Word for Today: ‘…not meat and drink…’
Ministry Of the Word (MOW): True Spirituality (TS)
Memory Verse
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” ( Romans 14:17)
Dearly Beloved
Christianity is very profound. Many people in the body of Christ today are superficial in their knowledge of God. Apostle Paul reminded us in our memory verse that the kingdom of God is to do with ‘righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost ‘. Jesus is the embodiment of the kingdom of God. If you are a Christian and you are not full of joy, please check the level of the Holy Spirit in you.
I often wonder why some pastors try to turn their churches into fund raising organisations in the name of raising money to do God’s work. Many of them are happy to be rated by earthly standard among the world richest people. Please, read the story in 2Kings 5:1-19, even before Jesus Christ, the Word, became flesh, men and women of God, like Prophet Elisha, existed who did not mix up the anointing of God with material things. Please, read further to remind yourself of what happened to his greedy personal assistant (Gehazi).
The kingdom of God is not about making money and building projects. The kingdom of God is not about being popular. Jesus is already popular and our own true popularity can only be derived from cleaving to Him.
Jesus was a profound teacher while on earth. Many people struggled and are still struggling to understand some of His teachings. For example he said:
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27).
Please, we need to have understanding of these verses. Someone has asked me how Jesus could make such statements. Please, do not take some of the statements in the bible literally. Jesus was a profound teacher. The greatest teacher that ever lived. The gospel may appear simplistic but it’s very profound .
The truth is that Jesus often spoke in metaphor, figure of speech, parables when he was on earth. So do not take everything he said literally! The summary of what Jesus was saying in the two verses is that to be his true disciple we must be ready for self-sacrifice, pains, long-suffering, challenges, disagreement with loved ones etc. Any true follower of Jesus who is not ready to compromise, will have a lot of enemies, right from his family except all family members are strong in the Lord. To be a true disciple demands “a living sacrifice” ( Romans 12:1).
Carrying your cross daily is symbolic of the pains, traumas and discomfort you should be ready to go through as a soldier of the cross. Christianity is a spiritual warfare.
As far as Jesus was concerned, nothing should distract a disciple from doing the work of the Father.
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”(Luke 9:62).
Remember the man who was asking for permission to go and bury his father first before following Jesus: “But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead” (Matt 8:22).
“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” ( Luke 10:41-42).
Yes, the kingdom of God is not meat and drink…but in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might ( Ephesian 6:10).
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Have a Spirit-filled week.
Thank you Jesus for waking me up today and for your word this morning.
Prayer Point
Father, we thank you for your words that have kept us alive. Please, help us to focus on things of kingdom rather than on earthly things in Jesus name. Amen
Yours in the Vineyard of Christ.
Bro Ben Bassey & the beloved MOW family.
Dr Ben Bassey is a licensed psychiatrist and a spiritual health counselor:
Email: benbassey@gmail.com
All scriptures are taken from the King James Version unless otherwise specified. To know more about the Ministry of the Word, please visit:
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