He will Save His People

“She will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). 

Donald G. Barnhouse, a radio preacher used to ask, “When you get to the pearly gates and God asks, ‘Why should I let you into my Heaven?’ what will you say?” .....Some might flash their church membership cards or dangle their perfect-attendance Sunday school pins before the Master. Some might spout the theology they have learned or present their resumes packed with good deeds. “You should let me in because I would be an asset to your community. I would sing alto in your choir, and I could help out with the youth group.” But God does not run heaven like a country club or a successful corporation. We cannot get in on our own qualifications. The door is barred to all who try to earn their entry. But it swings wide open for the simple saint who affirms in faith, “I need no other argument, I need no other plea; it is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.”

The story above reveals that salvation is not:

            Mere Bible knowledge (John 3:3-10).

            Trying to be a good person or giving of alms (Eph 2:2-10, Acts 10:1-4, 44-48).

            Belonging to a particular denomination or attending church services, even though belonging to a good Bible believing church can help you understand salvation and grow in your faith.

            Going through confirmation or Water baptism.

            Being born into a Christian home. Remember, God has sons and daughters but no grand kids (John 1:12, 13).

            Being buried by a priest or pastor.

            Having theological degrees, the Pharisees and Sadducees had theological knowledge but killed Jesus.

            Trying to be religious, the Pharisees and others were religious yet they killed Jesus.

Our world is in its present state of chaos because of sin. Jesus means “saviour.” Jesus came to save us, because we can’t save ourselves from sin and its consequences. Salvation (Gk – soteria) means deliverance,cure, recovery, remedy, bringing safely through and keeping from harm.  It is God's plan to provide all people with an escape from sin and all its consequences. The Bible reveals this plan. Salvation is received by grace through faith in Christ (Rom 3:22-28).

The billion dollar question is, why do we need salvation? We need salvation because of:

·                Man’s depraved nature: Through the sin of Adam and Eve, “All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and are subject to eternal punishment and separation from God (Gen 3:1-19, Isaiah 53:6).

·                The consequences of sin: After the fall of man, the sinful nature brought with it consequences, Jesus did not only die to save us from sin, but sin and all its consequences (Gen 2:17, Luke 4:18-19, 1 Cor 11:28-30).

We all need a savoir. No matter how good we are, we can’t eliminate the sinful nature present in all of us. Only Jesus is able and willing to save us. (Heb 2:18, Heb 7:24, 25, Rev 5:2-7).

Jesus is the only savoir, because of: His deity, virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, resurrection and ascension; also His abiding intercession. (Mat 1:21, John 4:42, Eph 5:23)

Jesus didn’t come to help us save ourselves; he came to be our saviour. If you are not sure of your salvation, believe that you are a sinner and that Jesus died for you. Repent of your sins and you will be saved.

The Truth of the Virgin Birth

The virgin will...give birth to a son...'' Matthew 1:23

Heaven announced the birth of Jesus in these words: 'The virgin will...give birth to a son, and...call him Immanuel - which means, 'God with us.' Isn't it ironic that the first people to question the miracle of the virgin birth were religious leaders? The Pharisees said to Jesus, '..."We were not born of fornication..."' (John 8:41 NKJV). Their insinuation was clear and cruel. After all, Jesus couldn't point to Joseph and say, 'He's my father.' 

Understand this: Jesus had to be man in order to die, and He had to be God in order to save. You were the child of an earthly father, so you were 'born in sin.' But Jesus was the child of a heavenly Father, so He broke the genetic cycle of sin before He was born. In the Old Testament a sacrificial lamb had to be without blemish (birth defect) or spot (something picked up along the way). Since Jesus had neither inherited sin nor practiced sin, He qualifies as '..."the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world"' (John 1:29).

The virgin birth is true because:

a) The angel of the Lord announced it (Matthew 1:20);

b) Mary's husband-to-be accepted it (Matthew 1:24);

c) Elizabeth, her cousin, received it by divine revelation (Luke 1:41-42);

d) The story was written by a well respected medical doctor who knew the character of all concerned:

'...since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you...that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught' (Luke 1:3-4 NIV).  Jesus is truly the way, the truth and the life. Believe Him and accept Him into your life today and you will be saved.

