FACEBOOK ON SUNDAY FROM RFWO PULPIT [07/12/14] Rapture Consciousness [66]: Friend, welcome to another glorious Month and Week the Lord made. Make a joyful noise as you are surely crossing over to 2015 in Jesus Name, Amen. May every evil plot of the Devil and his agents against you to cause the contrary be aborted instantly in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen. The Holy Scripture says the desire of the wicked one must perish (Proverbs 10:28b) and I so decree and declare in the Name of Jesus, Amen. Today is our 2014 Annual Thanksgiving in RFWO, Asaba. Nigeria. However, I want to discuss ‘The Sin of Ingratitude’. It is good manners to say thanks to God and to fellow man God has used to touch us in some ways. As per Psalms 100:1-5(NLT), ‘Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.’ Again, ‘Psalms 103:1-5(NLT),‘Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!’ Friend, those foundational Holy Scriptures spell out why we need be thankful to the Most High God. If you are not appreciating God, giving Him His due thanksgiving, you are an ingrate. In the same vein, when someone has done you good and you fail to express thanks to such a person, you are possessed by the ‘spirit of ingratitude’. We should be concerned with keeping our Vertical and Horizontal relationships healthy. Hear Apostle Paul in Acts 24:16(NLT), ‘Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.’… Acts 24:16(KJV), ‘And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.’ Friend, Webster’s Dictionary defines “Ingratitude” as: “Forgetfulness of, or poor return for, kindness received.” In other words, “Ingratitude” is not appreciating or valuing what you have, or have been given. Even when you fail to express gratitude, your action is tantamount to ingratitude! Let us start with you friend. • Have you ever given someone a precious gift and not received thanks for it? • How did you feel not receiving any thanks? • Have you ever felt unappreciated by family or friends or at your workplace despite huge sacrifices you made on them? • If so, how did it make you feel? • As humans, you felt debased probably. • So our ingratitude can hurt people deeply Friend, with those graphical illustrations, you can begin to appreciate how ungrateful you may have been to the Most High God. Let me ask you:- • Do you really appreciate the gift that surpasses all understanding-the redemptive works of Jesus? • Do you realize that everything we receive from God is undeserved, including what He lets other people give us? • How much thanks do you offer for Him for His awesome grace and undeserved gifts? Friend, Our Lord Jesus Christ illustrated with the story of the 10 (ten) lepers how God holds people accountable for appreciating His good works upon their lives. As per Luke 17:12-18(NLT), ‘As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”* And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.*” Friend, • can we appreciate the sorrow there is in Jesus words when only one of the ten lepers that were healed came back to thank Him. ‘…..Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17- 18). • May you not be among the ingrates God may be marking down for judgment this Thanksgiving season in Jesus Name, Amen. Friend, ingratitude is a serious sin that will be judged severely by God. The Holy Scriptures say that it is one of the distinguishing marks of persons possessed by end time seducing spirits. As per II Timothy 3:1-2(NLT), ‘You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.’ Friend, • Are you still standing? • Ingratitude is a serious sin that will be judged severely by God. • This implies that you must do something to overcome all the ingratitude in your heart if you want to belong to Jesus in eternity. • Remember that Jesus is coming back for a Church, the Believer that has neither spots nor wrinkles. Ephesians 5:27(KJV),‘ that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.’ • Recall, my mission is to guide you in your readiness to meet with your Maker. Therefore, ‘….and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.’(Amos 4:12b). • With each passing hour, the return of our Lord Jesus Christ draws nearer. This is why you need be on ‘Red Alert’. Steps to take are clearly spelt-out in the Holy Scriptures See Romans 13:11-14(NLT). • My candid advice to you this morning is, ‘.. get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.’(James 1:21, NLT). Friend, my prayer is that the dragnet of the devil will not catch up with you and you will remain determined to go with your Maker, Jesus, in the favourable Name of Our Lord Jesus, Amen. You can begin to amend your ways right now. There is a way of ESCAPE for you. As per Acts 4:12, ‘Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Friend, do not be ashamed, do not delay any longer. Jesus is the True Light that lights every man that comes into the World (John 1:9). Wicked men will not come to Him (John 3:19-20). Sincerely agree with Jesus you have been living in disobedience or in darkness as a result of deceit by religious organizations, but now you have decided to invite Him into your heart to be the Lord and Saviour of your life. God will answer your short but sincere prayer. Then help yourself to grow and maintain your Salvation by locating and joining a living Church closest to you. Do not allow anyone distract you. Friend, because you enjoy reading this Column, which prompts you to meditate on the Word of God, day and night, • May you indeed be appreciative always of all God does for you. • May you start a life of endless thanksgiving. • May God in His kindness restore all that the enemy damaged in your life. • May God support and strengthen you. • May God settle you. • May God place you on a firm foundation • May the Lord rule over you. • May the Lord reign over you as King forever. • May the Lord give you strength. • May the Lord bless with peace. • In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. • May the name of the Lord keep you safe from all harm. • May He send you help from His sanctuary? • May God remember all your gifts and look favorably on your offerings and tithe. • May God grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. • May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. Apostle (Professor) Samuel A.A. Zelibe [Vision Runner]
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 05:25:54 +0000
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