FOL RCCG

Theme: Arrows of the Lord's deliverance
Text: 2 Kings 13: 14- 19
Introduction
Arrows are instruments of warfare to attack an enemy. Ps 144: 6. If it Lord's arrow it means it is a type of Lord's instrument for warfare.
Deliverance means being set free from bondages or barriers that tied one down from walking in victory.
In the text we can learn some lessons.
1. The king of Israel Joash had a formidable enemy. We too have this enemy and his agents. Eph 6: 12-13, John 10:10, Ps 91:5
2.He went to Elisha to help him. Elisha told him what to do .He gave him instructions. The word of the Lord has given us what to do to defeat the enemies. Eph 6:11, Ps 18:6
3. IST instruction is to take bow and arrows. We are enjoined to use the weapon of warfare. Eph 6: 11
3. Elijah and the King put their hands on the bow and arrows. Jesus say we can do nothing without him.
John 15: 5 , but we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us Phil 4: 13. With him I can run throughout a troop Ps 18: 29
4. He was asked to open the window. Get rid of every hindrance if you want God to act on your behalf. Sin 1John 3:22, doubt and unbelief James 1: 6-8, Unforgiveness Mk 11: 25-26
5. Elisha asked him to shoot after hitting the ground which he did 3 times. He told him the arrows are the arrows of the Lord's deliverance and he will win only 3 times. God wants us to be winning and that is why we must keep on the fight without stopping. Luke 18:1, 1Pet 5: 8
As we continue to pray to the Lord He will send His arrows to deal with our enemies. God can use anything as His arrow. That is why bible say God has open His arsenal and brought out His weapons of wrath. Jer 50: 25 Our enemies are in trouble and our victory is assured.
Prayers
1. Oh Lord I thank you for the victory that you have already won for me at Calvary.
2. Job 6: 4 Oh Lord send your arrows against my enemies and release the poison of the arrow into the enemies
3. Ps 7 : 13 Father send you arrows of death against all my persecutors. Sicknesses, diseases, infirmities, shame, disgrace , and silent persecutors.
4. Ps 18: 14 Oh Lord my God send out your arrow of deliverance into the camp of my enemies and let them scatter
5. Ps 57: 4 Oh Lord send out your arrow of deliverance and let it pierce the heart of every giant working against my destiny.
6. Ps 64: 7 Father just like the rod of Moses swallow the rod of Egypt magicians please send your arrow of deliverance and let it destroy the arrows of the enemies against me and my family
7. Ps 144: 6 Or Lord my father shoot out your arrows with flaming fire and destroy all my enemies.
8. Ezek 5: 16 Father please send your arrow of famine into the land of my enemies.
9. Hab 3: 11 Oh Lord my God let your arrow of deliverance with lightning go into area of darkness in my life and
destroy all the works of darkness in my home and family.
10.The Lord's Arrows of Testimony appear by fire and change every negative situations in my life.
11. Your individual prayers
12. Thank God for helping you and for answering your prayers.
Praise the Lord.

THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD
FOUNTAIN OF LOVE PARISH, 44 AGEGE MOTOR ROAD, MOSHALASI, MUSHIN

THEME: KEEPING AND MAINTAINING GOD’S APPROVED RELATIONSHIPS II 1st July 2020

TEXT: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

INTRODUCTION:

Last week we begin a study on this topic. We learnt that not all relationship is good or right and some relationships that people entered into are not approved by God. However we confirmed that God is interested in relationship and He was the one that orchestrated relationship in the beginning. We studied two types of relationships. Today we will like to study two other types of relationships. I pray that God will bless us as we journey through the word together.

1. MARITAL RELATIONSHIP:

Marital relationship is the relationship that exists between a husband and a wife. In other words, this is how two people male and female are connected in marriage. Gen 2:23-24. When it is God’s approved, it means the coming together by a man and a woman in marriage in accordance with the word of God and God acting as a witness. Mal 2:14. Accordingly, every marriage that God approves, it is a covenant relationship. It means you made a vow in the presence of God and to God regarding your spouse. Marital relationship is one in which there is conjugal relationship. Gen 4:1, 1Cor. 7:4-5

Why is marital relationship important to God?

It is a model of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Eph. 5:22-32

It is supposed to be permanent relationship until death. Mat 19:5-6, 1Thes 4:17

It is the most intimate of all human relationships. Gen 2:23-25
It involves leaving, cleaving and united by the man and the woman

It is a sanctified relationship – to be kept holy. Heb13:4, Ezek. 26:1-63

To raise Godly seed so that we can fulfill God’s injunction of fruitfulness and increase. Mal 3:15, Gen 1:28, Rom 8:4

It is evident from the scripture that there are types of marital relationships that God does not approve John 4: 17-18

Marital relationship between a believer and unbeliever
God frowned at situations where a believer will go and get wedded to an unbeliever. This is however different from when the marriage was consummated when the two were unbelievers and one has given his/her life to the Lord and is now a believer. 2 Cor. 6:14-16, 1Sam 25:3-35

Marital relationship between a man and many wives otherwise called polygamy. The standard of God for marriage is one wife and one husband. Gen 2:18 – 25. Jesus echoed that it was monogamy from the beginning. Mat 19:4-8
Elders are to be husband of one wife. 1Tim 3:2, just like the Deacons 1Tim 3:12. With many wives there is bound to be favourites, contentions, schemes and idolatry as witnessed in the bible.

