Month: March 2024

1. UNDERSTANDING REJOICING

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice!

• To rejoice is to express a state of gladness, elation, and joy.
• It may manifest in diverse expression from smiling, bursting in laughter, singing, dancing, praising, adoring God, bowing before our maker and creator, celebrating the faithfulness of God- Acts of Apostles 3:8; Psalm 85:6; Zephania 3:14.
  • Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! – Zephania 3:14
• Rejoice surpasses materialistic happiness as children of God, it is subsume inside the joy that manifest in rejoicing- Psalm 97:12; Matt.5:12
• Rejoicing originates from heart and not mere verbal expression- Habakkuk 3:17-18; Isa. 29:13; Romans 12:12; II Cor.6:8

• WHAT MAKES REJOICING POSSIBLE

Having understood what rejoicing is, there are secrets that make it possible for children of God to be in state of rejoicing in God regardless of current/prevalent experiences:

1. Because we perfectly understand the workings of God in our lives- Ephesians 2:10; Jeremiah 29:11; Habakkuk 3:18-19; Romans 8:28; Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5
2. Because we have absolute confidence in the care of our God- Psalm 121:1-2; Psalm 23:4; John 10:28-29 Psalm 16:8; Isaiah 50:7
3. Because of His unfailing and constant love for us- Lam.3:2-23; Psalm 89:2 “Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.” 

Isaiah 50:7 (NIV): 7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me; I will not be disgraced. Therefore, have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

• CONSTANCY OF REJOICING IN GOD
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always.
• 2 Corinthians 6:10: as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things
• Philippians 3:1- Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

• HOW TO KEY IN TO LIFE OF REJOICING
• Understanding and walking with the working of Holy Spirit- Gal.5:16
• Remaining in the love of Christ- Psalm 48:24
• Obedience to the instruction of the Lord…….

• This new month, the Lord is leading us as expressed in His words Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Aim:

1. To understand that God is capable of satisfying our needs consistently.
2. To appreciate the different season are creation of the God Almighty and He control them (Gen. 1:14; Col.1:16-17).

1. EXPLORING THE GOD OF SUSTAINED SATISFACTION
2. God is very much interested in our survival, (Jeremiah 29:11) and He has put in place for us (His children) survival strategies (Isaiah 43:1-2) to weather through all the global storms, yet we shall come out strong and better- SATISFACTION.
3. God that gives us existence and sustains us- Everything will do as children of God should point to God, because through Him will exist and in Him we do all things- Acts 17:24-28
4. God gets time and season in His hands and are meant for our thriving and satisfaction- Daniel 2: 20-21a; Psalm 74:16-17; 145:16-17; Amos 5:8
5. God who does unfathomable wonders- Job 5:8-10
6. God who cares for the earth and His own round the year- Psalm 65:8-11; Matt.10:29-30
7. God of unbroken covenant- Gen 8:22; Jer. 33:20; Psalm 89:34

• EXPLORING THE TESTIMONY OF DIVINE SATISFACTION
• Testimony of God’s provision round the clock- Acts 14:16-18; Deut.11;12,14-15
• Testimony of God’s provision in due season – Lev. 26:4-5; Jer.5:24
• Testimony of sustenance in the wilderness- Neh. 9:20-21; Exodus 16:16-17
• Testimony of sustained supply- 1 Kings 7:8-16 (widow of Zarephath); 1 Kings 17:4-6; 7-9 (Elijah in the season of drought); Psalm 37:18-19

• EXPLORING THE ATTRIBUTE OF CONNECTING TO GOD’S PROVISION OF SATISFACTION

Only correct attitude can receive from God.

• Maintain the life of obedience to God and His instructions- Gen.8:15-18; 1 Kings 17:2,5;15; Gen 22:14
• Maintain the life of communion and communication with God- Gen.8:20
• Maintain the life of offering and sacrifice- Gen.8:20b-21; Luke 6:38; Prov.11:25-26; Gen.22:15-18

Conclusion

God who controls all seasons is able to satisfy everyone of us when we get to know Him more and more and we display right attribute towards receiving from Him.

To secure something is to keep, protect, preserve or guard it from being lost or threatened.

The Lord has promised and made available to us His guidance and satisfaction (Is. 58:11).

What He promised is not a momentary, seasonal, or time bound experience but a continuous day-to-day enjoyment.

But how are we going to continue to have and enjoy it, without losing it or having the fear of losing it?

