Nuggets For The New Year – The character of a light bearer.

As believers in Christ Jesus, we are light bearers. The bible admonishes that we become blameless and harmless children of God without fault. Even in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation we are expected to still shine as lights (Phil 2:15).
Jesus Christ was 100% man and 100% God. Phil 2:7 says Jesus came in the likeness of man, suggesting that Jesus was really a man not merely a man. His humanity was genuine yet His being was still divine.
Now the command is this – to be like – minded (have the same mind as Christ) – Phil 2:2.
What Character did Jesus Christ display that made Him shine as a light?
Nuggets
1. Unselfishness – Christ looked beyond His own interests for our sakes. He willingly laid aside His heavenly glory to come to earth and die.
We should be willing to look beyond our own interests for the sake of others. This applies to every relationship we may find ourselves, as husbands, wives, children, fathers, mothers, pastors, friends etc.

2. Humility – Christ did not affirm the fullness of Godliness by self – advancement. His exaltation is a consequence of Him humbling Himself.
Just as Christ’s humility received ultimate exaltation our call is to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift us up (James 4:10).
This helps us to rise to God’s highest purpose in each of us.

3. Obedience – In view of the obedience of Christ and His lordship we are expected to show a like obedience (Phil 2:12). Obedience to our call in life regardless of what the call is. From the pulpit to pew, as businessmen or preachers. Obedience is a key to breakthrough in the new year.

4. Unity – Being like – minded also suggests unity. Unity of purpose and disposition is important for advancement in any facets of life. Consider others more important than yourself. Diligently seek unity with other believers in your thoughts, attitude, love, spirit and purpose. Be concerned about the things that are important to others. (Phil 2:1-4).

5. Learn to control your thought life. Practice focusing your thoughts on things that are pure, lovely, and virtuous and praise worthy (Phil 4:8-9).

6. Forget the past and reach out for those things still ahead (Phil 3:12-14).

7. Believe with confidence that God will accomplish the good work He started in you (Phil 1:6).

8. Learn to be content in all circumstances. Contentment will bring great freedom to your life (Phil 4:1-12).

9. Believe that when God asks you to do something, He is able to provide the strength you need to do it (Phil 4:13).

10. Rejoice always and pray continuously. Consciously practice responding to various circumstances with joy and prayer instead of anxiety and worry (Phil 4: 4-7).

In conclusion, as the heavenly bodies shine forth in brightness against the blackness of the night so the lives of true Christians lighten the moral darkness of the world.
Please add to the list of nuggets for the New Year by clicking reply now. Have a delightful new year. Go and shine forth! God bless.

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Our Testimony.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death”.- Rev 12:11

Satan is the common enemy that believers have. He is determined to frustrate the lives of believers, to cause them to be in perpetual bondage and to eventually drag them into hell with him.
The bible refers to him as our adversary (1 Peter 5:8) and his primary goal is to kill, to steal and to destroy (John 10:10).

The good news is that we have already overcome satan. How have we overcome him ? By the BLOOD OF THE LAMB. We also continuously overcome and maintain our victory especially when he tries to attack again and again by the WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY.

The authority of the cross’ victory by the blood of the lamb and steadfastness to the promise and authority of God’s word is the key to our overcoming.
In other words, we overcome satan when we continually testify of the victory we have through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Through the blood of Jesus Christ:
– We have redemption (Eph 1:7).
– We have been sanctified (Heb 10:10).
– We have been justified (Rom 5:9)
– We are protected.
– We have life (Heb 9:14, Rom 6:23).
– We have constant intercession from Him who is our high priest (Heb 8:1).
– We have access to Him (Heb 4:16, Eph 3:12).

The benefits of this victory is for the committed believer. Those that have embraced Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. They are the ones who did not love their lives to the death, who are prepared to go to any length for Jesus Christ (Rev 12:11b).

As we come to the end of this year, let us look back into our lives, count our blessings and see the victory we have through the finished work of Christ despite several attacks from satan.

If you have never shared your testimony before, this is the year to share it. Look for someone to share your testimony with. Remember, this is your key to continous victory.

Please click reply to add to this blog and to share your testimony.
God bless you.

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Effective Ministry Of Reconciliation.

Reconciliation is re-establishing of cordial relations. It also means to settle, resolve or make peace.

Reconciliation is the process by which God and man are brought together again. As believers in Christ Jesus, we have been reconciled to God through the blood of His son Jesus.
God has also committed unto us, the assignment of reconciling people to Himself through Christ.

2 Cor 5 :18-19 says “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation”.

We are being charged to reconcile people to God by actively sharing the deliverance, peace and freedom we have received through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and leading them to Christ.

To effectively minister reconciliation:

1. We must learn it.
We learn reconciliation by living in the freedom that we already have through Christ. We are not to allow ourselves to be bond again by slavery through un-forgiveness.
God has refused to reckon our trespasses against us, in like-manner we must forgive anyone who offends us.

2. We must live it by our love for one another.
This is portrayed in our relationship with one another and by our inter dependence on one another for the work of God.

3. We must speak the word of God.
This is the key to reconciliation not our eloquence.
Heb 4: 12 says “For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”.

Speak or quote the word of God to unbelievers. His word is potent. It carries the power to penetrate through even, the hardest heart.

Do you know any other points to effective ministry of reconciliation?
Please share them on this blog by clicking reply now.

God bless you.

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Preparing For The New Year With A Thankful Heart.

Challenges, Oppression, trials in life are tools from the enemy to make us lose focus on the main reason for our existence.

Do you like me sometimes wonder why the armour bearers, pace setters are the ones faced with the most distabilising attacks?Attacks on marriages, finances, ministry etc being thrown by the enemy all in an attempt to make us lose focus.

As we approach the end of the year, we are alive to count our blessings despite all arrows thrown at us. For this, we should be thankful because He has provided a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13).

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of His love (Col 1:13). In this kingdom, we are in a place of “completeness” that is of spiritual adequacy, authority or ability to live victoriously over and above the invisible power of darkness.

So as we approach the new year as citizens of the heavenly kingdom (phil 3:20), let us not lose focus on our enabling power to go and: Preach good tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to the captives, open prison doors to those  who are bound, comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-3).

He is the Lord that crowns the year with goodness and He will do it in your life as we approach the end of the year (Ps 65:11).

I am thankful for you.

Please feel free to add your comments to this blog or share your testimony of 2012. Click reply to add your comments now!

 

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