The Lukewarm Church, On Today Spiritual Daily Digest, Sunday 17th September 2017, By Babajide Adekanye
BIBLE TEXT: REVELATION 3:15-17
15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. vs:16, So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. vs:17, Because you say,'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked NKJV
GOLDEN VERSE
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” V.16
MESSAGE:
The message to the church in Laodicea is directed to the benchwarmers in church. God established the church to represent the body of Christ and there is no part of the body without a function. For God to have called you to be part of the body of Christ, there must be a specific function you are expected to undertake.
Note that the divine commission was not given to only evangelists, pastors or teachers; it is a responsibility for all christian's.
We must all ensure the message of the gospel spreads round in all ways possible.
You cannot choose to be lukewarm or passive to this task. If the early christian's had been lukewarm, the gospel would have been buried. In the face of death, they proclaimed the message. Their doggedness, zeal and passion for God’s work gave us what we have today.
The atmosphere is now less hostile as compared to the days of these great men, so we really have no excuse.
Prayer Point:
Almighty God, let the power of the Holy Spirit that descended on the day of Pentecost strengthen me to spread the message of the gospel all around the world in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“And He said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th 2017
TOPIC: ADVICE TO CHILDREN
BIBLE TEXT: COLOSSIAN'S 3:20
“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” V.20
MESSAGE:
The first commandment that was followed by a promise has to do with children obeying their parents. Why is this rule important? Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the way of the Lord. Parents are not the original owners of the child but only caretakers and accountable to God for every child they have.
Therefore, a child that disobeys or disrespects the parents is in danger of God’s judgment because such a child has also disobeyed God. The only acceptable reason for a child to disobey the parent is when they ask the child to do something contrary to God’s laws. One basic example is seen in Jesus Christ when as a twelve year old boy, He chose not to return home with the parents because He had an important business that concerns God’s calling for His life to attend to.
Therefore, parents are supposed to guide in line with God’s purpose for the lives of their children.
Prayer Point:
Heavenly Father, guide us rightly to walk in line with your purpose for our lives in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“And He said to them, Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?” Luke 2:49
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th 2017
TOPIC: PURPOSE OF FASTING:
BIBLE TEXT: ISAIAH 58:5-7:
5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
NKJV
GOLDEN VERSE:
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” V.6
MESSAGE:
God has no pleasure in seeing you go hungry for days in the name of fasting. The idea behind fasting is basically expounded in today’s text but one will wonder why many have not taken cognizance of them.
To what purpose should we fast?
Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights to start off His ministry because salvation of the people was uppermost in His mind. It wasn’t for any selfish reasons, to show off or to request for earthly things.
Fasting in essence basically deals with depriving yourself of some pleasures of life to help others in need and it must be spiritually led.
Many involve themselves in religious acts without first thoroughly understanding the purpose thereby getting no rewards. Jesus made more corrections in Matthew 6:16-18 to buttress the message of Prophet Isaiah in today’s text just so that people don’t fast in vain.
Prayer Point:
Omniscient Father, help me understand the purpose of all religious acts that I may not follow you in vain in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice? In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your labourers.” Isaiah 58:3
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th 2017
TOPIC: PRAY WITH THE HEART
BIBLE TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 1:12-15:
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" 15 But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
NKJV
GOLDEN VERSE:
“Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.” V.13
MESSAGE:
In one of the very first set of sermons rendered by Jesus Christ, He said that, loud and repetitive prayers are needless and unrewarding (Matthew 6:5-8). But I wonder if many christians are yet to read this portion of the bible or they just choose to neglect the teaching. Churches today have become a major contributor to noise pollution in the society.
We should ask ourselves the question; where is God? We do know He is omnipresent, so why then the need to shout to get His attention? In the text, Hannah prayed in her heart, even though her lips moved, nothing was heard, yet God answered her prayers. So what more prove do we need?
It is high time we began to pray with our heart rather than disturbing the entire neighbourhood with noises.
The complaints of those you have denied sleep by your noise is even enough reason for God not to hear your prayers. Has He not said it that you should love your neighbour as yourself?
Prayer Point:
Merciful Father, forgive every ignorant act that have stopped my prayers from being answered. Look unto me with mercy and come to my aid in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th 2017
TOPIC: THE BLESSED MAN
BIBLE TEXT: PSALMS 1:1-3:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
NKJV
GOLDEN VERSE:
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;” V.1
MESSAGE:
Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are, says a famous proverb. This indicates that the kind of friends an individual keeps has a way of rubbing off on his character. Thus, today’s text emphasises on the need to keep a right company in order to be blessed by God.
Many are afflicted today because of the negative influences of people they fraternised with. The best friend you can have according to verse 2 of the text is the word of God. In this wise, any relationship that will not bring you closer to God is leading you astray. All those friends that do not encourage you to righteousness but make you engage in things that can bring trouble are not worth keeping. If you don’t discard them soonest, the devil can use them as a tool against you.
You should also be wary about anyone you want to have relationship with so that you don’t have regrets in future.
