Hello Brethren, hope everyone is doing good. Today, I wish to enroll the lessons I learnt on the course ofy participation in the MCGI community zoom prayer meeting.
During the meeting, Brother Daniel and Brother Rodel pioneered this session using the following scriptures as they expounded on:
Encouraging fellow believers, giving thanks always, and the issue of sin.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.(KJV)
From this passage of the scripture in Hebrew 10:24-25, we are to look for the good of others and co believers and by so doing, they will also be encouraged to join in doing good to others because they have learnt from you how to do good.
We shouldn't also exempt ourselves from joining in fellowship with the Brethren as fellowshipping with them will encourage us through diverse ways. For instance, you may have a burden or problem which probably you don't want to relate to anyone, then going to Church, you heard a word of prophecy or word of wisdom through the preacher concerning that your issue, you'll definitely feel relieved and then thank God for profering solution to your problem.
From the book of 1 Corinthians 14:1-3, we are advised to seek after love and also desire the gifts of prophecy which is for the benefit of everyone in the Church because no one prophesies to himself rather God might speak to you either through the scriptures or through someone but you can't prophesy to yourself.
So according to Apostle Paul, the Church should desire for the gift of prophecy which is actually for the good of everyone in the Church and not just speaking in an unknown tongue which only edifies the one that is speaking in the unknown tongue.
Speaking in unknown tongue is important but not when the believers are gathered because the one speaking is not edifying the Church rather his/her own spirit but when there is prophesy in the Church, the message will be lucidly understood by everyone, which further brings relieve and comfort to the listeners.
Titus 1:9, 14 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.(KJV)
I learnt from this passage of the scripture that we have to hold fast to the sound doctrine we have been hearing. We shouldn't also give room to the fables of men but we have to hold fast the teachings from the scriptures so that we can be able to encourage others and also convince me who has a contrary view of the word of God.
When we heed to the word of God which is the truth about his ways, it will guide us against the teachings of men whose ways contradicts the word of God.
For instance, there are churches that teaches their members using the writings and wisdom words of Socrates, Aristotle etc to teach instead of the word of God. So we know the word of God, it will help us in maintaining a good stand with Him against preachers that teaches the fables and wisdom of men who doesn't know God.
From the scriptures in 1 Corinthians 10:27-31, we aren't required to be asking unnecessary questions regarding the offering of food if an unbeliever probably invited a believer to his party.
The believer is to eat whatever that is offered him, that is if he intend eating but if the unbeliever tells the believer that he presented the food to an idol, then the believer is not permitted to eat for the sake of other people's conscience and possibly against being defied.
This was the case between king Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel. Daniel deferred eating from the king's meal because he knew that the food was offered to the king's idol and eating it might defy him based on his knowledge and conscience.
Furthermore, we have to give thanks to God and eat whatever that is presented to us because the prayer made over the food has nullified the effect body any thing it was presented to.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.(KJV)
I learnt that we are to always give thanks to God in everything, and not in a few things. The will of God is for us to always thank Him for the sake of his son Jesus Christ who died and saved us from the venom of the enemy the devil.
The death of Christ Jesus on the cross brought great victory for us,and we must thank God always for the things Christ accomplished for us through the pouring out of His blood.
Psalms 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.(KJV)
I also learnt from this scripture that we glorify God when we offer praises to him. God loves praises and he inhabits and delights in the praises of His people
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.(KJV)
From this scripture, I learnt that all men have sinned and even the man we may clamour to be a just or perfect person has sinned at a point in his life.
Though we may be good but this does not mean we are perfect rather we are living in the perfection of Christ who is the Life we live because the Life we live is no longer we that live but rather Christ that lives in us.
1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
I learnt from this part of the scripture that there are two types of sin, which are: sin unto death and sin not unto death.
Now we are advised to pray for our brethren who have committed those sin that are not unto death because of the effectiveness of the blood of Jesus, God can hear our prayers and pardon them.
On the other hand, if someone should commit a sin that can lead to his death, there is no need for prayers anymore. For instance, a drug pusher takes his drugs to sell in a country where such an offence is punishable by death, this type of wrong or sin will definitely lead to the death of the offender whether he is a Christian or not.
In another instance, we can observe that the Jews normally treat adulterer who are caught in the act during the early days by stoning them to death.
So assuming someone is caught in such an act, they will be stone to death not minding they were believers who incidentally fell victim for the first time. So this kind of sin can lead to the death of the offenders.
We have to give room for God's love to rule in us.
We must not neglect the person of the Holy Spirit which is a gift given to believers by God with the purpose of strengthening our faith in Him.
We have to ask God to help us to prophesy and not just to speak in unknown tongue because we are edified when we speak in unknown tongues but the Church is edified there are words of prophecy.
We have to give thanks to God in all things. Whether we are eating, drinking or doing anything because of the salvation brought to us by God through his son Jesus Christ. Honestly if not for the sake of Jesus, it would have been that at all times believers would be accused before God by the devil at the slightest offence.
We must try our possible best not to fall victim of those sin that could lead to death.
Thanks for going through my publication for today. God bless his servants who has availed themselves as instruments to be used by God in bringing this Soul edifying program to us. God bless you for going through, Goodbye and 馃挆