Getting the Best out of God’s Indescribable Gift

‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship’ (Rom 12:1).

'If we have received from God "His unspeakable gift," what great thing is it, if we give a few perishing gifts for His sake? (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Jesus has been given to all mankind as God’s indescribable gift, but every individual’s response to this gift determines his future in this life and the life after. This lesson focuses on what man’s response should be, towards God’s indescribable gift to him. Below are a few points that illustrate how God wants us to respond to His indescribable gift for us.

1.        Be thankful and live with an attitude of gratitude: What if God did not give Christ to die for mankind? Eph 3:1-6 talks about the mystery of Christ. The great mystery hidden in all ages past - the making of Jews and Gentiles one new body (the Church which is His body) - Finis Dake. It was through Christ that Adam’s whole race was restored to their original Dominion. We were all slaves to the devil, bound in chains in darkness.

2.        Accept the gift: This means accepting Jesus not only as your personal Savior but also as the Lord or master of your life. Loving Him and surrendering our entire lives to Him (Romans 12:1-3). This Indescribable gift did not come in a presentable form, He ended up in a manger but not a palace, so the Jews that were expecting Him to come in the form of a great physical warrior rejected Him. Even today, many are still rejecting Him.

3.        Uncover the gift: Seek Him and know Him. Be hungry for Him and pursue Him. Many have received Him but are not uncovering the package to know what is in there. Uncovering this package (Knowing Christ) is a life long journey that requires a continuous effort. AW Tozer said, ‘Our problem is that we go from toy to toy rather than from glory to glory." In Psalm 63:8 the Psalmist says, ‘my soul will follow hard after you’. I pray that this will be your prayer today.

4.        Value the gift: Fear Him and see Him as He is. Realize what you have, revere Him and acknowledge Him. 'The secrets of the Lord are with those who fear Him' (Psalm 25:14). In this contest, fear denotes respect and value. Anything you love you value. The value you place on something depends on your love for it. Mat 13:45-46 talks about a merchant who found one pearl of great price and because he valued it more than any other, he went and sold all his possessions to purchase it. Do not trample on your faith in Jesus and your salvation, protect it.

5.        Use or utilize it: everyone that gives a gift is delighted to see it been used. So is our God. In 2 Tim 2:1 Paul told Timothy to ‘be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus’. Paul’s message to the church in Rome throws more light on the message he was conveying to his son Timothy above. In Romans 12:6 he said, ‘having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them’. Here Paul’s message is clear, use the measure of Grace and the gifts you have received. Note, this is different from the saving grace that leads to ones salvation (Eph 2:8).

6.   Share it: After one has encountered Christ, sharing the gospel becomes His great commission. It is through evangelism that the contents of this indescribable gift are revealed (Mat 28:19). One of the mysteries of evangelism is that, it is one of the weapons of our warfare. Anyone who shares the gospel is protected from the enemy (Eph 6:10-15).

The Indescribable Gift

^‘Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift’ (2 Corinthians 9:15 - NIV) 

In 2 Corinthians 9:15, Paul the Apostle talks about an indescribable gift.  There are some who contend that this indescribable gift is in reference to the alms giving of the Church in Corinth, ‘the reference is rather to the inexpressible gift which God had granted to them and us in bestowing his Son to die for all mankind. This shows that the mind of Paul was full of this subject; and that wherever he began, he was sure to end with a reference to the Redeemer (Barnes notes on the Bible).

In other versions of the Bible, words and phrases like inexpressible, a gift too wonderful for words, unspeakable, invaluable, priceless, precious and unutterable, throw more light on what Paul the Apostle meant when he referred to Christ as God’s indescribable gift to mankind. Indeed Christ is the gift that no heart can fully conceive, declare nor explain.

The question is, why did Paul refer to Christ as God’s indescribable gift? Below are a few of the many reasons why Jesus is God’s indescribable gift to the world.

