HARD TIMES HAVE ALREADY COMMENCED AND THERE IS NO PRAYER YOU CAN PRAY ABOUT IT AS IT IS PROPHETIC.
WHEN YOU BECOME A CHILD OF GOD, YOU BECOME ENTITLED TO INHERITANCE BUT WHEN YOU SERVE GOD, YOU BECOME ENTITLED TO REWARDS.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE DARKNESS, LOOK FORWARD TO THE GLORY.
SHILOH IS NOT A MAGICAL CENTER, IT IS A LEARNING CENTER.
DANIEL WAS KNOWN AS A SERVANT OF THE LIVING GOD: WHO DO THEY KNOW YOU TO BE?
SERVING GOD DOES NOT REDUCE PEOPLE, IT ADDS TO PEOPLE.
YOU DON’T PRAY YOUR WAY OUT OF HARD TIMES, YOU LEARN YOUR WAY OUT OF IT.
ONCE KNOWLEDGE IS SECURED, HARDSHIP IS TERMINATED.
THE devil IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR IGNORANCE TO AFFLICT YOU.
WHAT YOU LEARN TODAY BECOMES AN ASSET FOR YOUR TRIUMPH TOMORROW.
YOUR WALK WITH GOD IS WHAT GIVES VALUE TO YOUR WORK FOR HIM.
SERVING GOD WITHOUT LOVING HIM WILL WEARY YOU BUT LOVING HIM TO SERVE HIM WILL KEEP YOU ON ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE.
IN THE DAYS OF MY LITTLE BEGINNINGS, I WAS ALWAYS CHEERFUL.
OUR CHEERFULNESS ATTRACTS GOD WHILE OUR FROWNING ATTRACTS satan.
YOU CAN’T BE SAVING SOULS AND BECOME A VICTIM OF DESTRUCTION
YOU CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THOSE IN NEED AND END AS A NEEDY.
– Bishop David Abioye on “STEWARDSHIP SECURES EXEMPTION IN HARD TIMES” || SHILOH 2023 – Day 2 Hour of Visitation || REDEEMED TO FLOURISH IN HARD TIMES || First Word Session || Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota ||
We are reminded this morning that our theme for Shiloh 2023 is ‘Redeemed To Flourish in Hard Times.’ Hard Times have already commenced and there is no prayer anybody can pray against it because it is prophetic. Church Gist. You can not pray against prophecy but you can take a position as it applies to the fulfillment of the Prophecy in your life.
For instance, Isaiah 60:2 says ‘Darkness will cover the Earth and it will grow to gross darkness but (that’s a language – a word of exemption) the Lord shall arise upon you and the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon you.’
There is a clear demarcation, darkness on one side, glory on the other side. So don’t worry about the darkness, look forward to the glory. Church Gist. What did God say will happen to you? Say it again everybody! When you see darkness, what do you expect? Glory!
On this note, our teaching this Morning is captioned: ‘STEWARDSHIP SECURES EXEMPTION IN HARD TIMES.’
Addiction to serving God is our security in hard times. The harder it is, the more committed you should be. Our text is Malachi 3:16-18, 4:1-2…Now in Scriptures, fear sometimes is replaced by serve. So serving God commits God to you. Church Gist. You become God’s property and responsibility when you serve Him.
“In that day, when I make up my jewels (you become precious jewels before the Lord) and I will spare them, I will separate them, I will exempt them.” Serving God is key to your exemption…‘As a man spareth his own son that serveth him’ – there are sons that are not serving and there are sons that are serving.
When you become a child of God, you become entitled to inheritance but when you serve God, you become entitled to rewards. Church Gist. They are two different things. Inheritances are promises, rewards are covenants.
Promises may change but covenants can not change. Many children of God are claiming promises and to some extent, God answers promises but He is committed to rewards. Church Gist. He cannot change covenants so nobody can alter your rewards.
You pray for promises but you walk in the Covenant. Malachi 3:18. So the demarcation line is stewardship. What separates us, what distinguishes us is our commitment to serving God…and then, He went further to tell us how hard the times will be in Malachi 4:1-2. Amen.
– He shall arise for you!
– When they are sick, He will arise for you with healing in His wings and for you, you shall go forth!
Where will you go? ‘You will go back?’
