WORSHIP GOD WHEN HE SEEMS SILENT – MAY 2022 NEWSLETTER

Topic: WORSHIP GOD WHEN HE SEEMS SILENT

Text: Psalms 10:1; 22:1 (NIV)

10:1 “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide in times of trouble?

22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?”

INTRODUCTION:
The most difficult experience in the life of a man is the period of loneliness and rejection, because it demoralizes the confident man.

It is a period that incubates man’s dream/vision.

Every great man and woman once passed through this period. Before Abraham became the father of faith, he endured this silent period. Even our Lord Jesus Christ experienced the silence of the God-Head on the cross.

During this period, you may think you don’t know what you are doing. Many will see you as an unserious person. Your ideas will have no meaning to people. Your efforts will be watered down and you will be neglected by your people.

Some people call this period a ‘Closed Heaven Period.’ The time when the heavens are shut and you’re not hearing from God.

This period happened between the Old and the New Testaments when God stopped interacting with men for 400 years.

David, while going through his silent period, cried out to God.

Rick Warren stated that, “It’s easy to worship God when things are going great in your life—when he’s provided food, friends, family, health, and happy situations. But circumstances are not always pleasant.” (Rick Warren Daily Devotional, 01/15/22).

So what would be your reaction when it seems God is silent about your situation?

What you need to do when you are going through the silent period is the focus of discussion in this write-up. These are:

• Acknowledge that God is alive.

• Know that God does not mean evil for you.

• Bow your heart to worshipping God.

1. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS ALIVE

The picture the Devil brings to people’s minds during the silent period is to let you feel your God is dead and not active to help you.

The moment you succumb to this devilish thought, you’re captured already.

Job acknowledged that his redeemer is alive, even in his trying time (Job 19:25). This was a poem of worship to reverence his God as an able God who does not sleep nor slumber.

You must come to this point in your life when it seems nothing is working for you and yet acknowledge that your God is alive as a very present help in times of trouble.

As you acknowledge Him, offer him an aroma of worship songs.

2. KNOW THAT GOD DOES NOT MEAN EVIL FOR YOU

God is sovereign in acts to His people. His love for us is so enormous that He cannot let us down. Rick Warren further says; “To mature your friendship, God will test it with periods of seeming separation—times when it seems as if He has abandoned or forgotten you.” (Rick Warren 01/15/22).

Sometimes God would want to check your level of spiritual maturity and how you can depend on Him.

You need to know that God does not mean evil for you. According to Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV), “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Let this verse of the scripture resonate in your mind always, to keep your mind positive about your God, and be hopeful that everything will be alright with you.

3. BOW YOUR HEART TO WORSHIPPING GOD

During the silent period, the target area of man’s life by the Devil is your heart. He will find every means to pollute your heart with the sting of bitterness, resentment, and unholy arrogance of character to people around you and even your God.

Many find it difficult to paise or thank God for being alive; they see it as a natural phenomenon.

Psalms 22:3-5 (NIV) reads thus:

3. “Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.

4. In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.

5. To you they cried out and were saved; in you, they trusted and were not put to shame.”

David lowered his heart to worship God.

I encourage you also to ponder on what God has done for you and even what you heard or read.

Conclusion

The silent period is inevitable in man’s life, and that is why Jesus Christ also experienced it while on earth. He cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani” by asking God why He was forsaken.

The joy of it is that He didn’t lose the battle. He won! That is why you need to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Let’s pray:

Right now, choose any songs of worship to worship your God. As you faithfully do that, you shall experience a unique miracle in your life.

John Aderogba for ROPMi.

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YOUR PLACE OF CONDEMNATION IS YOUR RISING POINT – APRIL NEWSLETTER

Topic: YOUR PLACE OF CONDEMNATION IS YOUR RISING POINT

Text: Philippians 2:6-11 (NIV)

6. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his advantage;
7. rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross!
9. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.
10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue acknowledges that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

INTRODUCTION
Everyone with a great destiny, mission and vision to be fulfilled tends to face opposition and condemnation.

Throughout history and in the Bible, people that made a remarkable impact faced condemnation from their family, friends, community, and even their home country. Our Lord Jesus Christ experienced similar rejection and condemnation from His people.

Jesus Christ was on the mission of redeeming man from the eternal condemnation orchestrated by the Devil to separate man from the original plan of God for man. This is the central point of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.

Devil tried every means to stop Jesus from not fulfilling this purpose, but he failed and Jesus Christ is exalted above every power on earth and in heaven.

You also will rise from your point of condemnation to new glory in Jesus’ name.

We shall consider some points that would encourage you to strive ahead even amidst condemnation.

• BE STEADFAST IN GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU

• HUMBLE YOURSELF

• SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF
GOD.

1. BE STEADFAST IN GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU
In Philippians 2:6, it was recorded of Jesus Christ that He did not take advantage of His position to confront His enemies.

Many people couldn’t hold on to God’s plan for their lives because of the humiliation and molestations coming from people around them.

There is no way you can escape the opposition from people if you will rise to stardom.

I want to encourage you to be steadfast in the plan of God for you, try to pray, and communicate with the right people that will embrace your mission.

2. HUMBLE YOURSELF
In verse 7, it was said of Jesus Christ that He made Himself nothing and took every nature of a slave.

The scripture says, “Pride goes before destruction…” Some people got lost to the hands of the enemies because of pride.

