GIVE GOD THANKS ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE (with Pastor Femi Oladapo)

It is very easy to give thanks to God when all is well. Psalm 103:1-6, but extremely difficult when in sorrow. Psalm 120:1, "In my distress I cried unto the Lord....” There’s always a brain call when anyone is in distress, sickness, accident, debt, crisis, chaos, etc. when anything bad is happening, people begin to call on God, ‘Oh, please God, I promise, I’ll be a better person this time. Oh lord, if you can just provide good health for me right now, I’ll serve you till I die. Some don’t even involve themselves in anything like praising God, only petition. Petition in the morning, mid-morning, afternoon, evening, night, and in the mid-night, you’re eating, instead of giving thanks for the food you’re still thinking, God provide a better food. Let there be meat; beef, snail, chicken, fish; fresh and smoked. Amen. However, the Bible commands us to give thanks in all things, 1Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"

 

The Bible is right because God's word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89. The word of God cannot be faulted for it is the truth, John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." What you give gratitude about is what you get mostly. You must understand that by default you’re either giving been grateful to God or you’re been ungrateful. If you think you’re not complaining, you’re already complaining, and been ungrateful, and what will you get? Things that’ll make you more ungrateful. But when you sing his language, ‘Halleluyah’, you get even more blessings that’ll make you continue your halleluyah. Two major reasons why you and I should give thanks to God even in times of trouble are;

 

1. God is our place of security and safety. All else may forsake you in trouble but God will not. All else may collapse, but God won’t. Psalm 46:1-5, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. No matter how the earth turns, the mountain shakes or water roars or trouble, God is in the midst of her. He is unshakable, unmovable, and unchangeable. Anything He says stand, Psalm 33:9 "For He spake, and it was done, He commanded, and it stood fast.

 

2. God is watching your reaction to that problem before He reacts, James 4:8, 1 Samuel 2:2 "Talk no more so exceeding proudly, let not arrogance come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed" Galatians 6:7 Your reaction matters, i.e. what you do to answer your troubles. There are two reactions basically aligned to human emotions.

 

a. Murmuring and complaining: This is the opposite of thanksgiving and it is a sin to God. Yet this is what many Christians do in time of trouble. It is the expression of unhappiness, dissatisfaction or discontent. Christians are full of complaining of either someone or something. It has become the way of life for many. Please not that all complaining and murmuring is a sin against God and He is displeased with it. Numbers 17:1. Murmuring and complaining has been detestable habit since time immemorial in our earthly world talkless of when it comes to God. Murmuring and complaining is a wrong act and must be avoided at all cost. Why?

 

1. It denies God's sovereignty, Genesis 17:1, Deuteronomy 32:39-40 "See now that I even I, am He and there is no god with me; I kill, and I make alive, I wound, and I heal, neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand; for I lift up my hand to heaven and say, I live forever"

 

2. It is an expression of unbelief. Proverb .24:10 "If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small" Romans 8:28

 

3. It robs you of your blessings and denies you of operating in your destinies. Israelites, Numbers 14:21-22, Moses and Aaron, Numbers 20:12.

 

4. It discredits your testimony, Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without murmuring and disputing; that Ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom Ye shine as lights in the world"

 

b. Praise and thanksgiving; This is the best meal God require because;

 

1. It shows that we realize and acknowledge that God knows what's best for us, the problems we face notwithstanding. Job 23:10 "But He knoweth the way that I take, when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold"

 

2. It shows a strong faith in God. Philippians 4:13

 

3. It preserves and multiplies your blessings/destinies, Job 42:10, 12:1 Samuel 2:21

 

4. Believers who praise and give thanks to God never focus on their problems but on God.

 

Little wonder they are always victorious. Habakkuk 3:17-19 No doubt, each of us has been blessed in numerous ways. The more we think about how we have been blessed, the more we will be thankful. Praise and giving thanks to God are the best solution to complaining and murmuring. Therefore when you are passing through any problem it's the best time to praise God and He will show up in that trouble. All trouble comes with its wrapping of blessing, and the only it can be turned into blessing is by giving thanks. Complaints will only blindfold you. David said in Psalm 146:1-2 "Praise Ye the Lord, Praise the Lord o my soul; while I live will I praise the Lord; I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being "What about you?

October thanksgiving (Who says you can't baraje for Jesus)

Halleluyah!!!

