LOVE & SPIRITUAL GIFTS - 23/05/2014
Yesterday's message was titled "LENDING TO THE LORD!”. Today's message is titled "LOVE & SPIRITUAL GIFTS" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise 1 Corinthians 14:1 "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." Today's reading was taken from 1 Corinthians 12:1-2 and the Bible reading in one year is Genesis 48 to Genesis 50and Psalm 108 (Adeboye, 2014).
Quoted below is the message for your input
"Our God is the Almighty. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is also good and His mercy endures forever. One character of God that is transmissible through us is love. How do we show that we know God? It is by showing His love (1 John 4:8). Let us love one another. Let’s demonstrate the love of God to our brethren. Let’s show them that we care. The people we are to show love to includes those that are lovable and those that do not deserve our love. Do you love your critics? Do you love your persecutors? Do you love the unlovable? Love or charity has many beautiful attributes (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). Gifts are nothing without love. Love is kind and patient. Love bears long with the weak and needy. How kind are you? Do you demonstrate kindness in all you do? How patient are you? Some Christians are rash. They act before thinking. Such people cannot be said to demonstrate love. Love does not envy others. Jealousy is not in the dictionary of love. It is pathetic that many souls have been destroyed by jealousy. An envious soul does not see anything good in the achievements of others. Are you controlled by love or jealousy? Love is not self-centred. It cares for others. Do you love your brethren and care for them? One way to demonstrate that you care for your brethren as a lady is through modest dressing. One who really loves does not dress to kill. She is dressed to save. Christians who wear indecent clothes cannot be said to love their brethren. Another attribute of love is faith. Love believes the whole counsel of God. Love does not only believe the word of God, it acts on it. Love does not think evil. It does not live in suspicion of others. Love is humble. God is love because love is humble. God associates with the humble. If you say you love, let it reflect in your humility. Be humble. Don’t brag about your achievements. Don’t insist on bearing titles which reflect self-aggrandisement.
Love never fails to receive from God. One of the innumerable blessings of love is the right to receive answer to prayers. Those who love easily receive from God. Such people also go about doing what can be described as good. In Acts 10:38 we are told that Jesus went about doing good because God was with Him. God is always with the people who live in love. He associates with them. Consequently, miracles, signs and wonders attest to their ministry. Do you want the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit in your ministry? Live in love. Let your impact be felt for good in the life of others. Sacrifice your talents, money and other resources for the salvation and betterment of others. Spend quality time in prayer, bible study and demonstrate that you love the brethren."
The action point for today is to list five ways to manifest love in a sour relationship, then go ahead and implement them.
As we demonstrate the love of God to others today, I am led to look for people that can join me in a day of prayer and fasting to pull down the stronghold against our Nation in the name of bokko haram and specially pray for safe return of our girls that they kidnapped. If you are going to be part of this, please join me in praying and fasting for just one day (tomorrow Saturday 23 May 2014).
"God has not only given you dominion over your life (the power and the authority to govern and control) - but He has also commissioned you to subdue (to bring low and utterly defeat) those things that are not in agreement with His will for you" (Genesis 1:26-28)
"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
I believe we can all do this wherever we are as distance is not a barrier to God's move. In agreement, we shall see the end of this insurgency and the Most High God will reign supreme in Nigeria, amen
Thank you and God bless you richly for contributing to today's discussion
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