PASTOR’S SEMINAR
JESUS WITNESS MINISTRIES
NEW JERSEY, USA
ORDAINED WORKERS TRAINING SEMINAR
Table of Contents
Title Page
Paper 1
Living By Faith……………………………. 3
Paper 2
Personal Development……………………. 6
Paper 3
Power of Focus……………………………. 9
Paper 4
Goals setting………………………………. 13
Paper 5
Character Matters………………………… 17
Paper 6
Understanding Financial Prosperity……. 19
Paper 7
Power of Unity……………………………. 21
Paper 8
Heart of a Servant………………………… 23
Last Word
Walking With God……………………….. 25
Paper One
LIVING BY FAITH
Gal 2:20 (Amp) I have been crucified with Christ – in Him I have shared His crucifixion; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in the son of God, who lived and gave Himself up for me.
What is living? Oxford Dictionary says it means something that is active that has life.
What is Faith? It means trust or complete confidence put in God.
This summarily means actively confident in God.
Living by faith is a proof of Spiritual maturity; becoming like Jesus Christ in the way we think, feel and act. Rom 8:35-39
The more we develop Christ-like character, the more we will bring glory to God.
When (is a walk) you are not living by faith, you are not pleasing God; and what does not please God, cannot obtain anything from Him.
Heb 11:6
In fact Jesus baptism was an act of faith that glorified God even throughout His three and half years earthly ministry: Luke 3:21-22, Mk 9:7
I would like to believe it and also get you to believe it that the entire existence of man is faith based.
God Himself has a nature and practice faith; He created the world by faith, called those things that be not as though they were by faith: Heb 11:3;
Rom 4:17. So denying Him what He is, will obviously displease Him
Heb 11:6
I want you to know that faith is the cheapest yet hard currency that can purchase for you any commodity from the supermarket of heaven.
To let you know how very important and crucial living by faith is both to God and man, in five different places; God placed high premium on it:
Hab 2:4 No matter what, the just shall live by his faith
Rom 1:17 God’s Word is revealed to the saints, so that the just shall Live by faith.
Gal 2:20 Though I live in the flesh; in Christ I live by the faith Of the Son of God
Gal 3:11 The just shall live by faith
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith
In fact, living by faith covers every area of human endeavors: Business, Marriage, Academics, Christian race etc
You can’t do without it: John 15:5
Further more, if you must live by faith, then you must walk by faith
2Cor 5:7
If you must live by faith, then you must win the battles of life by faith
Eph 6:16
If you must live by faith, then you must stand fast in strength by faith: 1Cor 16:13, (Pro 24:10)
If you must live by faith then you must forcefully take back your inheritance from the devil by faith: Matt 11:12
NOTE: You can’t live by faith unless you trust God and you can’t trust Him until you know Him better.
Corrie Ten Boom said, “Faith sees the impossible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.
George Seaton said, “Faith is believing in things even when common sense tells you not to
Note that there is no beauty of any kind of light when the Sun is shinning, but rather its most beautiful, admirable and attractive when the darkness is thick. So also faith is developed, operated and stretched in the severe-ness of a situation.
Dr. Oyedepo said, “we have triumphed this while by faith
Bishop Abioye said “be crude in applying God’s Word to your life without blinking an eye”.
We will not be able to exhaust how important and crucial it is living by faith is to the believer that would hold on even when there seems nothing to still hold on. Rom 4:17-21
BARRIERS TO LIVING BY FAITH
1. Observance of lying vanities: Jonah 2:8
2. Deceitfulness of sciences: 1Tim 6:20-21, (Isa 53:1)
3. Weariness: Dan 7:25
4. Delays: Pro 13:12
5. Fear: Jam 1:5-8
BOOSTERS OF FAITH
1. The Word Psa 119:50, 92
2. Fellowship Heb 10:25, Pro 27:17
3. Be joyful, enduring hardness as a good soldier Heb 12:2-4
4. Live a praiseful life: you are to determine your environment and not vice versa: Acts 16:25-26
5. Be self motivated to rise again, begin again, live again Pro 24:10,16
NOTE: You need to pray for His enabling grace to live by faith no matter what. Jude 24, Zech 4:6
God will marvelously help you to stand. Peace!
