Ministry Of the Word (MOW)
MOW-True Spirituality
Improving Our Spiritual Understanding
Theme: Learn to Avoid Frustration in the Church.
Memory Verse:
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Beloved
In Christ, we give God glory, honour and adoration for a new week of GRACE. This week, our Lord and Saviour wants His children to have more understanding of the basis for fellowship and to reduce feelings of frustration in the church.
In the course of my life, work and spiritual activities , this writer has met many children of God, who have expressed frustration with the church. The truth is that many Christians lack understanding of why they ‘go to church’. True, the Word counsel true believers to fellowship: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”(Hebrews 10:25). Please, note the counsel of apostle Paul on ‘exhorting one another’ in the above text.
Recently, I went to assess an elderly lady in her late 80s at her home address (UK), and we were discussing the positive activities she occupies herself with during the day, normally termed Activities of Daily Living (ADL). We discussed how she spends each day from Monday. When she got to Sunday, she said: ‘I used to go to church on Sundays, I stopped because I fell out with the pastor’. We then talked through this with regard to how to reduce frustration in the church. Also, more recently, I was discussing with a fairly new spiritual son, resident in Nigeria, and he opened up to me. He told me he felt very relieved by the questions I was asking him, and how I was using the pure word of God to explain things to him. He confided in me that for a while, he has been reluctant to ‘go to church ‘, because he felt the pastor does not care , rather ‘too busy with the church ‘. Another, person told me he sees going to church as an obligation and would feel guilty if he did not go.
The big questions for every child of God therefore should be: Why do I have to go to church? Do I go to church for God? Do I go to church for myself? Do I go to church for the pastor? Do I go to church so that my neighbours and friends will know that I belong to one and perhaps, holds a high position? The answer is the word of God:
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
The word of God in comparing the Berean Christians with the Thessalonians has this to say: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so ” (Acts 17:11). Thank God for the Christians in Berea, they were noble in character because each time they attended church, they will go back home to ‘search’ their bible to check if the message the pastor preached is in line with the word of God. I often wonder how many Christians do this now a days.
Brethren, do NOT focus on your pastor or the ‘men of God’ when you go to church, rather focus your mind on the word of God. Do not only go to church to RECEIVE; also have the mindset to GIVE. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ” it is more blessed to give than to receive”(Acts 20:35).
We encourage everyone reading this message to learn to read and study the Bible regularly so as to be increasingly independently spiritually. Keep your focus and affection on things ABOVE(Col 3:2). Your pastor is a human being like you; he or she too needs your daily prayers. Do not be over dependent on him or her.
Also, we encourage everyone NOT to stop fellowship for any reason. Fellowship does not necessarily mean large group. No matter how small you think you are, God can actually use you to help your pastor if you are RICH in the word of God. God used Naaman’s maid to help captain Naaman in 2Kings 5. It is good to note that the present church is becoming a lot more liberal. Only yesterday, the 21 May 16, we heard that the Church of Scotland has voted to approve their clergy to have the opportunity to be in same sex marriage . You have free WILL and you are at liberty to choose which Church you belong. In my country of birth, Nigeria, no one can ever say there is paucity of churches! Please, be careful where you fellowship. Be careful who lays hand on your head.
To avoid frustration in the church, learn to keep your thoughts and mind focused on the word of God. Take your focus away from your challenges. Take your focus away from the weaknesses of your pastor. Take your focus away from people: “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:5).
Bless the LORD at all times! Call on Him and He will answer you and show you great and mighty things.
To grow spiritually requires daily meditation with the word of God (Joshua 1:8) and seeking first the kingdom of God and its righteousness (Matthew 6:33). However, the first thing you must desire greatly is total spiritual freedom through the truth in the word of God ( John 8:32).
Prayer: There is someone reading this message, receive the grace to avoid frustration as you keep your thoughts and mind focused on the Word in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Yours in the Vineyard of Jesus Christ. Ben Bassey, Iyobosa, Esther & the beloved MOW family network.
Spiritual Health Counselling Helpline: +447404624293.
Email: ministryofw@gmail.com;
Personal : benbassey@gmail.com
Bro Ben Bassey is a psychiatrist and a spiritual health counsellor who ministers to people regularly through the MOW and AHF. He is a true disciple, missionary, teacher and ambassador for JESUS CHRIST. He has a passion for the Word of God.
To further enrich yourself with spiritual health information, please visit:
MOW web: www.ministryoftheword.org
AHF web: www.abasihealthfoundation.org
The Ministry of the Word is the spiritual arm of AHF and is in divine partnership with the Redeemed Christian Church of Church (RCCG), Mountain of Fire & Miracles (MFM ) & the Living Faith ( Winners Chapel). We encourage you to fellowship with any of their parishes, if you are looking for a spiritual place of worship.