KEEP GROWING

'The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be...' 2 PETER 1:8

Let's look at two more things you need to grow: 1) Don't just grow in knowledge, grow in character. The truth is, God is more interested in your character than He is in your career. Why? Because success without character has the potential to hurt you, and those around you. The Bible says: '...make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be...' (2 Peter 1:5-8 NLT). Note the words 'make every effort.' You've got to work at it! 2) Always stay fresh. Did you hear about the country pastor who was preaching when his notes flew out the church window and a cow grazing nearby ate them? Three days later the cow went dry. Hello! Stay thirsty. Stay hungry. Jesus said, 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled' (Matthew 5:6 NIV). Ultimately it's not your talents, but your desire that determines your destiny. One of Paul's highest compliments was given to the believers in the Thessalonian church: 'We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing' (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV). Let that be said of you.

THE WAY OUT

'...He will show you a way out...' 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13

The Bible says, 'When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.' Maybe you are in a situation-a relationship or a financial condition-that's not what you wanted. You can lie down and die. But when you don't-when you show up, when you offer the best you have-something good is happening inside you that far outweighs whatever is happening outside you. Jesus was facing adversity when He told His followers that if they had faith, they could command a mountain and it would be cast into the sea. Now, when your focus is on the mountain, you are driven by your fear. But when your focus is on God, you are made alive by faith. But if you didn't have the mountain you'd never know that faith was in you, or to what extent. Adversity has a way of changing your values and priorities for the better. When you're on the treadmill of money, security, or success, and adversity knocks you off, you start seeing the folly of chasing temporal things. And if you're wise you resolve not to return to your old way of life when things normalise. But the key to accomplishing this is taking action before normal life takes over again. You have a finite window of time to make changes; otherwise you'll drift back into your old patterns. While the memory of your adversity is still fresh, pray and ask God what changes He wants to make in your attitudes, your relationships, your habits and your lifestyle, and 'He will show you a way out.'

CONFIDENCE (2)

'...Who told you...you were naked?...' Genesis 3:11

It's impossible to feel confident when you're telling yourself you're not good enough and that you'll never amount to anything. One pastor says: 'After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they hid. God came to them and said, "Where are you?" They said, "We're hiding because we're naked." I love how God answered..."Who told you...you were naked?" In other words, "Who told you there was something wrong with you?" God immediately knew the enemy had been talking to them. And God's saying to you today, "Who told you ...you don't have what it takes to succeed...that the best grades you can make are C's...that you're not attractive enough to succeed in your relationships...or talented enough to flourish in your career...or that your marriage isn't going to last?" Those are lies from the enemy. God said, "...No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalms 84:11 NKJV); "Delight yourself...in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalms 37:4 NKJV). The potential is inside you...and it doesn't change because you don't believe it, or because you've been through negative experiences. "The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29 NKJV). He's never going to take back the potential He poured into you...or say, "I'm tired dealing with you...you've failed too often and made too many mistakes. Give me my gifts back." No...His calling on your life will be with you till the day you leave this earth, but it's up to you to...tap into it.' When the enemy starts chipping away at your confidence, take authority over him in Jesus' Name; resist him and he will flee (James 4:7).          

CONFIDENCE (1)

'The fruit of righteousness will be...confidence...' ISAIAH 32:17

Never mistake competence for confidence; one is ability-based, the other comes from knowing who you are in Christ; that you're '...complete in him...' (1 John 2:5 NIV). One author says: 'The first thing I learned about confidence, was I didn't possess it...I had a thin glaze of arrogance covering a core of fear. All those years of being a success in the eyes of the world left me deathly afraid of failure. Worldly success requires taking risks beyond the comfort zones of previous accomplishments. Spiritual success requires letting go of outcomes and allowing God to move on your behalf. I was so afraid of failure...I never found success in it either...the false confidence I'd known was built on my own abilities... However if you suddenly find a lump in your breast, or your spouse says he never loved you, or you get fired from your job, or your child is seriously ill, every tactic you've ever employed and every skill you've ever mastered will get you nowhere...The Bible says, '...Have a sane estimate of your [abilities]...' (Romans 12:4 PHPS)...once you realise you aren't perfect...you can exhale and start the task of being good enough...When your confidence stems from knowing the almighty, unchanging One, you cannot be shaken by change or circumstances. You...exude competence, peace, contentment, and fortitude.' Isn't it time you got out from under the pressure of acting like God and having all the answers? 'We have different gifts, according to the grace given us...' (Romans 12:6 NIV). When you use your gift to glorify God, you're doing what He intended you to do.

