RENEW YOUR STRENGTH THROUGH THE POWER OF PRAISE – JUNE 2022 NEWSLETTER

Topic: RENEW YOUR STRENGTH THROUGH THE POWER OF PRAISE

Text: Exodus 15:2

“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him”

INTRODUCTION

It is inevitable that your strength will decline during a long journey even if your mode of transportation is luxurious.

Aircraft may seem like a stress-free means of transportation, but they are not. That is why a stopover is always necessary for the driver, rider, sailor or the pilot, and their passengers.

It’s normal to refresh the engine of whatever means of transportation you want to use for traveling as you prepare for the journey ahead.

In your journey since the start of the year, you have faced several kinds of challenges. You felt as if you could not go far because the people who started the journey with you are no longer with you. Some have been wounded and have no hope of surviving.

Following the crossing of the red sea, Moses and the Israelites reached a point where they waited to praise God with a heart of thanksgiving.

Thereafter, God went ahead of them to deal with all the enemies they encountered.

Praise shifts your attention from your challenges to acknowledging God’s presence in the midst of those challenges.

You can always find strength and joy when God is on your side.

It will be discussed in this article some points that will motivate you to praise God in every situation.

• THINK AND THANK

The silliest thing some people do is to believe it is God’s duty to make things work out for them as the Creator of the universe, and are not obligated to thank Him for doing so.

Of course, God created the universe, but have you ever thought about why He did not create you as an animal or a stone?

In addition, what has been the force holding you up through all the trials and tribulations that have befallen your friends, colleagues, or those you have heard about on the news? Have you ever thought of that?

It is very important for you to ponder on God’s goodness in your life in order to gain more energy to move forward in life.

These and many more are things that should prompt you to ponder on God’s goodness.

• LET THE RIVER OF PRAISE FLOW FROM THE HEART

Your heart is the center of a healthy signal that is sent to the rest of your body and affects every part of it.

Once your heart is polluted, the effects will spread throughout your body. This is why Satan would always try every possible means to attack your heart.

“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my heart” is one of David’s songs of assurance of victory over his enemies.

David kept his heart steadfast in praising God.

In all situations, when you choose to praise God, you ignore the suggestions of the Devil, which will keep you alert and keep you moving forward.

• VOICE OUT YOUR PRAISE LANGUAGE

Taking in fresh breath and stretching your muscles are two ways to renew strength very quickly.

Speaking out is a sign of readiness and vitality.

There is a language for praise, and the language is for you to praise God in the best way you can, so that you can appease God for all that He has done for you.

While seeing the wonderful acts of God with the Israelites, Moses expressed his praise to God in his language.

The more you express your praise language, the quicker your strength will be renewed, and the bolder you will feel to develop your faith in God in every situation.

CONCLUSION

It is possible for your situation to appear bleak at times.

You ask, “Why will God allow me to go through this?” Always remember, every situation can be used to praise God.

Nothing can separate God from His glory no matter what situation you face. Do what you can to praise God no matter what the circumstances may be.

Finally, salvation of the soul is important. To keep on journeying through life, you need Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

LET’S PRAISE.

Pick a hymn or song of praise to appreciate God for who He is to you and what He is presently doing in your life.

Your testimony is sure!

John Aderogba for ROPMI.

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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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