Jonah In The Ship

We all know the story about this popular Evangelist of God. His story have been used to teach and preach on the importance of obeying God’ instructions and call on our lives. Anytime this subject is taught, emotions are high; people tend to readjust and realign themselves in the purpose of God for their lives. But nobody has really ever seen the damage this man brought to others in their own purposes.
The presence of Jonah in that ship brought an untold losses on innocent people going about their businesses.

Jonah 1:4, “Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5:All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

Many people are going through grave losses in their businesses, ministries, etc due to this Jonah factor.
“When the wrong people are around you, they influence negative occurrences.”
Wrong people does not necessarily mean evil people,  they are irrelevant people. These set of people may possess qualities that  would make you feel  importance of their presence around you is necessary . They appear very harmless, innocent, humble, etc. But the heart of a man is his judge.
Jonah was disobedient to God; which is a display of pride.
There’s false humility…
Characteristics of Jonah:
1. Disobedient/Proud : Jonah 1:3
2. Nonchalant : verse 5
3. Judgmental in his heart: chapter 3:10, 4:1
The presence of Jonah in your life can bring you heavy losses. It is important to prayerfully identify a Jonah before he boards your ship (fellowship). Because that Jonah may not be a fellow for that ship. Help him or her to board the right ship for his mission.

If you have just discovered a Jonah in your ship, prayerfully throw him overboard.
Jonah could be that man or woman in your life. You can keep the relationship, but not the fellowship. Fellowship simply means to follow the same ship in this context.

HOW TO CONQUER DEPRESSION

Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

What is Depression?
feelings of severe despondency and dejection.
This feeling comes through external or internal words spoken to the heart of the depressed person more than what they see or experience.

When we look around these days, you see a lot of frustration in our societies. A lot of people are in the verge of breaking down mentally due to several issues. There is economic tension, marriage squabbles, health challenges, etc.
All the above mentioned issues leaves nothing to desire in life by many.

 Recently, I read a story about a man who committed suicide by jumping down from a skyscraper in Lagos. This man had lost his job through the prevailing economic tension in the country. He went into depression and thought the best way to get out of it is by killing himself. Wrong choice!

Depression is worse than insanity. I see it as a combination of insanity and frustration caused by a feeling of failure and dejection.

Since depression is caused by the frustration of not being able to fulfill a certain demand, it is important for us to understand and also know that there is nothing a man needs that can come from man. Therefore, man should never put hope in another man.

Our continuous trust in God without wavering will keep our hearts stable. Our hearts or minds are the table where everything that goes on are deliberated.

The Bible says; “ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2Tim. 1:7
Fear is the gateway to all frustration in life. It sets a man up for all manner of attacks. The Bible says; faith is a shield, a protection against the attacks of the enemy.
Faith in the Word of God is a mighty force that challenges the forces of darkness. Depression is the work of the enemy and faith in God, I mean unwavering faith in God can defile it.

The word of God cannot and does not fail. If you have anyone who is depressed, continue in a daily basis, speak the Word of God into that individual. Let him or her hear it, it will build faith in the heart of the individual.

THE REVELATION OF THE ENDTIME TO ME

The night was like every other night in September, 2011. As usual, we had our night prayer at home. I went to bed at about 1:00am. Not too long into my sleep, I began to have a revelation in form of a dream. In that dream, there was an announcement made to the hearing of everyone on earth that at about 10:00am, there will be a release of the demons of hell from the bottomless pit.

The announcement came as a warning to everybody in order to escape the wrath of these demons. Every family was assigned a demon for torment, but there is an escape route for everyone who was vigilant.
At about 9:50am, the demons were released, which came as a surprise to most people, because many were unprepared. There was commotion everywhere, but it was too late for the majority of the people to escape the indignation.

I saw families being trapped by just a demon who had control over them. I called my family and told them to get ready, because the demon assigned to my family hadn’t seen them. I got home on time and asked them to follow me, because I couldn’t carry even the youngest in the house except my Bible in a bag.

I saw a friend who had become very rich at that time trying to carry all his possessions with him, my plea to him leave without his properties fell on deaf ears until the demon caught up with him.
All of a sudden, I saw myself on a very narrow path, which could not contain two people standing side by side. I looked in front of me, and saw only one person and I scarcely saw anybody behind me and I woke up with a Holy fear towards the days ahead.

