Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | April 21, 2023 | Matthew 12:25-30 KEY VERSE: ²⁵Knowing their thoughts, he told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ….³⁰Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. Matthew 12:25,30 MESSAGE: The scenario in this passage depicts a battle between two kingdoms – the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, the kingdom of light, and the kingdom of darkness. Jesus is fighting the forces of evil with the greatest force of love that the world has ever seen! Jesus is fighting evil with the power of the Spirit of God and the fact that He is doing so is evidence that the kingdom of God has come through His life and His ministry. He gives the illustration of going into a strong man’s house and trying to steal his stuff. That strong man is not going to just let you steal his stuff. Therefore, the strong man must be bound up to steal his stuff. The beautiful part is that Jesus is demonstrating that He has power over Satan by defeating the forces of the evil one. Consciously or unconsciously, the whole world is involved in this battle, and one fights either on the side of Jesus or Satan. Those who acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and submit to Him as Saviour and Lord of their lives are those who are with Him. Those who are with Jesus gather with Him individually as members of His kingdom through consistent faith, loyalty, and holiness. They walk His walk and talk His talk. Together they make a community of His kingdom, and they gather with Him through unity. They are not divided and so are able to stand, and the Gates of Hades will not prevail against them. The Pharisees were certainly not with Jesus. They not only deny Jesus but also attributed His power, the power of God, to the power of the devil. They were against Jesus, and so they were against God. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: On whose side are you? Jesus makes it clear that there is no middle room when it comes to loyalty towards Him. You are either with Him or you are against Him. Jesus has no room for neutrality. If you are on Jesus’ side, you are on the winning side. He will not fail, for greater is He that is us than He that is in the world. Ask yourself if you have experienced the power of Jesus. You may have your name on a church roll, or you may be a regular attendant of your church. But the question is, have you experienced the power of Jesus? If you are against Him, you are rejecting the work of the Spirit and you are on dangerous ground because you may soon move beyond your ability to repent. PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please guide me and help me to always stay on your side. I promise to be loyal to you and to follow your ways, your word, and your will. Please grant me strength and wisdom to be steadfast in my faith and to live a life that reflects your love and grace. Thank you for your everlasting love and mercy. Amen! THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! #BAPTISTDailyDevotional

Rev Charles Oppong-Poku | APRIL 20, 2023 | Matthew 12:22-24 KEY VERSE: Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. Matthew 12:22 This passage describes Jesus healing a man who was both blind and mute and was possessed by a demon. The healing was so miraculous that it caused the crowds to be amazed, but it also caused controversy among the Pharisees, who accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul. This passage highlights the power and compassion of Jesus. He could heal the man of physical and spiritual afflictions, and He did so with great love and mercy. The faith of those who brought the blind and mute person resulted in miraculous healing and deliverance. It is a powerful reminder that no matter what struggles we may be facing; Jesus is able to heal and restore us to wholeness. It highlights the reality of demonic possession and the power of evil in the world. Nevertheless, Jesus has authority over evil and the ability to defeat it through His divine power. All the people who saw this miraculous deed were amazed and began to believe in Jesus as the Son of David, the long-awaited Messiah. We also see the danger of spiritual blindness. The Pharisees, who were supposed to be the religious leaders of the day, were spiritually blind. They were blind to the truth of who Jesus was and what He was doing. They were so caught up in their traditions and rules that they couldn’t see the truth right in front of them. They were more concerned with maintaining their power and authority than with recognizing the Messiah right in front of them. HANDS AND FEET FOR THE MESSAGE: Jesus is still in the business of breaking the power of evil and demons, setting people free, opening their eyes to see, and bringing salvation to their souls. What is it that seems to be binding you? The transformative power of Jesus and His ability to bring healing and salvation to those who come to Him in faith is still available. Let us open up to the truth to be able to recognize Jesus for who He truly is. Let us be reminded of the danger of becoming spiritually blind and understand that true sight is not just a matter of physical vision, but also of spiritual sight. “Sometimes the things that we think we see can blind us to the deeper truths of life, and that sometimes, it is only through blindness that we can truly see”. PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus thank you for the power you have over demons and evil, anyone you set free shall be free indeed. Thank you for your deliverance and healing upon my life. Help me to see clearly, open my eyes to the truth and protect me from spiritual blindness. I commit myself to a life of humility and openness, always seeking to grow in my understanding of your truth and your ways. In your dear name’s sake. Amen! THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Charles Oppong-Poku | APRIL 19, 2023 | Matthew 12:18-21 KEY VERSE: “……I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.” Matthew 