BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO WILL ALWAYS TELL US THAT EXPERIENCE IS NOT THE BEST TEACHER. IT IS EXAMPLE THAT IS THE BEST TEACHER.
THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM SHOWS US THAT TO BE STRONG IN FAITH IS TO GIVE GLORY IN ALL SITUATIONS.
IF YOU WANT YOUR FAITH TO BE STRONG, IT IS NOT TO TALK IN TONGUES OR TO SING IN TONGUES BUT TO GIVE HIM GLORY IN EVERY SITUATION YOU FIND YOURSELF.
-Dr Pastor John Izebere at CHoP
Our Father, this morning, we thank You for bringing us into Your presence and putting us before Your Word and Your holy presence. This morning speak to us. It is to You we have come for all the people gather early in the morning to hear you. Lord, we are here to hear You, speak to each one of us today and return us with joy and gladness. Take all the praise and glory, for in Jesus holy name we have prayed.
Again, this morning, I count it an awesome privilege given to me by God and His Servant to take us through the exhortation line for this morning. I trust that the grace of God at work here will be our strength this morning in Jesus name.
We are looking at our topic for the week:
UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF THANKSGIVING TOWARDS FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECIES
That simply tells us there is power in thanksgiving. God has loaded power in thanksgiving to make every prophecy come to reality.
1 Kings 8:15
Thanksgiving brings out the hand of God to work in our favour and we know that David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel, he was a ‘Praiser’. Church Gist, So if Solomon told us this, it means that the power inside thanksgiving is the hand of God at work in our favour. You want to see the hand of God at work in your favour, please key into thanksgiving, because thanksgiving is a covenant requirement to see the hand of God stretched forth to fulfill the prophetic Word. Thanksgiving is a requirement in the covenant if you must see God’s hand at work. The power inside thanksgiving is the outstretched hand of God to our favour.
-That shall be our testimony in the name of Jesus Christ.
No wonder, we are told in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 18, “in everything give thanks”, because in that everything, you will see the hand of God. It is the will of God for us who are in Christ Jesus. Everyone that says he or she is born again, that whatever situation you find yourselves, giving thanks is God’s will. Once you give God thanks, that will become a reality in our lives in the name of Jesus Christ.
Please note, as we try to conclude this year, there is no other thing to do than to give God thanks, because God is still in charge of your life and the situations around your life.
-As you do that, things will begin to happen for you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
A typical example of hopelessness. Your expectation looks disappointed, tension is building up. For most people, this time, they have considered that the year is over.
-But I have this good news for you: The year is not over. God is in charge of time. For you, this day, your story will take a better turn.
He said, “that may be the situation of somebody.” Although things are not working, everywhere you turn to, it looks dry physically…there is nothing around for you to cook, your children are around you.
Habakkuk 3:18 – That interjection helps us to appreciate that when we do this, it’s what God will turn around.
Habakkuk 3:19 – Simply put, the ability to rejoice in that situation that looks very, very unfavourable is God who is my strength. If I have God, then strength has come to me to rejoice. In rejoicing, God will begin to make my feet like hinds’ feet. It means as I rejoice and celebrate God in that situation, God prepares me for that high place. Church Gist. It is inside thanksgiving, you are prepared for your next and better place.
That is why it is in thanksgiving, the hand of God is stretched towards us.
My brethren, what God has loaded in thanksgiving, only eternity will reveal it to us. But it is for us now to take heed and flow through.
-Between now and December 31st, somebody will sing a new song, in the name of Jesus Christ.
As we rejoice in Him, we trust that His Word will come to pass in our lives, in the name of Jesus.
2 Peter 1:19
Every Word of scripture is a more sure Word of prophecy. Every Word, every single Word, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away but none of My Word will pass away” – Matthew 24:35
Every Word is a more sure Word of prophecy, that is God backs every Word with His integrity. He said, “we have it.” We have a more sure Word of prophecy at our disposal, that if we take heed to it, we will do well. It becomes a light in our lives that brings about the daystar to rise from our hearts. As we take heed to the scriptures, then the star in us begins to rise.
-In this season, somebody will yet sing a new song.
