Zoe in Jesus Christ

*REMAINING CONNECTED WITH CHRIST*

*As a Christian, if you want to remain connected with Christ Jesus, it begins with a decision. The Scripture says Daniel purposed in his heart (Dan 1:8).* You need to come to that point where you make up your mind to stay connected with Christ.

_*Your spiritual journey with the Lord must start with a firm resolve that cannot be easily dissolved.* So, when the going gets tough, you will say, *"nothing can separate me from the love of Christ"* (Rom 8:35-39)._

Abiding in Jesus will also entail constant oiling of the wheels of your relationship with Him. *You should consistently and privately spend time with God in fellowship. Don't joke with your quiet time; spend quality time in personal fellowship with Him. Intentionally take out time to worship Him intimately* (Ps 91:1). In fact this is one of the major benefits - *you're protected and secured in God's presence.*

_Study the Scriptures and practice prompt obedience to the word of God (Joshua 1:8). *You need to also practise self-denial. You should be ready to take up the Cross, and follow Christ through thick and thin. Also, make Jesus the priority in your life.*_

*If you love Jesus, you will give Him first place in your life, and be faithful to Him.* Believe in Him, continue with Him, and depend on Him for life and vitality.

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi - (pls share)

*WHAT BRINGS ABOUT DISCONNECTION FROM THE LORD.?*

A person who responds to the call to salvation, and accepts Jesus as Saviour, indeed has the interest and willingness to be a child of God.

*But what happens along the line? What brings about the disconnection from the Lord?*

👌 *SPIRITUAL LAZINESS:* Many people lack diligence and dedication towards God, they attend church services, and are even active in church; but they are lazy towards their personal relationship with God.

_They are complacent when it comes to spending time in prayer, studying the Word; actively seeking out His will, and obeying it. If your faith, and the grace of God bestowed on you do not propel you to take action, make godly choices and make efforts to sustain your relationship with Christ, then your faith is vain._

👌 *LACK OF UNDERSTANDING:* Some people who receive the Gospel do not understand what it means to be in Christ; *as such the seed of the Word is easily taken away from them by the devil* (Matt 13:4,19).

_Such people cannot remain in the LORD, because the Word of God is not deeply rooted in their hearts. This is why Apostle Paul recommended in 2Pet 1:5 that you diligently *"add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge."* Knowledge will produce understanding, and understanding will entrench the Word in the heart._

👌 *THE QUEST TO SURVIVE & WIN THE RAT RACE:* _The thought of how to make a living, care for loved ones, and generally survive in this world is enough to keep some people distracted._

*The pursuit of what to eat and drink, what to wear, how to advance in one's career, have disconnected many from Christ. They don't have time to pray about anything. Studying the Word takes a lot of struggle, because there are so many things they could be doing with that time.* These categories of people can't remain in Christ, because of the cares of this life (Matt 13:22).

👌 *TEMPORARY EXCITEMENT:* This is the description of some converts. *They just get emotional, and respond to the altar call, but they are not rooted in the WORD. This category of people easily loses their excitement; they are very sensitive and easily offended.*

_When they come face-to-face with the reality of carrying the Cross and following Christ; when they enter persecution, tribulation, and oppression, they easily throw in the towel. They are fickle, indecisive and inconsistent. They can't remain in Christ._

*Examine yourself today, which of these points describe your spiritual status? Nevertheless, you need to know how you can remain connected with Christ.*

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi - (pls share)

*OUR DEPENDABLE CAPTAIN*

You don't need to wonder too much who He is, as the Scriptures gives details about Him (Mark 4:35-41). *He's our dependable Captain; the One who has what it takes to see you through life's voyage, and take you to triumphant side of your situation.*

_He is the One who can speak into extinction the winds of hardship, bo***ge, and torment in your life. *He is Jesus, the Son of the living God; the Saviour of the world. He is able to quell every battle raging in your life NOW. He is incomparable; the Mighty Warrior indeed; the Refuge in life's storm.*_

He is not just interested in being the Captain of your life's boat, *He desires to be that friend that is closer than a brother (Prov 18:24).* More than ever, we need this dependable Captain at the helm of our life's boat; as the world is increasingly getting unpredictable, volatile, and harsh. *It is only wise to take shelter under the fold of the One who is the Giver of life; who understands the metrics of life. He is the Way, Truth, and the Life.*

