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Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 12, 2023 | Matthew 14:15-21 KEY VERSE: Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." Matt 14:16 (NIV) MESSAGE: Every person has needs and responsibilities to people who rely on them to meet their needs. Parental responsibility to provide for their children is a natural God-given assignment that we must not shy away from (in fact the Bible links our claim to religion to our exercise of our parental and domestic responsibility and makes discipline among the children of a person seeking church leadership a requirement for the position - 1 Tim. 5:8; 1 Tim. 3:5). In our text for today the Lord is noted to have performed the miracle of the feeding of the multitudes; in this case, “The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Matt 14:21 (NIV). While the text shows the power of the Lord Jesus to work miracles it underlines the issue of responsibility. In the first place, the disciples (possibly the Apostles) exercised some of the compassion of the Master by seeing the need of the people to go and find food to eat and tried to get the Lord to disperse the people to go and find their own food. The Lord however put the responsibility to feed the masses on the Apostles; ‘Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." Matt 14:16 (NIV). It is easy to parcel out responsibilities and place them with others, even those who are in a disadvantaged position in life because we want the easy way out of the situation. Have you seen parents sometimes leave our little children who are struggling with their homework, to find their way through, when we could help them to understand what they are struggling with. Do we send people away to others, to the church welfare system or to go fend for themselves, when it is in our power to help them? (See James 2:15-17). In the second place, the Lord showed responsibility by taking steps to meet the food need of His followers. He had fed them spiritually by teaching them Kingdom truth and needed to feed them physically too. He also demonstrated how we are to handle Kingdom resources to meet Kingdom needs. First, we must bring our resources to the King (v.18), secondly, we must organize the needs in ways that make their analysis and management easier (v. 19a). Thirdly we must pray into and over the resources God has given us (19b). Breaking the loaves as He did in v. 19c is the fourth step, organizing the resources in manageable terms for application. The fifth step in the process (v. 19d) was the attachment of the blessed broken resources to responsible people who will administer it faithfully and to the profit of the Church, family, or oneself for Kingdom benefit. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are there some responsibilities that you feel like passing on to other people? Do you want to pause and see if you could take some personal responsibility, for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom? How have you been handling the resources at your disposal, are you maximizing God’s money in your pocket, for that is what “your money” really is? Follow sound and prudent financial management so you will always have the resources to take up Kingdom responsibilities. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am surrounded by the many needs of my life, the family, the church, and the society. Please help me see where my responsibilities lie, to see the resources available, no matter how little they may see, and to process them by Kingdom principles, to meet the needs and have leftovers for others. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 11, 2023 | Matthew 14:14 KEY VERSE: When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 4:14 (NIV) MESSAGE: We have been reflecting on the sad circumstances that led to the Lord Jesus moving away into a solitary place; the loss of John the Baptist at the hand of Herod, the possibility of an attack being mounted by Herod for Him, and His need to seek out how to process the pain He felt for human sin and the murder of John. When He saw the people who had come by foot to seek Him out where He was, the Lord turned attention from Himself to His followers. The reflection for today is the need to see the compassionate nature of our God. It is natural to care for others after we have cared for ourselves, it is divine to care for others while we are still hurting. “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” The Lord Jesus still has a compassionate heart, and He is moved to heal all who turn to Him to seek a fuller life. He is never too busy not to be able and willing to help you. What a wonderful Saviour and King in this lovely Kingdom. We should also note that the faith and seriousness of the people with the Master provoked His compassion towards them. Though they needed to go to Jesus by foot by a longer route, they arrived before Him and were waiting when He landed. “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:11 (NIV). FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: The King of the Kingdom is a compassionate Master who cares for the subjects of His rule. Do not ever believe the lies of the Devil that the Lord will not take care of you. How serious are you with Him, with your time, your skills, your lifestyle, your wealth, etc? Thank Him for His graciousness and draw close to Him at all times. PRAYER: Oh how I love you Lord, you are my all in all. I am privileged to have you as my caring King. Please remind me to stay close to you always, and please attend to all my cares. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 10, 2023 | Matthew 14:13 KEY VERSE: When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. Matthew 14:13 (NIV) MESSAGE: Turn to the afflicted to assist them, and turn to the Lord for His support, but there is yet something to be done in the face of the afflictions and dangers that confront the Christian-stranger in our journey of life. Sometimes we must take steps to ensure our safety and security. We must not tempt our God by exposing ourselves to dangerous people and dangerous circumstances. We must take steps towards self-preservation while we trust God to preserve us. We are told that “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” Having tasted the blood of one saintly soul Herod would have been inspired, and Herodias would have given him all the support, to pursue the Lord Jesus as well. In the Gospels, we see how many times the Lord kept Himself away from the Jewish leaders or escaped from their grip (e.g. Luke 4:29-30). We can also conclude that the Lord Jesus removed into a solitary place so He could reflect and pray to God the Father. Sometimes when we stay in the place of the disaster, we are not able to think well and refocus on the continuation of life and ministry. Periodic retreats provide the opportunity to look at issues with a clearer mind, and a more relaxed spirit. We are aware of situations where the affliction itself binds us and does not give us the leisure of moving away to a physical retreat. For example, looking after a sick loved one, working under a tyrannical antagonistic boss, and handling piles and piles of workload that do not give you space even to take care of your physical and family needs. In such situations, we must develop the spiritual discipline of retreating while on the battlefront. This is a spiritual retreat; you remain at rest while in the difficult environment. You tune your mind to love and smile even though things are rough, (this is not a call to hypocrisy, it is the exercise of your victory over the forces that are seeking to suffocate you FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Can you arrange to have some time away from the people and circumstances that threaten your sanity, and spend some time alone with yourself and with God? If not, will you begin to shut the inner door and tune the inner person up, rising above the situation as you walk in it? It works! PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you know how much many of your people need to get away and be alone with you and ourselves. Give us the wisdom to make those decisions and act on them. But where this is impossible, please lead us to the higher retreat of running to you in the inner being and finding rest in the midst of the storm. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 9, 2023 | Matthew 14:1-12 KEY VERSE: John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:12 (NIV) MESSAGE: A short time of observation of life on earth shows that adversity comes unexpectedly and uninvited and makes life miserable, for those who are directly affected, for their loved ones or for the course of whole families and nations. When tragedy strikes, we seek someone or somewhere to turn to. Unfortunately, many people have turned to alcohol, drugs, gangs, wrong companions etc. For even Kingdom citizens affliction does not make a distinction. The disciples of John, and of the Lord Jesus (for He had made very positive comments about John), must have been shaken by the news of the murder of John in prison. The Lord Jesus Himself, in spite of His foreknowledge as the God-man, must have had much pain, and even shed some tears, for He was the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief. Where do we turn while we walk this evil world and encounter such heart-wrenching experiences? The disciples of John gave attention to their martyred teacher. They went and took his body and buried him. When people find themselves at rock bottom and cannot help themselves Kingdom people must lend a helping hand and do that which will dignify the failing brother or sister. Turn to the destitute and helpless with our time, money, experience, and comfort and lend a helping hand. But they did not stop there, they did something else, “. . .. Then they went and told Jesus.” (Matthew 14:12 (NIV). Yes, they went and told Jesus. They buried the body of John because they loved John. But they were also sure that there was someone who loved John much more than they did, and if He so chose could do something to bring John back to life because He had the power so to do. Tell it all to Jesus, that is what we most need to learn to do. Tell it all to Him because He loves us most, He understands the situation best, and He alone has all power to turn evil into good, for our comfort and for His glory. He alone can give us the strength to walk through the valley of the shadow of death not fearing, through the fire and through the water, without being destroyed. Tell it all to Jesus. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Is there something that is gnawing at your life in any way? How well have you done managing the situation? As a member of God’s Church, are you able to stretch open hands to those who need help? But most importantly have you learnt the attitude of telling your pains, or those of your loved ones, to the Lord Jesus? Now is the time to begin or to intensify our flight to the Lord. That is the most useful thing to do when adversity strikes. PRAYER: Lord, I am grateful to you that by your Word I am aware that you created a perfect world, which has been destroyed by human sin and sinfulness. I see the thorns and thistles growing all around me, and sometimes they prick my fragile soul. I pray that I and all who profess faith will learn to turn to other people beaten down along the way, but most importantly that we will learn to turn to you and to tell it all to you. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 8, 2023 | Matthew 14:1-12 KEY VERSE: Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. Matthew 14:5 (NIV) MESSAGE: We can often blame other people when we find ourselves caught in some difficulty because of the choices we have made. We can blame our parents, our friends, our spouse etc. But we may need to search our hearts to ascertain if the root of the problem does not lie deep in the recesses of our own souls, and that the contribution of whomever we are blaming is only the torch that ignited the stored-up fuel. It is very clear from the text that Herodias played a clearly wicked role in the matter of the murder of the righteous John the Baptist. And she was as detailed as she was strategic about her evil doing. But our key verse shows that the matter was more in the bosom of Herod; “Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.” Matthew 14:5 (NIV). Herod had always had the intention and desire to kill John. We have talked about his fear of the people that kept him from doing his evil. Herod only lacked the free hand and the opportunity to do his evil. The bravery and treachery of Herodias only pushed Herod into the corner where he was compelled to do the desire of his heart. The power of evil springs from within us and collaborates with other agents around us to do us in and finish us off. For King Herod, Herodias became the external agent that brought his sin to maturity and full birth. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: What evil are we nursing in our hearts? Are we aware of them, and do we see them as evil? We must identify them as little lions that will grow into big lions that will ultimately attack and kill. We must repent of sin when it crouches at our door and seeks to make an entry into our lives to make us its servant. PRAYER: Lord, please throw your light into this dark heart of mine, and please expose to me whatever is a seed of sin that lurks in me. Grant me the courage to call my sinful tendencies by the name of sin that you call them. And above all give me the power to renounce and reject my sins before they capture me and make me their slave. I ask for this for your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 7, 2023 | Matthew 14:1-12 KEY VERSE: ⁹The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰and had John beheaded in the prison. Matt 14:9-10 (NIV) MESSAGE: Our decisions, actions and inactions are often influenced by our consideration of the people around us. In many cases, we are forced by our fear of people and our attempt to impress them to make ungodly decisions. Herod seems to be an “afraid-man.” He was a man of great authority, political connections, and much wealth, but he was still very afraid, of people. His fear of people controlled and influenced his moral choices and painted a very poor picture of him, making him violate his own conscience, disobey God, and hurt his neighbour. Herod was an “afraid-man” with regard to Herodias. Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother who had now become Herod’s wife, must have exercised a fearsome influence upon the powerful-powerless Herod. Her looks, talks and seductions would have made Herod a puppet in her hands, and he wanted to do whatever she directed. Herod might be on the throne but Herodias, like Jezebel before her, was the power in front of, around, and behind the throne. Herod was an “afraid-man” with regard to the ordinary people. The ordinary people imposed a fear upon Herod, for they could riot and make the state ungovernable. ”Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.” Matthew 14:5 (NIV). Their views of John the Baptist as a prophet must therefore be seriously considered, rather than the truth of what John was saying about the unacceptable relationship of Herod to Herodias. Herod feared the rebellion and vengeance of the people rather than the judgment and punishment by God. Herod was an “afraid-man” with regard to the views of his social and political class. He had at this banquet well-placed political and social personalities. They had heard the oaths and promises he had made to the daughter of Herodias, and to change his mind, because the oaths have been taken advantage of by the evil intentions of an evil Herodias to commit the atrocity of the murder of a prophet of God, was less meaningful than his fear of the commentary and opinions of his social colleagues. Herod found it difficult to turn from the downward slope in which he had begun to descend because he was afraid of what his friends will think of him and wanted to impress them as a man of his word. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Who and what do you fear? Are you able to stand for truth and right, even when it does not, please people? Is it not better to obey God and be despised by people, than to bow to the pressure of humans, and offend God? What will your choices be guided by, the fear of God or the fear of mortal humans? PRAYER: Lord, I am sorry for the times I have allowed people to influence my thoughts, my speech, and my choices. I am ashamed that mere mortals have had such power over me. Lord, help me from making empty boastful oaths. I pray that you will help defy my oaths and my dinner guests, resolve to fear God and escape the snare produced by the fear of people. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 6, 2023 | Matthew 14:1-12 KEY VERSE: ⁸Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." ⁹The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. Matt 14:8-10 (NIV) MESSAGE: Do you remember the gruesome stories we read in the newspapers and hear on the electronic media? Murders, shootings, robberies, rapes etc? What about the abuse of parental or political positions used wickedly to the disadvantage of the helpless? All these are the products of the human heart, where there is no God in the lives of the people doing these evil things. The narrative of the killing of John the Baptist depicts what evil can do to those who stand for truth, right and righteousness. The layers of the wickedness of the human condition are peeled off one after another as we read Matthew’s record. Human wickedness is shown when we lose our conscience and refuse to bow to the need to repent from sin when we are convicted by the Holy Spirit. King Herod depicted this in verses 1 and 2. He had chosen, contrary to tradition and to sound moral counsel, to marry his brother Philip’s wife. He had rejected the preaching of John the Baptist against his misbehaviour, and to satisfy the evil wishes of Herodias, the woman in the middle of the whole story, Herod had agreed to have John the Baptist imprisoned and later killed in prison, and his head presented as a trophy of evil to Herodias through her daughter. Our focus for reflection today is on King Herod’s mental and moral struggles. Sin will always leave an aftertaste of spiritual and mental-emotional battles, which can only be settled when we choose to be convicted by right and truth and converted from wrong to right. Herod was disturbed when he heard about the miracles of the Lord Jesus. He mistook Him for a resurrected John the Baptist, who is now empowered with miraculous power in addition to his cutting moral preaching. Herod must have been afraid to have his supposed moral contender re-appear with more missiles to shoot at him. The problem of Herod is often the problem of humans. When we are faced with the truth, we give it a mental analysis and put a convenient and comforting interpretation to it. And though the conclusion of our analysis shows that we need to repent, we remain entrenched in our ways. Herod was convicted of the rightness of what John preached to him, he was afraid John had risen from the dead with new power, but he was not ready nor willing to repent and be converted from his evil ways. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are there things that God is convicting you of, as wrong and needing stopping? Will you take steps to bring yourself to the new conduct that God’s Word requires of you? We need more than conviction; we must have conversion! Christian conversion calls for moral surgery, not moral cosmetics! PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the probing power of the Word, and the cutting influences of your Holy Spirit. Please make me sensitive to the voice of the Spirit, and please make me willing to respond appropriately and drastically, and to be converted. May the Gospel reach out to lost humanity with strong conviction power and may there be genuine conversion in all who profess faith. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 5, 2023 | Matthew 13:53-58 KEY VERSE: “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Matthew 13:55 (NIV) MESSAGE: Amazingly, congregations often appear to believe that a visiting pastor has greater power and anointing than their resident pastor. I have heard some ministers bemoan and wonder why there is usually a powerful move of God when they visit other churches for programmes, but they occasionally experience a drought in the flow of the power of God in their ministry with their home congregation. In our text for today, Jesus travelled to his hometown and taught them with such wisdom and performed mighty works among them. People who knew him as a boy and traced His family tree back to its origins couldn't accept the new grace He carried and the new authority He wielded. So, even though he began doing mighty works among them, the text concludes, "He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief." The account in Mark 6:5 states this much clearer. Acts 14:9-10 narrate a story of Apostle Paul healing a crippled man. Paul saw that the man had faith to be healed and that triggered the healing anointing that got him jumping up to walk. There are many instances in the life of Jesus when He had to ask the sick if they believed He could heal them, and their response resulted in a miracle. HANDS AND FEET OF THE MESSAGE There is a direct relationship between HONOURING the vessel God (the man/woman of God) will use to perform the miracles, and you receiving your miracles. FAMILIARITY is another factor that may prevent us from receiving our miracle from God’s vessel. When we are overly familiar with God's vessel, we are prone to taking God's Grace for granted, which breeds doubt in our souls and stifles the flow of God's power towards us. Familiarity and dishonour stifle the flow of your set man of God’s anointing towards you. So it is not because your Pastor is not anointed or powerful; it is just because you are too familiar with them. You are not seeing the miracles and receiving the testimonies others are receiving; maybe you are not honouring them as you should. Remember familiarity they say, breeds contempt. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive us for not honouring the gifts of the ministers you have blessed us with. Please help us from today, to honour them. Lord, also help us not to become familiar. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 4, 2023 | Matthew 13:47-52 KEY VERSE: ”Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. Matthew 13:51 (NIV) MESSAGE: In today’s parable, the dragnet is used to symbolize what will happen when this life comes to an end for “every kind” (all life) both man and beast. Everyone will transition into another reality where they must meet a selection panel that will determine how they will continue their eternal adventure. All men will stand before the judgement seat of God at the end of the age and give an account of their dealings when they were in this body - this temporary tent of clay. (Heb 9:27). All that will count is whether you embraced Jesus as Lord and Saviour and lived for Him, as well as how you treated your fellow humans. (Matthew 25:31-40; Jam 1:27). Not your money, car, job, degrees, or whether you slept in a mansion, a single room, or even on a single bench under a bridge will matter. What warrants this next phase of life is a door called death. Heb 9:27 says that there is an appointment everyone (flesh and blood) must honour and right after that will be the separation. Some have rightly said that death is just a door to life; life everlasting in eternal bliss and glory with the Lord or life everlasting in wailing and gnashing of teeth with satan and his cohorts. Note that both the Just and the wicked have eternal life, but they will be spending that life in different places and under different conditions. HANDS AND FEET OF THE MESSAGE The purpose of parables is to communicate kingdom secrets and principles to a discerning audience. Kingdom children are expected to understand the principles and laws of the kingdom and live by them. This was the final parable in the series and Jesus had to make sure He had communicated well so He asked, “Have you understood all these things?” In other words, at the end of the day, you must make it into the kingdom of heaven by understanding the principles and instructions of the King of the kingdom and living by them. Understanding is key, so in all your getting, get understanding. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of salvation. Grant me the grace to know your will and live for you. For your dear Name’s sake. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 3, 2023 | Matthew 13:45-46 KEY VERSE: When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:46 (NIV) MESSAGE: Natural pearls are extremely rare nowadays, with experts estimating that only one in every 10,000 wild oysters will generate a pearl, with only a small percentage of those achieving the size, shape, and colour sought for jewellery. That is, there is a 1 in 10,000 chance of discovering a pearl if you look for one. One could spend their entire life searching and still not locate one. Again, pearls are formed in oysters at the bottom of the deep ocean. It is therefore not far-fetched to conclude that every valuable material resource human value is hidden. We can talk about Gold, Diamonds and other precious minerals and stones hiding under the earth. The more difficult it is to find, the more value is placed on them, which accounts for the high price tag. Jesus likened the kingdom of Heaven to a merchant who was searching for such beautiful pearls and having found a very expensive one (just one) sold all he had to buy it. How