Living together without formal marriage between a man and a woman – No marriage, traditional, registry or in the Church. John 4:17-18

Other types of marital relationship. Rom. 1:26-27, 32
Man marrying man – Homosexual
Woman marrying a woman – Lesbianism
Human marrying animals – Sensual Exo. 22:19 – Be******ty
Fathers wife – Deut.22:30
Sister – Deut. 27:22-23

How to maintain God’s approved marital Relationship

Commitment: Christ is committed to us and He expects partners to be committed to one another in marriage. 1Cor. 7:10-11, Rom 7:1-3. In sickness or under any circumstance that is palatable or unpalatable you have to be committed. Gen 27:21. It requires hard work and sacrifice.

Trust: Trust is essential to maintain a healthy marital relationship. Trust believes that the other party is totally committed to the other party’s good. Prov. 31:11-12. You must not hide anything from each other. This allows the trust to grow. Be open and be honest to one another. Don’t lie.

Communication: Honest, open conversation is important in marital relationship, through dialogue; bonding is developed, through confidence building, trust building and helps in building emotional strength. Speaking to yourself in psalms, hymns, making melody. Eph. 5:19.

Love: Husband love your wife. Col 3:19. True love protects.
Love must be expressed. 1John 3:18 and parties must not live in fear 1John 4:18. Don’t give up on each other- 1Cor 13:6-7. Trust each other with compassion.
Respect and Honour each other: Honour one another – Rom. 12:10. Render due benevolence to each other. 1Cor. 7:3, 1Pet 3:7

Tolerance: Eph. 4:2- Bearing one another in love.

Forgiveness: Love does not keep record of wrongs 1Cor. 13:4-5
Make allowance for each other’s fault – Col. 3:13-14

2. FRIENDSHIP RELATIONSHIP 1 Sam 18: 1-4

God is interested in friendship between Man and Man. Going by our text, there is success in two people who are connected and bonded together in achieving greater success. God knows that we need some people to fulfill our destiny. Joseph needed the Butler. Gen 41:9. David needed Jonathan 1Sam 18:1-4. Abraham was a friend of God. James 2:23. However, you need to choose your friend carefully and this is where the importance of work of the Holy Spirit should prevail. You must be led by the Holy Spirit. Rom. 8:14 Why is this necessary?
Iron sharpens iron. Prov. 27:17
A good friend gives counsel. It is dangerous to live as a alone ranger but it is equally bad when you receive bad counsel from wicked heart. Prov. 11:14, Prov. 15:22, 2 Sam 13:1-32
A friend that is committed may be better than a brother Prov. 18:24
A wise friend can have a positive influence on someone. Prov. 13:20, Prov. 27:17. However bad company corrupts good manners.
Don’t make friendship with an angry man. Prov. 22: 24-26
Don’t make friendship with unreliable people and unfruitful work of darkness or there that practice them. Prov. 18:24, 2 Sam 15:31 –

How do you maintain approved God’s friendship Jonathan and David.
Love – Platonic loving relationship: David and Jonathan loved each other. Jonathan loved David as his own soul. He made a covenant with David, 1 Sam. 18:1-3 Jesus loved lazarus. John 11:35-36, Rom 5:8. God demonstrated His love for us that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Loyalty – John 15:13 – Jonathan was loyal to David & vice versa. 1Sam 19;1-7, 11 Sam 9: 1-5
Openness and Honesty – Jonathan stripped himself bare for David. Honest discussions Prov. 24:26 (GTA Translation)
Sacrifice – Friends that are ready to give not waiting to receive can do anything for their friend. John 15:13, He laid down his life for his friends.

God made Jesus sin who knew no sin 2Cor. 5:21
He became poor so that we can be rich. 2 Cor. 8:9
Jesus laid his life for us- An example for us to follow. 1John 3:16
Bare our sins; by His stripes we are healed. 1Pet. 2:24

CONCLUSION

Today we have studied two other types of relationship. You need relationship to fulfill your destiny. Many relationship that would have helped in fulfilling destiny has been ruined because of not been able to maintain either marital or friendship relationship. Where such relationship has broken down, you need to do something about it today.

Know where you have missed it
Cry to the lord to repair same
Take steps to repair same

Good morning on this 26th day of June 2020.
On the 29th of March two states of Nigeria, Lagos and Ogun were asked to begin a lockdown on Monday the 30th. Prior to the announcement many offices, organisations have stopped their staff from coming to offices or the like which is about 3 months today. The reason is simply to keep away from Corona virus.
If you are reading this piece today it means the Almighty has been gracious to you and He helped you to defeat Covid 19 up till now. It is my prayers that it is defeated in our lives permanently.
My charge to you today is that you should pause, think about the mercy you have received.
1. I agree that lockdown has helped but it is God that keeps. Psalm 127: 1 He kept me and you both in the day and in the night Psalm 121: 4
2. He made provision for us during this time. Psalm 34:10
3.He gave us hope that we shall pull through and also for the future. Col 1: 27, Psalm 33 : 18-19
4. During the period many who did not have time to rest did and we all learnt great lessons that many of
the things we considered as important are actually not important. Eccles 12: 8
5. It is helping us to re-order our priorities.
I do believe with many more reasons we need to give thanks to God, praise and worship Him. In few days time we will have reached the end of the first half of a wonderful year. I will like you to join the children of God and myself in thanking God by praising and worshipping Him for one hour for the next seven days. Do it at your own time but make sure you do it. When we thank Him, He will do more as we move into the second half of the year.
" Our Hallelujah belongs to Him, He deserves it"
God bless you. Amen.