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How is Business?

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How is Business?

Luke 2:49

And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s Business?

A Preacher was quoting a motivational speaker and he said that there are two questions that need to be asked to know how successful a business man is, and I will repeat the exact same questions here today.

The first question is, “What is your business?” Many people have different kinds of businesses. Some are big while others are small, some have just started while others have been in it for a considerable length of time. No matter the kind of business, you as the business owner knows what type of business you run.

Jesus in the above Bible passage stated that he was in charge of his Father’s business. He was in the Temple teaching and discussing with the renowned Bible scholars of his days; the Pharisees, Sadducee and Scribes. He was supposedly thought to be missing by his parents until he was found by them in the Temple.

Jesus was also involved in his earthly father’s business of Carpentry. Mark 6:3. “Is this not the Carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James….” He was not only found in the Temple, but He was also identified by the locals as a Carpenter. 

What are you identified with or what testimony do your neighbours have of you?

The second question is, “How is business?” This second question seems more difficult to answer. 

Some people might say, “oh well, it’s  so- so, just half way here and half way there.” Some may not even be sure, business is probably dwindling in size or about to fold up. Some others might say, “Business is going great!”

As Christians, followers of Christ, we may also have both types of businesses, our earthly business, the business we do to keep body and soul together, and then our Father’s business, the business God has sent everyone on earth to do….. The business of winning souls!

How is this business going?

“Jesus said, I must do the works of him who sent me while it is day……” John 9:4

Jesus saith unto them, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” John 4:34

My question is, “What is your meat, and my meat? How is this business going? Can you and I answer with great enthusiasm as the Master did….”

Paraphrasing, don’t these people know that I am busy with my Father’s work?  Or are we going to say it’s so-so or I’m not sure?

Whatever your answer may be right now, it is my prayer that God would grant each and every one of us his grace so that we can say with great enthusiasm that “Business’ is going great!” May the Lord bless the works of our hands in Jesus Name.

 

Prayer: 

Oh Lord, apply my heart unto wisdom to be an effective witness of Your Saving Grace.

Oh Lord, help me to see Your business as my business in Jesus Name.

TRUE RICHES OF THE KINGDOM

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TRUE RICHES OF THE KINGDOM
This is a Bible Study outline prepared by the author and shared in one of our recent meetings. A lot has been said on prosperity and there are many divergent views. However, the Bible is very clear on what prosperity is and what it is not. As I was praying and meditating on the Word of God, I got the following points which I now share with you in questions and answers format.

Memory Verse
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth [3 John v2].

1. What is the meaning of prosperity? True prosperity is a blessing from God. God owns all the resources in heaven and on earth. He wants us to prosper in our body, soul and spirit. However, His love transcends what we have, owe or own. God prospers us so we can be of better service to Him.

2 Cor. 9:8
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

2. Is it a sin to be prosperous? Prosperity in itself is not a sin. It is the means people used to achieve it that is a sin. Examples are hoarding, stealing, deception, etc.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase [Prov. 13:11]

3. What should believers do to prosper? Believers are encouraged to be hardworking, share with others what God has blessed them with, aspire to provide unique services in their vocation and pursue entrepreneurship as God gives you the ability.

4. Does the Bible encourage believers to be wealthy? How can we avoid being deceived? Believers are encouraged to seek the welfare of their soul first. That is the primary goal, having peace with your Maker. We are told not to take advantage of others in other to gain materially [1 Tim 6:17-19]. We are warned to avoid people who go about to deceive others [1 Tim 6:5, 9-11].

5. What is the balanced approach to prosperity? The balanced approach is to seek to live for Christ, glorify Him with all He has given to you but know you are mortal. Prosperity is not all about having a fat bank account which ends anyway when the person breathes his last breath. God is the one who adds His material blessings to you and me therefore it is wrong to hold Him to “ransom” with what He is freely willing to give to us [Matt. 6:19-34; 1 Cor. 4:7].

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you [Matthew 6:33].

6. Was Jesus Christ really poor or rich? Jesus is the King of kings so He is rich. All the Kings of the earth are subject to Him. He is the Word Incarnate that created Heaven and earth. However, He became poor to save us from our sins [Psalm 2; Heb 1:1, John 1:1, Rev. 19:11-17]

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich [2 Cor. 8:9].

