Let's pray for our leaders.

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Son of man, think of your life; What shall be the end of your life; When this world shall pass away Son of man, think of your life.

This is an opportunity to encounter God in a unique way. In addition to the dates above, we shall be meeting on Wed. & Thurs by 6:15am and &pm respectively. On friday 24th March, 2017 we shall meet by 6:15 am and a power night by 10pm. Looking forward to seeing you there.

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You are invited to be our guest at this program, holding tomorrow 25th February, 2017 at RCCG Prince of Peace parish, Silva House, behind AP Filling station, Palladan, Zaria by 12:00 noon. I look forward to seeing you at the gathering. It promises to be a great gathering to mingle and get blessed.

An excerpt by Bro Gbile Akanni. "For Our Admonition… 2" I see you quietly pursuing money in ministry. I see how you preach so eloquently for fund raising and just casually dismiss the sinners with a wave of hands. You will stop sinners from going for genuine altar calls and counseling until you have collected their offerings. You kill the conviction of sin in their hearts in order to excite them to come and give “sumptuous offerings”... Your excitement at the size of the crowd everyday and at every meeting is actually the “droppings!” The success of a meeting in your own estimate is that it pays off the bills incurred ... you are the modern Thomas of our day. All this is a loud echo of your heartbeats: “let us also go and die with him.” What else would I say about what killed Demas - who left a glorious inheritance for Thessalonica - because “he loved this present world?” What about Esau who would have inherited Isaac, and Abraham and the covenants? He sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Reuben exchanged his first-born position for a love affair with his father's wife. Judas Iscariot was one who had already obtained a part in this ministry. He was earmarked to sit along with the twelve apostles of the Lamb, on the twelve thrones of Israel, judging the nation of Israel in the millennial reign. He purchased a field with all these and fell headlong, his bowel scattered; he became a ridicule among men up till today. The sons of Eli - Hophni and Phinehas - were being raised to replace their father and perpetuate a priesthood that their great grandfather secured by puncturing a sinner in Israel with a sharp javelin. They died in one day, and the ark of God's covenant was taken away from their hands into the land of the Philistines; they led their father into a shocking death and left their wives widows without any notice. They left God's ministry with a bad label “Ichabod” - no one came eagerly to the temple anymore. The offering of the LORD became contemptible. They used their flesh hooks to catch the best of the offerings, even before God's portion was set aside, they recklessly, molested innocent ladies, wives of other men of Israel. They used their priestly anointing to exploit the brethren. You are well aware of these things that sent them to their early graves and you still walk on that terrain. You sit before the TV of this world and drink in all the junks! You hunt around like Esau, restless and untamable. Once “you spoil the ground” in a place, you move into a new location seeking ministry. You are the Thomas of our day; you have eloquently said to your friends and all who follow you ... “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Look at your heart today! What is your action saying to the brethren? Are you concluding that since these men stumbled, no one else can bear life unto the end? Have you said “Let us also go, that we may die with him?” This is the day when the Lord firmly declares “I am going to wake him up.” Be careful lest you die off, while our friend Lazarus who had died rises again! Be careful of the way you are going. All those who went that way went into death. They are dead while yet they live! They make empty noise but only transmit death and contamination to those who hear them. He is determined to wake his Church from all these 'death' and rottenness. Do not go the way of death anymore, otherwise you will not be part of what God is about to do in His church. This is for your own admonition. Their stories were written lest you fall into the ditches that swallowed them up. Though Thomas said this, it was clear that he saw his foolishness and ignorance early. He almost fell into the pit of unbelief but God helped him. He did not die with Lazarus. He saw him raised from that death. He must have listened more attentively to the Master. He asked questions more personally when he did not understand what the Master said. He would not even believe the story of Christ's resurrection until he had seen Him by and for himself. He reached out his fingers to touch the nail prints etc. His last recorded voice in the gospel and possibly in the New Testament is “my Lord and my God.” What a good way to end! He was one of the Twelve. He will sit on the Twelve thrones of Israel someday. Do not end up a casualty. Thomas left the garment of unbelief. He left the trade of trailing dead men. He pursued Christ who himself is the Resurrection and the Life. He asked for the way. Thomas said to Him: Lord, we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way?. John 14:5 It was to him that Jesus specifically granted that personal answer, which has become a great guidepost for all men who would follow the way of life today. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6 Do not just follow men, not knowing where they are going. Some are going to death, others are going to the dead to die with them, but you, follow the Way! Follow the truth, follow the Life! And when God points men to you, as disciplers, then obey the rule of scriptures: “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things.” Phil. 3:17-19 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1Cor.11:1

