WORD FOR THE WEEK 

29 December 2013, Christian Fellowship Church, Bangalore, India

http://www.cfcindia.com

Stick to Your Particular Ministry

Zac Poonen

In Chapter 2 of Ezekiel, we see a man who is totally under God’s authority. The Lord said to him, “Stand up. I want to speak to you.” The Spirit came into Ezekiel as God spoke and set him on his feet. The Lord said, “Listen carefully. I am sending you to the nation of Israel .”

As we wait upon God, though we may not hear an audible voice like Ezekiel did, it is possible to have just as real and as certain a sense of calling and a sense of God sending us as Ezekiel had. It may take time.

When I started my ministry, I did not know immediately what my ministry was going to be. But as the years went by, I began to discover what it was. Now as I look back, I find fulfilment. But I know so many people who have tried to drag me away from the ministry God had called me to.

The Lord says, “I am sending you with a particular ministry.” It is very important that you learn to wait upon God and hear what God is speaking to you and what He has called you for. Sometimes you might choose God’s second best.

I remember, about 30 years ago, when I was in a lot of financial difficulty - I didn’t have much at that time - a Christian organisation invited me to be its director and offered me a good salary, a free car, free telephone, free house, etc., etc., if I accepted their offer. It was a Westernorganisation working in India . I said, “No. I can’t do that because even though I am in need, God has not called me to sit behind a desk and be an administrator. God has called me to go around preaching the Word.” I am so thankful that I did not accept their offer. It was a temptation - not a temptation to sin, but to choose something God had not called me to. When I look back now, I can see that if I had accepted their offer, I would not have sinned. I would still have been serving the Lord, but not in the ministry that God had planned for me.

I want you to realize that God has a specific task for you. It is wonderful to realize that truth when you are young. Wait on the Lord and say, “Lord, show me Your perfect plan for me.” It won’t become clear in one day. But over a period of years, it will become clearer and clearer. And as it becomes clear to you, stick to it at any cost - and you won’t have any regret when you stand before the Lord one day.

------------------------------

For more information write to: wftw@cfcindia.com

------------------------------------------------------------

Baba Samuel Olubusuyi Arijesudade,

You are a voice that has being rescuing many from the perversion and corruption of this ungodly world.
What pain me most about your death was the timing, both in the body of Christ and my own personal life ( you slept at a time when I have already seen enough death than to add yours to the list). You are a father and a lover of youth. God has used your vision to raise and still raising up many generals in this present dispensation. You are an Icon to be reckoned with when it come to godliness. Your backseat in most of our meetings was a seat of Power, Anointing and Virtue, I remember I once deliberately sat on your seat at a time to prophetically tap into your anointing
I was with you less that 2 hour before your transition. the only mistake I made at that moment was to place your hand on my head, I only move closer to you and bow down my face, I thought I will receive the hand later. I saw your mouth muttering in the similitude of prayer, you grunted in tongues for more than 48 hours before you left us. your last word was "BABA, OYA MO TI SETAN", every-time a hand touches your body, what you say is "ORUKO JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESU".
Prayer and Holiness was the only thing you taught our leaders and us (indirectly) and that was exactly what you died with. You know the truth, taught the truth, fought the truth and died by the truth. Eye-witness of your last moment said you prayed throughout.
Baba, you ran the race, you overcome the hurdles, and you coached others before you retire into eternity. At a ripe and fruitful age, you departed us. I will write more when I get over this reality of your death.

CACSA OAU will keep your legacy.

Men may not put you in the line of the great Apostle but before you transited, by revelation on the 5th of Dec, 2013 around 2:30pm, I saw you in the similitude of APOSTLE AYO BABALOLA.

Good night, Pastor (Dr) Samuel O. Arijesudade (CACSA National President and CAC National Publicity Secretary)

An soro ile bukun ni,
Ile didan ati ile ewa
Gba gbogbo la nso to go re
Yio ti dun to lati de be.

