The Church of Pentecost -Tadzewu District

20/07/2023

TO READ: 2 Peter 3:8-18

The Day of the Lord

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.2 Peter 3:10
When Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator, decided to occupy Kuwait, a coalition of nations decided he should be evicted and punished. The ancient city of Baghdad was subjected to a massive aerial bombardment, and television showed pictures of “smart bombs” hurtling with devastating accuracy into selected targets. People around the world watched from the comfort of their own homes. But there was little comfort in the homes of Saddam’s troubled people—for them, the “fireworks display” was destruction and devastation.

So it will be in the “day of the Lord.” The prophet Joel said the day of the Lord will be “an awesome, terrible thing” (Joel 2:11). But Peter, preaching in Jerusalem, called it “that great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:20). Which will it be—great and glorious or awesome and terrible? It will depend entirely where you’re sitting. Those who are safe and secure in Christ’s salvation will rejoice as they are introduced to the full glory of his presence for all eternity; those who are not in Christ will experience the awesome, terrifying judgment of God.

Many men struggle when faced with these weighty truths. Will God really bring fiery judgment on his own creation? Does he intend to create “new heavens and new earth?” Will people really perish in the coming judgment? When will all this happen?

The timing of the “day of the Lord” is a secret known only to God. We are certain that the great day will happen. We are uncertain about the timing (2 Pet. 3:10). Why the uncertainty? Why didn’t God tell us when it will happen? Perhaps because he knows human nature! Those people who have suffered for the sake of God’s Kingdom and who have endured because they have hoped for his speedy return would likely have despaired. And those who have had little interest in reaching the perishing would have had even less interest if they had known that the Lord was not about to return. And since we are selfish people, we might have lived as we wished until the last minute before getting around to being what we should have been!

These things seemed to be on Peter’s mind when he said that the promise of the day of the Lord, and the uncertainty of its timing, should stimulate us to “holy, godly lives” (3:11). We should “look forward” to this great event, and the anticipation should inspire us to “hurry it along” (3:12). Of one thing we can be sure—”the day of the Lord will come”!

17/07/2023

My Way

Read 1 Samuel 27:1–31:13

1Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. 2The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. 3The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely. 4Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king. 6So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.1 Samuel 31:1-6
Most American heroes wear the label “rugged individualist.” These macho types set a sort of standard—an American ideal. And though we may argue about the details, most of us would agree that these heroes live by three rules: they blaze their own trail; they don’t take orders (they give them); and they apologize to no one.

This is the story of Saul’s death, and it’s a dark time in Israel’s history. Saul has tried to be a rugged individualist, and this portion of the Scriptures passes judgment on that experiment in living. Given the similarities to the way we’re urged to live today, we’d do well to pay attention.

As you read, you’ll find these other lessons: being patient; avoiding the occult; and remembering that those who do unglamorous, behind-the-scenes jobs to support the efforts of others are important too.

In Saul’s death (1 Samuel 31:4-13) an ideal also died. Israel could no longer believe that having a king like the other nations would solve all their troubles. The real problem was not the form of government, but the sinful king. Saul tried to please God with spurts of religiosity; real spirituality takes a lifetime of consistent obedience. Saul didn’t have it; he really was a “rugged individualist.”

Heroic spiritual lives take a different approach. They are built by stacking days of obedience, one on top of the other. Like a brick, each obedient act is small in itself, but in time the acts pile up, and a huge wall of strong character results—a great defense against temptation. This strategy doesn’t concern itself with trailblazing, calling the shots, or never saying, “Oops!” Rather, it concerns itself with striving for consistent obedience to God—doing it his way—each day.

Which kind of hero are you trying to be?

13/07/2023

Facing the Sadness

BIBLE READING: Nehemiah 8:7-10

We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Most of us falter at the prospect of making an honest personal inventory. Rationalizations and excuses for avoiding this step abound. The bottom line is that we know there is an enormous amount of sadness awaiting us, and we fear the pain that facing the sadness will bring.

The Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem after captivity in Babylon had lost touch with God. During the Exile, they hadn’t been taught his laws, so naturally, they hadn’t practiced them either. After rebuilding the city wall and the Temple, the priests gathered the people together to read the Book of the Law. The people were overwhelmed with grief and began weeping, because their lives in no way measured up.

The priests said to the people, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God. . . . Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. . . . Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:9-10). The next day marked the beginning of the Festival of Shelters, a required Jewish feast celebrating the Israelites’ escape from bo***ge in Egypt and God’s care for them while they wandered in the wilderness.

When we set out to face the pain and sadness of making a moral inventory, we will need the “joy of the LORD” to give us strength. This joy comes from recognizing, even celebrating, God’s ability to bring us out of bo***ge and care for us as we pass through the sadness toward a new way of life.

11/07/2023

Standing Ovation
There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

John 14:2

How many funerals have you been to that ended with a standing ovation? I just returned from one. It was for my neighbor Dale. He had fought and eventually lost a long battle with cancer. But his life had borne great fruit, touching many people. Dale was a man who loved God and served him humbly as a deacon in his church. I was struck by how everyone who spoke at his funeral talked about Dale in the present tense, as though he hadn’t passed away.