GOD'S CLAIMS ON YOUR LIFE (2)

'Ye are bought with a price...' 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20

God's second claim on your life is Calvary. The story's told of two friends who went to law school. One became a judge; the other became a law breaker and ended up in court. Guess who was sitting in the judge's seat? His friend. So how could the judge be merciful, yet still be just? Taking off the black robes of justice, he walked over to the dock where the prisoner stood and said, 'Not only am I this man's friend, today I'm his saviour. I will stand chargeable with all his debts.' At the cross, God took all your sin and put it on Christ's account, and took all Christ's righteousness and put it on your account. And the moment you trust Christ as your Saviour you're no longer under the sentence of death. The value of something is determined by the price a buyer is willing to pay for it. At Calvary God said, 'This is how much I love you!' Your Creator became your Redeemer. 'The Maker of the universe, as Man for man was made a curse. The claims of law that He had made, unto the uttermost He paid.' To fulfil His purposes in the earth, God always had a man. To deliver the Israelites from Egypt, He used Moses. To challenge the prophets of Baal, He used Elijah. But when it came to your salvation, God 'saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation...' (Isaiah 59:16 NKJV). The good news is: When God could not find a man, He Himself became a man; that we who are the sons of men, might become the sons of God. Awesome!

BEFORE YOU BUILD (3)

'...it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us...' ACTS 15:28

Listen for God's guidance. As long as you keep listening to people whose opinions don't align with God's Word and God's will, you'll be frustrated and get nowhere. When important decisions that affect the future must be made, you must be able to hear from God. You must also welcome feedback. Why? Because if you're not teachable, you're not usable. Now, the majority opinion can be valuable in run-of-the-mill matters, but when a God-given vision is at issue, first and foremost you must listen for God's guidance. You say, 'Isn't there wisdom in having a plurality of leadership?' Yes, even the best leaders have blind spots and need people with 20/20 vision in those areas. '...certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved'' (Acts 15:1 NKJV). What was the result? '...Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, [and] they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question' (Acts 15:2 NKJV). How did the apostles handle it? They said: '...God, who knows the heart, acknowledged [the Gentiles] by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith' (Acts 15:8-9 NKJV). So after prayer and deliberation, the apostles wrote a letter to the church, saying, '...it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things' (Acts 15:28 NKJV). And what was the result? 'When they had read it, they rejoiced...' (Acts 15:31 NKJV).

BEFORE YOU BUILD (2)

'...show me now Your way, that I may know You and...find grace...' EXODUS 33:13

Get to know the people. No minister has ever had so much trouble with a congregation as Moses had with the congregation of Israel in the wilderness. At the Red Sea, he was so happy that he wrote a song to celebrate their spectacular victory. But later, when the complaints were coming at him from every direction, he told God he wanted to die. It reminds us of one pastor who asked another, 'How many active members do you have in your church?' The other replied, 'Five hundred. Half of them are actively working for me, the other half are actively working against me.' Pastors, different people in your churches will play different roles in the plan God has given you. Some of the people you will like, some you won't. But you've been called to lead them all, so get to know them. On his deathbed, Jacob prophesied over each of his twelve sons describing both their nature and their future. He said Reuben was unruly, Simeon and Levi were prone to anger, Judah was born for leadership, Zebulun would extend his borders, Issachar was willing to carry the load, Dan was sharp when it came to dealing with people, Gad was a fighter who wouldn't retreat, Asher loved cooking, Naphtali loved raising children, Joseph would be wounded but would come back stronger than ever, and Benjamin would be an entrepreneur who knew how to excel in business (Genesis 49). To lead people successfully, you must know them. So pray, 'Show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.'

