The Profile of a Rich Person!
Text Genesis 13:2 Gen 22 Psalm 112:3-4
Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold Gen 13:2
Wealth is first spiritual before it manifest in the physical- when it is Devine wealth and not just some worldly acquisition that has not morals and ethics.
It is important to profile a wealthy person; so that we can learn from them. However our model should be based more on the characters in the bible that were wealthy, people like Abraham, Job, Solomon, David, Cornelius and Jesus our Lord while He was on earth.Their wealth was as a result of their obedience to God in today’s terms they were born again and work the grace on their lives.Many Christians are not working on the talents and gifts that God has given them.
We must avoid the temptation of modelling our lives after those who are rich without Christ. Those who worship gold instead of God. As this is a sure way to destruction.
Should we aspire to be rich or wealthy or have enough? I would say yes, because when we are blessed we should become a blessing like Abraham. There is nothing wrong with having more than enough, so that we do not go about begging or falling into temptation and that is the bottom line of the definitions to being wealthy- having more than enough so that you can help others.
Listed below are the characteristics that made Abraham and other people in the bible wealthy. We can model our lives after them and be blessed.
1. Wealthy people are readers and learners 2 Tim 2:15
2. They utilise or employ all their talents and skills Prov 18:16
3. They have more than one source of income Eccl. 11:1-2
4. They radically reduce their expenditure or they always spend less than they earn.
5. They are financially literate and understand the cost of borrowing
6. They invest in things that have value
7. They never give up believing Gen 26:18-22
8. They have a tough skin against shame and mockery
9. They exude passion and confidence in all that they do
10. Laziness is not their friend Prov 19:15,24
11. They practice business before pleasure
12. They are worshipers by giving their life, their tithes and offerings Gen 14:17-20
Questions
How can I have more than I need starting from today?
What makes people stingy towards God?
How can I reduce my expenditure radically?
Setting Yourself Up for Greatness!
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly Psalm5:3
Text: Mark 3:13 Matthew 6:5-15
The keys to having a faith filled and fun day is to start your day with God; not in a religious and dogmatic way that could do more harm than good to ourselves and others but out of a love for God and His ways. A religious way will stop someone from attending to an important or critical need before praying for example if your child is crying or in need etc. Jesus told the Pharisees “hypocrites which one of you will have a donkey in a ditch and will not get it out on a Sabbath day but you do not want this Daughter of Abraham to be healed. Jesus did all His miracles on Sabbaths to prove about that God want mercy and compassion more than anything else.
So we must avoid the dangers of being religious. However, we must put God first in the morning mentally and physically by reading our bibles in a studious way and also praying. It may be a five minute kneeling down posture committing our day and life to God or one or more hours’ time in supplication and petition. Moreover, it is the quality of the time with God that matters and not the quantity. As one must appreciate that sometimes we wake up late or may have a pressing issue to attend to.
Setting one’s day up for greatness is an important prerequisite to peace and love and handling the storms of life that may be thrown at us. The question is not about whether we will have storms; but more of how we will handle the storms of life. The storms will surely come and there will be two kinds of people that emerge- those who sink in the storms and those who pass through just like Jesus and His disciples in the boat.
Our prayer and meditation will give us the victory in dealing with the storms of life. This is why we are encouraged to study the bible thereby becoming skilled in dealing with difficulties and challenges.
Please discuss the following points based on the scripture above:
1. Can our voice be silent or loud when we pray?
2. Should we lay our request before God in the morning and if yes how do we do this? Matthew 7:7-12
3. Is it a sign of faith to wait with an expectation before God? Gen 22:8
4. How can we put our church and others before God in prayers? Galatians 4:19
I am a witness!
We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”)Jn 1:40
John 1 and John 4 Luke 10:2
Most Christians dread sharing their faith or in other words evangelism. The reason is because it may brng about fierce opposition, mental or physical persecution or unprepared debates that may make them look foolish .
However, this should not be the case, all God expects from us is to be able to testify of the Goodness of the Lord in our life. No one can argue against our experience n Christ so it is time to share it. They can argue against so many things but not our story because that is personal to us.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Pet 3:15.
So what is your story have you articulated it so that you can tell anyone at anytime you are called upon?
All you need to do is provide clarity as to what your life was before you met Jesus, how you met Jesus and surrendered your life to Him and what he has done in your life. We must remember that we are not bringing people to ourselves but to Jesus the Lord. This is what the Samaritan woman did no one would have listened to a woman who had five husbands and a partner. But when she told them what Jesus did in her life they listened.
“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him” Jn 4:28-30
People will listen to our story but may not listen to our preaching. So let us work on our story and leave the rest to God. Our story will be a seed that will make the hearer sooner or later make the right call.
As we testify of the magnificent testimony of His death and resurrection this Easter may we invte our friends and family to celebrate with us and to know about the resurrection story. We pray that as they come to Jesus, He will find them- Amen.
Please pray for our Eater Celebration programme.
