Service: Growing in Favor with God and Mankind in the New Year.

 

Service: Growing in Favor with God and Mankind in the New Year

In this new year, one key to being glorified and settled is service. As children of God, His plan for us is to grow just as Jesus did. 

In Luke 2:52 (NIV), we read: "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." God's will for us is to grow in both wisdom and stature. To experience favor, we must render good service to God and humanity. While God is the ultimate blesser, He often blesses us through others. As His children, we are called to excel, as our excellent God demands excellent service from us. Our service to God and mankind is an essential aspect of our growth and glorification in this new year.

Service to God

Service to God involves using our time, talents, skills, body, resources, and lives to honor and worship Him. It is a way of showing the Lord that we love and fear Him. Service done with genuine intent (out of rhema) brings good results, while service done for show (eye service) does not.

Service to God includes:

1. Worship: Giving praise, reverence, and adoration to God through prayer, songs, and acts of devotion.
2. Obedience: Following God's instructions consistently and seeking to live according to His will.
3. Spiritual growth: Building an intimate relationship with God, recognizing that our lives are His, and seeking His purpose and will through prayer.
4. Serving in God's household: Using our skills, resources, and bodies in various ministries, including financial support for kingdom advancement.

Service to Mankind

Service to mankind is our way of reflecting God's love through our lifestyle. We were not created for ourselves, but to be a blessing to others. To truly serve mankind, we must love intentionally—not out of compulsion—and seek ways to make a difference in the lives of those around us, one person at a time.

Our service to mankind can take many forms, such as:

• Help: Providing assistance to those in need.
• Compassion: Showing empathy for others, especially in times of difficulty.
• Evangelism: Sharing the gospel of Christ with others.
• Justice and fairness: Advocating for those who are oppressed or marginalized.

Service requires an excellent mindset, as there will be times when we may feel unappreciated or discouraged. However, the ultimate goal is to win the earth for Christ through our service.

Excellence in Service

In serving God, only the best is expected of us. Those with a spirit of excellence provide the best service to Him. Serving God involves paying attention to details, being conscious of His instructions, and obeying promptly. Service to God is not mere religion; it requires eagerness to learn and grow in knowledge of Him.

When it is within our power, we should also consider joining a service unit in our local church so that the Lord will bless and increase His children.

Do have a lovely year.

Stay revived!

Insisting for What You Desire: A New Year's Reflection

Insisting for What You Desire: A New Year's Reflection

It's the second day of the year, and I want to remind us of the power of insistence. I recall the last day of the previous year when I wrote down everything I no longer wanted to see in the new year. One scripture that came to mind was Nahum 1:9, which says, "What do you imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter end; affliction shall not rise up the second time."

For every setback we faced last year, the Lord declares, "No more!" The struggles will not resurface, just as we wrote in our list. I remember quickly skimming and scanning the list before I tossed it into the bonfire—symbolizing the end of the old and the beginning of something new.

As we continue this year, we must hold on to our faith and insist on the desires we’ve placed before the Lord. When God said, "Put me in remembrance," He called us to contend for what we want. We are to ask God to bring forth everything He has promised, trusting that He will help us triumph over life's challenges.

2024 might have thrown its blows but God wants to walk in the fullness of his person. There are so many personalities of God, and these realities cannot be unveiled until we insist on seeing God reveal himself.

This year let's remain persistent in prayer. Keep asking for what you desire, because when we rise up in prayer and insist on change, that’s when revival begins.

As we press forward in prayer, may our desires be granted according to God's will, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Stay revived and keep insisting!

Contending for What we desire.

Just a few minutes to 12 o’clock AM, the fireworks at my local church began. We were all eagerly awaiting the dawn of the new year. Oh, how beautiful the fireworks were as the new year clocked in! God is set to glorify us in this new year, and we must remember that for everything we desire from the Lord, He will do it. But we have a role to play.

It is necessary for us to take charge of the new year from the start. Yes, you may have lost some opportunities last year, but thank God we didn’t lose our lives. It’s a new year, and the Lord is set to glorify us. For us to be in charge this year, the book of 1 Corinthians 16:9 tells us, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, but there are many adversaries.”

This verse reminds us that a great door has been opened to us this year for there are adversaries, so to get the adversaries off our part and take what's ours is the game plan. The Lord is ready to glorify and settle us. However, we must contend to claim what is ours,

Deuteronomy 2:24 tells us: Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Armon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon and his land, begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

"Whatever we desire this year, the Lord, has given it to us" Life gives us what we demand from it. Whatever we watch, God allows to happen, but when we contend and demand what we desire, God gives us what we desire.

As we resolve to write our new year resolutions, let us remember that the Lord is set to glorify us, but we must play our part and contend for what we desire. I strongly believe that as the Lord lives, His word will not fall to the ground, and whatever we ask in the name of Jesus according to His will shall be delivered to us.

Amen.

Happy New Year!

What are you most grateful for?

 Acknowledging the Goodness of God; What are you most grateful for? 

As the year comes to a close, many people gather for the traditional crossover service on December 31st. Some attend out of habit, others out of fear, and many more as a celebration. Regardless of the motivation, this night holds spiritual significance for numerous individuals.

As I reflect on the past year, I am reminded of God's goodness and presence in every aspect of my life. This is my second consecutive night of gratitude, and I am in awe of how far the Lord has brought me.

In acknowledging God's goodness, I don't feel the need to make requests. Instead, I flip through the pages of 2024, marveling at God's guidance and provision. There were moments when fear and uncertainty gripped me, but I pushed forward, and God proved faithful.

As I look back, I am reminded of 1 John 3:22, which says, "We have confidence that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." God has indeed answered my prayers and carried me through every season.

Today, I encourage you to acknowledge God's presence in your life throughout 2024. Reflect on His goodness and watch Him crown your year with blessings.

What are you most grateful for? I am thankful for God's goodness, which I have experienced in countless ways.

Stay Revived!