The Church

Read: Heb. 10:19-25
More Lessons: I Cor.12:28
Bible Reading in One Year: Ruth1-4

The Body of believers; which are the called-out ones is generally referred to as the bride of Christ or the Church. The name Church which is given in relation to Christ are people who have been purchased by the blood of the lamb, saved by grace, sanctified and cleansed by the word of God and subject to Christ in everything (Eph.5:25-29, Acts 20:28, Eph.5:26, Rom.7:6). The word, Church has different meanings to different people. But the true Church; the church of the Lord Jesus can be defined as:

1) A body of believers in Christ Jesus.
2) A general assembly representing believers from many local assemblies. (Acts 15:22)
3) A local company of Christians who regularly meet for spiritual services and to transact necessary business for the proper functioning of the local or general Christian work (Matt.18:17).
4) The general assembly of Christians in heaven (Heb.2:12).

The Church of Christ is a living entity of believers where members have an obligation to take part in Church life; that is taking up responsibilities for the effective growth and advancement of the local assembly. Where members fail to play their parts in the running and the growth of the church, there is grave consequences.

Other vital functions of the church include World evangelism, (Matt. 28:18-20), edifying the saints (Eph. 4:11-15), guarding the truth (II Tim.2:1-2) and to discipline the unruly (II Cor.13:1-10). Our text today urges us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Ps.100:4 makes us to understand how God should be approached when believers gather. Attendance of every meeting organized by the church is vitally important. God's word commands it, are you obeying Him?

Prayer/Action
* I confess that as a Church of Christ, I will service the body.
* My seat and service in the Church will not be vacant.
* The Church of Christ is matching on and the gates of hell will not prevail forever, in Jesus’ name.

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Are you ready?

Text: I Thess.4:13-18
More Lessons: Titus 2:13
Bible Reading in One Year: Judges 19-21

The second coming of the Lord is much closer than ever before. Rapture (the taking away of the believers from the earth before the tribulation) is the event the world will soon experience whether we are ready for it or not.

After hearing a message about the rapture, a teenage boy said “I know the Lord is coming someday but I hope it isn't right away, I have got a lot of things that I want to do!” Most Bible scholars and preachers agree that the signs of the times are pointing to the soon coming of Jesus Christ to rescue believers from the earth to the marriage supper of the Lamb in the sky for three and half years. Unfortunately, some Christians are no longer waiting or eager about the taking away of the believers from the earth (rapture). Rather a number of believers are becoming so much involved with the things of the world of becoming indifferent about the second coming of Jesus. We should be living in constant expectation of that glorious event since no one really knows for sure when Christ is coming to take away His own.

Jesus gave us the key and made us to understand how we should live while awaiting His coming …Occupy till I come: Lk.19:13. That is to say, while we are waiting for Christ’s return we should be involved in active service for God in His vineyard. I Cor.15:52 makes us to understand how it will happen; In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,.... Beloved, it will be a very snappy thing, with no time to pray sinners prayer then. Why not pray, restitute and preach Christ to all today? …at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,… Rapture will be a secret silent event and it will not happen twice. It is the very one and only last trumpet blow for the exodus of the believers from the earth. …and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. That is to say, we shall not stand before God in this our mortal body, there shall be a change! Are you ready to put on another body? Are you ready to walk on the streets of Gold? It wouldn't be long again, so get ready.

Prayer/Action
*Father, let my heart not depart from you. I want to love you more.
*Lord Jesus help me love your appearing.
*Today, I break my league with anything that will not allow me to be ready when You come.

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Maturity

Text: Eph. 4:14-16
More Lessons: 2 Pet.3:18
Bible Reading in One Year: Judges 16-18

Maturity has remained a crucial matter for the body of Christ. Most of the traits the church exhibits like selfishness, instability, gullibility, being tossed to and fro by new teachings come out of immaturity.

