FAMILY THAT LIVE TOGETHER RESPONDS TOGETHER

TEXT: COLOSSIANS 3: 19-21

A family consist of father, mother and their child(ren). We are all different in character and attitude, but in one way or the other we tend to imitate or imbibe character and attitude of people that we relate with, either consciously or unconsciously. This is why the bible says in 1 Corinthians 15: 33 that “Do not be deceived, evil communication corrupts good manner.” The type of the company you keep, the type of family you are from, the environment you live in play a vital role in your life. Every member of a family should live and relate together in love and harmony, they should share ideas and things together in love and never live in hostility towards each other.

Directly or indirectly; whatever behaviour, character and habit that one member of the family has will rob on other members of the family. Character and attitude are like river, they flow to the rest of the members of the family. If a member of the family is mean and hostile, the rest of the family may follow suit. I am the type that loves things to be well organised and done perfectly. The place I reverence most in the house is my bed; I can’t stand to see my bed messed up. I could not stand it when the smallest part of the duvet is not straight and neatly laid!  Because of this I used to tell my children not to sit on my bed, if they have to sit, I will be telling them how to move, sit, turn… giving an endless instruction they need to follow to sit on my bed.

Overtime, I noticed that my children had cultivated this habit from me; they started telling themselves the same thing I used to tell them. “You can’t sit on my bed, my duvet will be messed up, your leg is…… One day I realised that they have started responding to my attitude, I quickly corrected the negative flow of attitude, and they also started accommodating and tolerating themselves. The positive things in me also they imbibed, when people are living together; they respond to all characters and attitudes both positive and negative, this is where it is important to ask God to help us and reveal to us where we need to make amends. Children learn what they live, if they live in a friendly environment, they will love and be nice to everybody around them, if they live in hostility, they will be hostile to people around them.

As Godly family, we should love and respond together in love, in fear of God and in prayer. Families should not live in hatred, anger, malice, bitterness. As parents we are to lay a good example for the children, because they will respond to our attitude thinking that it is the best way to live. They see us as their role model. Let us live to impact positive things into our children, so that they can also impact their children and their generation positively.

Image- Google Image

www.vesselofpraisemusicministry.yolasite.com

CONTROL YOUR APPETITE

TEXT: PROVERBS 25: 16-17, 27

Whatever you do in excess becomes an abuse, it is good to eat to keep healthy, but too much of food can pose danger to the body. Desire to live a comfortable and prosperous life is very good also, but getting too desperate to get rich by all means is dangerous.

God is not against us living a good life, He is not against being able to afford all we want, but He does not want us to go to the extreme in achieving these things. Lust of eyes have put so many people in trouble, they want to have all that their eyes  can see. This “unhealthy appetite” is of different ways, some have appetite for food, they love food and they can do anything to satisfy their appetite. Example is Esau, he sold his birthright to his brother because of food. There are some “food addicts” that cannot do spiritual exercise like fasting, because they cannot do without food.

Some people have appetite for opposite sex, that they won’t mind going extra mile to achieve this. A lot of people had met their Waterloo as a result of this. Examples of people that had appetite for women are Samson, Solomon, and David. Samson ended up his life as a result of his “unhealthy appetite” and was unable to fulfil God’s purpose for his life. Solomon’s appetite for women caused him to start marrying ungodly women, that turned his heart against the Almighty God to their foreign gods. David’s sinful appetite for Bathseba caused him to get Uriah killed, so that he could marry his wife. Some people have appetite for power, they don’t mind hurting, or killing for them to get into power. The fight for power happens in the church also, they may not go to the extent of killing physically, but they  are  killing their “opponents” with the word of their mouth.

Let us search ourselves and notice things that we crave for; we need to control that appetite before it destroys us. Go to God to reveal to you all “unhealthy appetite” that you need to control. May the lord help us to live our lives to please Him in Jesus name.

Image- Google image

PUT AWAY “STRANGE gods”

TEXT: GENESIS 35: 2

Many people today are cleaving to “strange gods” without them knowing. Whatever consumes you, whatever you give yourself to, whatever dominates you, whatever has taken the place of God in your life, that thing becomes a god in your life.

Having  “Strange gods” may not be any carved image, it may be money, power, property, wealth, clothes, shoes, furniture, cars, gargets, alcohol, drug, astrology, business, job, children, spouse, and relationships. God is precise in his instruction to us, “thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” (Exodus 20:4). The lord does not want anything that will take us away from Him, He created us for Himself alone, so He get jealous when He discovers that something is taking His place in our hearts.

