THEME: EXAMINE YOUR DESIRES
MEMORISE:
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2
READ: PSALM 42:1-2
1. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.
2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?
MESSAGE:
By the time I became born again, I was already a lecturer at the University of Lagos and thought I was very brilliant. At that time, I knew where a few of the books of the Bible were located. However, whenever I came to Sunday School in those days and the teacher asked questions, illiterate market women would get up and say “As I understand that question, according to 1st Thessalonians…”. I didn’t even know there was any book of the Bible called Thessalonians not to talk of whether there is the 1st or 2nd one. I realised that though I had a Ph.D. in Mathematics, I knew little or nothing about the Bible, so I decided that if those market women could know the word of God, then I too would know it. Thus, every time the door opened for Sunday School, Bible Study, Mid-Week service or any programme where I knew that somebody would teach the word, I made sure not to miss it. I could understand what David meant in Psalm 122:1:
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."
A hunger was birthed in me and since that time up to now, that hunger has not eased.
What are you hungry for now? What are your desires? Are they for earthly or heavenly things? Do you desire to know the Scriptures more? Do you desire to fellowship more with God? David said:
"With my whole heart have I sought Thee; O let me not wander from Thy commandments."
Psalm 119:10
What is your heart seeking? Is it cars, money, houses, power or is it the Lord? You cannot seek God and seek these things at the same time. The standard is that you seek God with all your heart.
"And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13
If your heart keeps desiring these things as you seek God, you will soon discover that they will turn your heart away from God. Desire more of God with your whole heart; don’t worry, these things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). If you chase after them, you would eventually fall into the snare of the devil (1 Timothy 6:9).
REFLECTION:
Your heart can only pant after one thing at a time; is it God you pant after or the world?.
HYMNAL: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2. Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine:
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
ACTS 26-28
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
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