7. Does wealth hinder someone from serving God better and is poverty a blessing? Wealth does not hinder someone from serving God better. However, it can be a big distraction if you remove your focus from the Giver Himself. Examples of Bible Characters who were wealthy are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, etc. Examples of wealthy people who became distracted by their wealth were Lot and the rich young ruler [Gen.13:1-13, chapter 19; Matt 19:16-26]. Examples of rich people who refused to serve God with their wealth or be generous to others were the rich fool, Nabal, the rich man in Jesus’ parable and Ananias and Sapphira [1 Sam. 25, Luke 12:16-21; Acts 5]. There were also those who were poor but devoted their lives to God some by being taught the principle of faith like the widow of Zarephath [1 Kings 17:1-16]. God judges everyone according to the state of his or her heart. How should you handle wealth if you find yourself blessed with an abundance of it? Handle it the way the Scriptures say in Tim 6:17-19 and Matt. 6:19-34. Do not allow the cares and deceitfulness of riches to choke the Word of God in your heart. Give no place to the devil to allow the god of “mammon” to be your master and lord.
The Bible states we should be content with what we have:

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out [1 Tim 6:6-7].

8. What was the approach of the Apostles to prosperity? The apostles were chosen for a specific mission and they each achieved his calling. None of them taught that poverty was a blessing. Neither did they teach greediness. The early church was one where people were encouraged to give according to the measure God had blessed them. Some brought everything to the Apostle’s feet, others did not and suffered the consequences [Acts 4:32-37; Acts 5]. Jesus taught his disciples to be fed by those whom the gospel is preached to [Luke 10:7]. In doing this both the giver and receiver learn to trust God to meet their needs, a lesson taught by Elijah to the widow of Zarephath [1 Kings 17; 2 Chron. 20:15-30, v20]

9. What are the conditions we must satisfy to truly say you are prospering? We are required to fear God, obey His word and serve Him in Love [Deut. 28:1-10].

10. What do we teach our children about prosperity? We should teach our children the fear of God and that they should grow in his wisdom [Prov. 4:1-11]

11. What investments should believers invest in to prosper? Christians should learn how to sow like the farmer. There are many opportunities out there to prosper. However, do not sow into a bag with holes. Prayerfully seek what to invest in. Seek counsel from those who know about wise investments and from your leaders.

12. How do we sow into the work of God? By looking at areas of need in your local assembly, mission field, blessing the Pastors and ministers as the Lord leads you, etc.

13. Tithing? Learn and continue the principle of tithing Principles and accountability to God. Serve God with what you have. What He has given to you is able to sustain you. Proverbs 3:5-10.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it [Mal. 3:10].

14. What is the role of wisdom in Prosperity. Godly wisdom is very important. The wiser we are the more God wants to bless us. He will only entrust true riches to those who would be accountable to Him.
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? [Luke 16:11]

CONCLUSION I hope the study has been a blessing to you with better understanding of what true prosperity is. In conclusion, pursue the things of the Kingdom first. The Lord has promised to add all other things to you. Know that it is God’s utmost priority to bless you as emphasized in 3 John v2, 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Also know that there are diverse kinds of prosperity from God. At the time the Apostle John wrote this verse in this personal letter to a saint called Gaius, John was in his eighties or perhaps nineties. As he personalized the letter, so God personalizes His prosperity to you and me. He knows what to do and when to do the addition as you diligently serve Him. If you already are already enjoying His grace in this area of life, continue to serve Him and give Him the glory in reverence and awe. Only then will you continue to enjoy His true riches.

1 Cor. 4:7 says: 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

One Word Only

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One Word Only                                   

  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus….Phil 2: 5-8

 If you were to be described by somebody, which one word would best describe you? This looks like an easy question to answer, but with a good thought, it becomes increasingly difficult to choose. This brings to mind the story of some blind men who went to visit an Elephant. One touched the Elephant by the tail and said it looked like a snake, another touched the trunk and said the Elephant looked like a continuous wall and they went on and on with the description.

