JESUS WAS SELF-DISCIPLINED AND SACRIFICIAL by Pastor Abel Oyewale Nigeria, West Africa

Pastor Abel with the new Israel t-shirt (IDF) 

and hat sent from Love For His People

JESUS WAS SELF-DISCIPLINED AND SACRIFICIAL

Pastor Abel Oyewale  Nigeria, West Africa

Oct. 30, 2017

A. HIS DISCIPLINED LIFE (JOHN 4:27-42 )

"Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work." (John 4:34 )

Indiscipline is not the character of GOD. It has cut many lives and ministries short. Jesus is the perfect image of GOD. He came to reveal GOD'S manners by leading a life of self-discipline.

Your level of discipline will determine your chances of overcoming temptation. Jesus was subjected to series of tests in the devil's hands. He overcame by the word and through self-discipline. Unlike Adam, Eve and Esau, He did not spoil Himself with what the devil offered. He prioritised the spiritual food above the physical food, and He warned along that line .

Though food is very essential to life, yet that would never make Jesus to misbehave or lose concentration on His life's mission. Today, people are so anxious about what to eat, drink and wear that they lose focus of the real things - souls -winning and GOD'S kingdom.

"And He will give all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the kingdom of GOD your primary concern." (Matthew 6:33)

How many, Christians inclusive, are not being controlled by their bellies, today? Jesus never allowed anything to dominate or control His life. What controls your life? (Romans 6:16)

B. HIS SACRIFICIAL LIFE

"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:11)

The life of sacrifice is not feasible without self-discipline. Sacrifice is about giving up one's life and rights, and other benefits for others. Jesus followed this path for GOD'S glory and the benefits of mankind. We must resemble Jesus in this regard also.

Jesus talked extensively on shepherding, and declared Himself as the Good Shepherd. What qualified Him as such was His sacrificial life and living. He gave up His life for the sheep. What have you sacrificed for Christ's sake?

No one in heaven or on earth could do what Jesus did for us. Hireling describes the fake shepherds, who prefer to flee to safety, rather than dare to die to safeguard the sheep. Jesus was never like any of these. He laid down His life for the sheep. He came to unify them and present them to Himself and Father. This life of sacrifice is a must for every believer.

God recognised the sacrifice of Jesus. He loved Him, and as a result, exalted Him above all else. God always recognises our sacrifices; our labours of love would not go unrewarded.

Jesus lived a life of self-discipline; He was not under the control of anything that could truncate His destiny. The sacrifices of Jesus were recognised and appreciated by both Heaven and earth.

May our good God of Israel bless you as you are reading this message.

Shalom,

Pastor Abel Oyewale
Abba Father's International Fellowship - Nigeria

For your prayer request: souls4christ2005@yahoo.com
+2348115306866

Pastor Abel and his church members try to help orphans as best they can. Please use the DONATE button on the side columns to help or the tab on our Love For His People website above.

Some of the contents sent to Nigeria in October 2017

Pastor Abel wearing the t-shirt and hat from Israel below.

Bibles provided with funds sent from Love For His People

Below: Ahava Love Letter books sent 

from Love For His People

T-shirt from Israel included in the Pastor's Package from Love For His People

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He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures

3/23/2014 LEONARD R. DAVIDSON  CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Just the sound of the word inoculation makes my heart pound and my palms sweaty. I hate shots. Period. Most people do. I am convinced, that that is because of how they give them to us when we are too young to have a say so.

Babies get them in multiples. No single inoculation. In fact, the pediatrician groups them by time frame such as 2 months or 6 months. There is no real name given. Just bring them in for the “6-month” inoculations.

Our grandson, Elijah, had this personality altering 6-month event. His mommy and daddy were out of town (by design I believe). So his Nanny took him. I asked her after the appointment if he cried. (Is that a stupid question or what?) She said he was very brave (so I would be a proud grandfather), but yes, he screamed.