KO TO KAWO MIMO BERU

Tribute to Pastor OLu Arijesudade by Pst C. O Oluwadare

A Glorious exit! Pastor Samuel Oluwabusuyi AriJesudade (President of Christ Apostolic Church Students’ Asscociation) departed from this sinful world at about 4pm on the 10th of December, 2013. He has gone to be with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor AriJesudade fondly called ‘Baba’ or Baba AriJesudade is truly a father to many Generals of Faith and a mentor par excellence. He was a great leader not in terms of world acclamation or wealth accumulation but in terms of warrior affirmation; his name bears credence to this assertion (formerly Arogundade but now AriJesudade). He fought against sin and led the battle against religious perjury and won. Baba epitomized humility, forgiveness, total surrendered life, heaven-mindedness, contention for the faith of our fathers, unalloyed truth and contentment.

He cared not for earthly riches but preferred the incorruptible riches embedded in soul winning. He cared not for earthly title or position for he knew that earthly position will fizzle away in eternity. He lived in an earthly cottage with his eyes on the heavenly mansion that is not made with hands.

O! What a great loss to those of us who were privileged to be mentored by him; what a loss to CAC Mission and to the world at large (though unknown by the world). Truly, we have lost a rare gem. CACSA family, what shall we do in a time like this? Shall we mourn or make merriment? Certainly we cannot mourn because to be with the Lord is better (2 Cor. 5:6-9). We have the consolation of the Spirit that he has gone to be with the Lord (I Thess. 4: 13, 14). If truly we love Baba, we should not mourn for him. He held the fort to the end, his faith was undiluted, and he did not lose the conviction of his calling. We thank God for the life well spent in soul winning and selfless service to humanity.

Shall we therefore be merry? Certainly No! My answer may seem equivocal; the reason being that the leadership crown of thorns worn by Baba AriJesudade, who shall wear it? Who shall be the next leader of our great CACSA family? Who will lift the banner high with the inscription- “Christ leads, we follow”? Who shall restore the lost glory of Christ Apostolic Church? These are the questions that agitate my mind and amidst these mixed feelings I find myself. With man, answers to these puzzles are a bit difficult but with God there shall be solution. Though our leader (Baba AriJesudade) has gone, yet our Captain (Christ) still leads and we must follow. Till we meet Baba at Christ’s feet in heaven, we shall keep learning at Christ’s feet on earth.

In times like these when we lost three great men (Prophet Obadare, Pastor Ogunlade and Pastor AriJesudade) of highest hierarchy in CAC fold within a space of nine months (all in the Year 2013), won’t we seek the face of God to restore the glory of the Church and rain righteousness upon us.

Amidst these mixed feelings I greet CACSA family ‘A ku ara fe ara ku ojo a jinna sira.’ I want to rest my pen, bow my knees in prayer and also say Adieu! Baba AriJesudade.

DISAGREEMENTS IN THE CHURCH ....ZAC POONEN

Disagreements among God's people have existed from the days of the first apostles. One reason for this is that our minds are imperfect and warped by sin. So our understanding of God and His ways is imperfect. Paul says, "We see through a glass dimly" (1 Cor.13:11). So, when we try to understand God's will in different situations, our perceptions can be different. We must all be humble enough to acknowledge this, at all times. But this does not mean that we have to live in ignorance of God's ways forever. As we wholeheartedly seek to obey God and thus grow to maturity, our understanding of the will of God will become more and more perfect.

So immaturity among leaders is one reason for disagreements and divisions. When Paul and Barnabas were young apostles, they separated from each other, after having worked together as a God-appointed team, because they disagreed on whether to accept a younger coworker (Acts 15:36-40). They were immature then and did not know how to resolve their dispute. But God still had mercy on them and continued to use them.

At times, however, divisions occur among God's people, because self-seeking, dominant brothers seek to build their own private kingdoms in the church. The Ephesian church split into many factions after Paul left, because self-seeking elders drew away little groups after them (Acts 20:30). Demas, Paul's coworker, left him, because he sought after something in this world - perhaps money, or the honour of men, or a personal following (2 Tim.4:10). The same thing happens today as well.

