FRUIT OF REVIVAL

READ: ACTS 4:34-37

Two things are very crucial to God. They are His name and His love. One reason Jesus has several names and titles is because there is no single name that can describe everything about Him. Whenever He introduces you to a new name, it is because He wants to reveal an aspect of Himself you have not known before.
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be you perfect” (Genesis 17:1). For 24 years after his call, Abraham followed and served the Lord. He knew some of God’s names or titles. He even thought he had known all. But one day the Lord revealed Himself to him as the ‘Almighty God’. This means ‘El-Shaddai’-The Breasted One. It produces a picture of God as the strong Nourisher, Strenght Giver, Satisfier, and All-Bountiful, the Supplier of all the needs of His people. However, the most important thing about His name is the word ‘Holy’ hence the angels sing Holy! Holy! Holy! non stop (Isaiah 6:1-3). Through which of His names has He revealed Himself to you?
“He that loves not knows not God; for God is love” (1John 4:8). God is jealous of His name. The second thing He is jealous of is His love. Wherever you find a true revival, everything in it will revolve around God’s holiness and love. Whenever there is genuine revival, people’s love for God will increase in intensity and people will want to live holy. It is inside of these two attributes that all the blessings in that revival will be hidden. What we view as blessings may several times be at variance with God’s view. For instance, it was the poorest church in Revelation that God commended. Where is the revival fire in you? Where revival fire burns the genuine love of God manifests. People claim to love their brethren yet they willfully hurt them. Where revival fire burns people willingly give all they have out of love as in the early church. The reason believers have not gone to Iraq and Iran is because there is no fire of love anymore. In Acts 21:13, that fire of love made Paul inspite of warning of imminent death to ride on with the Gospel message. Today, we are not concerned for the kingdom. Many want to sit with Christ on His throne yet they are not ready to go on missionary trips for the Master. How hot is the revival fire in your life? What is your level of love for God?

MEMORIZE: PHILIPPIANS 1:21 –For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

GOD’S SHOWCASE

READ: 1 KINGS 19:9-10

Several processes are engaged in converting a log of wood into a finished product. Before you obtain a carving out of a log of wood, first, you would need to fetch the wood from the bush. You will need to saw off the bark of the wood. This was the experience of Saul of Tarsus. The first journey he made out of Damascus was in a bucket. That was just the beginning of his problems. The sound you hear when the saw is working on the wood is that of protest. Thereafter, the sculptor uses hammer and chisel. This continues for a long while. Obtaining the carving from the wood is not an instant business. It takes considerable time.
“From henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Galatians 6:17). That was Paul’s remark when he was going through this process. Just when he thought the work was done and it was time to rest, he heard the sound of the saw again. But after the Sculptor has chiseled out things like covetousness, anger, impatience, pride, etc., the carving moves to the stage of sandpaper. After this comes the polishing stage by which time you are almost ready for display.
Carvings are of different categories. There are showpieces which the carpenter will want to display. Elijah was God’s showpiece. After he had gone through the sawing and chiseling processes at the brook Cherith, being fed by birds and some years in the house of the widow, he was moved to the sandpaper stage where he was being prepared for mount Carmel. Eventually it was time to showcase him a mount Carmel and through him the Baal prophets were defeated and destroyed and the nation turned to God. Beyond this, God further exhibited Elijah in heaven as he rode in the chariot of the King of kings while the angels gave him a standing ovation. One quality that made Elijah God’s showcase was his burning passion to please God. He was jealous for God and anything against God was taken as personally against him. How is your zeal towards God? God intends to showcase you both on earth and in heaven but how prepared are you? Are you complaining of the sufferings you are going through for the kingdom? Stop complaining. You are being prepared to become a showcase for men and angels.

MEMORIZE: 1 CORINTHIANS 4:9 –For I think that  God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

IN OUR CALLING

READ: MATTHEW 10:21-25

It is one thing to set a goal for yourself. It is another thing to reach the goal. Accomplishing a set goal is like climbing a mountain. It is tough, challenging and requires a lot of effort hence many cannot achieve their goals and end up living in frustration. Luke 9:62 says, “And Jesus said to him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” This is a great spiritual truth which holds both for achieving physical and spiritual goals. Jesus warns that for you to achieve your goal, you must be focused on the goal and disallow any distraction.
Have you resolved to spend your eternity in the heavenly planet? I rejoice with you. But note, however, that the day you made that decision, you created room for three major things to happen: first, Satan also determined that you will never get there. To hinder you, he put several obstacles on your way and employed diversionary tactics. Secondly, God may want to see the extent of your determination and thereby permit some tests. The result of the tests will determine the third thing that will happen. For instance, if you fail the tests you will forget the goal. But if you pass the test, God will assist you to reach you goal.
Satan will not trouble you too much if heaven is not your goal because he knows you will spend eternity with him in the lake of fire. As sinners we were in Satan’s cage. But the moment you became born again, you escaped. Since then, Satan has been chasing you with persecution and all kinds of things (Matthew 10:22). As a result of your faith in Christ, some of your former friends and even relations have deserted you. Some homes suffer much. Before the wife received Jesus, there was peace but after confessing Christ, trouble starts. When Satan discovers persecution cannot derail your trip to heaven, he will present you with attractive alternatives of success without Jesus (Matthew 4:10). Satan may present a beautiful alternative at the cost of one bow. He may offer you the forbidden fruit that looks good, succulent and nutritious, only that it contains a dose of poison and will kill whoever eats it. Stay focused. Don’t be distracted. As you know Satan is a dogged tempter, he never tires out but only changes strategies. You must also resolve to resist him as many times as he tempts you. You will reach your goal. You will get to heaven. Persecution is in our calling. Stay focused on where you are going.

