SONGS OF HARVEST – NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

Text: Psalms 147: 7-8
7. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; play the lyre to our God,
8. who covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, and causes grass to grow on the hills…

INTRODUCTION
A song of harvest is an expression of gratitude to God for a good season to plant; He waters and we have a good harvest. Farmers or people in the agricultural sector are not the only ones affected by this. It applies to everyone.

Every year, God opens up the year for people to set goals, visions, and aspirations, then equips them with ability and capacity to work and make money throughout the year. As enumerated in the anchor scripture, God gives us rain, sun, dew and wind without charge for our good. The strength, power, wisdom, knowledge, connection and ability you exhibit in your everyday life are all by the grace of God.

This article will primarily discuss a few areas in which you can prepare and sing your songs of harvest.

1. PONDER ON GOD’S ACTS TOWARDS YOU
To raise a song of harvest, one needs to ponder. Pondering means thinking deeply and reflecting on the care and love of God in one’s life.

You were protected by Him when the storm raged, when mountains fell, when the tick dark cloud suddenly covered you and He saved you, or when an accident happened on your way and you were not hurt.

When you submitted a business proposal and God followed it up for you. When you went for a job interview and God chose you out of thousands of candidates.

“Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.”

“Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done…”

Every aspect of your life has been blessed by God, and He deserves your harvest songs.

2. OFFER GOD A BEFITTING SACRIFICE
A sacrifice is an act of presenting something precious, meaningful, and tangible unto a deity. In other words, it is an act of showing your love and devotion to someone close to you. As a result of your sacrifice to God, your harvest song will flow.

Alternatively, you can make your sacrifice by singing deep songs of praise to God, or you can dance like David did.

Sharing gifts with people, donating to orphanage homes and giving to the less privileged are all ways to express your harvest thanksgiving sacrifice.

Psalms 50: 7-15.
7. “Listen, My people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel. I am God, your God.
8. I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or for your burnt offerings, which are continually before Me.
9. I will not accept a bull from your household or male goats from your pens,
10. for every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
11. I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.
12. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is Mine.
13. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14. Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.”

Consequently, whatever you have or want to offer to God is not yours, it is of God. Therefore, your sacrifice will be your heart of thanksgiving to God.

3. SING LOUD YOUR SONGS
Psalms 66: 8-9
8. Praise our God, you peoples;
let the sound of His praise be heard.
9. He keeps us alive and does not allow our feet to slip.

Harvest song should not be a silent song. It should be sung loud and clearly to entice all people to want to know why the song is sung.
While singing your songs, you need to raise your voice in order to affirm your victory over the evil plan of the enemy. The Scripture verses above explain why you should raise your voice as you sing.The devil would not want you to do that, he would want to distract or discourage you because of your bad voice.

Developing a habit of singing loud with a grateful heart doesn’t require any singing skills or membership in a choral group.

Lastly, the source of songs of harvest is the Lord Jesus Christ. His righteousness will give you a heart that is filled with gratitude that will lead you in songs of harvest. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior. He is the Lord of harvest.

Conclusion
Read Psamls 66, 100, 117, 118 and 136. Pick out the reasons why you need to praise your God. This season shall favor you in every areas of your life. It’s well with you.

John Aderogba for ROPMI.

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WAIT AND MURMUR NOT (July 2021, Newsletter)

Text: Psalms 40:1-3
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”

INTRODUCTION
To wait is to stay where one is, or to delay action until a particular time or until something else happens (Google Dictionary).

In the Biblical context, to wait is to suspend your actions; to bring yourself down before the Lord and let Him have His way in your life.

As a matter of fact, it’s not easy to wait. This is the foundational problem of man since creation. God originally integrated waiting/patience into the program packaged to perfect His work on the man. The inability to wait is the cause of trouble many are into today.

Murmuring is a soft, indistinct sound made by a person or group of people speaking quietly or at a distance. It is a sound made out of the agony of long awaiting promises, unpleasant feelings, and disappointment.