Two areas where there can be major differences of opinion among Christian workers are money matters andchurch-leadership matters

The way we acquire money for God's work is a very important matter, because Jesus said that God and Money were the only two masters in the world (Lk.16:13). Money for God's work must be acquired the same way that Jesus and Paul acquired it: They trusted their heavenly Father and told Him alone about their monetary needs.

We too should never make our monetary needs known to human beings, because we have a rich heavenly Father. A billionaire's son would be insulting his father if he were to ask anyone else for money. In the same way, we insult God when we make the monetary needs of our ministry known to men. This was why Jesus and the apostles never revealed their monetary needs to anyone. They only told their Father in heaven - and He provided all their needs in abundance.

In church-leadership matters also, we must follow the pattern taught in the New Testament exactly: Church-leaders must build their churches as a body where each member is encouraged to fulfil his function - and not as a congregation, led by one man. They must constantly train younger men and lead them to maturity so that those younger men can gradually take over the leadership, as soon as possible. Paul urged Timothy to train younger men who could train other younger men (2 Tim.2:2). This is the new-covenant way of ministry. But sadly, just as King Saul was reluctant to vacate his throne in favour of God's anointed, David (1 Sam.18:8), there are many "Saul"s in Christendom today also who are reluctant to give up their thrones to younger men. Such elders are a hindrance to God's work, however gifted and good they may be in other ways.

Jesus and the apostles have given us the right pattern to follow in both the above areas - and that is what everyone of us must follow, if we are to build new covenant churches.

We can certainly fellowship with ALL born-again believers - even with those who disagree with us in the above matters. But when it comes to working together, we can do so only with those who have identical views with us on these important matters. "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3 - KJV).

Many disagreements are minor and we can overlook them and work together with brothers who disagree. But the matters mentioned above are major.

We cannot make even the smallest compromise when it comes to such major principles taught in God's Word. If, as a result of our taking such an uncompromising stand, some brothers leave us, then we must let them leave. We should not hold them back, at the price of compromise. Each one must choose for himself whether he wants to go the way of total obedience to God's Word or the way of compromise in such important matters.

DISAGREEMENT IN THE CHURCH

DISAGREEMENTS IN THE CHURCH

Zac Poonen

Disagreements among God's people have existed from the days of the first apostles. One reason for this is that our minds are imperfect and warped by sin. So our understanding of God and His ways is imperfect. Paul says, "We see through a glass dimly" (1 Cor.13:11). So, when we try to understand God's will in different situations, our perceptions can be different. We must all be humble enough to acknowledge this, at all times. But this does not mean that we have to live in ignorance of God's ways forever. As we wholeheartedly seek to obey God and thus grow to maturity, our understanding of the will of God will become more and more perfect.

So immaturity among leaders is one reason for disagreements and divisions. When Paul and Barnabas were young apostles, they separated from each other, after having worked together as a God-appointed team, because they disagreed on whether to accept a younger coworker (Acts 15:36-40). They were immature then and did not know how to resolve their dispute. But God still had mercy on them and continued to use them.

At times, however, divisions occur among God's people, because self-seeking, dominant brothers seek to build their own private kingdoms in the church. The Ephesian church split into many factions after Paul left, because self-seeking elders drew away little groups after them (Acts 20:30). Demas, Paul's coworker, left him, because he sought after something in this world - perhaps money, or the honour of men, or a personal following (2 Tim.4:10). The same thing happens today as well.

Two areas where there can be major differences of opinion among Christian workers are money matters andchurch-leadership matters

The way we acquire money for God's work is a very important matter, because Jesus said that God and Money were the only two masters in the world (Lk.16:13). Money for God's work must be acquired the same way that Jesus and Paul acquired it: They trusted their heavenly Father and told Him alone about their monetary needs.

