‘Do not embitter your children.’ Colossians 3:21 NIV
Another point of parental confusion is this:
4) Bitter versus better. What is bitterness? It is strong resentment or cynicism. How do parents create bitterness in their children? Consider the following triggers:
a) Inconsistency. This happens when you are autocratic and authoritarian one day and permissive the next. What brought a strong rebuke today brings a smile of leniency tomorrow. So, your child never knows what to expect.
b) Moodiness. Today you’re fun and enjoyable to be with; tomorrow you’re irritable and distant.
c) Unreasonableness. There is no room for discussion, no opportunity for children to explore their feelings. ‘Just do as I say because I say it!’ So, the kid is never given the chance to think through the reasoning process.
d) Abusive behaviour. It might be physical or emotional (withholding your love, the silent treatment, rejection). Or it might be verbal (yelling and using words that wound).
e) Failing to walk your talk – saying one thing but doing another! You profess certain beliefs but don’t practise them. You expect your kids to be respectful while you display disrespect to others. You expect honesty from your children, but they see you cheat and lie your way through life. Children are keen observers – they may not say anything, but not much that you do escapes their attention. They see your inconsistencies – when what you say doesn’t line up with what you do. All of these behaviours can make them resentful. ‘Do not embitter your children.’ Don’t set them up to become discouraged. ucb.cu.uk
Win souls. Disciple believers (Teach & Train in righteousness). SHINE!
Daniel 12:3 MSG ‘‘Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.”
Daniel 12:3 AMP “Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.”
‘The LORD…delights in those who tell the truth.’ Proverbs 12:22 NLT
Are you in a situation where lying seems to be the only viable solution? Unless you want to create a problem between God and yourself – don’t do it!
‘The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.’ When you lie, you hurt God, others, and yourself. ‘Dishonesty destroys treacherous people’ (Proverbs 11:3 NLT). Lying always comes with consequences because of the following:
1) God hears you. When you decide to pray, the last thing you will want to discuss with God is the first thing He will want to discuss with you; namely, your dishonesty!
2) It robs you of your confidence before God. The Bible says, ‘If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him’ (1 John 3:21-22 NLT).
3) You risk being exposed. Remember, ‘Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed’ (Proverbs 12:19 NLT).
When people discover you have lied, they lose respect for you, their trust level plummets, and a reputation that has taken years for you to build suffers a blow you may not recover from.
Paul writes: ‘Since you have heard about Jesus and…learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbours the truth, for we are all parts of the same body’ (Ephesians 4:21-25 NLT) ucb.co.uk
“Jesus gathered them all together and said to them, “Those recognized as rulers of the people and those who are in top leadership positions rule oppressively over their subjects, but this is not the example you are to follow. You are to lead by a different model. If you want to be the greatest, then live as one called to serve others. The path to promotion comes by having the heart of a bond-slave who serves everyone. For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life as the ransom price for the salvation of many.” Mark 10:42-45 TPT
ATTRIBUTES OF KINGDOM SERVICE
We are saved and called to serve.
“To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness [being set apart] and righteousness [being upright] before Him all our days.” Luke 1:74-75 AMP
“Every believer has received grace gifts, so use them to serve one another as faithful stewards of the many-colored tapestry of God’s grace. For example, if you have a speaking gift, speak as though God were speaking his words through you. If you have the gift of serving, do it passionately with the strength God gives you, so that in everything God alone will be glorified through Jesus Christ. For to him belong the power and the glory forever throughout all ages! Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11 TPT
1- Serving in the kingdom is not an option, it’s a way of life. It has to come from the heart.
The essence of serving makes us to be more like Jesus. Remember, a servant is not above his Master.
2- Serving according to pattern paves way for our brokenness, submission to God and His Word. John 5:19. 30-31. Humility is inbuilt to accept God’s will. Philippians 2:5-9. Matt. 6:10
3- Service brings promotion: only through service can you be promoted. John 14: 12.
”Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:12-13 NKJV
For example, Saul was on an errand for his father and got connected to divine purpose. David was on an errand for his father Jesse when opportunity came up to fight Goliath.
4- Leadership is PRIVILEGE to serve others NOT OPPORTUNITY for position, power, gain or manipulation. But, as we serve God from the heart, God will reward us. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
5- Faithfulness is the measure for reward in the kingdom. Luke 16:10-12
6- Leadership in the kingdom is about raising faithful servants. 1 Samuel 22:1-2. From Cave Adullam to Hebron to Jerusalem, David raised the wretched of the earth, debtors to leaders. Leadership is not who or what number you raised, it’s about what quality they are: sterner stuff.
7- It’s about raising people who have character not like people who make it by hook or crook.
8- Servant leadership is not about display of titles, position and wealth, it’s about releasing treasures/riches of Christ from the earthen vessel to shine His light as hope for the dying world and for building the saints to maturity as ambassadors of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-15
9- Loyalty to your leader. 1 Corinthians 11:1
10- It’s about loyalty to the Lord and honouring the King of kings and Lord of lords. Colossians 3: 17, 23-24
DISCUSS
David serving dad,
A. God built him up as a worshipper
B. God built his spiritual muscle
C. God connected him divinely to king service
D. On errand for his father only to be connected divinely to defeat Goliath and to become king over God’s heritage.
Man’s testimony of David: 1 Samuel 16:18
God’s testimony of David: Psalms 89: 3–4,14-15,20-29, Acts 13:22,36
”But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12 NKJV
GOD PROMISED TO REWARD THOSE WHO SERVE HEARTILY IN OBEDIENCE
# If they obey (the Word) and serve Him, they shall live their days in prosperity and their years in pleasure.” Job 36:11
# “If they serve ONLY THE LORD and He will bless them, they will not cast their young and they will have good health.
“You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.” Exodus 23:24-26 NKJV
# When they worship the Lord and serve Him in obedience, He said He would bless them here and in heaven.
“So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30 NKJV
”Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” Luke 19:16-17 NKJV
”But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“ Matthew 6:33-34 AMP
1- Our focus on the kingdom of God 2- Our focus on the kingdom righteousness. 3- Living by kingdom principles: His way of living and doing things: attributes and character of Christ. 4- Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you 5- Plan and live by the word and the Spirit. Avoid anxiety instead, follow your heart in working your plan. God will meet you at the point of your need and you will have enough and even to spare. Obedience to Christ’s word will lead to open doors for His own disciples.
”If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it. “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.“ John 14:14-15 AMP Beloved, have a blessed week ahead ❤️✝️📖🙏🔥🍎🍒🍓🍇
”But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.“ Acts 1:8 AMPC
Chanceries of True Kingdom Ministry & Ministers
Christ called and ordained minister
Holy Spirit empowered to impart others
Christ is the focus of message: To know Him and make Him known without ulterior motives or carnality.
To be a reflection of the Light of Christ to others in lifestyle and character
To lead people to Christ and lead them like Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
To teach and train believers to maturity in faith and to the full stature of Christ so that they will not be carried away by every wave of doctrine like infants. Ephesians 4:11-15
To testify to others what Christ has done and He’s doing for His glory. Don’t preach or testify of yourself. No man should share His glory. John 5:19,30-31. 1 Peter 4:11. Revelation 12:11.
To raise true Christ ambassadors who will raise others to occupy until He comes. 2 Timothy 2:2
THE GREATEST MIRACLE OF JESUS: SALVATION BY HIS RESURRECTION POWER!
