TOPIC — THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: GOODNESS AND FAITH [SUNDAY, 24TH DECEMBER 2017]

OPENING PRAYER:

Father increase my faith. Help me to bear the fruit of goodness also.

MEMORY VERSE: “For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” Ephesians 5:9.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Romans 15:13-14

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

INTRODUCTION:

Goodness and faith are part of the vital characteristics of the fruit of the Holy spirit. Goodness in man is not a mere passive quality, but deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and the following of all moral good. Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true ( Phil 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. These are the resulting character of someone who is allowing the Holy Spirit to develop his or her life.

TEXT REVIEW: Romans 15:13-14

i. Gal5:22 identify goodness and faith as component of the fruit of the spirit.

ii. The Bible passage of today points out that believers are full of goodness through the power of the holy spirit. Rom. 15:13b and14b.

iii. This passage only mentions goodness without further details and one may not have an in-depth knowledge of its meaning unless we read through some verses of the chapters.

iv. Apostle Paul identifies the fruit of goodness as exemplifies by the brethren hereto referred in this passage. He said, “I myself, am persuaded of you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness”. V.14

v. What are the emblem of this goodness?

i. To bear the emblems of the weak. ROM 15:1

ii. Pleasing one’s neighbour i.e make neighbour happy. To edify and strengthen him/ her spiritually.

iii. Bearing the reproach of others as Christ. Rom. 15:2

iv. Receiving/accepting one another from the heart as Christ received us. Rom. 15:7

v. Becoming a servant and a minister of the gospel to the gentiles. Rom. 15:9 and 16

vi. To bear the fruit of goodness with these emblems is to allow the holy spirit fill our hearts without the knowledge and faith in the Lord and His word. Rom. 15:14.

LESSON OUTLINES:

1. GOODNESS

2. FAITH (FAITHFULNESS)

GOODNESS

“Agathosume” in Greek means, uprightness of heart and life. It means goodness for the benefits of others.

i. Goodness is virtue and holiness in action.

ii. It is a desire to be a blessing to others.

iii. It is a moral characteristic of a spirit-filled person.

Other identities of goodness are:

i. Giving to the poor. James 1:27.

ii. Approaching a sinner in love with the aim of restoring him/her.

iii. Providing for one’s family wife, children and relatives.

iv. Visiting the sick.

v. Goodness may not be inborn. It is a gift of the spirit. James 1:17.

vi. The believers must allow the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of goodness in them to glorify God. Matt. 5:16

CLASS ACTIVITY 1:

Class members should share their experience (s) of goodness to others or recount instances of goodness they have demonstrated.

FAITH (FAITHFULNESS)

i. Faith is believing without seeing. Heb. 11:1

ii. Faithfulness is steadfastness, consistency and allegiance.

iii. Faith as the fruit of the spirit is interpreted as FAITHFULNESS. Gal. 5:22

iv. Faithfulness is absolute loyalty to God and His word.

v. The Bible gave examples of people of faith who were faithful to their callings:

a. Abel gave an acceptable offering to God. Heb.11:14, Gen 4:4

b. Enoch walked with God and was translated. Heb. 11:5

c. Noah built an ark that could float on water even when there had not been any rain. Heb. 11:7

d. Abraham and Sarah waited for 100 and 90 years respectively to receive the promise.Heb.11: 8-11

vi. Believers must be faithful to trust God even when circumstances does not encourage such act. 2Cor. 5:7

vii. Believers must be faithful to God in service at all times. Rev. 2:13

viii. Believers must be faithful in their services to humanity always. 1pet. 5:12.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2:

Members should discuss the proof of their faithfulness to God. Giving example where possible to encourage one another.

SUMMARY:

Believers must yield the fruit of goodness and faithfulness to God and fellow neighbors.

CONCLUSION:

We do not become a Christian on our own, and we can not grow on our own. Phil 2:13. Every good thing we do by faith is the fruit of the spirit’s work in our life.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Father let me affect my generation with goodness and be faithful to you to the end.

ASSIGNMENT:

Identify 5 areas to show goodness to your neighbours and 5 areas you can be faithful to God.

Topic — The Home: An Institution For Child Training (3)

Dear Reader,

In previous teachings, we saw the home as the first institution for child training and positive examples as the tool for raising great children. The teaching this week shall focus on an interesting subject titled: God’s Command to Teach.

From the beginning, God instructed parents to teach their children. Addressing the ancient Israelites, God said: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

This kind of teaching requires much more than once-a-week session at Church services. It must be a regular practice; all week long, so that it becomes a lifestyle (Proverbs 22:6).

Abraham, called the friend of God in James 2:23, was well spoken of by God for teaching his children and household God’s ways. In Genesis 18:19 God said of Abraham: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgement; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

King Solomon understood that when we reach maturity, we reflect the training we have received as children (Proverbs 22:6). History clearly shows that when Israel neglected teaching and obeying God’s commands as they were told to do in Deuteronomy 6, they suffered tragic results.

