- What makes a success is not what exactly you do
- But what you know about what you are doing.
- If I was selling firewood, I would be a huge Success.
- You can’t get on God’s payroll except you are an enlisted reaper, a reaping reaper.
- Not just a preaching reaper.
- No one here will miss the Prize for this year.
… There is no one like our God, ever faithful, ever sure, ever reliable, ever dependable. Celebrate Him, Magnify Him. Thank You Lord. In Jesus precious name we have given thanks.
Just one Word from Heaven can spark a new beginning in anyone’s life.
Prayer: Lord, speak to me this morning, I want to hear from you. Speak to me this morning, Jesus, I want to hear from You.
One Word from Heaven can stir a supernatural turnaround in anyone’s life. I want to hear from you this morning, Jesus speak to me.
In Jesus precious name we have prayed.
Concerning Jesus, it was said in prophecy, “he openeth my ear morning by morning” (Isaiah 50:4). God has news every morning. He said, “they are new every morning.”
May the news for today get across to you.
May the news of this morning turn you to another News Maker!!
In the precious name of Jesus Christ. Thank You Father.
ENGAGING BIBLICAL MENTALITY IN STEWARDSHIP
As a man thinks in his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Among other things, God’s Word is ordained for renewal of mind and until one’s mind is renewed, his life cannot be transformed.
Romans 12:1-2
“Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
The Bible is the will of God in print! And its mission is to renew our mind so as to transform our lives. It tells you how that God resists the proud and gives more grace to the humble. Church Gist.
When God stands on your way, how can you pass through?
That means the proud can’t have breakthroughs in life. So that tells you, “hey, I better come down. I better come down.”
It tells you “life and death are in the power of the tongue” and “don’t ever say to an angel it was an error. Why should God be angry with you and destroy the works of your hand” (Proverbs 18:21, Ecclesiastes 5:6). So the words of my mouth can destroy the works of my hands, oh my God, save my soul!
It is there to renew our mind so as to transform our lives. Remember as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).
Mentality is vital to fulfilling our glorious destiny. Mentality is vital, we must begin to think right, think the Truth so we can keep triumphing.
In stewardship therefore, we know that not everyone serving God gets rewarded because they are out of touch with the factors that guarantee rewards. For instance, “… that we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28). It has to be acceptable before it becomes rewardable.
But how do I keep going in stewardship? That’s what we have been trying to do here.
Among other things, we must possess a Runner’s mentality. Stewardship is not a religious activity. It holds amazing returns for those who understand what it is all about. Church Gist. We must possess a Runner’s mentality.
We understand that life is a race.
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Let us therefore run the race which is set before us, looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.”
There is a race, life is a race. The day one is born, the race begins and then he is made responsible for what obtains in that race from the age of 20 onwards. No one to blame. He has to take responsibility.
Life in the Kingdom is a race. We all know that you don’t walk on a track to win the race, you run. We also know that you can’t use another man to run a race and win the prize, you use your own leg. So a race demands personal engagement for anyone who desires to win the prize. It demands personal engagement!!
This is why every vision demands a run to be fulfilled.
Write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run Habakkuk 2:2
He may run. Vision does not mean, sleep in the night, hear something. I mean, it’s every truth revealed to you, run with it or it runs off. Every truth revealed to you, run with it or it is gone. Because the vision of all is as a Book that is written within and without (Isaiah 29:11). It is not just nicely written that can be erroneous a number of times. But the Truth is tried in fire 7 times. So every truth revealed to you, run with it.
You don’t drag to win a race, you run to win the race. Winning a race is no fun, it’s a task, ask any athlete. Winning a race is no fun, it’s a task. Ask any Olympic Gold Medallist. It is a task, an onerous task.
Sir, you don’t sit down to win a race. No one sitting down ever wins a race.
You don’t go forward sitting down, you go forward taking steps.
You don’t win a race taking steps, you win a race taking gallant steps.
When I found Matthew 6:33, I ‘picked race’: I am still running and He is still adding value.
When I caught a revelation of “Thou shall not borrow”, I ‘picked race’: first vowed against it and then began the journey that makes it real, that makes it a reality (Deuteronomy 15:6).
When I found out that “Those who know their God shall be strong and they shall do exploits”: that you don’t need to know anyone to scale any height in life (Daniel 11:32). You see how many testimonies we are having in this Church now where you don’t know nothing. That is members don’t know anybody, anywhere. Mouth-watering, palm sweating package.
