CENTRAL THOUGHTGod’s desire is that we walk closely with Him. Hymn: “Oh for a closer walk with God” TEXT: GENESIS 3:3-8, 5:24; JOHN 13:21-26INTRODUCTION:Perhaps one of the greatest privileges anyone can have, is to walk with God. Men and women of God across generations, past and present; that made genuine marks in the work of God always had this testimony that they WALKED with Him. It involves a relationship with God the Father – as was Adam andEnoch, Genesis 3:8-11, 5:24; The Lord Jesus, as with John the apostle, John 13:23; and FELLOWSHIP with the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 13:14 and Philippians 2:1. A closer walk with God therefore entails a deeper realm and dimension of this relationship with the Godhead (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). Today the need for the call to a closer walk with God has become increasingly imperative. This is because the increasing rate at which Christians see to be vulnerable to the same “plague” their unbelieving counterpart are subjected has become worrisome. The covenant of blood, “. . . and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. . .” Exodus 12:13.This study seeks to help us return to the pathway of closely walking with God on a sustainable...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHTChristians are to be spiritually alert and not asleep. TEXT: EPH. 5:11-15; REV. 3:1-3; 1 THESS. 5:4-9 INTRODUCTION:The word ‘slumber’ is defined by the Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary to mean; sleep, time when somebody is asleep. To sleep is the natural state of rest in which one’s eyes are closed, and the body is not active as well as the mind not being conscious. Rest in the form of sleep is good for the natural body. But spiritual slumber is a state of inactivity or dormancy in spiritual things. Believers that are not spiritually alert and have lost thought of the Lord’s return can be regarded as being in a state of sleep. Slumberor sleep is used as a metaphor for spiritual lethargy.Like sleep, a believer who slumbers is unconscious and cannot face spiritual realities. A person who is asleep spiritually is indifferent, inactive and not sensitive to spiritual things while conforming to this world. The world is full of darkness and sin. This could be described sadly as the spiritual state of some believers. There is a wake-up call for the believer to be awake and alert. Paul’s admonition that we should not sleep is based on the second coming of the Lord, Romans 13:11-12. Believers are...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHT Praises to God bring down His blessings. TEXT: PSALM 100, 150:1-6 INTRODUCTION:To praise is to say or write good things about someone. It is to express thanks, love or respect for God. Praise commends, glorifies, exalts, celebrates, lauds, worships or magnifies, especially by the attrition of perfections. God has awesome attributes which impact the lives of men on earth. He is the creator of man, who sent man into the world to emancipate and bear fruits. He watches over man and influences his life in diverse ways such as in protection, provision, promotion, preservation and salvation. He gives grace to those who please Him and these are those who honor Him with praises, Psalm 50:23. For man to get the best from God, he must praise Him, as a way of appreciating Him for His goodness. Even then, God has shown that He created man for His own glory, Isaiah 43:7. We should not forget that God is in everything that affects us to ensure that it ends in our good, Romans 8:28. Man is obligated, therefore, to habitually praise God. It is no surprise that David requested God to open his lips so that he could praise Him more and more, Psalm 51:15. Praising God should...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHT God dwells in the praises of His people. TEXT: 1 CHRONICLES 16:7-14 INTRODUCTION:To praise is to say or write good things about someone. It is to express thanks, love or respect for God. Praise commends, glorifies, exalts, celebrates, lauds, worships or magnifies, especially by the attribution of perfections. God has awesome attributes which impacts the lives of men on earth. He is the creator of man, who sent man into the world to emancipate and bear fruits. He watches over man and influences his life in diverse ways such as in protection, provision, promotion, preservation and salvation. He gives grace to those who please Him, and these are those who honor Him with praises, Psalm 50:23. For man to get the best from God, he must praise Him for His goodness. Even then, God has shown that He created man for His own glory, Isaiah 43:7. We should not forget that God is in everything that affects us to ensure that it ends in our good, Romans 8:28. Man is obligated, therefore, to habitually praise God. It is no surprise that David requested God to open his lips so that he could praise Him more and more, Psalm 51:15. Praising God should be expressive and demonstrable, which...
Learn MoreCENTRAL THOUGHTWe are created to have communion with our God. TEXT: GENESIS 19:27; LUKE 6:12-13, 11:1-4, PSALMS 63:1-6. INTRODUCTION: Different English dictionaries define the word ‘quiet’ as a state of being free from noise or uproar, absence of bustle, free from tumult, peaceful etc. Quiet time therefore refers to a time that is set out for any activity that requires no noise or distraction of any kind.Our focus is on quiet time for the purpose of reading the word of God, meditation and prayers. This could be by an individual or a group of persons, especially family members, with a view of enhancing our relationship with God. Communication is essential in any relationship that is expected to be valuable and grow.A Christian that observes daily quiet time consistently grows steadily in the Lord. BIBLE TRUTH: QUESTION 1) WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE PHRASE “MEANINGFUL QUITE TIME”?Quite time refers to a time set aside for communion with God to enhance the spiritual growth of the participants. For it to be meaningful, it must have a well spelt out objective, and this should be, reading, studying and meditation on the word of God with prayers. It must be regular and consistent, in a venue free of any distractions, truly quiet,...
Learn More