this against them."

This connotes that when you have Jesus, you will have His peace and His peace will enable you to be calm in the centre of crises and have tranquillity in the midst of trials. If not for the peace of The Lord upon him, he would have reacted differently. I pray that the peace of The Lord rest on you and flow through you always in all situations and circumstances in Jesus Name. Amen

Paul and Silas – Acts 16:16-40. Paul and Silas were severely flogged and imprisoned because Paul cast out an evil Spirit from a slave girl. She had a Spirit by which she predicted the future and used it to earn a great deal of money for her owners. Paul and Silas were on a missionary journey to Macedonia when the girl with the evil spirit kept announcing that they were men of God. Paul knew the girl was a source of distraction and he had to cast out the evil Spirit in her. The owners were not happy and hence tortured Paul and Silas and put them in the prisons. Despite this experience, they prayed and sang hymns to God at midnight. They were neither downcast nor frustrated. They demonstrated that when you have the peace of The Lord you can sing hymns and pray through days of sorrow or in any challenging situations. You can still spread the good news and preach Jesus in tribulations as long as His peace is with you.

 

The three Hebrew men (Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego) – Daniel 3:17-21. In the land of the Chaldeans, King Nebuchadnezzar gave a decree that his gold graven image should be worshipped and whoever does not bow down will be thrown into a fiery furnace. These men believed in the God they served and said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from your hand; O king; But even if He does not, we want you to know O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." The King was enraged and ordered them thrown into the furnace heated seven times hotter than the usual temperature. In the furnace, they were at peace with themselves, unruffled, unperturbed and were in harmony with God and enjoying the peace of The Lord. The Bible recorded, according to the Kings’ testimony that there was another presence (like the son of God) with them in the furnace. When they were brought out of the furnace, the bible recorded that not a strand of hair on the body was burnt. These men really experienced the peace of The Lord and they demonstrated it.

Everybody needs the peace of The Lord that transcends all understanding however the scripture says in Isa 48:2 "There is no peace for the wicked." For you to enjoy the peace of The Lord you must:

• Accept the Prince of Peace. Isa 6:9
• You must not be wicked. Isa 48:22, Isa 57:21
• You must adhere diligently to His command. Isa 48:18
• You must be righteous. James 5:16
• You must have contentment. 1 Tim 6:6
• Let your ways be pleasing to The Lord. Pro 16:7
• Be moderate in all things. Phil 4:5
• Never be anxious. Phil 4:7
• Make efforts to live in peace with all men. Heb 12:14
• Do not harbour bitterness. Heb 12:15
• Be a peace maker. Matt 5:9
• Pray and ask for the peace of The Lord. Matt 7:7

Prayer
Father in Heaven; deliver me from all forms of peace-lessness.

Prince of Peace, rest upon me and let your peace flow through me like a river.

I pray for peace within, in my home and family, in the church and community, in the country, in all spheres and in all the nations of the world in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

 

Shalom.

 

YOU CAN BE RESTORED

Text: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Jeremiah 30:1-18, Job l2:25

 

To be restored is to return to previous state. It is the re-establishment of someone to his/her original condition or state and sometimes the final condition may be superior to his/her original state. It is to make alterations in our lives so that we can be in resemblance with the perfect pattern of the word of God.

 

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, the Bible says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Hence God's restorative work began with Jesus Christ whom He sent to restore us back to Him as in Acts 3:21. The Lord said in Jeremiah 30:3, "The days are coming declares The Lord, when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess." Also the Lord said in Jeremiah 30:17-18, "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds. I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and have compassion on his dwellings." The above passages confirm God's promises on restoring people back to their original state.

 

With God, opportunity lost can be regained because He is in the business of restoration. The Bible says in Joel 2:25, "And I will restore to you the years that the Locust hath eaten, the Cankerworm, and the Caterpillar, and the Palmerworm; my great army which I sent among you."

Brethren, whatever needs to be restored in your life can be restored. God told Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." God made it clear here what we need to do to be restored and His willingness to restore us. Is life ebbing out of your body? Have you backslidden? Is your relationship broken? It can be restored. Your health, position, fortune, wealth, relationships, spiritual life and many other things can be restored.

