Elders Forever Alive

WHY DO YOU SEEK JESUS? Bible Passage: John 6:26 "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." (John 6:26 KJV) ... When the crowd went looking for Jesus, He wasn't fooled into thinking they had come in search of Him to hear Him teach and heal the sick. He knew exactly why most of them had come. They were hoping that they would be able to get some more free bread that Jesus had miraculously provided for them the day before. Jesus admonished them for seeking material things that were perishable instead of spiritual things that are eternal. There are many people following Jesus today just like they did many years ago. Churches are filled with members, yet the lives of many do not reflect Christlike behaviours. This is because they are only following Jesus for the physical blessings that they can get rather than setting their eyes on spiritual things that will not perish. What about you? Why do you seek Jesus? If you are honest with yourself, can you say you are truly following after Him to learn from Him and grow spiritually or are you just following Him for what you can get from Him? It's time to shift your focus from your needs to Jesus, the One who is able to supply all your needs. Get your priorities right and seek Him first.

SEED OF TEARS Bible Passage: Psalms 126:1-6 "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." (Psalms 126:5 KJV) ... Every glorious outcome in the body of Christ today is a product of diligence and travail in the place of the word and prayer. However, several believers today erroneously believe that sowing of seeds has to do with money. The truth of the matter is that there are many ways of sowing your seed. You can sow your time in place of prayer and diligently studying the word rather than gossiping, concerning the stunted growth in your local assembly. Prophet Isaiah was a biblical example of a man who took charge and stood in the gap between God and the people during his days. He said: "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." (Isaiah 62:1) What have you been doing with regards to enlarging God's Kingdom here on earth? Habakkuk 2:14 says: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." This verse implies that you have a part to play if this would be fulfilled. Will you refuse to hold your peace till the knowledge of God's glory fills the whole of the earth like Prophets Isaiah and Habakkuk confessed above? Sowing in tears for that lost soul is a major way to bring them to Christ and this would bring unfathomable joy in heaven and on earth (Luke 15:10). What are you waiting for?

ASK GOD TO OPEN YOUR EYES Bible Passage: 2 Kings 6:15-17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord , I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (2 Kings 6:17 KJV) ... When a man is in trouble and doesn’t know where his help is going to come from, then he becomes afraid. This was how Elisha’s servant felt when he came out and saw that an army had surrounded the entire city with horses and chariots. When he cried to Elisha, Elisha told him not to be afraid and then prayed to God that He should open his eyes so that he could see. And God opened the eyes of the servant to see that there were horses and chariots of fire protecting Elisha. Do you think the young man would have continued to be afraid once he saw that? Not likely. He now saw what Elisha had seen, saw what it was that gave Elisha courage. Are you like that young man and the enemies that surround you seem too many for you to overcome? Ask God to open your eyes so that you see the angels that are protecting you (Psalm 91:11). Are you looking to Him for provision? Ask Him to open your eyes to see the storehouses of abundance He has set aside for you (Deuteronomy 28:8). As God opens your eyes, I pray that you will receive every encouragement and strength to continue on your journey to the end.

DON’T BE COMPLACENT Bible Passage: Genesis 32:24-28 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of God suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12 KJV)... Tenacity is a virtue in the kingdom of God without which children of God cannot possess their own rightful possessions (Obadiah 17). In other words, even though there are things that rightfully belong to you in Christ because of salvation, you have to take them by force because Satan will not allow you to take them without engaging you in a fight. Jacob displayed this tenacity as he wrestled with the angel of the Lord until he got his blessings. Elisha too is another example of one who was tenacious. Despite Elijah's attempts to dissuade him from following him, he refused until he got a double portion of his master’s anointing (2 Kings 2:1-15). What have you done about the promises of God and prophecies that have been made concerning you? Are you just folding your arms waiting for them to manifest? Lay aside every garment of complacency today. Only Christians who are ready to wrestle in the place of prayer to get what belongs to them will manifest in this realm as true children of God with authority and power.