It wasn’t just a case of feeling his lingering influence; rather, most of those gathered believed Dale was still alive. In fact, the pastor who preached the sermon remarked how much he disliked hearing anyone described as “dead.” People die, of course, but the pastor reminded us that death is an event, not a destination. It’s the point at which we make the transition into another life—one that will last forever. The applause at the end of the funeral for this former college football player, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and deacon was given in honor of a life well lived and as a celebration of the life Dale is enjoying right now, face-to-face with the God he loves.

One of my neighbors had the privilege of witnessing the moment of Dale’s passing. His large extended family had gathered in his living room. She watched as they all were drawn to the bed the moment Dale died. Then they knelt down and began to sing. She told me it was the most beautiful thing she had ever witnessed—to see this family’s reaction as their father and grandfather passed into heaven.

I won’t see Dale for a while, unless, of course, my time on earth is shorter than I imagine. But when I do see him, I hope God will welcome me into his peace with the same words I believe he has spoken to Dale: “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Lord, the peace we enjoy now is just a foretaste of the peace we will enjoy forever. Help me to remember that as I seek your peace for this day.

06/07/2023

TO READ: Psalm 135

One Generation at a Time

The Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure.Psalm 135:4
It is hardly a coincidence that some of today’s great baseball players are the children of former baseball legends, that many top stock car drivers are the sons and granddaughters of the original stock car pioneers, that the sons of former heavyweight boxing champions are now earning a living in the ring, or even that some of our best preachers are preachers’ kids. It is beyond question that one generation can pass on interest and passion, knowledge and discipline, to the next generation. The choices of each generation can have a lasting and profound impact.

What is true in the natural world is certainly true of the spiritual realm. There is a certain expectation in Scripture that spiritual heritage will be treasured by each generation and transmitted to the next. The psalm writer said, “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts” (Ps. 145:4). This injunction states an expectation that each generation will be conversant with the stories about God’s dealings with the human race and that they will treasure these stories enough to pass them on. There is also the assumption that each generation will be interested enough in the well-being of the rising generation to take time to nurture them in the things of the Spirit.

Each generation should recognize the importance of communication from the older to the younger if there is to be any continuity of principles, priorities, and lifestyle values in any given society. Sadly, in contemporary culture many young people have minimal contact with their elders but have maximum interaction with their peers. The result is a subculture with little or no sense of history or heritage, of transcendent values or spiritual realities.

It has been said that the Christian faith is never more than one generation away from extinction. This may be an alarmist statement, but there is an element of truth in it. There are cultures in the western world at the present time that have seen a progressive decline in spiritual nurture over three generations to such an extent that these cultures, which were previously strongholds of the faith, are now post-Christian societies, mission fields as dark as any primitive society.

The answer to such a threat is simple—every man who brings a child into the world should accept the privilege and responsibility of seeing that his child is given a working knowledge of the Lord, his dealings with mankind, his offer of salvation, and the joys of living in vital communion with him. No one can guarantee the next generation will come to faith, but everyone can make sure they have the chance.

04/07/2023

Keep Your Heart Pure
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7

Firearm experts point out that if a gun is never cleaned, it will eventually become a safety hazard. That’s because every time you fire a gun, residue is left behind. This grime will eventually clog up the works, rendering the firearm unsafe to use. The same is true with our tongues. Every time we lash out in anger, every time we accuse, berate, gossip, criticize, or betray a confidence, a residue is left in our hearts that will make our tongues more harmful to ourselves and others.

Cleaning a handgun is fairly straightforward. After safely disassembling it, you wipe it with a cloth rag, removing as much of the caked-on carbon as possible. Then you apply a solvent and scrub the gun with a brush. After more wiping and scrubbing and brushing, you oil the components that need to be lubricated. Then you reassemble it and, presto chango, you have a gun that is much safer to use.

Cloth rags, solvents, and oil won’t quite do it for our tongues, of course. But there is something we can do to make them less hazardous in the future. We can begin by recognizing negative patterns of speech, asking God to search our hearts and to show us where we have sinned. Then we can ask him for forgiveness. A clean heart will enable our tongues to function the way God intends, building others up rather than tearing them down.

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. . . . Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. . . . Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you” (Psalm 51:1-4, 7, 15).

03/07/2023

Creating Spiritual Intimacy

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.Galatians 6:2
Most of the couples I meet wish that they could share more freely with each other about their spiritual journey. We often speak of emotional intimacy or sexual intimacy, but we seldom talk about spiritual intimacy. Yet this affects all other areas of our relationship.

Just as emotional intimacy comes from sharing our feelings, spiritual intimacy comes from sharing our walk with God. We don’t have to be spiritual giants to have spiritual intimacy as a couple, but we must be willing to share with each other where we are spiritually.