Apostle Paul wrote: And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). This statement is simply a continuation of the same principle God gave the Israelites in the Old Testament.

Sometimes ago, I read a scripture that changed my perspective about child training: …A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother (Proverbs10:1). In other words, the son that is wise is the father’s, while the one that is foolish is the mother’s! That is why I told myself that I must be ready to accept responsibility, so that my children will not end up as fools.

In case you are a woman reading this article, you must rise up to the task and accept the responsibility of raising wise children. However, if you had your children before getting born again and they are thorns in your flesh, I want you to believe God for a miracle, for with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Today, we need to likewise teach our children God’s commands. These commands, when applied, provide a moral compass to guide their conduct for the rest of their lives.

How, then, can you effectively teach? Biblical passages on parenting show that God wants you to employ love, patience, dignity and respect in working with your children, just as He does with you. Love is the foundational principle for all Christian relationships (Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35). Paul said obeying the Ten Commandments expresses love toward God and your neighbours (Romans 13:9-10).

Just as God instructs because He loves you; you must likewise instruct your children if you love them (Hebrews 12:7). Loving your children includes discipline. Establishing fair rules and consequences for breaking those rules has been described as setting up boundaries. The purpose for boundaries is that children learn appropriate behaviour and feel secure.

Your attitude towards your children is, perhaps, the most important consideration in proper child upbringing. Your words and actions show your children whether or not you love them.

To effectively obey the commandment on child training, you need to identify with Christ, by being born again. To be born again means confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your personal Saviour and Lord. If you are set for this, please say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Raising Godly Children, Understanding Motherhood, Building A Successful Family and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

Topic: Paralyze The Prayers Of Coffin Sellers [Sunday, December 24, 2017]

Basic Scriptures: Isaiah 46;4; Revelation 4:1-11

Recent studies have shown that a moderate amount of exercise such as working 20 Kilometers per week may help to prevent weight gain and can promote weight loss in non-dieting individuals.

An eight month study involving 182 overweight men ad women, age 40-65 years, confirmed that there was a clear relationship between the mount of physical activities and amount of weight loss. The study further suggests that can be managed by a modest amount of exercise, such as walking for half an hour each day. The Holy Ghost emphasis again is on your living long on planet earth for God to use you.

Revelation 4:11b says: “…for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Note the words: “they are”. They stand for present and living beings. Then the word “were” stands for the original purpose of God before you were born. The summary of both is God wants you to get pleasure for your life while you are alive. God has no pleasure in the dead because He has more than enough dust to glorify Him. Does He need more dust to glorify Him? No! The untimely death of a believer is a loss in the Kingdom of God on planet earth. Do all you can to live long for God! Adding unnecessary weight is killing yourself slowly. Eating anything at anytime is giving the rope to hang you postponing your visit to the gym of postponing your times of physical exercises, is an invitation to coffin sellers.

As 2017 ends, pray against death before your time! Just walking about 20 kilometers per week can make you live a week longer on planet earth to terrorize the gates of hell. Satan knows that God cannot use a dead body and he will do all he can to accelerate your death. Uproot agents of death accidents, sickness, witches/wizards, armed robbers, assassinations, worry, anxiety, lack of enough exercises, etc. His promise is: “And even to your old age, I am he and eve to hoar hairs (gray hairs), will I carry you”- (Isaiah 46:4). Yes, one day in old age and hoar hairs gray hair) we shall die if Jesus tarries, but please refuse to die before your times! Peace!

Prayer Points: Take your best song of worship to God as led.

1. Thank God for the word and begin to uproot agent of death in this last few days of the year.

2. Ask for the grace to eat wisely. Cancel a satanic plan of making an ODM user a victim of premature death

3. I decree: Coffin manufacturers, I shall not be your candidate before my God-given time. Pray it seriously.

By Bishop (Dr) Chris E. Kwakpovwe (Cek)
Publisher/Writer Of ODM And

Rev (Mrs) Flora E. Kwakpovwe (Fek)
Co-Publisher/Writer Of ODM.

Topic: A Thrill of Hope— Sunday December 24, 2017.

Read: Luke 2:11–20, Bible in a Year: Habakkuk 1–3; Revelation 15

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

Reginald Fessenden had been working for years to achieve wireless radio communication. Other scientists found his ideas radical and unorthodox, and doubted he would succeed. But he claims that on December 24, 1906, he became the first person to ever play music over the radio.

Fessenden held a contract with a fruit company which had installed wireless systems on roughly a dozen boats to communicate about the harvesting and marketing of bananas. That Christmas Eve, Fessenden said that he told the wireless operators on board all ships to pay attention. At 9 o’clock they heard his voice.

