Gratitude

Welcome to our Sunday service 21st Dec, 2014
Word Ministration:  Elder Ayo Arogbo
Topic: Gratitude

The sense of gratitude should be daily resident in us as Christians (Psalm 69:30; 107:22; 95:2, Leviticus 22:9)
Our relationship with God has to get beyond what we get from Him. The ability of God cannot be questioned in any form. His resume is too elaborate for us to exhaust and a look at just a portion tells of His ability which is beyond us.
Our attitude to what we do not get from God in relation to what we get from Him is significant. The way we look at things that we receive of God, if it is not what we directly asked for is important to pay attention to.
Our relationship with and thanksgiving to God should not be based on the things we wanted and got, but also the things that we didn’t ask for and still got.
Three reasons why we probably didn’t get what we wanted in 2014

1. God Sovereignty. He is sovereign and does not need to explain Himself to anyone. It’s unfortunate that the world today is challenging the principles of God as stipulated in His word. Some Christians have even joined in. However, God cannot be questioned and I can only wish any one that chooses the path of questioning Him, luck. Everyone of us must learn to adjust to the sovereignty of God (Job2:10),

We must develop a willingness to accept the full range of God’s answers to our prayers.
There are four answers that God gives to prayers: 1. Yes, you can have it. 2. Yes, Later. 3. No, not now. 4. No. Never.
We must realize that in the spectrum of God’s wisdom, our wisdom is nowhere to be found.

1. We have not made an investment that is required to make those things we are asking for, happen. We are not developing the character, lifestyle to make those things happen. (Luke 14:2)

We have probably not invested as much in God via prayer, holy life, obedience, time and also developing capabilities at work. Do your home work.
Faithfulness is beyond just integrity in keeping that which is committed to us. There is an aspect of making profit that we deliberately ignore sometimes. Many of us are in the act of busyness; exhibiting ‘busyness’ in other people’s territory instead of doing what we ought to in our own territory. Some of us need to carry our own end of the load and stop encroaching.

1. The Devil – the Devil is almost inconsequential. He is basically neutralized if we do what we ought to. What is required of us is just to do our own work and God will do the rest.

The questions we need to ask ourselves are; what changes do I need to make in 2015? What attitudes and habits do I need to develop in 2015? What Paradigms do I need to apply?
In the coming year, I pray that you find newness and ability to excel.