_If you are yet to have a relationship with this Captain, do yourself a great service by declaring your allegiance to Him. *Plead for forgiveness and ask Him into your life to be your Lord and Saviour. Spend time listening to Him by reading, meditating on, and committing His Word to heart.*_

Only He has the power to see you through the twists and turns of life. *He is the only Anchor that is steadfast, secured and sure. He is the dependable CAPTAIN; you can safely depend on Him.*

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi - (pls share)

*SPIRITUAL WEAPONS TO FORTIFY YOUR CHILDREN*

Some of the *spiritual weapons* with which you should fortify your child are:

🙏🏽 *THE NAME OF JESUS:* _You should fortify your child with this *GREAT WEAPON* which is the most potent in the Christians' armory. Teach him about the power in the name of Jesus and the need for a cordial relationship with HIM before the name can work for him_ (Philip 2:9-11).

🙏🏽 *THE BLOOD OF JESUS:* _Fortify your child with the *BLOOD OF JESUS on a DAILY basis* and also teach him how to appropriate it for maximum protection anywhere he finds himself_ (Rev 12:11).

🙏🏽 *THE WORD OF GOD:* _A child who knows the word knows his authority in Christ and won't be tossed about by false peddlers of the Gospel. *So, fortify him with God's Word from the cradle.* Read the Bible to him and ensure he reads, studies, memorizes and applies it to his daily life as he grows older_ (Heb 4:12).

🙏🏽 *PRAYER:* _Through prayer, your child can do exploit and triumph over any circumstance. *Prayer accomplishes great wonders* and you can't afford to make him ignorant of the enormous power at his disposal through prayer_ (Matt 7:7).

🙏🏽 *FAITH:* _A child well equipped with this weapon *sees no impossibility* because he believes *God can do ALL THINGS.* So, *teach him to believe God for EVERYTHING* irrespective of what he sees or doesn't see around him. *Teach him to exercise faith concerning ANYTHING he asks in prayer because doubters never receive anything from God*_ (Heb 11:6 James 1:6-7).

In conclusion, your child must be born-again before he can be adequately fortified and before these weapons can be effective.

_If he's not, then lead him to JESUS by asking him to repent of his sins, forsake them and accept Jesus as his Lord. *The Lord will keep him/her fortified in JESUS' NAME!*_

Pastor W. F. KUMUYI - (pls share)

*CONSEQUENCES OF IMPATIENCE*

IMPATIENCE just like every other negative habit, comes with a price, albeit, higher than you can ever afford. It has far reaching consequences, such that span across many generations. Below are some of these consequences:

👌 *AVOIDABLE ACCIDENTS:* _There are a lot of accidents today in the home, on the streets, while driving or walking, some of which bring temporary or permanent disabilities all because of someone's impatience._

👌 *CONFLICTS WITH OTHERS:* _Impatience will lead to arguments, misunderstanding and perhaps physical combat and all what this will bring is a bad reputation and a stigma._

👌 *LOSS OF FRIENDS AND CLOSEST COMPANIONS:* _No one wants to be a friend with an angry, selfish and self-conceited man or woman. When you want things your way everytime, you will make life difficult for those around you. Loved ones will start withdrawing till you are left with no one._

👌 *CRISES AT HOME:* _This is the first indicator of impatient spouses. When you can't bear with yourself and others, conflict is inevitable. In the long run, you become bad examples to kids and who look up to you._

*IMPATIENCE is very destructive. When you pick your fruits before they are ripe your loss will be gross. In the end, you will have no useful harvest (Prov 21:5).*

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi - (pls share)

*WHAT TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN*

*Children need a lot of love and attention.* It's sad that these days most parents don't create time to be with their children. *Yet, the children have a lot of questions to ask.*

*LIFE is full of so many puzzles and no godly adult is available to discuss with, except their equally confused peer groups.* _A 1994 survey of over 3,700 churched youths revealed that parents are not among the primary counsellors they confide in or turn to for advice. Only 26% said they frequently sought advice from their fathers, and 40% said they frequently sought advice from their mothers._

*Rather than have time to sit down and discuss with children to assure them of love in the home and the desire of God for them, most parents bury themselves in their jobs, church-work or television programmes.* This shouldn't be. _Parents must take time to be alone with their children, just to observe, to listen, to counsel and to guide._

*Children need godly mentoring.* _What images do we present before our children by our examples and precepts?_ *Our interactions, as well as the language we employ in the home (on each other and on the children), will go a long way to influence their thinking and behavior.*

When parents ignore *STRICT* conformity to the word of God in their dealings, they send wrong signals to the children and this is detrimental to sound upbringing. The word of God must be clearly taught in the home and allowance must be given for questions and must be answered appropriately.