Getting yourself involved in “strange gods” may not be done deliberately, it happens unknowingly. Things that takes the place of God in our lives creeps in gradually that we may not even notice that something is taking God away from us.

Some people turn their wealth to their gods, they believe that they can do anything they want to do with their money, and therefore they have no regard for God anymore.  To some; their gods are their children and spouses. People tend to serve God better when they are looking for a change in their status, once there is a promotion or an additional blessing; they allow the position to push them away from God, by making the blessing to take the place of God in their lives. Anything that God has blessed us with should be used to serve Him; we should not allow any material things to become our gods, there can only be one God, which is the Almighty God that created the heaven and the earth and everything in it, including the material things that are keeping us away from our source.

The lord is talking to us today to put away everything that is taking the place of God in our lives and turn to Him in repentance. Stop idolising your jobs, children, businesses, spouses, positions, and relationships, it is not when you have a graven image in the corner of your house that you have a strange god, any job, any relationship, business, wealth and riches that is taking the place of God in your life, is a “strange god.” Therefore put them away today and face the only living God.

Whatever thing you are obsessed with, becomes your god, put your mind off material things and be obsessed with the things of God.

Image- Google Image

www.vesselofpraisemusicministry.yolasite.com

POWER OF PERSISTENCE

TEXT: MATTHEW 15: 22-28

Persistence is the ability to maintain action regardless of your feelings; it is the ability to continue even when you feel like quitting. The difference between winners and losers is their level of persistence. As believers in Christ we need to be persistent. Throwing in the towel at any little disappointment can make us not to be able to receive answer to our requests. God’s time is different from our own, He does things at His own time, and He does not make mistakes. His timing is always right and accurate. His word tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that His ways are not our ways; neither is His thoughts our thoughts…… God will never disappoint any of His children, but we need to trust Him and keep trusting Him. If we are persistent; He would give us things that we do not deserve.

The ability to persist has to do with our faith and trust in God, it shows we know and sure that the lord is able and more than enough to meet our needs.

The account of the Canaanite woman in our text made it clear that God can grant you what you do not deserve, when you persist in asking. The woman wanted Jesus to help her in healing her daughter who was possessed with evil spirit, but Jesus answered her “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” This statement means that the woman did not deserve what she was asking for, but her humility and her persistence earned her what she did not deserve.

“Yes, Lord,” She said. “But even the dog eats the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Some people would have given up at Jesus’ answer but she knew that Jesus is capable of doing what she asked for; she refused to get angry or give up.

If we can endure hardship, if we can persevere, and refuse to give up on God, He will grant us our requests. “Then Jesus answered. “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Humble yourself before God, be persistent in asking, don’t get tired or angry, if you persist; He is merciful to grant you the things you do not deserve. Do not forget that winners never quit and quitters never win. 

Image-Google Image

www.vesselofpraisemusicministry.yolasite.com

WHAT GARMENT ARE YOU WEARING?

TEXT: REVELATION 19:7-8

The military are known by their uniforms, nurses are known by their uniforms, the police force in different countries is also recognised by their uniforms. As believers in Christ we will be recognised by the garments we are wearing. At this juncture we need to ask ourselves “what garment am I wearing?” Are you wearing Christ, Devil, or pride?

The scripture tells us to clothe ourselves with the lord Jesus Christ, and do not think of how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:14). People are supposed to see us and see Christ in us, even without opening our mouth to announce it. A military man in his uniform does not need to open his mouth to tell people that he is a military man, because his uniform has announced him. So also as soldiers of Christ, people suppose to see us and see Christ in us. Christ was humble, meek, and full of compassion, he loves everybody equally and unconditionally, he was not mindful of the things of the world. During his earthly ministry; his humility, passion for lost souls, zeal to help and heal made him to stand out and made people to believe in him that truly he is the son of God. It is difficult to identify believers in this present age; this is as a result of the type of garment they are wearing. Their garments contradict what they are confessing to be.

Some so called believers are putting on pride, backbiting, worldliness, love of money, slander, hatred, bitterness, unforgiving, selfishness, etc as their garments. When they confess to be Christians, their attitude and character will be saying something totally negative about them. Their appearance and their confession or claims to be Christians are in conflict with each other. The kind of garment you are wearing will show the world if you are truly for Christ or for the devil. The scripture says by their fruit we shall know them. (Matthew 7:16).

