Pastor Corner
ANAGKAZO
Welcome to the month of August! It’s the 8th month, which in biblical numerology is referred to as New Beginnings! As God is set to begin a new thing in our lives, we also should be set to do things differently as it pertains to our walk with him. Remember, we attract kingdom additions when we seek his kingdom first according to Matthew 6:33.
This month, the challenge I want to share with us is a scripture from Luke 14:23 (NKJV) which says; ‘Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.’
I have chosen the above scripture because I believe that as individuals and as a church, our attitude to the matters that pertain to soul-winning must reflect the intensity we see in this verse. There is a sense of urgency that we ought to have when it comes to the great commission! Nothing we do in this material world can match up to responding to the great commission of winning the lost to God and discipling them till they become established in the church.
The word that I want to beam a little light on in the text is COMPEL. This word in Greek is ANAGKAZO. However, It also means to necessitate, to drive, and to constrain by all means such as force, threats, persuasion and entreaties. This should be our attitude to reaching the unbelievers and bringing them to the saving knowledge of God.
We should take on the attitude of a salesperson who knows that 80% of sales are made at the 5th or the 6th call and that keeps them going until the sales are closed. The master in that story is representative of God who has prepared a party for people to come, but instead, they kept giving unreasonable or lame excuses why they won’t honour the invite. Note the phrase in the verse ‘that my house may be filled’ meaning God is interested in a full house and so we should be interested too.
A full house will only happen by Anagkazo! In Proverbs 14:28 (NKJV), the bible says that ‘in a multitude of people is a King’s honour. God is honoured when the house is full of people and we should be the people that make that happen.
We must pray, we must Partner, and we must Preach the gospel in a compelling and forceful way to see the lost come to Christ. The soul winner’s crown awaits us at the end of time when Jesus will say to us, well done, good and faithful servant. Seize the opportunity now, and enrol into the 40-day soul-winning challenge that we are starting. Win 4 souls in 40 days and make sure you bring them to church and see to their establishment.
I call you blessed!
Children’s Corner
Don’t Take It!!!
Hello Royal Seeds you are welcome to another exciting learning episode with the FLOAT newsletter. Let me ask you a question, do you know the meaning of ‘Honesty’ or ‘why God wants us all to be honest?
Whatever the answer, please read on and enjoy this beautiful drama. Better yet, how about you invite three friends and role-play the below together? The characters are Beauty, Nifemi, and Ms Feyi.
Setting: Nifemi and Beauty are deep in conversation when Beauty notices a shiny bracelet on the table.
Beauty: (Eyes wide) Wow, look at this beautiful bracelet, Nifemi!
Nifemi: (Smiling) Yeah, it belongs to Ms Feyi. She left it here after our last class.
Beauty: (Thinking) Hmm, it’s so pretty. What if I take it home just for a day? She won’t notice, right?
Nifemi: (Frowning) Beauty, that wouldn’t be honest. The Bible teaches us to be truthful and honest. Remember the story of Zacchaeus?
Beauty: (Curious) Oh, Zacchaeus? What did he do?
Nifemi: (Excited) Zacchaeus was a tax collector who cheated people. But when he met Jesus, he confessed his sins and promised to be honest and give back what he took. Jesus was pleased with him for being truthful.
Beauty: (Thinking) You’re right, Nifemi. I shouldn’t take what isn’t mine.
Setting: Ms Feyi enters the room.
Ms Feyi: Hello, girls! What are you up to?
Nifemi: (Smiling) We were just talking about your beautiful bracelet, Ms Feyi. Beauty almost took it home, but we remembered Zacchaeus and the importance of honesty.
Ms Feyi: (Smiling) I’m glad you remembered that lesson, girls. Honesty is very important. God sees and rewards our honesty, just like He did with Zacchaeus.
The girls smile and hug Ms Feyi, feeling proud of their decision.
Development Corner
Overcoming Procrastination
Wikipedia defines Procrastination as “the act of unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying or postponing something despite knowing that there could be negative consequences for doing so“. One of the easiest ways to describe procrastination is that “it is the thief of time”
Last month, we discussed being intentional about our goals for the remaining months of this year. Today, we will discuss procrastination and how it hinders us from achieving our goals. When you purposely refuse to do your required duties at the set time, it doesn’t help you. What you often end up with is a pile of neglected duties that frustrate you.