MEMORIZE: LUKE 9:62 –And Jesus said to him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

LAW OF LIFE OR DEATH?

READ: ROMANS 7:4-6

There are spiritual laws, and there are physical laws. Spiritual laws are stronger than physical ones and can displace the latter at any time just as the judgement in a magistrate court can be set aside by a supreme court. For instance, there is a law that operates in the earthly plane called the law of death. This law says that anyone who dies must remain dead and his body must remain trapped in the grave in a lifeless form. There is another law that rivals this. It is a law that operates in the spirit realm called the law of resurrection. This law says that any dead person on whom the law is applied must be restored to life.
In John 11:23-26, after the law of death was applied on Lazarus and he died, Jesus who is the Law of Resurrection went there and applied the greater law and he lived again. One of the two laws must apply to the life of everyone that comes into this world. The law of death governs anyone who is not born again. This is why no sinner can raise the dead. They can only operate with the law of death that operates in them by taking lives. If you murder, you are operating the law of death and that same law will eventually kill you and drown your soul in hell. If you claim to be a believer or even a minister of God but your conduct, speech, dealings with fellow believers, always pulls down, discourages, marginalizes, victimizes, degrades, witch haunts or even kills, you are governed by the law of death and one day, you will also be a victim of the law that operates in you.
Jesus operates the law of resurrection hence every contact with Him brought about the fruits of resurrection. Any good thing that was dead could not maintain its status quo as long as Jesus was around. When He died, because of the law of resurrection He operated, all His earthly years, He was greater than the law of dead –in the battle between both laws, the law of Resurrection became victorious, hence Jesus rose to live forevermore. His grave remains empty. One would have cause to doubt if some who claim to be born again are really saved. This is because, contrary to the operation of the Law of resurrection that should be operating in them according to Romans 8:11, there is no benefit whatsoever. Their bodies are dying with sickness, their businesses are dead and the law of death is holding sway in their lives. One reason the law of Resurrection is not in operation in the lives of such believers is because they are still operating the law of death. Which law are you operating?

MEMORIZE: ROMANS 5:21 –That as sin has reigned to death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

CHALLENGES OF EXPANSION

READ: MATTHEW 9:36-38

“Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).
The Great Commission is a most important assignment that has been committed to Christ’s universal church. It is the mother of ministry. The world must be evangelized if we truly want the rapture to take place. Every believer in Christ must regularly win souls to the Lord. But that’s not all. The church will need to raise more workers to cope with the task before us. As a church, the Lord has given The Redeemed Christian Church of God a great vision. The church must be planted in all countries of the world. Infact, every family on earth must have at least one of their members become a member of this end time church. The work is truly great. As parishes are being created and workers and ministers are sent to continue the vision there, a time will come when one of our greatest challenges will be supply of manpower. If such expansion continues, the caliber of ministers and pastors will continue to nose dive until it gets to a time young converts will be sent to head parishes. When babies oversee parishes, the Gospel will be watered down. This is also true for non-RCCG churches.
Does this mean we should stop the spread and consolidate for one or more years before we continue? No. There is a way we could develop the required human resources while still spreading. Today’s reading tells us we can actually pray about our need for workers. But as you do, qualify them. Today you have all kinds of workers –evil workers, lazy workers, uncommitted workers etc. Such workers are a curse to the assignment given to us. They will act as caterpillars to destroy what the Lord is building. So tell the Lord you don’t want such workers. Rather, seek His face and fast for faithful workers, dependable workers, workers who will serve as pillars in each department, workers as financial pillars, workers who have an understanding of who they are working for, workers who are humble and God-fearing. As you pray, persist in prayer. Sometimes God assigns such workers to churches or parishes according to their fervency and regularity in prayer. If there is a delay, persist. You will have the right kind of workers to do the work. In any case what kind of worker are you in your local church? How much have you been interceding for quality workers in your church?

MEMORIZE: MATTHEW 28:19 –Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.