“Therefore everyone who hears these Words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV)
Sober Reflections
Storms are a part of life. We can stand unshaken if we are doers of the Word of God.
From our opening scripture, the key to the house that stood was not in the hearing of the Word but in the doing of the Word.
However, we can only be doers of the Word if we understand it. When we hear the Word of God but we do not understand it, we cannot put it into practice, and when the storms of life hit, we shall not be able to stand it.
Understanding brings a mental revelation or light where there is darkness in our minds. This culminates into action that brings fruitfulness.
The parable of the sower in Matt 13 further explains the need to understand the Word when it is preached. Verse 19 tells us that when one hears the Word of the Kingdom but does not understand it, the devil comes and snatches it away from his heart.
This means understanding the Word of God is key in our Christian walk as it forms the basis for our obedience and fruitfulness.
Sisters, it is worthy to note that the principles and truth of the Kingdom involve the responsibility to act upon them. This is only possible when we understand them.
Let us always pray for understanding of the Word, that we may act accordingly.
Prayer
Thank You Father God for giving me the Word that will strengthen me to stand the storms of life.
Holy Spirit, please open my eyes of understanding that I shall walk according to the Word and stand when the winds of life buffet me to the glory of God in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen!
Scriptures For Meditation
Matthew 7:24-27, Ephesians 1:18
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Hebrews 6:10
Sober Reflections
God is the best rewarder of faithful and diligent service. For His rewards are very high both here on earth and in heaven.
God rewards even the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations of those who work for Him. Psalm 37:25
Our opening verse tells us that there are rewards for those who through faithfulness accomplished their assignments. A few rewards are:
▪︎They are promoted far above their contemporaries. Dan 6:3, Phil 2;9
▪︎They prosper and have good success. Josh 1:8
▪︎They receive double rewards. Matt 25;14
▪︎Their children are blessed. Isa 54:13
▪︎They are seated in the place of glory Heb 12:2
Sisters, the best employers may reward us handsomely but it is only while you are in employment and only on earth. God on the other hand rewards heavily both in time and in heaven. His reward is also total and complete – physically, emotionally and spiritually to generations after you.
Prayer
Thank You Father God for being a great rewarder for my faithful service in Your Kingdom.
Holy Spirit, please help me to serve God diligently and faithfully to His glory in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen!
Scriptures For Meditation
Hebrews 6:10-12, Matthew 25:21-23
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our Apostle and High Priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.
Hebrews 3:1-2 (NIV)
Sober Reflections
God looks for faithfulness in a man to use unto honour.
Jesus was faithful to God’s assignment from the beginning to the end. Moses was also faithful as we see in our opening verses.
For God to use us greatly, we must be faithful in the little assignments He gives to us.
In Matt 25:16, the man who was given five talents doubled it by working faithfully and he was given more.
To follow the example of Jesus’ faithfulness to His calling, we shall look at what He did that helped Him.
▪︎Availability – Jesus made Himself available. Isa 6:8
We must be available whenever we are called upon.
▪︎Humility – Even though He was God, Jesus left His throne and humbled Himself to be a man. Phil 2:6-7
To be faithful, we must let go of pride and be humble.
▪︎Obedience – Jesus obeyed to death. Phil 2:8
To be faithful we must obey every instruction fully. Not selective obedience.
▪︎Perseverance – Jesus endured the shame, the ridicule and the cross till the end. Heb 12:2
Faithfulness entails endurance till the end.
Sisters, when we are faithful in the little things assigned to us at home, in the community, at the office etc. God sees our faithfulness. Just as He hand picked David from the wilderness while caring for his father’s sheep and put him on the throne, God can pick us to use if we are faithful in the little things.
Prayer
Thank You Father God for giving me the grace to be faithful in every assignment You give to me.
Holy Spirit, please help me to follow the example of Jesus in faithfulness of service till the end to the glory of God in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen!
Scriptures For Meditation
Hebrews 3:1-6, Luke 9:62
Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
2 Timothy 2:23-24 (NLT)
Sober Reflections
We are still looking at who God uses for honour. To be used by God, one must become a servant.
A servant is one who does not have a will of his own. He is totally under the command of his master. The servant is committed to serving and pleasing his master.
Apostle Paul often referred to himself as a slave or servant of Christ. Rom 1:1
The type of people God uses are people who serve. Moses served his father-in-law caring for his sheep. Joseph served Potiphar, David cared for his father’s sheep. They all surrendered their own will for the will of God.
When Paul encountered Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus, he was a Pharisee, a Hebrew and very zealous at persecuting the church but he put all of that behind him and became a servant to the Lord. Phil 3:8
Mary, the mother of Jesus surrendered her will and in obedience carried the pregnancy of Jesus Christ. Luke 1:38
The disciples of Jesus left everything they had, their businesses, families and their will and became servants to Jesus.
All of these and many more became servants to God and God used them greatly.
Sisters, when God looks for a person to use, He looks for one who serves. We may want to be used by God but until we learn to serve others and surrender our will to become His servants, we cannot be vessels to honour God.
Start by serving your husband and the authority over you.
Prayer
Thank You Father God for giving me the opportunity to be Your servant.