 Would our description be, Oh! She is so sweet; or Oh! He is so kind; or would it be arrogant, wicked, generous, humble, bitter, proud, caring, wise, gentle, or should I dare say good………. It will be amazing to know which is yours and mine too!

Two renowned politicians where asked a similar question recently by ‘Readers Digest’, but this time, to paraphrase the question, “Which one word is your favourite? One of them answered immediately without much thought and said ‘Indomitable’, that is unconquerable.  This is a very nice word on its own, and I like it very much myself. The second gave a deep thought, paused for a little while before he gave his own answer. He said his favourite word was ‘grace’. I even liked the second answer better because; it is by grace we can even become indomitable.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it (1Corinthians 10:26). God owns everything, both you and I, and all that we own. Is that not wonderful! With all these information, where is the place for pride or arrogance?

Back to our passage, Jesus Christ is God Himself. He emptied Himself of His heavenly glory and came to earth in the form of man. We know the story does not end there. He sacrificed His life for all by dying, not the regular death, but the type of death meant for criminals even though He was not one of them. Jesus Christ died on the cross to bring man back to God. It is difficult to describe this by just one word! Is it love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, or was He just being good or showing grace to mankind? No little wonder God has so many names. It depends on where He has met your needs, then that name of His becomes more real and personal to you. It is our prayer that the Lord would reveal Himself to us in our daily walk with Him in Jesus name.

If you are a true follower of Christ, that one word should be an attribute that can be used to describe your Lord and master, Jesus Christ. I sincerely pray that the beauty of God be seen in everyone who professes to be a child of his.

Prayer Point

Oh Lord, make me a reflection of your beauty in Jesus Name. Amen.

Author: Esther Agbi

Door Number Two?

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Door Number Two?

 Gen. 13:11

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

 It is sometimes very difficult to make choices, probably because nobody wants to make mistakes and be in a situation of ‘Buyer’s remorse’. I am so glad to be living in this part of the world where you can return your merchandise even as long as 3 months after purchase if you don’t like it. Well, I will quickly add, not with all items! When you don’t have the option of returning the purchased goods, you have to think real hard and well to make sure that you actually want the item since the sale is final. Some of the Game Shows on TV would give you an idea of what I am talking about, such as those with prices associated with closed doors. You have been shown the different prizes, but which of the doors can you find exactly what you desire? Is it door no.1 or door no. 2 or even door no. 3?

 Lot was Abram’s nephew. Abram took Lot along when he heard the call of God. That was a very brief introduction of Lot. Abram and Lot both prospered to the extent that their herd’s men were frequently having fights over issues, so Abram wanted to stop the conflict by parting ways with Lot.  

 The Bible passage above tells us that Lot chose all the plain of Jordan. Why, you may ask? The preceding verses tell us that it was well watered and that it was like the garden of the Lord, probably like the Garden of Eden!

 Lot chose what he could see. That would have been what most people would choose; greener pasture for his animals. He did not want any ‘Buyer’s remorse’. Lot’s choice was not a bad one anyway, but was it a godly choice? Lot chose for his immediate benefit which most of us do every now and then. He forgot that he was being blessed by association. Tagging along with Abram brought blessings to him. He forgot to ask his uncle who was older than him to choose first.  He probably did not inquire from God if that was what God wanted for him. That was a very big decision, and he was moved by sight and chose hastily. Are you always moved by sight? Do you make hasty decisions in very important issues or do you inquire from the Lord? To inquire is good, but do you wait for the response? You and I have a lot to learn from King David.

 2 Sam.5:19

King David enquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go up to the Philistines? Will thou deliver them unto my hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the philistine into thine hand.

 The Lord will teach us not just to inquire from him but to wait for the response before we set out on things we need to do.

 (To be continued)                                          

 Prayer

Oh Lord, teach me not to make hasty decisions based on my own judgement.

 Oh Lord, grant me the grace to wait and hear from you always in Jesus name.