The Bible admonishes us in Galatians 6:1 to restore our fallen brothers. It says, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently." God has promised to restore us and some people have benefitted apart from the collective restoration which Jesus offered to us.

Let us consider some of those whom God restored in the Scriptures: Job, King Nebuchadnezzar, The Prodigal Son, Lazarus, and Jairus daughter.

Restoration of Job - Job 42:10-16
Job was known in the scripture to be blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned sheep, camels, yoke of oxen and donkeys, and many servants. He was the greatest among the people of the East. Job was noted for purifying his seven sons and three daughters regularly and sacrificing a burnt offering for each of them.

But the day all his children were feasting at the oldest brother's house, satan struck and they all died as the four corners of the house collapsed on them. That same day his Sheep, Camels, Oxen and Donkey were destroyed with some of his Servants. So Job lost all his children and material possession through various calamities. But God restored Job and his restoration gives us hope.

In verses 10,12,13& 16, "After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. And he also had seven sons and three daughters and nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters. “After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation."

God can restore your wealth, possessions and even make your life more fulfilled and prosperous.

Restoration of King Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel 4:1-37
King Nebuchadnezzar fell from glory to shame and from grain to grass due to pride, worshiping of idols and image of gold, wickedness and oppression. His royal authority was taken away from him; he was driven away from people to live among the wild animals and to eat grass like cattle. But the king was restored when he acknowledged that heaven rules and the supremacy of the most High God. His sanity was restored, he was re-established in his kingdom, honour and splendour were added to him and glory of his kingdom was also restored. He acknowledged this in verse 26 when he said, "I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before."
Brethren, acknowledging God for whom He is can attract restoration.

Restoration of the prodigal son - Luke 15:1-32
The restoration of the prodigal son as told by our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrates God's willingness to welcome and to restore us. He was the younger of the two sons of his father and he demanded for his own share of his father's estate. He collected his share and left home.  He squandered his wealth in wild and extravagant living and suffered. When he came back to his senses he decided to come back to his father with a repentant heart and humility. He said in verses 18-19, "I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." The father was quick to welcome him for he was filled with compassion for him. The Bible says in verses 22-24, "But the father said to his servants, Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate for this son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." So they started the celebration.

Brethren, God is ready to have you back and restore you after you might have wandered away or gone astray. But like the prodigal son, repentance and humility will open door of restoration to you.

Restoration of Lazarus – John 11:1-44
Restoration of Lazarus reassures us of the fact that if Jesus steps into our situation, life can be restored. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days before Jesus got to his sisters who had been anxious and eager to have Jesus come to them earlier. Jesus moved near the tomb and the Bible says in verses 43-44, "Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out! The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

The intervention of Jesus Christ brought Lazarus back to life. His sisters sought Jesus for help and they found. Seek Him too.

Restoration of Jairus daughter – Mark 5:35-43
Jesus was around the square when people came to inform Jairus, the synagogue ruler, that his daughter was dead. Jesus followed Jairus home with three of his disciples. The Bible says in verse 41, "Jesus took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!” which means "Little girl, I say to you get up." Immediately the girl stood up and walked around.

Brethren, whatever needs to be restored in your life can still be restored because the restorer of old is still alive and doing the work of restoration. Your lost fortune, broken relationship, sanity, health, spiritual life, your anointing and even life can be regained. No wonder David pleaded with God in Psalm 51:11 to restore to him the joy of his salvation.