The following are a few of the essentials the church needs to grow to maturity,
1. Growth and maturity come by nutrition and not just by addition. The church body matures from within when we feed on the Word of God. God's truth ministered in love provides spiritual nutrition to the body. However, when the church is faced with the famine of the word it becomes an entertainment centre. Pastors and Sunday school teachers need to realize how great a responsibility it is to teach the Word of truth.

2. The church matures in an atmosphere of love. Apostle Paul in Eph. 4:15 said truth and love must go together; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. He meant, “saying” the truth and “doing” the truth. Truth is objective; love is subjective, and we must have both. The preacher must preach the truth in love; we must apply the truth in love. Love without truth is hypocrisy and truth without love is brutality. Once truth starts to vanish, no amount of love will compensate for it. At the same time, when love vanishes truth becomes hard and brittle.

3. The body matures as each of the fivefold ministries goes to work. It is good to know that each of us has a ministry to fulfil in building the body of Christ. We must ensure we do our part because nobody else can do it. And if we don't, we miss the blessing and rob the church of growth. We need to fellowship with the local church to grow and to serve. We can help people grow through our prayers (I Thess. 3:10). Because God perfects and equips us through suffering (I Pet. 5:10), if we allow Him in our sufferings we will grow and mature.

4. The body matures to a predetermined image. God wants His people and His church collectively to become like the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not to become like our preacher or minister whom we greatly admire (Eph. 4:13); Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: The effectiveness of the local church should not be based on annual or quarterly report but it is measured by the changes that take place in the lives of people as they serve one another and become more like the Son of God.

Prayer/Action
* Pray for all round maturity in your life.
* Ask God to make you an agent of maturity to all the church.
* Ask God to cause you to grow in grace and knowledge of Him.

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MAY 2014, Month of MANIFEST GLORY.

MAY 2014, Month of MANIFESDT GLORY. Jn. 2;1-11.
DECLARATIONS AND PRAYER POINTS.
Prayer the prayer points and say amen where necessary.... use your mouth to safe your destiny

1. In the month of May, no matter the impossibilities, probabilities or challenges there in, I shall dance.
2. When others are getting ‘no’ for answer in the month of May I will get ‘yes’.
3. The things that are obstacles for me in the previous months I turn them to stepping stones in the month of May
4. Everything Satan hates me to get, I will get it in the month of May. I will wake up every day.
5. I will celebrate more than the celebrants.
6. There shall be landmark achievements for me. Something that I will not be able to forget in the history of my life will happen to me in a positive way.
7. I shall become a sign and a wonder: John 2: 11
8. Whatever makes people reproach me will disappear this month: Josh. 5:9

Ten (10) things that must happen to you in the month of May
1. There must be a promotion before time, the promotion that you are not yet qualified for. Before you are due you will be promoted.
2. In the place of weeping and crying, you will smile. There must be laughter instead of crying.
3. You will look at storms in the face and you will smile.
4. Everything your heart has been longing for, the month of May will bring them to you. This month is the take off of all your heart desires.
5. You will open your eyes and see positive things, everything around you will change for good. You will see it and will step into it. The environment of poverty and insecurity will change. You will not run in the streets weeping and crying.
6. You will not wear black for sorrow. It is the portion of your enemy
7. There is stepping up for you this month.
8. The reproaches will go. Whatever signboard is on your head and you don’t want anybody to see will disappear. No matter how tiny or how small they are, they will disappear.
9. Whatever is called a miracle will be your portion. Your doctor will tell you only God can do this for you, your lecturers will tell you only God can do this.
10. You will get to the high places. Whatever is called the higher ground, you will get there, even your colleagues will not see you as their equal any more.

In the month of May, you will manifest glory.
You will be a sign in  the enemy's land.
Even if hands are joined against you, you will be a wonder. Josh 5:9.
In the month of May, I destroy everything that makes people ask where is your God.
There are reproaches within, without and front, wherever they are, in this month, they shall be no more.
I give you the right to manifest glory this month, your enemy will see it and be glad.
Every demon will be subject to u this month.
c JAWOM 2014