ABIDE IN CHRIST

    

TEXT: John 15:1-8

Hymn BH 316:More Like Jesus Would I Be

Golden Text:  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do in nothing. John 15:5, NIV

Vine plant is common in Israel. It is a crawling plant with many branches. A vinedresser would trim any unproductive stem so that t productive branches could produce more fruits. Any branch that is cut off is meant for burning; the branch that would be productive must remain attached to the stem of the vine.

Jesus Christ used this analogy of vine farming to teach the importance of always abiding in Him. By affirming that He is the true Vine, Jesus underscored the fact that there may be other things that seem to hold the promise of sustaining the believer.

 As a branch in Christ, Christians need His purging through the Word to be fruitful. It is by continuous connection with God that a believer sustains his life. A branch without life is dead and cut off. It is worthless and, therefore, thrown into fire and burned. 

One of the advantages of continuous connection to God is answered prayer. When your prayer is in line with God's will, the result is certain: God will answer it. Another advantage is fruit bearing success and soul winning. Those who are connected to God can lead others Christ. 

The secret of living the abundant Christian life is to stay connected to Christ. To be a fruitful and effective Christian, you need to abide in Him through daily devotion, quality engagement in worship and unalloyed obedience to Him through His Word. 

To enjoy answered prayers and to blossom and flourish, stay close to the Source of life. Commit yourself to be connected to the right source of godliness, which is Christ.

PERCIEVE: It is imperative for a disciple to continually abide in Jesus Christ. 

PONDER: Are you abiding in Christ and bearing fruit for Him? 

PRACTISE: Commit yourself to connecting with the right source of godliness which is Christ.

PRAYER: O Lord, give me the grace to abide in You so that I will be a fruitful Christian in Jesus' name.

Pray for these ordained ministers and members of their churches:

Onifade Z.A., Ibadan; Obanisola O.O., Ibadan; Ajayi I.A., Lagos; J.O. Olarewaju, Ara; Ilori Olusola O., Ilorin; Kehinde E. Akinlabi, Osun; Oamen O. Lewis, Delta; Imagbenikaro Godsgift O., Edo; Hezekiah A. Abidoye, Kwara; Olaogun N. Oluwafemi, Lagos; Silas Philibus, Niger; Abioye Samson O., Lagos; Ojebunmi H. Ayodeji, Oyo; Adedeji, Samson A., Okeho; Adeleke Taiwo M., Ofunama; Olutunde Olajide A., Ibadan; Tanimola M.A., OsupaOrile; Debo Oyabambi, Topo; Ibiyanmi S.S., Lagos.

Prayer: Lord, by mercy restore to us all that we have lost since the beginning of the year.

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Hymn BH 316:More Like Jesus Would I Be

 1.  More like Jesus would I be,

Let my Savior dwell with me;

Fill my soul with peace and love,

Make me gentle as a dove;

More like Jesus, while I go,

Pilgrim in this world below;

Poor in spirit would I be;

Let my Savior dwell in me.

2.  If He hears the raven’s cry,

If His ever watchful eye

Marks the sparrows when they fall,

Surely He will hear my call:

He will teach me how to live,

All my sinful thoughts forgive;

Pure in heart I still would be;

Let my Savior dwell in me.

3. More like Jesus when I pray,

More like Jesus day by day;

May I rest me by His side,

Where the tranquil waters glide:

Born of Him, through grace renewed,

By His love my will subdued,

Rich in faith I still would be;

Let my Savior dwell in me.

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ADULTERY IN THE HEART

   

RBT: Amos 5-9

TEXT: Matthew 5:27-32

Hymn BH 367: Take Time to Be Holy

Golden Text: But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28, NIV

Chris' relationship with his wife Rachael had been good until recently when his job started to keep him away. He leaves home very early and works late into the night, and this means spending little time with his wife. 

His co-worker Mary keeps him company whenever he had to work late into the night. Chris thinks Mary is complimentary, encouraging and even understands him better than Rachael. 

They have had lunch together a couple of times; he enjoys her company and always longs to be with her. Chris sometimes feels awkward about his attraction to Mary, but rationalises that they are just friends.

When we think of adultery, we think of physical intimacy, but today's Scripture points out that emotional intimacy with or strange affection for someone other than one's spouse is adultery. 

Jesus said lusting after a woman in the heart, in itself, is adultery. This means that adultery is not limited to having physical intimacy with someone of the opposite sex who is not your spouse; it includes being emotionally attached to another person other than your wife or husband. 

Jesus was not recommending physical mutilation to curb lust. He was advocating the need to overcome the inward cause of the sin- a change of heart.

