Sunday, May 7, 2023
TOPIC – *SHOWING OFF IN CHURCH
MEMORIZE:
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Acts 4:32
Read: 1Corinthians 11:18-22
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
MESSAGE:
One habit that seems to have crept into the Church recently, is that of showing off to other Church members. *There are people who go to Church majorly to show off their new clothes or some other material possession. This is completely outside God’s plan for the Body of Christ*. God’s original plan for the Church is for everyone to be united and have everything in common. The Bible says in Acts 2:46-47:
*”And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”*
The reason the Church is not growing as fast as it should is that there is no singleness of heart. When people prefer to outshine one another in showing off their material possessions than actually caring about each other and the Gospel, the Church cannot grow. The reason we have not won the whole world to Christ is that the Church is not united.
The Holy Spirit does not move in the midst of divided people. When the Holy Spirit descended in the Upper Room, the people were in one accord (Acts 2:1). Until Christians love each other and are in one accord, the Church cannot experience the move of the Holy Spirit as it should.
*Many Church leaders wonder why the Holy Spirit is not moving as much as they expect, not knowing that the problem is in the divisions within the Church. Some pastors give special attention to the rich in the Church*. Apostle James said in James 2:1-5 that you should not give the rich preferential treatment against those that are not so rich, or else you would become a judge with evil thoughts. It doesn’t matter how rich they are, they should not be praised for showing off in the Church, but rather, rebuked.
*Believers should dress well and can own luxurious items. However, it is wrong to flaunt material possessions with the intent to oppress others. The Church must unite and cease to be a place where people compete to outshine one another over material possessions.
REFLECTION:
*When you go to Church, do you show off your material possessions? If yes, stop it henceforth.
*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Father, thank You that You are the Most Prized Possession I have.
2. Father, visit Your Church again and give us oneness of heart and mind in Jesus Name
3. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke the spirit of division in any form from the Body Of Christ.
4. Father, deliver Your Church from every form of showmanship and vain glory starting with the leadership of the Church in Jesus Name.
5. Father, starting with the leadership of Your Church rid Your Church of every form of favouritism and biases against the poor and less-priviledged.
6. Father, heal Your Church leaders of every form of spiritual blindness in Jesus Name…. Open our eyes to see as You would have us to.
7. Father, frustrate every plan of spiritually and mentally twisted people from carrying out their evil intentions in killing innocent people
HYMN:
1. stand up, stand up for Jesus
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
his army he shall lead
till ev’ry foe is vanquished
and Christ is Lord indeed.
2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are men now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger
and strength to strength oppose.
3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.
4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next, the victor’s song.
To him that overcometh
a crown of life shall be;
he with the King of glory
shall reign eternally.
