January 2012

Sunday January 8, 2012

A New Beginning!

Jesus Heals a Lame Man

1Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda,a with five covered porches. 3Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.b 5One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

7“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

8Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

9Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, - John 5:1-9

25“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. - John 5:25

For the man Jesus had mercy on, it was a new beginning for him. I pray God will give you also a new beginning of:

• Health

• Capacity

• Wealth

• Peace

• Social relationships

• Value creation and relevance

Why would there be a new beginning? – God will do a new thing for you, in your family, career and relationships. In Isaiah 43:1, God says:

“Behold, I will do something new,
         Now it will spring forth;
         Will you not be aware of it?
         I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
         Rivers in the desert.

How?

Run away from sin –

6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

- Romans 8:6--8

2. Work hard –

Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

- James 2:18

Prayer

• Give thanks

• Father, give me a new beginning, a fresh beginning of joy, peace, gladness, progress, advancement and greatness; in Jesus mighty name! Amen.

• Father, do a new thing, in my life this year (tell Him what you want Him to do).

Sunday January 15, 2012

Enter the king!

You are a king!

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; - 1 Peter 2:9

In His Footsteps

Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God.

Hebrews 6:20 – 7:1a

Examples

• Abraham – father of many nations

• Israel – Prince who has power with God

• Jesus - For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. – 1 Peter 2:21

Why should you exercise your power with care?

• Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What are you doing?

• Since a king's word is supreme, who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

- Ecclesiastes 8:4

How?

Occupy –

In Prayer
In Holiness
In the knowledge and study of His word

2. Draw nearer to Him –

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded - James 4:8

Prayer

• Give thanks

• Father, make me indeed a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar person, to show forth your praise – for bringing me out of darkness into your marvelous light.

• Lord help me to walk in your perfect will.

Sunday January 22, 2012

Enter king Saul! – From grace to grass

This message could equally be titled ‘from honor to shame’ from honour to dishonor’ ‘from fame to shame’ etc. This will not be your lot in Jesus mighty name! Amen.

Who is Saul?

• Name means ‘asked for’, ‘inquired of God’

• 1st earthly king of Israel

They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD.

"Do everything they say to you," the LORD replied, "for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don't want me to be their king any longer

– 1 Samuel 8:5-7; 9; 10:1

• Son of Kish

• From tribe of Benjamin

Positives

• Very humble – 1 Samuel 10:17-23

• Helpful to his family – went in search of his father’s lost asses -1 Samuel 9

• Listens – to his father, servant, Samuel (initially)

• Focused on God initially

• Bold – fought the Ammonites and won – 1 Sam 11

• Fought several enemies and won -1 Sam 14:47-48

• Good looks – taller than everyone from shoulders upward – 1 Sam 10:23

Negatives

• Disobedient to Samuel - 1 Samuel 13:8-14

• Disobedient to God 1 Samuel 15:20-23

20“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.

21Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

22But Samuel replied,

“What is more pleasing to the LORD:

your burnt offerings and sacrifices

or your obedience to his voice?

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,

and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

23Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,

and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

So because you have rejected the command of the LORD,

he has rejected you as king.”

• Overtaken by envy

• Overtaken by fear

• Committed suicide – 1 Samuel 31: 4-6

• Died without God, rejected by God, sought mediums and familiar spirits

13So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORD which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, 14and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles 10:13-14

Prayer

• Give thanks

• Father, make me end well

• Lord, help me to be obedient, in good and bad times

• Lord, never forsake me

• Lord help me to walk in your perfect will.

Sunday January 29, 2012

King David! – Faithfulness unseen

David was faithful when no one was looking, but the God who saw him, brought David into limelight that people cannot but look at him and look to him. May the most High God do this for you, in Jesus mighty name! Amen. How did David live before he became king?

Who is David?

• Name means ‘Beloved’

• 2nd earthly king of Israel

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand - Psalm 20:6

I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him - Psalm 89:20

• Son of Jesse; 1 Samuel 16

• From tribe of Judah, Genesis 49: 8-12,

Positives

• Hardworking – 1 Samuel 16:11

• Helpful to his family – keeping the sheep while the others were at home, took provisions for his brothers at war, took his family in when he was yet unsettled, took care of his parents while on the run

• Listens – to his father, and forward minded people

• Focused on God – 1 Samuel 23:9-12; 30:8

• Used his mentor when in trouble - 1 Sam. 19:18-24

• Bold – fought Goliath and the Philistines - 1 Samuel 17; 18:17-30; 23:1-12; 27:1-12

• Good looks – So Jesse sent for him. He had a healthy complexion, attractive eyes, and a handsome appearance. The LORD said, "Go ahead, anoint him. He is the one – 1 Sam 16:12

Negatives

• Not taking provision for the way – 1 Samuel 21:1-9

• Saved the life of Saul his enemy twice?

• Joins with the Philistines? 1 Samuel 27

Prayer

• Give thanks

• Pray over the positives in David’s life

• Pray over the negatives

• Lord, preserve me till the end

• Lord, help me to walk in your perfect will.