- To make the most of any spiritual season, any spiritual instruction, any spiritual vision we must be ready to dive.
- The one that dives in and presses for the prize is sure to come out with testimonies.
Father, this morning, we have come with voice of gratitude to give glory unto You and to celebrate your faithfulness. Thank You Lord for the testimonies we have heard. No man can receive anything except if it is given to Him from above. Thank You because these testimonies have come from You. We give You all the praise. For the answers to our prayers, we say Thank You. Our eyes are upon You this morning, by your Word, let each one be transformed yet again. We give You the praise and the glory for it, in Jesus precious name we have prayed.
According to scriptures, we serve a God of times and seasons. The Bible says He makes all things beautiful in His time (Eccelesiastes 3:1, 11). That means that with God, every time is unique and every season carries specific purposes. It is plugging into the time and the purpose of the season that determines what each one is able to make out of life and destiny. From scriptures, we are made to understand that the midst of the year is a season by God as a season of revival and for us as a Commission, it is not only tagged the Midst of the Year, but we are engaged in an Operation, ‘Operation By All Means’, which God has ordained as our appointed weeks of harvest.
Jeremiah 5:25
That is because in the programme of God, He has ordained for us to experience dramatic change of story.
John 4:35-36
According to God’s Word, every commandment to labour in the season of harvest is a command that ushers us to experience a change of story. That is why God has ordained for us this Midst of the Year season, this Operation By All Means season will be for each one of us a season of dramatic change of story. But it is important to understand that every vision or instruction from the Lord is a race and it takes prompt response to win the prize.
Hebrews 12:1
Every vision or every instruction is a race and if we are going to win the race, then prompt response is a must.
1 Corinthians 9:24
Not all race runners are prize winners. There is a demand for promptness if we are going to command prizes in the race. That is why all through this week we are going to be looking at this line of exhortation that is captioned:
PROMPT RESPONSE COUNTS THE MOST IN OUR WALK WITH GOD.
We will take a few things quickly this morning and I believe that the Holy Spirit will grant us light as we do.
First of all, it is important to understand that every instruction demands a dive for maximum delivery!
John 5:2-7
We are told in Jerusalem there was a sheep market and the pool that was called Bethesda. The Bible says at a particular season, the Angel of the Lord came and troubled the waters and whosoever first stepped into the water was made whole of whatever plague that He had. It did not matter what the condition was, there was going to be a change of story as long as you were the one that dived in first. That picture is a description that can portray the validity of promptness when it comes to divine instruction. Every instruction from God just like that Pool of Bethesda demands a dive.
The Bible says there was a man at that pool that was there for 38 years and he said, “every time the water is stirred’, he said, “somebody else jumps in before me.” For 38 years, he was at the pool and never was able to get in first. I want you to understand that when you look at that scripture, it was not that he did not try to get to the pool, but he didn’t get there first. It was a race, he ran the race every year but he never got there first.
You see in our spiritual adventure; it is not how many times we participate but how many times we win the prize. Church Gist. That is what determines our change of level. If we are going to make the most of any spiritual season, any spiritual instruction, any spiritual vision we must be ready to dive. It takes a dive. Everyone that was around the pool had their own situation. Each one had their own circumstance; each one had their own challenge but each one was in the same race.
I want you to understand we are all in the same race: our situation may be different, our challenges may be different, the issues around us may be different but the race is the same. It is our duty to ensure that we dive in spite of the situation, that we dive in spite of the circumstances, that we dive in spite of the challenges because the one that dives in and presses for the prize is sure to come out with testimonies.
-Somebody here is coming out with a testimony.
Do you know what it is to see 38 seasons come and go and have nothing to show. Others were picking their miracles and going, but he still remained there. People came to meet him and left him there because he was not able to dive and win the prize. I will like you to understand therefore this morning that the responsibility is yours and mine.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
It is specific to the one that is diligent to pursuit the details of divine instruction. Every divine instruction requires a dive.
Say with me, “I will dive.” Say it louder, “I will dive.”