That evening when it was time for him to go to bed, he was very fussy. He had been stabbed in both of those tiny precious thighs numerous times. He was running a slight fever (and this is good for him?). I took him to our bed and laid him down. Then I slid in next to him and tried to comfort him. He wasn’t really crying, just soft moans. It was obvious that under those “Scooby –Doo” Band-Aids, both legs ached. No real tears, just overall discomfort. So I reached my arm around him and gently pulled him right up against my chest, very close. And I whispered to him that I would go have a talk with the mean doctor the next day.

I promised Elijah that he would feel much better after a good night’s sleep. He could not understand any of the words. It was simply the sound of my voice. I slipped my thumb into his pudgy little hand. As he started to dose, something startled him (maybe pain?). His eyes flew open and he looked over at me. I gently squeezed his hand and whispered to him. He actually sighed, relaxed and closed his eyes again. His Pappy was there, and he felt safe, secure, protected, loved.

Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” In the original language, the concept is that the Shepherd causes us to lie down and lean against Him. Take a minute, close your eyes, and fill your mind with this picture. The Shepherd gentlymakes the sheep lie down. And then He doesn’t walk away with a trite “hope you feel better.” No. The Great Shepherd then lies down next to the sheep. He gets down in the plush green grass with one of His tired, hurting flock.

Then He goes a step further. He puts His everlasting arm around the sheep and pulls it against His chest. He whispers the sheep’s name. Comforts it. Encourages it. Holds it firmly, but gently. And when that sheep is relaxed, secure and resting, assured of His protection and love, the Shepherd goes and finds another sheep in need of tender mercy. And the process starts all over again, sheep after sheep after sheep. Get the picture?

This week, as you journey in your Christ walk, you may need to lie downin His green pasture. 

Has life pounded you? Are you worn out from trying to keep up with the “cares of the world”? Do you feel like you can’t get your next breath? Money is tight. Troubles at home. Exhausted in the battle. Afraid. Worried. Not sure how or even if you can go another day.

Get your mind around this. You are His sheep. He loves you. He has not forgotten you. He knows where you are. The Great Shepherd knows your name. Intimately. Take some time to get alone and in the peacefulness of that solitude allow Him to cause you to lie down, lean against Him. 

Feel that? It is His arm pulling you close. Stay there. Relax. Breathe. You are secure, protected, loved. He will stay there with you. No hurry. Don’t rush. Your times are in His hands. And that is a very good place to leave them.  

Prayer Power for the Week

This week, take time to get alone with God and in that solitude allow Him to pour His love and comfort on you. Be still in His presence and know that He is God and that you are secure in Him. Thank Him for the assurance of His faithfulness and that He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. Then place your cares one by one into His capable hands.

Continue to pray that revival would ignite our churches, spread throughout our nation and around the world. Pray that God will send laborers into His ripe harvest fields and that many will heed the call. Pray for the families of those lost in the Malaysian 777. Include the Ukraine as you pray for the nations, and once again, remember Israel, our troops, the persecuted church worldwide, and our national, spiritual and civic leaders. (Psalm 46:10; Heb. 13:5; Psalm 23)

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Pink Hair by Kathie Walters

Pink Hair by Kathie Walters

Identity Network

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I had a "stunning" experience one time. God really used it to point out something to me. I had been away for a couple of days, visiting and praying with a close friend of mine who lives in Gainesville, My friends there had a great ministry raising up churches on the campuses of the U.S. and in many other nations. They had discipled and raised up thousands of young people, trained to take the Gospel to the nations. 

My teenage daughter, Faith, had stayed home with a girlfriend to take care of our house and pets. Like any other parent, I had given many instructions about the care of the house, yard, animals, and pool. Faith is very sensible and capable, so I didn't worry about anything. I had called a few times and everything was fine.  (Note Faith is a parent herself now). 

Faith's Hair 

Returning home, I was not prepared for the shock that was awaiting me.  As I turned the car into our driveway, the dogs came running to meet me as they usually did. I got out of the car and petted them, taking a second look at Faith's Chow, Koa. He was usually a pretty, beige color, but his coat had turned to a shade of pink, at least down his back and tail. I wondered if he had fallen into a strawberry patch! 