What will your testimony be?
Memory verse
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
Text: Habakkuk 2:3, John 6:26-27 Mathew 6:33,Psalm 15
After you’ve gone far with God, serving him, loving him and giving yourself to him, what will your testimony be? This is a decision you have to make based on where you stand now with God and where you will stand when Christ comes. Will he find you still standing and waiting for him?
1. What are you seeking from God?
Whatever it is you are seeking from God, do not give up, wait and you shall find it.
2. Reasons for seeking Christ should not be canal alone
Are you serving God for miracles alone which are classified as canal blessings or are you seeking God for spiritual things?
Summary:
3. Some of the things we should be asking God for:
To known him
Hear his voice distinctively
To be filled with his power
More of Gods power operating in you and through you.
And to carry more of His presence where ever you go.
God never forgets
God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them Hebrews 6: 10 – 12
Every act, every sacrifice, every gift, every prayer, every visit, every call, every smile, every encouragement, every service and every thing you have done for the kingdom and for this church does not go unnoticed and unrewarded. God wants you to keep at it even when it seems people don’t appreciate you, do not say thank you, insult and spite you because your service is unto him and the deposit you have made in numerous lives and in the kingdom would bear fruit in due season.
Supporting text: Esther 6: 1 – 10, Genesis 41: 1 – 16, 37 – 40, Gal 6:7, 2 John 8, Mat 9: 9 – 13, John 4: 4 – 42, Ruth 2:12, 2 Chronicles 15:7, 1 Cor 3:8, Jer 31:16
Questions
1. How can you stay motivated to keep giving, reaching out to others even when you see no results?
2. What rewards await those who serve God and his people diligently?
3. How else can you show love (in addition to what you currently do) to members of the church?
4. What plans do you have to reach others in your sphere of influence (people you relate with i.e. family, friends, colleagues) that are not yet Christians?
Prayer Points
§ Ask God for grace to continue to serve him and others (Christians and non- Christians)
§ Pray you would not miss the rewards associated with service both on earth and in heaven
§ Pray that every seed we have sown individually and corporately as a church would not go to waste but would change lives and yield a harvest of faithful and ‘growing’ disciples
Maximising and enjoying the seasons in our relationships
Humans are a product of relationships and we cannot function effectively without them (both spiritually and naturally). Relationships should be a place where all concerned are nurtured, protected, encouraged, loved and given room to grow and flourish. However what we see today in society is a totally different picture. We can only derive pleasure in our relationships when we understand the purpose of relationships from God’s perspective.
Supporting text: Gal 5: 16 – 26, Mat 5: 43 – 48, 1 Cor 13: 4 – 8,
Relationships like everything else in life has its ups and downs, despite this, we can still find satisfaction and make the most of our relationships if we understand the seasons in our relationships, prepare for them and utilise proven ‘God’ concepts that are characteristic of healthy relationships.
Questions
1. Are you satisfied with your relationship with God, your partner, children, family, friends and others? Please give reasons and if not what are you going to do about it?
2. What are the signs of unhealthy relationships and how should we handle such relationships? Rom 13:10, Phil 3:13, 2 Cor 6:14, 2 Sam 13: 1- 22
3. What are the characteristics of healthy relationships and how can we cultivate healthy relationships? Ruth chapter 2 – 4, 2 Tim 2: 19 -20
4. How does God want us to deal with our disappointment, frustrations, regrets and hurts in our relationships? Gen 45: 1 – 8, Luke 15: 11 - 32
Prayer points:
Ask God to help you love others (spouse, children, colleagues, family and those you do not like if any) the way He loves you
Ask for grace to forgive anyone who has offended or hurt you and also to forgive yourself if you blame yourself for letting others do what they did
Pray you would grow in your love for God and follow after the plans He has for you
Farming the word of God into your life!
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
and My thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it Isaiah 55:9-11
Supporting text: Gen 26:12-20, Gal 6:7, Hebrews 4:12,
Good likens his word to a precious seed that a farmer protects and preserves in order to plant it at the right time. Sometimes the conditions for planting seeds are gloomy and deceptive and many farmers may delay the planting but this is the right time to plant. The book of Proverbs tells us that the man who looks to the wind will never plant and soon die of want. When the conditions were very bad in Philistine, God told Isaac to plant his seeds. And the result was remarkable. We must plant our seeds irrespective of the weather. The seed is the word of God that has the power to change a negative into a positive and a test into a testimony.
No matter how difficult the situation is, God wants us to plant the seeds of His Word into any situation we find ourselves we must sow to reap a harvest. This is both a natural and spiritual principle. Whenever we complain or thank God we are sowing a seed. When we confess what the word says about a situation through prayer and faith we are planting our seeds and we will reap a harvest soon Rm 10:10, 2 Corinthians 4:13 Prov:18:21
How can we sow the right seeds in the following areas of our life below:
· Career and Progress
· Business
· Relationships with people
· Marriage
· Having and raising Godly children
· Children’s well being
· Telling and winning others for Christ
· Commitment in church
Farming the word of God into our lives is an investment we cannot afford not to make. In one way or another we are planting something; let it be the seeds that God not the devil wants us to plant- Amen.