1.    Christ is the highest God ever gave or can give to man. He is the best gift God ever gave humanity. SoRom 8:32 says, ‘if He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

2.    Christ’s love, greatness and glory: It is truly unspeakable, that Yahweh the ancient of days, Elohim the creator of the universe will step out of His heavenly glory, come down and become part of His creation, and be born not in a palace but a manger. Finally, He died on the cross to save all men. Thousands of years before His birth, Isaiah described Him as, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, The everlasting father and the Prince of peace…’ (Isaiah 9:6-7). All that Christ was on earth and is in heaven now, is for your benefit – all that is in this indescribable gift is for the Children of God.

3.    The Blessing or benefits contained in that package: Paul told the church in Corinth that, Christ has‘became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption’ (1 Cor 1:30).This indescribable gift is a package full of countless blessings. There is no way one can exhaust talking about the blessings in Christ. When one needs satisfaction and fulfillment in life, christ says I am the bread of Life. When it comes to healing; He promises that in His stripes we are healed. When it comes to peace, He says I am the Prince of peace. When it comes to finding direction in life and your way to heaven, He says I am the way, the truth and the life.  Simply put, all that we need for life and Godliness is in Him (2 pet 1:3).

This is the story of Christmas. If you have not surrendered your life to Christ and received this Indescribable gift, repent of your sins and believe in Him and you will be saved. Without Christ there is nothing like life. The next lesson is entitled, ‘Getting the best out of God’s indescribable gift’.

Strength Beyond the Physical

^‘In the day when I cried out, you answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.’ (Psalm 138:3). 

On Psalm 138:3 James Nalton comments, ‘it is one gracious way of answering our prayers when God doth bestow upon us spiritual strength in our souls; if He does not give the things we desire, yet if He gives us strength in our souls, He graciously answers our prayers. What is this spiritual strength? I answer, it is a work of the Spirit of God, enabling a man to do and suffer what God would have him without fainting or backsliding’.

The soul of a man is made up of the mind, will and emotions. After God created man from the dust of the earth, all man’s organs were in place but it was not until, God breathed into man, that he became a living soul (Gen 2:7). When God breathed into man it was His spirit that man received (Job 32:8). This clearly reveals that, the empowerment of the spirit of God gives strength to the soul of man. Without God’s empowerment Adam could have never functioned. It takes strength beyond the physical for one to be delivered from sin and live a fulfilled life. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us the strength He brings goes into the core of our being and fully empowers us from within. The power we receive makes us do that which is far beyond our wildest imagination.

DL Moody’s story will bring you much encouragement. ‘He became a spokesman for God and a changer of nations. But if you'd met him early in life you wouldn't have thought it was possible. Although he was raised in church, he was spiritually ignorant. When he moved to Boston he began attending a Bible-preaching church. In April of 1855, a Sunday school teacher came to the shoe shop where he worked and led him to Christ. A month later, when he applied to become a member of that church, it was clear that he knew nothing about the Bible. One of his Sunday school teachers later wrote, 'I've never met anyone who seemed less likely to become a Christian of clear and decided views, much less fill any place of public usefulness.' So they asked him to take a year of Bible study. During his interview with the membership committee a year later, his answers were only slightly improved. He was barely literate and used atrocious grammar. Nobody on that church committee thought God would ever use him. But they were wrong.

The people who say you will never amount to anything for God, are wrong too! Every oak tree starts as an acorn. Jesus began in a stable but He didn't stay there. David was a shepherd boy with a slingshot but he became Israel's greatest king. Joseph was a prisoner but he became prime minister. Understand this: you are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God. So take all that you have and all that you are, place it into God's hands and be willing to start small’ (UCB - Word for today).

What are the struggles you are going through in life today? Do you feel like you are at your wits’ end? Stop depending on your own strength and ask God for strength for your soul. By strength shall no man prevail (1 Sam 2:9). If you are not a devoted Christian, surrender you life to Christ today. You can accept Christ by repenting of your sins and believing in Him as the Son of God who came to die for your sins (John 3:16, Mark 1:15). If you are already a born again Christian, ask God to give you the grace to totally depend on Him, and seek more of His empowerment through the overflow of His Holy Spirit in you. Remember, with God all things are possible to those that believe (Mark 9:23).