So it requires a dive for maximum delivery. Participation is not enough, a dive is required. I want you to understand that in the natural, when you talk about a dive, you are talking about giving yourself completely and instantly to a thing. When you see yourself standing at the edge of a pool that you want to dive into it, the moment he takes the dive, he has left where he is and there is only one place he can get to, that is into the pool. He has thrown his entire being into it. That is what it means to dive, it means to throw yourself instantly and completely. A dive is not a step in, a dive is a jump in. It means leaving the place of comfort and diving into the instruction. Throwing yourself wholehearted and completely without reservation into the instruction that God has given, that is what it means to take a dive. So it is not partially engaging, it is not conveniently engaging, it is wholeheartedly, completely giving yourself to the task that God has given to us.
It is that kind of dive that made Paul say, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”; I am giving myself to it (Philippians 1:21).
It is that dive that made Paul say in Galatians chapter 2 verse 20, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live.” I have given myself to it. That’s a dive.
-Today I pray that the same grace to dive in to this divine instruction, in this prophetic season, I pray that the grace comes upon each one of us. In the name of Jesus Christ.
Secondly, it is important to note that every instruction delivers the most with timely response as in the case of Abraham.
Genesis 12:1-4
By the time we get to Genesis chapter 22, we see the Lord speaking to Abraham, verses 1 to 5, He said, “take your son, the one that you love, go to the mountain and sacrifice him.” The Bible says Abraham arose early in the morning and verse 16 down to 18, God speaking in response to Abraham’s prompt obedience…”in blessing I will bless you, in multiplying I will multiply you.” God’s response was simply to pour a deluge of blessings in response to Abraham’s obedience.
He said, “I want to bless you, I want to make you an individual that all the families of the earth will be blessed through but there is a condition.” And that condition is that you will obey. The Bibles shows us that Abraham was prompt in obedience. God spoke to him in the night, early in the morning he arose.
Don’t delay or your prize will be denied. Don’t delay or your prize will be denied!
I like each one of us to recognise thereof, there is a prize in this race, we are not running for nothing.
There is a change of story available, we are not running for nothing.
There is a testimony obtainable, we are not running for nothing.
Each one of us must make sure we are prompt in response. Don’t wait, so you don’t waste.
Dive in and watch God turn your story around.
For somebody here, your story will be dramatically turned around in the name of Jesus Christ.
Prayers: Lord, I receive grace for timely response. I receive grace to dive into every instruction. I receive that grace this morning.
Lift your voice and take that grace from God. Let’s come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.
Lord, the grace for timely response, the grace for a dive into every divine instruction I receive it now.
No casual engagement anymore, no passive engagement anymore, no lukewarm engagement anymore. I receive grace for tireless engagement, I receive grace for timely engagement. I receive grace for prompt response to every divine instruction in the name of the Lord Jesus.
I receive that grace this morning, in the name of Jesus. I take that grace right now.
No more passive engagement, I receive it now.
No more partial engagement, I receive it now.
No more lukewarm engagement, I receive the grace for passionate, timely, prompt response to every divine instruction.
Thank You mighty God and blessed be your name. In Jesus precious name we have prayed.
As you have asked for grace, that grace shall begin speaking in your life. From this time onward, your response to God shall be prompt and as a result of that, the turnaround testimonies that are packaged for this season, you will see it practically manifested.
As you press to win the prize in this race, your supernatural turnaround, dramatic change of story shall be open for all to see. In Jesus precious name.
Another day is here, another opportunity, therefore speak to the day, make your decree and declaration concerning the day.
SPEAK TO IT RIGHT NOW:
A day of profitable engagement.
Thank You mighty God, in Jesus precious name we have prayed.
-As you have declared, so shall it be in Jesus name.
Let’s be reminded that we have our Morning and Evening Prayer Raid. For this week, it is 8 to 9 am and 5 to 6 pm.
Don’t forget also, we have our 3-day WOFBI session that is kicking off this morning, ‘Breaking Marital Siege.’ All concerned, ensure that you are there and the Lord bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. The registration takes place at WOFBI complex. Ensure you are there this morning and be blessed as you do in Jesus name.
Be blessed in all that you do today.
-The day is a day of testimonies for you in the name of Jesus. So shall it be.
#PastorDavidOyedepoJnr
#CHoP28June2021
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CHoP is an acronym of Covenant Hour of Prayer