BEFORE YOU BUILD (1)

'You must build...according to the pattern I will show you.' EXODUS 25:9

Go to God for the plan. God told Moses: 'You must build this tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.' God knows what you will need in the future, you don't. He prepared Noah a hundred years in advance of the flood. He prepared Joseph to feed Egypt seven years in advance of the famine. Without God's guidance the best you'll ever have are estimates, educated guesswork and projections. 'To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights' (Exodus 24:17-18 NLT). Moses spent over a month waiting in God's presence for direction. Why? Because what he was building had to meet the needs of God's people for generations. So go to the place of prayer. Tell those around you, 'I'm not coming back until I hear from God and get His plan!' When God orders it, He pays for it. But when He doesn't give the order, and you decide to do it anyway, you're on your own! Why? Because you won't have confidence to go to Him in your time of need. Unless you start right, you won't finish right. You say, 'But I'm nobody special. Why would God speak to someone like me?' If God has called you, and He has, then you're special. His promise is, 'If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God...and it will be given to him' (James 1:5 NIV).

WHEN CONFLICT COMES HOME (2)

'...Let there be no strife between you and me...for we are brothers.' GENESIS 13:8

Family conflict brings out the worst and the best in all of us. But conflict itself isn't the problem-character is! Conflict just reveals what's important to us. Abram's priority was the family; Lot's was 'getting rich.' Abram's concern was harmony; Lot's was self-preservation. Abram was driven by his faith; Lot by his greed. Abram was a giver; Lot was a taker. But watch how the story turned out. 1) What should have happened? The junior partner should have submitted to the senior; the follower should have deferred to the leader; the less- spiritual should have acknowledged the more-spiritual. But Lot failed on all counts! 2) What could have happened? As the God-appointed leader Abram could have assumed top dog status and enforced his will, but he didn't. He could have been concerned about winning, but wasn't. He could have called in his debts with Lot, but refused to. 3) What did happen? First, Abram elevated relationship above personal advantage. Second, he relinquished his 'rights', to keep peace in the family. Third, he 'turned the other cheek' and deferred to Lot. The greater gave way to the lesser. The stronger made allowance for the weaker. The mature showed mercy toward the immature. Did it make Abram the weaker man and Lot the stronger? Did Abram lose and Lot win? No! God always has the last word. And it was this: '...Look...northward and southward and eastward and westward...all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever' (Genesis 13:14-15 NAS). Doing things God's way is the certain road to peace and prosperity.

WHEN CONFLICT COMES HOME (1)

'...Let there be no strife between you and me...' GENESIS 13:8

The conflict between Abram and Lot teaches us important principles about our families. Lot had lived peacefully in his Uncle Abram's home. Abram had taken him along on the journey of faith, when suddenly conflict arose. And because conflict reveals character, Lot showed his true colours. Since their growing herds were too big to share the same pastures, Abram suggested they split the land between them, offering Lot first choice. Lot '...chose for himself...' (Genesis 13:11 NAS) the best land, leaving the rest to his uncle. Lot moved to rich, sinful Sodom; Abram built an altar to the Lord. Same genes-totally different values! So: 1) Consider the facts. Abram was God's appointed leader and Israel's primary patriarch. God had promised him a homeland, fatherhood of a great nation, blessing and protection. And above all these, God promised that in him, '...All the families of the earth will be blessed!' (Genesis 12:3 NAS). In practical, day-to-day terms, Abram was the senior partner and major stockholder in the family business. He had shown love and generosity to his nephew, and in the crunch, valued their relationship over personal interests. Abram, therefore, deserved consideration and deference from his nephew. But Lot never gave it to him. 2) Consider the point. For the family's sake, Abram chose not to 'pull rank,' or 'insist on his rights,' or 'show who's boss.' He proved that God alone vindicates us! We shouldn't even attempt to vindicate ourselves. Abram chose grace over law, humility over pride, self-denial over 'rights,' mercy over justice, love over lust, and character over popular opinion. Think about it!