  Author: Esther Agbi

CHRISTIAN PARENTING [PART III]

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Christian Parenting [Part III] by Pastor Godwin Okafor

I am bringing the third part of the excerpts from my soon to be published book dealing with the art of ministering prayers to babies and children, even while they are in the wombs of their mothers.
When children who have been initiated in their mothers’ wombs, because of lack of the type of prayers I suggest in this book grow up, they exhibit characteristics that would normally confuse their parents, who could ignorantly go to the same satanic agents for solution. Of course, the church, whose ministers are the agents of the Kingdom of Light, would just sit down and look in confusion at the fiasco that would normally unfold in such cases. The confusion emanates from our mistake to try to deal with the child according to its age and not according to the age of the spirit inhabiting that child, no matter what the physical age of the child could be.
That’s the reason a little child of less than two years could be so aggressive and rain blows on another timid child of over three years old, and that one could just cry to attract the attention of adults to rescue him or her.
I have been told of how a three year old little girl embarrassed her mother by waving at every pregnant woman they passed on their way to where her mum was going with her. The little girl could see the babies in those wombs and would greet them. She would say to her mother,
“Mummy, see baby…”,
and would wave at the protruding tummy of a woman just passing by. I was told how people who overheard that little girl gathered quickly, and this embarrassed mother had to run for her dear life with her three year old child before she and her little girl were lynched as witches.
I believe the church is yet to seriously consider the plight of our children who have peculiar spiritual challenges, and who present strange behaviours in our midst. In fact, I dare say that children are hardly considered in the Christian Ministry, except in few places where provisions are made for bible based activities aimed at diverting their attention and contain or re-channel their excessive energies, until their parents close from church services.
It is pitiful that children are often times hindered or totally forbidden from coming to the Master, through His ministers to minister to them according to their needs. I was reminded while writing this book that most Christian parents may actually deny that a child in their household who has a peculiar spiritual challenge need special attention by their pastor.
However, the foundation of Christian living ought to be laid at this stage of a child’s development so that he or she grows up never to depart from the ways of the LORD.
Children, including the unborn, usually want to express themselves. It was written of Jacob and Esau that they “struggled” in their mother’s womb before they were born.
Gen 25:21-23: “The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Did you know what made John the Baptist leap for joy while in Elizabeth’s womb? He heard the sound of Mary’s voice as she greeted his mother!

Luke 1:40-41,44: “… where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit… As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”
Mary’s voice carried an anointing that could make Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to begin to prophecy, because she was carrying in her womb the one who anointed and still anoints with Holy Ghost and Fire. Did you know that Mary could have spoken to John in the womb to do something she desired? Agents of Satan who carry evil anointing know how to speak to unborn babies in their mothers’ wombs to do their sinister biddings, and they would obey.
Moses’ mother must have started interacting with him while he was in her womb. Therefore, it was easy for her to just look at him after he was born to conclude that Moses was not an ordinary child, and did not fear if Pharaoh found out that she was hiding him from being destroyed and killed her. I believe she had started ministering to him so early (even in the womb), and easily concluded his spiritual training (when Pharaoh’s princess hired her to look after Moses), before surrendering him to Pharaoh’s palace for his princely training.

The LORD, God, will help us in Jesus’ precious name.

Missions Seedtime & Harvest

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Hallelujah!!! Christ our Wisdom has a new look to its website. Please, browse through and familiarize yourself with the website at www.christwisdom.org . You will find many articles in the CATEGORIES section of the website.

One of the new features of the website is that you can now pay your tithes and offerings on-line through the Ministry’s’s website. You can also begin to sow your seed for on-going and planned Missions Outreach of the Ministry. You will find the e-donate button when you click the MISSIONS menu on the website, or you can follow the link below, (or copy the link into your brownser), and it will take you directly to the Account of the Ministry.

Link:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5MHRXJLWM2BQY

VISA, MasterCard or direct payment from your bank account are accepted.

Did you know that your sowing to the work of God is a testimony of your righteousness? It is also an act of obedience to His Word.

“It’s time for you to sow to yourself in righteousness, reap in mercy and break up your fallow grounds ……” Hosea 10:12

“8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:…….10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness)”…… 2 Cor. 9:8-10.

It’s time for all of God’s children to increase in the fruit of righteousness through giving. God Bless you as you choose to excel in this gift also.

We are a Canadian registered “Charity” (Charity Registration no.: 806085882RR0001) with proper accounting records. Your donations and gift to the Ministry will be receipted to you at the end of the year for income tax purposes.