- You’ll never know the future of anyone you are ministering to.
- You’ll never know how far God can take that individual.
- Minister to everyone with the understanding that all souls are equal before God.
NO CHURCH GROWS WITHOUT A PEOPLE ON THE GO.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
-You shall be rewarded.
This scripture, among many others, makes it very clear that we serve a God of increase.
-Therefore, as you pursue God and the interest of His Kingdom all the days of your life, you will continue to enjoy increases.
Because we serve a God of increase, we must settle it in our hearts that stagnation in any area of life is not God’s will for you.
-Therefore, because you serve the God of increase where you are right now is the least place you will ever be.
There is a colourful and beautiful future ahead of you and you shall get there.
Say with me, “I serve the God of Increase”!!!
Before increases will come in any area of life:
There must be a ‘Planting.’
There must be a ‘Watering.’
The God of increase steps in after man has done the planting and man has done the watering. How does this apply to Church Growth and the subject we are looking at:
To see souls saved, we must have to go preaching the gospel to the lost. That can be likened to the planting…that can be likened to spiritual planting.
Mark 16:15-16
“Go ye into ALL the world” – how many places in the world? All.
Does that include where you live right now? Whether you are in Nigeria or any other nation of the world, all the world covers everywhere in the world.
“Preach the gospel” – to how many people? Every creature
Go to ALL the world, EVERY creature. All the world covers everywhere leaving out nothing.
Every creature covers everyone: yellow, green, black, young, old, educated, illiterate, professional, those who are in the marketplaces. Every creature, Jesus commands us, “Go and Preach the Gospel unto them.”
We’ve heard God’s servant tell us over and again, “all souls according to scriptures are equal.” So whether you are preaching to a school girl or a school boy or an M.D in an office or a market woman: before God and according to scriptures, all souls are equal and this is the command that Jesus gave us, “Go, Preach to every creature.” So whoever you have the opportunity to preach the gospel to, always remember that every soul is equal before God and when that soul comes to God, you’ll never know how far God can take that individual.
God’s servant has shared with us his own testimony several times, how his teacher preached the gospel to him while he was still in Secondary School. Now over 52 years! 52 years ago when that wonderful woman of God was preaching the gospel to him, I don’t think she would have ever known or expected that the school boy she was preaching to that time will become what God’s servant has become today.
You’ll never know the future of anyone you are ministering to. Minister to everyone you have the opportunity to with the understanding that all souls are equal before God.
Romans 10:14
Every opportunity you have, keep proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and that will give an ample opportunity to people to hand over their lives unto Jesus. By so doing, you are planting.
-Grace to continue to plant effectively, may God multiply it unto each of us today in Jesus mighty name.
Very importantly, we must fervently engage the altar of prayers and fasting to experience supernatural Church growth.
Remember we said, “we serve a God of increase but the increase will only come after the planting and the watering.” Preaching the gospel can be likened to spiritual planting while prayer and fasting can be likened to spiritual watering system. We must fervently engage this altar of prayer and fasting to experience supernatural Church growth. We are all familiar with that scripture, “this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21).
Church growth is warfare and we do warfare, among other things, on the altar of prayer and fasting (Matthew 16:18).
Every time you stand praying for the promotion of the Kingdom of God, what are you doing? You are engaged in spiritual warfare.
-You will never lose any battle any longer in Jesus name.
Remember the first testimony we heard this morning, that individual said, “he decided rather than travelling for vacation to go preach the gospel and then engage in prayers” (documented testimony). He did this fervently, God stepped in supernaturally and the promotion that ought not to have come, came speedily. God answered sharply!
-This season God will answer sharply for someone.
Please remember, fasting simply means to abstain from food for a spiritual purpose. Thank God, today we are waiting on the Lord in this Commission globally, you are abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose.
-That purpose shall find fulfillment in your life in Jesus name.
Very very importantly, let’s always remember that the stomach can be a very wonderful servant but a very terrible master. Remember Esau! (Hebrews 12:16)
-Your stomach shall not rule over you in Jesus name.
Let me hear a louder Amen or is it because today is Wednesday?
Touch your stomach, “Stomach, you shall not rule over me, you are my servant.”
Say it again, “My stomach, you are my servant”!!
It can be a very wonderful servant but a terrible master.
-Your stomach will not become your master.
So in case the thing (stomach) is trying to make noise by 12 noon, tell it and tap it, “stomach, you are not my master, you are my servant, so QUIET!”
Fervent prayers and fasting is the watering system. As you plant through soul winning and you water through prayers and fasting, do it, very importantly, dedicatedly.
It takes dedication to keep engaging without looking back.
-You will make it to the end.
It takes dedication to do it and engage in it without looking back. The second Testifier said it very clearly, “people were mocking but she kept going” (documented testimony). At the end of the day, God made her.
-God will make you. Your testimony shall be the next.
While we plant through soul winning; we water through prayers and fasting; thirdly we do it dedicatedly without looking back.
It is not a question of “I used to”, but I am in it and by the grace of God, I will continue in it.
-That shall be our testimony in Jesus name.
Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 16, “woe is me if I preach not the gospel.”
-You have started, you will continue.
-You have started, you will not fail.
-You have started, you will not give up.
-Grace for continuity and to do it dedicatedly, receive it in Jesus name.
Finally, always remember as you engage in planting through soul winning and in the spiritual watering system through prayer and fasting, the God of increase is watching, He is recording and definitely He will reward.
-My God will reward all your investments of planting and watering in His Kingdom in Jesus name.
-Before this season is over, just like we have been sharing the testimonies of others, your own testimony shall be the next.
Prayer: Receive grace to continue dedicatedly, to continue engaging without looking back until your reward reaches your hand.
Receive that grace from God especially on this day when we are waiting on Him. Grace for continuity, grace never to give up: receive it.
“Heavenly Father, I receive grace now for continuity without looking back, to keep planting, to keep watering until my reward comes. I thank You for it, in Jesus name.”
As you have declared it, so shall it be for you. Even on this day, as we wait on the Lord in this season, grace to do it dedicatedly, receive it afresh in Jesus name. Like we have heard the testimony of others this morning, yours also is decreed established. So shall it be in Jesus mighty name we’ve prayed.
Thank Him for releasing that grace afresh.
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