Paper Two
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Objective
1. To create in the participant an unsearchable desire and eagerness to advance or make progress in life and coming out best in their chosen career.
2. To create a desire in the participants to always strive for the best in their careers and callings.
3. To enable participants maximize their potentials in Kingdom Service.
4. To make the participants realize the need to increase their self worth.
Definitions:
Development:
The act or process of developing; state of being developed; a gradual unfolding or growth.
To Develop:
To free from integuments or that which envelops; to bring out what is latent or potential in; to bring to a more advanced or more highly elaborate; to cause to grow or advance
Personal:
Relating to a person or personality; referring or pointing to a particular person or persons.
(All the above are from Chambers English dictionary)
From the above therefore, Personal Development can be defined as
1. Engaging in acts that will culminate in bringing out or evolving the latent potential in a person or oneself.
2. It is a process of becoming the best you can ever be by consciously and deliberately stepping out of your present state and aspiring towards a higher and better value in your endeavour in life.
The major features in self development are :
1. Self evaluation
2. Departing
3. Improving your self worth.
Lk 15:11-32
It is not enough for you to realize that you need to improve your present situation; you must take steps.
It is noteworthy that there is no limit to the best that one can be
(Psa 139:14) Arise ye and depart….
If you are not growing, you will stink.
Whatever you are today, you can be better.
: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (Phil 3:13-14)
You are an entity crafted by God as a show to your word don’t make yourself a non-entity (Psa 139:14; Rev 5:10)
WHY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
1) To enhance the effectiveness of your giftings
2) To prevent personal and professional stagnation
3) To enhance your contribution to the overall growth of the kingdom.
4) Continuous improvement takes you to your potential.
STEPS TOWARDS SELF-DEVELOPMENT
1. Have a Goal
If you don’t have a goal, you will live like a goat.
2. Go For Information:
If you are not informed, you will be deformed.
Get materials relating to your field and extract relevant information that will enhance your productivity.
You stand at advantage over others when you have at your disposal information that is not available to them.
Sources of information: books, journals, internet, selected TV. Programme. etc.
3. Build Right Relationships:
No one is an island to himself. There are people that have tread the same path you are going through now. You can learn from their experiences.
Learn from the mistakes and experiences of your superior
Share experience from and with your colleagues
Impact your subordinates by allowing them to benefit from your experiences.
4. Exercise Yourself:
Whatever you don’t exercise yourself in, you cannot excel in it (Prov. 22:29).
The level of your exercise in what you do determines the extent of your mastery.
5. Be Prayerful
AREAS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
First impression lasts long. You don’t have a second chance to make the first impression.
a. MODE OF DRESSING
The way you dress is the way you will be addressed.
Neatness should not be compromised.
Your dressing should represent the faith, the commission, and your position.
b. BODY CARE:
Your dressing is your closest property; if you can’t care for it, there is no proof that you can care for any other thing.
Pay attention to your body.
Avoid body odour and bad breath.
2. LANGUAGE AND EXPRESSION
Communication is very vital in every human community and gathering
Pay attention to your language and expression techniques
Communication is ability to pass across your message successfully
THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Mind your language
Choose your words with the meaning in mind
Avoid using derogatory language
Be polite
Speak motivationally and encouragingly.
3. CHARISMA
Charisma is the personal magnetism that radiates around your person.
It is a force that attracts people to you.
Purposefully develop your charisma positively because it is visible for all to see.
It reflects in your walk, sitting postures, gesticulation, etc.
Paper Three THE POWER OF FOCUS
What is Focus?
It is concentrated effort or attention on a particular thing.
To be focused means to give your main attention to one thing or one aspect of a thing.
A. WHAT HELPED THIS COMMSION TO BE FOCUSED
1. DIVINE MANDATE
It is a commission running on a divine mandate (vision)
It was given birth to by a God ordained vision.
We are running a heavenly vision.
The vision is “The hour has come to liberate the world from all oppression of the devil through the preaching of the Word of Faith and I am sending you to undertake this task” given on May 2nd 1981.
