Who are you connected to?

The Vine and the Branches

Bible Verse: John 15:1-8.

If you discover that there are things in your life that you do not like, ask yourself “Who am I connected to?” When you discover thoughts in your heart that do not sit right with the word of God, check if you are still branched from the vine of Christ. Jesus wants us to acknowledge that we cannot do anything good in our lives without him. We can bear fruits God will be proud of only when we stay connected to Jesus.

In life you must be connected to a vine, and bear fruits of that vine. It is either you are connected to the vine of Jesus or the vine of the Devil. The fruits are those characteristics that people see in you as you live your life daily. Who do you put your trust in when challenges arise and everyone is running around in panic and fear? How do you react to circumstances that will stir your anger to volcano temperatures? What manner of conversations do you engage in? (Gossips or conversations that edify).

If we stay connected to Jesus and do not bear fruits, the bible says the Father will cut us off. How can we not bear fruit and be connected to Jesus? When we deliberately refuse to obey his commandments and do what is in our hearts. Don’t we as Christians love to do what’s in our hearts when the Holy Spirit gives us an instruction? We shout him down with the reasons why our decisions are better and regret our disobedience afterwards. Jesus wants us to remain in him and the only way we can do that is by obeying his commandments. Some will say “But how do I know his commandments?” You can only know his commandments by studying his word, meditating on it and asking the Holy Spirit for grace.

Prayer: Lord help me stay connected to you. Any worldly desire, affection, whatever it is that would stop me, please flush out. Amen

Have a blessed day

Shalom

LETS GET INVOLVED IN SUNDAY SCHOOL

NEXT SUNDAY'S SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPIC IS "FORGIVENESS"

SO LET US STUDY, WRITE OUR QUESTIONS DOWN AND PREPARE TO GET BLESSED ON SUNDAY.

Message From the Pulpit: The Nature of the Child of God

By Pastor Brown (Residing Pastor, Temple of Praise, Manchester, United Kingdom)


Personal Confession: I am a carrier of God's Nature, Power and Ability.

Romans 12:1-2 (New King James Version)

 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

God wants us to acknowledge that we are not citizens of this world, but citizens of Heaven just passing through this world to our home. As citizens of heaven, we cannot afford to conform to this world (Conform meaning to be statically comfortable in the mindset of the world). If we are not careful as Christians, we can get so comfortable living in this world that we eventually start to think and make decisions like it. Its like pouring water into a bowl and putting it in the freezer for few hours. It will come out taking the shape of that bowl. We have been placed in this world by God for a purpose and that can only be achieved when we refuse to conform to the world but be transformed into the image of Christ.

This transformation happens by renewing our mind. The mind is like the computer of the body and being in the world programs your mind to take certain actions in different situations. This mind like the computer needs to be re-programmed so it can function like the mind of Christ. The only way that  this can happen is by studying the word of God so you can naturally exhibit the nature of Christ in you. Phil. 2:5 - 8 and 4: 8. 


The Apostle Paul prayed that Christ would be formed in us; Gal. 4:19 "My little children, for whom I labour in birth again until Christ be formed in you"  

The nature of Christ in our lives as Christians has to be so strong in such a way that people will wonder what our source of Joy, peace and continuous calm is. 


You know, we cannot sit in our comfort zones taking and enjoying the benefits there of  while creation and the world around us is crying desperately for the manifestations (to make tangible, to bring to bare, to demonstrate)  of the sons of God. Rm. 8: 18-19


As believers in Christ Jesus you need to be outstanding in every area of our lives, we being the light and the salt of the world, bringing meaning and purpose and flavour to the lives of the many people we encounter each and everyday. "let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds, and praise our father in heaven". ie Matt.5: 16


NB. You are a new creation, a brand new man, old thing are past away and you are Born again from the very moment you believed in your heart that Jesus is the son of God and confessed Him as your personal Lord and saviour. Hence the need to be leading a distinct way of life different from what we used to be before our relationship with Christ.