Prayer Points:
Let us pray for forgiveness for planting the wrong seeds through pain or difficulty and sadness i.e. saying the wrong things
Uproot every ungodly planting that you have ever made Jer 51:20-24
Our God uses the small and few to do great things !
Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armour, “Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:6
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:27, Heb 13:17, Ephesians 4:16 Acts 4:32
God wants to use each of us to do great things this year, if we let Him have his way in our lives. It is never about numbers, finances, stature, social class or ones capability but about Gods ability.
Nehemiah rebuilt the temple of Jerusalem in 52 days because he was determined and allowed God to work through him. Prior to that the walls were broken down and Israel was a laughing stock for forty three thousand and seventy five days.
In our local congregation God wants to use the willing person to do extraordinary things. One person alone can make a big difference in Church or in their place of work or community. We need to recognise that God wants us to have the right attitude to do what He has in store for us.
We must trust God this year in every way possible- our business, family, community, work etc.
Great things are accomplished by great people not numbers!
Questions:
How can God use you this year? 2 Corinthians 2:9
What things must you put away to become a useful vessel in God’s hands? 1 Cor 13:11-13
What things can you believe God for personally this year ? Luke 1:37
Prayer points
Please pray for everyone in All Nations and our families
Pray that we will be the person that God uses
Please take other request
Growing your faith for 2012
As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did Romans 4:17
Text: Mark 11:23, Heb 11:1-5, Philipians 4:8, Romans 10:17, 2 Cor 4:13-15, 1 Cor 13:13
Growing our faith this year is a must because it will assist us in progressing spiritually, physically and materially.
Faith pleases God so we must do all it takes to please God even in the midst of difficulties. We must remember that all Jesus victories came in the midst of a storm; when things looked hopeless. It was at these times when God turned things around. Our victory comes in the midst of the storm.
When we please God we get the victory. Without faith prayer is ineffectual. We must let the word grow in us this year as the bible encourages us to let the word grow in us richly. As we meditate on individual scriptures that promise us victory in the area of our need we will have power like Abraham to call those things that be not as thou they are and our faith will grow.
There has to be a heart and mouth agreement to the things we want God to do for us. It is not enough to confess it without our heart steadfastly agreeing to it. If we are feeling weak or in unbelief it simply means the word of God is not stored in our heart as it should. So we must do all we can to make sure that we fill ourselves up with the word of God. Through pondering over the verses that we want to see manifested in our life. This was what God told Joshua.
To grow our faith we need the word of God to sink into our spirit more than ever before. Let us be very hungry for God and his word this year Amen!
Please read Joshua Chapter one and discuss what is needed to grow our faith this year?
Prayer points:
Pray for safe delivery of all our expectant mothers in Church
Pray for your dreams and aspiration that your faith will be enough to get it.
Pray for this Sundays church service and programme that God will bless and anoint it
Pray that our Church will rise up for God this year though the workers growing and becoming mature Christians.
Please pray for the protection of people in Northern Nigeria
God bless you
Succeeding in 2012!
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome Jeremiah 29:11
A new season brings us to a fresh start to life in all its forms, the scripture above tells us that God has planned a very good year for us . This informs us that if God is planning for us and so we must get to work and cooperate with God. If one is partnering with God they will not fail this year, we can only fail when we do not cooperate with the plans God has for us. That is why we must always be in constant communion with the father through studying the bible daily and having conversations with God in prayer.
God has planned for us this year in the following ways: He will create opportunities for us; bring us into favour with men. God will advise us and give us direction too. He will also plan for us through our church family so we must not miss the Sunday and mid week programmes. God is also planning that we serve him in church and in His ministry for our life personally this year. One must commit to everything God wants us to do this year. The power of the Holy Spirit is here to help us.
Please read 2nd Samuel 7:18-29: What did David do to make Gods plan for his life come through?
What we must do to plan for ourselves this year- this is a must for success.
1. Ask God to give you an eye and heart of faith Hebrews 11:6
2. Forget your past disappointment and success Phil 3:14-18
3. Plan to work harder but smarter Ecclesiastes 10:10
4. Have a good attitude and character 1 Corinthians 15:33
5. Associate and network with those who are already doing the things you want to achieve Proverbs 13:20
6. Think prosperity not austerity Proverbs 23:7
7. Think peace and love not hate and evil Philippians 4:8
8. Take opportunities in 2012: Olympics business, new business, marriage, relationships, gets ready by faith.
Questions:
Have you asked God what He has planned for you this year?
Are you planning for God as David did and was blessed what you are going to do for God this year?
Please take prayer points
All Nations Church is one of the branches of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. We are a warm friendly and prayerfull family and community church based in Stratford London United Kingdom.