Notes from Sunday 25 August, 2013,,
Speaker: Pastor Okey Ezeobi
Key Passages: Luke 17, Psalm 92
In Luke 17, the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked when will the Kingdom come? Like them, we have been asking when we will begin to walk in Divine Blessings? Jesus said that it is not a sudden bang that brings these divine blessings, rather the Kingdom of God is within you! God is not a magician, he does not all of a sudden create millionaires. He prepares the foundation to prepare you for that future he has promised. When God is building you up, he will build your foundation first to ensure that the structure that he would raise is firmly rooted in him.
I am here to give you a revelation/rhema on how to fetch that which is within you. Jesus has already promised us the keys to the Kingdom. To access the Kingdom, you need to open the door. You have to invoke certain things yourself, you have to access the kingdom yourself. Some of us when we hear the message (Keys), fail to use the keys in the way and the owner of the keys has prescribed. Let’s take the story of Ruth; she made many sacrifices to God before she harvested the gifts God had in store for her. Many of us want the gifts God has promised but we do not want to go through the path that allow us access it.
Divine Blessings are all around us. You are alive-that is a divine blessing. You must first accept this and appreciate God for this gift. The Kingdom is already within you. As Jesus has said, fetch out what is within you and you will be what you want to be. There is a saying about greatness: Some are born great, some have greatness bestowed on them whilst some achieve greatness. The Bible says that the Word of God has the capability of transforming us from where we are to where we want to be. You can achieve greatness simply by applying biblical principles.
Psalm 92:12-14 & Jeremiah 2:21 say that God has planted us. Whilst some people flourish, others are sadly degenerating. Why is this so? Jeremiah 17: 7 says “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord“. For he shall be as a tree planted by the rivers of water. What makes the difference is that some plants (people) trust and have their hope in God whilst others simply do not.
What then is Trust? 1 Kings 17 tells of the Widow of Zarephath encounter with Elijah. He asked her if she had water and food to which she answered in the affirmative. However, it was the last meal that she had to share with her son. Elijah asked her to prepare that last meal for him and she did so. That was complete trust without questioning. In the wedding at Canaan, Mary believed in Jesus to the point that she told the people “whatever he tells you to do, do it” Jesus later asked the people to fill the jars with water and give to the master of ceremonies to have a taste. This they did because they trusted him. (John 2). Many of us want to be sure with God, to be intimidated of his plans. However God wants us to trust him whether there are signs or not. Young men and women, you need to trust God: this is a major key to unlocking the Kingdom. It is knowing that the person who has sent you is capable of covering your back.
The bible talks of the 10 virgins- 5 wise ones and 5 foolish ones at a wedding feast. Their qualification was premised on the fact that they were all virgins. The foolish ones were do described because they did not trust and believe that the groom was coming. As a result, they went out to get more oil for their laps. When the time for their breakthrough came, they missed the wedding with the groom.
Luke 16: 10-12 says “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” Until you repent and treat that which is for others with respect, God will not give you your own. If you are faithful handling other people’s property, God would give you property of your own. Take David as an example; although the sheep he tended were owned by his father, he was ready to die and fight wild animals to protect the lives of the sheep. You have to show regard for and commitment to the things that God has put into your hands, to access the blessings God has promised for the work of your hands. When it is time for God to show up for you, he will! Be faithful, and committed to the things that God has given to you now. If you do nothing about the Kingdom in you, that Kingdom can die inside you. Apply the principles.. Apply the principles.. Faithfulness, Stewardship, Commitment!
Be faithful in small things, if you do, you will increase your privilege. Do not exhaust your privileges with any one. Over time, your privileges would increase. Cultivate the aura of responsibility; when you are seen as responsible, others will treat you responsibly, and more will be committed into your hands.
Finally, I discovered that people limit their capacity by limited vision. God cannot give you beyond what you are able to handle and you cannot prepare yourself for a future you do not see. 70 members of Joseph’s family moved into Egypt. However, the Bible records that 600,000 left Egypt (Goshen). The land that was given to them was the only land they stayed in (Goshen) It is obvious that in the beginning, Joseph had seen beyond the obvious 70 men and made provision for that future.
Enlarge your capacity and prepare for that future that you want!
Trust is knowing that the person who has sent you is capable of covering your back
