Saviour OLD Students Association(sosa)

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES
TUESDAY 3RD MAY, 2016
PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME.

THEME: LOOK INWARDS FOR THE PERFECT GLORY.

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Exodus 24:16 tells us how the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the glory-cloud covered it for six days. It shows us something: the glory of God’s presence, assumed the visible form of a cloud over Mount Sinai. This physical manifestation of God’s glory was easier for the Jewish congregation in the wilderness to relate with, because they were men and women of the senses.

Today, however, there’re still some in the Church who want to relate with the glory of God from a physical perspective. For example, when you talk about the glory of God being present in a Church meeting, they expect to see a cloud or some physical manifestation as it was in the Old Testament; but God’s purpose is beyond having the glory in the building or environment.

No doubt, some people would have their faith bolstered if they saw something physical like a cloud filling the room, but it’s because they’re babes in the things of God. They’re yet to come up to the higher levels of understanding and manifestations of the glory of God. The Lord Jesus made it clear that the Kingdom of God doesn’t come with observation, nor is it something to be sought for in the environment. He said the kingdom is within you, that means it’s in your heart (Luke 17:20-21).

God’s excellent glory is in your spirit! Christ in you, is God’s perfect glory. Hallelujah! Ephesians 3:20 describes it as “...the power that worketh in us.”

The power at work in you is the Holy Ghost; He’s the glory of God, and He lives in you. Observe that it didn’t say “...the power that shall be present in your environment,” no! The anointing works from within you; therefore, look inwards, to the glory within.

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for your power that’s at work in me. I’ve become the brightness and expression of your perfect glory, daily showing forth your virtues and perfections. Your glory fills my life, and I’m eternally grateful that I’ve become both the reflection, and reflector, of your excellent glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Luke 17:21
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
John 1:1-18,
2 Samuel 15-17.

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
1 Corinthians 3:1-9,
Psalm 147-148.

Good morning.
Have a Splendid Day.
You're Blessed!

“The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me — to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24b NCV)

God gave you a mission, and it’s a mission only you can accomplish.

Nothing matters more than this mission.

The most important work in your life isn’t to get married, fund your retirement, travel, or have lots of fun. The most important thing you can ever do is to fulfill God’s mission for your life. If you don’t, the Bible says your life is a waste.

Acts 20:24 says, “The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me — to tell people the Good News about God’s grace” (NCV).

Jesus died on the cross to bring grace to you and to give you a mission. Part of your mission is to tell other people about the good news of God’s grace. You came to faith in Christ because someone told you about Jesus. Now who are you going to tell?

Jesus died for every single person in your community and around the world. Most people live their lives as if they’re totally unaware that Jesus died for them. If those people live and die without ever knowing what Jesus did for them, then his death was a waste in reference to that person.

Because God cares about every single person on the planet, we must too. Because God showed grace to us when he saved us, we must tell other people about the amazing grace of God. We must tell them that they can have a relationship with God and an eternal home in Heaven.

It’s our mission!

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:4-5 NLT)

Everything in your life is a gift of God, because God is generous.

God wants his children to become like him. He wants you to learn that you can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.

You say, “I really love my kids!” Do you give them your time? “I really love my wife.” Do you give her your attention? This is what love is all about. You become more loving when you become more generous.

Every time you’re generous, a change takes place in you. Every time you give, your heart moves another tweak up the dial toward God. You become more loving every time you give. You become more like Jesus.

Philippians 1:11 says, “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God” (NLT).

What we’re talking about here is extremely counter culture, because our culture does not tell you to give. Everything in our culture says “get.” Would you agree we’re living in an increasingly self-centered culture? Narcissism is on the rise. It’s all about me. Me, my stuff, my needs — me, me, me. We have a “me” problem!

When you’re generous, it gets the focus off you so that you can stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about others. Philippians 2:4-5 says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

Every time you show generosity, you strengthen your faith.

Why is that? Because when you take something and, instead of using it on yourself, you use it to help others, then you’re going to have to depend on God to help you.

When you choose to help a friend who’s having a tough time paying his bills, you’re going to have to learn to trust God to provide for you.

If you only have a certain amount of time to get stuff done, but you stop and instead use the time to help your neighbor, you have to trust God to expand the time and make it work so you can get your stuff done, too.

Your faith is strengthened when you depend on God in those situations and trust him. You choose to pray, instead of worry and expect God to take care of your needs.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (NLT).

Over 33 years at Saddleback, we’ve had six different times where we asked people to give above their normal offerings. In every one of those times, God stretched my own faith. In fact, during one campaigns, God led Kay and me to give away our salary over a three-year period. Do you think that was a test of faith? How in the world were we going to live if we gave my entire salary to this offering (this was before I’d written any books)? It meant that for those three years, we had to trust God to somehow provide income.

That was a test of my faith. And each time God has tested me, my faith has only become stronger and stronger as God provided faithfully. God will do the same for you when you give generously.

After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” (Hebrews 6:15 NIV)

When you’re waiting on God, remember that you’re in good company.

Millions of saints before you have sat in God’s waiting room. You’re not alone. In fact if you’re in the waiting room right now — maybe you’re waiting on a job, on an answer, or on a prayer — there are a lot of other people around you who are in that same situation.

Hebrews 11:2 says, “People who lived in the past became famous because of faith” (ICB) — and every one of those people had to wait.

Think about Hannah, who had to wait years to have the baby that she was praying God would give her.

Think about Joseph, who had a God-given vision of being a ruler from a very young age but spent 14 years in a prison for a crime he did not commit.

Think of Moses, who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years while he waited for his next assignment and to know his purpose in life.

Think of Abraham, who waited a hundred years before he had Isaac, the child God had promised him years before.

Think about Noah, who waited 120 years before it rained.

God waited thousands of years before sending the Messiah. We get in a hurry. But God is not in a hurry. Waiting is essential to your faith.

Hebrews 6:15 says, “After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised” (NIV).

i love this