Conditions that can attract restoration:

• Repentance - Luke 15:18
• Humility Luke - 15:19
• Seeking Jesus - John 11:3
• Prayer - 2 Chronicles7:14
• Acknowledging the Supremacy of God - Daniel 4:26
• Pleading for it - Psalm 51:11
• Believe the word and total surrender to Jesus - John 11:32

Advantages of restoration

• You have hope in God that you are not written off. Daniel 4:26
• You are filled with joy and gladness. Psalm 14:7
• Songs of thanksgiving and sound of rejoicing will come from you Jeremiah 30:19

Prayer: Father in Heaven, I thank you for the restorative work which began with Jesus Christ whom you sent to us. Father, whatever needs to be restored in my life, please restore in the name of Jesus. Amen

ACCEPTABLE OFFERING

Text: Deut. 16:17, Proverbs 3:9, Malachi 3:8

Acceptable offering is something given or presented that is pleasing and satisfactory to the receiver. In the secular world, gifts are offered and pleasantries are exchanged for many reasons either to appreciate one another or to express gratitude. Likewise in the non-secular world, gifts and offerings are being given.

God expects us to give offerings and He says in Malachi 3:8, "But you ask, How are we to return? Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How do we rob you?" In tithes and offerings." The offering God is referring to here is whatever you give apart from your tithe which is ten percent of your income or earnings. God gave us an example of what an offering should be. He gave humanity His only Son; Jesus Christ as an offering and that was His best and His all. Therefore acceptable offering will be our best, the one that is pleasing and satisfactory to God.

The Bible says in Romans.12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your Spiritual act of worship." The first thing to offer to God is yourself. Other offerings can be in form of Praise, Worship, Thanksgiving and various substances.

Praise as an offering: Praise is acknowledging the acts of God's wonderful deeds. It is the joyful recounting of all God has done for us. We praise Him by singing, joyful noise, clapping, dancing and with musical instruments. When we do that, He is very pleased with us and He inhabits our praises and move on our behalf. In Acts 16:22-26, when Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they woke up in the midnight to praise the Lord by praying and singing hymns. God accepted their praises and moved on their behalf by allowing an earthquake to shake the foundations of the prison. He opened the prison doors and set them free from the chains in which they were bound. Also in Chronicles.20:21-23, when three nations rose against King Jehoshaphat, he appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him. As they began to sing and praise, the Lord accepted their praises and in return set ambushes against the men of the three nations. They destroyed one another there by giving Jehoshaphat victory over them.

Worship as an acceptable offering: It is the art of losing self in the adoration of God. Humbling ourselves before Him and adoring Him for who He is and extolling His virtues. It is an attitude in the heart and an act of profound appreciation of the re-eminence of the Lord. In John 4:23,"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." When we worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth our attention is shifted from earthly things to heavenly things, recounting His many deeds in the past and present and His attribute. God is pleased with us and He accepts our worship.

Thanksgiving as an acceptable offering: This is an act of showing gratitude in humility, appreciating God and returning all glory to Him in all circumstances. The Bible says in 1 Thess.5:8, "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". Jesus accepted the heart of gratitude of the only Leper out of ten who came back to thank Him. In return his healing was total as recorded in Luke 17:11-19.

Our Substance as an offering: The wealth, assets or the resources we have is our substance. The Bible says in Deut.8:18, "But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth”. Out of the abundance the Lord has given us, we should give back to support His work apart from the tithe we pay. Such offering must be commensurate to how God is blessing us. For our offering to be acceptable, every man shall give cheerfully and joyfully as he is able according to the blessings received from God.

Also your talent and time can be offered to promote God's work. Freewill offering can be given to promote the gospel through evangelism and missions. Sharing with others, especially the poor, needy and widows are all pleasing and acceptable to God.

Let us consider some characters in the scripture in relation to their offerings: Abel, Abraham, Hannah, Solomon and the Widow.

Abel's offering: Gen 4:3-7
Abel was the junior brother of Cain and also the son of Adam and Eve. The Bible tells us that Cain brought an offering to the Lord and Abel also brought an offering to the Lord. This was the fat portions from some of the first born of his flock. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favour. It means that when bringing an offering we must bring our best that is satisfactory and acceptable to God. We must always ask ourselves "Are we giving of our best?" God owns everything and He is the one that enables us to have all that we have. He knows every one's capability. Cain was downcast and angry when he was told that his offering was not acceptable. However, Abel's offering was acceptable and God looked unto him with favour. Your offering can open doors of favour to you.

