As a child of God, one needs to focus more on what God wants him/her to do rather than on the blessings of God. As I study and meditate over the Book of Philemon I find out that “MOST” of us including me, are more concerned about God blessing on us than what we can do for Him by using the gift He has given us. We are too focused on the blessings of God that we lose focus of our duty to the great calling when it seems the blessings promised to us by God is delayed. This now makes us “come on and go off” in our relationship with the Lord of which makes us insensitive of our blessings of today. It also shows how ungrateful we are to God for not appreciating the answered prayers of the past. Lord have mercy upon me and everyone who is in this position in Jesus name…Amen!!
Apostle Paul was in prison yet he was writing to churches and individuals encouraging them to remain steadfast in God, and be committed to the right teaching. What a contrast to today’s Christians who will be praying all the time for their release without giving thought of sharing the gospel more or less encouraging other believers who are weak and are having one challenge or the other just like brother Philemon who was robbed by his run-away servant. In 1 Peter 5: 6 – 9, we are charged by Apostle Peter to stand firm always and never allow situations intimidate us no matter the force, that God is able to deliver us from all kinds of trouble,and for us to know that our fellow brothers and sisters in faith are also passing through similar challenges. Beloved many are dying and going to hell daily. In your place of work and business many are dying in silence, going through divorce; living in fear of the unknown, fear of dying with one sickness or losing a friend; going through depression, hungry and have no clue as to how to get their next meal….etc. God has called us not only to be blessed but also to be a blessing to others with the little and much He has provided us with. Apostle Paul was a man with many afflictions yet was not limited by it (Psalm 34: 19). Apostle Paul used every situation he found himself in to preach the gospel. Are you still lamenting because you have been betrayed, and you are finding it difficult to trust and help people? Beloved, I have been there times without number yet, God said I had to first of all pray for them and forgive them. I tell you my first experience, it took me three months to start praying for the person and another month to forgive. I believed I needed a level of trust in them so as to relate and work with them, not knowing that the Lord was using my pain to speak to an unbeliever in the church who is now a pastor. Imagine the pain Paul was going through, yet found time and strength to write to Philemon pleading with him to accept Onesimus. Paul also said he would pay back to Philemon what Onesimus had stolen from him when the Lord shall find it worthy for him to be released (Philemon 1: 8 – 22).
Beloved you may be going through one challenge or the other such as a bad week in the office, your house is about to be repossessed because of no income, your child is sick and you are called to answer query in your office for coming late; you go to the shop to buy groceries and found out that your wallet is lost. You went for a check-up and the doctor gave you a shocking news that you have a life threatening sickness, you happen to face the person who raped/abused you when you were a child in the church and he is the pastor of the church your friend took you to, and in all you feel it is the end of the world for you. I come to proclaim to you today, that God is able to keep you and will definitely take you through this storm and you will come out stronger in Jesus name….Amen!!(Isaiah 43: 1 – 4; Isaiah 40: 27 – 31). Apostle Paul is reminding us that in the midst of all life struggles and pain, we can remain focused on our calling, pray and forgive those who may have misunderstood us during our trying times. Let us help those in need and still trust God to give us victory without quitting (Job 42: 7 – 10). it is either you keep looking up to Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour and you soar high like an eagle or you keep looking at men and brood like a chicken. I believe that as christians we are created to be victorious. God’s word is our insurance, assurance and our miracle. God bless you.
This is one of my great concern that we spend so much time in prayer asking God for what we want, how we want it to be done and when. We are so concern about what we want that we are loosing our pathway in Christ. Pastors spending less time preaching Holiness and Righteousness in Church and giving more prayer points on recieving your blessings. We need to follow the word of God. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Preach on my sister, thumbs up!
I might be beniatg a dead horse, but thank you for posting this!
I lilaertly jumped out of my chair and danced after reading this!
Pastor Chuka good evenin. My comment is that Pastor Obi is philemon, going through persacution from the hand of most trusted. My prayer is for God revive his famil and his church.
AMEN!!!
