FGBMFI: 4 Things God Want You To Know

This is a sketchy highlights of the message I prepared for the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International event at Butare/Rwanda. Next time I will speak to them about the 4 Things God Wants You To Do. Stay tuned!

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1.             Know that You have Eternal Life

"This is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. " 1 John 5:11, 13

·         What Eternal Life does not necessarily mean? – It doesn't mean the infinite extension of life. Daniel 12:2:

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

The book of Daniel, presents two categories of people: 1) Those who will rise up for everlasting (eternal) life and those 2) who will rise up for everlasting (eternal) shame. It is clear that shame can only be experience if one is conscious of it. Hence, those who will feel shame for eternally will have to be alive eternally. But this eternity in shame which assume an infinite extension of life is not what Eternal life is. Eternal life, means much more than just an infinite extension of life.

·         What Eternal Life also means? – A qualitative life with God, a fellowship lifestyle with the Father. Jn17:3:

“And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

·         Eternal Life is also a person that we welcome in Us – 

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” - John 1:12, 13

  “For he [Jesus] who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he [Jesus] is not ashamed to call them brothers,” - Heb 2:11

2.                Know that You can Overcome Temptation

"There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [allow] you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

• What temptation is not? – It is not a sin. For Jesus who had never sinned was nevertheless tempted.

“For our sake he [God] made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 

 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” - Mat 4:1

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” - Heb 4:14, 15

• What temptation is? – It is a solicitation, an enticement. From the Merriam Webster Dictionary:

temp·ta·tion:  noun \tem(p)-ˈtā-shən\

1)      : a strong urge or desire to have or do something

2)      : something that causes a strong urge or desire to have or do something and especially something that is bad, wrong, or unwise

Link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temptation

• How does temptation function? – It functions by feeding on our human need.

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” - James 1:14-15

• Who tempts us? – Satan is the Tempter (Luke 4:1-2 and Mathew 4:1-2) not God.

“Don't blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil and he doesn't use evil to tempt others.” James 1:13 CEV

3.                Know that God wants to Forgive Your Sins and give you the Ministry of Reconciliation

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

• What is Sins? – It is the moral deviation of God’s expectation for its conscious creature. It is the breaking of divine commands.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” - 1 John 3:4    

• What are the consequences of sins? -

a)      Sins fractures peaceful and stable relationship with our authorities -  

Such as, our earthly Fathers or our divine Father – Cfr. the story of the prodigal son:

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you” - Luke 15:18 

b) Sins rob us from God’s glory –

 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” - Romans 3:23

There is a great promise attached to God’s glory: Rom 5:2; 1Th 2:12; 2Th 2:14; 1Pe 4:13, 1Pe 5:1, 1Pe 5:10.

c) Sins make us enemies (hostile) of God and God do not reveal His Wills and secrets to his enemies only to His Friends -

“because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject (do not obey) to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be.” Romans 8:7 

“And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do,” Gen 18:17 

“And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."” James 2:23 

• What happens when we are forgiven? –

a)               When we are forgiven of our sins we get reconcile with God and receive from God the ministry of reconciliation.

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” 2Corinthians 5:18 

“that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” - 2 Corinthians 5:19 

b)            When we are forgiven of our sins we are anew at Peace with God and His people. We can with no heavy heart rejoice in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

 “giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Colossians 1:12 

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1John 1:7 

4.                Know that He Wants To Answer Your Prayers

“[Jesus said] "Until now you have asked nothing in My name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24

• Who Receives Prayers? –  

God the Father receives. Because all perfect gifts comes from Him.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning.” James 1:17 

“As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” - Mathew 7:11 CEV

Once God looks at you as His child through Christ, you should know how He feels about you,

“Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish?” - Mathew 7:9-10   

God expect us to have a the right attitudes hence as Children of God and pray diligently for there is a favorable answer awaiting us,

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.” Mathew 7:7 -8

• What is the purpose of prayer?  The purpose of prayer is that we may have the fullness of Joy as we receive answers to your prayers.

“When that time comes, you won't have to ask me about anything. I tell you for certain that the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name.” - John 16:23 

• How is Prayers done? It is done in the name of Jesus and according to the will of God

"Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" - 1 John 3:22.

• What makes some prayers unsuccessful? –

Doubt: “But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all.” - James 1:6 

Bad motives: “Yet even when you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons.” - James 4:3 

Sins: “No matter how much you pray, I won't listen. You are too violent.” - Isaiah 1:15 CEV; and else: Proverb 15:8, Proverb 21:27; Isaiah 58:3-4.

N.B: Humility is also required in everything we do in this life, for us to benefit God’s grace. 

“In fact, God treats us with even greater kindness, just as the Scriptures say, "God opposes everyone who is proud, but he is kind to everyone who is humble." - James 4:6