You are God's answer to someones prayer, You are His voice in a world where there are too many voices. He has your legs to go and your hands to act. 

Prayer: God help me shine for you as I study and meditate on your word daily so the Holy Spirit can transform my mind into yours. Amen

TOP MEN's MEETING

The Temple of Praise Men's meeting (TOP MEN) as scheduled for last Saturday morning, was an AWESOME convergence of  Hearts and Minds sharing life experiences to strengthen and encourage one another in the Lord.

C. OUR LINK WITH HEAVEN

As believers we now live our lives in a special relationship with Heaven, because:

1.       We belong there

“But you have come to….the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful  assembly , to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven…” (Heb 12:22,23). See also Phillipians 3:20

2.       We are enthroned there

“And God raised us with Christ and enthroned us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6)

3.       We have our source of life there

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph 1:3). See also Colossians 3:1-4.

4.       We have our names recorded there

“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). See also Hebrews 12:23.

5.       We have been sent by the one who lives there

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it…As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:16, 18). See also 2 Corinthians 5:20.

6.       We have our eyes fixed there

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2Cor 4:17, 18). See also Hebrews 11:9, 10, 14-16.

7.       We have our treasure there

“He has given us new birth into a living hope…into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you…” (1Pet 1:3, 4). See also Matthew 6:19-21.

8.       We are being called there

“….But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called the heavenwards in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13, 14).

Jesus Himself, before returning to Heaven made a very special promise to every believer: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am” (John 14:1-3) See also 17:24.

Commitment: I decide today to set my affections on things in Heaven, not on things of this earth. I realize my life on earth is only temporary, so I will live by priorities established by his truth. I will share with others the good news about this wonderful eternal home Jesus offers to all who wil believe on Him.

B. THE NATUREOF HEAVEN

Heaven is a place beyond anything we can possibly conceive (1 Cor 2:9; 13:12). Heaven is like a place of holiness, full of glory and without end.

But though the bible doesn’t describe all the details of what heaven looks like, it does give some clues as to its nature. It is:

1.       A Place Of Great Glory

“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father…” (Matt 13:43)

2.       A Place Of Continual Worship

“After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:

‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to out God…’ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our God Almighty reigns…’” (Rev 19:1-6). See also Revelation 5:11,12.

3.       A Place That Will Never End

“….and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 1:11). See also 1 Peter 1:4

4.       A Place Untainted By Evil

“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev 21:27). See also Ephesians 5:5.

The Book of Revelation describes the New Jerusalem, coming out of Heaven, as a place without:

a.       Night (22:5)

b.      Curse (22:3)

c.       Crying, sorrow (21:4)

d.      Death (21:4)

This is because the nature of Heaven is a product of the nature of God. Since Heaven is the full manifestation of his presence, what God is like, Heaven is like a place of holiness, full of glory and without end.

More Pictures From The Ordination

Heaven

Please join us as we follow the series on heaven and the second coming of Jesus Christ from the “New Believers Training Manual” and have a wonderful,l spirit filled day.

“…God is in heaven and you are on earth… Therefore stand in awe of God” (Eccl 5:2,7)

A.      WHAT IS HEAVEN?

1.       Heaven is the Dwelling Place of God

“Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars!” (Job 22:12). See also Deutronomy 26:15.

2.       Heaven is the Throne-Room of God

“The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Ps 103:19). See also Isaiah 66:1.

3.       Heaven Is The Place Of God’s Full Glory

“As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow, the hair of his head was white like wool, his throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him…” (Dan 7:9,10). See also Acts 7:55.

4.       Heaven Is The Home Of The Righteous(Believing) Dead

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands” (2Cor 5:1).

5.       Heaven Is The Future Home Of All Believers

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:  ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne…’”  (Rev 7:9,10).

A Sneak Peek of Sunday's Ordination Service and Barbecue