will this merchant treat this one pearl over the great value he had acquired with his whole life’s worth? He will guard it with his life because that one pearl is worth his life. HANDS AND FEET OF THE MESSAGE: The Kingdom of Heaven is that one precious Pearl which is worth our whole life (Youth, Adult life, and old age) and which we must guard with our lives. The Kingdom of Heaven is therefore worth seeking after with your whole life, and when you have found it, get it, and do not lose it. For we gain all things by first losing everything we possess to acquire the kingdom of Heaven. (Matt 6:33). PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, help me to make it my life’s goal to seek the Kingdom of Heaven with all that I am and all that I have. For your dear Name’s sake. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 2, 2023 | Matthew 13:44 KEY VERSE: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Matthew 13:44 (NIV) MESSAGE: There have been stories of people selling some property they have to be able to pay the fees of their wards who later become very established breadwinners of the families. There have also been stories of some parents selling their priced possessions to push a child to achieve a dream career and these children making it big, come back home to rescue their families from abject poverty. Such nice stories resonate with our parable for today in so many ways. Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure which a man found and went to sell all he had to purchase the field on which he found the treasure. Similarly, parents find these treasures/gifts in their children and do whatever it takes to support them to reach that goal and acquire that treasure. It is also common for an entrepreneur who conceives a business idea and having done all the cost-benefit analysis, to invest into some property which eventually becomes a huge money-making avenue for them. I recently heard of a man who sold his only car and took a loan to start a school. Initially, it was to be a joint venture with a friend, but the friend pulled out because he could not see the prospect of the school. The school has become one of the best in the region where it was established. There is always a price to pay for success. There is always a choice to make to stand for what you believe in to make it a reality. We will always support what we believe in and put even our heart into it to make sure it becomes successful. HANDS AND FEET OF THE MESSAGE Do you believe the kingdom of heaven is a treasure that is worth chasing after? Do your actions depict one who has found some very valuable treasure in the kingdom of heaven and is working to acquire it? What costly thing must you part ways with, to be able to obtain the kingdom of heaven? Do you have a heart for the kingdom of heaven? Remember where your treasure is that is where your heart will be. PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to treasure the kingdom and the things concerning it. May I give all away only to find and acquire the kingdom? For your name’s sake. Amen THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 1, 2023 | Matthew 13:33-34 KEY VERSE: …The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough. Matthew 13:33 (NIV) MESSAGE: The practice of the first century bread makers would be to add a piece of dough from the last time they baked bread to the dough they intend to use for making bread in the present time and mix it till the whole dough is filled with the old dough. This leftover dough from the previous time would have fermented and turned into leaven. When the old dough is mixed in with the new dough, it acts as yeast, causing the dough to rise. It is also known that during certain festive occasions among the Jews, they were forbidden from eating anything which contained leaven (Lev. 23:4-6). Jesus also told his disciples in Matt 16:6 to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Leaven may seem to have become a metaphor for negative influence, and that little impurity has the potential and threatens to spoil an entire loaf. However, in today's parable of the leaven, Jesus did not appear to use leaven to mean an impurity that threatens to ruin the entire loaf. Jesus said the kingdom will start small with the disciples and grow to the rest of the world. The Kingdom like leaven will start small and as it touches lives and cultures it will influence them positively. Again, Jesus implies that the works of the kingdom are unseen, just as the work of the leaven is not visible but hidden. HANDS AND FEET OF THE MESSAGE We as believers and kingdom children, and custodians of the mysteries of the kingdom must share our faith so the work of the kingdom (leaven) is made manifest and grows. The work of the kingdom is to help humanity become better. The Kingdom is God’s help to helpless humanity. It is therefore the responsibility of Kingdom children to become channels of the leaven of the kingdom to reach all who must be saved. PRAYER: Thank you, Heavenly Father, that I am a channel for the world to experience the leaven of your kingdom blessings. For Your name’s sake. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!