– They will be going down, you will be going up!
– They will be going back, you will be going forward!
– They will be begging, you will be giving!
– They will be borrowing, you will be lending!
– They will be selling their houses, you will be buying them!
– They will be serving, you will be employing them!
So, that’s what God said about you in the Covenant and it shall not fail.
So the Subject we are looking at this Morning is about how to render services unto God and towards His Kingdom. I heard God’s Servant said yesterday: “you don’t pray your way out of hard times, you learn your way out of it.” You learn your way out because there is always a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Church Gist. There will always be a way out.
God’s people were troubled in 1 Chronicles 15:1-3 because there were no teaching priests. Until the Teaching Priests, the Teachers of the Word emerged, the suffering continued. There is always a way out. Church Gist. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” What you don’t know is what satan is using against you. Once knowledge is secured, hardship is terminated.
– As they go through this season of hard times, you will be riding on high! If that prayer is for someone, say a loud Amen!
From Scriptures, we discovered that all known servants of God in Scriptures enjoyed exemption in hard times. We will quickly look at examples because examples help us to understand, to comprehend and to line up with our expectations. Church Gist. We have come to Shiloh which is not a magical center but a learning center. Don’t come to Shiloh with the mind ‘oh, they will pray for me there and things will happen’. Come with the mind of to learn. Jesus said “come and learn of me and you will find rest to your souls.’ Come and learn of me!
Learning is key to taking our place at the top. What you learn today becomes an asset to you tomorrow for your triumph and I believe that as you receive this Lesson this Morning, God is going to change your position!
Look at Daniel for instance. In Daniel 6:20-22, he was exempted from destruction because of his commitment to service. He was known to be a servant of the living God. Who do they know you to be? Church Gist. We cannot change God’s ability but we can activate His ability. As we render our services to God, we are activating His ability to work in our favour.
– For everyone serving God truly, in hard times, God will shut the mouths of lions! They will be consuming others but they will refuse to touch you!
When Daniel entered the den, the lions came and smelled him and discovered he was a servant and they are not permitted to touch servants.
– The hardship of this time will not touch you!
– The hardship of this season will not touch you!
– Remember He said “a thousand shall fall by your side and ten thousand by your right side but they shall not come near you.
– Poverty will not come near you!
– Famine will not come near you!
– Begging will not come near you!
What do you say about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? Daniel 3:28. They were not consumed by fire. Servants are usually delivered – always delivered. Servants cannot be given as prey because God needs their service. Church Gist. Say with me “I will not serve any other god”.
Some people funnily say “only God knows those who serve Him.” No! It’s not true. If you are serving God, you will know. If you are truly serving God, you will know.
This young boy said “the God whom we serve.” Daniel 3:17. They were too sure they were serving Him. How can you be serving God and you will not know? If you don’t know, perhaps you are truly not serving Him and what more? Church Gist. If you are truly serving God, God will bear you witness.
Hear what God said concerning Job to the devil. Job 1:8. God is always proud of those who serve Him. “Have you seen my servant Job?” What is God saying about you? Church Gist. Does He know you as one serving Him? If you are truly serving God even men will testify. The King said: “Is your God whom you serve continually able to deliver you?”
So there are three levels of witnesses you have when you are serving God. Your personal witness, the witness of God and the witness of men including unbelievers. Perhaps, if they are not mocking you yet for serving God, you are yet to be serving Him and in the process of their mocking you, God will be making you!
– May you receive grace to serve Him more!
Look at 2 other examples quickly before we move on how to really engage in this Service.
The story of Hezekiah is another indication of a man who served God and was exempted from untimely death. These are the hard things that will be happening to men around our world today. In Isaiah 38:1-5, the Prophet, Isaiah came and said “Hezekiah, your time is up – you will die” and Hezekiah said “what do you mean?” He said: “you will not live, you will die” and Hezekiah turned his face to God and said “Lord, I must be exempted from this trouble”…and on what account? Church Gist. “I am your servant, I cannot die anyhow” and God said “Isaiah, we have to review the program. I know your words don’t fall to the ground but this time around we have to review it. Go back and tell him that “he will not die, I will add 15 more years to him.”
Serving God brings addition to your life. Serving God does not reduce people, it adds to people.