You say, “Do you know them?” No.
Are they white, are they black? No.
Those who do know their God, they shall be strong and they shall do… I caught that 1981. I don’t need to know nobody to scale to scale any height in life. Just know Me, that is what He said.
You know what the Word says, “if you diligently hearken to my voice and you observe to do what I tell you to do, I will set you on high above all nations of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:1). Not that you will get somebody who will get you there: No. I, God will set you on high above all nations of the earth. I mean, it caught me by the throat. I knew it and so there was no reason looking anywhere else; those who look to the Sun don’t see the shadows.
There are many things God has revealed to you but you just…
“I mean, God told me about 5 years ago”: Okay, what have you done with it? Nothing.
Is there anybody here who does not know Matthew 6:33 in this Church? No. Whether in prayer or in song, any day, anywhere, you hear it.
Now how many are up to it?
How many are running with it?
You can’t win the prize that ‘all these things will be added unto you’, until you ‘pick race’ with a determination to win.
When I saw these things, now hear what I said, “if I were selling firewood, I will be a huge success”, because what makes a success is not what exactly you do but what you know about what you are doing.
“Whatever he doeth, he shall prosper” – Psalm 1:3
He is a teacher, palm oil seller: whatever he doeth.
He sells paper as a vendor : whatever he doeth, he shall prosper.
When I saw that people with whom I walk determines the future that awaits me, I became careful and I said, “hey, friendship is not by force, it is by choice.” Relationship either breaks you or makes you. Church Gist. Make your choice. Association is either a blessing or a curse, make your choice.
We need to be sensitive that we are in a race and every light shed on your heart, either in your private devotions, in your meditations is to say, “Hey, here is an opportunity for a change of story if you are interested.”
Every revelation is a knock on the door of your heart:
“Hello, I have this for you if you are interested.”
Response: No. I am, we are resting Amen. Glory to God.
But someone is getting… (illustrates running movement) and that is you.
- No treasure from Heaven that ever gets transmitted to you will be wasted again.
- No light from Heaven that is shed on your heart will be despised again.
Somebody was crying among our Leaders, among our Deaconesses in Kaduna and I said, “What about?” She said the way they are talking about you in town.
I said: what did they say I do.
She said: They said that you say you will be rich.
That I should please not say that again.
I laughed. It was a Service day, evening Service. I got there, “one of you was crying and I said what about?” She said, “I shouldn’t say I will be rich again.”
I said: Hey, listen. I’m not just going to be rich, I will be the richest. Amen. I’ve found what enriches people and I am doing it. So why should I say I will be poor? I have found it. 1986!
This Book tells you where you are going if you are interested.
1976, I saw that if you seek first the Kingdom, in all truth and righteousness, all these things that others are dying to get, I heard it from the mouth of Jesus, shall be added to you. I signed up to make it my new lifestyle in a covenant. Church Gist. 1976 till date, I have not regretted it once.
Are you ready to secure a great future that Redemption has offered you for free? And you will only get there by the Word, by running with the Word, running with the Truth.
You can’t get on God’s payroll Sir by any kind of prayer or fasting. You get on God’s payroll by getting on the harvest field.
He that reapeth only receiveth wages as he gathers fruit unto life eternal (John 4:36). These wages cover all your needs and my needs.
“When I sent you to the harvest field without purse or shoes, lack ye anything” – Luke 22:35
They said nothing. So it’s not just money, it covers all your needs and all my needs. You can’t get on that payroll except you are an enlisted reaper, a reaping reaper. Not just a preaching reaper. A reaping reaper.
James 5:4
Gos is saying, “I cannot keep back your hire when you are reaping my harvest field.” I can’t keep. If God reacts against those who keep back those who reap their fields, how will He now on the other side begin to hold back what belongs to you? Praise God.
To be on God’s payroll means when you are confronted, He shows up: Hey, paid for. Paid for!!
There is no hiding place sir! You can be an Apostle and be a pauper. There are Apostles who are paupers. They have Apostolic seal on their heads but they are paupers because what prospers people, they won’t do it. Now, many don’t know it. Those who know it… Brother David is just lucky… And they are poorer by the day and begging members of their Church to survive.
There are Pastors of yesterday, in the same Church that are just flowing in affluence and helping people in the same place.
Life is a race, it answers only to committed runners. Please run with every Truth revealed to you.
We are all now in a race of ‘who is on the Lord’s side?’ and these are the fruits of being on the Lord’s side.
