How time flies, today is another Mother’s Day – a day especially dedicated to celebrate our mothers.  All over the world mothers are given special prominence for the role they play as builders.  Here in VLBC, we are today celebrating our mothers.

The role of women cannot be overemphasized.  Mothers are the agent of growth, fruitfulness and multiplication.  Mothers are teachers, role models and agents of change.  In Proverbs 31:1, the mother of King Lemuel taught him the words of wisdom.  Read from verse 2 and you will discover that the words are full of wisdom from a devoted mother.  I want to use this medium to encourage our mothers to take their place in God’s program.  The times are hard, the economic crunch is hitting hard.  We have devoted and committed our lives unto Him.  No matter the situation, my God will see us through.  Shout for Joy!

M – Model of Children’s Character, Proverbs 22:6

O – Obedience, Titus 2:1-5

T – Trustworthy, Proverbs 3:5

H – Homebuilders, Proverbs 14:1

E – Economic Manager, Proverbs 31:14

R – Reliable Pillar of Strength, Proverbs 14:1

Last week we mentioned that there are many types of prayers.  This week we will discuss prayers of adoration and confession.  First of all, our prayers ought to be about worshipping God the Almighty. Prayers of adoration and confession are distinct from prayers of thanksgiving and supplication.  God is worthy of our undiluted praise even if He never gave us anything but life. Notice that when Jesus taught His disciples to pray that the first sentence out of his mouth was praise for the Heavenly Father, “Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. . . ” When David set to build the Lord’s House, he blessed God forever and exalted Him before the congregation with a prayer of adoration saying, “ Thine, O Lord is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” (Matthew 6:9 and 1 Chronicles 29:10-13).

     Prayers of confession ask God to forgive us for our sins because we know that human sin blocks our spiritual union with God. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray for forgiveness, He also taught them to ask God for help in forgiving others who committed trespasses against them.  God’s will is not for any man to be separated from Him because He created all. God said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  Daniel’s prayer of confession to God for His people was “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments . . .” (Matthew 6:12, 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Daniel 9:5).

     When children of God pray, we need to make it a habit to pray for others also.  That’s what Jesus taught his disciples to do and that’s what God told us to do.

Two weeks ago we promised to discuss the importance of prayer in terms of it bringing us peace and protection of God.  When we are at what we think is our wit’s end, the bible tells us to turn all our anxieties over to God and He will give us peace of mind. In Philippians 4:6-7 the bible says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

     Prayer also protects us because we have the Almighty God on our side. The bible tells us that we need God on our side because “. . . the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (See 2 Corinthians 4:10).  It also tells us to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36).

     Let’s look at some of Jesus’ prayers of protection for his disciples and how He taught them to pray for protection.  Jesus prayed to His Father for the disciples saying “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (John 17:15). Jesus taught His disciples to pray “. . . lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. . .”  (Matthew 6:13).

     There are many other types of prayer but we should pray according to God’s will knowing that He is the Supreme and Almighty God and He knows what is best for us. We should develop a habit to live in a constant attitude of prayer and live each our daily life experiences with a constant, close connection to the Lord; where we are drawn into His presence through everything we do and think about. “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Happy Easter! Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The word “Easter” is derived from “Eastre,” the name of the Pagan goddess of spring and fertility. Easter is observed on the Eastern Hemisphere according to the date of the Passover Festival, an important feast in the Jewish calendar which is celebrated for 8 days.  To some people, Passover commemorates the flight and freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. To others it commemorates the arrival of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.  Scholars believe that the first Easter celebrations have roots in the Passover Holiday and is likely a form of commemorating the coming of the Messiah.  The early Christians, including Jesus’ disciples, many of whom were of Jewish origin and brought up in the Hebrew tradition, regarded Easter as a feature of the Passover Festival.

In the Western Hemisphere, Easter is a “movable” feast which can occur as early as March 22 or as late as April 25, on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox (March 21).  Easter occurs at the end of the Lenten season, a 46-day period of penitence in preparation for Easter that begins on Ash Wednesday. The last week of lent is considered a Holy Week that begins with the observance of Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday represents Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem where the crowds laid palms at his feet.  Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, which was held the evening before the Crucifixion. Friday in the Holy Week is the anniversary of the Crucifixion, the day that Christ was crucified and died on the cross. Holy Week and the Lenten season end with Easter Sunday, the day of the resurrection of Jesus. The Easter bunny and Easter eggs are both symbols of fertility and Easter eggs are usually painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and are given as gifts.  

