WE ARE NOT AN INFERIOR PEOPLE!
We are God’s people, the greatest people on earth! – The apple of His eye. People who enjoy His provision, His protection, His eternal priesthood and intercession and His power. So let us… Believe God, Believe His Word and Believe His promises. Don’t believe the pessimistic prophets of the enemy. Remember, ‘The thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill and to destroy!’ ‘I am come that…’ Don’t have the ‘I’m hanging on’ mentality! Let me share with you a typical example of what the world has done to twist Scripture:
HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY AND GOOD LIFE!
1 Peter 3:10-12
‘If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns His face against those who do evil.’
WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY?
A. Have regard for the church.
Love the church just as Christ loved the church. Hold the church in high esteem. Understand that it is God’s chosen vehicle.
BETTER TOGETHER – THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY!
Ephesians 5:27 ‘He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.’
HIS PLAN IS A PROCESS
The church has and always will be the chosen vehicle of our Saviour. That is how He planned it from the start and nothing has changed His plan over the centuries. We may consider it a flawed and problematic choice, but it remains His choice.
THE CHURCH – HIS CHOSEN VEHICLE
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
YOUR ULTIMATE DESTINATION IS SECURE
If we know our ultimate destination is secure, we can rest in God regarding the journey. A friend shared this illustration with me: You arrive at the airport to book a flight, the person assisting you tells you that they have two options available to you.
OVERCOMING A BESIEGED MENTALITY
The word ‘besieged’ is a military term that means to be surrounded by enemy forces. In old days cities were besieged in order to attack and conquer them. That is why they would say things like: ‘The army besieged the castle’. It involves surrounding and attacking a fortified place in order to isolate it from help and force surrender.
THE RICH FABRIC OF LIFE
I recently read a story about a family who had been farmers for generations. They loved their farm and worked it faithfully and productively. Then due to reasons beyond their control they were dispossessed of their land. It was a traumatic and devastating hurdle in the journey of their lives. When they were interviewed by a journalist about what had happened, they were asked if they were bitter and angry and they owner said no, he was not, but it was part of the ‘rich fabric of life’.
JOY IN THE JOURNEY
The course of life is never as we had hoped or predicted. Often we encounter unexpected hurdles and challenges. As a young man, I had my whole life mapped out in front of my eyes. I had dreams and visions about how things would work out. The future looked bright and unassailable. But life began to unfold in very different ways to what I had anticipated.