COME TO THE WATERS

Isaiah 55:1-3

Everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters and have a free drink. 

In John 4, a woman of Samaria went to the well to draw water (for her need), and she met with the Giver of the water of life, Jesus!

Just as Jesus said, this water will become in you, a fountain (well) of water, springing up into everlasting life.

‘But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life’ - John 4:13 (AMP).

Every man initially sets forth the good wine in life, and as time goes on, when everyone is well drunk, they present the wine of lesser quality (their true nature and character begin to manifest)… John 2:10.

But when anyone comes to the water of life and drinks continually from this fountain, he receives life and not only that, he carries within him, the power of an endless life.

Your best is yet to be witnessed by your generation. That which will declare the glory of the Lord among the nations is yet to be revealed in you... Your best days are ahead!

The word ‘come’ here, is an outcry, an open bid or invitation. 

Furthermore, it’s an empowerment to those who are referred to as the less-privileged in the society (Eccl. 9:11; 1 Cor. 26:29). 

It also signifies an extension of the arm of mercy to everyone.

However, not everyone called will eventually yield or fit in to this call. Many are called, but few are chosen… 

Those who will yield or fit in to the call are:

1. Those who are thirsty – those who yearn for God! - John 7:37

2. Those who don't have ‘money’ (broke/broken). They have spent and have themselves become spent in resources, time and usefulness (literally, the poor) – Isaiah 61:1

3. The labourers (those who toil and labour ceaselessly) – Matt. 11:28

The ‘rich’ are most unlikely to yield to this divine call...

The problem with the ‘rich’ is that they have no sense of thirst. They feel no urge for the things of God and His kingdom, their sense of desire is weakened. They don't need God, they are self-sustained. They are not rich towards God (Luke 12:16-21). They seek life, but will never approach the Giver of life (John 5:39-40). 

They would rather bargain to obtain or inherit eternal life (Mark. 10:17-31). 

Coming to the presence of God gives you access to the unending riches of God. It gives you access to the free gift of salvation. Thereafter, you can ‘buy’ wine (the gift of the Holy Spirit) and milk (access to the Word) at no cost...

You know there is an emptiness within you, which only God can meet. Reach out to Him, share your burden and your thoughts with Him. He is ever ready to meet you at the point of your need! Moreover, He sees beyond your need…

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
RESIDENT PASTOR

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THE MAKING OF A FATHER

                                                   

                                                    Proverbs 20:7; 13:22

Who is a father? A father is a leader, a patriarch, a progenitor, an ancestor, a mentor, a role-model, a source and a sustainer…

Buried within a father is the seed of greatness (or pronouncement) which will provoke blessing upon the life of his children (descendants).

When a father falls from the place of grace (where God has placed him), everything goes wrong (Gen. 3:9). 

As a father (or a prospective father) are you strategically positioned or functioning in the place where God has placed you? Where are you presently?

The first man created by God (Adam) became the father of mankind, and everyone was named after him (Gen. 5:2).

Thereafter, He called Abraham, whom He separated from his father’s house, consecrated him, groomed him until he became the father of faith (Isaiah 51:1-2; Romans 4:16). 

Some things to note about Godly fathers:

A father sees far ahead into the future. He makes a prophetic gaze into the future, in other words, he perceives the futuristic attitudes or attributes of his children (descendants) - Heb. 11:21; Gen. 48:13-20; 49:1-28.

There are some things you won’t see even when you stand upon towers, which fathers will see, even when they are seated.

Fathers are teachers. They are generational builders. They lay foundations upon which high scrapers could be built. They are master builders, men of depth and real spiritual substance, who provide the shoulders for their children to climb on (Gen. 26:4-5; 2 Tim. 2:2).

Fathers (biological and spiritual) raise their children to be better than them. The height of their achievement becomes the starting point of their children’s achievements. Examples: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph; Moses and Joshua; Elijah and Elisha; Jesus and His disciples (John 14:12). 

They create platforms for others to rise. 

Sometimes, God uses fathers to bring divine disruption into our lives. These disruptions will eventually lead us to the fulfilment of God’s purpose for our lives.