The Road Map for Life

‘How sweet are your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Psalm 119:103-105).

'The Bible is the road map for life, and while your pastor can highlight the best route to take, you learn how to navigate life's twists and turns for yourself.'(Billy Graham). The word of God is the manual for life and without it life lacks purpose and fulfillment. It is the gateway to the wisdom, character and power of God; simply put, God is inseparable from His Word. The Bible teaches that in the beginning there was nothing God made without His Word and now God sustains all things by the Word of His power (Heb 1:3, John 1:3). So He says that heaven and earth will pass away but His words will not (Mat 24:35). If there is anything you need most in life, it is God’s Word. In God’s word are hidden treasures of wisdom, power and all things that pertain to life and Godliness. God’s word is the only medium through which man can daily experience God on earth, ‘it is God’s gateway to His great acts’ (David Oyedepo). Where the word of the king is there is power.

According to the U.C.B Word for today, when asked, 'What book has most influenced your life?' most people say the Bible. Yet fewer than 14% of us read it every day. How come? Here are some of our most common excuses:

1) 'I've no time.' Really? Many of the books in your Bible can be read in 10 to 45 minutes, some in less than 20 minutes. By taking a chapter a day you can complete the book of Proverbs in a month, and the Epistle of James in five days.

2) 'I don't know where to begin.' If starting in Genesis and working your way through seems overwhelming, break it into bite-sized pieces. Pick a Gospel and read the life of Christ. Just get started!

3) 'It's not exciting.' Do you like romance? Read the book of Ruth. Looking for adventure? Try Judges or Acts. Enjoy poetry? Explore Song of Solomon. From history to how-to, it's all in Scripture.

4) 'Isn't going to church every week good enough?'

5) 'It makes me uncomfortable.' When you don't know what God's Word actually says, it's easy to equate it with negative experiences and hypocrisy you've observed, and throw out the baby with the bathwater. No question, the Bible makes you face hard truths: '...it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart' (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). It gives you a check-up from the neck up. But you'll discover who you are, what you're called to do, and become empowered to do it’.

One truth from God’s word, just one, can change your entire life. The word of God is pregnant with signs and wonders, but the power in it is only realized when one begins to apply it daily in the circumstances of life, through obedience. Heb 1:8 says that righteousness will be the scepter of God’s kingdom, meaning God rules on earth through His Word in the hands of his children. ‘Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions’ (Rick Warren). In fact, there are many of God's commandments you won't understand until you first obey them. When you haven't carried out God's last set of instructions it's hard to get excited about His next set. God’s word is creative, it demands us to speak it, it is a prophecy it demands us to believe it, so begin to apply it daily to all the circumstances of your life. Remember, character, not comfort, is God's first priority in your life. You can’t know the worth of a seed until it is planted. Study, meditate and apply the word of God in your life today and you shall live like a god on earth, Jesus said ‘He called them gods, to whom the word of God came and the Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35, Psalm 82:5-8). May God use you to spread the aroma of His knowledge everywhere today.

Leave

‘Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. (Gen 12:1).

Abraham is one of the Bible’s most important figures. He is referred to as the ‘friend of God’ (2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23). Though Abraham was childless, God’s promise to him was, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through you’ (Genesis 12:3). After his father - Terah’s death, God told Abram, Leave ‘your country, your relatives, and your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you’. This command was the basis of God’s ‘covenant’ with Abram. This study is focused on the command God gave Abram to leave. Abram, trusting God’s promise, left Haran at the age of 74 without knowing where God was taking him.