I entered the house, looking forward to seeing Faith, who being a home-schooler, was sure to be in the house. I went inside and began to ascend the stairs. At the top of the stairs was Faith. She greeted me, smiling demurely. I returned her smile, but my smile faded very quickly. Suddenly, I saw it! A bright pink, wide streak down one side of her pretty blond hair! Not a pale hint of color, but a peppermint pink! 

"Faith, what has happened to you?" I cried. I thought there must have been some terrible mishap. She was joined by Haley, my then secretary's daughter. Haley was grinning from ear to ear. Her dark hair was now deep green on one side and blue on the other! I freaked out! Faith laughed at my reaction - big mistake. 

I ranted and raved a while and she agreed to wash the pink out (dog too). A short while later, as I looked at her, I thought it didn't really look so bad. I let her keep it for a few days. I began to think about all this later and about my visit with Rose. 

While I had been with my friends in Gainesville, another friend had called to tell her about a book he had recently read. It was offering the reader reasons as to why we are not in full scale revival. Leaders who had made mistakes and had gotten off track here and there by over-emphasizing various truths were named as being a major part of the cause for our lack. 

My friends had been mentioned in this book, along with other people that I knew well. I understand that the writer was concerned about the Body of Christ, but still I couldn't stop weeping whenever I thought about the "policeman" trying to get us all straight. 

I couldn't stop thinking about Faith's hair, and my reaction to it. Her hair had gotten my attention and so my mind had to deal with what I saw.  It took my attention away from all the things she had done over that weekend. It had been a hard job to look after the pool, because our area had been badly affected by floods and it was full of muddy water. 

God's Grace and Patience 

Our house is a big house to clean, but it was neat and tidy. We have three phone lines with people calling all of the time. She had taken care of everyone. Our dog had been hit by a car a few days previously and needed a lot of attention. He was fine. 

Not only had my things been well taken care of, but a family in her church had lost everything they owned in the flood. What was left of their house was under two inches of mud, and she had been over to help them clean. She had brought home three large bags of washing to do for them. She took care of the office. I had missed it all because of the pink hair. We can be so blind. Thank God for His endless grace and patience. 

I then thought of the various books that had been written about the mistakes my friends and many other ministries had made at one time or another. They were obvious. Like the pink hair, most people could have seen them right away. But I thought, "What about all the thousands of young people who were saved and filled with the Spirit through their ministry on the campuses of America and many other nations? What about the thousands of kids who were dedicated to the call of God on their lives?" 

Thousands of young people received a very real sense of destiny in their lives because of the ministry and revelation of my friends who had given their lives for the Gospel. I wondered how it was that none of this was mentioned in these books. Maybe my daughter's hair is over-simplifying it, but it's the same principle to me. 

Jesus, the Great Shepherd 

When my friend, Rose told me about a very generous gift that had been given them for their China outreach, I felt so blessed myself. I wanted to write to the often maligned faith teacher that had given it and tell him, "You blessed me because you blessed my friends." When I heard about the negative things that were said in the book, I had a great desire to write to the author and say, "You hurt me because you hurt my friends." 

I don't know of a ministry that has been around for any length of time that hasn't goofed at some point, said some dumb things from time to time, or headed off in a wrong direction occasionally. But, Jesus is the Great Shepherd; He will shepherd His sheep. He knows what He is doing. 

It is the Holy Spirit who moves on God's people to convict and change.  There is one thing more miserable than people trying to change themselves, and that is when we try to change each other. I can point out what is wrong with you, but I don't have the power to change it.  When the Holy Spirit convicts, He does have the power to change it. Big difference! 

Next time you are tempted to see only the obvious mistake in someone, say to yourself, "Pink hair."   Maybe it will remind you that there are many wonderful things you have forgotten regarding that person or ministry. Jesus hasn't forgotten. He loves them so very much! 

We would put our hands over our mouths like Job, when God asked us, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" (Job.38:4), or, "Were you there when I brought forth My Son from the grave? Were you there when I brought forth the first fruits of THE CHURCH?" 

Kathie Walters

www.kathiewaltersministry.com

kathiewalters@mindspring.com 

From Kathie's book The Spirit of False Judgment available from Identity Network.

The Spirit of False Judgment

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