The major 3 aspects of the commission are:
a) The Word of Faith
b) The Word of Prosperity and
c) The Word of the Supernatural
There are 12 pillars on which the commission’s teachings are based on. They are:
i. The Word
ii. Faith
iii. The Supernatural
iv. Prosperity
v. Wisdom
vi. Success
vii. Healing
viii. Vision
ix. The Holy Spirit
x. Consecration
xi. Prayer
xii. Praise
2. DIVINE DIRECTION
Isa 48:17 says “Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”
We have heard God servant say many times that we do nothing in this Commission except it is commanded by God.
Since it is a heavenly mandate, it is also being run in line with heavenly pattern and not by man’s dictates or public opinion.
Events and happenings in the commission as shown that God is the one leading the leadership of the commission (Ex. 25:40)
So, it is a commission whose commander is God Himself, but using the leadership as His human agent
3. DIVINE BACKING
“Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?” Lamentations 3:37
“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God, to observe and to all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth” Deut. 28:1
God Himself has been the pillar behind the commission
Because it is a heavenly vision and run according to heavenly pattern hence, the commission has been enjoying heavenly backing.
The exploits in the commission testifies to the fact that God is at work in this Commission (1 Thess. 5:24)
B. PARTAKING OF THE SPIRIT OF THE COMMISSION (Numbers 27:18; Numbers 11:17)
God has brought us into this Commission so that we can partake of the glory and the beauty that is in the commission.
But there is what to do to enjoy what God has prepared for us in this commission.
We must believe in the vision of the Commission (2 Pet. 1:16)
We must believe in the leadership of the Commission (2 Chron. 20:20)
We must believe in the ways of the Commission (1 Cor. 4:17)
CONCLUSION
“I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Walked we not in the same spirit? Walked we not in the same steps?” 2 Cor. 2:17
If you have the spirit of the commission, you will walk in the steps of the commission and as you walk in the steps of the commission, you see the same result and partake of the grace and glory of the commission. The principal avenue to carry the spirit of the commission is to hear the words of the commission (Eze. 2:2).
The fact that everything about this commission is divine, heavenly and of God is what has helped the ministry to be focused and not compare herself with any other commission and for us to get the best of what God has to offer us in the commission we must align ourselves with the ways of the commission.
Paper Four
GOAL SETTING
DEFINITION:
A goal can be defined as what you are striving for and making plans to achieve in a defined future. In order words, a desired end with a deadline is a goal!
A dream is what fuels your desire and helps to paint a mental picture of your future expectation. When your dreams are defined with deadlines, they translate into short-term and long term goals.
WHY GOALS?
Goals helps you to know where you’re going and why you’re going. When you know where you’re going , getting there becomes easier But when you don’t know, anywhere you arrive would be acceptable.
1. Directions
Goal setting gives you direction in life. Life itself does not have to be determined by chance, fate or circumstances. Goals give purpose to living, and a reason to awake early, and go to bed late!
In the school of success, Goal setting remains a principal tool for achievement.
2. Focus
Goal setting enhances your focus. It gives you a mark to press towards. Like Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:14-15 “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reach forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
Under this focus principle, we can establish the following:
a. There is no future in the past. Let go of your past.
b. Reaching forth unto those things which are before. Embrace the future with the end in view.
c) I press toward the mark ……..
- set goals (the mark)
- take steps to achieve them (the pressing)
d) “For the prize of the high calling of God” An identified benefit in the future….
e) There is always a benefit for reaching your goals. It’s called fulfilment.
3) Eradicates distraction
Goal setting eliminate distraction and waste.
4) Personal Development
One major reason for setting goals, is for what it makes of you to accomplish them , which is of a far greater value than what you get from them.
