Minister’s Blessings 2. Let Us Return and Seek for God 3. Something still Remains

The Bible Calendar for 18th June 2024.

Deuteronomy   33

Hosea   4: 1–6: 3

Luke  18: 15–43.

1. Minister’s Blessings

2. Let Us Return and Seek for God

3. Something still Remains

1.  MINISTER’S BLESSINGS

There are many problems in the life of man that are caused by curses, curses from parents, curses from colleagues, curses from the same blood, and curses from ministers. Many ministers met curse on the Assembly, Parish, District, or Area where they were posted but instead of removing the curse, they added to it for one reason or another. Moses in this passage, blesses the people and reverses all the parental curses that have been placed on many of the tribes. Despite the problems given to him by these people to the detriment of his entry to Canaan land he blessed them. Studying his blessings, we can see how he reversed Jacob’s curses on Ruben one of the tribes, who his father said he would not excel. Moses declared life and multiplications and he blessed Judah with self-reliance and deliverance, to Levi, he was blessed with success in his ministry to mention just a few. Ministers and church members should learn from Moses, it is certain there could be problems at their new stations, some people will even tell them the matter as people told Elisha, but instead of working on such problem they will compound the problem, and instead of looking for a solution they will transfer it to the incoming minister. God brings each minister to refine the church from the position she is in; doing it as the former ministers may not move the church forward. Moses rounded off his Ministry with blessings of peace and he said ‘Peace be unto you Israel, you that have been saved by the hand of God. His parting blessing was like that of the father who loves his children, unlike Jacob who left blessings with a biased mind, not like David who told Solomon to behead Joab, but like that of Jesus parting blessings of peace to the church. Sendforth should be a time when Pastors will bless the church wholeheartedly not according to the gifts given. Some members will excuse themselves in such service but the parting blessings matter for it is also a way to settle one another’s error.

2.  LET US RETURN AND SEEK FOR GOD

God is merciful if we can return to Him, no matter how many our sins are, He will forgive us. This is the message of Prophet Hosea saying to the people of Israel, Judah, and Ephraim that they should return to their God, though He has injured them, He will heal them, He has smitten them yet He will bind their wounds. This is a message of hope to me and you as the church, despite our experiences and persecutions, sufferings and unrest, oppression, and intimidation,  we need to return to God and ask for the solution for it is time to demonstrate the healing power of Jesus Christ. Jesus was conscious of the future of the church and He laid His hand on the children and blessed them. The Psalmist says “Children are the heritage of God” and they need to seek God like the grown-up people. Someone said to leave the elders and concentrate on the children for the children are tomorrow’s church, so it is easy to train them than the elders. Jesus laid a hand on them and blessed them. Today many left the children’s church uncared for, while the adult church halls have good facilities. Some left their children at home to come to worship, meanwhile, the rules of conduct of the church commanded us to bring our children to the house of worship with us. Pharaoh told Moses to go out from Egypt leaving the children behind but Moses refused and he said we will go with our children to serve our God. Let there be adequate provision for the children to serve their God, most of the people committing atrocities in our society are those that were not groomed in the church.

3.  SOMETHING STILL REMAINS

Sometimes we think that we are sufficient and grown enough in the Christian race but knowing that something still remains. The Young Rich Ruler thought that he had done enough but Jesus said he was closer to the kingdom but only for him to give away his wealth to people. Jesus knew that many are serving God because they are rich and they want security to secure their wealth and if anything happens to reduce their wealth they will see God as a wicked personality. Only the perfect being will say nothing remains, in our character, in our services, and our journey to heaven as we can see that something remains. Sanctification is progressive and we cleanse ourselves every day in the blood of the lamb and we need to grow up spiritually. But many are living in their past glory, past testimonies, and past infilling of the Holy Spirit; and this is to tell us there is something remaining. God told Joshua that there was more land for you to acquire, those things done yesterday are not enough, work more; our work shall be rewarded in Jesus’ name. We need to pray daily to show us the remaining things and more things to do for God, making inquiries of what else to do so that it can move us to higher levels. The blind man in the passage made an inquiry about what happened,  he was told that Jesus was passing by, and he shouted so loud that no one could silence him, we also need to cry to our God in any situation and He will surely answer us. He did not miss his words but he said that I may see, and Jesus said, your faith heals you, and he was healed. I must say here, that not only the blind are blind but those who have no solution to their problems are likewise blind, those who continue managing insufficient income and find no way out are blind, likewise those who have been looking for a job for many years and have no employment and still idle are also blind because many opportunities are around us but until we ask, cry, and pray, the solution may not come; let us pray to God to open our eyes that we may see. Those things that remain to acquire, the next level that needs to be attained, a ministry that will promote the goodness of God, pray that God should reveal them to us in Jesus’ mighty name. The Young Rich Ruler wasted his opportunity, he was sad when the way to fulfillment was revealed to him, let us pray that we will embrace the order that will lift us up in Jesus’ name. Some people wanted to discourage the blind man from crying to Jesus, let us pray that the voice that may want to silence us be silent, and let those voices turn around to celebrate our fortune in Jesus’ name.

Pastor M. O. Shodipe.

For question: 08056044717