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1 Cor 1: 24, 30 .... Jesus Christ is our Wisdom, Power, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption

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Worries? Where is Jesus?

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Worries? Where is Jesus?

1Pet. 5:7

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

From the passage above, we are admonished to bring our cares and place them on Jesus.

What do we mean by cares? Cares could be considered as worries, concerns, distress, disturbances, distractions or anything that steals away your peace.

When I had my baby boy in 2001 in the hospital, there were so many companies representatives who came around with samples of their products. Varied products ranging from diapers, baby formulas, education insurance and the like. They were soliciting for buyers, promoting different brand names, with the intention of moving you from potential buyer to actual customer.

A brand new baby in the arms of his Mom or Dad is usually very relaxed. Do you think he cares about anything or many things like mortgages, education fees, examinations, type of diapers to wear, doctors appointments and getting there on time or late? Your guess is as good as mine.

On the contrary, it is the parents who are worried about the things to be done for the baby.

When you also watch adults transferring babies from one person’s arm to another, it is done with great care so that the baby does not fall down or get injured in the process.

Let’s picture ourselves as the baby in the large arms of the lord Jesus. He is like the parent in this picture. We should be relaxed and not be carried away or consumed by worries and cares around us.

Jesus is concerned about us. When we are in difficulty, we tend to ask, where is Jesus? He has been there all these while. We are sometimes too busy to give him audience until we are over whelmed with issues.

The lord will not allow issues to overwhelm us in Jesus name.

Let Jesus speak peace to any roaring storm in your lives and mine today, just as he did to the raging sea.(Matt 8: 23-27)

“Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go he’s the one who will keep you on track” Prov.3:6 (Message Bible)

Prayer

Oh Lord, speak your peace to every raging storm in my life in Jesus Name. Amen.

Oh Lord, please address all my worries and concerns in Jesus name. Amen.

 

 

PROFITABLE TALENTS?

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PROFITABLE TALENTS?

Matthew 25 v 14-30
His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant … (verse 21)

Sometimes the word talent is difficult to define or explain. I used to consider talents as a unique gift someone has from birth or has acquired through time by training. To some extent, this may be right.

The free online dictionary has two definitions for talents: “a natural endowment or ability of a superior quality”, and the second is, “a former weight or unit of currency used by the ancient Greeks or Romans”.
There are some talent shows on television which bring home a better picture of what I am trying to convey in this piece of write up.

Some people actually bring out their spectacular gifts in artistic dances, singing high pitched notes, playing instruments and even some mathematical skills of summing up numbers without using a calculator, putting letters to spell words that have never being heard of, just to mention a few. I love watching whenever I have the time to do so because at the earlier stages of the competition, the participants are quite entertaining while displaying their talents. One sometimes wonders how talented some are, and my guess is not far-fetched from the Judge’s decision since such ones are easily eliminated from the competition. That is not to say that their unique performances are not talents but those with superior abilities are left standing to compete in the next round towards the final, since only one of the performances can win the competition.

While reading this’ Matthew passage’ cited above, three things stood out to me. It depends on the Bible translation you use, the King James Bible referred to the gifts as talents, while some Bible translations like “the Message Bible” and The New International Version” refer to it as money.
Everyone is made different by our God the creator. Embedded inside of us are unique gifts which are to be discovered and either used or buried just as the servants in the story did. I don’t think God is going to come down physically and give us money bags just as the Master did in the parable. However, He has given each one of us different gifts in different areas with differing abilities, which could be compared to the bags of money.

I want to focus on the attitude of the servants because it appears that having all received their gifts, the servants joyfully went their way thinking about what to do with their gifts. The first two servants who had five and two talents respectively went at once to do business with what was given to them. They did not delay or dilly-dally as some of us would do today. The response was sharp and immediate. The second point is that they took the master’s business as their own personal business and brought back profit. They wanted the master to succeed and profit so they invested. This was the exact opposite with the servant who had one talent. He did not do anything with his talent. The master did not only call him wicked and lazy, but he was quite disrespectful to his master by telling him that he reaps where he has not sown.

Today, some of us might say we don’t have any talent, or where do I start from? I encourage you to start from anywhere. Have you looked inward? Some people are very good at making others laugh while others are very gracious with their words and brighten the room whenever they come in. Some have caring attitude towards children or the elderly while others do not have such patience. Some people are interested in the progress of others by praying for them. We can go on and on with this list. The most important thing is to identify the gifts and put them to work.

This brings me to my third point. I discovered that all three servants thought they were working for the master because the master gave them the ‘seed money’ to start with. This is not the case as we see from the ‘reward ceremony’. The first servant started with five talents and made five more. His reward was to rule over ten cities (Luke 19 v17). The second servant was to rule over 5 cities. The servant who had the one talent probably did not realize that he was working for himself. If he knew this, he probably would have at least put the money in the bank to get the least increase in his investment as the master thought the servant would do.

We may think that it does not matter what we do with the gifts God has given to us. It may not mean much now, just as it did not mean much to the servant who had one talent. He discovered his mistake when it was too late to make amend. I pray this shall not be our testimony. I pray that God would give us grace to discover what he has given to us and to put it to work for His glory and also for our reward at the time Jesus comes back. May He say to us, “Well done , thou good and faithful servant…. Amen.” Come Lord Jesus come (1 Corinth 16:22).

Prayer Points
1. Lord, give me understanding to appreciate all the wonderful gifts in my life.
2. Lord, fill my heart with your presence and help me to love you more dearly.

Esther Agbi

DEC. 31 2013/2014 NEW YEAR PRAYERS

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DEC. 31 2013/2014 NEW YEAR PRAYERS

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Psalm 104:23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. 24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Tuesday Dec. 31 2013 [New Year worship/thanksgiving/prayers]
All the prayers should be prayed in Jesus name. Also cleanse yourself regularly with the blood of Jesus.