4 Reasons I’ve Stopped Using My iPad for My Personal Bible Study Time By Greg Stier Print Version I love my iPad. It’s a powerful tool for both my ministry and personal life. I can return emails from it, watch videos on it and show fundraising presentations with it. I’ve even gotten used to preaching from it. At our Dare 2 Share conferences I used to preach from a giant notebook. I’ll never forget the days that Propaganda and Zane would come out with their sleek iPads to preach from and I’d come out with a full-sized notebook that looked like it was on steroids. In this super-sized notebook were all the notes for the entire weekend, youth leader training, student manual and dramas. It had everything and then some. This year I made the switch from using my fat notebook to a skinny iPad Air. I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to make the switch, but I did. It has worked out really well. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to preaching from paper. But, although I’ve made the switch to an iPad for preaching, I’m switching back to a hard copy of the Bible for my morning devotional times. For the last few years I’ve used my iPad during my quiet times with God. It’s been easier to read from (because it’s backlit and I can make the font size bigger for my getting-older eyes) during my early morning devos. But, in spite of its many benefits, I’m giving up having my devotionals on an electronic device. Here are four reasons why: 1. I can underline, take notes and mark up my Bible in a way that honors the past lessons God has taught me. Sure I can highlight verses and jot notes on my iPad. But there’s something about the scribble of your own handwriting that marks the pages of your Bible with a customized imprint that begins to build a treasure trove of truth God has taught you. Over the last 25 years of ministry I’ve used two primary Bibles to study from on a regular basis. There are countless times I’ve referred back to my own personal notes in the margins of these two Bibles to reflect on spiritual insights I’ve received from God along the way. Every Bible I’ve ever owned is it’s own scrapbook in a way, full of snapshots of what God was teaching me during that particular time of my life. 2. Although an iPad is easier to read from, it’s harder to study from. One of the great things about Bible reading is being able to cross-reference easily. If I’m reading in Romans and want to check out a passage in Psalms that Paul quoted (like he did in Romans 4), it’s just a matter of turning some pages. I can quickly get there and get back and read as many cross references as I like in the amount of time it takes to turn the pages. This process really enables me to get to know the Bible in a fuller, deeper way than just reading. 3. Bible mastery comes quicker from a hard copy of the Scriptures. Because of all the underlining, note-jotting and cross-referencing, the Bible is easier to master. After studying the same Bible for years I can tell you which side of the page many verses are on and what the context is. One of the reasons for this is that I’ve learned to master these verses by turning to them time and time again during my personal devotionals. Unlike an iPad Bible app or online version of Scripture every page of my personal Bible can look unique, almost like it’s own little work of underlined, highlighted, note-scribbled art. It’s this visual, visceral portion of reading from an actual Bible that, so far, can’t be duplicated on an iPad … for me anyway. 4. My evangelism is stronger when my mastery of Scripture (and its mastery of me) is strongest! I’ve had countless evangelistic conversations with Mormons, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, atheists and agnostics over the years. Because I’ve been able to get to know the Bible more and more in my personal study time, it’s been easier and easier to engage others evangelistically by knowing and quoting Scriptures. It’s hard to imagine this level of mastery coming from just reading the Bible on an iPad or iPhone. Having said all this, I’d much rather have somebody reading the Bible from an electronic device than not reading the Bible at all. Technology is a huge blessing and we should use it. But, as for me, I’m going back to the old way of studying the Bible because I think its benefits outweigh its liabilities. What do you think and why? Hard copy or electronic when it comes to personal Bible study?

