CROSSING OVER TO GREAT FRUITFULNESS

CROSSING OVER TO GREATER FRUITFULNESS

Dec. 29, 2016                                             Exodus 14.12, 15.14, 15.27, Mark 4. 35-41

The last days of the year is always a period of evaluation. It behooves every sincere child of God to pause and analyze the outgoing year so as cross over into greater fruitfulness. Every crossing over requires adequate self-examination and preparedness. Israel was in severe affliction in Egypt till they desired to cross over. God always give the condition and the strategy for crossing over yet Israel must be sure they are in total compliance with God’s direction before they would be able to cross over. Even in the time of Christ, crossing over by His disciples was in obedience to His instructions, and the same is for us today. Our own cross over is not the physical Red sea or Jordan River but from one year to another. Actually, our crossing over should not be of the lunar calendar but spiritual, mental, emotional, marital and financial. When we take stocks of our lives, we may discover that we need to cross over from failure to success, from poverty to prosperity, from weakness to strength, from being a sinner to a member of God’s kingdom, from the year of recession into a year of fruitfulness, plenty and prosperity. The Lord had commanded us to go forward and cross over in spite of the challenges and obstacles around us. He had assured us of His presence and power in the coming year and by His grace and mercy we shall receive abundant of fruitfulness in the coming year in Jesus name.

Depressions and predicaments of the current year.  Exo. 3.7, Gen 26.1. 2Kings 2.9, 1 Chron. 4.9, Mark 4.37-38

Egypt was not a land of pleasure for Israel at this time. It was a period of hardship, groaning and excruciating pain where there was no mercy for God’s people. Pharaoh set taskmasters upon them to afflict them severely without measure. Their experience is symbolic to what happened to others in bible days and also to us today. A period of scarcity, penury and poverty sometimes come as we have in our case this year. In the days of Elisha, the land was barren and the water was naught because the land was under a curse. In the days of Abraham and Isaac, it was a period of severe famine. Apart of these experiences of depression in the land, there are other various predicaments that people face individually from which they must certainly cross over. Jabez was in sorrow until he realized he must cross it over. Hannah was childless until she became desperate to change her status and cross over. However, to the disciples of Christ, it was a great storm on the sea. What is your own predicament today? Though there is an economic recession in the land, God promises us divine fruitfulness in the coming year if we can follow His precepts through faith. You shall cross over from your defeat to dominion and the Lord will calm every storm for you in Jesus name.

Divine precepts for crossing over into the new year. Exo. 14. 13-16, Exo. 12. 13, Joshua 3.5

God always provide the way out for His people. He commanded Israel through Moses to go forward. Then He instructed Moses to stretch his rod to divide the sea. But this was done because Israel had obeyed the redemptive instruction the previous day by applying the blood of the lamb upon their lintels. They were purified from their iniquities. Also at the brink of Jordan, Joshua commanded the people to set themselves (sanctify) apart for God because the Almighty is in their midst and will fight for them. We also cannot do otherwise. We must recognize that because of the presence of the Lord, we must surrender fully to Him by (i) Self-examination of our relationship and services with God this year (2 Cor. 13.5), (ii) Complete repentance from sin, yieldedness and total submission to His will (Rom 12.1-1), Expressing our total trust and confidence in God as the only Help (Ps. 37.3), (iv) Pray earnestly for the specific change you want in your life (James 5.16). Making up your mind to follow Him in righteousness to the end.

Dominion and prosperity in the coming year. Exo. 15.22-27, 2Kings 2.19-22, Luke 18.1; Lk. 18. 35-43, Zech. 3.1-4, 2 Kings 7.1, Isa. 35. 1-7, Isa. 60. 1-22, Dan.11.32,

 Israel crossed over the Red sea but that land thereafter was without edible water but through Moses’ prayer, God turned the bitter water into sweet and gave them a covenant of healing and health, and brought them to Elim - the land of fruitfulness and prosperity.  God had given us many precious promises to change our status in the coming year, but we need fervent prayer and faith in God to claim them and launch in to the realms of the supernatural. We must understand and believe that with God all things are possible. God who turned poverty to prosperity at the gate of Samaria (2Kings7.1) will overturn all our predicaments in Jesus Name. In this faith, we must act positively in the dominion God had given us.  Prayer of faith changes situations and circumstances. Your level of prayer tonight will show how much change you desire from the Lord. Pray and claim His unchanging promises till you cross over into fruitfulness. 