Praise Worship: Confession Scripture: Psalm 40:1-17 Text: Psalm 99:1-9

1. Praise Him for who He is using the verses of Psalm 99
2. Thank God for your salvation and divine protection for you and your loved ones in 2013 [Psalm 40:1-3].
3. Praise Him for His mighty hand of deliverance from all dangers and troubles in 2013 [Psalm 40:11-17].
4. Thank God for your successes, special blessings, and specific testimonies of 2013
5. Thank God for keeping you in divine health and meeting all your needs [pray, using Psalm 103:1-5]
6. Ask God for more wisdom in 2014. Pray that God make your heart wiser in Jesus’ name [Col 3:16].
7. Ask God for grace to serve Him more faithfully in 2014.

Prayer Session I [Prayer for Increased Spiritual Strength]

Confession Scripture: 2 Peter1:1-12 Text: Psalm 104:1-35

1. Lord, quicken my heart by the power of your Holy Spirit. Make my heart a citadel of power [Acts 2:1-4].
2. Lord, strengthen my inner-being. Refresh and revive me by your Spirit [Psalm 104:30].
3. Oh Lord, build me up. Help me to pursue the virtues of faith, holiness and love [2 Peter 1:5-8].
4. Lord, teach me to hate sin with perfect hatred. Consecrate me and sanctify me [Acts 10:38].
5. Every gift God has given to me; come alive, be stirred up and begin to function [2 Tim. 1:6-7].
6. Lord, cover me with your garment of righteousness and holiness. Make me a flaming fire [Psalm 104:1-4].
7. Lord, make me a healthy tree. Fill me with your sap of love and power in [Psalm 104:16; Psalm 1].

Prayer Session II [Prayer for Abounding Grace and Joy]

Confession Scripture: 2 Cor 4:14-16, Amplified Text: 2 Cor 8:1-24

1. Thank God you for the abundant joy of salvation and ask Him to cloth you with His righteousness [Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 12:3; Habakkuk 3:18].
2. Ask God to strengthen you spiritually in 2014 so you will do exploits for His kingdom [Dan. 11:32].
3. Ask God to bless the works of your hands & make you a blessing to others [2 Cor. 8:7].
4. Ask God to fill your heart with kindness so you always be a blessing to the distressed [2 Sam 17:27-29].
5. Oh Lord, give me a humble & teachable spirit. Engrave your word in my heart.
6. Thank you Lord for your favour & blessings. Lord, distinguish me with your wisdom & excellence.
7. I receive the promotion, wealth & honour that come from you and you alone in 2014 [Prov. 3:13-18].

Jesus Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption [1 Cor. 1:23, 30]

Church Services & Programs

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You and your loved ones are cordially invited to our church services and programs

in our new sanctuary:

Location:
10706 101 Street Edmonton, AB T5H 2S3

Sunday Church Service:

Time: 10:00 am-12.00 noon

  • Sunday school both for adults and kids
  • Worship Session
  • Prayers
  • Sermon

Mid-week Service: Wednesdays

Bible-Studies/Prayer Meetings

Time: 6 pm  – 7:30 pm

Workers & Choir Meetings/Evangelism: Saturdays

Time: 1 pm  – 3 pm

Night Vigils: Last Fridays of the Month

Time: 10 pm – 12 midnight

COMING SOON: OUR BIBLE SCHOOL CLASSES

COME TO THE HOUSE OF BREAD AND BE PREPARED

TO MEET THE LORD IN A NEW PHASE OF YOUR LIFE

 

 

 

 

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?

The Presence Of God

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The Presence of God                Author: Esther Agbi

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.

In July 2011, Slave Lake in Alberta, Canada was almost razed down by a wild fire. Prince William and his wife Kate came to the city to show their solidarity and concern. This was a very noble and kind gesture. It appeared that all roads at that time led to Slave Lake. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the ‘would be King’ of England and his bride.

I have visited Slave Lake several times in the past and it has a very large sand beach which could be Canada’s largest sand beach. Aside from this beach, I personally do not see any other tourist attraction in this city. The coming of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was filled with excitement and great anticipation.

Thousands of people lined the streets to welcome them.

This brings to mind the excitement king David must have had when he was asked to go into the presence of God. Coming to our present day, are we as excited to go into the presence of our heavenly king?

The city I live in is usually buzzing with activities from Mondays through Saturdays. Then on Sundays you begin to wonder where all the cars have disappeared to. The roads are virtually empty. You see people jogging along the roads and having different kinds of exercises, while some others are playing golf and Lawn Tennis. I understand that all these activities are genuine and relevant to our everyday living.  It could be that some have had their church service on Saturday or a quick one early on Sunday morning, this still gives room for the question, what are the majority of people doing on Sunday mornings or evenings as the case may be?

The presence of the Lord is sweet to be in. It is like spending time with your earthly father. You want to talk about everyday events, feel loved, comforted and cared for and also to seek for counsel. I know some people may not like to spend time with their earthly father, and there may be genuine reasons for that. it could be that such fathers may have abandoned their own children, being cruel, wicked or for some other reasons. My heart goes to people who are in that category.

What keeps you away from the presence of God? Could it be sin, guilt, fear, lack of confidence, lack of knowledge or understanding of who God is?

Whatever the case may be, the Bible admonishes us in Heb 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (NKJV) .

I pray that you and I would find mercy and grace and not judgment as we take steps in obedience to approach him in his presence.

Prayer

Father Lord, help me to draw closer to you so I may enjoy your presence.

Lord, help me to find the sweetness in your presence.