A NEW ATTITUDE

'...Change the way you think...' ROMANS 12:2

For things to change for the better, you must 'change the way you think.' For example: a) View setbacks as detours, not dead ends. Winners don't just face adversity; they embrace it, knowing it leads to future success. b) Tune out the critics and focus on doing your best. Anybody who accomplishes anything worthwhile has to overcome naysayers. c) When you're afraid, praise God until your faith rebuilds. It may take a while, but praise and thanksgiving never fail, and they strengthen you to go on. d) When you fail, look for the lesson and remember all the times you've succeeded. Weed out self-doubt and replace it with scriptural self-talk. e) When you're heading into battle, visualise yourself winning in God's strength-with Him '...all things are possible' (Matthew 19:26 NIV). f) Instead of focusing on the past and worrying about the future, focus on the now-that's where your influence is greatest. Remember, God said, '...As your days, so shall your strength be' (Deuteronomy 33:25 NKJV). g) Instead of complaining, work on identifying solutions, and more will come to you. h) When you're distracted, focus on your breathing, take a walk and clear your mind, think on what you can control, and surrender the rest to God. i) When you're lonely, remember the people who've helped you this far and who love and support you. j) When you're fatigued, take time to rest-but never ever give up! Finish strong in everything you do. k) When you're under pressure and under scrutiny, smile and have fun. You only live once. Life is short... so seize the moment!

FOUR KINDS OF GIVER (4)

'...Joseph opened the storehouses [barns] and sold grain to the Egyptians...' GENESIS 41:56

Barn people. God used Joseph to feed the nations during a time of worldwide famine. When Pharaoh's advisers couldn't interpret his dream, Joseph did. He actually gave Pharaoh a plan that would not only feed Egypt during seven years of famine, but also feed the world and cause Pharaoh to come out of this crisis a richer man. When you serve God, He can give you information about the future. He can give you not only the wisdom to survive, but thrive when you're in a recession. But you can't build such a relationship with God overnight! Joseph's journey to the throne of Egypt led through years of delay, detours and discouragement. He experienced betrayal at the hands of his family, temptation and slander at the hands of his employer's wife, false imprisonment, years of waiting and wondering when God would fulfil His promise to make him a leader. But he never doubted God. And you must not either! If God can take an ex-con like Joseph and make him the prime minister of Egypt, no obstacle and no enemy can keep Him from fulfilling His promise to you. So, if you're a bag person, 'consider your ways' and start putting God first in your finances. If you're a bin person, 'be not afraid,' give, and God will give back to you. If you're a basket person, place what you've got into God's hands and watch Him multiply it. If you're a barn person with a heart that longs to meet the needs of a hurting world, nothing your enemies do will stop you.

FOUR KINDS OF GIVERS (3)

'...they took up twelve baskets full...' MARK 6:43

Basket people. A boy gave his lunch to Jesus and He used it to feed five thousand people. Afterwards, 'They took up twelve baskets full of the fragments.' Basket people find a need greater than their own and say, 'Lord, here's what I have; take it, bless it and use it.' What a contrast this boy was to the disciples. Notice: 1) They tried to escape the problem. 'Send them away, that they may go...and buy themselves bread...' (Mark 6:36 NKJV). Your faith only grows by facing your problems and looking to God for answers. Indeed, when you solve the problem you position yourself to receive what God has in store for you next. 2) They didn't know what they had. Jesus said, '..."How many loaves do you have? Go and see"...' (Mark 6:38 NKJV). Moses had a rod, but it parted the Red Sea. David had a slingshot, but it brought down a giant. You may not know it, but God has given you the answer. He's given you something capable of multiplying once you put it into His hands. The key is, 'Go and see.' 3) They despised the day of small things. 'There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?' (John 6:9 NKJV). Instead of looking at your lack, look at God's abundance and His willingness to work on your behalf. 'Do not despise this small beginning, for the eyes of the Lord rejoice to see the work begin...' (Zechariah 4:10 TLB). Factor God into the equation. The formula for success is you-plus God!