When I woke the next morning, I asked the Lord to give me a scriptural backing for the revelation, and I heard Revelation 9:1-12, 11:1-19 in my spirit.
In that revelation (dream), anyone who got himself on that narrow path was safe.
Mathew 7:13, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”
For those of us you already Christian (born-again), let us walk in the light.
Romans 13:11, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12:The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13:Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14:But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
For you who have not yet accepted the love of God, this is your best time to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Now, pray this prayer after me; “Lord Jesus, I come to you as a sinner, I ask that you forgive me all my sins, I accept you today as Lord and Savior. I believe in my heart that you died for me and rose again. Thank you for accepting me as your Son today. I’m born-again! Hallelujah!

TEACH US TO PRAY

TEACH US TO PRAY
So many people see pray as a time only to present our needs before God. Their mindset is how they tell God all about their trials and boom, God sorts them out. Yes, God is in the business of meeting our heart’s desires, but prayer is much more than request and response affair.

The disciple of Jesus Christ in Luke 11:1 said to Him to teach them to pray.
“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

They must have noticed that the prayer pattern of the Master was quite different from the norm.
2, "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3, Give us day by day our daily bread. 4, And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."

Firstly, we must see God as our Father, and address Him as such; not like a slave and Master relationship.
Luke 11:13, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

Secondly, we must go to Him with gratitude and present Him with heartfelt worship. “…hallowed be thy name.”

Thirdly, though the Bible says; “ the desire of the righteous shall be granted, it wise to ask for His will alone be established in our lives.

Now, looking into this pattern, it is obvious that the request for our needs does not come in the first three points in prayers. Before we even ask, He (God) already knows.

In prayers, God desires fellowship and a time of intimacy with us His children. It is a major line of communication between we and God.

CHURCH GROWTH STRATEGIES

The Church of Christ is a living entity with the fact that, the church isn’t the building housing the people, but Church is the people meeting in a building. One of the characteristics of a living thing is the ability to grow and develop.

The church is the body of Christ, which has the capacity to grow because it’s a living entity. Christ is the head and we are the body. The body cannot grow without a head. The church simply means, the called out, which in Greek is ecclesia.

Now, why should the church grow? In Genesis after God made man, He blessed them and said; “ be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth…” everything God does has a blessing for expansion. Jesus said to his disciples in Mathew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
That scripture is a proof of the need for the Church to expand locally and globally.
What are the most effective strategies to reach the nations for Christ and grow the local assembly even by the teachings of Jesus Christ?

The Holy Spirit :
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He instructed His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem for the most important moments of the Church. It was a strategic moment that would release them into spiritual success and growth for the body of Christ.

Luke 24:48,"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
The above scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit, which in Acts 2, the Lord sent to them. The Holy Spirit is the essence of the Church and the help of the Church of Christ.
After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the timid Church became a vibrant one. They spoke the gospel of Christ without fear and mighty miracles were wrought in the presence of the people.

Teaching The Word:
Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
One very undeniable way to make disciples is in the teaching of the Word of Christ. The Word of God is a power carrier. Many have been convicted and converted by the word of God. A good teaching congregation will likely retain her membership than any other. The Word of God illuminates darkness and brings freedom to her hearers.
John 8:32, “32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Love Expressed:
The Church is an institution of love. It born out of love and will continue to grow through love. The early Church after Pentecost displayed a great degree of love amongst themselves. Everyone desires to be loved, even the unloving wants to be loved. Love is the strongest tool to win the heart of people.
Acts 4:32, “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

Be Creative:
The Church is not outside of its society, but should not also be influenced by it. The Church must find the modern and creative way to reach out to the people. It must create good standards void of compromise (godly standards). The Church must creatively engage the youths and make them welcomed without breaking spiritual rules.
1Tim. 4:14, “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”
Young people should be encouraged to use their gifts for the service of the kingdom of God.

Discipleship:
Disciples are disciplined followers of what they believe. A local assembly must do a lot to raise disciples; men and women who are sold out to the vision. Note the word; DISCIPLINED. A disciple is more than a member, he is a leader in his own right. A Church that raises disciples will not lack in growth. Jesus said, “ …make disciple of all nations…”

Prayer:
A non praying Church is like a car without gasoline. Prayer is the energy that provides movement or growth in the Church. Create a vibrant intercessory unit in the Church and encourage them.
James 5:16, “ The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].AMP

Dynamic Worship:
Intense worship session during Church meetings brings down the presence of God, which in turn releases the Power of God upon the life of the people. The Bible says; “…God inhabit the praise of His saints.”
With the above strategies, I am confident that your assembly is ready for new dimension in Church growth. These aren’t the only strategies, but I shall give us more in my subsequent articles. God bless you!