We too should never make our monetary needs known to human beings, because we have a rich heavenly Father. A billionaire's son would be insulting his father if he were to ask anyone else for money. In the same way, we insult God when we make the monetary needs of our ministry known to men. This was why Jesus and the apostles never revealed their monetary needs to anyone. They only told their Father in heaven - and He provided all their needs in abundance.

In church-leadership matters also, we must follow the pattern taught in the New Testament exactly: Church-leaders must build their churches as a body where each member is encouraged to fulfil his function - and not as a congregation, led by one man. They must constantly train younger men and lead them to maturity so that those younger men can gradually take over the leadership, as soon as possible. Paul urged Timothy to train younger men who could train other younger men (2 Tim.2:2). This is the new-covenant way of ministry. But sadly, just as King Saul was reluctant to vacate his throne in favour of God's anointed, David (1 Sam.18:8), there are many "Saul"s in Christendom today also who are reluctant to give up their thrones to younger men. Such elders are a hindrance to God's work, however gifted and good they may be in other ways.

Jesus and the apostles have given us the right pattern to follow in both the above areas - and that is what everyone of us must follow, if we are to build new covenant churches.

We can certainly fellowship with ALL born-again believers - even with those who disagree with us in the above matters. But when it comes to working together, we can do so only with those who have identical views with us on these important matters. "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3 - KJV).

Many disagreements are minor and we can overlook them and work together with brothers who disagree. But the matters mentioned above are major.

We cannot make even the smallest compromise when it comes to such major principles taught in God's Word. If, as a result of our taking such an uncompromising stand, some brothers leave us, then we must let them leave. We should not hold them back, at the price of compromise. Each one must choose for himself whether he wants to go the way of total obedience to God's Word or the way of compromise in such important matters.

DISAGREEMENTS IN THE CHURCH... ZAC POONEN

Disagreements among God's people have existed from the days of the first apostles. One reason for this is that our minds are imperfect and warped by sin. So our understanding of God and His ways is imperfect. Paul says, "We see through a glass dimly" (1 Cor.13:11). So, when we try to understand God's will in different situations, our perceptions can be different. We must all be humble enough to acknowledge this, at all times. But this does not mean that we have to live in ignorance of God's ways forever. As we wholeheartedly seek to obey God and thus grow to maturity, our understanding of the will of God will become more and more perfect. So immaturity among leaders is one reason for disagreements and divisions. When Paul and Barnabas were young apostles, they separated from each other, after having worked together as a God-appointed team, because they disagreed on whether to accept a younger coworker (Acts 15:36-40). They were immature then and did not know how to resolve their dispute. But God still had mercy on them and continued to use them. At times, however, divisions occur among God's people, because self-seeking, dominant brothers seek to build their own private kingdoms in the church. The Ephesian church split into many factions after Paul left, because self-seeking elders drew away little groups after them (Acts 20:30). Demas, Paul's coworker, left him, because he sought after something in this world - perhaps money, or the honour of men, or a personal following (2 Tim.4:10). The same thing happens today as well. Two areas where there can be major differences of opinion among Christian workers are money matters and church-leadership matters The way we acquire money for God's work is a very important matter, because Jesus said that God and Money were the only two masters in the world (Lk.16:13). Money for God's work must be acquired the same way that Jesus and Paul acquired it: They trusted their heavenly Father and told Him alone about their monetary needs. We too should never make our monetary needs known to human beings, because we have a rich heavenly Father. A billionaire's son would be insulting his father if he were to ask anyone else for money. In the same way, we insult God when we make the monetary needs of our ministry known to men. This was why Jesus and the apostles never revealed their monetary needs to anyone. They only told their Father in heaven - and He provided all their needs in abundance. In church-leadership matters also, we must follow the pattern taught in the New Testament exactly: Church-leaders must build their churches as a body where each member is encouraged to fulfil his function - and not as a congregation, led by one man. They must constantly train younger men and lead them to maturity so that those younger men can gradually take over the leadership, as soon as possible. Paul urged Timothy to train younger men who could train other younger men (2 Tim.2:2). This is the new-covenant way of ministry. But sadly, just as King Saul was reluctant to vacate his throne in favour of God's anointed, David (1 Sam.18:8), there are many "Saul"s in Christendom today also who are reluctant to give up their thrones to younger men. Such elders are a hindrance to God's work, however gifted and good they may be in other ways. Jesus and the apostles have given us the right pattern to follow in both the above areas - and that is what everyone of us must follow, if we are to build new covenant churches. We can certainly fellowship with ALL born-again believers - even with those who disagree with us in the above matters. But when it comes to working together, we can do so only with those who have identical views with us on these important matters. "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3 - KJV). Many disagreements are minor and we can overlook them and work together with brothers who disagree. But the matters mentioned above are major. We cannot make even the smallest compromise when it comes to such major principles taught in God's Word. If, as a result of our taking such an uncompromising stand, some brothers leave us, then we must let them leave. We should not hold them back, at the price of compromise. Each one must choose for himself whether he wants to go the way of total obedience to God's Word or the way of compromise in such important matters.