Regardless of how Easter is celebrated throughout the world, the central Christian belief is that it represents a story of persecution and rebirth. Most Christians believe that Jesus was executed by crucifixion, His body was removed from the cross and buried in a guarded cave.  Jesus rose again in three days, therefore defeated death, and appeared to his disciples several times before ascending into heaven.

This is the resurrection message Jesus left for us today.  Romans 4:25 tells us that Jesus was put to death for our trespasses and He was raised for our justification. It must be understood that Jesus being “raised” – is evidence that through His righteousness He can redeem Himself from death to life; therefore He can also redeem the entire world (those who repent for their sins) from death to life.  Romans 5:18 tells us that Jesus’ judgment of death was condemnation for all men, so His resurrection to life is the justification that brings life to all men. Romans 6:9-11 teaches us that since Jesus was raised from the dead, he cannot die again and that death no longer has mastery over him.  In this same way, Christians must count themselves dead to sin but alive to Jesus Christ.” Christians unlike sinners, no longer have to live under the dominion of death or the power of sin. This is the power of resurrection that Jesus gives to Christians – and it lives on today.     

Simply speaking – 1) prayer is important; 2) it draws us closer to God;

3) it is powerful; 4) it brings peace; and 5) it protects us. We will discuss the first three reasons today with scriptural references and numbers 4-5 next week.

     God’s word instructs believers to make prayer a high priority because He wants to hear from His children. (Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; and . . .supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. Colossians 4:2 and 1 Timothy 2:1).

     We should not regard prayer as a duty but rather as a privilege to been joyed. When we pray we should worship God, confess our sins and bring our request to God and wait and listen for Him to speak. In short, we enter deeply and directly into a relationship with God. Through communion with God, our hearts and minds will be changed to be more like God and we will grow to know His perfect will for our lives. (And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God;  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Romans 12:2 and 1 Corinthians 3:18).

      God not only hears our prayers but He acts on them to bring about changes in us and our circumstances as well as the people we pray for and our surrounding world. (Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asketh receiveth – and he that seeketh findeth – and to him that knocketh it shall be opened; And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive; What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them;  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you; . . .whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you; the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much; and  if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.Matthew 7:7-8, Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 15:7, 16, James 5:15-16, 1 John 3:21-22).

Although you may receive another opportunity as is set before you; the first one cannot be regained, as seen in 2 Kings 4:1-8. Therefore, wake up  and take action, there is a saying that “A stitch in time saves nine.”  Everyday you wake up is the day to take action, therefore, glorify God for that opportunity and do something with it, use it wisely.  This is because time waits for no one. 

Come before God with a pure heart – our Lord likes purity. Mary had a purified heart and got a visitation from the angel. How is your heart before God? Is it chaste and virgin? Luke 1:26 states that Mary received a visitation from the angel of God who ushered into her life’s good news. Therefore, allow your heart to become a virgin unto God, meaning, give a pure heart to God. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it worried.

Do not let your heart be destroyed by anger, pride or wickedness, but be separated unto God and let him find you and see what He brings to your future. To get to your tomorrow, heaven will not bypass you; it is what you show forth. People who appreciate divine timing are usually connected to destiny. The Psalmist said, “I will wait upon the Lord,” it is not about men, and it is about God. It is not how beautiful a place is but how beautiful you make it to be. God’s grace does not finish, You come in your own lane, accomplishing at your own time and doing what it is God wants you to accomplish. Therefore, don’t feel worried or upset thinking someone is in front of you. We all come differently to accomplish different purposes on earth. That is why we are of different races, sizes and proportions.

Remember, a humble heart will cry “Abba Father”. This is what the Lord wants. Some will not like you for your successes and abilities, but God will be on your side as He was on David’s side. David was a man quick to bow; hence he was chosen above Saul who never once asked for forgiveness. Grace will locate a pure heart, therefore, let your heart be pure before God, count your blessings, name them one by one, it will really surprise you what the Lord has done.