Abraham's offering: Gen 22:1-18
God tested Abraham by asking him to go and offer his son Isaac whom he loved, Abraham obeyed. As Abraham was about to slay Isaac, an angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven saying lay not t a hand on the boy. Verse 12 says, "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." God provided a ram instead and Abraham sacrificed it as a burnt offering. God acknowledged the acceptance of Abraham's intention to offer Isaac and pronounced blessings on him as in Gen 22:15-18. Your acceptable offering can open doors to unlimited blessings. God said in Gen.22:16-17, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, "I will surely bless you."

Hannah's offering: 1 Sam.1:5-28
God eventually remembered Hannah and had favour on her after a period of waiting by providing her a son named Samuel. She made up her mind to present him to the Lord after the weaning period. The Bible says in 1 Sam.1:24, "After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh." Verses 27-28 says, "I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."
Hannah offered her all-Samuel. God accepted Samuel and blessed Hannah with many more Children as confirmed in 1 Sam.2:21. When God accepts your offering He blesses you in many folds.

Solomon's offering: 1 Kings 3:4-15
The Bible says in 1 Kings 3:4-5, "And Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream and God said "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." This was evidence that God was pleased with Solomon's offering and He had accepted it. God was so impressed that He appeared to him and asked him to ask for whatever he wanted.
Your offering can affect your destiny, make a way for you and can open doors of blessings unto you. Let your offering be proportional to the blessing you are receiving. Have the right attitude towards offering. Remember always that all you have is provided for you by the great provider; Jehovah Jireh and that you are just the custodian.

The Widow's offering: Luke.21:1-4
As Jesus looked up he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury and also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. Jesus remarked that the widow has put in more than the others because out of her poverty she put in all she had to live on while the other people gave their gifts out of their wealth.

Brethren, whatever you give is noted in heaven. It is not how much you offer that matters but the proportion of it to what you have and your attitude towards the offering are what God will consider
before He accepts.

Conditions for acceptable offering:

• Your source of wealth must be godly
• You must have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ-Col.3:17, Ephesian 6:7
• You must have a willing heart and be ready to give willingly and cheerfully. 2 Cor 8:12 and 9:7
• Your ways must be pleasing to Him. Prov.16:7
• You must be at peace with brethren and be reconciled in case you have something against your brethren before bringing an offering to the altar Matthew.5:23.
• Give with humility, and without publicity. James.4:6, Col.3:23.

God gave His all and His best. So we must give the best of whatever we want to offer. Anytime the Lord puts into your heart to offer a gift, do so promptly and without publicity.

Prayer: Father, grant me the grace to realise that nothing should be too much to offer for the progress of your work and as appreciation for whom you are. And to appreciate that all I have is provided by You in Jesus name I pray. Amen

POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF YOUR ACTIONS ON OTHERS

Text: Gen 31, Joshua 6-7, 2nd Kings 5:1-27, Jonah 1:1-16

 

Actions are simply conduct or behaviour or deed. Your actions are likely to affect others either positively or negatively. Therefore, you should be cautious of actions that are likely to have negative effect on others. Some examples to consider in the Scriptures are the actions of Achan, Gehazi, Jonah and Rachel.

 

Achan's actions  (Joshua 6-7)

When The Lord said to Joshua in Joshua 6:2, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men." Joshua immediately  warned his people to keep away from things that are sacred to  the Lord. He foresaw a situation where people might want to covet things that belong to the treasury after they might have won the battle. As recorded in Joshua 6:18-19, Joshua warned, "but keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and Iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into the treasury."  As the Lord promised, He delivered Jericho into Joshua's hands. But soon after the Lord has delivered Jericho into Joshua's hand, the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things and the Lord was against them. They lost the battle against Ai because God was not with them. The Lord said to Joshua in Joshua 7:11-12, "Israel has sinned, they have violated my covenant, which I have commanded them to keep, they have taken some of the devoted things, they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites  cannot stand against their enemies, they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction."

