Pastor Corner
Birthing the Harvest
Welcome to the great month of October, which begins the last quarter of the year. One thing I am sure of is that you are in a season of giving birth to your harvest. There will be manifestations of God’s promises over your life, in Jesus’ name.
As we wind down this year, I am inspired to let you know that it’s not time to wash your nets as Peter and his colleagues did after a long night of unfruitfulness and unproductive efforts in Luke 5. It is the year that is winding down, not your life nor is God about to go on a break. According to the story, we will see that when Jesus was introduced to the situation, the story ended on a note of abundance.
I intend for us to glean a few things on how to make the most of the last quarter even when it seems all hopes for God’s promise for the year, is lost. Please note that the following lessons are derived from Luke 5:1-11.
- First, be conscious of the presence of Jesus. This is important because the issue believers in the New Testament have is not the absence of Jesus but the loss of consciousness of his presence. To maintain the consciousness of his presence, we must establish a spiritual exercise routine. (Vs 1-2)
- Secondly, let your platform become Jesus’ platform. Seek first the furtherance of God’s kingdom and just go all out to see his kingdom expand through your life, business, career and family. Allow him the Lord of all your affairs ensuring that it’s all about him and not what you can get from him. Avoid a transactional relationship with him. (Vs 3)
- Thirdly, be sensitive to divine instructions and obey without hesitation. Even when the command does not make sense, Just Do It. Interestingly, what he might ask you to do might be what you have done before, still do it because everything responds to the sound of his voice. (Vs 4-5)
- Fourthly, don’t attempt to walk alone. The journey is better when we stay in association with believers. Belong to a company of believers. Join, Start or Host a Missional Community where we can Pray, Play, Eat, Grow and Go together. That saved Peter from sinking back into his current life, after receiving the harvest of fish. (Vs 6-7)
- Lastly, decide that the blessing will not take you away from the blesser. Make a firm decision not to be mastered by what God has done in your life. Follow him more closely than you have done before. Peter and others walked away from the blessing to follow the blesser. That was their key to relevance up until now. (Vs 8-11)
My prayer for you, is that you see at least one of God’s many promises for your life manifest in this final quarter of 2024, in Jesus’ name! Amen.
I call you blessed!
Children’s Corner
Confession
Hello Royal Seeds we welcome you to another exciting episode of learning with the FLOAT newsletter. Today we are going to read a Confession and will need three amazing kids to play the role of Oreoluwa, Ruth and Jonathan. However, before we start how many of you know what is meant by ‘Confession’, in the Christian faith…?
A confession is a public announcement of your sins and requests for forgiveness, often performed with others. It is important because it reminds all of us that we are not perfect and that only when we seek forgiveness from God can we draw closer to him and live a more meaningful life.
Our actors for Oreoluwa, Ruth and Jonathan, your time is now 🙂.
Oreoluwa: I am a child of God, created in His image and filled with His love.
God loves me, and nothing can separate me from His love.
I know that Jesus is my Savior, and through Him, I am forgiven.
Because of Jesus, I am strong, brave, and filled with joy.
Ruth: I will not be afraid because God is always with me.
He has great plans for my life, and He guides my steps every day.
I am wise because God gives me wisdom. I will listen to His Word and follow His ways.
I speak kind words and do good things because God has given me a kind heart.
Jonathan: I will share His love with everyone around me.
I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ, and I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
I trust in the Lord with all my heart, and I will not lean on my own understanding.
God’s Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, showing me the way to go.
Oreoluwa, Ruth & Jonathan: I am blessed, I am favoured, and I am chosen by God.
Today, I will walk in God’s peace, love, and joy.
I believe it, I receive it, and I declare it in Jesus’ name. Amen!”
Everyone in the room: AMEN!!!
Development Corner
Finding your peace
Yaaay, it’s October – the first month in the final quarter of the year. In just 12 weeks, we will be wrapping up the year 2024, how wonderful is that!
Before we start to round up the year, I would like us to discuss finding peace in this VUCA world we find ourselves in. Yes, as Christians, you can easily say “oooh, my peace is founded in Christ. True, yet the Bible says troublesome times would arise.
VUCA is an acronym that stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity – each one correlating the fact that certain situations are difficult to make plans for or even analyse.
One might ask “How then do I find peace when I can hardly analyse the situation?” Below are some tips you should consider:
- Acceptance: Inner peace comes from accepting that certain things are beyond your control. Nobody planned for the unbelievable hike in the prices of goods and services at the start of the year, yet, here we are.
- Approach: When you’ve accepted the situation, you can seek solutions to solve the problem objectively. Remember, there’s always a solution to every problem.
- Seek God: John 14:27 (NKJV) says “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.
Crossword
R | R | A | D | A | O | I | T | E | S |
A | E | E | L | B | M | U | H | R | E |
P | W | K | I | N | D | S | E | Y | V |
P | A | N | A | W | R | M | O | I | I |
L | R | S | M | M | O | V | D | W | G |
E | D | A | Y | C | E | X | S | V | R |
Y | U | G | R | E | T | C | E | H | O |
B | A | E | R | D | S | V | A | T | F |
S | V | I | C | T | O | R | Y | E | H |
O | S | N | I | L | N | Y | W | E | P |
Overcomers, Love, Peace, Kind, Reward, Victory, Forgive, Humble
Biblical poetry
He Knew You, From the Moment She Birthed You.