God’s purpose for every individual is different. Like Jeremiah and Paul’s example, God knows all men and ordains each one for a particular purpose even before they are a clot of blood in their mother’s womb (Jer 1:5, Gal 1:15). Parents may sometimes get unplanned pregnancies, but the children that come out of those situations are in God’s perfect plan. That is why abortion is against God’s will. Because God’s purpose for everyone is different, it is important for you as an individual to see yourself as a unique person sent on earth with a unique purpose. When you realize your uniqueness and the uniqueness of your purpose you will be careful to live a life of consecration and not follow the masses to do things because everyone else is doing them. For ones destiny to be fulfilled it is important not to follow the crowd but the cloud of God.

Leave your Country: Every country or geographical location has its own culture or believe systems. In the case of Abram, ‘there was a moon cult in the city of Ur, and Abraham’s old name Abram probably referred to the moon god or another pagan god. His parents were part of this moon Cult’ (iLumina). For Abraham to fulfill God’s purpose for His life he had to leave that ‘world’ of idol worship to a new ‘world’ of the worship of Jehovah, the true God, the creator of Heaven and earth. That is the first step to fulfilling ones destiny. By surrendering your will to God and believing in Jesus as your savior, you are born again into a new world spiritually. Through this new birth all things become new and you live a new life based on the principles of God’s word, but not the philosophies of our world, which is basically based on the worship of self and materialism (2 Cor 5:17).

Leave your family: Naturally people love their families. Leaving your family can signify leaving some things you love most in life. There are many things, habits and companionship you possess, which can prevent you from fulfilling the purpose God has for you. After becoming a Christian you have to avail yourself to God’s guidance so that God can prune you and take away all toxic habits and relationships. This is a difficult process that many Christians fail at. Abraham brought a lot of problems on himself when he didn’t fully obey this command and took Lot his nephew with him instead of leaving all his family. His wife Sarah was the bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, as a couple they were one, so her situation was different.

Leave your father’s household: In those times fathers had the responsibility of training their son’s in their profession. Even now fathers teach their son’s the basic lessons of work and life, so this command can signify leaving the normal way of doing things in a particular career or vocation and doing it the way God is directing you. Many people that were ordained to bring new ideas and innovations to bless and transform our world failed as a result of trying to be like everybody else, to please men. Being like everybody else is no achievement. If God is leading you into something new, be strong and courageous and take that step of faith. Trying something different always involves risk taking and may make you unpopular at the earlier stages.

If you are in the will of God and you are under pressure from men be encouraged by the words of John Wesley ‘a fair exchange, if by loss of reputation we can purchase the lowest degree of purity of heart’. John placed higher value on “a clean heart, a single eye, and a soul full of God! Today be bold and leave the world of sin, the things you love and the normal way of doing business, all creation is waiting for your manifestation, imagine what would have happened if Abraham had failed to leave (Rom 8:19).

Are you a Nicolaitan?

‘Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate’ (Rev 2:15).

The Nicolaitans are mentioned in connection with two of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. According to the NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible, ‘the Nicolaitans were a group of persons whose works both the church of Ephesus and our Lord hated (Rev 2:6) and whose doctrine was held by some in the Pergamum Church (Rev 2:15). Their Doctrine was similar to that of Balaam, through whose influence the Israelites ate things sacrificed to idols and committed fornication. God told the Pergamum Church, ‘Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality’(Rev 2:14). A sect of Nicolaitans existed among the Gnostics in the third century. The word Gnostics is sometimes used of false teaching within the period when the New Testament was written, it more accurately describes the systems of knowledge in opposition to the Orthodox Christianity in the second and third Centuries. It linked aspects of traditional Christianity with attractive ideas taken from Greek philosophy and Eastern religion, magic and astrology’.

The Church in every century has its own challenges but one of the challenges of the 21st Century Church is the temptation to be ‘politically correct’ - accepting the philosophies of our time that are not in line with the infallible Word of God. Today, Internationally respected leaders of the church are sometimes afraid to declare in public circles the message of the Gospel, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one goes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Like the Pergamum Church there are people in our churches today who are holding unto and propagating the message of the Nicolaitans. I pray that the Church in the 21st century will be encouraged by the example of the first century Church, who defended the gospel at the expense of their lives. Peter and John were imprisoned for preaching and healing in the name of Jesus. After they were released they were forbidden to preach in the name of Jesus, but full of the Holy Spirit, ‘Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:19-20).