Emotional adultery, just like physical adultery, is a sin against God; both undermine the sanctity of the marriage relationship and are capable of ripping a home apart. 

Being honest with oneself to admit the sin and confess it is the starting point of victory. Do you have the mind of Christ? It is Christ indwelling your heart that can enable you to overcome every form of temptation. 

Giving Jesus the rightful place in your heart is the practical solution to "adultery in the heart." Come to Jesus Christ today for all-round victory. 

PERCIEVE: The presence of Christ in a life is the way to overcome every form of temptation.

PONDER: Do you have the mind of Christ?

PRACTISE: Come to Jesus Christ today for a change of heart.

PRAYER: Lord, purify my heart from every! thought of adultery.

Pray for these ordained ministers and members of their churches: Esther Chukwuezi, Plateau; Philip Ola. Ogunsola, Igbojaye; Adeyemo J. Ademola, Ogbomoso; Alabede Samson, A-Mararaba; Evans Ossai Ugbah, Elelenwo; Sunday Oduola, Lagos; Bala Philemon, Kaduna; Remi Adelakun, Igboho; Simeon O. Ojo, Kwara, Alawode B. Sam, Ada; Bola Opawole, Lagos; Oyekale O. Samson, Ibadan.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the spirit of discernment so that we will not fall prey to agent of the devil.

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Hymn BH 367: Take Time to Be Holy

 1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;

Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;

Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

3. Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;

And run not before Him, whatever betide.

In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,

And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,

Each thought and each motive beneath His control.

Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,

Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

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GOD FORGIVES

  

RBT: Amos 5-9

TEXT: Psalm 130 

Hymn BH 230: Let Jesus Come into Your Hear 

Golden Text: But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence serve you. Psalm 130:4 (NIV)

After he had repented and accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, a man said: “I have not experienced inner peace such as this in a long time. I have always pictured God as a father who would not want anything to do with a sinner like me. However, I was wrong. God is a forgiving father after all.” Many of us must have had a similar experience like that of this man. The psalmist in today’s passage also experienced God’s forgiveness.

In verses 3-4 of today’s text, the psalmist recognised that no one could stand if God dealt with sinners according to what they deserved. The reason the Lord is not keeping records of sins is that He forgives. Believers throughout all ages have rejoiced over this fact; for apart from this, none could endure His judgment. God forgives so that the forgiven will fear Him. The general word for ‘fear’ often includes the ideas of worship and obedience. The Scriptures state that many benefits come from fearing the Lord. The most notable is that the person keeps himself/herself from sin. The forgiveness of God cannot be treated lightly. It turns sinners into saints – people who follow Him in obedience. 

Do not be too big to say “sorry” whenever you are wrong. Repent of your wrongdoings and be willing to ask God to forgive you. God is always ready to listen to you no matter the sin committed (Proverbs 28:13). Cry out to God today for forgiveness as David did (Psalm 51). Be assured that God will forgive you because of His nature as a gracious Father full of compassion.

PERCIEVE: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

PONDER: Do you still continue in your sin so that grace may abound?

PRACTISE: Take deliberate efforts to forgive those who have offended you.

PRAYER: O Lord, help to always forgive others as You have forgiven me.

Pray for these ordained ministers and members of their churches:

Adekunle Olufemi, Ogbomoso; Ajagbe Jeremiah, Ogbomoso; Ayoola Olajide K., Ogbomoso; Akinbobola E. O., Ogbomoso; Reuben A. Adesope, Osun; Morakinyo J. Oluwayomi, Lagos; A.I. Baba, Niger; Ugono O. Felix, Delta; Nuhu Barka, Gombi; Oladejo Stephen B., Katchia; G.O. Adebayo, Lagos; Ajiboye E.A., Alla-Isin.

Prayer: -  Lord, supernaturally increase us that we will have more than enough.

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Hymn BH 230: Let Jesus Come into Your Hear

1 If you are tired of the load of your sin,

Let Jesus come into your heart;

If you desire a new life to begin,

Let Jesus come into your heart.

Refrain:

Just now your doubtings give o'er;

Just now reject Him no more;

Just now throw open the door;

Let Jesus come into your heart.

2 If 'tis for purity now that you sigh,

Let Jesus come into your heart;

Fountains for cleansing are flowing near by,

Let Jesus come into your heart. [Refrain]

3 If there's a tempest your voice cannot still,

Let Jesus come into your heart;

If there's a void this world never can fill,

Let Jesus come into your heart. [Refrain]

4 If you would join the glad songs of the blest,

Let Jesus come into your heart;

If you would enter the mansions of rest,

Let Jesus come into your heart. [Refrain]

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