THE LOSS OF DIVINE GUIDANCE

After moulding a molten calf and worshiping it at Mount Sinai, the Lord commanded Moses to carry the children of Israel to the promise land (Gen. 32:1-6, 34).

However, God said He would only send an angel to go before them but He Himself will not go with them (Exod. 33:2-3).

Sin is the greatest enemy that can make a person lose God’s divine guidance because the eyes of God cannot behold sin (Hab 1:13).

THE QUEST FOR A SECURED DIVINE GUIDANCE (MOSES’ REQUEST)

Moses knew that he could not go on this assignment alone and succeed so he asked for a suitable and able ally to partner with him.

We cannot succeed on our own, by our own wisdom, efforts, or technical knowhow. We need the helping hand of God.

God can only partner with you if what you’re doing is His will. He will not reward you for an assignment He didn’t commit to you.

To enjoy a secured divine guidance and satisfaction, you must have a personal relationship with God, with a desire to know Him more and more through His divine revelation.

ASSUARANCE OF SECURED GUIDANCE AND SATISFACTION

God responded to Moses’ request with a clear statement of assurance (Exod. 33:14).

The abiding presence of God guarantees a secured guidance and satisfaction. It makes the difference in all matters.

TWO DIMENSIONS OF GOD’S PRESENCE

1. God’s omnipresence.

God is present everywhere at all times and in equal magnitude (fullness of His presence).

David affirmed this in Ps. 139:7-8 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”

The New Testament believer carries the presence of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 28:15-16; Heb. 13:5).

2. God’s manifest presence.

Something that occurs in our lives as God chooses to reveal Himself.

▪︎Jacob at Bethel (Gen. 28:15-16)

▪︎Moses at the burning bush (Exod. 3:2-6). ▪︎Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan.3:24-25).

▪︎The disciples in the storm (Mk 4:39).

Do not allow the darkness of the right or the presence of the storm cause you to doubt whether God is present and working in your life as He promised.

The storm of life cannot deny His presence but provide opportunity to prove His promised presence (Is. 43:2; Dan. 3:24-25; Rom 8:28; Jer. 29:11.

CLOSING CHARGE

It is a great thing to take comfort in the promise of God’s presence but it is a greater thing to live and walk in His presence, by choosing to align ourselves with His plan, purpose and will for our lives (Jer. 29:11 ). This is what actually guarantees our continuous enjoyment of His divine guidance and satisfaction and we will have rest on all sides (Exod. 33:14b; Jos. 21:43-45).

The essence of the Christian life is to live all of life in the consciousness of God’s presence, under His authority, and for His glory.

▪︎Do you know God or you just know about God?

▪︎Have you had a personal encounter with Him?

▪︎Did you know the will of God for your life, job, career, business, marriage, family… and are you operating in that will?

▪︎Are you walking in the consciousness of God’s presence?

PRAYERS

▪︎I want to know you Lord. Reveal yourself to me everyday and teach me your ways in Jesus’ name.

▪︎Help me not to operate outside Your will in Jesus’ name.

▪︎Help me to always walk in the consciousness of your presence, not to depart from your presence in Jesus’ name.

▪︎Help me not to lose your guidance in Jesus’ name.

▪︎Satisfy me and give me rest on all sides in Jesus’ name.

INTRODUCTION

• Everything about our God is about the business of the kingdom-John 4:34; 6:
• Nothing can be understood about Him outside the principle of His kingdom- Matt.11:12.
• The desire of every child of God is to know more about how to seek God and things of His Kingdom-Phil.3:10; 4:8; Matt 6:33 Malachi 3:1-3 

1. THE PRIORITY OF SEEKING GOD

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.- Matthew 6:33

• Pressure of Life Vs Kingdom of God
• Priority placement- implies the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important than anything else- 1 Kings 17:13; Matthew 4:18-20 ; Ecccl.12:1.
• Personalised seeking- finding your own time seeking your God, the creator, the shepherd; the guidance, the revealer of all truth- Psalm 63:1
• Seeking with expectation: Psalm 5:3; Ecclesiastes 11:1; Prov. 23:18; 24:14 –
• Seeking Him all times- Mark 1:35; Psalm 5;3; Lam.3:22-23; Psalm 119;164-
• Seeking Him in the Spirit- This require the help of the Holy Spirit ( John 4:24; Romans 14:14; Phil.2:13)- ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.- Rom.8:14
• Seeking Him wholeheartedly- Jer.29:13; You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