Some of September thanksgiving Pictures

PRAISE GOD FOR A BETTER SEASON HAS COME (with Pastor Femi Oladapo)

In the last nine months like King David, you were down, you were sick and you were in danger, but the Lord had lifted you up. He has healed you and kept you alive. Real-time statistics has shown more than 20, 000 people die in Africa every day. There’s been plane crash around, terrorism terrorizes everywhere, market pace is slowing down, economies are dying, the public sector are on strike, those who are not are threatening to, but still you have something to be thankful about. Still we Nigerians are celebrating our 53rd Independence anniversary. Here, in the presence of the Lord, we are dancing, rejoicing and glorifying His name. In Lamentations 3:22-23, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” No matter what might have happened to you in the last nine months. You might have wept throughout that period but now you must praise Him for your Joy cometh. Psalm 30:5. You might have gone through nights of sorrow, praise Him for your morning of Joy has come. Don’t make a mistake to assume that weeping has come to stay and joy is forever gone. Believe God and His word. Psalm 126:1-5, Isaiah 25:8. He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth, for the Lord hath spoken it. I know you have passed through some troubles and tough times. But like David, if you can extol God, a better season is here. Habakkuk 3:17-19.When you rejoice and praise God in your troubles, He will make your feet like hinds’ feet, and you will walk upon high places. God is not so worried about the circumstance of our life but He is concerned with how we respond to it. Job 1:21, 2 Kings 4:20-26, 35-36. If you can respond with worship and praise, God has all the power to change your situation for better. When trouble comes, the devil tries to get us to look at our flesh and give up. But God tries to get us to look at Him and praise up. Job 2:9-10. He has all power in His hand. He sees us now and has brought a better second half of the year. Provided you can trust, obey and praise Him you will laugh last. Job 13:15. “Though he slays me, yet will I trust in Him, but I will maintain mine own ways before Him” Job 23:10. “But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” Job 42:10. “And the LORD turned the captivity of job, when he prayed for his friends; also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ (with Fred Omoregie)

1 chronicles 4:9, 10, “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

This prayer is found in the book of 1^st Chronicles, it doesn’t seem to match into the rhythm of the passages, it was brief barely four lines but it is magical and pure manifestation of God’s ability to answer our prayers.

Who was Jabez? There’s no mention of him anywhere else in the scriptures, from the context, it does appear that it was from the tribe of Judah. There are theories as to who or where he came from but our purpose is to see the lesson we can learn from the passage.

First, consider, the attitude of Jabez. He was honourable why was he honourable than his brothers, we were not told, but it may have to do with the nature of his prayers. There are two characteristics that are needed for one to be honourable in prayer. One of them is being earnest, which means intense, zealous, sincere and determined. We are told that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much“(James 5:16). The second of these characteristics is humility. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, For He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). The earnest, fervent prayer that is prayed in true humility is honorable before God. Another aspect of the attitude of Jabez is that he directed his prayer to God. Because we are to worship the Lord our God and serve Him alone. Jesus taught us to address our prayers saying “Our father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 4:10, 6:9). To direct such a prayer to God demonstrates that one I trusting in Him and thus dependent on Him for everything.

Second, consider the characteristic of Jabez’s petition. He requested a personal blessing. To ask God’s blessing is to ask Him to bestow divine favour. There is nothing wrong in asking God to bless us specifically. The Psalmist did (Psalm 28:9). Jabez also asked God to enlarge his borders. These seem to relate to material prosperity. Thus it is scriptural for us to pray to God to bless us materially (Matthew 6:11). Then Jabez beseeched that God’s hand would be him; no doubt to provide protection and guidance. Should we not pray with the Psalmist, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are God of my salvation; on you, I will wait all day (Psalm 25:5).” Finally, Jabez expressed a petition that God would keep him from evil. Jesus also indicated that His disciples should pray for God’s preservation and deliverance as He taught them to say, “And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13)”

The reason why Jesus prayed thus was so that He might not be caused pain. One commentator expressed it this way. Let me not experience the grief which my name implies and which my sins would well produced. Another commentator phrased it thus “Grant that the grief implied in my name may not come upon me.” Finally, consider the response of God who granted him that which he requested. The Lord has promised us “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall find, Knock and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7,8).” God has said that He will hear and respond to the prayers of His people. Oh, He may not always give us what we ask for, when we ask for it, in exactly the same way that we asked.

But He is the source of every good and perfect gift. Therefore, we can trust Him to answer our prayers by providing what He knows best that we need in harmony with His will, Just as He did with the prayer of Jabez.

Therefore brethren, “make the prayer of Jabez for blessing a part of the daily fabric of your life. The prayer is simple, straight forward and it gained the favour and blessing of God.

THE KING'S BUSINESS (with Tomilola Kemi-Olaitan)

Not slothful in business but fervent in spirit serving the Lord, Romans 12:11. One of the names by which we believers are called is “sons of God” Romans 8:14, Philippians 2:15, John 1:12, 1 John 3:1, Lamentations 4:2 and Hosea 1:10. That is the name that we share with Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:5, Matthew 3:17).