He reportedly played a record of an operatic aria, and then he pulled out his violin, playing “O Holy Night” and singing the words to the last verse as he played. Finally, he offered Christmas greetings and read from Luke 2 the story of angels announcing the birth of a Savior to shepherds in Bethlehem.

Both the shepherds in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago and the sailors on board the United Fruit Company ships in 1906 heard an unexpected, surprising message of hope on a dark night. And God still speaks that same message of hope to us today. A Savior has been born for us—Christ the Lord! (Luke 2:11). We can join the choir of angels and believers through the ages who respond with “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (v. 14).

Prayer: God, we give You glory and thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior!

Without Christ there is no hope. Charles Spurgeon

Insight:

Luke’s telling of the birth of Christ is a study in contrasts. We are introduced to the Son of God in the weakness of an infant, while powerful world rulers play their part in moving the family to the city of David. The shepherds were likely guarding temple flocks that would supply the sacrificial system at Jerusalem’s temple. Yet though they were treated as unclean by the religionists of their day, they are invited into the presence of the ultimate Sacrifice. From the humble to the heavenly and everything in between, these contrasts launch the journey of the Son who came from the highest place to be the Lamb of God.

In what way does the coming of Jesus touch your heart? Bill Crowder

This message was written By Amy Peterson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: God And The Family — Sunday December 24, 2017.

Text: Ephesians 6:1-9

Key Verse: “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free” (Ephesians 6:8).

If society rests on the family, it follows without any shred of dissent that it is the aggregate of all those who make up the family. So society is the coming together of family units. Turn in God-fearing families in the society and you will have a godly nation, a god-loving community and god-honouring neighbourhood.

The incontrovertible conclusion therefore, is that to address the moral laxity in any society, man must set the rules of the game according to the terms and conditions of God who created the family. God presents these valuable guidelines through Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesian brethren. Children must obey and honour their parents.

There are two reasons: it is the right thing to do and also the first commandment that came with a promise that it would be well with such obedient children and that they would live long. Fathers and mothers are also solemnly enjoined not to provoke their children to anger. Rather, these young ones must be trained and counseled in the way of the Lord for the fulfillment of God’s word in Isaiah 54:13: “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Masters and servants are also captured in the picture of the blessed home under God’s watch. Both are to show reciprocal respect in the way they relate to each other.

The master, realizing he has a Master in heaven, must not threaten while the servant must offer service “as unto Christ”, with whom there is no “respect of persons”. The present world is bereft of these virtues and values because it has failed to bow to the laws of God which are grounded on the salvation brought by Jesus Christ. It is only when man, beginning with the constituents of the family, returns to His laws that we can enjoy peace in the society.

Thought for the day: Troubled man needs the comfort of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Bible Reading in one Year: Proverbs 9-11

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Topic: Preserved By The Prophetic Mantle [Sunday December 24, 2017]

Scripture: And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. Hosea 12:13

Thought For The Day: You need a higher mantle to tackle higher battles and mesmerize the devil.

A prophet is someone who speaks by Divine inspiration. A prophet, for the purpose of this study, is a servant of God who has spiritual jurisdiction over a person or a group of persons. Prophets carry prophetic mantles.

The prophetic mantle of a prophet is critical to the recovery of destiny. The preservation of your life and destiny is connected to the prophetic mantle over your life. Your prophet facilitates your preservation; your pastor enhances your protection; your father provides your cover; who fathers you determines who covers you. Inside the voice of your prophet or pastor is an instruction calculated for your deliverance. Naaman would have died a leper if not for the prophetic instruction from prophet Elisha (2 Kings 5:14)

Beloved, to be prophet-less is to be profitless; to be fatherless is to be futureless; to be pastor-less is to be pasture-less. Not to be under a prophetic mantle is to be exposed to unnecessary battles. You need a higher mantle to tackle higher battles and mesmerize the devil.

My counsel is, value the prophet God has placed over your life. Your sense of value determines the flow of virtue. What you do not value cannot profit you. Your prophet has a role to play in your preservation.

Today, by the prophetic mantle of God on my life, I prophesy your deliverance from the onslaughts of the enemy in this last month of the year, in Jesus’ Name.

Remember This: You need a higher mantle to tackle higher battles and mesmerize the devil.

Assignments:

1. Ask God to show you the prophet He has placed over your life.

2. Value your prophetic cover; never talk against the unction that is meant to cover you.

Prayer: O LORD, I connect to the prophetic mantle of protection and preservation upon my spiritual father. I refuse to be wasted before my time Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE GOD OUR DELIVERER

Quote: Your father determines your preservation; your Prophet determines your protection. Culled from 365 WISDOM CAPSULES by Dr Paul Enenche

Daily Reading: Zechariah 6:1 to 7:14, Revelation 15:1 to 8, Psalm 143:1 to 12, Proverbs 30:24 to 28

Amazing Fact: Horses cannot vomit.