*Above everything else, children need prayers.* _They need our prayers to fulfill God's purpose for their lives._ *Memories of such parents' piety, Devotion, faithfulness, truthfulness, prayers and uncommon faith often leave indelible marks on the children's lives.*

Pastor W. F. KUMUYI - (PLS SHARE)

*GRIEVING FOR SINNERS*

A preacher once said, _*"I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of you and say you are mine, and you shall be mine, I claim you for myself. My hope arises from the freeness of grace and not from the freedom of will".*_

The children of Judah, while in exile and captivity, had mixed with the people of the land. *They had intermarried and copied their customs, contrary to God's commandments.* Many of them, including the nobles returned to Jerusalem with strange wives and children.

_*EZRA was greatly troubled and mourned for their transgressions, seeking to influence the people to their original convictions(Ezra 10:6-8).* Our grieving, weeping and pleading for other people's sin have the capacity to break down those down those who otherwise would have continued unashamedly in their sinfulness and backslidden state._

*When EZRA, a scribe, a scholar and man in authority under the King, so deeply lamented over the national sinfulness and disobedience to God's command, the people concluded that they had indeed committed grievous sins.*

_The state of sinners and backsliders can lead them to eternal damnation in hell fire and this demands immediate action. *Like Ezra, standing believers must weep and cry to God for forgiveness and restoration of sinners and backsliders.*_

*We must make them bend their knees in confession of sin and wholeheartedly repent.* There is grace for forgiveness and cleansing of sin by our Lord Jesus Christ.

*FAITHFUL INTERCESSORS CAN HOLD BACK GOD'S WRATH*

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi - (pls share)

*ACTION OF FAITH*

*The birth of people who make history is generally not often heralded by a tumultuous welcome.* In some instances though, there might be some merry making and dancing that a child is born. *The pomp and mirth heralding the birth of a child does not always determine the type of life he will lead or his achievements in life.*

_*BABY MOSES,* at birth, was received with mixed feelings of joy and trepidation. Pharaoh, had given orders that male Hebrew children should no longer be allowed to live. By divine intervention, his mother took the risk of preserving him till the baby was finally picked up and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter._ (Exodus 2:1-10)

*Miriam, Moses' elder sister was readily available to satisfy Pharaoh's daughter's quest for a nanny to nurse the baby. She was not afraid to approach the Egyptian princess.*

_From the fearless and courageous conduct of Miriam, *we should learn to take advantage of God-given opportunities. We should not let fear cause us to miss great opportunities in ministry and in our daily life.* The Almighty Lord will gladly bring us out of our 'bulrushes' even when prevailing circumstances seem impossible, dark and dreary._

_*God has a desirable destiny in mind for EVERYONE. Salvation through Christ and abiding in Him will bring the FULL manifestation of that glorious destiny. If you will FULLY trust God, you will fulfill that destiny, the fearsome challenges of the enemy notwithstanding.*_

*BE WISE TO UTILIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY!*

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi - (pls share).

*GOD'S TIMETABLE*

Our Almighty Creator has ordered His universe right from the day He designed it. *Everything has its place; everyone has a unique programme ordained by God.*

_We only scheme ourselves out of God's divine plan that guarantees happiness on earth and bliss in eternity by resisting the gospel and rejecting Jesus as Lord._

_*Are there things you are believing God for? You will get them if your faith does not fail. God is NEVER too late. He will do what He says He will do in His time.*_ _While we live in the valley of sin and/or unbelief, impossibilities appear lofty and real; *but once we rise out of sin through faith in Christ, we ascend Mount Zion with Him where* _"all things are possible to him that believeth"_ (Mark 9:23).

*Never despair in the face of challenges of life; instead, seek the face God in prayer and then patiently await His intervention.* Be sure of this: _"He makes all things beautiful in His time,"_ as the song writer says.

