THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 3, No. 17 – Monday, 23rd April, 2018
(Exodus.17:11-14)
LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT Part 3
Someone has said: ‘life is like a looking glass, and it gives back to everyone the reflection of his/her face’. It is no falsehood that everything we do to others will eventually return at some point to either hail us or haunt us.
Did you really and clearly see that phrase, haunt us? All of today’s texts open our minds to certain truths that we all already know. But perhaps to some of us they are little things. Agreed, some of them may be little things and indeed insignificant, but they really count.
Just holding Moses hand whilst the battle raged on may not mean too much. But take note that that little service of hand-holding was responsible for the great victory won that day. Questioning oneself about hard truths is surely one of the best ways of showing signs of sincerity and a mark of readiness to be better.
So, would you ask yourself the question about the last time you prayed for your pastor or leader? An empty tank is just empty and, such can dispense nothing but emptiness. Agreed, anointing comes from God.
But sincere pastors will always know that it is not by their effort but by God through that pastor’s little efforts, much more from God and the spiritual contributions of that pastor’s flock. If anointing and pastoral success are as a result of his little efforts, God’s great efforts and the contributions of others and those others are equally the beneficiaries of that same anointing, God forbid, should that pastor fail, will he alone be blamed?
There is no falsehood in the sound stance that Christianity of today is not the same as it was of old. I make bold to say that those of us who got saved in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and sometime in the 90s, are better rooted in salvation experience than those of more modern times.
The questions are why? Isn’t Christ the source of genuine salvation? Unarguably yes. If Christ is the source of genuine salvation, why the difference? The difference is in the state of the heart which received the salvation ab initio.
How much you treasure any thing will tell with time by how much value you place over that thing. Just compare the difference between the holders of Moses’ hands in Exodus chapter 7 verses 11 to 14 and king Saul in 1 Samuel chapter 15. Were they not given the same assignment over the same Amalekites? Why did Saul fail?
In fact, did you notice that the holders of Moses’ hands only did what they did as a personal volition, not as a mark of obedience to divine instruction? Think then of king Saul who was handed an instruction directly from the mouth of the Almighty.
I ask you: what is your contribution to the work of the ministry? When was the last time you prayed or fasted for your pastor? Are you rather swift to criticize him/her having discovered one weakness or the other about him/her?
This is but a little thing but it counts so much. Why? Your refusal to pray but complain about your pastor or not complaining but equally not pray for him/her means an act of non commitment to the things of God.
Tell me why God should be committed to your course. If in little things God cannot count on you: why will He hand over greater things to you? Have you spent time in prayer for any spiritual authority over you concerning the message of the word of God that such a spiritual authority will soon deliver?
Could this be the reason you attended such service and yet you were not blessed? Hear what an African maxim says: ‘he that labours in felling the forest for the cause of sowing vegetables shall himself/herself reap the blessings thereof’.
You fail at the altar and you expect the altar to bless you? Impossible. Interceed for your pastor, spouse, bread-winner, leader or destiny-helper. Stand in the gap for them. By so doing, your evaporating prayers into the clouds will form rains of blessings.
In due season, by means of the release of anointing during prayers, the rains will return and drench your life with God’s goodness. Remember Ecclesiastes 11:3. Don’t you think it is true?
See, dearly beloved, when the roll is called up yonder and even before then, what really can you say you are doing that will warrant heaven to credit your account? I show to you a mystery today: that to every Man of God, there is a spiritual account whose file and code rest on divine spiritual desk. Can your pastor’s spiritual bank credit your physical account with heavenly-assorted miracles?
IN THE END, REMEMBER THIS: IT IS A MAN’S SERVICE ONTO GOD AND ONTO HUMANITY THAT WILL RECOMMEND HIM ONTO GREATNESS IN THE NEAREST FUTURE. SO NOW, WILL YOUR CHANGE BEGIN TODAY? THE ANSWER LIES WITH YOU (TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK).
Question and Answer Session:
Question: Who divided the Bible into chapters and verses and when?
Answer: Stephen Langton divided the Bible into chapters in the 12 Century A.D. On the other hand, the numbering of the Bible into verses was the artistery of Robert Estienne (Robert Stephanus) in 1551 (new Testament) and in 1571 (Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
HYMN: When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
PRAY NOW:
Pastor Mike