A Splendid Example of a Godly Man

WORD FOR THE WEEK 

20 October 2013, Christian Fellowship Church, Bangalore, India

http://www.cfcindia.com

Zac Poonen

It is interesting to see that when God decided to write Scripture, the very first book He wrote was about a godly man. That shows us what God is always looking for. He looked for a godly man in the time of Enoch, in the time of Noah and in the time of Job. God planned from the beginning to give us 66 books of Scripture. And in the very first of those books, He wrote about what was uppermost in His heart – a godly human being.

Now notice the first sentence in the first inspired book of Scripture: “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1). Can you see the heart of God in the first sentence of Scripture? It was about one man - a man identified by his name – Job - and by the place he lived in– Uz (so that he is not confused with some other Job living somewhere else). And God gives His testimony of that man – not about his cleverness, or his wealth, or his reputation with other men, but only about his character. There we see what God truly values – uprightness, fear of God and turning away from all evil. 

God is not looking for people with Bible-knowledge. Job did not have any Bible- knowledge because there was no Bible then. He had no-one around him to encourage him to a godly life either. Even the preachers of his day only discouraged him by what they said. But in spite of all this, he lived an upright life.

The Lord told Satan what was outstanding about Job: “There is no-one like him on the earth - a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (1:8). The fear of God – or reverence for God - is something that is mentioned much in this first book of inspired Scripture. Here we see that God compared Job with other people on the earth. God does that today too.

It is not surprising that Satan made Job his target, for Satan hates upright people. He hated Job in those days - and he hates such people even today. That is why he does everything in his power to prevent us from being godly. Satan troubled Job through his wife and through carnal preachers. But none of this made any difference to Job’s devotion to his God. What a man Job was! What a challenge he is to us! We can be like him too.

Now see how Job reacted to all the trials. He heard that everything had been lost. One after the other, his servants came and told him that everything was gone. And Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and worshipped God (1:20). That’s another thing we see on the very first page of inspired Scripture: A godly man is a worshipper. More than knowing the Bible and more than serving the Lord, a man of God is primarily a worshipper. You must be a worshipper when you have everything and you must be a worshipper when you have lost everything. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth, and the Father seeks for such worshippers” (John 4: 23, 24). To worship God is to give Him everything.

Job said, “I came from my mother’s womb naked, and I shall return there naked. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ Through all this Job did not sin, nor did he blame God” (1: 21, 22). Job was probably referring here to Mother Earth from which he came naked and to which he will return as dust, naked. He willingly accepted whatever the Lord permitted in his life.

When I think of Job’s dedication to the Lord, I am amazed. He did not have the example of Jesus and the apostles that we have. He had no examples whatsoever to follow. He did not have the power of the Holy Spirit that we have. He did not have the Bible that we have. He did not have the encouragement or support of fellow-believers or even of his own wife. Job only had God – and God was enough. If Job could come to such a glorious life, why can’t we?

------------------------------