PRAYER: _*Help me, Lord, to ignore seeming impossibilities and trust in your promises.*_

Pastor W. F. KUMUYI - (pls share)

*DON'T WRECK YOUR MINISTRY*

*The story of Samson* makes an interesting reading and study for every heaven-bound Christian. *It instructs and let us know that there is no level one can get to in Christendom that guarantees safety in the walk with God except to walk carefully, watchfully and prayerfully.*

_That Samson, the strongest man in human history, a Nazarite unto God, *a Spirit-filled man and a judge in Israel made a shipwreck of his ministry and life is a clear indication that he "that thinketh he standeth" must take heed lest he falls* (1 COR 10:12)._

Whilst it was the will of God that Samson should get in touch with the Philistines to deliver the isrealites (Judges 13:5), *he was not expected to make a shipwreck of his ministry there. This shows success or otherwise of any calling or ministry more or less depends on the human side.*

_*Saul, Solomon, Jeroboam, Judas Iscariot, etc made a shipwreck of their ministries out of their own failings.* However, many saints have passed through what we are passing through today and overcame to wear the crown._

As believers, there is need to put on the whole amour of God if we must also overcome by the same grace that saw them through. That is the will of God for us. (Judges 14:1-11).

*WATCHFULNESS WITH PRAYER WILL BRING VICTORY*

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi (pls share)

*CHASTITY*

*TRUE BELIEVERS are called upon to conduct themselves in utmost PURITY.* The standard for ALL CHRISTIANS is that not even a hint of immorality should be mentioned among them, worse still, practicing it(Eph 5:1-3). *The young women should be chaste and enter their marriage beds as VIRGINS.*

_The metaphor of the wall and the door in our text (Songs of Solomon 8:8-14) has to do with the girl's chastity. If she was a door, a woman of easy virtue, then she would not be fit to be a bride in Israel, but if she kept herself pure, behind a wall, as it were, then she's suitable for marriage. *She entered her marriage as a PURE VIRGIN after she developed physically and was admired by her husband.*_

The subject of sanctity before marriage is very important. *In Israel, it was an abomination and shameful for one's daughter not to be found a virgin by her husband on her first night of marriage. If the tokens of her virginity are not found, she could be stoned to death as punishment for her defiled status.*

_Today, the story is different as chastity has been thrown into the winds. *In this age of girlfriends and boyfriends, dating and relationships, most ladies are defiled before coming to their matrimonial homes.*_ If that was restricted to the world, it could be bearable, *but alas, this menace is gradually getting into the church!* As believers, we must present our bodies a living sacrifice, a home that CHRIST can dwell in.

_*YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.*_

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi - (pls share)

*....AND KISH GAVE BIRTH TO SAUL*

_*If you knew your son/daughter would one day turn out to become a great leader in the land, how would you have raised him/her?* This question should send *every parent and potential parent* must be thinking._

*No one can rightly predict the future of a child; however, parenting provides a very unique and unequaled opportunity to prepare today's kids for tomorrow's responsibilities.*

_Certainly, *Kish, Saul's father* did not have the slightest premonition that that son, who did not in any way look different from other kids, *would one day make history not just as king, but indeed as the VERY FIRST KING OF ISRAEL.*_

*As it later turned out to be, the questions are:*

👌 _Would Kish have had any regret for the way he had brought up Saul?_

👌 _Would he have wished *he had done better in training and preparing SAUL for the eventual role he was to play* in the history of Israel?_

👌 _Is it possible that Saul's eventual failure as a king *could be linked to the to the way he was brought up?*_

*The story of the Saul's life and the lives of so many leaders today who were once little children is a food for thought for many parents.* _As Christian parents, we should see it as a great opportunity to send into the world change agents who will influence their time for good and the glory of Christ._

*We must not look down on today's children no matter what seeming weaknesses they may have.* It is better we approach child training as though we are preparing them for royal responsibilities. *Let's guard against whatever will cause us to regret the future of our children.*

_No effort should be considered too much to exact in building these great leaders of tomorrow. *Who knows what that little child of yours today would turn out to be tomorrow? Maybe another history! What you do with them today will tell. Therefore, RAISE THAT CHILD WITH CARE!*_ (1CHRO 9:35-44).

*WILLL YOUR CHILD LOOK BACK TOMORROW WITH A "THANK YOU" GLANCE?*

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi - (pls share)