[9]After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10]Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11]Give us this day our daily bread. [12]And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13]And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. [14]For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15]But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:9-15
Forgiveness is not just a Christian duty; it is a virtue that reflects the very nature of God. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus emphasized the connection between God’s forgiveness and our willingness to forgive others. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” This shows that forgiveness is both received and given—it flows from God to us and through us to others.
As Christians, we often fall short and sin, but God, in His mercy, forgives us again and again. If we truly understand and appreciate the forgiveness we’ve received, it should inspire us to forgive those who offend us. Unforgiveness blocks our fellowship with God and hinders our prayers.
To be Christlike is to forgive. Holding on to grudges only hardens the heart and opens the door to bitterness. But when we forgive, we show love, grace, and maturity.
Key Takeaways:
Forgiveness is a sign of true Christian character.
We must forgive if we want to be forgiven (Matt. 6:15).
God’s mercy towards us should be our model for mercy towards others.
Forgiveness brings peace, healing, and freedom to the soul.
Let us forgive, not because others always deserve it, but because we are forgiven by God.
In the fold of Christ, there are several offices; Apostles, Pastors, Prophets/Prophetess, Choir, etc.
Ephesians 4:11
[11]And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:11
As ministers of the gospel, we ought to show good example to the followers of the gospel in punctuality, steadfastness, prayer level, attitude, faith, etc. As ministers of the gospel, we ought to hold steadfastly to the work of God, try to upgrade our prayer level and a higher level of the word of God.
Many times we forget the work of God for our businesses and personal activities and hence, our level of the word of God is shallow, our faiths are wavering, our understanding of God’s word weak, because we have no foundational root of God’s word.
Acts 6:1-7
[1]And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. [2]Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. [3]Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. [4]But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. [5]And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: [6]Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. [7]And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:1:7
The work of God are diverse, but only few are active workers in the house of God and are now weak in the work of God causing staggering and low effort or force to the work of God.
As leaders and workers of the ministry, let’s learn to work effectively and efficiently to make the work of God grow and outstanding.
In all our endeavors as children of God, we ought to exercise faith in God, even as the year proceeds, believers should have full trust and faith in God.
As believers in Christ, we should have faith in God, for whatsoever we ask of him in faith, that he will grant, but only when we ask in faith. Whenever his people or believers ask anything of God’s hand and do not doubt in our hearts, he will make that happen even as we have requested.
TEXT (Mark 11:22-23)
[22]And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. [23]For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mark 11:22-23
When we have faith in God as believers, whatsoever we declare will surely come to pass, when we have faith attached. One could easily doubt moving a mountain just with spoken words, but the bible tells us that when we have faith, nothing is ever impossible. Only one thing can contradict our prayers or request to God Almighty, which is DOUBT. When we prayer in doubt or without faith, nothing we ask and request of god can ever come to us, because we our prayers are not backed up with faith, but with fear and doubt.
The mountain refered to in the scripture is not any physical mountain we see around, but it refers to problems, issues, distresses and hard times mounted in our hearts overtime, caused by overthinking and life challenges. The mountains refered to in this context are our life challenges and difficult times; to students, their mountain could be an examination, and when that student take it to the feet of God, and do not doubt in the heart, then shall that student be surprised with the awesome work of God after the examination. The paramount thing is to ask God in faith and not in fear or a heart full of doubts (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Hebrews 11:1-3
[1]Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2]For by it the elders obtained a good report. [3]Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:1-3
When we have faith, we can declare things which are yet to come, profess things that be not as though they were. Even when it seems impossible, with our faith put into action they can come to pass. With faith, we can tread places which are dreadful, being a true believer has to o with complete fait in the word of God; for as much as we were not present during creation of the earth, we all believed that God created the whole earth with the words of his mouth and that is the first step of having faith; believing in the scripture (Hebrews 10:22-23). God is a God who does that which he have said; others may fail, men may go back on their word and change in the course of time, but the living God never changes, he never lies, and he never go back on his word. When God says a thing concerning you, or made you a promise, be rest assured that he will do just that which he has said and even more, we just have to keep an unwavering faith on him. Sometimes, the blessings of God may take longer than expected, but for a reason, according to the bible there is a time for everything under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3:1), because God hasn’t done that which you desire, requested or asked of him doesn’t mean he wouldn’t, it’s just not the right time for that prayer to be answered for the ways of God are different from that of men.
Psalms 119:30
[30] I have chosen to be obedient; I have paid attention to your judgments.
Psalms 119:30 (GNB)
Having faith in God isn’t just a word in the bible, it is a command, always let us (believers) hold steadfastly unto the word of God, let us adhere to his commands that he may fulfill that which our heart desires (2 Corinthians 5:7), as believers, we should live by faith; faith in God, and not by what our eyes sees, not by proves, not by the worldly evidence, not like a Thomas, but by faith. Through our faith in Christ Jesus we can create things that are not in existence through our faith and the declaration of God’s word, through our faith,we can heal the sick, raise the dead, etc (Philippians 4:13).
Mark 10:27 – Nothing on earth, above the earth or underneath the earth is above the supremacy of God, he controls the entire universe and hence, nothing is impossible with him, when men think it’s over, when men’s hope is lost and gone he does the impossible.
As men sometimes we tend to lean on our own strength, trust in our own knowledge and depend on our own understand. Doctors lean on their own knowledge, and past experiences, scientists depend solely on what they’ve learn and also past experiences, but today, God tells you not to lean on your own power, not in men, nor in wealth and firm, nor in your knowledge and understanding, but in God.
TEXT
[5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6]In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. [7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. [8] It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. [9] Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: [10] So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
By:- Primate Dr. Moses Ogbodogbo (JP++) – G. O. and Spiritual Head – NTGC Globally.
NTGC Global
After you’ve spent thirty one days of the month of January coming to the house of God, to seek his face and pray, and as well brought your thanksgiving to the feet of God and now God has made a pronouncement into your life and he say;
Ecclesiastes 9:7-9
[7]Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. [8]Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. [9]Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
