EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD

                                                             Genesis 15:1-5

Abraham made some very difficult decisions. He chose to go God’s way. He chose to obey God. He kept looking for the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God… (Heb. 11:10).

The beginning of this chapter points out very important things to take note of, in the previous chapter(s). It says, ‘After these things…’

Something significant must have led to this. It's very important for us to take note of some of these events... 

Reading through from the past chapters, we see the antecedent of Abraham's call, and how God appeared to him and gave him an instruction to leave his father's house to yet an unknown place.

2 major strongholds: Sodom and Egypt (Rev. 11:8). This is the spiritual name of the city where our Lord Jesus was crucified. 

Sodom represents the height of immorality (lesbianism, gay, bisexual, transgender, promiscuity, etc).

Egypt represents idolatry, materialism, worship of mammon, etc.

Each of them represents and promotes the world value system which contradicts that of the Kingdom of God.

Abraham had to deal with these corrupt value systems before having a life-transforming encounter with God.

In Gen. 12:10, he went down to Egypt. In Gen. 13:1, he came up from Egypt. In Gen. 14:22, he rejected the offer of the king of Sodom. After these things, God showed up!

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’” – Gen. 14:22-23.

Prepare your heart for an encounter with God. You must deal with every thought pattern and value system that tries to contend with the integrity of the Word of God in your life. Let God alone be true!!!

...The Word of the Lord came to Abram… (Gen. 15:1)
The Word of the Lord is not a respecter of persons, neither does He bow to difficult situations or circumstances that surround our lives. 

Vain is the help of man (Psalm 60:11; 108:12).

You can adopt a child, an idea, a strategy, a method or solution...but if that which you adopt is not born by the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father, it is vain...

The Word of the Lord will come unto you, and bring forth a new order in you, which the world cannot fathom!

Eliezer of Damascus was a great guy, but God desired to give Abraham (called Abram as at the time this event was captured) his own son!

Eliezer here, depicts the best of our plans and purposes for our lives, our ambitions and humanly conceived, devised and well mapped out strategies which might distract our attention from focusing on God's agenda for our lives.

Many times, our self-help programs contravene the divine order. Wait on the Lord and let Him fulfil His purpose in your life (Rom. 8:28).

You will not lose your reward. The Lord Himself is your exceeding great reward.

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
RESIDENT PASTOR

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DIVINE ENLARGEMENT

                                                          Isaiah 54:1-5

What is enlargement?

To enlarge is to make bigger, to expand, extend, grow, to increase, to build up, magnify, to deepen and to heighten, to stretch beyond limits, etc...

As we move on in today's discussion, the first instruction I want us to take note of, as given by the Lord, is the word ‘Sing’.

Is there anyone in the house, who is in the place of desolation (emptiness, unhappiness, gloom)? Maybe the future even looks bleak and every hope seems lost, the Word of the Lord says to you, SING!!!

This is the first step you take as you embark on a journey to supernatural enlargement.

Why do we need enlargement?

Owing to the necessity and the urgency of the fulfilment of the great commission (Matt. 28:16-20), which also happens to be our heavenly mandate (raising ambassadors for Christ), we must be divinely equipped from time to time for this great assignment. 

The best of our natural abilities are not enough to successfully undertake this heavenly inspired project. It is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord...(Zech. 4:6).

Seeing that our redemption draws near (as the Day of the Lord is at hand), we can only 'occupy' till He comes through the supernatural enlargement (quickening) of our hearts...

In what areas of your life do you need enlargement?

Our prayer lives
The in-take of the Word of God
Ethical value system (Character build-up)
Intellectual reasoning
Giving
Service to God - commitment to soul winning, etc…

Who are the right audiences for this divine empowerment?

They are people who have a true yearning for God, His kingdom and His righteousness (Phil. 3:9; Matt. 6:33).

They are people who will not be overwhelmed by personal interests to the detriment of national development and welfare (Judges 7:1-8).

They are people who mourn when there is prevalence of wickedness in the land.

They are the selfless people.

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
RESIDENT PASTOR

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THE STORM IS ALMOST OVER

                                                                     L/text: Matthew 14:22-31  

What is a storm? A tempest. A violent commotion or disturbance. It could also be described as a direct and violent assault on a stronghold.

It seems that this is a time for storms.

Whether it be: Family, Finances, Sickness, Depression, Temptations… You are just battling away and looking for not only a way out but some are just looking for answers.

For some of us, we have been in the storm way too long. And it’s our fault because while the storm passed on by, we chose to remain in the devastation. We chose to live in the mess that these storms created.

First you have to understand that, storms are a way of life. 

And even for our Christian life, storms are going to take place. But it’s how we react when they come upon us that we have to address.

v. 22-24

The storm came while they were in God’s Will

Stop worrying about how you got in the storm and start working on getting out.

v. 26 - They didn’t recognize Jesus when He came to them.

We are so caught in what we are going through that we don’t recognize when God shows up.

The disciples couldn’t see Jesus due to the fact that their attention was on the storm that was around them.

But, I would rather much be in a storm while sitting in the center of God’s will than to be out of God’s will wondering where He is.

Get your eyes off the storms and start looking for Jesus.

v. 26 – The bible says the disciples cried out in fear. Not because of the storm but because they thought the saw a ghost.

You know:

God may not always show up in an angel outfit

There maybe times where His way of getting you to your next level comes in form of something that scares you.

Anytime God moves us up, He is moving you out of your comfort zone of service. Why does He do that?

We get so comfortable in our situations and circumstances that we start living as though we don’t need Him. So just about the time you get settled, God will send a storm in your life that causes you to turn back to Him.

v.27 - But He does offer this encouragement:

“It is I, be not afraid”

v. 28 – Peter speaks up.

Jesus if that is you, bid me to come to you on the water.

v. 29 – What a statement. It’s only one word but what a statement Christ makes here.

I found it interesting in other parts of the Bible, when Christ spoke to one individual He would call out their name.

· “Lazarus, come forth” – John 11

· “Zacchaeus, come down”- Luke 19

“Come” the same word used in:

Matthew 11:28

“Come to Me all who are weary and I will give you rest…”

This was an open invitation to anyone who was on the boat. First of all you have to see that the boat was where the fear was settled. The disciples were in a storm while they were in the boat. Christ was giving them an opportunity to get out of the storm. 

He said, “Come” – The same invitation that He is giving to you.

For you to come out of the place where you are:

· You too will have to get past your fear

· You will have to close your ears

· You will have to quit looking at the possibilities of failure and look to the positive

· Stop looking at the storm and start looking for Jesus

Listen to the promise in Isaiah 43:1,2

“But now says the Lord, your Creator O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched nor will the flame burn you.”

Notice the action in that text: “Through”

These storms were not created for you to just sit down and feel sorry for yourself.

If you are ever going to make it, you have got to go “through” your situation.

DON’T STOP!!!

v. 32 – When THEY got into the boat.

Peter lost his faith and began to sink, but Jesus still had compassion enough to bring him back into the boat. So what was different this time? Jesus was in the boat as well.

v. 34 – this may not mean much to you

But notice after the storm was over, they made it to their destination.

Isaiah 25:4

“God is our refuge from the storm…”

The storms we go through will cause us to make some decisions about ourselves. Some will be tough.

But sometimes, God is just waiting to see if we are willing to get out of the boat.

Summary: Sometimes to get out of our storms of life we first have to get out of the boat.

                                                     DEACON YINKA ANIBABA       

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