LESSONS FROM TSC LEADERS CONFERENCE - DAY 4

This was the final day of the leader’s conference and our man of God sent us back into the world fully fired up. Our final ministration had to do with taking personal spiritual initiative. We were told that God blesses us for doing what he tells us to do. Our man of God told us that if we hear from our spirit and we do not do anything about it would reach a stage where our spirit is deceived and stops acting in a way that would ensure us eternal life.  Our man of God emphasised to us that when we take spiritual initiative we function in a higher realm doing things before the lord tells us to do so. He gave several examples in the bible of those who did what they were told and more and profited tremendously. To emphasise the importance of pro activeness. Those that were blessed because they took initiative were blessed for their entire generations not just themselves.

We say in Numbers 25:1-13 where Phinehas took initiative and acted on behalf of the lord and so was blessed exceedingly as seen in verses 10 – 13 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: And he shall have it and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.

He took initiative for the sake of the gospel. No one told him to do it but he did and saved the entire land of Israel from thwarting wrath of the lord. Many times we are waiting to be told before we do something. Our man of God let us know that when we give, we should give like we are the only people giving for the task and not try to calculate how much others would give before we give because as he who takes spiritual initiative would be rewarded exceedingly .

Other examples of those who took initiative are David who took the initiative to fight Goliath and we all know how that ended, Joseph who after interpreting the dream for the Pharaoh took initiative and proffered a solution. We also know how that ended. There are numerous examples of such situations in the bible and our situations would be similar only if we can take spiritual initiative.

God would reward us for what he tells us to do but the extra. We do would God would bless us even much more that the act itself.

As members of The Super Church we should try and take spiritual initiative and our Man of God also charged to make sure we take not of things and situations where we can be of help and act without waiting to be told to do so.

I thank our exceedingly good Lord for giving me the opportunity to be a part of The Super Church and the opportunity to serve him. I pray the lord gives me the privilege of doing more things for him. I also pray that everyone reading this also is given the same privilege.

LESSONS FROM TSC LEADERS CONFERENCE - DAY 3

We were told that words inspire us. It is bad manners of the worst kind by not going to church. No matter what you are going through you just have to make sure you are in church. Giving us a slogan of stay in church and stay out of trouble.  Our man of God told us that it is in church  your focus in life is sharpened because everything else  and everywhere else takes form you in one form or the other and it is only the church that gives something back to you. The church is a place God has prepared for you to be rejuvenated. In addition to this when you miss church the answer to your current problem could also be lost.

Attending church regularly also ensure we make the right associations because this can break or make us. Our man of God gave us an example comparing the lives of David and Solomon. Solomon though wise and rich was not successful. Why? because he never associated with prophets and men of God rather associating with men of the world who did not understand the things of God which led to his demise. While on the other hand David spent his time continuously with the prophet and in the presence of the men of God ensuring his success.  We were clearly told not to let those not present at the leaders conference not dissuade or discourage us from carrying our all we have learnt in the course of this conference.

Next our man of God (Rev. Walter) talked about the importance of our attitude towards the things of God. He told us God deals with us the basis of our attitude to everything. How do you respond to your department leader, cell leader, PCF leader and Pastor or Reverend? In 1 Samuel the lord tells us that if we honour Him, He would do the same.  What defines God’s response to us is our attitude i.e. we should hear and react immediately no matter the form with which it comes. If u are pushed to jump and shout do it at that moment and do not hold it back. If you are led by the spirit to do anything do it immediately.

 In the second service our man of God continued in his teaching on what is expected of us as labourers in the house of the lord. Earlier the first three had been mentioned which are labour in prayer, evangelism and the word and doctrine. Below are the last two activities expected of labourers in the house of God.

4.         Co labouring as seen in (KJV)1 Corinthians 3:4-8 which says For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? [5]Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? [6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.[7] so then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. [8] Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Everyone would give account of his own job. In the parable given above we are told that some have been instructed to plant and some have been instructed to water while God Himself ensures growth.  What this means is that in the house of the lord each person has a delegated task and should stick to that task because for one he has been given the special grace to accomplish that which he has been called to do  and would be rewarded for that and not for doing what has been delegated to some else. If he or she does this he not only loses the reward for the job done but also deprives the person that has been given that task the chance to serve the lord.  In The Super Church terms if you have been called to be a cell leader do not try and do what was given to the PCF leader and assistant cell leaders should know their place and not try to usurp the cell leader. Same goes for those in the various departments. 

The above view is also supported by (KJV)1 Corinthians 3:9-10 which says For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.[10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth there upon.

We are to work in partnership because our strength is in our togetherness because what we can achieve together we can never establish on our own. We are to work together. One builds foundation another lays on the foundation. Do your own work and partner with others to do theirs. Co labour with the materials of the super church. Spend your money on what matters in the ministry of publishing. Take even if it is the small books in your pocket and distribute.

5.         Labour Financially With God - (KJV)Luke 8:1-3 says And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, [2]And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, [3] And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

This people took it upon themselves to support the ministry finally by paying the bills. They laboured with their finances. Learn to labour with God with urn finances. Begin even if it is small. Always give God your best because he gave us his best and so deserves our best. Nothing too big to be sent for the gospel. How much is the soul or your soul worth. He demands his best from us so he can continue to give us his best. He who gave you his son.

Your financial journey with God starts with the tithe. If u don't give your tithe and borrow the money when u are paying it back u need to add 20%. This is not because God needs the interest. It is just a way of ensuring you pay the tithe as at when due.   Wherever your money is that is where your heart is.

If you don't conquer the monster called money you can never go far. If it gets so bad give more.

