06/09/2026
Sunday Service LIVE Update!!
New Temple Int'l Ministries
Theme: The Acts of The Spirit of Wisdom
With Apostle Abel Word.
Jesus teaches in the parable of the weeds that the master planted good seed, but the enemy came and planted weeds among it. This illustrates that whenever we make a genuine commitment to the Word of God, there will always be distractions and opposition designed to weaken or remove that commitment.
When we are born again, we must not be ashamed of the price that comes with following Christ. I remember a man who would come to church carrying his Bible in a plastic bag because he was ashamed. Our commitment to God should never be determined by embarrassment, convenience, or the opinions of others.
I experienced this conflict myself during my tertiary years. I was often faced with a choice between church and soccer, and I even lost sponsorship opportunities because I chose to attend church on Sundays. However, I understood that I needed God more than I needed the opportunity to play soccer. I knew there was something greater at stake because my life was being prepared for ministry.
One of the greatest dangers is that Satan can speak in a way that sounds very close to the voice of God. Therefore, the true sheep must develop a deep ability to distinguish the voice of God from every other voice. Sometimes God speaks precisely in the place where we are most tempted to make excuses.
We must also be careful about relationships, opportunities, and circumstances that can take us backwards spiritually. Not everything that looks attractive is necessarily from God. We should not allow pressure to make decisions for us before we have sought God's wisdom and understood the potential impact of our choices.
*The Importance of Wisdom*
The people of God must learn to walk wisely. Wisdom often requires us to withdraw into private places and seek God concerning our decisions. We do not spend enough time searching for wisdom, yet wisdom can preserve a person's life.
There are people who have ended up in prison or destroyed their future because they lacked the wisdom to recognise the consequences of their decisions. A wise person hates evil with all their heart. They do not celebrate the downfall of others, nor do they find pleasure in wickedness.
Wisdom can be understood as the embodiment of the various graces and virtues made available to us in Christ for the enlightenment and strengthening of the people of God. This wisdom must also be demonstrated practically. Whatever career or profession we pursue, we should strive to become excellent and knowledgeable in it.
*The Craftiness of the Serpent**
Genesis 3:1–3 reveals the craftiness of the serpent:
> “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say...?’”
The serpent's strength was not merely physical; it was its craftiness and ability to influence through subtlety. This teaches us that wisdom and discernment are essential because deception does not always appear openly.
One of the characteristics of the Spirit of God is self-denial. Where there is genuine selflessness, the Spirit of God can flourish. Fasting is also an expression of this principle: it teaches us to deny the desires of the flesh so that we can become more sensitive to God and disciplined in our spiritual lives.