So you and I are Sons of God. Actually, under the Old Testament one name that the collective nations of Israel were called is Sons of God (Exodus 4:22). Being a Son is a position of privilege, honour and power. Another name that we are called is servants of God (Psalm 116:16, Psalm 14:31, Psalm 119, 125). Jesus was also called servant (Matthew 12:18) even though He was earlier called a Son in Matthew 3:17 the same way Israel was called a Son in Exodus 4:22 and also a servant in Leviticus 25:55. So you and I are Sons of God and at the same time servants of God. Our position as servant is a position of duty. It is a position of obligation – Psalm 119:21. “We are all thy servants”

Thus, SOG does not only mean “Son of God.” It also means servant of God. Son-ship describes the position that helps us get things from God, while servant-hood describes the position that helps us give things to God, Sons receives, servant gives.

The God we serve is a great God. He is mighty and wonderful. He is both our Father and our Master. Malachi 1:6. The God we serve is a God who is at work all over the world even denominations that are not charismatic or Pentecostal. Proverbs 14:19.

Christians now have meetings in China, Iran and many other Countries that hitherto were considered non-Christian territories. However, God want us to join Him in His work, not only in the Church but also in the world. We need that vision. Our vision should not be tunneled, limited, or parochial. God want us to join Him in doing three things;

1.       He wants you to work for Him. Isaiah 6:8

2.       He wants you to work with Him. Mark 16:20

3.       He wants to work through you. Psalm 17:14, Jeremiah 5:1, Ezekiel 22:30.

If we are going to work with God in His business, God will have to do two things;

1.       Work on you and

2.       Work in you.

Without God working on you and in you the following things will happen;

a.        The volume (quantity) of work that will be done will not be good enough.

b.       The quality of the work that will be done will not be good enough.

c.        The rate at which the work will be done will be too slow.

d.       The impact of the work done will be too little.

The work of God does not begin through us. It actually begins in us and on us. The more you allow Him work in you and on you, the more He will eventually work through you.

If you see anybody God is working through, God has finished working in him and on him. Philippians 1:6. If you don’t allow God to work in you and on you, you will only be able to do very little for Him and He would also do very little for you and would also do very little through you. The more you allow Him to work in you and on you, the more you make it easier for Him to work through you. Philippians 2:13. What He wants is for His good pleasure to be done. Hebrew 13:12.

A DICHOTOMY OF RESTLESSNESS

I ended the last issue with David Oyedepo’s quote “Show me a lose youth in the Kingdom, and his star may never rise.” The age of the youth is an age of strength, when restlessness arises in the majority of the population. In a population of one hundred and twenty million (120,000,000) people with young people twenty-five years and below taking seventy percent (70%) you can see we are a nation bursting with energy and that is why Economist forecast India’s economy will be far stronger than China because of the population of their young ones who take over 70% compared to China’s policy of one child per family. So this age of restlessness, as a youth, what you use it to do doesn’t just affect your life but other people, and the Nation and the continent’s economy. Checking the Biblical history of restlessness, from Genesis 27:33-40. In verse 40; “And by the sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck (KJV).” In other versions of the Bible the word ‘dominion’ means ‘Restlessness’. ‘By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother, and it shall come to pass when you become restless that you shall break his yoke from your neck.’

Now, let’s go a bit further in Genesis 33:1, “And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men.” and a bit more in verse 9, “And Esau said, I have enough.” And just one more before we delve into this insightful teaching of restlessness. In Genesis 36:6, “And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.”

All Nigerian youths know the wealth-riches statistic of their country because it is obvious and glaring except those of course who were born rich. This means majority of youths are restless. Looking at the Biblical passage I have often wondered myself how come this guy, Esau was able to break that yoke and become a resounding success just like Jacob who got the blessing of wealth and prosperity when he got only the blessing of restlessness. From inception, Esau was a strong man. He hunts, kills and destroy. He is a muscle man just like Africans since we are a direct descendants (third world nations) of Esau. Jacob was a thinker always conserving what he has. If Esau saw a goat, he hunts it down and kills it, if Jacob saw the same goat he keeps it and nurtures it. Most probably he gets what he keeps from Esau like United States storing away petroleum sold them or exchanged by third world nations.

You must learn to cultivate as a youth, not spend all you make or all you’ve got. Don’t be a squanderer. Be a keeper. That’s the difference between first world nations and third world nations. And always ask question. The right question, the right question always breeds the right answer, insights and revelations. When Esau discovered there was nothing for him. He asked for just one blessing. Just one. And he got it even though it was a blessing-in-reverse, but at the time he doesn’t care less. I’ve met several youths on my life’s journey asking these questions about life. What life has in stock for them? How to become a success? I write the answer in just three simple steps.

1.       Be restless, hungry-filled and always ask question.

2.       Be a keeper. Save like it’s the last time you’d have the opportunity to.

3.       Never ever be satisfied with your achievement because you can always do more.

If you think you need more information, you can get the book “25 THINGS YOU MUST HAVE BEFORE AGE 25.”

Tobi Delly