Prison Outreach

A prison is a facility in which individuals are forcibly confined and denied a variety of freedoms under the authority of the government. It is part of an organized governmental justice system, in which individuals officially charged with or convicted of crimes are confined to a jail or prison until they are either brought to trial to determine their guilt or complete the period of incarceration they were sentenced to after being found guilty at their trial. This is not to say that all the people held or convicted are truly guilty but one way or the other they are confined.

It is to this end that we the people of The Redeemed Christian Church of God - The New Courtyard, have come together with our God given gifts, talents and resources to share our faith, proclaim the Gospels and bring deliverance to the captives. This is in accordance to one of the sayings of Jesus Christ that “…He was in prison and we came to visit Him” Matthew 25:36. Imagine thousands of prisoners discovering their purpose even in their restricted state.

We have in our own little way reached out unto the captives at the Kirikiri Prison and we are using this opportunity to create awareness for volunteers to join us in our next visit. 

The Head Pastor (Pastor Felix Umanah) in the centre and the rest of the team

The front end of the Kirikiri prison prior before we went in

The team preparing to move into the prison

 For more enquiries please leave your comment on the blog.

God bless you!

FOUR KINDS OF GIVERS (2)

'..."the bin...shall not be used up..."' 1 KINGS 17:14

Bin people. In the middle of a devastating famine, God sent the prophet Elijah to Zarephath, saying he'd meet a widow there who would feed him. Why did God not send Elijah to a wealthy family? Because they didn't need a miracle, she did! When Elijah asked this woman for something to eat she told him that she'd '...only a handful of flour in a bin...' (1 Kings 17:12 NKJV). She had just enough for one more meal, then she and her son would die. Perhaps you're thinking, 'Typical preacher! They'll take the last bite out of your mouth and the last penny out of your pocket.' No, this was the best day of her life! She was about to step into miracle territory. But first she had to overcome the fear of giving. 'Elijah said to her, "Do not fear...make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me..." For thus says the Lord God of Israel: "The bin of flour shall not be used up...until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth'' (1 Kings 17:13-14 NKJV). How does this story turn out? 'So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and...The bin of flour was not used up...' (1 Kings 17:15-16 NKJV). Day after day, without fail, she reached into the bin and found more flour. She discovered that when you obey God's Word He will meet your every need. Are you a bin person? Are you afraid of letting go of what you have in case you don't have enough? Don't be. You will never out-give God! Whatever you give to Him, He has promised to give back '...good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over...' (Luke 6:38 NKJV).

FOUR KINDS OF GIVERS (1)

'...he...earns wages to put into a bag with holes.' HAGGAI 1:6

There are four kinds of givers noted in the Bible. For the next few days let's look at each. Bag people. In the days of Haggai the prophet, the Israelites were so busy making money that they had no time for God. Sound familiar? So he said to them: ''Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?"..."Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little...and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes"..."You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the Lord of Hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house'' (Haggai 1:4-9 NKJV). If you want God to be interested in your house, be interested in His house. If you want God to bless your house, begin to bless His house. If you want God to provide for your house, start providing for His house. You say, 'How much should I give?' God sets the baseline at one-tenth of your income (Leviticus 27:32). Whatever you give beyond that will be determined by three things: a) Your ability. 'Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you' (Deuteronomy16:17 NKJV). b) Your desire to reap. God will '...multiply the seed that you have sown...' (2 Corinthians 9:10NKJV). c) Your love. '..."You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind"' (Matthew 22:37 NKJV).

BLESS THE LORD O MY SOUL (I)

Psalm 134:1-2, “Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.” Psalm 146:1-2, “Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.” We have a command to bless the Lord at all times. We also have promised, like the Psalmist, that we will praise the Lord as long as we live. Oftentimes we say thanks to the Lord, sing to Him in church, lift up our hand “in worship” to Him, etc. The question is, however, are we really thankful to God? Is our soul really blessing Him or are we just singing, especially when we are in the midst of other Christians because we do not want people to think that something is wrong with us? God knows if our singing, dancing, etc. are coming from our heart or not.