AREAS OF GOAL SETTING
It’s important to note that for a wholistic fulfillment, we need to develop goals in the six (6) major areas of life, grouped as follows
i Spiritual and ministry goals
ii Family and Home goals
iii Career and Educational goals
iv Financial and Business goals
v Physical Well being and Health goals
vi Social and Relational goals
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOALS
Experts in goals setting have used an acronym called S.M.A.R.T. to define the characteristics of goal statements. SMART stands for
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Time and Resource Constrained
Goals should be specific enough so that we know exactly what we are striving for, measurable so we can tell when the it has be reached, attainable to develop planned action steps to produce the results, realistic in that it is practical and can be achieved, time and resources, constrained meaning that it has established time frame and definite deadlines for achievement within the resources available and projected.
Having understood the characteristic of goals, it’s important to know that our goals must align with our values.
Values are those intangible considerations that are important to us, which guides our decisions.
STEPS FOR SETTING GOALS
1. Establish Your Values
Make a list of your guiding Values developed around the 6 major areas of your life.
2. Define Your Objective
Based on these six (6) major area of life, what are the things you want to achieve: Always begin with the end in mind.
3. Define Your Reasons
Define your reasons for wanting to achieve the various stated objectives. This reasons must be strong, honest, and motivating enough to propel you to want to achieve them.
4. Define Your Major Goals
Decide on the 3 most important things according to progressive time – frames below:
3 things to achieve in – 1 Day
3 things to achieve in – 1 Week
3 things to achieve in – 1 Month
3 things to achieve in – 1 years
3 things to achieve in – 5 years
3 things to achieve in – 10 years
3 things to achieve in – 20 years
Then chart a course of action on what must be done to progress towards the objectives.
5. Define the Tasks.
Plan toward achieving the short term goals by focusing on the little things that lead to the major goals.
6. Prioritize
Prioritize based on your values.
What is most important to me? What can be left for a latter time? What can be delegated?
7. Review and Evaluate
Goal setting is an on-going process that is accomplished over time. We need to constantly evaluate our progress to be sure we are on target. Evaluate your approach and strategies. Most times working on your goals attracts opportunities not originally seen at the time of creating the initial goals.
8. Project yourself into the future to keep the fuel of momentum on. Short term goals with deadlines help to achieve the long-term goals.
Finally, planning without action will remain a wishful thinking. Only step- takers remain goal-getters.
Remember always to pray as if all depends on God, and work as if all depends on you.
God bless you.
Paper Five
CHARACTER MATTERS
Introduction: Prov. 22:1
It is popularly said, “Character is beauty.” In other words, the beauty of a man/woman lies in his/her character and not in physical appearance.
Character matters most in the life of a believer, since we are the epistles read by others (2 Cor. 3:1-3).
This paper therefore will be aimed to achieve the following:
(i) To define character and its importance in the life of a believer
(ii) To sensitize believers to imbibe the character of Jesus who is our role model
(iii) To remind the people on the qualities of the Christian character and how to live by them.
Definition
Out of the several definitions given by the Oxford Advance Dictionary, we shall focus on two below:
- Character is the sum of all qualities and features that make up a person, groups of people and places different from others.
- Character is the opinion that people have of you particularly whether you can be trusted or relied on (a man of good character or integrity) – Prov. 22:1.
Character simply means the behaviour or the lifestyle of a person, individual or group. Behaviour in itself is the act of doing things a particular way to somebody (yourself, other people, animal, place or group etc). It is one’s style of living.
Behaviour includes what you think, what and how you speak, what you do with your soul, spirit, and body. It also includes how and where you go daily (practice). How you appear and the companies you keep are not left out in what makes up behavioural pattern. Matt. 7:16.
Imbibing the Character of Jesus
The character of the believer should at any point in time show forth the fruits of the spirit – Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:9.
It is required that the believer develops his lifestyle to manifest the fruits of the spirit, as character is not hereditary but a process of learning or development. The Jews were supposed to read the scriptures to learn about Abraham their father and follow his footsteps. In John 8:39-44, the Jews took after the devil’s character instead of inheriting their father’s lifestyle – truth, worship and sacrifice.
The character of Jesus while here on earth was manifested in the following qualities:
: Discipline/Obedience - John 8:28; Jam. 1:22
: Humility - Ps. 2:3-10; Ps. 37:11; 1 Thes. 2:7
: Honesty/integrity - Jn. 8:32; Jn. 8:45; Mal. 2:4-6; Col. 3:9
: Love - Eph. 5:1; 2 Jn. 4:20; 1 Thes. 5:15
: Servanthood - Be a leader not a boss (Jn. 13:13-17)
Carry the people along with joy.
