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Get Ready! Get United!! Get Focused!!!
Let us now connect once more with the urgency of God’s plan. The Holy Spirit does not sleep and is constantly and consistently at work in the hearts and lives of those who love him! Don’t leave it to others! Philippians 2:12 tells us: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” We must ensure that we are wide awake in the Spirit and not falling asleep. The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 serves as a warning: “1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” And again, Revelation 22:12 says, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” We must be ready and expectant, living every day as if it is our last. Such is the urgency of our mission! Take every opportunity to ‘being filled’ with the Spirit of God – “…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13b). We must own what God gives us In the parable of the talents, Jesus talks of a master going on a journey who entrusts property to his servants. While he was away he left it to the servants to invest what he had given them in the best way they could. When the master returned he found that two of the servants had invested well and had even multiplied their talents, for this, the master says: 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21 & 23). But one of the servants had only buried his talent in the ground and had failed to invest it. To this servant, the master says in Matthew 25:28-29: 28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. We need to own the good and gracious gifts God gives to us. He leaves it up to us, His children to invest in them wisely and to use them for maximum effect for His glory. All means All! Let us be edified by Acts 2:17: “ 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” All means All! We are living in the last days and this prophecy is being fulfilled all around the world as God’s people are being empowered and equipped for action. Are you ready? Do you own what God has given you? I pray that this write up will challenge you, encourage you greatly and spur you to action for the sake of the Gospel. God sees only two categories - saved and lost. He's not hung up on denominations, races or socio-economic distinctions: '...you are all one in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:28). There's something about receiving God's blessing that, when fully understood, makes you want to say to others, 'The God who brought me through, will bring you through too!' And you'll work and pray towards that end. When we're raised up together, divisions will be healed, we will be conformed (become similar in character) to Christ, and the world will begin to take us seriously. Lord, hasten the day! There is much work to be done and many, many more souls to be saved! God bless you greatly saints of God!
In His Vineyard Pastor J. B. Oseh |