12:18b MESSAGE: It is painful to have people kick you while you are down. You already feel low, you are already hurting, and your mind is already spinning. You already feel like you can’t get any lower, then someone comes along who you hoped would help you and they only make things worse. Job’s three friends fall into this category. After spending 7 days in silence with him, they opened a barrage of words against Job, pointing out all of his flaws and problems, many of which were not even true. When we are down and hurting, we need someone who can help us, and this is where Jesus comes in as the true helper. We notice that the work of the chosen servant is more clearly expressed in verses 18-21. First, Jesus will proclaim justice to the Gentiles and bring victory for all people. He will right the wrongs committed and be that standard for morality and justice. Jesus shows that there is justice, there will be justice delivered, and He will be the deliverer of that justice to every single person. In humility (12:19-21), Jesus will heal and restore people and bring hope to the world. The picture in verse 19 is that Jesus was not going to make a commotion. He would not be combative. He would not be a self-proclaimer or self-promoter. He will accomplish the mission by speaking and acting gently, not by asserting himself or fighting with others. We see Jesus’ disciples being taught to do the same thing in Luke 9:51-56 when James and John asked Jesus if they should tell fire to come down from heaven and consume the people of a Samaritan village when they rejected Jesus. Jesus does not come to us when we are wounded and bruised to finish us off, snapping us in half. Think about the picture of a smoldering wick. The fire is nearly out and all you can see is some smoke. Jesus does not come to put that little fire out, but to reignite the fire. Jesus did not come to break reeds but to heal reeds. Jesus is tender and gentle and comes to heal and restore people. Jesus does not come to you in your weakness with exasperation but with compassion, He brings hope to the whole world. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE As citizens of His kingdom, we need to model Jesus in these characteristics. We need to come to people in humility and gentleness. We are not called to break bruised reeds or quench dimly burning wicks. We are not called to be combative or self-proclaimers. We must tell the world that the hope they need for life cannot be found in the world and worldly pursuits. The hope they need for life is only found in Jesus. Healing and restoration are only in Jesus. True help, true joy and satisfaction are only in Jesus. PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus thank you for being the restorer of justice, healing, and hope in our lives. We are grateful for the way you have redeemed us and made us whole. We ask that you continue to work in our hearts and our world, bringing justice to the oppressed, healing to the broken, and hope for the hopeless. Help us to be instruments of your peace and love in the world, so that others may experience the restoration that you offer. For your holy name’s sake. Amen!

Rev Charles Oppong-Poku | APRIL 18, 2023 | Matthew 12:14-18a KEY VERSE: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight." Matthew 12:18a (NIV) MESSAGE: We need to remember what is going on in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus has grown in fame and popularity. He has healed many. He has taught much and cast out demons. He is well-known and loved by many. However, Jesus has started to develop an edge to His teaching – He is confronting people head-on for hypocrisy, for not understanding the ways of God, and for not understanding His ministry. In yesterday’s passage, we saw Jesus call out the Pharisees for not really understanding the law of God and He stood against their legalism and lack of love. As a result, the Pharisees started plotting against Jesus to kill Him. Jesus being aware of this did what many of us would do, He withdrew from the area. Even though Jesus was hated by the Pharisees, many people were still fascinated with Him and tried to partake of His miracles and great teaching. One of the prophecies of Isaiah makes up the bulk of our passage today. Jesus had a mission and was part of a larger plan. He came to the earth as a human being who was the Servant of God. The prophecy from Isaiah 42:1-4 spoke to the fact that Jesus would be a servant of God. As is often the case, this prophecy spoke not just to one thing, but to two – Israel and Jesus. Whereas Israel failed as a faithful servant of God, Jesus the Messiah would succeed as God’s faithful servant. Jesus the Messiah was God’s beloved servant, who was chosen by God to bring justice to the nations and to proclaim the good news of salvation, who was loved by God, in whom God delighted, and on whom God’s Spirit would rest. Jesus was the ultimate and perfect servant of God. He was faithful, He was holy, He was completely committed, He was enabled by the Spirit, and He was laser-focused on the mission. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE Have you grasped the gravity of this prophecy that Jesus is the faithful servant of God? God intervened in the world for you and for me, so that we might find hope in Jesus and His salvation. As followers of Jesus Christ, He sets us a perfect example of faithful service. Challenge yourself by considering the faithful servant of God. Think about Jesus and His work. Consider His obedience, his gentleness, His divinity and death, and determine how you will bring the hope of Jesus to your family, your friends, your coworkers and neighbours. PRAYER: Dear God, help me emulate Jesus as God’s faithful servant. Help me to be obedient to your will, to carry out your mission with faithfulness and humility. May I have a heart that seeks after you, and may your Holy Spirit guide me in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Charles Oppong-Poku | APRIL 17, 