Strength and Courage

  Introduction: "Thank you", often comes from a gratified heart following an act of kindness. However, it is not always perceived as kind, the circumstances that God permit to come our way. It will be justifiable to plunge into murmuring and grumbling during those times. However, a careful study of the scripture would reveal that God demands the converse from His people. Indeed, He punishes grumblers with sicknesses and deaths. On the other hand, those that rejoice and sing God's praise in the midst of turmoil experience divine interventions. As the year close by, we are enjoined to not only show appreciation for the good we may have experienced; but additionally, the bad and ugly situations. Texts: Num 11:1-11; Acts 16:24-30; Luke 8:49-51 Discussions: 1.        Discuss the following scenarios: Num 11:1-11; Job 13:15; 2Chron 20:15-17; Acts 16:24-30   2.        What does God expect anyone to do in the midst ...

Introduction: As we enter into the last month of this year, we are urged to reflect back and count the benefits the Lord has brought into our lives. Except we believe we gained all these benefits by our own ingenuity, there ought to be a response from us. As you go from Genesis to Revelation, there is only one visible way to know people are grateful-Thanksgiving. Jesus was never surprised but with the ungrateful attitude of nine lepers he had healed that did not return to give God thanks. We need to give God lots of thanks for the benefits He has loaded us with during this year. Texts: Lev 22:29; Neh 12:46; Psa 26:7; Psa 50:14; Psa 69:30; Psa 107:22; Jer 30:19 • Discuss the concept of thanksgiving in the light of above scriptural verses. • What do the following verses say about how God evokes thanksgiving from His children? 2Cor 4:15 and 2Cor 9:11 • What does the Scripture teach about pre-emptive thanksgiving? Phil 4:6; Col 2:7; 1Tim 4:4 Summary: Thanksgiving shall form an integral pa...

We are encouraged to routinely check on ourselves so as to avoid condemnation. Judging oneself prevents others from judging us. Also, as we get close to the end of the year, it will be helpful to sit back, critically take a fair look at things that have transpired spiritually and otherwise, and ascertain areas of improvement for the future. Everyone competing does so for a prize. We must run according to the rules, otherwise we may be deemed to have gone through the race dubiously. You will require humility to go through the study. Texts: 2Cor 13:5-7; John 15:5-8,16 1. What is the purpose of our calling according to the scriptures above? 2. What do we prevent by embarking on self-evaluation? 3. Practicals: i. Are you aware of your personal resources: talents, skills and spiritual gifts? ii. To what extent have you yielded these to the service of God? iii. What is your purpose in life? iv. Do you have a clear vision(s)for your life? v. What is your personal mission? vi. In which area...

Introduction: It is easier to find reasons to grudge and complain than to appreciate God. We easily forget the good things done to us by God and thus rarely give time enough to thank Him. Even when we resort to thanking Him, we find our tongues chipping in some requests in between. This demonstrates some mistrust, lack of faith and deprives God of the wholesome glory due to His name. God loves and inhabits the praise of His people. Those who have gone the distance with God are those who give quality time to Him in thanks. Most public prayers of Jesus were those of thanks. We will study thanksgiving to God hence. Texts:   Neh 11:17; 12:46, Lev 22:29 ·          What does it mean to give thanks to God? Psa 26:7; 69:30; 107:22 ·          Is thanksgiving an option or obligation?       Psa 50: 14; 95:2; 100:2, Phil 4:6, Col 4:2 ·       ...

Introduction: When prayer is made from a united front, it accomplishes much. So important is unity that Jesus had to pray for all who would believe in Him, “…that they may be one…” Indeed it is the longest words of prayer attributed to Jesus. It is not surprising therefore that unity (agreement) is the first point of attack by the devil. However, to prosper as a church, we must lay aside our thoughts/minds/visions and be united in prayer in order to face the resistance of Satan. This is because, “… if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Mat 18:19). Text: Matt 18:15-20; 1John 5:8; Acts 15:15 Discussions: ·          How important is agreement in prayer? John 17:11; Gal 5:6; James 3:16 ·          What factors are involved in agreement? Mark 11:25-26; Matt 18:21-22; 1John 3:22 ·      ...

Introduction: Prayer is the most unlikely place to commit sin. It could however be a fertile haven to nourish wrongdoing. It is so surreptitious that it requires a disciplined disposition to ensure we do not slip away. Prayer should and can be performed as frequently as possible and for all things as can pass through our minds. Prayerlessness is associated with sinfulness and a malnourished spirit. However, there are times when prayer is not what is required. Additionally, Satan can attack us through “prayer”. Text: Ezek 14:1-4 Discussions: When does prayer cease to become useful? ·          When we pray for the sake of it; Ezek 14:1-4; Mat 6:5 ·          When action is required instead of prayer; James 2:16, Exod 14:15 ·          When an answer has been given to your request ·          When we are boastful tow...

Introduction: We all at one point or the other have felt lazy to pray and thought it was reasonable to feel that way. This may sound true and for which reason, some men of God have advocated “spiritual holidays” so as to return strong! This approach easily sells as we are all prone to accepting the easy way out. One of the reasons for secularism overtaking Christian discipline in developed countries can be traced to prayerlessness. We seek explanations for every issue and when we do not have one, we hang onto a theory as though it were truth. Those who pray about everything are viewed as weaklings and/or people not able to face life in its pure form. The challenge remains for us to understudy certain pitfalls that underscore lack of prayer. Text: 1Sam 12:23, Mark 11:17 Discussions ·          When you believe no one is hearing you. Isaiah 59:1 ·          When you think you are not worth the trouble...

Introduction: If prayer were an easy task, the disciples of Jesus and John would not have requested to be taught. Also, because of human limitations and “infirmities”, God has given believers the Holy Spirit to help us pray effectively. What is often referred to as “the Lord’s prayer”, is indeed an approach and not necessarily aimed to replace originality of our own words. The contents of prayer has always been daunting and for which reason, so many believers find they run short of words; or indeed avoid prayer altogether. Prayer is all-inclusive and virtually any subject can form a component of it. The context in which these subjects are mentioned skews prayer in the path of faith or doubt. Text: Luke 11:1-4   Discussions: ·          How organised should prayer be? Jn 17: 1-8, 9-19, 20-26 ·          What should we pray about? 1Tim 2:1 ·          For ...