AUGUST 2012 THEME

Shalom & Kingdom greetings in the precious name of our Lord & Saviour King – Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. With awesome privilege, I gladly welcome all visitors and existing browsers into this Month of August 2012, which is THEMED: Arise & Shine! Achievers Act To August A Difference In Life & Godliness

The Month of August is the eight month of the year. It thus signifies a new beginning. And to august means to dignify and imposing, distinguish and exalt; to be venerable, to inspire respect and admiration; to be illustrious and more.

Hence, this month of August is your month to arise and shine making a difference. Here are some of the  scriptures for the theme:

Isaiah 60:1Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!” (Amplified).

Proverbs 24:15-16 “Don’t interfere with good people’s lives; don’t try to get the best of them. No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; Soon they’re up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.” (The Message Bible)

Psalms 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. (KJV)

Psalms 37:23-24 “The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. 24 Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.(Amplified).

Micah 7:8-10 “Don’t, enemy, crow over me. I’m down, but I’m not out. I’m sitting in the dark right now,   but God is my light. I can take God’s punishing rage. I deserve it—I sinned. But it’s not forever. He’s on my side and is going to get me out of this. He’ll turn on the lights and show me his ways. I’ll see the whole picture and how right he is. And my enemy will see it, too, and be discredited—yes, disgraced! This enemy who kept taunting, “So where is this God of yours?” I’m going to see it with these, my own eyes— my enemy disgraced, trash in the gutter. “ (The Message Bible)

There is no room to be at ease in Zion and achieve an illustrious life and godliness, because it’s very expensive to be at ease in the midst of divine opportunities and surprises (Amos 6:1-3; 2 Samuel 11).  I do know that a man’s ignorance is his own mountain and the knowledge of the truth will set him free. Hence I am leaving you with the undermentioned scriptures to read, in this AFD AUGUST 2012 Edition for your perusal and as a guide of grace to give you a line of food for thought indicating how the theme of the month will be approach. I therefore commend you to take time to ponder and meditate on them in prayers (Acts 20:32).

Mark 2:1-12 “And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”

However, this month theme will be expanded in course of the SERVICES & TIMES in all meetings through the Month/year in “Scripture Pasture” Study and “Pastoral Messages & Ministrations”.

I gladly welcome you, your friends and family to be with us in Fellowship and Worship. I promise you that you can never be the same again as you ponder over the truth of these unadulterated, inspiring, revealing and empowering living word of God. I pray that God revitalizes and rejuvenate you and all that is about you, so that you may become the very best of which God has created you to be in your daily journey of Destiny Moulding, Life Transformation, Dignity Restoration and Kingdom Faith Establishment, Community Social Enrichment and Development and Readily Prepared, Awaiting The Lord’s Return.

Until then, have an amazing, majestic and awesome Month to “Arise & Shine” in AUGUST 2012.

Amazing Grace,

Pst Chukie.

NOTE: (All Scriptures are either in King James Version or New King James Version except where otherwise indicated)

True Worship

TOPIC: TRUE WORSHIP

BIBLE TEXT: John 4:19-24; Revelation 4 & 5; Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Job 32:8; 33:4; 1 Thessalonian 5:23; Hebrews 4:12-13.

MEMORY VERSE:God [is] a Spirit and those that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and truth”. John 4:24.

INTRODUCTION: The act – “WORSHIP” – is defined as the feeling or expression of reverence, devotion, veneration, exalting, glorifying, idolising, extolling, admiration, homage and adoration for God. In this study we want to consider the various ways people tend to worship as classified in the Scriptures – The Holy Bible. We will also consider what true worship is all about in the light of the Scriptures. These three ways are:

1. Vain Worship – Matthew 15;1-9

2. Ignorant Worship – Acts 17:22-31

3. True Worship – John 4:21-24

DISCUSSIONS:

1          VAIN WORSHIP:

a. Traditions of men (Idolatry (idol) worship: 1 Cor. 10:19-22; Deut. 18:9-14; 1 Cor. 12:1-3.

b. Unauthorised Doctrinal Acts of Worship: 2 John 7-11; Hebrews 6:1-6.

c. By adding or subtracting The Word of God: Rev. 22:18-19; Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6.

d. Worship of any but God – Luke 4:8. Remember Jesus ordeal with Satan temptation.

Compare what happened with the following men of God:

i. John v. Angel – Rev. 19:10; 22:6-9

ii. Paul and Barnabas – Acts 14:11-15

iii. Peter v. Cornelius – Acts 10:25-27. If these men of God and the Angel refused to be worship,     why should we not worship men, or any creature or any other god.