 

One reason why a lot of Christians are not really blessing the Lord from their soul is that they fail to count their blessings and see how good God has been to them. The Psalmist said in Psalm 103:1-2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Many quote this scripture, but oftentimes they forget God’s benefits. One of the benefits we are enjoying, which we are not supposed to forget is life (we are alive both physically and spiritually). As long as we are still alive every other issue is secondary because according to the Preacher there is hope for those who are still alive (Ecclesiastes 9:4). Salvation, the prospect of eternal life, the person that brought you to Christ, the people that God used to disciple and groom you in the faith, all the pastors you have ever had, the living church you attend, the privilege of serving God, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, functional physical and spiritual eyes and ears, good health and functional body parts for you and your loved ones are other blessings for which you should be grateful to God. If you have family members and friends, you are not alone and therefore you should be grateful to God.  You should also be thankful to God for your enemies and those who hate you because if you allow God He can use the hatred and bad treatment they mete out to you to teach you tolerance, patience and how to love those who hate you. You should also thank God for food, clothes, job/business, sanity, people you look up to in the faith, people who look up to you and also answered prayers. We are even to thank God for unanswered prayers because in everything He works for the good of those who love Him, according to Romans 8:28. These are just very few of the reasons we have to be thankful to God. However, a person who does not take time to consider the work of God in his life/family and to realize how blessed he is will never know how to appreciate and thank God.

 

Too much preoccupation with the negatives, troubles, problems, prayers that seem not to be answered, etc. can also make a person fail to appreciate God because he is not able to see the things that God is actually doing for him. Ezekiel 1:1, “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.” If Ezekiel was able to see visions of God even in the situation in which he found himself, it is possible to bless God from one’s soul no matter the situation one is in. Make a choice to focus on the blessings you are enjoying and not on things you desire and do not have yet.

 

There are people who are very grateful to God for what He is doing for them until they notice what He is doing in the lives of some other people. They begin to feel like God is being unfair to them because as far as they are concerned He is doing more for others. Sometimes it is not only ungratefulness towards God that sets in but also envy and ill will towards the person you think is more favored than you are.

 

When a person believes that he deserves more blessing than God is giving to him he might become ungrateful and have difficulty blessing God. If you are in this category, look at Psalm 115:1-2, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?” Also Isaiah 48:11,“For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My Name be polluted? and I will not give My glory unto another.” Understand that God does not have to do anything for any of us. He is just being good to us when He blesses us. He does not bless us because we deserve to be blessed but because He delights in doing good things. If you have this understanding, praises will flow from your heart to Him.

Thanksgiving Service for the Month of September

IMPORTANT OR INSIGNIFICANT, YOU CAN BE SAVED!

'...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...' ACTS 16:31

By putting your trust in Christ, your soul will be saved and your life will be changed for the better. The testimonies that this is so, exists in hundreds of thousands of famous people such as William Gladstone, one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers, whose life was transformed by God. Abraham Lincoln tells us in his letters that at Gettysburg, the day he delivered his famous address, he too, was born again of God's Spirit. Martin Luther had been exceedingly religious, even as Nicodemus was, and yet had known nothing of the new birth. But all that changed when he discovered these words in scripture: '...The just shall live by faith' (Romans 1:17 NKJV). Writers like Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy of Russia, have described the work of God's Spirit in utterly transforming their lives. Men like Chuck Colson, aide to President Richard Nixon and author of the bestseller Born Again have told of being radically changed by the new birth. And whether you live in a mansion or a mud hut, you too can be saved. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul, 'What must I do to be saved?' Paul didn't give him a theological dissertation. No, he simply said: 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.' Think: Not only can you be saved today, but through your life and testimony your entire family can be won to Christ, if they repent (2 Peter 3:9 CEV). Imagine the difference that could make! Do you have to understand it? No, but you can experience it. How? By placing your trust in Christ today.