PREPARATION FOR BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

December 8, 2016

.  PREPARATION FOR BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

Deuteronomy 16:16; Exodus 34:23,24; Mark 6:30-32

 

The retreat is a mean of divine outpouring of God’s blessings upon His people. Over the years, God had been raining His bountiful harvest on His obedient children whenever they gather before Him in the chosen place. This is because every promise of God had its attached benefits and blessings. In the Old Testament, God told Moses about the need for Israel to come together, at designated times, in designated places for spiritual upliftment of the nation (Exodus 34:23), and in the time of Christ, He instructed His disciples to “Come ye yourselves apart … and rest …” (Mark 6:31). The Retreat is therefore a period of personal and congregational prayer, reading and searching the Word and seeking counsels of the Lord. Our preparation with full expectation of the blessings of the retreat is therefore very important so we can receive the best from the Almighty God. In deed, ity promises to be a time of great harvest in every areas of life.

1. PURPOSE OF THE RETREAT Deuteronomy 31:9-13; Nehemiah 8:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-38; Luke 10:38-42.

Our Retreats, over the years, have been sustained by the main purpose of seeking the Lord in a quiet and secluded place. The goal is to bring revival, renewal, repair, re[positioning and restoration to the drying and dying believer. (i) To remind the people of God’s great work in Israel and a re-enactment of the great values and blessings God bestowed over the years on the chosen nation, (Exodus 23:17; Deuteronomy 16:16). (ii) To create a standard of worship which every believer shall follow as a model of service too the Lord. (iii)to reaffirm the truth we have always learnt and believed; revisit our old consecration; renew our commitment to make heaven and influence others positively for Christ; reach forth for a touch of Jesus for healing, deliverance, salvation and power; refresh all parched hearts; and rekindle the fire of God once again where the flame is smouldering. It is a time to feast on the word of God in its most concentrated form, for the benefit of the generality of members of the church.

2. PREPARATION FOR BOUNTIFUL HARVEST Acts 1:4; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:12-14; 2:1-5,14,40,41; 1 Samuel 7:3-6; 2 Chronicles 19:3; Job 11:13-18.

Every expectation of great value requires adequate planning and preparation to ensure maximum benefit. We cannot expect to get the best from the Retreat if we do not make conscious and deliberate efforts to prepare ourselves. The Lord expects us to make appropriate preparations to participate fully and to profit maximally. Our preparation must cover all areas - spiritual, physical, material, financial and mental. Spiritual preparation tops the list. Since the Retreat is not just a picnic,or mere get-together, tribal meeting or secular gathering, the Lord expects us to prepare ourselves spiritually. We must put ourselves in a mood suitable for hearing from the Lord (1 Samuel 3:10). Our hearts must be ready to receive the undiluted Word of God (Hosea 10:12; Matthew 13:3-7, 18-22). Moreover, needed blessings and miracles will not come without faith and readiness to obey God’s Word. Besides, all hindrances to receiving from the Lord must be dealt with and taken away. Physical and material preparation demand that we secure necessary and sufficient clothing and outfits, toiletries, like toothpastes, soap, slippers, towel, etc. Nursing mothers must take sufficient diapers and napkins for their babies; feeding bottles, flasks and possibly buckets must be part of the essentials needed to take good care of their babies. Financial preparation includes taking with us money for transport to and from the Retreat location, buying Christian materials displayed within the camp and food, when necessary. Mentally, we must be alert to hear and to receive the Word of God. We must not crowd our minds and thoughts with business appointments and engagements while at the camp. Civil servants and other workers should secure permission from their places of work.

3. PROFITS OF THE RETREAT Psalm 16:11; 133:1-3; Matthew 14:13,14; 11:28-30; Ezekiel 34:26.

God has promised to pour out His abundant blessings upon us as we open our hearts unto Him. He never call people to Himself only to send them away empty. He is a loving Father, who cares about our every need. If we humble ourselves before Him and by prayer hold on to His promises, we will receive bountiful harvest from the Retreat. The following are some of the bountiful harvest we stand to receive from the forthcoming Retreat: (i) Peace of God with full salvation (Matthew 11:28; Romans 5:1). (ii) Righteousness within and righteousness without (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24). (iii) Overflowing power of the Holy Ghost baptism (Acts 1:8). (iv) Fruitfulness in body and spirit (Deuteronomy 28:4; 2 Peter 1:8). (v) Inseparable fellowship in the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-39). (vi) Testimonies of spectacular miracles (Mark 2:12). (vii) Supply of all needs (Philippians 4:19). (viii) Power for the present hour to be our best for the Lord in life and ministry (2 Peter 1:3,4).