: Morality - Let the word of God guide your thoughts,
speech and action (Eccl. 12:13; Col. 3:5, 8)
: Diligence - You must earn a living. Jesus did the work
given to him by the Father. 1 Thes. 4:11-12.
Work with your own hands – Acts 20:35.
Hints on how to maintain good character
(i) Constant renewal of the mind with the Word of God
- Prov. 23:7; Col. 3:16
(ii) Engage the help of the Holy Spirit – Jude 20
(iii) Be in the company of people with good character
– Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33.
(iv) Be doer of the Word of God – Jam. 1:22
(v) Be follower of that which is good – 1 Pet. 3:8-13.
Paper Six
UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL PROSPERITY
“In the early morning of August 27, 1987, I heard the Lord speak to me while I was on a mission trip to U.S.A. Get back home and make My people rich.”
“…It was not an advice, it was a command!”
- Bishop David Oyedepo
When you have an understanding of a thing you are moved forward and you remain a pacesetter. You must have an understanding that financial prosperity is not by stealing or getting it in a dubious way; there is a process that must be followed duly.
Note: Financial prosperity is not a once and for all thing; it is a continuous practice. Financial prosperity is not a matter of luck. It is a matter of light.
A. Why Financial Prosperity?
So you can be a blessing – Gen 12:2; Acts 20:35
For His Kingdom’s sake – Mt 6:33
To be a blessing to the poor – Psa 41:1-3
Scriptural proofs – Jer 6:16
B. Steps to Financial Prosperity
Be an addicted lover of God – 1 Kn 3:3
What shall separate me from the love of God – Rom 8:33-36
Bishop Oyedepo: “You don’t know my secret until you know my heart beat for God”. The love of God is your covenant qualifier for financial prosperity – 1 Cor 2:9.
Remain faithful: This is one of the backbones of stable financial future. The faithful shall abound in plenty. Only the faithful become fruitful – Prov 28:20.
A. Be Liberal – Prov 11:25
The more open handed you are in servicing the needs of others, the wider your heaven shall open over your head. In the early church, they were so liberal.
B. Giving – The proof of your love is by your giving. Giving is a covenant device to financial future and abundance. Prov. 3:9; Lk 12:22. Make giving your way of life. When you give, you are only building your financial destiny.
Be a diligent worker – Psa 1:3
There is dignity in labour – Prov 13:11
• The hand of the diligent shall be made rich – Prov 10:4
• The substance remains precious – Prov 12:24,27
• The soul remains fat – Prov 13:4
• In all his labour, profit is expected – Prov 14:23.
Thanksgiving (Gratitude): Always have a reason to be thankful. Every time you genuinely thank God, you provoke increases.
Patiently wait: Sowing and reaping always call for patience. You don’t wait for things to get better before you give; you give before things get better.
C. Hindrances to Financial Future
Financial mismanagement and poor accountability
• Learn to keep records
• Manage well
Borrowing and hire purchase- Prov. 22:7
• Be a lender – Deut 28:12
• Be contented with what you have – 1 Tim 6:6-10
Beware of covetousness and comparison – Lk 12:15; 1 Cor 10:12
Riotous living – Lk 15:13-14
Slothfulness – Prov 18:9; 28:24
Satanic attacks and misfortunes – Job 1:13-19
Paper Seven
THE POWER OF UNITY
TEXT: Gen 11:1-6; Psa 133:1-3
1.0 INTRODUCTION
What is Unity?
• It means oneness
• It means agreement
• One language/ one voice/ one accord/ one vision
• It is the opposite of division
Division means di-vision (2 visions).
• God specializes in unity, satan specializes in division.
• The cheapest way to break a marriage is to introduce 2 visions – husband and wife seeing different things.
• The cheapest way to break a church is to introduce 2 visions – the Pastor/the Bishop is seeing something and the members of the church are seeing something else.
o That will not happen here in Jesus name.
