HUMBLE YOURSELF

                                                            Luke 14:7-11

To humble yourself is to bring yourself under the hand of God, allowing divine process to take its due course in your life. It requires possessing the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5-8). 

Jesus, being the Lord of all, still had to wait until the time appointed by the Father before stepping into His ministry. He still went through baptism, was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil...

He was made a little lower than the angels (Heb. 2:8-9).

Many people desire exaltation in life but they are never willing to submit themselves to divine process. They don't want to dwell under the refinery process that God wants to put them through, which is inevitable for everyone to go through at some point in their lives.

The earlier you humble yourself to God's pruning process, the better it is for you. Even when others despise, mock or ride over you, these could be some of the processes He would take you through, before bringing you into your wealthy place (Psalm 66:10-12).

In Proverbs 25:6-7, the Bible says ‘Put not forth thyself...’

This implies that many times, we just want to show up before the appointed time, we just want to get running without being 'summoned' by the Father to 'come up hither'. 

There are some spiritual developmental processes that God wants to take you through (whilst you dwell in the lower realm) in order to bring you into the place of greatness.

In Luke 14:7-11, Jesus saw the way everyone was looking out for the best seats in the event He was invited to. Everybody wanted to be at high-table, sitting close to the chairman of the event… 

Here are some key points to note in this parable:

1. This parable is practically applicable to everyone invited into the kingdom of God.

2. The desire to be acknowledged and celebrated amongst men is prevalent in the church, as much as it is in the world (John 5:44; 12:43). 

3. Life is in phases and stages! Let God perfect His work in you before presenting you forth for a higher place (1 Peter 5:6). 

When provision shows up before adequate pruning and preparation, abuse is inevitable…

4. No one is indispensable in the vineyard… God is not a respecter of persons!
‘Lest a more honourable man than you be bidden…’

This is the picture of a man who is willing to yield the totality of his life and whole being to God as a living sacrifice (a reasonable service) – Romans 12:1.

What to do…

Go down! Go and sit down in the lowest room…
Here, the Lord sits upon your life as He takes you through the incubation process. This stage is strategic to making a full proof of your ministry (calling).

…When he that appoints you comes, that he may say unto you, Go up higher!
Wait until the time appointed by the Father.

Absolute compliance and total obedience to the ways of God will make you a friend of God (John 15:14-15).

He that exalts himself will be abased, and he that humbles himself will be exalted (Matt. 23:12).

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
RESIDENT PASTOR

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MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Luke 19:12-13

Your business is your occupation, profession or trade. The business we are talking about here, is your God-given assignment, your ministry, your calling (John 18:37).

Occupy till I come...

The word ‘occupy’ here implies that one should engage fully and profitably in an endeavour. It also means you should take ownership.
Applying the force of diligence and self-discipline into that which has been committed into your hands...

Your business is that which you must exert your energy, substance, time and life into. One of the greatest resources you deploy into your God-given business is your time. Nobody can manage your business for you. 

As a father, no amount of money and material gifts and substance you shower your family with, can substitute the quality time you spend with them, building and nurturing them with Godly values. 

As a parent, you can mould the lifestyle and future of your children by pouring yourself into them, releasing kingdom principles and leadership culture into their lives. 

Likewise, you spend quality time with the wife of your youth.

As a mother, you must exhibit the characteristics of a virtuous (God-fearing) woman, who is a crown to her husband (Prov.12:4) and a role-model to her children.

A very important question you must ask yourself is ‘What exactly is my business?’

Many people spend their whole life-time cultivating and nurturing another man's business, while many others engage themselves meddling into other people's affairs. Many choose to live as spectators for the rest of their lives, without locating and fulfilling God's purpose for their lives.

Joseph committed himself whole-heartedly to his business... (Gen. 39:4-13).

Jesus, even from childhood cultivated a sense of responsibility towards His Father’s business (Luke 2:49).

Few hints about your God-given business

When you locate and walk within the sphere of your God-given business, you simply trigger off ‘the Garden experience’… Gen 2:9, 15

When you locate your God-given business, you enter into His rest, you experience satisfaction, and enjoy peace (Phil. 4:7-9).

When you step into your God-given business (domain of influence), you generate surplus value effortlessly, you make significant impact, irrespective of the circumstance of your environment... 

What must I do?

Take heed to your ministry 1 Tim. 4:12-16
Let no one despise you, rather live an exemplary life.
Give yourself to reading, training (learning) and impacting others.
Do not neglect nor despise that which you have received from God and place wherein He has established you to be nourished…
Don’t underestimate the place of meditation

…that thy profiting may appear unto all

Kindly reflect on these:
What is your business? Have you discovered it?
If the Master comes today, will He find you right at the centre of your business?

Are you fully engaged, half-heartedly engaged or not even bothered about the Master's business, which He has committed into your hands? (Matt. 24:46; Luke 12:43).

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
RESIDENT PASTOR

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KNOW GOD FOR YOURSELF

                                                      Bible text: Jeremiah 31: 31 – 34

We have come to the age where the knowledge of God has become inevitable. This is the period the bible prophesies that, “the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall fill the earth” (Hab. 2: 14). A period when one does not need intermediary to get to God but today, what we see is that people despise the knowledge of God and start chasing after some so called men of God who in turn make merchandise of them. It is only those who know their God that will do great exploit (Daniel 11: 32b).

Knowledge of God at this point in time is not what anyone should toil with. The bible says, “and even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Rom 1:28). 

This explains reason why many so called believers make God out of men rather than having boldness to approach the throne of grace through the knowledge of God. God expects all that must come to Him do so in the intimate knowledge of Him. The same way, God expects us to know Him so well so that we can represent Him to our world. You cannot speak of God you don’t know; neither can you share with others what you don’t know about Him except you are a hypocrite. 

It was for this reason that Jesus Christ came that we may know God and seek to serve him (John 14: 6 – 7).

HOW CAN WE THEN HAVE (GAIN) THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD?

1.       The know ledge of God can be obtained by acquaintance with God – Hos. 6:3, Job 22:21, Heb. 10;22

2.      Obedience is another condition for obtaining the knowledge of God – Jhn. 7:16 – 17

3.      Fear of  God is also one of the ways to gain the knowledge of God – Prov. 1:7,29

4.      The knowledge of God can be gained through the word of God – 2Pet. 1:8, Col. 1:10

What do we stand to gain for knowing God?

1.       Anyone who knows God has his/her soul liberated from all error – John 8:31 – 32

2.      The knowledge of God leads to eternal life – John 17:3

3.      The knowledge of God brings peace and hope – Job 13:18, 23:10, 2Tim. 1:12

Finally, it is worth to note that the knowledge of God is infinite. No one knows God enough. We all should aspire to know more of Him as Apostle Paul remarked in Phil. 3:10 – 11. 

PASTOR RAPHAEL ATODE

     

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