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What have been your thoughts when it comes to be part of building the church? Did
your mind go straight to ‘ I know this will just be about money, yet I have nothing’
Get a breather…Team Amka hosted by Binti Umazi and Mc King’ori had an
interesting conversation about being part of building the church on the Amka na
Rafiki show that airs every Monday to Friday 6am – 10am , and had a privilege to
engage Sened Alex – a minister with Life Church International – all the way from
Limuru the City of Destiny and he had quite an eye and ear opening key things. This
is what he said….

There is only one church the one that Jesus came to build. He declares that He will
build His church and gates of hell will not prevail.
Mathew 16:18 I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The word church in its root from Hebrew is “ecclesia” means summoned group"
(literally, "they who are called out") to manage the affairs of a city.
We must begin to see church beyond the gathering on Sundays. It is the church that
gathers on Sunday for fellowship. The structures we have raised are good but that’s
not the church we are the church.

So to build this church we need more than just a cheque; we need people sold out to
the cause of Christ. If people will do this they will offer themselves as the first
sacrifice to building of the church of God and their money will follow them to the
offering basket. Any of these efforts are important to the course of building the
church;

1. Be available for fellowship.
Hebrews 10:25 encourages us not to neglect the gathering of brethren. You have been
born into the family of God and it is this family that gathers as a church in such places
God great rulings in the name of Christ can be made to affect you and the community
around.

2. Consider one another in the eyes of love.
Our responsibility is to build up the church “the people’’ whether in business or
career or ministry we have a responsibility to present life. Unless we see one another
from the lenses of love we will not achieve anything. If we choose to love God and
His people we will always find a way to fix an issue around a brother or a sister over
just magnifying the issue. I will ask you is Life is what you have in Christ why waste
time on death?

3. Be a Good steward.
You have been given something by God. What you can do no one else can do. You
are qualified uniquely to handle something that some else cannot. To be a good
steward means that you fill the gap with your profession or calling. This serve to the
body of Christ will help build the church. Unless solutions are presented we lack
value even in the sight of men who do not know God. They will not desire our God.
Manage well what you have and its increase will be a blessing to the body of Christ.

4. Represent God well. Be distinguished.

Many of us in the faith including some on the pulpit have misrepresented God. No
one wants a god who is only jump started with money. The heart of the father is in
His people. If you have a heart like that of your Father then do not present Him as just
a money loving God. His first priority is souls represent Him as such this will draw
men to the places of gathering and nothing can be done when people do not have
unity of faith and purpose.

5. Serve whole heartedly.
You don’t need to ask a man where his heart is just look closely and see where he
spends his money. If you choose to serve God then do it whole heartedly, if not then
do not. It is either you are in it with your heart or out.
Luke 9:62 – And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Jesus hear does not say this man does not qualify He says He is not fit for the
Kingdom. You become kingdom fit when you do things out of your heart this is
where impact is born. This is where God trusts you to be solutions to a generation.
The one who has given himself/herself whole heartily to building the church of Christ
will not struggle to put His treasures where his/her heart is.
The issue of building the church is not a money issue. The one that stated the idea of
church has been able and always will be able to provide for a course that will glorify
Him but if we get caught up in the denominational dominion battle for power we lose
sight of God and the spirit of God exit because of strife. We may never achieve
anything significant for God.
There you go…it is not about your money contribution but the key things shared
above out of the 5 where are you at? Reflect, then pray and let God guide you in how
best you can be part of building the church.

Sened Alex is a minister with Life Church International – Limuru(The City of
Destiny). Founder of Proufalme Africa – with focus on Christian content in
multimedia design, production and events. He is a conference speaker with the
heart for empowering Christians and corporate leaders.
His burden for soul winning has seen him travel far and wide ministering the
good news in various conventions and outreaches. He is also an Author
‘Chapters’ and he is soon releasing another book.

 

 

 

How have you had such moments, where you actually contemplated on this statement?

The first time this question was asked brought dire consequences. This happened in the Garden of Eden where a conversation between the crafty snake and Eve ensued.

Genesis 3: 1-24. Just to highlight on the excerpts of the conversation.

Now the serpent was craftier than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’

I bet the snake rolled up its eyes and gave a know it all sign and muttered something like Huh…do you say? And went ahead said. ‘Let me school you a little bit and it said to the woman. “You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

And voila, Eve fell in the devious plan of the serpent, desired the fruit, ate and did not end there she had her husband Adam take a bite. I could picture the snake shouting, bingo or jackpot or something to celebrate that win…but the consequences thereafter were dire for we lost the connection with God because of the disobedience from the two who by the way the instruction was given to Adam, yet look who went round and rebelled, Eve and Adam whom had been given the instruction did not help much.

See how disobedience or rebellion happens. Out of a very seemingly simple question. Did God actually say? Eve disobeyed, she had all the information to an extent she added “not to touch” and because of that got deceived, she let the desire of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pleasures of life take heed.

This statement has two consequences, obedience if you actually know what God says or disobedience if you have half truths about who God is and if you lack that information totally about what God says.

Many are times we fall into the second and unfortunate consequence – Disobedience…

The Israelites left Egypt with pomp and funfair, came all the way to the Red Sea, then all of a sudden they cry out to Moses that he had brought them there to die because Pharaoh and his army were in hot pursuit, forgetting that this was not an ordinary journey but it is God who had ordained this journey and blame game began…

Again, disobedience is witnessed when Moses takes too long on the mountain where he had gone to have a chat with God. Eeh this guy though, he had such a privilege. So they decided with the assistance of Aaron to make an idol a golden calf to be exact so that they can worship yet they had been issued with the Ten Commandments and one of them was very clear. “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.  “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments’ very clear, but guess what…? they go ahead and the consequences were dire.

There are many examples of clear disobedience not because they did not have clear instructions. Same for you and I. What has God actually said about serving him?

Matthew 6:33 says But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well, but what do we do? vice versa. We seek, search for wealth, things of the world and when these things slip off our fingers or cause to engage in activities that lead us in disobedience to Who the owner of all things, we dive straight on to despair, depression, fear, doubts, and in extreme cases death.

We have let ourselves be led by the desires of the flesh, it is me, myself and mine. But God actually says in Mark 12: 30 – 31; Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Who’s your first love? Is it God or is there something else or someone else?

Jesus Christ also had this similar conversation with Satan in the wilderness after his forty days and forty nights of fasting before beginning His ministry but this time round the devil lost because Jesus knew what God actually said. He knew His Father, He knew what his Father says in his word and he proclaimed it. He knew the purpose that His Father had sent Him to do. To do his Will.

Even for us not to fall in this trap that comes with this question Did God actually say, then we have to be intentional about desiring an intimate relationship with God. What is His Will for us? What plans does He have for us? What are His attributes? What does He say about our daily lives? What does he say about our jobs, our daily provision, our children, nation, family relationships and so many other issues of life and most of all to operate in His Will that which is pleasing, good and acceptable.

I love this verse from Psalm 27:4 one thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

Every day, we are faced with different life challenges, but in all God has actually said something about it and the best thing is he says: John 16: 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Yes, His Word not mine, HE HAS OVERCOME! What you are going through is not new neither does it get to God by surprise but in all he will see you through it. Ain’t He an awesome God?

Four things to counter Did God actually say question?

• Read the word
• Meditate upon it day and night
• Be careful to do as it says
• Pray without ceasing
• Have a heart full of gratitude

May the Holy Spirit continue to impress on us on what God has actually said in our everyday life so that we may live in obedience to the Will of God and fulfill the purposes that He has set us for.  For the Glory and honor of His Name. Amen.

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