Prayer Point:
Almighty Father, separate me from every association that can destroy my relationship with you in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. vs:16, So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. vs:17, Because you say,'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked NKJV
GOLDEN VERSE
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” V.16
MESSAGE:
The message to the church in Laodicea is directed to the benchwarmers in church. God established the church to represent the body of Christ and there is no part of the body without a function. For God to have called you to be part of the body of Christ, there must be a specific function you are expected to undertake.
Note that the divine commission was not given to only evangelists, pastors or teachers; it is a responsibility for all christian's.
We must all ensure the message of the gospel spreads round in all ways possible.
You cannot choose to be lukewarm or passive to this task. If the early christian's had been lukewarm, the gospel would have been buried. In the face of death, they proclaimed the message. Their doggedness, zeal and passion for God’s work gave us what we have today.
The atmosphere is now less hostile as compared to the days of these great men, so we really have no excuse.
Prayer Point:
Almighty God, let the power of the Holy Spirit that descended on the day of Pentecost strengthen me to spread the message of the gospel all around the world in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“And He said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th 2017
TOPIC: ADVICE TO CHILDREN
BIBLE TEXT: COLOSSIAN'S 3:20
“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” V.20
MESSAGE:
The first commandment that was followed by a promise has to do with children obeying their parents. Why is this rule important? Parents have the responsibility to raise their children in the way of the Lord. Parents are not the original owners of the child but only caretakers and accountable to God for every child they have.
Therefore, a child that disobeys or disrespects the parents is in danger of God’s judgment because such a child has also disobeyed God. The only acceptable reason for a child to disobey the parent is when they ask the child to do something contrary to God’s laws. One basic example is seen in Jesus Christ when as a twelve year old boy, He chose not to return home with the parents because He had an important business that concerns God’s calling for His life to attend to.
Therefore, parents are supposed to guide in line with God’s purpose for the lives of their children.
Prayer Point:
Heavenly Father, guide us rightly to walk in line with your purpose for our lives in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“And He said to them, Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?” Luke 2:49
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th 2017
TOPIC: PURPOSE OF FASTING:
BIBLE TEXT: ISAIAH 58:5-7:
5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
NKJV
GOLDEN VERSE:
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” V.6
MESSAGE:
God has no pleasure in seeing you go hungry for days in the name of fasting. The idea behind fasting is basically expounded in today’s text but one will wonder why many have not taken cognizance of them.
To what purpose should we fast?
Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights to start off His ministry because salvation of the people was uppermost in His mind. It wasn’t for any selfish reasons, to show off or to request for earthly things.
Fasting in essence basically deals with depriving yourself of some pleasures of life to help others in need and it must be spiritually led.
Many involve themselves in religious acts without first thoroughly understanding the purpose thereby getting no rewards. Jesus made more corrections in Matthew 6:16-18 to buttress the message of Prophet Isaiah in today’s text just so that people don’t fast in vain.
Prayer Point:
Omniscient Father, help me understand the purpose of all religious acts that I may not follow you in vain in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice? In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your labourers.” Isaiah 58:3
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th 2017
TOPIC: PRAY WITH THE HEART
BIBLE TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 1:12-15:
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" 15 But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
NKJV
GOLDEN VERSE:
“Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.” V.13
MESSAGE:
In one of the very first set of sermons rendered by Jesus Christ, He said that, loud and repetitive prayers are needless and unrewarding (Matthew 6:5-8). But I wonder if many christians are yet to read this portion of the bible or they just choose to neglect the teaching. Churches today have become a major contributor to noise pollution in the society.
We should ask ourselves the question; where is God? We do know He is omnipresent, so why then the need to shout to get His attention? In the text, Hannah prayed in her heart, even though her lips moved, nothing was heard, yet God answered her prayers. So what more prove do we need?
It is high time we began to pray with our heart rather than disturbing the entire neighbourhood with noises.
The complaints of those you have denied sleep by your noise is even enough reason for God not to hear your prayers. Has He not said it that you should love your neighbour as yourself?
Prayer Point:
Merciful Father, forgive every ignorant act that have stopped my prayers from being answered. Look unto me with mercy and come to my aid in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th 2017
TOPIC: THE BLESSED MAN
BIBLE TEXT: PSALMS 1:1-3:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
NKJV
GOLDEN VERSE:
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;” V.1
MESSAGE:
Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are, says a famous proverb. This indicates that the kind of friends an individual keeps has a way of rubbing off on his character. Thus, today’s text emphasises on the need to keep a right company in order to be blessed by God.
Many are afflicted today because of the negative influences of people they fraternised with. The best friend you can have according to verse 2 of the text is the word of God. In this wise, any relationship that will not bring you closer to God is leading you astray. All those friends that do not encourage you to righteousness but make you engage in things that can bring trouble are not worth keeping. If you don’t discard them soonest, the devil can use them as a tool against you.
You should also be wary about anyone you want to have relationship with so that you don’t have regrets in future.
Prayer Point:
Almighty Father, separate me from every association that can destroy my relationship with you in Jesus name. Amen.
Food For Thought:
“Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
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