Another group of Nicolaitans in the church today are those that teach false doctrines in the Church and do not uphold purity or righteous living, but hide behind the phrase ‘once saved forever saved’. The fact that an individual is personally struggling with his flesh does not give him the right to teach others that it is alright to live in sin. Jesus said ‘blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Mat 5:6). Paul the Apostle told the church in Corinth that, ‘do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God’ (1 Cor 6:9).

Can God say of you like He said of the church in Ephesus, ‘…you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate’?

The Lost Glory

‘And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind’ (Ecclesiastes 4:4).

“I don’t know who I am,” he told the newspaper. “That might sound stupid. I really have no idea. All my life I’ve been drinking and drugging and partying, and all of a sudden this comes to a stop.” (Mike Tyson).These words of Mike Tyson, the former Multi-million Dollar Heavy weight Champion, brings to light man’s insatiable quest for fulfillment in life. Human beings all over the world are searching for fulfillment and their sense of purpose in different places, most of which are the wrong places. 

 The Drama in the Garden of Eden after man sinned, paints a crystal clear picture about the state of the fallen man. After man lost the Glory of God; in an attempt to cover himself or restore what was lost, the most valuable replacement he found were some fig leaves (Gen 3:7). Since then, we have been in constant search of restoration of that lost Glory. There is a vacuum in every man, a chasing after some kind of joy, peace and fulfillment. The truth is that; the answers we seek and the strength we need, can be found only by feeding on God's Word and fellowshipping with Jesus in prayer. Simply stated, nothing else works.

 The sad reality is that many in this age measure their Self-worth by their Net-worth, and many Christians have fallen as prey to the worship of this ‘god of materialism’. They determine the value of their fellow men by the kind of clothing they wear and the toys or cars they drive, but not the Glory of God upon their lives. Thank God the Bible does not say that driving in a Jaguar the hope of Glory but rather ‘Christ in you the hope of Glory’ (Colossians 1:27).

Many are being enslaved by the insatiable desire for more and more at the expense of family and the most important things in life. Their lives confirm the words of Solomon ‘And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind’ (Ecclesiastes 4:4). God’s message for you today is, re-prioritize your life. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."(Luke 12:15).

After being the wisest and one of the richest men in his time; Solomon, the man with seven hundred wives and three hundred girlfriends said at the end that ‘Meaningless! Meaningless!…, Everything is meaningless!...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind’ (Eccl 12 :8, 13)

What controls your life and has the final authority in your life, is it God or material things? The one that controls your life is your god. ‘You cannot serve both God and money’ (Mat 6:24). Choose Jesus, and you will have fulfillment in this life and the life after.

Loving Your Shepherd

^‘Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches’ (Gal 6:6).

‘It is not enough that Pastors be respected, if they are not also loved; for both are necessary to make the doctrine they preach to be fully relished (John Calvin). The Bible is very clear on the responsibility of Christians to honor all leaders (1 Peter 2:13, Romans 13:1). However, it is interesting to note that when it comes to our spiritual leaders the Bible teaches that, ‘the elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching’ (1 Timothy 5:17).

Respecting ministers is very important, but it is even more crucial to love them and ensure that all their needs are met in order for them to have a sound mind and be focused on ministry to the saints. Remember, good shepherds work hard for their flock and even go to the extent of laying down their lives for them if need be (John 10:11). Paul’s conversion was greatly influenced by the selfless prayer Stephen prayed for his murderers of whom Paul was a part (Acts 7:60).

God told Moses that, ‘command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see’ (Deut 3:28). One main lesson here is that, the leader sees the blessings God has in store for the saints, and leads them to posses them. Therefore it is very difficult for you to possess all your blessings without spiritual leadership. Consequently, it is every Christian’s responsibility to love, strengthen and encourage his Christian leader. The importance of Christian leadership cannot be overemphasized. Discussed below, are some of the important roles Christian leaders play.

