2016 REFRESHER 1ST Q

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Pastor Dr. Kenayo K. Odeluga ‘live by it (Deuteronomy 8:3). Je sus tells us in John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”. As our Shepherd, He leads us by the voice of the Holy Spirit. It has been our tradition in Christ Oasis to seek out a theme for each year from the Lord Jesus Christ our Chief Shepherd. The Lord has been faithful in speaking to us through His servant - our Senior Pastor at the beginning of every year during the crossover or watchnight service. We have all experienced the blessings of each year’s theme in varying degrees. Each theme is backed by scriptures and has become a “sure word of prophecy” which the Bible encourages us to not only hold on to but also to I counsel all to seize on each year’s theme as a word from the mouth of God which serves as a lamb to our feet and a light unto our path (Ps. 119:105). As you embrace the theme, it will illuminate your path this coming year. Meditate on it day and night, observe all He commands you to do and so make your way prosperous in <strong>2016</strong> (Joshua 1:8). There is a blessing for those who believe in the Lord our God and His chosen vessels (II Chronicles 20:20). Peace from God. 3
Pastor Charles Amaning Gr owing up as a child, there was a song we used to sing. The lyrics were as follows; “I have another world in view, my Savior is gone to prepare me a place”. Having an eternal perspective is about seeing life from God’s point of view. This is opposed to viewing life from a humanistic, earthly, temporary or selfish perspective. In the Gospels, Jesus Christ poses a rhetorical question to the effect that, “what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul”? The parable of the rich man, in Luke 12 illustrates this point quite perfectly. In this narrative Jesus tells us that; “ …The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”. Luke 12:16-21 (KJV). This parable is a classic example of living without an eternal perspective or living without God in view. This rich man in question, was so much fixated on the temporary to the extent that it determined his decision making and eventually affected his destiny in eternity. The Apostle Peter in his first epistle refers to the saints scattered over the then Roman empire as strangers and sojourners. His purpose was to inculcate the truth that our life here on earth is just temporary in the sense that we are just passing through. Again, Paul in the book of Hebrews 13:14, conceptualizes it this way; “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come”. Having this kind of mindset propels us to live with purpose. It also inspires us to number our days and apply our hearts to wisdom. One of the foremost discourses on this subject is found written in “The Purpose Driven Life” authored by the esteemed Pastor, Rick Warren. In that book Pastor Warren enlightens his readers to the fact that, nine months in your mother’s womb prepared you for life on earth and your life here on earth is preparing you for eternity. In his view point, life is the dress rehearsal or the preview before the main show in eternity. Finally Jesus once told his disciples that his mission is to do the will of He who sent him, and to finish his work. In other words he was here on earth to fulfill an assignment given to him by his Father. This assignment or purpose for example, was critical in his decision making at the Garden of Gethsemane. Consequently, it’s what helped him endure the cross irrespective of the astronomical embarrassment associated with it. As you journey through the New Year, remember that life inevitably will confront you with forks in your path. In our generation we have a charge to keep, but having an eternal perspective does not license us to be so ‘heavenly minded’ that we are of no earthly good. Rather, the long view helps us to live out our values in the valley of decisions. Let us all be encouraged as we unearth God’s unique purposes for our individual lives and fulfill it before our eventual exit. May the good Lord give us the grace to do so! Blessings forever more!! Pastor Charles is the resident pastor of the Oasis Bolingbrook campus 4
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2016 REFRESHER 1ST Q

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