Pastor Wole Gbogboade
Text: 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4, 14 CEB
“I passed on to you as most important what I also received: Christ died for our sins in line with the scriptures, he was buried, and he rose on the third day in line with the scriptures….If Christ hasn’t been raised, then our preaching is useless and your faith is useless.”1 Corinthians 15:3-4,14 CEB”
Jesus paid the Supreme price of crucifixion preceded by prayer at Gethsemane to prepare for the miracle of resurrection. Hebrews 5:7. CEB. Hence, the New Testament is written in His blood. “In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20 CEB
# Paul, declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles as power of resurrection. Who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God]. “Romans 4:25 AMP. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the transformation of sinners to saints for those who believe. The vessel is the message of the cross. Romans 1:16-17. Jesus had made His mission on planet earth clear when He said, “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 18:11 KJV
# Transformation is the first evidence of Salvation. “He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].”2 Corinthians 5:21 AMP
# Justification: Just as if you never sinned. Testimony of sinner who becomes saint through Christ’s resurrection power. He rose from the dead for our justification.
“Who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God].” Romans 4: 25 AMP
# Even, God’s angels rejoice in heaven when a sinner repents on earth. Why? Heaven is populated and hell is being depopulated. No angels rejoice for material miracles but the people. That’s evidently why eternal life is a more important to our God who is pleased with the prosperity (spirit, soul and body of His people-the saints/saved)
# Only salvation attracts jubilation of angels in heaven.” That’s the way God responds every time one lost sinner repents and turns to Him. He says to all his angels, ‘Let’s have a joyous celebration, for the one who was lost, I have found.” Luke 15:10 TPT
# The first fruit empowered by the Holy Spirit is the fruit of repentance, a change in attitude, behavior and kingdom character. “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” Matthew 3:8 NLT
Apostle Paul’s Testimony
“Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 GNT
Galatians 2: 20-21 MSG
“Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.” Galatians 2: 20-21 MSG
Apostle John’s Testimony: 1 John 1:1-4
“1) I am writing about] what existed from the beginning, what [a]we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life [the One who existed even before the beginning of the world, Christ]— 2 and the Life [an aspect of His being] was manifested, and we have seen [it as eyewitnesses] and testify and declare to you [the Life], the eternal Life who was [already existing] with the Father and was [actually] made visible to us [His followers]— 3 what we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1: 1-3 AMP
3 John 1: 2-4
2 “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically, just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. 3 For I was greatly pleased when [some of the]brothers came [from time to time] and testified to your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth.” 3 John 2-4 AMP
Apostle Peter’s Testimony:
1 Peter 1: 17-23 NLT
17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.[a] Love each other deeply with all your heart.[b]23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” 1 Peter 1:17-23. NLT
2 Peter 1:16-23
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories or myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were [a]eyewitnesses of His majesty [His grandeur, His authority, His sovereignty]. 17 For when He was invested with honor and [the radiance of the [b]Shekinah] glory from God the Father, such a voice as this came to Him from the [splendid] Majestic Glory [in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying], [c]“This is My Son, My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and delighted”— 18 and we [actually] heard this voice made from heaven when we were together with Him on the holy mountain. 19 So we have the prophetic word made more certain. You do well to pay [close] attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the [d]morning star arises in your hearts. 20 [e]But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1: 16-21 AMP
Beloved, continue to flourish in Christ’s Resurrection Power.️️
Speak my promises over your life today. Read the words I have promised you in my Holy Book. Make them real by faith. Place your hands upon my Word, for they are tangible. Trust me. I will not fail you, for I am your Father and Great Shepherd. Believe, my child, even when all around you is contrary, for then you will demonstrate the power of faith.
I invite you to dive into my Word like never before, to seek me and the specific promises that I want you to lean on. I want you to align your thinking with truth—not truth as the world interprets it, but truth that is living and unfailing, truth that you can feel in the depths of your spirit, truth that makes you feel alive when you hear it and speak it. I can even whisper words of hope and secret treasures that are tailor-made for your situation. I can lead you to the answers when you seek me with all your heart and long for the true promises of my Word.
I Hear His Whisper written by Brian Simmons
Psalm 1:2 The Passion Translation
His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,” meditating day and night on the true revelation of light.
School of Tyrannus 