Murmuring is a sign that someone is ingrate, impatient, uncertain, and has lost focus.

If you read Exodus 16: 2-15, the people of Israel murmured against God and He proved Himself to them. Many who murmured while passing through the wilderness, because of their unbelief, perished in the wilderness.

Rick Warren says,  ‘…there’s always a delay between planting and harvest. When you plant a seed in the ground, you don’t get an ear of corn the next day. You plant in one season, and you harvest in another.’ (Daily Devotional, June 17, 2021).

God will be speaking to you as we explore the said topic in subdivisions.

What happens when you are waiting?
• YOUR STRENGTH SHALL BE RENEWED;
• GOD IS WORKING OUT SOMETHING BETTER & GREATER FOR YOU;
• GOD FILLS YOUR MOUTH WITH TESTIMONIES.

May you be richly blessed as you navigate through this inspired Word of God.

1. YOUR STRENGTH SHALL BE RENEWED
Eagle can be used as a metaphor to demonstrate waiting and renewal of strength. Among birds, Eagle has extraordinary power to soar higher above mountains. When it is getting weak, it will fly to a very high mountain and hide there. The process is called ‘moulting.’ Eagle will stay there for 150 days. During this period, the old feathers will be removed to be replaced with new ones. An African adage in Yoruba says, “AWODI LOSIBA LO RE YE…”

The Bible makes it clear in Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.” When you cultivate the habit of waiting on the Lord, you shall find your strength renewed. During that period God is working something great in your life. David testified to this in the anchor scripture up there; “I waited patiently…” Not murmuring, but with great expectations and a song of praise cum assurance.

I am encouraging you to be a bit patient; it won’t be long for your expectation to come to fruition.

2. GOD IS WORKING OUT SOMETHING BETTER AND GREATER FOR YOU.
Your anxiousness cannot fast-track the plan of God for your life; it will only weigh you down. God is in the process of bringing out the best in your life. He uses your period of waiting to get His plan ready for you.

All the great people mentioned in the Bible experienced their waiting moments, even Jesus Christ endured His waiting period to perfect the work of redemption.

Some challenges would tend to arise in the course of waiting that might want you to be murmuring, just summon the courage and know that tough times don’t last.

David spent years on the field taking care of his father’s flocks, he didn’t give up. He later made it to the palace.

Joseph faced hell in his own waiting period, yet he didn’t give up. He too got to the palace.

Elisha exercised patience to get a double portion of his master’s (Elijah’s) anointing.

Jesus Christ, while eating with His disciples, gave them this command in Acts 1: 4, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” It took them 50 days to wait for the fulfilment of this promise after the ascension of Jesus Christ. It is always being said, ‘It is not how far, but how well.’

Rick Warren once said in one of his daily devotionals, ‘While you’re planting and waiting, you can trust God will provide grace so that having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (June 17, 2021). Individual time of waiting is different, so you must endure your period of waiting because God is working out greater things for you.

3. GOD FILLS YOUR MOUTH WITH TESTIMONIES
No one is identified in the time of waiting because it’s a time for lone cross-bearing. The pains and weakness you are feeling are what no one can help you with, but God.

David could boldly say this, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” He was the only one who could explain how severe the experience was with him. During the waiting period, he saw God with him, and that gave him the courage to say; “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” That’s the testimony.

Your mouth shall be filled with testimony too, and the pain will soon be over. Whatever waiting period you are going through right now will surely expire very soon. Don’t give up; never compromise. Activate your faith, you are next in line for a miracle.  The whole world is waiting for your manifestation and testimony, it will be widely heard.

Conclusion
Murmuring will do you no good than to poison your mind with negative thoughts. Murmuring is also an act of rebellion against your God. Instead of murmuring, render songs of praise and worship your God. He is bigger than all the situations of your life.

Finally, let the Lord have His way in your life. Give your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and He will see you through.