These pieces really set a standard in the inudytrs.
Thank you for this wonderful write up. God bless you.
Thank you for the encouragement
This was so helpful and easy! Do you have any articles on rehab?
Haba sis Nneka which Pastor Obi? Is it my pastor Obi, how is he Philemon? I don’t get.
Meanwhile great article man of God.
As am aware its by God’s grace we can bear sufferings and hardship in Christ we have to first of all make ourselves available for His work. Bless you Pastor for bringing us up to speed more grease to your elbow
Nice one pastor, thanks a bunch. More wisdom, more grace.
AMEN AND AMEN!!
This arlctie went ahead and made my day.
The more we yield ourselves to Christ the easier the work He assigns us to do and the more effective and relevant we are;
but the more we throw ourselves into God’s work with less yielding to Him, the more frustrated we become and the more we
struggle. Thank you dear for understanding
I could watch Schnldier’s List and still be happy after reading this.
l thank you for reminding us that God also want us to do His wish so that that blessing we need from Him will come to establishment and fulfilment may Almighty God bless your ministry
May the Almighty God bless you and cause you to walk with Him for the rest of your days….Amen!!
Thanks Pastor. Abraham contacted GOD’s blessings by simple obedience. Nowadays, we Christians don’t obey, we rather choose to cast, bind, fast n pray. All is good, but obedience attracts more blessings.
You seem to be reading my mind bro, how true your statement is. There is time for binding and loosing though
but today it seems its the order of the day rather than concentrate on what God is telling us to do
I’d vernute that this article has saved me more time than any other.
Hello there! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for shiagnr!
The church indeed has totally lost focus of her calling, leaving behind the principles of the greatest commandment (love), for some selfish desires void of eternal value. May God have mercy on us, and may He help us to understand what it means to love a neighbor as oneself.
People are not going see Jesus and feel His love unless they see and feel His love through us(believers). This is what Paul did to Onesimus and his Master Philemon.
May God bless you Sir for this wonderful and eye opening lesson from the scriptures.
My brother you just made my day! Keep the fire in your life burning daily. God bless you sir
That’s really thinking at an impsserive level
The’ers nothing like the relief of finding what you’re looking for.
Thanks for the encouragement
Thank you my dear Chinelo, just as you read and comment you also are encouraging me. God bless you for me.
Nice write up u have der @Pastor Chuka. May God give u more strength to carry on. Thanks and God bless you
Thank you my dear and more grace to read in Jesus name…Amen!!
Enihlgtening the world, one helpful article at a time.
Hahlalujel! I needed this-you’re my savior.
It is easier to forgive someone than live with unforgivingness.
Unforgivingness is unhealthy and takes a toll on the person living with it.
To forgive and let go is a virtue every Christian should have.
Thanks so much Pastor Chuka. You are a blessing to us all.
My dear sister, some diseases stems from unforgiveness, and what people don’t know or fail to understand is that
the person that you are to forgive if not forgiven indirectly controls you. Because of the person the one refuses
to walk in the same path way or go to a get together function or the other, or seat around the same environment just to avoid the person.
Is that person not in prison? LORD HAVE MRECY ON US ALL.
If not for your writing this topic could be very covnuloted and oblique.
I was really struck by the word God’s word is our insurance and assurance and therefore i should always spend more time to meditate on the word so as to be able to claim the promises in the word. Thanks a lot Pastor Chuka
I was really struck by the word God’s word is our insurance and assurance and therefore i should always spend more time to meditate on the word so as to be able to claim the promises in the word.
My beloved sister, the difference between an A student and other students is the input in his or her studies.
Despite the fact we are in a technology age how many are willing to spend more time in God’s presence? Just few.
Why? The reason most people give is that they are too busy until they find themselves in the hospital fighting for
their lives and that same work or business they are believing it can not work without them keeps working better than
they expect. As you draw closer to God everyday of your life in Jesus name…Amen!!
Please keep throwing these posts up they help tons.
Wow, great article.Thanks Again. Fantastic. Urban