• The back bone of the early church was their unity (Acts. 1:14, 2:44; 4:32)
o I refer to the early church as the ideal church.
o You could touch their unity
o Nothing was strong enough to break their unity.
• Sapphira and Ananias were united (Acts 5:2) – the greatest asset of that marriage.
• Jesus – one of the principal prayers He prayed is for the church to be one (John 17:20-23) “that they may be one” – vs 21, 22, 23
2.0 HOW TO ENHANCE UNITY
• Buy in into a vision (common goal) – you believe in it
• Buy in into the leadership of the vision – you believe in the leadership
• Submission – it is not enough to believe, you submit yourself to the administrations of the vision.
• Sacrifice – sacrificing personal interest for common interest (common goal)
3.0 REWARDS OF UNITY
• Blessing – everywhere there is unity, there is an unprecedented blessings (Psa 133:3)
• Great achievement – to build a tower that will reach unto heaven – (Gen ll:4)
• Victory over satanic plot – you can dislodge satanic plot through unity (Gen 11:6-9)
• Anointing – anointing flows easily where there is unity. The spirit of God is a spirit of unity and not a spirit of division (1 Cor 3:1-3)
4.0 FINAL WORD
• Beware of people who cause division – anywhere you find yourself
• There are agents of division
o In church
o In families
o In organization.
1 Cor 1:10-13 – Paul was strongly against division
1 Cor. 11:18 – Paul was not expecting disunity in the Church.
Rom. 16:17-18 – Disunity and service don’t go together
Prov. 6:16-19 – God is not an author of division. He loves unity and hates division.
Paper Eight
HEART OF A SERVANT
Text: Phil 2:5-11
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Servant hood begins from the heart.
Greatness in the kingdom is through the ladder of service.
Jesus climbed that ladder (our perfect example)
David (Old Testament) – climbed that ladder (Psa 89)
Paul the Apostle climbed that ladder – Acts 27 – God, whose I am and whom I serve.
2.0 DEFINITION
What is service?
It means contribution
It means input
It means adding value
What comes out from you to the kingdom of God and to humanity
“We are committed to the welfare of Tsunami victims”
(George Bush on Monday 10th January 2005 on the news).
i.e. service – that is what is making their nation great (heart of service).
3.0 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I SERVE (i.e. when I become a contributor)
You are promoted and lifted
o There is exaltation, distinction and promotion in service (Isa 52:13)
You are anointed (Psa 89:20)
o Many don’t know the secret to the anointing: it is service.
You are preserved.
o There is preservation and protection in service
o You can’t die like chicken when you are serving (Daniel, David).
o (Exo 23:25-26; Acts 27:22-25; Rev 7:2-3)
You encounter God (Rev. 22:3-4) (Spiritual encounter)
o Your spiritual encounter is your greatest asset in the journey of life (Zacharias – Lk. 1:5-11).
o I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved (Gen. 32)
You are blessed (Exo 23:25)
o Materially, physically
o You can’t be serving and be under a curse
You attract God’s hand (Isa 66:14)
o For speed (Elijah – 1 Kn 18)
o For help (Psa 119:173)
o For favour (Psa 44:3)
o For insight (Elisha – 2 Kn 3:15)
4.0 HOW DO WE SERVE
With your time – Lk 2:36-37 (Anna) – night and day serving God with prayer and fasting.
With your resources.
With your creativity – Joseph, Daniel (Dan. 5)
With your position – Joseph (Gen. 45:9-11), Esther (Est. 4:16).
5.0 REQUIRMENTS FOR SERVICE
Humility – be humble. It makes it easy. Make yourself of no reputation (Phil 2:7)
Faithfulness – makes it rewardable (1 Cor 4:2).
Faithfulness is stronger than skillfulness.
Doing your best (Gen. 31:6)
Faith – which makes you expectant and hopeful (Heb. 11:6).
You are not necessarily going to be rewarded where you sow but what you sow (Eze 29:18-20).
Gladness and joy – excitement makes your service rewardable (Deut 28:47).
6.0 FINAL WORD
Service is a choice not a gift (Jos. 24:15)
It is a choice of the wise.
