TEXT(S): Matt.19:27-30; Mark 10:28-30; Acts 22:14-15; Jer. 9:23; John 6:40.
INTRODUCTION
We thank God that Christianity today is bearing much fruit in terms of numbers coming to Christ, yet much needs to be desired with regards to quality lifestyles, spirituality, commitment, maturity and fruitfulness of individual members. The sin of unfaithfulness, corruption, misappropriation of Church money, and sexual sins can be said to be ruining the social fabric of Church and communities and nations. Genuine love for God and fellow man, and moreover the sacrifices and commitment to the great commission that made our founding Fathers establish this Church in power, holiness, the fear of God, humility, and obedience to God and Leadership is currently giving way to materialism, consumerism and desire for pleasure and sports.
I personally believe that this year’s theme of The Church of Pentecost: “Hearing and Obeying the voice of the Lord….” has come to rebrand and reposition the Church of Pentecost to become a World-Class model Church if all our members, Church Officers and Ministers will pay closer attention to avail ourselves to hearing and obeying the voice of the Lord.
Jesus Christ foresaw these end time pleasure-living lifestyle and forewarned that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle, than for a rich man to enter heaven”.
Hence Peter’s great question: “We have left everything to follow you, Lord, what shall we get”? Jesus replied that whoever has left the god of this age (material belongings and close relatives) to follow Him and the gospel will sit with Him in the new world to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. He will also inherit hundredfold of brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, lands in this present world and eternal life in the next world.
This implies that nothing in this world can be achieved without cost, sacrifices, and commitment to hard-work. A farmer cannot harvest abundant food crops without cost, sacrifices, and commitment to hard-work on daily basis; so also is Christianity.
The early founding fathers of our great Church sacrificed time, energy, families and work in the pursuit of God with prayer, fasting to hear and obey God’s voice in their walk and work with Him to accomplish greater works exactly as the early Bible Characters like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samuel etc. What is amazing is the fact that these Old Testament Giants did not have Bibles, Churches, Pastors and facilities of our time yet by their sacrifices to seek the face of God to hear and obey His voice, enabled them to walk with Him to accomplish greater works in their generation.
WHAT WAS THE BASIC RESULTS AND BENEFITS OF THEIR PURSUIT OF GOD TO HEAR AND OBEY HIM?
1.0 The knowledge of God and Jesus Christ (Jer. 9:23; John 6:40).
2.0 Living Faith (John 6:40; Ro. 10:9-17; Heb. 11:6).
4.0 Salvation, New Birth, and Eternal life (Acts 4:12; Ro. 10:9;
John 1:12-14; 3:16; 6:40).
5.0 The gift and gifts of the in dwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:7,15-17;
Acts 1:8; 1 Co. 12:7-11).
6.0 Righteousness and Fruitfulness (Deut. 6:24-25; Ro. 3:21-22;
John 15:4-5,16; 2 Ti. 3:15-17). Attainment to the fullness of Christ
(Eph. 4:11-16).
7.0 Enjoyment of the Presence of God: Grace, peace, anointing,
Longevity, sound health and healing, security, prosperity,
success, victory over this world, blessings (John 14:21-23;
Heb. 1:9; Prov. 1:33; 3:1-10; Job 8:5-7; Jos. 1:8; Deut. 28:1-13).
By Apostle Emmanuel Achim Gyimah | Kaneshie Area Head
This was first presented at the Time with Jesus at Kaneshie Central of The Church of Pentecost on 7th July, 2016.