DATE: SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY 2017.
THEME: PURSUING THINGS?
Memorise:
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Proverbs 23:5
Read: Proverbs 23:4-5
23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
MESSAGE:
How you start a year is very important, because it can dictate the tone for the year. But more importantly, how the year ends will be determined by the goals you set and your pursuit of them. Some people start a year with little or nothing but end it in a great way; whereas some other people who start the year with quite a lot have little or nothing to show by the end of it. Why is this so? To get the most out of the year, you need to understand the actors and factors at play in determining the course of the year. One of such actors is God.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
At the onset of every year, most people go about seeking material things. They set material goals and device strategies to accomplish them. Thereafter, they begin a race down the line and shun anything that might affect the realisation of their goals, dreams and aspirations. Yet, at the end of the year, many are still miles apart from the attainment of those goals. Even when they attain their goals, such people are often still left with great vacuum in their soul that nothing else can fill. This is simply the result of God being left out of the picture in their pursuit of material things.
By its very nature, wealth can be very elusive. Before dissipating so much energy in pursuing wealth like most people will do this year, please consider what the patriarchs of old said about it. King David said that it's possible to heap up wealth for users and spenders you do not know (Psalm 39:6). The patriarchs also said it's very dangerous to put your trust in the riches you have amassed because you can be disappointed by them when you least expect it (Psalm 62:10, Proverbs 11:28). The preacher in Proverbs 23:5 further adds that riches can suddenly develop wings and take flight from where you think you have kept them securely. Where do they fly to? They fly towards Heaven, back to God their original owner. For these reasons, you must put God at the center of all your pursuits this year so that they can be meaningful. If you choose to seek and pursue after God, you will get the material things of this world with little effort. This year, be wise! Don't waste your time and effort pursuing things that should be pursuing you.
Prayer Point:
When you run after material things at the expense of a thriving relationship with God, you tell Him to His face that He is not important in your life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Matthew 16-17
Isaiah 6:8-7:9
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE.
HYMN 7: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED.
1. O Jesus, I have promised,
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.
2. Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
I dare not trust my judgment:
Thy way shall be my will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.
3. O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.
4. Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in Heav'n receive me,
My Savior and my Friend.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR PASSAGES
Matthew: 16. 1. The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3. and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away. 5. When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6. "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7. They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread." 8. Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9. Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10. Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11. How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12. Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14. They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17. Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20. Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 21. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23. Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." 24. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27. For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. 28. "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Matthew: 17. 1. After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" 6. When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8. When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." 10. The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" 11. Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13. Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. 14. When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." 17. "You unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." 18. Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 20. He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." 21. [21] 22. When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. 24. After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" 25. "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?" 26. "From others," Peter answered. "Then the children are exempt," Jesus said to him. 27. "But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.
Isaiah: 6. 8. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 9. He said, "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' 10. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." 11. Then I said, "For how long, Lord?" And he answered: "Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12. until the Lord has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13. And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.
Isaiah: 7. 1. When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it. 2. Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. 3. Then the Lord said to Isaiah, "Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer's Field. 4. Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5. Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah's son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6. "Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it." 7. Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "'It will not take place, it will not happen, 8. for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9. The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.
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