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

December 1, 2016 Count your Blessings Psalm 103. 1-22, Psalm 116.12

The Lord has been very good to us in many areas as His children. His benefits are uncountable to everyone. Every thoughtful individual in all ages have always come to conclusions that God is very good to all. Though the circumstances around us, like the economic and political challenges, may indicate contrary, yet the deeds of the Lord speaks volume of His manifold tender mercies towards us. Particularly to believers, we cannot fully quantify God’s supernatural gifts to our lives. No wonder Johnson Oatman Jr. in his song for the young people wrote: “Count your blessings name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord had done”. When we think of Gods goodness upon us as individuals, families, church and as a nation, we will discover His faithfulness to us.

Counting God’s Supernatural blessings Psalm 103.1-3, Ex. 15.26, Ps. 50.15, 91.15, Ps. 35.9-10, Ps 107. 1-9, 43, 1 Chronicles 16.23-29, Ps 46. 8-9, Ps 145, 1-5, 8-10

King David was a thoughtful leader who knew that he could have achieved nothing in life without the help of the Almighty. He began to enumerate the benefits and the goodness he received from the Lord. He opened the catalogue with the blessing of pardon from sin (V.3). Sin, which  was the stumbling block against God’s blessings, was removed and all other mercies began to flow into the believer’s life such as (i) Healing from sicknesses and diseases (Ex. 15.26), (ii)Rescue from danger and destruction (Ps. 50.15, 91.15) (iii) Happiness and fulfillment in the midst of worldly worries and woes, (iv) Pleasures and satisfaction when others are in severe needs and troubles, (v) divine promises and assurance when others are in fears of hopelessness and helplessness` (Deut. 31.6,8; Ps. 3.2), (vi) Wisdom and wealth in times of famine and scarcity, (vii) Defense and deliverance in critical moments of fear and troubles (Ps. 34.4, Jonah 2.2). Believers then and now need to be thoughtful of God’s supernatural blessings – to themselves as individuals, to their families, to their churches and to their communities and nations in general. For his peace in the time of wars and commotions all around the world, and for many countless benefits, God is worthy of our praise. Praise the Lord

 Commensurate Response towards God’s blessings Ps. 116. 10-14, 16-19, Ps 63. 1-8, Exodus 15. 1-19, Ps 22.25-28

Realizing God’s great blessings to us must make us to respond positively towards Him. Particularly, those who had received God’s grace at salvation will always express their appreciation to God through their love, loyalty, lives and obedience to God. We must yield and submit our hearts and lives to Him totally as people who knew that He owes us, keeps us and sustains us. We must therefore be committed to the Almighty God in our thoughts and our actions day by day in response to all He had done for us. Here the inspired writer expressed the appropriative response we must have in our gratitude to God. God’s goodness to us must make us to (i) uphold holiness of life and character, (ii) speak of God’s goodness to everyone, (iii) pay our vows, tithes, offerings and all financial commitments to God, (iv) be engaged in the building up of the body of Christ, positively contribute to the growth of God’s kingdom, (v) evangelize others to come into God’s goodness as well, and lastly by showing reciprocal goodness to everyone. Our expressions must not just be in the mouth only. It must not be only on Sunday services; neither should it be only when we want to pray, but every time and everywhere. In our utterances, conduct and character, and in our attitude to other believers and unbelievers alike

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Celebrations, Praises and Thanksgiving for God’s bounties Psalms 103:1-5; 107:1,2,14-15; Acts 16:25-26; Hebrews 13:15; Philippians 4:6, Joshua 6.20, I Sam 2.1-8, Ps 46.1, 8-9

Praises and Thanksgiving is the only celebration we can offer to the Almighty God. We have many reasons for our thanksgiving to Him. The following are some of the reasons for which we must praise the Lord. God’s creation and redemption, Salvation – Psalm 103:3, Healing and deliverances - Psalm 103:3, Divine provision - Psalm 103:5; 36:25, Divine protection and preservation – Psalms 91:1-16, Power to lead the Christian live - 2 Corinthians 2:14, The hope of living eternally with our Savior – John 3:16, Answers to prayer – Psalms 65:1-2, Divine guidance - Psalms 73:24. Our praises could be rendered in many ways and many manners. By Singing praises to God, we are showing Him that we submit and surrender to His majesty, and that  He should continue to rule and reign in our lives and affairs. This always move God to do more for us and to bring enlargements and supernatural miracles to us in return. All through the scriptures, we discovered that everyone who appreciates God always increase with breakthroughs and divine multiplications. Hannah praised God and paid her vows, then God added more children to her in return. Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises in the prison, God opened the prison doors through an earthquake, Israel praised God with a shout and trumpets and the thick Jericho walls fell down flat. Hezekiah and the people of Judah simply praised God with thanksgiving and they received abundance of victory and supernatural defeat of their enemies. This night shall be a night of Victory through our praises and overwhelming thanksgiving to our Awesome God who keeps us, supports us and sustains us.

SONG

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.       Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.                         Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,                                    
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.                                         Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.