Some benefits of avoiding procrastination are
- Attainment of goals
- Increased productivity in whatever you do
And here are some of the ways you can overcome procrastination:
- Setting smaller goals
- Writing To-do-lists (could be daily or weekly)
- Breaking your duties/tasks into bits
- Using planner apps on your phones and devices
- Praying: What a friend we have in Jesus. He is ready to lift our burdens when we pray to him.
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Pillars, Prayers, Faith, Confession, Potency, Hope, Anchor, Power
Biblical Poetry
God mould me
God make me powerful
Strong enough to understand before I speak
Strong enough to show love, instead of anger
Strong enough to humble myself against competition
Strong enough to give you my burdens to carry
God make my impactful
Let the words I speak be like a blazing fire of truth
Truth that admits without you I grow weak
Truth that I check with you before making big decisions
Truth that sometimes I am conflicted and giving into temptation is an alluring distraction
Truth about how vulnerable I really am
Truth that pushes me to want to tell lies
God make me confident
So that I can take bold steps, whilst following your lead
Health Corner
Breastfeeding: The mutually beneficial bond between mother and baby
The natural and beneficial process that provides the best possible nutrition for infants is called breastfeeding. Breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients that a baby needs to grow and develop, including proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It also contains antibodies that help protect the baby from infections and diseases, reducing the risk of illnesses such as ear infections, respiratory infections, and diarrhea. Breastfeeding has also been linked to a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as well as a reduced risk of obesity, asthma, and allergies as they grow.
Breastfeeding exclusively for six months is recommended. Breastfeeding should begin within the first hour of a newborn’s life and continue as often and as much as the baby desires, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The percentage of newborns in Nigeria who are exclusively breastfed is 29%, meaning that a staggering 71% of infants are not receiving the developmental advantages of breast milk throughout their early years.
Breastfeeding is not only beneficial for the baby but also for the mother. It helps the uterus to contract and return to its pre-pregnancy size, therefore reducing the risk of post-pregnancy bleeding and may lower the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, maternal heart disease, and stroke. Breastfeeding also promotes bonding between the mother and the baby and can help reduce stress and anxiety for both.
The bible recognises the significance of nurturing infants and the intimate bond between mother and child. It can even be seen as symbolic of God’s love, which we learn from Isaiah 49:15 (NIV) “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
Fun Facts
- Ants take a rest for around 8 minutes in 12‑hour period.
- “I Am” is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
- It is impossible to lick your elbow.
- If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die
- 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
- Butterflies taste with their feet.
- Limes sink but lemons float.
- The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows.
Conclusion
In today’s world, distractions are plentiful, and it is easy to lose focus if we are not careful enough. The Bible teaches us the importance of concentrating on God. Matthew 6:22-24 reminds us to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, prioritising our relationship with Him. Proverbs 4:25-27 instructs us to fix our gaze on God, avoiding distractions that can lead us astray. Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
It is of a great necessity to concentrate in the place of prayer, worship, study of the Word, fasting, and during service in the House of God.
By concentrating on God, we can:
- Cultivate a deeper relationship with Him.
- Stay focused on what’s truly important.
- Live a more purposeful life.
- Find peace and clarity in a chaotic world
This world constantly competes for our attention, we need to choose to stay focus on God. If we are truly passionate about God, it shows in our level of concentration on Him.
May our minds be renewed, and our hearts be transformed as we seek Him first. Take a moment each day of this month to quiet your mind, and focus on God’s presence in your life. You will be amazed at the difference it makes.
Upcoming Events
August to September 2024
Activities outside of the regular Sunday services
August
- 1-3rd: Three days of Glory
- 12-14th: Women’s Conference
- 10th: Evangelism (led by OUT family)
- 29-1-Sept: Teens retreat
- 31st: Hour of Grace
September
- 1-3rd: Three days of Glory
- 7th: Leaders Training & Evangelism
- 28th: Hour of Grace & Evangelism
- September to Remember: All Sundays in September