And whatever level of service you are currently rendering, strive to do more. Fill more the cloud of your service because the quality and the quantity of service is being noted (Rom. 16:12).
Last Word
From Bishop D.O. Abioye
WALKING WITH GOD
WHO IS A WORKER?
I define a worker sometimes, as one who is working. An ordained worker, therefore, is a specialised kind of worker; that is why he is ordained.
Being ordained has nothing to do with title. It is rather based on carrying out functions, being dedicated and responsible all the time. This is the reason why we must accept responsibility because it is a burden placed on us. Peter, James and the other disciples could not afford to help Jesus, but Jesus remained awake. That depicts a dedicated and responsible worker.
Brethren, there is the need to think responsibly, talk responsibly and even appear responsibly. Peter was outstanding among the disciples because of responsibility.
WHY DO WE TRAIN?
a. To Remain Current.
In any field of life, the only way to ensure currency is to train. The aviation industry, for instance, always ensures the regular training of its workers for the primary purpose of being current.
Our world is a changing one; the dynamics of change is rapid. Training secures the future. One must train to avoid being obsolete. There is always an annual renewal in every field and so, for you to remain current and focused in this ever changing world, you must train.
b. To Uphold Relevance
What makes you attractive is your relevance. Proper training ensures that you remain relevant to the society and to the system to which you find yourself in.
c. To Enhance Value
Prov. 1:5 “A wise man will hear and increase knowledge”. Added knowledge brings added value which in return, bring about increase in worth. This is why there is no end to learning; when you stop learning, you start dying.
The real measure of age is determined by one’s level of knowledge; ignorance makes people to grow old at the unexpected age. Knowledge has a special way of renewing the physical body.
d. To Be Traced.
Only the trained can be traced. Somehow, what you have trained for will make people to trace you. David was traced because he trained. Training cannot be presume. You cannot be acquainted with the necessary training just by sitting at a place or folding arms. It always takes some level of sacrificial commitment to be well trained. There is need, therefore, to always yearn to be trained as it is a pathway to be promoted. Promotion is a natural sequence obtained through training. There is a price to be paid for serving God. Remember that Christ told His disciples that “if any of you wants to follow me, let him deny himself of certain things”. God’s blessings shall definitely follow that person who denied himself of so many things for His sakes.
WALKING WITH GOD
Walking with God is the climax of our working for Him. Walking with God is what makes working for God exciting. You can work for God and get lost as unwholesome or worldly things may be attached, but you cannot walk with God and get missing as His love and fear abide in you. Gehazi – Elisha’s servant and Judas missed their places because they could not walk with God.
We work for God with our hands but we walk with God with our heart – that is the proving object for walking with God. You won’t have problem with focus when you are walking with God. No! Material things won’t draw your attention. When you walk with Him, you won’t have problem with unity. People don’t serve with their hearts because they don’t walk with God.
Even when your title (deacon, elder or pastor) is removed, keep on walking with God. Working for God will only bring you recommendation but walking with Him will earn you approval (in walking with God, you are sure of both commendation and approval). You are here to fortify your walk with God. Don’t just be a worker for God; be a “walker” with God.
Judas worked for Christ. He was only a portfolio officer. That probably explains why he failed in the end. Seek to walk with God; don’t seek recognition. Enoch, Elijah, Moses, Jesus and John as men of faith walked with God and received revelations. It is when you walk with God that you get committed; you can’t work without committing your heart to it.
In walking with God, you won’t be carnal nor face any competition. You always a winner. Walking with God is the cure to all spiritual bitterness.
Who you walk with or emulate determines how you work. When you walk with God, He takes you away from corruption. You must allow your hand put up with your heart to work for God.
In every unit you find yourself, walk with God; do away with the spirit of competition and eye service. Walk with good conscience and with the fear of God and as you do so, God will baptize you with a fresh zeal to walk with Him.
Remember that whom you follow determines what follows you. Lot was blessed because he followed a man of vision. Be mindful of whom you follow for if you follow a man with vision and heart to walk with God, the sky becomes your limit.
WHO IS GOD’S SERVANT?