INVEST YOUR GIFTS IN THE CHURCH WORK

1 Corinthians 12
Your gifts are meant not only for your own benefits but also for the body of Christ.

                                                    Introduction

 Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

Every gift deposited in your life by God makes you so significant to the body of Christ. You cannot afford to be a liability to the Church. In today’s message the Lord will open our understanding and we will be challenged to invest our all and our best in the works of the Lord.
Observations
There are three basic truths you need to understand in the course of this message namely:
1. You must discover your gifts to be relevant in the body of Christ.
2. You must develop others through your gifts to be productive in the body of Christ
3. You must dispense your gift for you to be rewarded in the Kingdom of our God
Explanations
1.  You must discover your gifts to be relevant in the body of Christ. In 1Cor 12:1 Apostle Paul says, :”Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” The word translated ‘unknown’ in NIV is ‘agnoeo’ in Greek meaning ignorant, no understanding, or unknown. Some of the Corinthian Christians failed to discover the gifts of God in their lives. In such situation, one can not contribute meaningfully to the development of a society.
First thing to be significant in the body of Christ is to discover your gifts. The Bible says, “A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power” Prov. 24:5; 1Kig 3: 9; Isa. 11:2; Jam 1:5; Hos. 4:6; Isa. 13:5.
2. You must develop others through your gifts to be productive in the body of Christ. Verse25 says, “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” To have concern, or care means looking after the development and effectiveness of one another.
Every part belongs to the others and must contribute to the well being of others. Therefore, stay connected to the source and draw strength from the source. Jesus says, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15: 3-4; Rom. 12:4, 5; 1Pet 4: 10; 2Pet. 1: 3-8
3. You must dispense your gift for you to be rewarded in the Kingdom of our God. The Bible says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” verse 26. Spiritual gifts are meant to bring joy to the body of Christ. The joy comes from the fruits produced by the   entire body. When the gifts are not fully dispensed, the body suffers drought.
Conclusion
As a Christian, God has deposited in you one spiritual gift or the other. Your gifts are meant not only for your own benefits but also for the body of Christ.  Do not use your gift to cause division in the church, but to unite and profit the people of God. As you do so, the Lord will reward you eternally in Jesus name.

THE BELIEVER'S CALL

 Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

everyone on earth has a call of God upon his or her life.

Introduction 
Reading through thee Scripture and from experience as minister of the Word of God, it is evidently clear that everyone on earth has a call of God upon his or her life. This call will be seen in three dimensions. These are
1. A Call to Salvation
2. A Call to Sanctification
3. A Call to Service
Since the fall of the first family, it has been the purpose of God for all people to experience these calls making the kingdoms of this world becomes the Kingdom of our Lord. We shall consider each of the calls in subsequent paragraphs.

1. A Call to Salvation: - This is fundamental to our faith and activities in the kingdom of our Lord here on earth. It is commonly referred to as general call. We are all called to live in accordance to the principles of God’s law and we are also called to a life committed to the service of God and our fellow man.
This call was necessitated by the fall of the first family. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Gen. 1: 27; 1 Cor. 11: 7. However, the man lost sovereignty over the earth when he rebelled against the original purpose of God for man. Gen. 3: 8-9;
God has been calling us to salvation since then till now. 2 Pet. 3:9; Joel 2:12, 13; Luk 3:1-4; Matth. 3: 2 “The entire story of God’s people—beginning with Abraham and Sarah, and now extending to all nations through the reconciling power of the Cross—is a vast, world-historical rescue mission to restore the capacity for true image bearing” Answering the call brings back the original image of God that was lost in the Garden of Eden.
The call to salvation brings us to God in repentance feeling sorry for our miserable life and be ready to turn away from sinfulness. Matth 9: 13; Luk 5: 32; Mark 2: 17; Col. 3: 15; Eph 4: 4; 1 Pet 2: 20-21; 2 Tim. 1: 9
2. A Call to Sanctification: - this call to a practical life of a Christian touches our dedication to doing the will of God. It is a call to ‘discipling’ which is more intense in our walk with God in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a call to potter’s hands for making into the life pleasing unto God. The Bible says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12: 1, 2; Heb. 12: 14; 1 Thess. 4: 7; 2 Cor. 6: 14-17; It is a call to dedication, separation and transformation. Joh 17: 19; 1 Thess 5: 23;


3. A Call to Service: - when your life is consecrated and dedicated to God, He equips you for service. Jesus told the Apostles “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Believers are to be baptized by the Holy Spirit that they may fulfill the great commission.
Note: - baptism of the Holy Spirit is not just to pray in tongue but to affect lives within and outside the Church. 1 Cor. 12-14; Rom. 12: 4, 5, 6-8; Eph. 4: 11-14   says  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,  to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

THE POWER OF FAITH

Christians are victorious and happy people not because there is no more battle to fight nor troubles around them but the simple truth is that they know that the just shall live by faith

 Rev'd G. S. Adeyemo

Text: - “32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:32-34

Christians are victorious and happy people not because there is no more battle to fight nor troubles around them but the simple truth is that they know that the just shall live by faith.  “Faith is sitting in the middle of the storm of your life and still being able to close your eyes and picture the sunny skies still being able to feel the better days coming, despite the storm all around you.”  What the Lord is laying upon my heart to share with you is ‘The Power of Faith’ the passage for this topic is from one of the most powerful epistles written when persecution of Christians were at its peak in the early church. 

These common men who demonstrated uncommon faith in the face of their giants and unparalleled troubles are great examples for us who are melting under pains and troubles. They were hated, rejected, deprived, confined and bruised by kings, heathens and the wicked. No one would want to identify with them yet they held fast to their confession of faith in Christ Jesus. Thus they conquered their impossibilities.  

  Everyone mentioned in the passage faced his battles of life based on their knowledge of God and their relationship with Him.  You too can overcome and fulfill God’s purpose for your life if you:  

1. Know the God who is bigger than your troubles.  He is able to control all situations. He works in those who trust Him without fear. Those men never refused to trust God even when situation was hopeless because they knew that God knows the end from the beginning. The Bible says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure” Isaiah 46:10; Job 42:2; Luke 1:37; Matthew 19:26

2. Face your challenges not minding the cost. The word of God says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3: 5,6; Psalm 20:7; 1 Samuel 7:28; Proverbs 11:28;  

Every threatening situation and force from the kingdom of darkness will turn their back when your faith in God is unalloyed faith in God. Troubles turn to testimonies when you call upon God in trust. May you be richly blessed as you do so in Jesus name.