 

As directed by the Lord, a search process was made tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family and man by man. Achan, son of Zerah was the victim. After Joshua's interrogation, Achan confessed as in Joshua 7:20-21, "It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. That is what I have done. When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them." Since God's pronouncement in Joshua 7:15 is that who ever was liable shall be destroyed by fire with all that belonged to him. So Joshua together with all Israel took Achan to the valley of Achor stoned and burned him with his sons and daughters and also what he had and stolen burned.

 

Brethren, Achan's actions brought untold hardship to the Israelites and destruction to all that belonged to him. Consider what you do before you act. When Joshua said in 7:25 that  the Lord will bring trouble on Achan because he brought  trouble on them, trouble really came upon him. After the stoning and burning of Achan, the Lord turned from his fierce anger against Israel.

 

Jonah's actions (Jonah 1:1-16)

When Jonah the son of Amittai was running away from God, because he did not want to go and deliver the message of deliverance God sent him to Nineveh, he boarded a ship that was Tarshish bound. No sooner than he boarded, the Lord sent a great wind on the sea and a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. As all were afraid and each cried to his own god, Jonah having fallen asleep was woken up to pray to his own god. Then the sailors cast lots to find out who was responsible for the calamity and the lot fell on Jonah. The Scripture says in Jonah 1:6, "So they asked him, "Tell us who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you? They asked him what he had done. They knew he was running away from the Lord because he had already told them. When the sea was getting rougher, they asked him what they could do to him to make the sea calm down and he asked them to throw him into the sea". Jonah said in Jonah 1:12, "Pick me up and throw  me into the sea, he replied and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this storm has come upon you." As soon as Jonah was thrown overboard, the raging sea grew calm. Jonah's actions through disobedience to God's instruction brought hardship to all those he boarded the ship with, and if not for divine intervention they would have all perished. Effects of your actions can cause destructions. So beware of your actions.

 

Rachel's actions (Gen31)

Rachel was Laban's daughter and Jacob's wife. When Jacob noticed that Laban his father-in-law's attitude changed towards him, he decided to flee from him and God backed him up as recorded in Gen 31:3. Jacob told his wives, Leah and Rachel, to get prepared to leave and they supported him too. They all set out for Canaan but unknowingly to Jacob and even to Laban, Rachel  stole  her father's household gods and kept them secretly. Three days after they had left Laban pursued Jacob and cut up with him but God warned  Laban in a dream to be careful not to say anything good or bad to Jacob as recorded in Gen 31:24. But Laban pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead the same place where Jacob was. Laban accused Jacob of stealing his good's and Jacob answered in v32, "But if you find anyone who has your goods, he shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me and if so, take it." But Jacob still did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing. And Rachel said to her father, "Don't be angry, my lord that I cannot stand up in your presence. I'm having my period." So Laban searched but could not find the household gods.

Meanwhile, Rachel hid them in the saddle-bags of her camel and since she did not get up she could not be thoroughly searched. After the search, Jacob grew angry and took Laban to task by asking him various questions and justifying his innocence through Gen 31:36- 41. Jacob finally said in v42, "If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty handed." Definitely, the torment and harassment on Jacob and his family members from Laban were brought about by Rachel's actions.

 

Gehazi's actions (2 Kings 5:1-27). Gehazi  was the servant of Prophet Elisha.

Naaman, the commander of army of King Aram suffered from leprosy but was healed by dipping himself in the Jordan river seven times as instructed by Prophet Elisha. When Naaman offered a gift to appreciate Elisha, he refused and Elisha said in 2 Kings 5:16, "As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. So Naaman left but Gehazi the servant of Elisha pursued him and lied that Elisha sent him to collect a talent of Silver and two sets of clothing. Naaman released them unto him but he still lied to his master Elisha that he did not collect anything. Because of this act, Elisha pronounced on him in v27, "Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous as white as snow. Gehazi did not suffer alone, he also brought great repercussion on his descendants.

 

Brethren, you have to put others into considerations while taking decisions and actions. You also need to ask for the leading of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer: Father in Heaven, I pray that all my actions will be directed by the Holy Spirit. May I not lean on my own understanding but seek your face and take instructions from you and act according to your guidance and leading. In Jesus Name. Amen.