• THE PRIORITY OF SEEKING GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
• Seeking in Holiness- Heb.12:14-16
• Seeking with a pure heart and soul- Psalm 24:1-2; 42:2 – seekers who belong to the generation of those who seek Him with purity of heart-, not callous heart or heart fill with filthiness.
• Be lovers of Righteousness- “…But He loves him who follows righteousness.” Proverbs 15:9; Psalm 1; Roman 14:17-18-

• THE PRIORITY OF GOD’S REWARD

….and all these things will be given to you as well.- Matthew 6:33

• This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live.” Amos 5:4;14
• Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. – Psalm 119:2; Psalm 34:10 ( good things)
• And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. – Heb.11:6; Mark 10:28-30 (multiple folds reward here and above)
• Strength, Joy and Provisions- Isaiah 35:10; 40:31; 55:1
• Discernment, Understanding, & Wisdom Comes to those who seek Him- 1 Cor.1:25; Prov.3:5-6; 28:5

INTRODUCTION

Our God is a covenant-making and covenant- Keeping God. He remains faithful to His promises even when His people fails to keep their own part of the covenant.

In our previous lessons, we have studied the Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic Covenants. Today we shall look at the New Covenant.

The New Covenant (Messianic Covenant).

This is an unconditional covenant in which God promised an enablement whereby His covenant people would have His law written upon their hearts (no longer on tables)and would finally fulfil their designated role as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to the rest of the world. See Jer. 31:31-34; Ezk. 36:26-28; 1Pt. 2:9-10.

▪︎While Moses was the mediator of the old covenant between God and His people, the nation of Israel, Christ is the Mediator of the new covenant between God and His people (believers), through His finished work of redemption. Check Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:15.

▪︎While the old covenant required obediance to speciflc stipulations, the new covenant requires faith in Christ, the perfectly obedient Son of Israel.

Meaning

▪︎The new covenant requires only faith in Christ. However, this faith itself is a gift given to all who trust in Christ as their Saviour.- Eph. 2:8-9. Consider Christ’s words in Jn. 6:44, 65 and Peter’s words to fellow believers in 2Pt. 1:1. God draws the sinner to Christ and gives the ability to believe. See also Rom. 3:11 and Matt. 16:17.

▪︎Through faith, Christians have the privileges of peace with God (Rom. 5:1), eternal life (Jn. 3:15; Rom. 6:23), indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 3:16), and are been conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

▪︎Every Christian has a measure of faith gifted him at the point of salvation. It is not a one-time momentary experience but is meant to progress.

Reflection: 1. What do you understand by “the just shall live by his faith” in Hab. 2:4?

2. How can we increase our faith?

IMPLICATIONS OF GOD’S COVENANTS FOR HIS PEOPLE

1. Our ability to understand the Bible in particular and God’s dealings with humanity in general depends on how well we understand the biblical covenants.

2. Understanding the covenants help us understand God in terms of His character, His will, and His plan.

3. Each of the covenants can be associated with a particular attribute of God’s character.

▪︎Adamic Covenant: God is sovereign and man is His regent on earth (Gen.1:28; Ps. 8:6; 24:1; 72:8-11; Rev. 1:6; 5:10).

▪︎Noahic Covenant: God is loving and patient. (2Pt. 3:9).

▪︎Abrahamic Covenant: God is good/kind, the source of all blessings (Exd. 18:9; 2Sam. 9:3; Eph. 1:3).

▪︎Mosaic Covenant: God is righteous and the source of all righteous laws, judgements, statutes and decrees (Deut. 4:8; 32:4; Ps.119:137-138.

▪︎Davidic Covenant: God remains faithful to His covenants despite people’s unfaithfulness (2Tim. 2:13).

▪︎New Covenant: God is forgiving, merciful and eternally loving (Jer. 31:34; Matt. 9:2-6; Lk. 24:46-47; Eph. 4:32).

4. Everything that God does is based on covenant (Num. 23:19; Is. 55:11).

CONCLUSION

The Bible is a book of God’s covenants, and all the covenants point to Christ. Man cannot perfectly obey all the stipulations of the old covenant but Christ fulfilled the requirements of them all. Therefore, by faith in Christ alone, believers are deemed to have fulfilled the requirements of all the previous covenants and have been declared righteous (justified) before God. YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS! Believe this and tap into the grace of God to continue to live a righteous and progressive life in Christ, to the glory of God the Father. May the Lord help us so to do in Jesus’ name.