– For your service to the Lord which you are rendering day or night, while others are dying, you will be alive!
– While others are in trouble, you will be the one to be rescuing them in the precious name of Jesus Christ.
Again, you look at the story of Job. Even the devil testified of God’s covering around him. Job 1:9-10. You know, satan is a liar but that day, he told the truth.
When God blesses you overwhelmingly even your enemies will be testifying of it.
– That’s what God will do for you in these hard times!
– That’s what your God whom you serve will do for you in this hard time!
Addiction to serving God is security to our lives in this hard time.
– I declare by the power of God at work on this Altar, “you will not suffer what they suffer!”
“For you shall serve the Lord your God and He shall bless your bread and your water. He will take sickness away from you.” Those who serve God don’t pray against sickness because God said “I will take it away, I will take sickness away from the midst of thee” – that means from you, your family, immediate and extended…for serving Him. Exodus 23:25-28.
When you serve God, He takes over everything on your behalf comprehensively. He doesn’t allow you to weep when others are weeping. Church Gist. He doesn’t allow you to beg when they are begging. Those who serve God don’t beg God, they just enjoy God’s covering on every side.
Everybody please, lift up your hands – I decree that from today, what evil befalls them will jump over your house in the name of Jesus!
But we must come to a point of understanding that it is not enough to serve God but to serve Him acceptably. Hebrews 12:28. God is not anyhow God. Grace comes via knowledge. Church Gist. Acceptable service is what guarantees our exemption in hard times.
HOW DO YOU SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY?
1. You must serve Him lovingly.
Our services are accepted when it is built on our love for God. Deuteronomy 10:12, 11:13. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 shows to us that you can be serving God without loving Him. Church Gist. Serving God without loving Him will soon get you weary but loving Him to serve Him will keep you on all your life. Lovingly! Without love, our service has no value. Psalm 91:14.
So what God is looking for in you first is your love. Before He appointed Peter to serve, He said to Peter: “Do you love me?” John 21:15-17. Why is it so? Love for God brings you into relationship with God and relationship is what gives value to our services.
There are people who are serving God but God does not know them. Does He know you? Are you in a relationship with Him? Are you walking with Him in love? That is the only way your work can have value. What gives value to your work for God is your walk with Him. Church Gist. Hear what Hezekiah said in the Passage (Isaiah 38:3) we read earlier. He said: “I have walked before you in truth, in (a) sincere heart and I have done some work in your house – I have walked before you and I have worked for you.”
Love for God is what gives value to our services in His Kingdom and you know something about love? Love cannot be stopped. Church Gist. “What shall separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus?” There are people who when they don’t see material reward, they withdraw from serving God. But Paul said “nothing shall separate me from the love of God.” When you are serving God with love, you develop a spiritual umbilical cord which cannot be destroyed. Love for God! Songs of Solomon 8:6-7.
2. We must serve Him willingly.
Love for Him will make you look away from whether reward comes or not even though reward is certain. Willingness will make you ever eager and ready. There are believers you have to prop them to serve God but willingness makes you self motivated. You are willing, you are ready, you are eager. Isaiah 1:19. You can be obedient and not be willing. Church Gist. 2 Corinthians 8:12. When you are doing anything, the first thing God looks at is not your activeness but your willingness. 1 Corinthians 9:17.
3. We must serve Him dutifully or faithfully. That is, we must serve Him with a sense of commitment to Him. 1 Corinthians 4:2, Matthew 24:45-47. Church Gist. Stewardship demands that you are on duty committedly – doing what you are sent to do. Luke 19:13…staying on ‘on’ duty until the Master comes because it is at your point of duty that He brings His reward to you. Once you are off duty, you are off His covering, you are off His provision, you are off His exemption.
Say with me “I will stay on duty.”
4. We must serve Him cheerfully – delightsomely. Malach 3:14. Serving God mournfully baptizes you in mourning. Cheerfulness – it’s what gives you a place of exemption in this hard time. Serving Him to a point that people are wondering whether you are part of them in this World or not. Church Gist. Waking up in the morning cheerfully, serving in the various service units you are engaged in cheerfully, giving cheerfully, winning souls cheerfully, ever smiling, ever excited. That’s what God is looking for. “For God loves a cheerful servant.” He loves a cheerful servant.
