REPORT OF THE FEAST FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 20, 2018

“Doing the work of God heartily without murmuring”

Brother Lawrence Bratte, chairman, Administrative Committee, GKS Abraka Branch

Citing John 6:28,29, the speaker defined the work of God to mean “everything that God wants His worshippers to do as part of their reverence for Him”. He said the first step towards doing the work of God in this age is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to demonstrate our faith in God by way of our various contributions towards the progress of the work of God: material contributions, activities in various groups, work groups, study groups, attendance at services and other assemblies of the church, launchings, etc.

To do the work of God requires denying oneself of certain things, making of sacrifices for God. However the sacrifice goes with reward. To get the reward such work must be done heartily, done without reservation, with complete belief in God, enthusiastically, done with joy, with the belief that there is great reward in what one is doing. – Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; Matthew 22:36-38.

Examples of people who gave whole hearted service to God he cited were those of Joshua and Caleb, (Joshua 14:7-9; Deuteronomy 1:35, 36; Numbers 32:11,12; Numbers 14:1-10); Abraham and Sarah, (Romans 4:18-22; Hebrews 11:17); the three faithful Jews (Daniel 3)

Servants are required to serve wholeheartedly because that is the service God wants. (Colossians 3:23, 24)

It should be noted that when the Jews murmured against Moses and Aaron, God Almighty stated that such murmuring were against Him. God disapproves of murmuring. ((Numbers 14:1-12; 1 Corinthians 10:10) If one feels strongly about something, about decisions taken by the Lord’s Ministry one could complain but to someone who is in a position to address the issue, It should be done with an open mind and with sincerity, while appreciating God’s goodness. One should note that certain situations are tests of our faith.

DO TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO DO TO YOU

By Brother O. D. Akinwale

This sermon is drawn from a remarkable statement made by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ during his ministry on earth. In Matthew 7:12, it is written: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

It is pertinent to know that if men would obey this command, they would live peacefully with one another and enjoy the blessings of God.

Our demonstration of love should not be limited to the person or persons we know, our friends, those we share kinship affinities with.  We should do good even to our enemies. That is how we would love to be treated, thus practically demonstrating our love for God and our fellow human beings. (Luke 6:27-34; Mark 12:28-34) Love for one another is the “new commandment” given us by Christ. (John 13:34, 35) But it is a reiteration of the existing rule. (Deuteronomy 10:12; Leviticus 19:18) 

Those who fail to pay their workers, those who defraud their neighbours, who set traps for others or put stumbling blocks for them are not keeping the golden rule. (Leviticus 19:13,14) Apostle James calls this “the royal law”. – James 2:8

Also tale-bearing, telling of unfounded stories are transgressions of the rule that we should do to others as we want them to do to us. (Leviticus 19:15, 16) Unfortunately, some who profess to be Christians, are in practice worse than the gentiles. (1 John 4:7,8,11, 20, 21) In the words of Apostle Paul, “love is the fulfilling of the law”. –  Romans 13:8-10.

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” – 1 John 4:20, 21.