How hard are you running to be listed among the Prize Winners in this ongoing race?
Each one will determine that.
But it takes discipline, dedication and sacrifice to emerge a Winner in any race
1 Corinthians 9:24-26
The same demand for discipline
“I therefore so run” – Diligence
“So fight I” – Sacrifice, it must happen.
This race must be won, I must win the prize here. That’s the way it works. I must win a prize here.
It takes determination, discipline, dedication, sacrifice to emerge a Winner in the race of life. You don’t sit down to win a race, you don’t lift up your hand; half asleep and half awake, “Oh Lord, my God when I am in awesome wonder”: you will just be wondering instead of running. It won’t work.
Now between now and Sunday, anybody can turn out to be anything and anything can turn for anybody else if he chooses to. Church Gist. The interesting thing about God is that He never forces His way into any man’s life. He knocks, you say No, He passes on. He knocks, No: He passes on (Revelation 3:20).
- His goodness will not pass you this year.
How many want to win the Prize this year?
- You are winning the prize of this supernatural turnaround race.
- You are winning it this year.
- You must win it this year.
- You must be listed among the Winners this year.
- Something supernatural must turn in your life.
- Something must turn supernaturally in your life.
- Something must change in your life.
Prayer: Receive grace for the Runner’s mentality in your stewardship.
In Jesus name.
I told a friend of mine, years ago when we stepped into full time Ministry, I said, “hey my friend, you know why we are going full time? So we can go full length.” And I vowed that no one doing it halfway will match me in the race. I mean it will be foolhardy if I’m spending 24 hours, you are spending 8 hours and then you are now beating me! That must be a dummy.
Did I have anybody in mind? No. I am just telling you how determined I was to be listed among the Winners, I am still trying to win.
So I won’t sleep the time they sleep. Are you checking when they sleep? No. I just know I can’t sleep until when I finish the assignment for the day.
- Somebody’s life is changing here.
Now you can’t run with my leg ohhh, I would have helped you. You will need your leg to run. I can only teach you how to run, you will now put your leg on the track.
I can only teach you how to wrestle but I can’t wrestle for you. The day of the match, you and the man will go and dace yourself.
I can teach you how to box if I am a Boxer but I can’t box for you when the contest comes. I can tell you to be boxing the bag when you are practicing, not boxing me. Then when it is time, you will know know whether you are boxing the bag correctly or not. You and him will face yourself. If he tears your mouth, go and amend it and come back again.
But there is no way to win a race without another man’s leg.
There is no Boxer who becomes a champion with another man’s fist.
There is no wrestler who uses another man’s muscles to win a wrestling contest.
So wake up, you must win. - You must win!
- No one here will miss the Prize for this year.
- The award for this Operation ‘Who is on the Lord’s Side?’, you must win your own.
Give Him thanks.
Next Sunday is Easter Sunday. Give the Lord a big hand of praise. We are going to witness resurrection wonders.
- The veils cast on the hearts of people shall be torn apart.
- Your access to the holiest of all will declared open.
- You will gain access to the Manna in the golden pot.
- You will gain access to the tables of the covenant.
- You will never get stranded again after this Easter.
-The Lord will deliver you to you the mystery of resurrection and you will never be shut up in any grave anymore.
So please joyfully invite people: we have the Easter Special Service Fliers, make them available. You have some testimonies behind it, understand the testimonies and share them with others: Jesus is coming to re-enact His resurrection power in the midst of His people.
SPEAK TO THE DAY:
Speak to this day, it is a great day. It is a public holiday, so everybody has all the time to make the most of the day in their stewardship with a determination to win the race, stay determined.
In Jesus precious name we have prayed.
Youth Alive Conference continues this morning and the time is 8 am. It’s a whole day today, so get excited and please be part of it. It is going to be a life transforming… It started yesterday, it is going to be a life transforming experience.
Every session of the Word is an opportunity for a change of story. Be there and be part of it. That happens in all of our area centres and it all began yesterday. Endeavour to be there, all our youths and Jesus will be there to meet with you.
Give God thanks. Would you spread your hands towards these fliers and ask the breath of the Holy Ghost to go with them again today and then lead to convictions and massive conversions. And massive ingathering of souls into Church this coming Sunday.
Now stretch forth your hand and speak that Word, “Holy Ghost, breathe upon these materials and turn them to effective sickles of harvest, to the glory and praise of your name.” In Jesus precious name. Amen.
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