An egoistic attitude promotes selfishness and the result is humiliation. No matter how sure you are about the plan of God for your life and the opportunities that surround you, the possibility to accomplish the plan of God for your life is hinged on your humility.

Your humility will foster your victory over your enemy.

3. SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF
GOD.
God’s plan for every individual is embedded in His will.

Jesus Christ, while praying on the mount of Gethsemane, surrendered to the will of God.

He prayed to the Father, “If you are willing, let this cup pass over me. Yet not my will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:41).

The fact is that, it is not always easy to give way to the will of God, but if the will of God is given a chance, the result is always pleasant.

Many people would have succeeded in rising at the point of condemnation, but they find it difficult to surrender to the will of God.

In Philippians 2:10-11, Jesus allowed the will of God, the Father, and He was raised above every human authority and power.

No matter what you are facing right now that seems you are being condemned to nothing and it has made you so depressed, just submit to the will of God and let Him have His way in your life, it’s going to be your turn to be celebrated.

Conclusion:
The particular spot where David was condemned was his rising point. The prison where Joseph was condemned was his lifting point. Esther was a slave and served in the palace together with her uncle, that same place became her rising point. And finally, the cross where Jesus Christ was hung and died became His point of elevation.

The cross is where Jesus Christ settled your case. He said, “It is finished!” I can see you rising from the place of condemnation to the point of celebration. Those who condemn you now will congratulate you!

However, you need Jesus Christ in your life as your Lord and Savior.

Let’s Us Pray:

1. Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your plans for me.

2. Lord, I’m sorry for my wrong attitudes toward Your plans for me.

3. Lord, have mercy on me.

4. My Father and my Lord, lift me beyond limitations.

5. Lord, lift the embargo that has been placed over my life to truncate my lifting.

6. I shall rise to a new glory in Jesus’ name.

7. Every satanic arrow to cage my life on a spot shall cash fire in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen!

John Aderogba for ROPMi.

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KEEP YOUR HOPE ALIVE – MARCH 2022 NEWSLETTER

Topic: KEEP YOUR HOPE ALIVE
Text: Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

INTRODUCTION
What is hope? It is the feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen (online Oxford dictionary).

Hope is an earnest anticipated desire for something so important. I see hope as a vehicle that conveys faith to become reality.

Many who claim to practice faith and believe God for something seemingly got weary and faint at the junction of hope.

The truth is that, hope does not have a good look; hope keeps beauty inside and puts on an ugly face. Just test how deep your faith in God is and be sure if you can sustain the reality of what it’s about to receive. That is why many lost their hope before they get to the field of fulfillment as God designed it for them.

God placed this hope inside of you, and He doesn’t want you to keep it vague.

I shall do justice to this, as some points would be analyzed in this newsletter for you to keep your hope alive.

BE SURE OF WHAT YOU ARE HOPING FOR
So many people’s visions and dreams are being thrown into the trash because they are not sure of the reality of their vision and they do not attach seriousness to it.

You must be sure that a force is driving you into a clear manifestation of your focus in life. That will form the basis of your hope.

Joseph got his dream and or the vision of his life from God, but he encountered various difficulties because he was sure of the fulfilment of his dream.

To keep your hope alive, you must be sure of it.

DO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF
Self-limitation is a tool the oppressor (devil) uses to truncate people’s visions and dreams.

You must not allow inferiority complex to overwhelm you if you want to keep your hope alive. No one will believe your dream if you don’t make a move about it.

Many will discourage, frustrate, and humiliate you to the extent of losing your hope.

“Take your eyes off your limitations and focus on the God of all hope, because He’s the One who’s going to bring it to pass in His timing and in His way.” – Victoria Osteen, 12th January, 2022.

WAIT FOR GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS
It is a pity that many don’t cultivate a culture of waiting. Waiting is the standing leg for hope.

For your dream and vision to become reality, you must wait for God’s directions on the steps you must take, people you need to meet, places you need to visit and the right field to establish your dream and vision.

It’s not easy to wait, but hope cannot result in a practicable faith if you don’t wait. The process of waiting is the process of refreshing, renewal of strength and connections.

David said in Psalm 40, “I waited patiently…” It’s best to wait patiently for God’s instructions.

CONCLUSION
The only living hope is Jesus Christ. With Jesus in your life, your hope is alive. If you set your belief in Jesus Christ, He will help you keep your focus, even amidst uncertainty. This hope fuels our faith. It is our responsibility to develop this hope that drives our faith. Hope is from heaven.

Paul prays in Romans 15: “Now, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.”

God is faithful, but it is up to us to cultivate this hope that fuels our faith.

Let’s pray…

1. Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness over me.

2. Lord, I am sorry for shifting my focus away from You and wearing my hope.

3. My Father and my Lord, I know with You on my side, I shall stand on mountain top.

4. Every hindrance on my way to fulfil my God-given vision, give way in Jesus Christ’s name.

5. Helper of my destiny from the East, West, South, and North, locate me in Jesus Christ’s name.

6. I shall not give up on my dream, no matter the humiliation and distractions. God is ahead of me and I shall succeed in Jesus Christ’s name.

7. Every arrow of sudden death fired against me not to get to my destination, I command you to backfire in Jesus’ name.

JOHN ADEROGBA for ROPMI.
© 2022.

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