2023 | Matthew 12:9-13 KEY VERSE: ¹² A person is worth far more than a sheep; so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.” ¹³Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as good as the other. Matthew 12:12-13 (NIV) MESSAGE: The Pharisees were not happy with Jesus. They wanted to trap Him and accuse Him, and they found an opportunity to do so. Some say that the Pharisees may have placed this man in the synagogue to trap Jesus. I’m not sure about that. However, at the least, they saw the man there and knew that Jesus may very well want to heal the man. What Jesus says in verse 12 is key for our understanding as well. He says, “It is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.” What Jesus is saying here is that doing good surpasses following a list of rules. To say it differently “love is greater than legalism”. Legalism focuses on rules, but love focuses on people. The Pharisees were outraged that Jesus would heal on the Sabbath because it went against their strict interpretation of the law. They were more concerned with upholding rules than showing compassion for human needs, but Jesus saw the man’s suffering and acted out of love and compassion, even if it meant breaking the religious rules. Legalism leads to judgment, but love leads to mercy. The Pharisees were quick to judge Jesus and accused Him of breaking the law, but Jesus showed mercy to the man with the withered hand, offering healing and restoration. Legalism creates barriers, but love breaks them down. The Pharisees had created a rigid system of rules and regulations that made it difficult for people to approach God. They had become so focused on following the law that they missed the heart of God’s message. On the other hand, Jesus’ act of healing on the Sabbath broke down the barriers that the Pharisees had created, showing that God’s love and mercy are available to all who seek Him. Jesus’ act teaches us that as we go through our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in our routines and schedules but it’s important to remember that every person has value and deserves our love and compassion, even if it means breaking our usual patterns. Jesus’ act also demonstrates the power of God to heal and restore. Even when things seem impossible or hopeless, God can bring wholeness and healing into our lives. Jesus did not just heal the man with the withered hand out of love and compassion – He did it to make a point, to challenge the religious leaders who had become more focused on rules than on serving others. As followers of Jesus, we are called to serve others in His name. Sometimes that means breaking the rules or going against the status quo to show love and compassion to those who need it most. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE Don’t become too familiar with church and worship by following rules and performing religious rituals. Let us learn to show love more and don’t be judgmental. We exist to develop disciples who love God, love the church, and love others. Loving God and others is what we’re here to do. God showed His love and mercy to the world and made it possible for us to love and be loved through Jesus. Show the love and mercy of Jesus today and every other day because love is greater than legalism. PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your love and mercy. Give me eyes that will see beyond the natural, a heart that can feel the burden of the needy and hands that are ready to do something to help situations of others. Held me to understand that I exist to help people to love you, love the church and love others. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Charles Oppong-Poku | APRIL 16, 2023 | Matthew 12:1-8 KEY VERSE: ⁷If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. ⁸For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:7-8 (NIV) MESSAGE: In today’s passage, it’s the good old Pharisees who are opposing Jesus. The Pharisees were an influential religious sect within Judaism in the time of Jesus Christ and the early church. They were known for their emphasis on personal acceptance of oral tradition in addition to the written Law, and their teaching that all Jews should observe all 600-plus laws in the Torah, including the rituals concerning ceremonial purification. The issue of the Pharisees was that the disciples were “working” on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees and other religious leaders had developed a list of 39 different types of rules related to working on the Sabbath. Harvesting wheat was on that list of forbidden tasks to do on the Sabbath, even if it was just a small amount of wheat harvested by picking it with your hands. In responding to the concerns of the Pharisees, Jesus provided two exceptions and in doing so He points out that if the lesser is true, then the greater must be true as well. He referred to David and his men who went into the Tabernacle and ate bread that was supposed to be eaten by priests only, this was allowable because David and his men were truly in need. Then He said that the priests themselves violated the Sabbath laws by working in the temple and yet that was right. Then, Jesus says in verse 6 that something greater than the temple is here. He is saying, “I am greater than the temple.” That’s a bold statement because the temple represented the holy presence of God and God Himself. By saying that He is greater than the temple, He establishes the greater element in this discussion. Jesus is saying that if it’s right for the lesser, David and the priests, to break the strict letter of the law on the Sabbath; then it’s also right for the greater, Jesus Himself, to break the strict letter of the law on the Sabbath. This is not to say that God’s laws do not matter. However, we must remember that any day set aside to honour God and to bring rest to his people must recognize the holy worship in blessing others. To rest on the Sabbath for the Jews did not mean to refrain from any form of labour, but it did mean to honour God on the day he set aside and to bless his children by letting them enjoy His rest and praise Him. Similarly, every day for Christians is to be a day to worship God and serve others. The Pharisees were trying to worship God by following all the religious rules and making sure others did, but they got it all wrong because one needs Jesus to follow God’s laws. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE How do you define your relationship with Jesus Christ? Don’t define your relationship with Jesus by the rules and rituals you follow. Understand that true worship is knowing the Son of Man – Jesus, who is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a gift to God’s people. However, the Saviour is a greater gift than the Sabbath. Jesus the Saviour is greater than any other religious law and anything! He is greater than David and his men, He is greater than the priests of the temple, and He’s greater than the temple itself. Jesus deserves all our devotion, all our worship, all our sacrifice, and all our hearts. Sabbath rest is good, but the rest found in Jesus is better! PRAYER: Thank you, dear God, that true rest is found in Jesus Christ. Help me to understand that true worship is more than following religious rules and traditions. Help me not to follow mere religious traditions but to surrender my life completely to Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath and find the rest in Him. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Enoch Thompson | APRIL 15, 2023 | Matthew 11:28-30 KEY VERSE: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV) MESSAGE: When opportunities exist for our greatest welfare, we cannot blame others who failed to make use of them, as the reason why we should not engage those opportunities for our development and progress. The statements of the Lord Jesus in our text for today must be read with the unbelief of Bethsaida, Korazin and Capernaum at the back of our minds. In the context of their unbelief, the Sovereign Lord of the Kingdom of God invites the reader to ‘ ²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV). In a world where unbelief and lack of submission to the revelation about God are on the rise, even in fulfilment of the divine prediction (2 Tim. 3:1-5), the call goes out over the waters to your soul and mine to come to the Lord Jesus, and to seek our self-definition and restful satisfaction in Him. Christ announces the new Sabbath, the new eternal day of rest which begins in this life and will continue into eternity. Finding meaningful life and having a satisfying abundant life (John 10:10) are in the package that the Saviour offers us. We are called in because of and in spite of the burden of our labour under the taskmaster of the human soul, Satan. Sin-sick souls, Jesus would receive, and heal us with the balm of Gilead. The Lord Jesus offers us a new yoke and a new life. To choose between the yoke of slavery to sin and Satan, or to become a willing slave to the loving heavenly Master; either way, the human soul must bear a yoke, and we must choose the yoke of Christ, for the yoke of Christ is easier than to bear the yoke of Satan. We are called to and must believe when others refuse to believe. The benefits of commitment to the Lordship of Christ Jesus far outweigh any pain we encounter as a consequence of that wisest choice. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Have you bowed at the foot of the cross where Jesus died for you? Have you come to Him for the cleansing by His blood and being touched by His healing hands? There is a wonderful life that begins now when we come in response to the holy invitation. If you have decided to believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, walk boldly and confidently in His service. You owe no apologies for the unbelief of others. PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you in total trust for my journey through Earth to Heaven. Please help me to “see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day.” For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Enoch Thompson | APRIL 14, 2023 | Matthew 11:25-27 KEY VERSE: ²⁵At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. Matthew 11:25-26 (NIV) MESSAGE: When those who witnessed the immediate physical miracles of the Lord did not believe, what hope is there that those who are remotely placed in time and location, like us, could believe? The discussion of the unbelief of the people of Bethsaida, Korazin and Capernaum in the preceding verses is linked to the Lord’s comments in verses 25 to 29 of Matthew 11. In this portion, the Lord shows us that when others choose to disbelieve, or not to respond positively to the light they have received, that will not stop others from being able to believe! We can believe this because of two factors the Lord identifies in the text. Firstly, we can believe because what we are called to, in following the Lord Jesus Christ, is a child-like faith that does not have all the answers to all the questions that the worldly wise and learned will want to address before believing. The Christian faith is an intelligent faith in that it makes intellectual sense in its claims and teachings. It makes sense that an intelligent being, called God, existed before all things, and created everything we see, and all the order we see around us. There must be a Creator; it takes more faith to doubt the existence of God than it takes to believe in the existence of God! The Fall into sin by the first humans and the provision of God of a Lamb to wash away humanity's sin all make meaning and show the transforming power seen in the lives of those who believe. The Gospel calls for a child-like faith, not a childish faith. The child believes without reservation and with full conviction that what has been said is true, and what has been promised will be delivered. Secondly, we can believe because we receive revelation from God Himself to us. Our feeble spiritual senses are strengthened by the help of a gracious merciful Father who by the power of His Holy Spirit reveals His Son to us as our Saviour and Lord (verse 27). We cannot, in and of ourselves, know God, till He draws us to Himself, and He is drawing all to His love because He wants all to be saved (1 Tim. 2:1-4). FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: In an unbelieving world, will you make up your mind in simple child-like faith to believe in God and all He stands for? Will you build upon the light of revelation you have received so far, and develop your faith muscles, until the vision of God becomes a reality in your journey through life, and when you cross the river of death? PRAYER: Lord, I believe in you, when the world is becoming more and more godless because they do not believe. Please help me to truly believe. Lord, heal the Church of empty religion without God and His power to make us into the new humanity. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Enoch Thompson | APRIL 13, 2023 | Matthew 11:20-27 KEY VERSE: Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. Matthew 11:20 (NIV) MESSAGE: Why are we so blessed, is a good question to ask of oneself, of our nation and of humanity. Very often we lose sight of why we are blessed, and when the purpose is forgotten, abuse is inevitable. When we forget of our humanity as a special creation made in the image of God, it becomes very easy for us to see the divine purpose in our creation and existence, and to lend ourselves to unholy inhuman behaviour. We have stressed all along that the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ were not simply the display of empty supernatural power. They were meant to reveal the identity of the One performing the miracles as God and to cause the observers of those miracles to understand the arrival of the Kingdom of God, and to repent and gain entry into that rule of God in the hearts of humans. That is exactly the point that the Lord brings up forcefully in our text. “Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.” Matthew 11:20 (NIV). The Lord spoke harshly of the cities of Bethsaida, Korazin and Capernaum, and predicted severe judgment for them on Judgment Day. The cities of Tyre and Sidon, and even Sodom would have a more bearable judgment than the first three cities because, in the scale of God, the later cities would have responded more appropriately if they had witnessed the miracles that the former had the opportunity to witness. To whom much is given, much is expected. Those who have the opportunity for more spiritual light will be judged with a more strict judgement, in this life and in Judgment Day. Those who are given more of life’s resources will suffer more if they abuse their privilege and end up in poverty. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Why are you alive today when someone went to bed last night and did not see this morning? Why do you have the ability to see, hear or taste, when others have lost those abilities? Please begin to see that the opportunities God gives you are intended to reveal the reality of God to you, and to lead you to honour God in a closer walk under His rulership. PRAYER: Dear Lord, please forgive me when I have taken your blessings for granted. Please help me to see the reason for the blessings, and to believe, and to live under your shelter. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Enoch Thompson | APRIL 12, 2023 | Matthew 11:16-19 KEY VERSE: "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: . . .. Matthew 11:16 (NIV) MESSAGE: In daily conversation, we have developed the skill of changing the subject, when we are uncomfortable with the discussion or to dodge the issues at stake when we want to avoid the responsibility that points in our direction. The high praises of John the Baptist, and the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Jews of the time, made their attitude of rejection of the ministry of the two a matter of surprise. As a nation, they did not repent once and for all and accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah (John 1:11-12). It is a wonder to God (to whom nothing should be a wonder), and it is so put in the text as to make it our wonder, that a people who received both the powerful preaching ministry of the greatest of the prophets, and who witnessed the most-inviting preaching, in-depth teaching and miracles of the God-among-them should be so heartless and blind as to miss the divine revelation right before their eyes. The divine response to the divine “confusion” when we are dodgy to the revelations of God to us, is: "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: . . .. Matthew 11:16 (NIV). God uses different methods to draw our attention to Himself and His messages. The strange lifestyle of John the Baptist, away from the company of people, eating strange food and dressing in rough uncomfortable attire, could not call the attention of the Jews to the repentance necessary to enter the Kingdom of God. Neither did the socializing of the Lord Jesus, His easy approachability and His availability make the Jews see the depiction of the feast of the Kingdom of God He had come to inaugurate. Rather they found accusing statements to make about the messengers and the message of God. To those who are not ready to listen and believe, “The preacher is too loud” or “The preacher is too soft.” “The preacher is too fashionable.” or “The preacher is out of date in fashion.” FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are you paying attention to what God is saying, or are you using the circumstances around the message to reject the message? Is Christianity a child’s play or real life and death business for you? Don’t dodge the question! PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I have tried to change your topics and divert attention from the clear messages to me. Please help me out of the playground of childish humanity and religion, to a serious mature walk with you. Please rouse your church from slumber and child’s play to a new commitment to righteousness in an evil world. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Enoch Thompson | APRIL 11, 2023 | Matthew 11:11-15 KEY VERSE: He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 11:15 (NIV) MESSAGE: The text today continues the Lord’s commentary on the person and ministry of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the greatest of all that had come ahead of him as a prophet of God because he was the fulfilment of the great prophet who was to immediately precede the fulfilment of all that had been prophesied about the Messiah. And yet the least in the Kingdom that the Messiah will usher in was to be considered greater than John. Kingdom greatness lifts the believer above anything that elevates people in the general context of human existence. The Lord was pointing out to the Jews that since John was the prophesied Elijah who was to come (Malachi 4:5-6), then the arrival of the Messiah they had waited for all centuries was at the door, and their national and worldwide salvation was at hand, even in their midst. What the Lord was saying about John the Baptist was true, and the One speaking those words was Himself the Truth. Like all truth, the important thing is not the knowing of it but the correct engagement with that truth. Therefore, the Lord concludes the section with “He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 11:15 (NIV). Certainly, the people in the crowd had ears, and they could hear the sound of the Lord’s voice in His teaching; but were they hearing, as to understanding and taking the necessary steps to fit into the Kingdom of the Messiah? To truly understand is to be so convinced of a truth as to stand under that truth, that is live by that truth and benefit from that truth. It is sad that too many people, even in the church, have ears for decoration rather than ears for hearing. We need to understand, because “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” Matthew 13:19 (NIV). FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: God is speaking of the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, as we see the signs of the end times all around us. Can you hear what the signs are saying? Are we living as a people awaiting the Rapture of the Church? Stand under the word of God to show that you understand God’s word! PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the truth you always make known to your waiting people. I pray that I will have ears that hear, a heart that yields, and a life that stands under what I understand. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev Enoch Thompson | APRIL 10, 2023 | Matthew 11:7-10 (Resumption of verse-by-verse reflection) KEY VERSE: This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' Matthew 11:10 (NIV) MESSAGE: A messenger often reflects the stature and orientation of their sending office. An ambassador reflects the dignity of the sending monarch or ruler of their home-country. In our text today the Lord Jesus Christ finished answering the question of His identity that John the Baptist had brought through His disciples to him, and as they take their leave, He raises the question of the identity of John the Baptist to His disciples. For the Jews who were accustomed to religious teachers, and people with prophetic declarative gifts to the point of even the writing prophets, John the Baptist, and even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself might be one of many religious attractions passing through their experience. At the particular point in history, the national liberation forces seeking political independence from Rome and colouring their ambitions with the Messianic expectations of the people would have made it difficult for the people, and even the leaders of the nation to see the visitation of God, to bring about their salvation. No wonder they did not see the time of their visitation, and rejected the Lord of glory, asking in His place for a murderer to be released to them. The Lord took time to indicate that John the Baptist was not merely a preacher/ prophet as the many who had come before him but was that special messenger of God who was to come in the spirit of Elijah and to introduce the coming of God among His people as He had promised in Malachi 4:4-6. John was a man whose birth and its attendant developments were part of the divine visitation which Israel was not seeing. He paid dearly for standing for the truth when he spoke against the sins of the people and of their leaders. In an era where sin is becoming the norm and human thinking is more and more becoming warped by unthinkable perversions and wickedness, we need men and women who are anointed by God to represent Him to humanity. We need a truly prophetic voice from every pulpit and from every pew. We need true believers who will point to Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world, the Way, the Truth and the Life, without whom no one will get to the Father. We need men and women of God who will not be ordinary people, like reeds being swayed in the wind, nor be people of elegance like those who wear fine robes and have political attachments in palaces. We need a prophetic people of God from professional Ministers in every pulpit, to lay people in the pews, who are accredited by Heaven, and are conscious of a divine assignment. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: If you are a disciple of the resurrected Saviour Jesus Christ, you have a duty to represent Him to the dying world around you. Pray that God will give you the boldness to speak for God wherever you find yourself. Who are the special ministers of God He has placed in your life and over you? How do you value them and support them? PRAYER: O God, more than send us ministers with heavenly accreditation, make us all ministers with heavenly accreditation!!! Let your word go forth from your Church with power. Lord, make us ministers with heavenly accreditation! For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!