Don’t you see that even in the physical, your frowning of face keeps people away from you? As a matter of fact, when you are coming, they dodge you because they don’t know your intention which will be expressed by your expression. Church Gist. Your cheerfulness is the expression of your intention to serve God. God is looking out for a cheerful servant. There are pastors who don’t smile when they are on the altar – face frowned to the extent that members will start discussing with themselves. “It’s like pastor has a problem, shall we pray for him? While service is on, they are interceding for the Pastor. Who should be the help to others? Serving Him cheerfully!
When I had only one pair of shoes, cheerfulness. One coat, cheerfulness. Sleeping on a bench, cheerfulness. 3 years after when I was sharing the Testimony, members said “no,no! I don’t think that happened to him” because when I appear, cheerfulness. “Good morning Church, everything is working, let’s give thanks to God.” Cheerfulness!
Without cheerfulness you cannot escape these hard times. Our cheerfulness attracts God, our frowning attracts satan because he is a sadist – he’s never happy about anything good happening. Church Gist. If you don’t want to be covered by the hardship they will suffer, you better change your position.
He said “in the World, there will be tribulations but you, be of good cheer because I have overcome the World for you.”
Check your neighbor’s face, is he smiling out there? Tell somebody around you “be cheerful.” Deuteronomy 28:47-48…because they are not excited about what I have given to them…you are in one room today – keep serving God. It will soon become a 2 room, it will soon become a duplex. I’m telling you of what has happened to us beginning with our father here. Perhaps we were lower than where you are right now that you are complaining about, serve Him cheerfully. Don’t serve Him as if He is punishing you. If it appears to be punishing, He is only polishing you.
– Very shortly, your world will see you shining!
5. Serve Him continually.
Did you hear what the King said about Daniel “is thy God whom you serve continually (not occasionally) able to deliver you?” And Daniel said well, “He is always on duty as long as I am on duty.” Galatians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:58…Don’t count how long you have been doing it. Some people say “I’ve been serving God for the last 20 years, nothing to show.” You have not seen what He is doing because you have closed your eyes.
Say with me “I know that my labour in Him is not in vain.”
– Very shortly, it will show!
6. Serve Him righteously.
Don’t add something else to your serving God. Don’t touch what you should not touch. Isaiah 52:11. Only sanctified services are acceptable to key your destiny for exemption in hard times.
– May we all receive grace to serve Him righteously!
Last night, in laying the foundation for this Prophetic Event, God’s Servant spoke extensively on that and I believe all of us are already thoroughly engrace to live a sanctified life in the precious name of Jesus!
There are several platforms for rendering our stewardship before the Lord which includes:
1. The altar of prayer and fasting for the Kingdom of God and its advancement, praying for souls to be saved and to be established, praying for the salvation of our neighbors, praying for our pastors and other ministers of the Gospel. Colossians 4:12 – Epaphras gave himself to prayer. Luke 2:37 – Anna gave herself to prayer and fasting.
2. Soul winning and establishment.
You can’t be saving souls and become a victim of destruction. Church Gist. As you rescue people from destruction, God rescues you from destruction and that’s why Jesus commanded us in all the 4 Gospels – “go,go! Go and win them! Go to the highways and hedges, compel them to come.” Mathew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 14:21-23, John 4:35-36. Go, go, go! That’s the commandment.
To all believers, don’t say “I don’t know how to preach,” just go! The first time I went to preach, I went with another co-believer. I waited for him to preach, I was cramming everything he was saying. Church Gist. I thought I succeeded in doing that, I told him “I will be the one to preach the next place we reach.” We got there, within one minute, all my message was over. But I thank God, no regrets. I started all the same.
Go and tell people what God has done for you. You cannot be rescuing people and become a victim of destruction.
– In this hard time, you shall not be destroyed with them.
3. We have the platform for diverse ways of giving beginning with our tithing and care for the needy. You cannot take care of those in need and end as a needy. It’s not possible!
I know as you engage all of these forces put together, God is going to establish you.
– In these hard times, they will be falling, you will be rising!
– When they fall, you will be the one raising them up!
God does not forget your labour of love. He will surely reward you when others are languishing in the precious name of Jesus.
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