She gave birth to you with her back against the wall
Unprepared for the greatness she was bringing into this world
Misbelieving that the final push was the final effort required
Unprepared for the stillbirth that plummeted to the bed…
But God’s plan was greater than she could have ever imagined
And as they dangled the new birth by one leg and smacked it across the bum,
It took its first of many deep breaths and oo what a magnificent vocal cord you had.
For unbeknown to her she was birthing the seed of God.
For unbeknown to you, you are birthing the seed of God.
The formation of your birth vision will take time
The commitment will be ever-lasting, ever-growing, ever-demanding
It will stretch you from the inside out
Creating a new dimension to your understanding of existing
Revealing to you a strength you never knew you possessed.
They will tell you to keep pushing, to take deep breaths
And you would want to give up, to say God push me no further.
But as you reach the lowest of your feelings,
And turn to tear-filled prayers to console you
The almighty will scope in to lift you up, elevating you beyond your wildest imagination.
As you float above, you see there is no limitation on you.
For you were made to labour through the journey, to become a testimony
To demonstrate that he never left you.
The God you serve didn’t bring you this far without a delivery in sight.
He knew you, from the moment she birthed you.
The same moment he implanted the seed to flourish inside you.
Isaiah 66:8-9
Health Corner
Normalising the understanding of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the breast tissue. It is the most common cancer among women worldwide. It occurs when cells in the breast tissue grow uncontrollably, forming a lump or mass. If left untreated, breast cancer can spread to other body parts, such as the lymph nodes, bones, liver, and lungs. Breast cancer affects 2.1 million women and causes 15% of female cancer deaths. Over 620,000 women died of breast cancer in 2018. In Nigeria, breast cancer is the leading malignancy in women, accounting for 22.7% of new cases. In 2018, it had the highest breast cancer mortality rate of 12,000 deaths.
Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump or thickening in the breast or underarm area, changes in the size or shape of the breast, nipple discharge, or changes in the skin of the breast, such as redness, dimpling, or puckering. Not all lumps or changes in the breast are cancerous, but it is essential to have them checked by a doctor to rule out any potential issues.
Several risk factors are associated with breast cancer, including age, gender, family history, genetics, and lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, obesity, and lack of physical activity. Women over 50 are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Early detection is crucial for the treatment of breast cancer. Common treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. Sometimes, a combination of treatments may be used to achieve the best possible outcome.
Breast cancer can be a challenging and emotional experience for patients and their families. It is essential to have a strong support system and access to resources such as counselling, support groups, and educational materials. Many organizations, such as the Nigerian Cancer Society, offer support for those affected by breast cancer.
For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, this is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. Jeremiah 30:17 KJV
Fun Facts
- “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters ”mt”.
- There are only four words in the English language which end in “dous”: tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous
- Allodoxaphobia is the fear of other people’s opinions
- Human teeth are the only part of the body that cannot heal themselves
- A chef’s hat has 100 pleats. Apparently, it’s meant to represent the 100 ways you can cook an egg.
- The letter ’E’ is the most popular letter in the alphabet. ’Z’ is the least popular
Conclusion:
As we journey into this month, it is important to know that forgiveness is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith and essential for our spiritual growth, relationships, and emotional well-being. Christ has mandated us as His disciples to always walk in forgiveness to fulfil God’s will and receive from Him.
Why Forgive?
- Because God has forgiven us: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14 NIV)
- It helps us show Love and Compassion: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)
- It gives us freedom from bitterness and unnecessary anger: “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15 NIV)
How to Forgive:
- Let go of resentment.
- Choose to forgive.
- Seek God to help you forgive.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. I receive the strength to let go of resentment and bitterness. Fill me with Your love and compassion, and guide me to forgive myself and others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
We now have Missional Communities in 15 locations and would like to encourage you to find one near you or start one in your local area.
Opic; Isheri, River View Estate | Oworo, Olorunfunmi Street. | Surulere, Iponri Estate. |
Lambe, Korede Balogun | Unilag, Akoka | Federal College of Education, Akoka |
Lekki Phase 1 | Igbo-Efon, Silicon Valley Estate | Ikoyi, Awolowo Road |
Victoria Island, Oniru | Victoria Island, Chicken Republic, Oniru | Abijo, Destiny Homes Estate |
Ogunfayo, Off Palace way | Victoria Island, Kofo Abayomi | Victoria Island, Ligali Ayorinde |
Upcoming Events
October to November 2024
Activities outside of the regular Sunday services
October
- 2-6th: Harvest Fire Convention – GHQ Ibadan
- 12th: Workers’ Congress & Evangelism
- 26th: Hours of Grace & Evangelism
November
- 1-3rd: Three Days of Glory
- 9th: Leaders’ Meet
- 16-17th: Singles Connect
- 16-18th: Couple’s Connect
- 23rd: Hour of Grace