Note: Matt. 4:10; Exodus 20:3-5; 34:14; Acts c8:9-25; 19-:11-20.

e. Not believing in resurrection – 1 Cor. 15:12-19; Acts 28:8; Matt. 22:23-33.

f. Observing special days and seasons, abstaining from certain foods that have been authorised by God to be eaten – Colossians 2:16-23; Acts 10:9-15; Isaiah 1:10-17; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23-33.

2. IGNORANT WORSHIP:

a. Without understanding – Acts 17:22-31; Rom. 10:14; (Prov. 13:15; 21:16). Cornelius the Centuration feared and worship God in Ignorance until in answer to his prayers, God asked him to send for Peter for more education and understanding on what is in worshipping the true God. Acts 10:1-48.

b. Compare Paul’s statement in 1 Tim. 1:3-7. He acted and behaved the way he did out of ignorance until Jesus appeared to him and changed him. Note his words in verse 12. Note also Paul’s address to Athenians in Acts 17:2-32.

3. TRUE WORSHIP:

True worship must be in spirit and truth – John4:19-24. It must be in all good conscience – Acts 23:1; 24:16. Compare Luke 16:15 and Prov. 14:12, and judge yourself whether you have been worshipping God in spirit according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and in truth void of guilty conscience – because our true God searches the heart and knows them that actually worship Him in spirit and in truth. Note: John 4:24; Jeremiah7:10; Rev. 2:23

4. ACTS OF WORSHIP:

a. Preaching and Teaching as worship:

i. Go and Teach – Mark 16:15; Luke 16:16; Matthew 28:19-20.

ii. Ceased not to teach and preach – Acts 5:42

iii. Preach everywhere – Acts 8:4

iv. Preach Jesus – Acts 8;35; 2 Cor. 4:5

v. Preach the Gospel – 1 Cor. 15;1-4; Rom. 15;19; Gal. 1:8-9; 1 Cor. 9:16-18.

vi. Teach things Commanded – 1 Tim. 4:11.

vii. Teach the Doctrine of Christ – 1 Tim. 6:3.

b. Praying as Worship:

i. Jesus taught his disciples to pray – Matt. 6;5-15; Luke 11;1-4; 1 Cor. 14;15; Col. 3:17.

ii. Pray always and everywhere – 1 Thess 5:12-19; 1 Tim. 2:8; Luke 18:1

iii. Pray for all in authority – 1 Tim. 2:1-5.

c. Singing/Praises as Worship:

i. How to sing – 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18-21

ii. What to sing – Hymns of Praises – Matt. 26;30; Mark 14:26;

iii. Teach and admonish by singing – Col. 3:16-17.

iv. Sing and praise with the instrument – Psalm 149; 150.

Note: Moses worshipped God by singing after crossing the Red Sea as could be seen in Exodus 15:1-18. Miriam the choir-mistress song could also be seen in Exodus 15:20-21. David act of could all be summed and found in the Psalms book of the Bible.

d. Giving as Worship:

i. Self First – 2 Cor. 8:1-5; Matt. 6:33.

ii. Christians of old contributed – 1 Cor. 16:1-2.

iii. How to contribute and be blessed – 2 Cor. 9:6-9

iv. Contributing proves your love and commitment – 2 Cor. 9:13-15. Compare Abraham – Gen. 22:1-12; Abel – Gen. 4:4; Hebrews 4:4.

v. Our Tithes and substances – Mal. 3:8-10; Prov. 2:9-10; Luke 8:1-3.

e. The Lord’s Supper as Worship:

i. It is an institution and faith ordinance – Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22; Luke 22;7.

ii. Do not abuse it – 1 Cor. 11:17-22;

iii. Manner of Observing – 1 Cor. 11:23-24.

CONCLUSION:

A true child of God owes it as a duty to worship God and God alone and this must be in spirit and in truth. The Word of God should be the only basis for a Christian faith, since in it alone man found the commands and guidance as to the worship of God. Vain and ignorant worship deprives man of the entry to heaven and God’s presence. If heaven is your goal avoid vain and ignorant worship and make a bold decision now to worship God in spirit and in truth. See to it that you involve yourself in all the various acts of worship for your blessings.

MEMORY VERSE:

“God is a Spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit     and in truth” John 4:24.


Compiled by Revd Chukie MORSI