-Pastor David Oyedepo Jnr at CHoP
*We must maintain fellowship with God to escape the destructive nature of sin.
*Our presence in fellowship is a preservative AGAINST SIN.
*No matter how strong your encounter with God might have been, without fellowship in the Church, it is just a matter of time before your life is lost to the decadence of sin.
*The job is not done with the harvest of the souls, the job continues to the establishment of the souls in Church.
*All through today, no evil tiding comes to you.
Our Father, this Morning, we have come to give glory unto You, for all You have done. Thank You for the testimonies we have heard, these are your doings and they are marvellous in our eyes, we give you all of the praises. Now, Lord, we have before You, our eyes are on You, speak to us by Your Word and let our lives be transformed. We give You all the praise and glory, in Jesus precious name we have prayed.
Our line of exhortation which we began yesterday is entitled:
WHY MUST WE BE COMMITTED TO INGATHERING OF SOULS INTO CHURCH?
It has been said when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable and what we began yesterday is to explore the reasons why we must be committed to seeing to the ingathering of souls into Church. We were reminded yesterday that we are not only called to bear fruits but to ensure that the fruits abide.
John 15:16
According to God’s Word, we are not only called to bear fruits, but we are called to ensure that the fruit remains. The question is why must these fruits be gathered in to the house of God where they are caused to remain.
This morning, we are going to look at this very important reason, that is:
FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF OUR NEW CONVERTS AND MEMBERS.
We must continue to be committed to the ingathering of souls into Church for the sanctification of our new converts and members.
Hebrews 3:13
Isolation is a pathway to destruction. He said, “exhort one another daily while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Our presence in fellowship is a preservative AGAINST SIN. If we are going to be insulated from the corruption that sin offers, then our presence in fellowship is non-negotiable. No matter the strength of encounter a man has had with God, if that man is not in the company of the people of God, it is a matter of time before such a life is lost to the decadence of sin. That is why fellowship becomes a vital requirement for anyone that is going to continue to live a life of sanctification. That is why that scriptures makes it very clear. He said, “exhort one another”, there must be an exchange, the warmth of fellowship, it must be present. He said, “do it daily while it is called today lest any of you, no matter how strong you think your encounter might have been, lest any of you be drawn back by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Sin is deceitful and sin is destructive, but for anyone to escape the destructive nature of sin, we must maintain our place in fellowship.
Let’s look at this in further details this morning. Looking at the fact that sanctification is a primary objective of fellowship, let’s take note of the following.
As you and I are in fellowship and as our converts are in fellowship, we see that the Lord begins to do the following:
He delivers them from all ungodly age-long habits.
Obadiah 1:17 – “upon Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance.”
There are habits that have kept many people bound. We have heard of converts that have come here who have been bound by alcoholism, bound by drug addiction, bound in certain immoral lifestyle, but as they upon Zion, there is the breaking of the siege that is upon their lives because Zion is the place of deliverance. They are brought into God’s House, so they can be delivered from all Age-long habits, all ungodly age-long habits.
Hebrews 10:25
The standard of God will never come down. We must ensure that they are brought to where they can be helped to maintain the standard of God and that is the purpose of them being brought into fellowship, being brought into the house of God, so that the things that are keeping them tied, keeping them bound can be broken.
-I see every age-long ungodly Habit in the life of all of our new converts being broken in the name of Jesus.
The Church is the cleansing centre of God’s people. The Word of God declares in the Book of John chapter 15 verse 3, “you are clean by the word I have spoken unto you.”
John 17:17
The Word of God is an instrument of sanctification.
Ephesians 5:25-26
The Word of God is the water of purification and it is in Zion that the Word of God s released continually upon the lives of the people of God.
Psalm 73:17
It is when they are in God’s house that the light beckons upon them. I recall the testimony of one of us who said he was bound in alcoholism. He was brought to Church and then entered into WOFBI. According to him, the taste for alcohol died.
How? The Word of God
Why? because he was at the centre of cleansing. The Word came and cleansed him, he didn’t have the taste for it. It just instantly died.
I remember a number of years ago, there was a man who was addicted to alcohol so critically that according to them, the medical examiner said concerning him that if he stops suddenly, he would die because his body would go into shock. Even in the treatment, they used alcohol to treat him. As far as they were concerned, he could not be weaned off alcohol again, it had become too late. All they were going to do was to manage how much, but as far as alcohol is concerned, his body required it, until he entered into the house of God.
Then suddenly, the dependence on alcohol died, because the house of God is the centre of cleansing.
There are things that the effort of man cannot deliver and that is when you discover that the Word of God comes into play to re-culture the nature of the person. Don’t forget the Bible makes us to understand that the Word of God is a carrier of the nature of God. So as people come into the house of God and they encounter God’s Word, there is a reconfiguration of their nature. The things that they could not do naturally, they are re-programmed by the Word of God to be able to do it. The things they could not be free from naturally, they are re-programmed by the Word of God to be free from it.
The Church is the cleansing centre for God’s people.
In conclusion this morning, we must recognise that sanctification is a requirement for taking delivery of our inheritance in Christ. They come to Church so they can be sanctified and that sanctification is what qualifies them for their inheritance with God.
Acts 20:32
The sanctification of the saints is the qualification for their inheritance. Church Gist. Until there is sanctification, the inheritance of these individuals will be deprived of them. That is why it becomes so important that we see to their establishment so that their testimony of sanctification can provide for them the qualification to take delivery of their inheritance in Christ.
Acts 26:18
The inheritance in Christ is for the sanctified and that sanctification is enhanced by their ‘planted-ness’ in the House of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
If there is something promised to us, an inheritance for us, it requires that we cleanse ourselves and that is why we must ensure that they are brought to the centre of cleansing, so they can be qualified to take delivery of the provisions of the Kingdom for them. I will like us to understand therefore, that the job is not done with the harvest of the souls, the job continues to the establishment of the souls.
Paul said, “I labour fervently. I am doing it passionately, I am doing it in a travail, until Christ is formed in them.”
So the task is not concluded because they are saved, the task is not even concluded because they attended the Church service, the task continues until they are established in the faith.
-May each one of us this morning, receive grace to conclude the task in order to receive the fulness of our rewards in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayers: Lord, I receive your grace this morning to finish the assignment, to finish the task. I can see now that it is not enough to have them saved, they must be planted in the house of the Lord, I receive grace this morning.
Receive that grace today!!!
Pray from the depth of your heart: Lord, I receive the grace in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank You mighty God. In Jesus precious name we have prayed.
For you, that grace shall be made manifest in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every convert that God has given to you, in the just concluded season, they shall be established in the faith. They shall be planted in the Church in the name of Jesus Christ and the full reward of your labour shall be delivered into your hand, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So shall it be.
Another day is here, another opportunity, speak to the day and make your decrees and declarations concerning the day:
SPEAK TO THE DAY
Whatever you declare, God will deliver but speak to it, make your declaration. Church Gist. Make your declaration in faith. Make your declaration with confidence. Speak to the day right now.
Lord, this day is declared as a blessed day:
A productive day.
A testimony loaded day.
A day of visitation.
A day of transformation.
Thank You Father, in Jesus precious name we have prayed.
-As you go forth today, the day is opened up for blessings.
-All through the day, no evil tiding comes to you.
-It is a day of favour.
-A day of divine speed.
-A day of results in the name of Jesus Christ. So shall it be, in Jesus precious name. Amen and Amen. It is done.
#PastorDavidOyedepoJnr
#CHoP3August2021
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CHoP is an acronym for Covenant Hour of Prayer