4 Ways to Help Difficult Sheep by Paul Lamey Let’s face it; some people are difficult. For a variety of reasons, life is hard for many Christians, and some of them seek to make life equally hard for their pastors. Even in a healthy church there will be some sheep who simply struggle in their relationships with each other. To quote one seasoned shepherd: “this kind of people-trouble is wearying indeed for the pastor. It’s easy to grow cold and sarcastic about those particularly difficult people whose afflictions are largely self-induced.” Not helping those who are problematic can lead to what another pastor calls, “pastoral anxiety.” He says that it is the “weight borne by criticism, gossip, opposition, division, strife, misunderstanding, bitterness, and negativism in those who should know better.” Furthermore, he notes it “can be enormous. This is by far the greatest strain laid on pastors.” Some responses to difficult sheep should be dismissed outright. Doing nothing is not an option. Therefore, a pastor giving the “silent treatment” or simply avoiding difficult persons betrays the pastoral calling of shepherding all the flock. Additionally, dictating everything through intimidation, manipulation, and harsh actions should never characterize a pastor’s response to difficult sheep (1 Pet 5:3; cf. Ezek 34:4). Thankfully, God knows that we can all be given to sinful impulses and entanglements that sometimes create great strain on our relationships. To this end, pastors should carefully identify what our sheep are like. Not all church members are the same. Some sheep are spiritually healthy while others bend under the strain of difficult circumstances and straying affections. The leadership of the church should carefully identify our sheep, not to mark some as “untouchable” but so as to help them grow in the grace of Christ Jesus. Once the leadership begins to identify areas of struggle and concern, they can start to carefully apply God’s Word with great patience and thoughtful skill. Here are four ways we can begin to help difficult church members in their walk with Christ: 1) Listen with Care It is important that we listen carefully not only to how things are being stated but also what is being said. Sometimes our tendency as pastors is not to listen; rather, it is to be offended, hurt, or to offer correction in the moment something is being said. Even if believers are struggling to communicate their thoughts with love and precision, pastors must go the extra mile to listen to their grievances or struggles. Wisdom should lead us to gather all available facts (Prov 18:13; Jam 1:19) and be sharpened by the edge of another’s words (Prov 27:17). After this, we can carefully measure our response rather than being quick or harsh with the hurting or disgruntled (Prov 15:28). 2) Admonish with Love There are times when a believer’s words and actions are simply out of step with God’s design for their life. While all Christians have a responsibility to help restore one another (Gal 6:1ff), pastors must carefully lead the way when necessary. We must “admonish the unruly” (1 Thess 5:14). The “unruly” are brothers and sisters seeking their own way, and we must help turn them back to fellowship in Christ (Jude 22–23). The early Church Father Ignatius once counseled Polycarp saying, “If you love good disciples, it is no credit to you; rather with gentleness bring the more troublesome ones into submission.” The unruly are a challenge to our ministries but it is an essential aspect of the rescuing nature of good shepherding ministry. 3) Encourage with Perseverance All of God’s people will face times of discouragement; such is common to man. In these moments, pastors have unique opportunities to provide care and comfort to those who are discouraged by life, sin, or the unknown. The Apostle said to “encourage the fainthearted, help the weak” (1 Thess 5:14). Such can take place through writing them, visiting in their homes, or counseling them over lunch. Our encouragement must continually bring the troubled in heart back to the promises of God in His Word, holding out the refreshment of the grace of Christ. Intentionally seek out ways to encourage the fainthearted sheep in your flock. 4) Strengthen with Patience “Be patient with everyone” (1 Thess 5:14). Patience is not a generic virtue for which we need to pray. Rather, biblical patience is a command to persevere alongside those enduring trying circumstances. Patient shepherds are not sprinters but marathoners. Taking a long-view approach to helping people will save us from many of the facile quick fixes of our evangelical culture. More importantly, it will model the kind of grace that God shows all of us (2 Pet 3:9). Richard Baxter, the great puritan pastor, offers the following encouragement: “We must carry on our work with patience. We must bear with many abuses and injuries from those to whom we seek to do good.”[3] Doing this, I believe, will encourage our sheep with a Christ-centered optimism that leads them to desire Him more than their own hurts and anguish. One more thing . . . There are many beneficial lessons that the Lord uses to strengthen His under–shepherds. Difficult people should drive us to prayer, deepen our study of the Scriptures, refine our communication, and examine our own hearts as we seek to faithfully lead God’s flock. Saving difficult sinners is the chief business of our Lord, and for this we labor and strive (Isa 53:6).