DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU READ?

Fruitfulness is God's command and desire for us, amongst other things. He desires that we abound in good works and grow steadfastly.

However, fruitfulness is a by-product of understanding. We must come to the place of understanding before we can attain spiritual fruitfulness. In Matthew 13, the Bible tells us about the seed that was sown on a good land, which typifies a heart of spiritual understanding. Such a seed commanded a bountiful harvest.

The problem which each of the other lands had was with the ‘heart condition’ which mainly signified lack of understanding. This is a prevalent issue in the church of God today. This ‘plague of the heart’ has hindered the fruitfulness of many folks in the church (Matt. 13:18-23).

Do you understand what you read? Many of us read the Bible, quote the scriptures, yet we lack the understanding of the scriptures and of the power of God. This is the gateway to error… (Matt. 22:29).

God told Philip to leave Samaria for a ‘desert’ and he simply obeyed (Acts 8:26-27). God might be calling you into a place which looks like a desert today, simply obey and follow His instructions for your life.

The Ethiopian eunuch was returning from Jerusalem to Ethiopia, he attended the combined worship service, but there was still a vacuum in his heart. 

He hadn’t found what he came all the way from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to seek! He resorted to the reading of the scriptures, which perhaps could be of help to him…

Philip was sensitive and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit and this eventually produced a great output…

One important lesson to note here is that, when Philip asked him, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’, his response, which was borne out of a modest and humble heart was ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’. He had a teachable heart. 

Furthermore, understanding comes through the entrance of God’s words (Psalm 119:130). 

Do you understand what you read? Many folks read, yet they never come to the place of understanding (2 Tim. 3:7), because they are never really interested in drawing life from Jesus (John 5:40).

May the LORD grant us the heart of understanding, that we may behold wondrous things out of His words, and abound in fruitfulness… 

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

RESIDENT PASTOR

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THE POWER OF FELLOWSHIP

A fellowship could be defined as a friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests; A group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim. 

Fellowship also implies society, brotherhood, companionship, communion, etc.

It is the desire of God that His children dwell together in the spirit of fellowship. One major component of fellowship is love. Wherever love exists, there abides true fellowship. God is love!

‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity’… Psalm 133:1-3; Ephesians 4:13.

Using the Aaronic priesthood as a prototype, the Bible here, illustrates how God commands His eternal blessing in the place of unity and brotherly fellowship.

However, there is a divine order which must be followed:

Firstly, God desires that we get locked up in fellowship session with Him.

Devotion to our heavenly Father is what pleases Him above all else… Gen. 3:8; Mark 3:14.
Our fellowship with God commands faithfulness all around us. You cannot abide in the presence of God and still remain in a state of barrenness. 

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).

It’s time to relocate! It’s time for fellowship… Get connected! It’s time to plug in… Isaiah 55:1; Matt. 11:28.

You simply connect through prayer, the study of God’s Word, praise, worship, etc. 

Secondly, God wants us to continuously dwell together in fellowship – the spiritual bond which ties us together in Christ (Ephesians 4:1-6; Acts 2:42; Romans 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12-21).

Don’t forsake the assembling of believers, by so doing, you rob yourself of divine impartation. Blessing and fruitful abound beyond measures in the presence of God (Psalm 46:4).

Cultivate this godly fellowship by engaging in small group meetings, cell/house fellowship meetings (Matt. 18:20).

Some of the benefits of fellowship include the following:

1. The release of the supernatural. God’s presence breaks forth, divine revelation occurs, spiritual blessings are released upon the people.

2. Healing takes place, miracles, signs and wonders break forth, yokes are destroyed, burdens are lifted…

3. Committed members experience spiritual growth.

4. Material blessings are released.

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

RESIDENT PASTOR

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ABOUNDING IN FRUITFULNESS

In Genesis 1:28, God gave us a dominion mandate. The first step towards achieving this mandate is fruitfulness. This implies that no matter what the condition is, God expects and desires fruits from His children…

One of the definitions I like about fruitfulness is the one that says it is the intellectual productivity of a creative imagination.

Looking at today’s anchor text, we will examine three ways through which God ensures that we abound in fruitfulness.

He makes all grace to abound towards us…

God ensures that we walk in the full dimension of His grace. 

The Bible said ‘And God is able to make all grace abound towards you…’ This implies that God releases His bountiful grace upon us. Grace is a supernatural robust platform on which every provision of God (including fruitfulness) thrives. Fruitfulness is a function of grace (John 1:15-16; 10:10).

He ensures that we have all sufficiency in all things…

He supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory… (Phil. 4:19). 

He makes available to us, all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

‘Our sufficiency is of God…’ (2 Cor. 3:5).

Our God gives liberally and upbraids not (James 1:5).

He ensures that we abound to every good work…

At this level, we begin to walk in the newness of life. God perfects His work in us, such that we no longer live for provision, we live for vision (the heavenly vision). He works in us both to will and to do, of His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). God tilts our attention away from self, but towards Himself and His desire for us, through the power of the Cross… (Gal. 2:20; 6:14).

Remember, fruitfulness is not just an admonition, it’s a command. We bring into captivity, every spirit of bareness as we arise to take on this God-given mandate, in the name of Jesus Christ! 

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

RESIDENT PASTOR

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