For you to be recognised with Christ, you need to clothe yourself with humility, love, kindness, perseverance, tolerance, long-suffering  forgiveness. It is not enough to profess being a Christian with your mouth; your behaviour must show it also. Your garments (character) speaks louder than your voice, people identify you better with your garment than your voice. It was the Hebrew garment used to wrap Moses that made Pharaoh’s daughter to know that baby Moses belongs to Hebrew woman. In 2Kings 1:8, Elijah was described by his garment when Ahaziah sent messengers to Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether he will recover from his sickness. God sent Elijah to tell the messengers that he wouldn’t recover because he consulted another god. Ahaziah asked the messengers to describe the man that they met, and they said “He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist. “ The King said that was Elijah the Tishbite.”

Your garments (Character) will show if you are for God or against God. Before you will open your mouth to talk, your garment (Character) will speak!

Image- Google Image

DO NOT GO DOWN TO EGYPT

TEXT: GENESIS 26: 1-3, 12

God knows the end from the beginning, He knows what we do not know, and He sees what we do not see. What we see as the best option for us may not be what God want for us. We may be looking for  breakthrough from a particular area, and God may be saying to us “THAT IS NOT WHAT I WANT FOR YOU.” God does not make mistakes; He knows what is good for everybody, before you start anything; He knows where it will end.

If you follow God in obedience, I can assure you that you will not regret doing so. There was famine in the land where Isaac was living, maybe Isaac was planning to relocate to Egypt where there was no famine, but God appeared to him and told him not to go down to Egypt, God said he should stay in the land where there was famine and He would bless him.

In the midst of famine; Isaac planted in the land, and the same year he reaped a hundredfold; because the lord blessed him. Isaac was able to live in abundance in the land where there was famine, because he obeyed God. If you allow God to direct your path, He will guide you towards achieving your goals.

God will never support what He did not tell you to do, He will not guide you in the path He did not send you to go through. God told Isaac not to go DOWN to Egypt; this means that his steps to Egypt could have been a downward step that would not add any positive thing to his life.

Egypt at that time could be economically buoyant than the nation that Isaac was, but God does not want him to go there, He does not want him to engage in anything that can truncate his destiny. Egypt in this context may mean going into sin or going back to your old ways. God is telling you today NOT TO GO DOWN TO EGYPT! He will make a way for you where there is no way, in that land or in that place of work, that business that is not going on fine, the lord is assuring you today; to be still and know that He is God. It was in the midst of the famine that Isaac planted and reap a hundredfold. If you don’t go down to Egypt ( giving in to sin) while you are trying to fix thing your own way, God will make you the envy of people, when people are saying casting down; you will be saying lifting up.

Is there any famine (challenge) in your life? Listen to God in obedience; do not involve yourself in anything that can lead to sin. Never allow any problem, situation and affliction to take you back to Egypt (old life). Wait on God and He will see you through.

Image- Google Image

www.vesselofpraisemusicministry.yolasite.com

THE MORE THE WORD THE LESS THE MEANING

TEXT: JAMES 3: 3-6

Believers are created to emulate Jesus; we are to be like him in all our ways, that is why we are being called Christians; that is we are Christ like. Throughout the ministry of our lord Jesus, he did not engage himself in harsh, idle or any word that will not bring glory to God. Jesus Christ was never a talkative; he speaks when it is important and the word that he spoke imparted lives. He used his words to heal, save, to give hope, to raise the dead and to deliver.

He did not speak any idle word, he did not involve himself in gossip, neither did he speak evil or backbite anybody.

The words of our mouth should be the one that will benefit listeners and bring glory to the name of God. God does not want us to involve ourselves in derogatory words or any careless talks that add no value to listeners; he does not want us to involve ourselves In gossips, backbiting and other sinful utterances. As long as you keep talking without cautioning yourself, you might end up saying what God will record as sin for you. If you are in a gathering; be courteous and choose to listen more and talk less. The scripture says the more the word the less the meaning… (Ecc 6:11).

While engaging yourself in too much talk, you might get carried away and start saying what should not be heard of a Christ like person. You might engage yourself in an unnecessary argument that would result in fight, and as disciples of God; we must not fight (2 Timothy 2:23-24).

The scripture says whatever we do; we should do it to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). When you are in a gathering; don’t speak because you want people to know you are there, take time to listen and when you are ready to talk, let it reflect Jesus, let your words add value to lives! Do not use your word to pull people down. I Peter 4:11 says “if anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.”

God gave us two ears and one mouth; He wants us to make use of our ears more. Listen more and be careful to speak. Indeed we all make many mistakes; for if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves inn every other way (James 3:2).

Image-Google Image

www.vesselofpraisemusicministry.yolasite.com