I will sing, I will dance, I will rejoice in the Lord my God 2x. // All glory must be to the Lord, for He is worthy of our praise, no man on earth should be glory to himself all the glory must be to the Lord 2x
Father, we return to give You thanks for all You have done for us all through the week. You made a way where there seems to be no way. You rescued us from destruction and evil plans of the enemy, there is none like You. You healeth all our diseases and deliver us from all evil. Faithful are You Lord, Thank You for being God indeed unto us. Blessed be Thy Holy Name forever.
Beloveth, Friday is here, aren’t you grateful that the first week of this month is gone and you are still standing strong in the Lord? Give a shouting ovation to the one who made it possible. Praise the Name of the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today, we will bring to us a message that help us to mirror ourselves and take either of the following step a 360degree turnaround or to improve on what we are doing presently.
Meekness as a virtue make us less assertive but compassionate. Willing to listen to the next person, forgive wrongs done and seek a way to improve the life of those around us. Beloved it may shock you to know that praying for enemies as instructed us by our Jesus was based on this background (Lk 6:28-29).
Wow! Beloved, do want to live a dominion life? Than this virtue is a must have. Like I said in the previous messages is possible that the hiccup you have been encountering in life is as result of lack of this awesome virtue. So why don’t you give it a trial and see whether things will begin to go well with you?
Will you be humble enough to ask the Holy Spirit to help you? It is difficult to stoop low sometimes, but it shouldn’t be hard for you if truly you are a child of God on your way to heaven (Prov 18:12).
Pride is one thing that must not see the gate of heaven, so if you have any element of pride in you, begin now to work on it before you are called home. (Ps 37:11; Matt 5:5; Prov 21:24).
God blessed those who humbled themselves but the haughty shall He not withstand (Prov 6:12-19; Isa 2:12; Ezek.16:50).
We should always respond in humility when we are blessed by God, or favour by men. Consider the encounter of the angel Gabriel and Mary the mother of Jesus in Lk 1:28-38. What is your Spirit telling you? Hold on to it, maybe we will visit it towards the end of this study.
Beloved, in your word can you answer this question “what do people think about Christianity?” Are we still living like the Christians in Antioch? What impression are people round you having about you?
Also in today’s teaching, we will be encountering one man who moved gospel forward at his time and he is still been referred today as one of God’s generals, will you learn from him?
Okay, let’s get going:
What People Think About Christianity
According to a survey by researcher George Barna, the first two thoughts most people have about Christians is:
- They attend a lot of meetings, and
- They are opposed to many things.
Is that tragic or what?! Rather, what we hope they would notice about us is our,
- Love
- Humility
- Compassion
- Graciousness
- Integrity
- Servanthood (John 13:34, 35; Philippians 2:5-8; Matthew 9:12, 13; 4:5, 6; Job 27:3-5; Philippians 2:17; Isaiah 61:1, 2)
To be sure, non-believers are “taking a read” on us, “You… are [a] letter… known and read by everybody.” (2 Corinthians 3:2) And they are picking up our fragrance, “We are… the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15) The question is whether they are smelling a sweet scent or a stench.
Paul observed that it is only when we stop arguing and complaining about our situation in life that we will effectively “shine as lights,” and minister God’s Word to the lost among us. (Philippians 2:14-16). In our whining, pampered society, anyone who exhibits a positive, grateful mind-set will stop traffic!
So tell me, how do the folks in your office, your neighborhood, or at your athletic club view you?
As humble, compassionate, gracious, and honest? As one who is sacrificing his life for others?
Or as stiff and arbitrary? As a grumbler? As someone racing here and there, with Bible and notebook tucked under your arm as you attend (what they often view as) another “pious party”?
Hindu India mourned the death of Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun of a totally different religious persuasion. Her powerful demonstration of compassion for their “least” simply could not be ignored.
QUESTION: What will the lost people of your “world” do at the news of your death?
You are not sure of the answers to give yet? Okay, here are five impressions extracted from the life of Billy Graham:
Five Impressions From The Life Of Billy Graham
In a day when worthy role models are in scarce supply, and public spiritual leaders are suspect, Billy Graham looms as a man of God. Probably no individual has so influenced the direction of conservative Christianity in the 20th Century. Recently I completed two books on his life, and five impressions stand out:
- He sees the big picture while keeping the vision and approach simple — Graham has always pushed out the walls in asking, “How can we reach more people?” “Is there a better way to do it?” He refuses to get bogged down in the details at the expense of the larger picture.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish… Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest‘? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest… ” (Proverbs 29:18a – kjv; John 4:35)
- He refuses to get enmeshed in petty religious factions — When Graham came on the scene in the 1940’s, conservative Christianity was embroiled in doctrinal factions and in fierce skirmishes with liberals. Graham has avoided these entanglements by staying focused on the larger issue of winning the lost.
“You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,‘ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,‘ are you not mere men?” (1 Corinthians 2:2, 3)
- He refuses to criticize others or defend himself — He has been the object of fierce criticism by ultra-conservatives who take exception to involving “liberals” in his crusades. In reading about Graham, I was repeatedly struck by his gracious response to their vitriol.
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)
- He exhibits integrity in the use of money — He takes steps to ensure that his books are regularly audited by a public accounting firm and that the results are published for public perusal. The money he has made from his 16 books has been given away to charity and related causes. His home, salary and personal lifestyle are modest.
“If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else‘s property, who will give you property of your own? (Luke 16:11, 12)
- He refuses to take any credit for how God is using Him. In fact he has often stated,
“When I get to heaven, the first question I am going to ask God is, ‘Why did you choose to use a farm boy like me?'”
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.“ (Proverbs 27:2) (Adapted from FOTM)
Are you ready now with the ministration you got from reading Lk 1:28-38 account? What did you observed in the life of Mary? Do you know that Mary is not only virgin in the land? But did you observe what made her to stand out among other virgins of her time? Did you learn from the Billy Graham’s life? What do you intend to do going forward?
Now compare the Christianity of old and that of today. Have we improved in any way? Can someone be happy engaging you, entrusting something/someone of value to them, confiding in you just because you are a Christian? (1 Tim 6:20; Heb 12:16; 2Tim 2:16)
Any you compassionate as Christ is? What did the bible said concerning this – Gal 6:10; Acts 2:45; Rom 16:2; 1Tim 6:17-18.
Let us take time this weekend and examine our own life and come up with better ways of living that will be pleasing to God. In addition help others to learn by clicking on your forward button and pass this message among your contacts. So together we will be of better for God’s use.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