Holy Spirit, please help me to humble myself to the service of men and to surrender my will as obedient servant of the Lord in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen!
Scriptures For Meditation
2 Timothy 2:23-26, Mark 10:42-45
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
Sober Reflections
While we flee from lustful desires we must pursue godliness to maintain purity of heart.
Our opening verse commands us to pursue righteousness. This means having right thoughts which ultimately results in doing what is right according to the Word of God, showing love to others and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pursue faith – trusting God in all situations and being faithful and dependable in what has been entrusted to us. Without faith we cannot please God. Heb 11:6
Love is another thing to pursue if God will use us. A decisive love – loving the unlovable and even those who hurt us. Loving beyond the limits of our emotions – only the Holy Spirit can help us to love unconditionally.
Pursue peace – we must live at peace with all men as much as it depends on us. This means humility, admitting our faults and forgiving others. Rom 12:18
Sisters, God is seeking for vessels of honour and He is looking for righteousness, faith, love and peace in that vessel.
Jesus will not give a treasure to anyone who will not value it. Matt 7:6
Prayer
Thank You Father God for giving me the opportunity to be used by You.
Holy Spirit, please help me to be a vessel that God can trust with His precious treasure in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Scriptures For Meditation
2 Timothy 2:22, Matthew 7:6
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
Sober Reflections
To be used by God for special purposes, we must learn to flee from lustful desires and certain behaviours.
Paul tells Timothy to flee from youthful passions. Though Paul was not specific about the youthful lusts to flee from, we know some common youthful lusts include:
▪︎Impatience – The youth are often impatient but we know that all the people God used greatly had to wait for God to have His way in all things. Abraham, Joseph, and Moses waited patiently. 2 Tim 2:24
▪︎Selfish ambition – This is one of the things that stand in the way of the youth. They must come first in everything. This often results in unhealthy competition, jealousy, envyings etc. To be greatly used by God, one needs to deny himself. Matt 16:24
▪︎Sexual immorality – This is a sin against one’s own body. It causes emotional scars, spiritual bondages and physical diseases. It is important to flee from this as it can be a hindrance to be used by God.1 Cor 6:18
Sisters, if God is going to use us greatly, we must learn to flee from lustful passions. Joseph learnt to flee from the seduction of Potiphar’s wife even though it resulted in him being imprisoned, he was used greatly by God. When we flee from sin, God embraces us in righteousness.
Prayer
Thank You Father God for giving me the power to flee from sinful desires.
Holy Spirit, please help me to flee from sinful desires and every appearance of sin so that I may be a worthy vessel unto God in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen!
Scriptures For Meditation
2 Timothy 2:22, Genesis 39:10-12
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
Sober Reflections
We continue our study on the vessels that God uses both for special purpose and for common use.
Our opening scripture tells us that those who cleanse themselves and are pure instruments for special purpose.
Note that the Bible does not ascribe the instrument for special use to a particular office. This means anybody who cleanses himself and is pure qualifies for a special purpose.
Again, the Bible does not indicate what the special purpose is. It is God Who determines what special purpose is.
To be used by God for special purpose, we must be separated from ungodly relationships: such people only engage in worthless discussions which makes them more ungodly. 2 Tim 3:2-5 tells us what the ungodly are more interested in.
In order not to be drawn into that life, we must avoid their company. 1 Cor 15:33
Sisters, God is no respecter of persons, He uses the vessel that fits the purpose. He counselled Cain in Gen 4:6-7 to do what is right and be accepted.
Let us separate ourselves from ungodly people as they will draw us into a life of sin making us unworthy vessels for the Lord’s use.
Prayer
Thank You Father God for Your counsel to avoid ungodly relationships and to do what is right that I may be used for Your glory and honour.
Holy Spirit, please help me to identify the ungodly even when they come disguised. Lord, I want to live a pure and Holy life for Your glory in Jesus’ Name. Amen
Scriptures For Meditation
2 Timothy 2:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:33
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2 Timothy 2:21
Sober Reflections
God desires that men shall serve Him however by His nature of purity and holiness, God does not accept just any kind of service. Before God accepts a service, the vessel must be pure.
In Genesis 4:3-5, both Cain and Abel brought offerings to sacrifice to the Lord. God accepted Abel and his sacrifice but did not accept Cain and his sacrifice.
This means before God accepts one’s service or offering, the person or vessel must first be accepted by God.
Thus, the opportunity to be used or not used is based on the condition of our hearts and our actions. The Bible gives an account of many vessels that God used for special purposes.
Some are Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Hannah, David, Mary, the disciples, Paul etc. Even though God divinely chose them for special purposes, they also made decisions that enabled them to be special vessels.
Sisters, Romans 12:1 says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
For God to accept us, our bodies must be a living sacrifice and holy. Our minds must be transformed by changing from the things of this world to the things of God.
May our heart, mind and body be pure and Holy for God’s purposes.
Prayer
Thank You Father God for the privilege to be used by You.
Holy Spirit, please help me to keep my heart, mind and body pure and Holy for the God’s use to His glory and honour in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen!
Scriptures For Meditation
2 Timothy 2:20-21, Romans 12:1-2
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