LESSONS FROM TSC LEADERS CONFERENCE - DAY 2

Our man of God started the day by continuing in the revelation that we exist to work for the lord and everything else is a distraction mentioning that we should make a habit of going to church and attending all church activities. He also told us that the bible says Jesus went to the synagogue as his custom was i.e. his habit. And as Jesus Christ is the example of the exemplary life we are trying to achieve we must also imbibe this habit.

Our primary focus in the first service of the second day was Matthew 9:37-38 - Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; [38] Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.Emphasis was placed on three things in particular. 

First is that he did not say the followers are few or that the members are few clearly differentiating between followers and labourers which are the workers in the church.  Secondly our man of God clearly pointed out to us that we are the labourer or workers the super church has been praying for and we should heed to this call willingly and lastly we are told that we should pray to the lord of harvest to send forth or thrust labourers into the church.

As we are the labourers the church is asking for, we are told we should make sure we begin our labour voluntarily because if God has to force us into it we would not like it because it would virtually disrupt our lives as he did in the case of Jonah.  I personally thank God for this new revelation because the first time I read this part of the scripture my understanding was that if God (the lord of the harvest) sends for labourers into the harvest instead of using me I would lose my reward and the fact that to find a replacement for me would not be as difficult as I think it is because even in the bible we are told that after Judas committed suicide the other disciples had to draw lots to determine who would replace him because there were two people already ready to take his place.  Now I also have another revelation on the same scripture provided by our man of God telling us that we are already here in The Super Church and are too assume our places as workers if not our lives would be disrupted to a level such that we would have to choice but to take our place as happened to Jonah. He also made us realize this is not the best approach and as such to prevent trying times which would seem like there is no end in sight we should voluntarily submit ourselves to the lord.

So having now discovered that we are the labourers the church is looking for and having now decided to voluntarily submit ourselves to be used by the lord and the church. The next thing we need to know is what is expected of us as labourers in the church.

Our man of God gave us three of five clear criteria of what is expected of labourers for the work of God.

1. Labour In Prayer – Citing Colossian 4:12 we are told that fervent prayer i.e. prayer with passion is one of the most important thing expected from a labourer. That we may stand complete and perfect in him,

     Also we are told that it is not only important to pray for souls to be saved but also for them to grow.

2.  Labouring in Evangelism – this refers to personal evangelism. Stepping our personally to win souls for Christ. Our man of god gave the example of Jesus Christ himself also doing personal evangelism. This goes hand in hand with intercessory prayers because as the word says the harvest is plenteous and prayer and evangelism are the key tools to help with this harvest.

3.  Labour In Word And Doctrine – This is basically the training of the members. The first two criteria mentioned are basically centred on wining souls for Christ while this last criterion is to help the members we have won for Christ to grow.

    1 Timothy 5:17-18 was cited where we are told that leaders the elders that rule deserve a double honor especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

     We were also clearly told that at this stage in our Christian life we should be teachers and not still being taught. That we should be taking the meat of the word and not the milk because as we continually teach our ability to discern between good and evil increases.

      In the final service of the second day of the leader’s conference our man of God ended the day by giving us a clear example of labourers in the work of God. Aquila and Priscilla – a husband and wife who exemplified all the qualities of labourers for Christ.  Our man of God clearly stated that we should adopt their life style and approach to the word of God.

LESSONS FROM TSC LEADERS CONFERENCE - DAY 1

If I tell you a huge riddle was solved for us on day 1 of the leader’s conference I won’t be far from the truth.  The question as to the reason why man exists has puzzled the human race for years as many have gone to their graves and many would still go to their graves without ever having found out the reason for their existence.  Still more people have propounded various theories in attempt to explain the reason for our existence and fortunately for us the answer to the question was provided for us at the onset of the leaders conference free of charge.

Thank God for our man of God who blessed us with the answer to the question as seen in Ephesians 4:11 and 12 where we are told that we are given the gift of apostles to some, prophets to some, evangelists to yet another group and finally teachers and pastors to others to perfect us for the ministry of edifying the body of Christ. 

Our man of God, Reverend Walter went further to give us examples showing that things we may see as logical and reasonable situations that may deter us from doing the work for which we have been commissioned are nothing but distractions as such we should shy away from them keeping in mind that if we first seek the kingdom of God all the rest would be added, as such our lives should revolve around the church and not the church revolving around our lives.

I mentioned earlier that many have lived their entire lives without any knowledge of the reason for their existence and many with still do so if we do nothing about this. We are told in 2 Cor. 5:18 that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation whereby we have been commissioned to reconcile other souls to Christ as he has reconciled himself to us. I.e. we are made to win souls for Christ. So we first have a responsibility to be born again and then to win others to Christ.

This takes us to what was learnt in the second half of the day which centred on salvation and Rewards. We were shown through Romans 1:16-17 and Ephesians 2:8-9 that salvation is free. We did not do anything to deserve it and we cannot do anything to deserve it.

Salvation we are told is a gift from God by giving us his only begotten son that whosoever (which means me and you) believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. So once we are born again we are assured of making heaven.  At this point most would wonder if salvation alone is enough to ensure we make heaven. The answer to this question is a resounding yes. With salvation alone we can make heaven. The question then is - if salvation is enough to allow us make heaven why then do we have to do more?

Though salvation is free we need to do more because of the rewards both in this life and the next are earned. The issue then is how much reward we get, as some would get to heaven but not receive any reward because they did not do anything to deserve rewards or were seen to do things but the intentions behind the actions were wrong.  When you are saved you must qualify for what the bible refers to as crowns. There are two types of reward. The ones we get here and the ones we get in heaven all of which are subject to how diligently we obey the word of God and do what he says because we can have anything we want in this life if we follow the specific rules we need to. For instance with regards to prosperity it is clear that the key  is tithe and offering. When you seek God diligently he would reward you.