Today In History: 24/12/1784: Methodist Episcopal Church in America founded.

Prophetic Parental Blessing: By the mandate of God upon my life, I pull you out of every cage the enemy has kept you or your loved ones. Every form of bondage around your life this season is broken, in Jesus’ Name.

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities.

Topic: Unto Us A Son Is Given — Sunday December 24, 2017.

“Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. – Isaiah 9:6

Welcome to that great time of the year that we remember the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The interesting thing about this period is that the whole world celebrates Him. Even those that claim not to believe Him celebrate Him. Have you noticed the fact that everything changes during this season including the weather? Beloved, there is no need to struggle with the exact day He was born – whether He was born on the 25th of December or any other day in the year is not material, the important thing is that His birth cannot be denied and because He became flesh, He took upon Himself humanity that He might confer upon us divinity, that is enough to celebrate.

Today, I challenge you to take out time to appreciate God for this wonderful sacrifice. Think of it, Jesus did not have to come; He did not have to die for you and indeed, even if you were the only sinner, He would still have come to pay the unique price for you. God loves you so much and gave you His all. What are you doing for Him?

Take stock of your Christian life and commitment. How have you fared? How many people have you shared the good news with? If Jesus were to come back today, will He say to you well done? Or will you look for where to hide because you have been hiding your Christianity? In this season, as we celebrate and take time out to visit friends, also look for an opportunity to win at least one soul. Spread the word. Let the world see Him in you and desire Him. Be the Bible the world is reading and I know that your life will never remain the same again.

Compliments of the season!

Further Reading: Isaiah 9: 1 – 7; Matthew 1: 18 – 25

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Habakkuk; Evening- Revelation 15

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

Topic: Good Success [Sunday December 24, 2017]

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt…have good success. – Joshua 1:8

Good success is a way of life that comes from being established in the Word of God. It comes from spending so much of your time and your thought life on the Word that it becomes what you and I could call “second nature.” It comes from hearing and obeying the Word so consistently that it begins to guide your actions even when you’re not consciously thinking about it.

When I started flying airplanes, I learned to train myself by getting the handbook for a certain airplane and reading it over and over again. In my mind’s eye, I’d visualize everything that could occur in that airplane. I trained myself by meditating on what I needed to do.

And that’s exactly what I started doing with the Word of God. I thought about it day and night. Before long, I started getting excited about what I was reading.

I’d sit at home and think about how I’d apply the Word in different situations. I’d see myself praying for the sick and having them recover. The Word became “second nature” to me.

Practice meditating on the Word that way. Let it become part of you. See yourself obeying it in every possible circumstance. It will guarantee you “good success.”

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: We Are Only Complete In Christ [Sunday December 24, 2017]

John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Recognition of our completeness in Christ is a tremendous safeguard against deception. Prior to salvation we are incomplete and constantly strive to satisfy our hunger. But through the new birth, we are complete in Christ and our hunger should only be for more revelation of what we already have in Christ. Total satisfaction with Christ disarms Satan’s lies. A big part of all temptation is dissatisfaction.

Adam and Eve would not have eaten of the forbidden fruit if they hadn’t been made dissatisfied with what they had. Through Satan’s lie they were led to believe that they didn’t have it all (Gen. 3:5). The truth is, they did have it all. They were more like God before they ate of the fruit than after they ate the fruit. Their dissatisfaction was a preliminary step to their action of sin.

Satan tempts us in the same way he came against Adam and Eve (2 Cor. 11:3).

Therefore, a full revelation of our completeness in Christ will keep us from chasing after all the things the devil has to offer. If anyone tells you that Christ isn’t enough; that you need something more, then that’s the devil trying to turn you away from your completeness in Christ.

In the same way that Jesus has the fullness of God in Him, we have the fullness of Christ in us. That makes us complete or perfect in Him – that is our spiritual man. Our born-again spirit is identical in righteousness, authority, and power to Christ’s spirit because our born-again spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9) which has been sent into our hearts crying “Abba Father” (Gal. 4:6).

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

Topic: Christmas Is Not a Myth [Sunday December 24, 2017]

When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth . . . his Son . . . — Galatians 4:4

Christmas is not a myth, not a tradition, not a dream. It is a glorious reality. It is a time of joy. Bethlehem’s manger crib became the link that bound a lost world to a loving God. From that manger came a Man who not only taught us a new way of life, but brought us into a new relationship with our Creator. Christmas means that God is interested in the affairs of people, that God loves us so much that He was willing to give His Son.

Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, as I remember Your birth in such a lowly stable, cleanse my heart that it might be a sanctified gift for You.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.