Some examples of such include the following: 

Terah and Abraham (Gen. 11:31-32);
Jacob and Joseph (Gen. 37:12-14);
Jesse and David (1 Sam. 17:17-18);
Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21);
Jesus and His disciples (Matt. 4:18-22).

Who is your father? Who has God placed upon your life as a spiritual mentor or father? 

Furthermore, are you connected to the Father of all lights?

As a father, are you pouring the grace of God upon your life into someone else? 

Are you a portrait (picture) of the glorious future desired by and for your children?

As a young man, are you equipping and preparing yourself thoroughly to be a channel of blessing to others? 

Don’t depart from the ancient landmark (Prov. 22:28; 23:10).

Remember, God gave a testimony about Abraham as a father who would command the fear of God over his household (Gen. 18:17-19). Can God give such testimony about you?

How can I be a good father?

Let the Word of God become your standard of living. Be a doer of the Word! (James 1:22-25).
Teach your wife and children the Word of God (Eph. 5:25-27; Prov. 22:6).
Create time for your family. Close ranks with your wife and your children. Spend quality time with them (Eccl. 9:8-10).
Spend quality time in God’s presence, interceding for your home (Neh. 4:14) 

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
RESIDENT PASTOR

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INVITATION TO ABUNDANT LIFE

INVITATION TO ABUNDANT LIFE
John 7:37-39; Isaiah 55:1-2

Jesus said, ‘The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly’ (John 10:10).

Abundant life here is not just sheer display of wealth and material substance, it’s a life of absolute fulfilment, yielding totally to God’s will and purpose. It’s a life that has become a portal (channel) through which God’s blessings are distributed to many people, institutions and nations… (Gen. 12:2; Isaiah 60:15).

This invitation is to all and sundry, but only those who thirst will respond positively to it. Jesus saw that there was a high level of lethargy in the environment. This event was meant to be a moment of divine visitation, and it was the last day of the feast... It was supposed to be a time of refreshing and fellowshipping in God's presence, but what was obtainable in those days was mere fulfilment of tradition. In the midst of all these, He stood and cried out saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me...’

In other words, He meant ‘if anyone really desires to see the Father, let Him come to Me’. Jesus probably sensed that some folks genuinely came to Jerusalem to have an encounter with God, but the best they could get was what the religious leaders of those days had to offer them.

Spiritual leadership operating under a closed heaven can never lead people to the presence of God. Neither will their ministrations command the release of the supernatural (or the power of God to heal and to deliver)… Mark 16:20.

Most people will not yield to this invitation, because their 'thirst' is for something entirely different. Our generation has developed an unusual appetite for strange doctrines, quick fix solutions and other options at the expense of the Giver of abundant life...

The Lord says He now stands at the door of your heart, knocking to secure entrance to your heart, would you rather open to Him? (Rev. 3:20).

Thirst - could also be seen as passion, zeal, affection, or interest.

What do you thirst for? I understand that you might have a deep sense of affection, but what do you thirst for?

Everyone has a degree (or dimension) of thirst or the other.

Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst for righteousness... Matt. 5:6.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2).

Thirst could be provoked by a situation of dryness. For someone who dwells in a dry land, he or she would naturally desire or long for water to quench the thirst. Are you dwelling in a dry land? Do you possess a sense of spiritual dryness that has provoked an unusual thirst for the Word and the Spirit of God in your life? (Isaiah 44:3). 

God works in mysterious ways! He fills the hungry (and the thirsty) with good things, and sends the rich (those who are full of themselves) away empty (Luke 1:53; Rev. 3:17-19).

Many people appear in God's presence, only to mark register. They are not thirsty for His filling. Some are too full... they need to be emptied in order to receive the water of life. The only acceptable trading currency for obtaining (securing) abundant life is thirst!

...And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17).

This open invitation made by the Lord Jesus Christ was the promise of the Holy Spirit to as many as believed. He is the One who brings the kingdom of God into our hearts. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot experience abundant life...

This abundant life (ushered in by the Holy Spirit) brings you into the ‘heaven on earth’ mode. You eventually become a heavenly ambassador on earth (Matt. 16:19; 18:18).

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
RESIDENT PASTOR

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