Isaiah 34:16 – That is, whatever you have seen from scriptures, God said, “I am backing it up to fulfill.” Whatever prophecy has come into our lives that has its origin in scriptures, it will also see the light of day. He said, “none shall fail.”
-Everything God has told you from January till date, that is yet to come, between now and the 31st, 8 days more, God will surprise you positively. None shall fail because God is backing it up with His integrity.
Zechariah 4:6 – Simply put, whatever it is that God is saying, every prophecy we have seen, the great revelation that God has given to you, by the Spirit of God, it will come to pass. So please rejoice because the season we are in is the greatest season to see the power of God at work in our lives.
We have seen from scriptures, examples of men, women that keyed into this and it is wisdom to follow through. Our father in the faith will always tell us that experience is not the best teacher, it is example that is the best teacher.
This morning we want to look at the example of Father Abraham.
Hebrews 6:12 – be not slothful, don’t be lazy
Everyone that has a testimony that you long after, follow him. Look to the steps he or she has taken and key in to the same thing, because God is not a respecter of person, because what He says to one, He says to all. When you do what one did that he saw results, you also do it, whether you are tall or short, fat or slim, native or foreign, God will also stretch His hand towards you.
“Be followers of them” and we saw how Abraham followed God.
Hebrews 6:13-14
After he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Hebrews 6:16 – Simply put, for men to believe you, they want you to have an oath, something to hold on. God knows that, “I need to create a confidence of man in Me, He swore by Himself.” If God has sworn by Himself for every Word of scriptures, my brothers and sisters, relax, because God knows what He is doing. We have a faithful Father, we have a loving Father that will not allow you to carry anything over into 2022.
-What He has said to you in 2021 will happen for you in 2021
So let’s celebrate Him. Abraham celebrated the prophetic Word and things turned around for him.
Genesis 12:1-4
At age 75, a promise like this came. Abraham was so ‘a dummy’ to follow God and today, we are all saying we are children of Abraham. Please note brethren, that every prophetic Word sent forth concerning us is sure to come to fulfillment. God told Abraham, he was going to have a son and he believed Him, Abraham today is the epitome of divine blessings. I hope we all know that when Jesus came, He came to give us salvation and connect us to the blessings of Abraham. Jesus did not bring any extra blessing than Abraham gave to us. He came to give us salvation so that we can have access to the blessings of Abraham – Genesis 3:13-14
There is no extra blessing that Jesus Christ brought, rather than salvation, keeping us in line to enter into the fullness of the blessings of Abraham.
-From this Service this morning, somebody’s story is taking a better turn, in the name of Jesus Christ.
As we wrap up this morning, Abraham was said to be strong in faith, as he was giving glory to God and that prophecy came to fulfillment. What a strength in faith.
Romans 4:19-21
When you are weak in faith, you consider the circumstance. Abraham was not weak in faith, so he did not consider that his body was dead: a 100 years old man, a 90 years old woman, still expectant of a baby.
Like our father would say, “both Abraham and Sarah, they were ‘deaded’.” Sarah had passed menopause, Abraham had passed papa-pause, yet God spoke forth. He was not weak in faith. So the antidote to all this, to know that when you are weak in faith is when you consider situations around you. When your eyes are around situations around you and that what helps you to take decisions, you are still weak in faith. But the contrary is this, he (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
The example of Abraham is telling us that to be strong in faith is to give glory in all situations. That is what God means. If you want your faith to be strong, it is not to talk in tongues or to sing in tongues but to give Him glory in every situation you find yourself. Even in this situation of today, please give God glory because God is still in charge of our destiny.
-He will do it for you.
-He will turn things around for you.
-In the name of Jesus, your story will take a better turn.
At the end, it shall speak – Habakkuk 2:3
-This end, it will speak for you.
-By thanksgiving at this end, your story will take a better turn.
Somebody that wants to have a better turn, rise up with me this morning. Lift up your voice to Heaven, let’s celebrate God together.
Prayers: Give Him praise. Show that you are not weak in faith, but you are strong in faith. Give God glory. Lift up your voice, celebrate Him this morning.
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