1.    They protects the sheep spiritually, through prayer and the teaching of God’s word (Acts 20:28). In Mat 9:26 when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

2.    They receive the vision; plans and purposes of God for the people and then impart the people with that vision (Hab 2:2). Without a vision or clear direction, God’s people perish through fruitless labor. Sharing the vision for it to become the sheep’s personal vision can be as challenging as seeking the face of God to receive the vision.

3.    They equip the saints through the teaching of God’s word. The edification that the saints receive through the teaching of God’s word causes them to be established in the faith. This results in character transformation and prosperity, not forgetting the preparation the flock receives to do the work of the ministry (Eph 4:11-12).

4.    Finally, they feed men with the bread of life to prepare them for eternal life. People cannot believe and be saved if the Good news is not preached (Rom 10:14).

James 3:1 teaches that those who teach the Word of God will be judged more strictly. Considering the crucial role Christian leaders play, and the challenges and accountability that come with those responsibilities; It is your responsibility to love, strengthen and encourage your Christian leaders by giving them all the material, emotional and spiritual support they need. Remember, praying for ministers and taking care of them comes with great blessings.

Growing into Maximum Fruitfulness

“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Mat 13:23)

Maximum Fruitfulness is God’s perfect will for every child of His, and it represents maximum productivity. According to the Law of first mention in Bible interpretation; fruitfulness was first mentioned in Gen 1:28 and it was Gods first command to man after He completed His work of creation. Regardless of your sex, age or race; fruitfulness in life is a must, and it is possible as long as you remain in God, by seeking Him with all your heart and obeying Him (John 15:5-7). It is the will of God that His children walk in multi-dimensional fruitfulness. That is fruitfulness mentally, spiritually and in character.

Maximum Fruitfulness means maximizing one’s potential and it's achieved as one grows in their vertical relationship (with God) and horizontal relationship (with men). The word potential can be defined as non-utilized or underutilized abilities or skills. For example there was a lot of hidden potential in the Garden of Eden; there were hidden airplanes, iPads, computers etc. It took work for all those potentials in the garden to be realized. It is important to note that Maximum fruitfulness can only be attained through maximum growth.

In Matt 3:1-23 Jesus uses the parable of the sower to illustrate maximum fruitfulness. He talks about a sower who went to scatter seed, and the four different places the seeds fell; Path, Rocky ground, Thorns and Good Soil. Jesus further explains the meaning of the parable as follows. Path: That the seed that fell by the Path or wayside refers to, “when anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.” Rocky ground: “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away (20-21). Thorns: “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. Good Soil: “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Where do you find yourself? Today can your heart be likened to Path, Rocky ground, Thorns or Good Soil? The key is understanding, and understanding spiritual truths takes place in one's heart or spirit, as they hunger for God and His Word (Proverbs 2:2, Proverbs 4:7)  How hungry are you for God’s word today? That will determine what your heart can be likened to.

Understanding and obedience to the Word of God is the master key to maximum fruitfulness or a hundred fold increase. You can't realize the maximum  potential of any product without the manufacturer's manual. There is no alternative to obedience to God’s word in the Kingdom of God. God has already spoken and still speaks through His Word now. In times past He spoke through the prophets but now through His son Jesus Christ (the Word of God), the exact representation of His Image (Hebrews 1). Most importantly, now in this dispensation of the Holy Spirit a Christian is empowered not only to speak the word of God but more importantly live it. The ultimate power in God’s word comes through our obedience to it. Righteousness elevates, in the kingdom of God we rule through righteousness. Simply put obedience to God’s word daily is the key to maximum Fruitfulness.

God has placed gifts in you in the form of seeds, may your gifts make a way and take you before great men as you obey God’s word. Don’t despise your gifts, today may you realize your uniqueness and use your gifts to the best of your abilities. There are places that your gift will take you that a nothing else will. There is no alternative for obedience and righteousness, go and work towards a hundred fold increase, don’t settle for a thirty fold increase, maximize your potential in Jesus name, the world is waiting for your manifestation.