Let’s pray:
1. Father, I thank You because You are always there for me.
2. I’m very sorry for my acts of rebellion through murmuring.
3. Have mercy on me, O’ Lord.
4. Lord, give me strength to be more patient with you.
5. Father, perfect everything that concerns me.
6. My God and Father, let my life bring glory to You.
7. Lord, fill my mouth with testimonies. Amen

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THE BATTLE  IS NOT YOURS. (MAY 2021 NEWSLETTER)

Text:  2 Chronicles 20:15

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Introduction:
What does battle mean? It is a sustained fight between large organized armed forces (Oxford Dictionary).

There are two types of battles:
i. Physical Battles
ii. Spiritual Battles.

Physical battles are battles that confront you physically.

Spiritual battles are battles you cannot see with your naked eyes, but you can feel them. It is difficult to find the source of spiritual battle,  except through divine intervention.

Note this: the battle of life is real, it is powerful. You don’t need to offend anyone before you encounter battle.

Battles are ignited out of envy, jealousy, hatred, evil competitions, misunderstanding, unfaithfulness, rivalry, slander, anger, aggression, etc.

Unfortunately, many don’t know the reason why they are facing their current battle. It could be as a result of a curse in the family, a self-imposed curse or an evil covenant. Whatever may be the cause of the battle you are facing right now, there is an Anchor which keeps the soul. He is the only mighty Man in battle. He has never lost a battle; He will help you out because all power belongs to Him.

DO NOT BE AFRAID
To be afraid is to have an unsettled mind. Outrightly, it is the absence of faith.

There is no how you would hear the sad news that you won’t be afraid. Devil uses fear as a weapon to distract you and to make you powerless. Have this in your mind that, “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”

God told Jehosaphat and his people not to be afraid. To be afraid is to give up on the wish and will of the enemies. To be afraid is to make yourself a slave to fear. To be afraid is to limit the power of God over the situation you are going through. To be afraid is to announce that you are a loser.

Put this word of God in your mind always;
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with You; do not be dismayed, for I am Your God. I Will Strengthen You And Help You; I Will Uphold You With My Righteous Right Hand.”

DON’T BE DISCOURAGED
To be discouraged is to lose confidence or enthusiasm, or become disheartened (Online Dictionary).

When you feel discouraged, you will be emotionally down. If this happens, you will have no strength to confront the battle. Discouragement will make you put on the garment of a loser.

When you are discouraged, you won’t be able to strategize.

In the lead scripture, 2 Chronicles 20:15, the word of the Lord to Jehosaphat and his people is that they should not be afraid or discouraged. That is the message to you right now.

In that situation you are going through, never give up. Never compromise. Don’t be discouraged. Let your spirit be refreshed in the Word of the Lord. Look up, and begin to see yourself on the winning side.

Conclusion
I want you to develop your faith with these musical words:

Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely?
And long for heaven and home.

When Jesus is my portion;
A constant friend is He;
His eye is on the sparrow;
And I know He watches over me;
His eye is on the sparrow;
And I know He watches me.

Refrain;
I sing because I’m happy;
I sing because I’m free;
His eye is on the sparrow;
And I know He watches me (He watches me).
His eye is on the sparrow;
And I know He watches;
I know He watches;
I know He watches me…

The battle is not yours, it’s of the Lord.

Let’s pray.

1. Lord, I thank You that You are always ready to fight for me.

2. Thank God For His grace on you.

3. God’s goodness, grace & mercy shall be your companion as you go this month.

4. The Lord Himself will watch over you; He will hide you on His protective side and keep you from all evils in Jesus Christ’s name.

5. The grace of God shall find you at the junction of condemnation.

6. You shall operate in the abundance of God’s greater grace, and it shall not be difficult for you to break through in the name of Jesus Christ.

7. The gracious hand of God shall be on you as you go this week.

8. By the grace of God, unexpected doors of breakthrough shall open for you and it shall be well with you in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

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