Be full of gratitude to the Lord and see what the Lord does to those who appreciate him. There is hope for a tree cut down, for the Lord brings it back to life.  Remember, the Christ in you is the hope of glory. Allow Him to do His exploits through you.

No one gets to the top by mistake also, luck is not a factor to life. God does not deal with people in terms of luck. Result comes by what you do or did not do. It is a step by step action the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful.  It is the type of actions and routines you have taken. The successful man holds on to his routine. The average man visits the routine once in a while, but the unsuccessful cannot keep or live with a routine in their lives.

To succeed, you have to fight battles. Each battle is for only a season and you have the power to handle each season. God helps you stand when you make an effort to stand for He adds his grace to your effort. A man who does not succeed can still rise up and not perish in battles of life especially if he is doing it God’s way which brings you victory. There are three types of battles you need to fight to get to your destiny. There is no point running away from battles as the only way to your destiny is through your battles. There is a saying that he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.

To do exploits in life you must fight the battle within yourself. These have to do with your thoughts for a as a man thinketh, so is he. Your attitude brings victory if your heart it is right and your mind has to be right with God and with yourself. Pride goes before the fall, let it go, the bible says there are three things the Lord hate’s and cannot tolerate, the first is the proud look, a lying tongue, and a foot that hurry up to do evil.  We must try to avoid these things.

A very crucial battle is that of ANGER. The bible says that it is a negative emotion, it is cruel and destructive. We want to make it to our promise land, Moses saw his promised land from afar because of anger. You will get to your promised land in Jesus name. Therefore, fight and conquer anger because it lives in the bosom of a fool. Unforgiveness is another battle to fight for.  Mark 11-24:26 insist that a mortal man must forgive as the Lord’s Prayer says, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” You have to battles around you which can stop you from reaching your exploits. You are daily surrounded by challenges of life but always know that the battle you fight is God’s battle. Psalm 78:9 says, that you must fight on your own day of battle. This is because battles propel you to your destiny, therefore, stay quiet and do your own business, work with your own hands and you will not lack. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12.

There is also a battle of the Saints, concerning things that have to do with the children of God. A prayer of the Saints, especially if it has to do with two or three people, coming together in Jesus’ name and praying about thing that affect you negatively.  Be careful that such prayers are not against fellow children of God over personal reasons but may the Lord give you victory over those who come against you.  Do not stop praying for prayer is the master key and no one get’s there without prayer. For us to reach new levels, pray that the Lord will give you wisdom, knowledge, understanding and the virtue to handle this new level because every new level attracts its own battles. Therefore, prepare yourself and be positioned for exploits.     

Did you know that God is at work in this world and He wants you to join Him?  God wants everyone to have a ministry in the Body of Christ and a mission in the world. Your ministry assignment is your service to believers and your mission assignment is your service to unbelievers. I will talk about mission assignments today.

The word “mission” stems from a Latin word and means “sending.”  Christians should already know that our Great Commission to unbelievers is “to go out and make disciples of all men” (See Matthew 28:19-20). This command is mandatory, not optional – and we are disobedient to God if we fail to do so. Jesus clearly understood His life mission on earth when He said, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). Jesus also told us in John 20:21, “. . . as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”

Jesus’ mission becomes ours once we submit ourselves to Him and accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  We enter into the body of Christ and therefore become His spiritual body.  Completing our assigned mission on earth is important because God holds us responsible for unbelievers when we fail to witness to them when the Holy Spirit instructs us to do so. God tells us that when we fail to warn to people about their wicked ways, “. . . his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Ezekiel 3:18) It is an honor to be used by God and represent Him by sharing His grace, forgiveness, peace, love, goodness and essentially the greatest news on earth with others.  Our assigned mission to unbelievers has eternal significance and gives our lives meaning.  Paul said it best in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

We know that all things must end but only the Kingdom of God will last forever. That is why we must live our lives committed to worship, fellowship, spiritual growth, ministry and fulfilling the Great Commission on earth before the night falls – “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” – John 9:4.  Jesus wants us to concentrate on our mission assignment to spread the gospel to all nations because He wants to redeem all humankind from Satan and reconcile them to Himself before the night falls.