Gospel Ramah Church Sermon of the Week

Your well-being is directly linked to the way you relate to God. God created man to fellowship with him and to have a healthy relationship with him. Three guidelines for a healthy relationship. 1) God made us in his likeness and image. 2) God placed us in a specific environment for a specific mission. When God calls man into a relationship he requires obedience and service. 3) God instructed us what to do and what not to do. There is place we ought to be and when God does not find us he cannot fellowship. God wants to locate us, even if you have drifted away, his grace is available to restore us. John 17:4.

Life is about venturing, going where you have never been. Five lessons to learn from the lepers. 1.They took initiative. Life presents to all of us problems,what will you do when problems come? You can decide how to act. The lepers refused to live as victims - passengers in life, victim mentality. They took charge of their life. 2.They did not pretend that there was no problem. They accepted their situation and took responsibility because when you move, God moves. 3.They decided to take a step of faith. If you are certain the plan is from God, put your plans into action. Whatever God tells you, do it. 4.They refused to be immobilized by fear. Fear is what prevents people from moving forward, fear not! 5.They persevered. It will take a fight for you to move to the next level. High standards are not achieved by minimal work, you must pay the price.

God blesses his people for a reason. 1. For all men to know who your God is (Exodus 3:13-15). 2. For all men to see the difference between his people and the rest (Malachi 3:13-18). What makes you the people of God? a. Born into the family by the precious blood of the lamb b. Attracted to purity c. Devoted wholly to him d. Acknowledge that they are mere stewards of the resources entrusted to them e. Made the worship of Yahweh their life's mission 3. For you to be empowered in life (Psalm 33:12). The first blessings you can receive from God: Protection (preservation and provision), Pardon (grace and mercy). Peace (total satisfaction).

Five lessons we can learn from Elijah. 1. Lesson of usefulness. God uses people who are available, your background does not matter. 2. Lesson of prophecy. The power of the prophetic word - it can shift the trajectory of your life. Prophecy ushers Gods presence and brings revival. 3. Lesson of provision. Do not be concerned about the means just know God is your provider, wherever he guides he supplies. 4. Lesson of obedience. Unquestioning obedience, take God at his word. 5. Lesson of power. We need to demonstrate and translate the power of God in our generation. Are you willing to be part of a generation that ushered revival in your land?

Unshakeable

Principle of the Spoken Word

Proverbs 18:21 – Words contain the power of life and death

Proverbs 6:2 – Our words can be destructive.

Romans 4 – Our words are creative

Mark 11:24 – “…say with your mouth…”

Five Faith Declarations for an Unshakeable Life

PSALMS 27

1. I will live strong. [Psalms 27:1-3]

2. I will love God’s house passionately.[Psalms 27:4-5]

3. I will hold my head high.[Psalms 27:6]

4. I will pursue a life of holiness.[Psalms 27:11-12]

5. I will not lose heart. [ Psalms 27:13-14]

Six causes of ungratefulness. 1. Forgetfulness, oblivion. When things are well we tend to easily forget due to lack of attention (Psalm 103:2), daily preoccupation and due to challenges. 2. No results. We are called to be grateful whether we like it or not, whether it works or not because of conviction. 3. Entitlement. Whatever we receive it is because of grace. 4. Lack - when there is something lacking we tend to focus on it and overlook what is there. 5. Pride - undermining things. 6.Not seeing God.

Thanksgiving is manifested in three ways. By your Word, which reflect your being. The reason why storms come, the devil wants you to change your language. You have liberty to direct your life the way you want and God responds to what he hears. Secondly, by your Conduct, behavior - how you respond to situations. Lastly by your Action, when you are grateful you want to do something in return. Gratefulness is an initiative from the heart. Our ungratefulness is blocking us from receiving greater things.

Life is fragile, it depends and is controlled by God. In every situation we face there are always two realities - heavenly reality, divine perspective and earthly reality.We normally react to what we see. However we have limited knowledge of Gods power and Gods plan.Our attitude will determine what happens. We have a choice to react in a way that will praise God and bring restoration.

BLESS THE LORD

Luke 17:11-19

Jesus Christ healed ten men with Leprosy but among the ten only one came back to give thanksgiving.

The questions to ask ourselves are “Why is it that among the ten only one came back? Why is it that the nine Jewish didn’t come back?” Might it be that the Samaritan understood that he was not entitled to the grace of healing? Could it be that the other nine Jewish leapers thought that because they are Jews it’s their right to be healed and never mind of being grateful. As Christians we have a tendency of forgetting that it is by grace that we are saved and blessed. We must not be like the nine other Jewish leapers who forgot to give thanksgiving to God.

Psalms 103:1-14 reminds us the reasons why we must bless the LORD.

1 Samuel 16:1 (NIV)

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

We have mourned for dead situations to the point of neglecting our duties. It’s time to bless the LORD.

KINGDOM ECONOMICS - From wealth-creation to wealth-management.

Part II: “Wealth in the hands of those who live right”

Wealth in God’s economy is generated by faith through wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Wealth in the hands of a righteous is to establish God’s covenant in the earth.

DEUTERONOMY 8:18; 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19; JAMES 5:1-6

1.The principle of wealth in God’s

“If you obey God, you will have something to leave your grandchildren. If you don’t obey God, those who live right will get what you leave.” PROVERBS 13:22 (CEV); see also PROVERBS 3:9-10

2. The purpose of wealth in God’s economy

Wealth is for worship.

- Generosity : 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-5; 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19

- Growth : LUKE 7:1-5; ACTS 16:11-15

- Gain : 2CORINTHIANS 8:8-15

3. The problem of wealth among God’s people

- Tends to ensnare its possessor : PROVERBS 18:10-11; 1TIMOTHY 6:9-10; JAMES 5:1-6

- Tends to fly away : PROVERBS 23:5; ECCLESIASTES 2:26; LUKE 19:11-13, 20-27

- Tends to give a false sense of ownership : DEUTERONOMY 8:10-17; LUKE 12:13-21

“The biggest difference between rich people and wealthy people is in the choices and decisions they make every day, plus they behaviour around money.”