The husband who says, “I’m not feeling very close to God today” may not stimulate great joy in his wife’s heart, but he does open the possibility for her to enter into his spiritual experience. If she responds with, “Tell me about it,” she encourages spiritual intimacy. If, however, she says, “Well, if you don’t feel close to God, guess who moved?” she has stopped the flow, and he walks away feeling condemned. The apostle Paul challenged us to share each other’s burdens, and those often include feelings of spiritual dryness or difficulty. Spiritual intimacy within a marriage requires a willingness to listen without preaching.

Father, I want to be able to talk with my spouse about my walk with you—and I want to hear about his or her experiences too. Please help us to be kind as we listen to each other and share each other’s burdens. Develop spiritual intimacy in us, I pray.

30/06/2023

Persistent Seeking

BIBLE READING: Job 14:1-6

We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

One thing that may make it hard to believe in God is that life often seems unfair to us. We didn’t ask to be born into a dysfunctional family! We didn’t have any say over the abuses and injustices we have suffered! We didn’t choose our predisposition toward addiction. And yet we are held accountable for things we can’t control on our own. This makes it hard to initially turn to God as the Power to restore our sanity. He seems unreasonable in his demands.

Job understood these feelings. In the midst of his suffering he said, “How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. Must you keep an eye on such a frail creature and demand an accounting from me? Who can bring purity out of an impure person?” (Job 14:1-4). These are good questions—ones that most of us have asked in one form or another. Job persisted in his questioning because deep inside he believed God to be good and fair, even though life wasn’t. He was honest with his emotions and questions, but he never stopped seeking God.

There is a good answer to the question Job posed, one that will satisfy both our heart and our mind. It will be found, however, only by those who are willing to work through the pain and unfairness of life and still seek God. Those who seek him will find him. In God’s loving arms, they will also find the answers they seek.

29/06/2023

Commit It

Read Proverbs 16:1-33

1We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. 2People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. 3Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. 4The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. 5The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished. 6Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil. 7When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them. 8Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. 9We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.Proverbs 16:1-9
Many people fear getting married. Marriage changes everything—for the rest of your life. No one should blame a bride or groom for being nervous. Uncertainty over the future is the most nerve-racking kind of all. How do they know this will work? So many marriages don’t last. Will theirs?

Predicting the future has many hazards. A better approach would be to consider the advice in Proverbs 16 about committing your way (or future) to God.

In this chapter you will also learn about making plans; dealing with pride; being fair in business; using pleasant words; and strengthening the bond between friends.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” What does this mean? To “commit your work to the Lord” means to dedicate everything you do to God’s purposes through prayer—turning it over to him. It also means doing your best for God’s glory and depending on him for the results.

What work should you commit to God? Any plan, task, or endeavor that you want to succeed: buying a car, starting school, initiating a new church program, getting engaged or married, going on vacation, changing jobs, entering retirement—these all qualify.

Think of a specific effort in which you are involved right now—how might you commit it to the Lord?

27/06/2023

*INTERCESSORY PRAYER WITH THE CHAIRMAN*

Beloved you are specially invited to join the Chairman's Tuesday zoom prayers at *10pm GMT on PENT TV, DSTV 367, GOTV 175, Digital channel 34, Watch live on Church of Pentecost App* Satellite and on Facebook @ aps.ericnyamekye.

You can also be part of the zoom audience by logging in the credentials on the flyer.

Intercession is our highest form of Christian Service hence the clarion call for we all to come on board. Let's gather to pray at 10pm tonight.

Time: : *EVERY TUESDAY AT 10:00PM -11:30PM GMT*



Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://copusa-org.zoom.us/j/98829711366?pwd=MmFzaFo4UW92ZkZWYTlCVVVGVzV6QT09

*Webinar ID: 98829711366*
Passcode: chairman

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26/06/2023

Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! . . . I am overwhelmed by my troubles.”
PSALM 55:1-2

Stages of Grief: Denial Ps 55

We live in a culture that tends to celebrate heroes who face hardship and loss without emotion, overcoming difficulties and showing no weakness. It’s the James Bond approach to life. But no one is immune to suffering. Yes, those who appear to “power through” and overcome hardship with ease seem impressive, but if they do not take time to fully grieve what they have lost, they are in danger of becoming trapped in their pain. Grieving losses is a necessary part of growth.

After losing a friend to cancer and then losing her job, one woman decided she needed some career counseling to determine her next step. In the first session, she was surprised to hear the counselor say, “You’ve had a lot of loss in your life.”

The therapist’s simple statement opened her eyes to some of the pain she had been ignoring and denying—loss of a parent, loss of dreams of having children, loss of health, loss of a supportive church family, and more. In each instance of loss, instead of taking time to grieve, this woman had reminded herself of the things in her life that were good and had thought about others who had suffered much more than she had. These responses, positive in themselves, had led her to deny her own pain and avoid the healing and growth that comes through grief.

Taking time to acknowledge and admit her pain instead of denying it was the first step toward healing and growing. We all need to admit our pain and suffering and also acknowledge that we have hurt in our lives. As David said, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you” (55:22). Watch for the comfort and help that God brings. Take note of it, and thank him for it.