March 22nd
Practise the Fundamentals of Christianity
For a Christian to grow up spiritually, he is to be grounded in the fundamentals of Christianity. It is our desire that we be deeply rooted in these fundamentals that wherever God places us we will abide by it. This is especially true in our church, where God is sending people abroad. In whichever foreign land we may abide for a season, to excel and to prosper in that land, we must abide by His Word.
Isaiah 1:19
9 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land; NIV
We must obey the fundamentals. They are:
1. Do Not Forsake the Assembly of the Saints
Hebrew 10:25
25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. NIV
Before we move overseas we should ask God to help us find a local church to attend over there. Parents should pray for their children to find and integrate into a local church when they move abroad for studies. If possible try to look for the local church that you may visit once over there.
We heard of a family who used to attend a big church in Singapore but after moving to Shanghai for eight months, they lost interest in going to church.
2. Continue to Pay Your Tithes and Give Offerings
Tithes belong to God and when we obey Him in tithing, the windows of heaven will continue to be opened and His blessings will continue to rain on whatever you sow in that land. God’s blessing will continue to fall on whatever you put your hands to in the natural.
As you continue to give offerings then you are sowing financial seeds. God’s blessings will water your seeds and multiply it back to you.
For it is written in Malachi 3:8-12 that God will prevent the devil from stealing your finances.
3. Fellowship with God in the Word
Keep your devotional time with God by reading the Word daily. In doing you are
1. Feeding your spirit with the Word
2. Fellowshipping with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ
Then constantly we are keeping the communication channel with God open; for God to flow us with His love, to instruct us, to warn us, to continue to direct us, to give us wisdom to deal with any situation that comes our way.
4. Fellowship with God through Prayer
Keep our devotional time with God in prayer. In prayer we are fellowshipping with God as well. Prayer continues to keep our spirit and faith built up, alert, and sensitive to the Holy Spirit. This way we continue to sharpen our spirit to His leading. Prayer is vital to our spiritual life just as breathing is to living. When we keep this line of communication open with God, then it is easy for Him to tell us things and show us things to come. Through prayer tremendous power was made available that preempted many things in times gone by and many events were made known before the time and preparations were initialised.
5. Fellowship with Others in the Local Church
One of the strategies of the devil is to isolate you from others. When he did that he would have isolated you from tapping into the strength and the resourcefulness of others to help you. The devil is the originator of all problems and he is trying to prevent you from reaching out to the solutions – this is how he kills, steals and destroys.
Through the fellowship of the saints we fuel each other’s faith and this is another way we fellowship with God because many times others may have spoken a word of prophecy through just a casual conversation. Fellowshipping with the saints is far better than simply fellowshipping with the world because there is no God amongst them. Fellowship with the world is fellowshipping with darkness. We are to reach the world for Jesus but we are to fellowship with the saints.
6. Continue to Serve in the Local Church
Serving in a local church helps you to integrate into the local church. It is through giving that receiving will come unto you. We need each other in the body of Christ especially during the time of crisis be it at home or at work. We need the supply of the saints in the local body of Christ; the supply of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.(Philippians 1:19)
7. Do Not Be Unequally Yoked with Unbelievers
I am appalled to know that there are mothers who encourage their daughters to date unbelievers. I am saddened to see girls date unbelievers. If you can believe God for the best why go for not even the second best. Christians who compromise are those who do not really know their Heavenly Father. There is a girl whom we know. One day she came to see us and said that if her boyfriend (who is a believer) ever compromises living for God she will ‘dump’ him. God honored her for honoring Him. When she made her stand for God, God worked on her behalf and made him to be a prayerful, godly man whom she is now married to. I hope you catch this spirit of no compromise and stand to see God work things out on your behalf for your good for you are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
When you continue to practise these fundamentals, you are putting God first in your life. When the Lord opens a door for you – be it a promotion or for your furtherance – honor Him by putting Him first.
I have seen the consequences of those who violate these fundamentals and are paying the price in their own lives and their children’s.
May it never happen to you but the Lord’s riches continue to flow into your lives wherever you may be.