Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
  Europe Mainland

The month of self examination and transformation.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. 2 Cor. 13.5a

As the year reaches its mid-point, it is a time to take stock of God’s faithfulness and our own.

Depending on how we conduct our own audit, this month could be indeed the great turning point for us. It could be the month in which we are jolted into the reality of what the Lord expects from us if all of His great promises for this year are to come to pass. We would then run the race in the manner He expects of us…write the book, visit the prisons, hospitals, minister to young people, make the investment in time and energy in an area the Lord had clearly laid on our hearts etc.

Alternatively, it could pass away as a month just like any other…if we continue to do things the way we have done them to date—not paying attention to what the Lord says. My prayer is that you and those who are under your ministry would heed the word of the Lord to pay diligent attention to His word and obey Him.

Many organizations would conduct a mid-year audit. In some of our countries, each parish pastor is expected to conduct a mid-year review. It is a time for self assessment, ahead of the end of year review that is conducted by the national mission. The apostle Paul admonished the church in Corinth to assess themselves before he comes. Self assessments are the most candid of all assessments but they are also the most difficult to undertake. First, we may be reluctant to even commence. Second we may be generous to ourselves, refusing to see our areas of failures but emphasizing our successes. How has your work been with the Lord on His word, His commissions to you on e.g. reaching out to neighbors or on church planting? How about your personal prayer life? How often do you create time for the Open Heavens devotional or any other devotional time? The Lord was the busiest person on earth while He lived but He never missed time with His Father. The apostles who could not pray for one hour while He travailed in the garden discovered that the secret o ministry was dedicated time in prayer and the word (Mt.26.40; Acts 6.4).

But what is more important is hearkening and doing the word, and most importantly confessing it in the face of challenges and negative circumstances -Josh.1.8. 

The Lord has promised great celebrations for His children this year. The question is what has been your own preparation for such celebration. You have a role to play. You must sow if you have to reap. Your time, talent, treasures are seeds that the Lord makes available to you to sow. You may say you do not have time but what you need might be to review your priorities. The Lord urged you to seek first the kingdom of God and all other things that others search for would be added to you.

In this new month, please recommit yourself as a parent, student, teacher, child to doing the things that please God as recorded in His word and also seek more of the Holy Spirit. He is the game changer. He is ready to change your story for the better in this season. Ps. 126.1-2, Acts.3.1-11, Daniel 5.11-13, Genesis 41.38-42. He is the same yesterday today and forever. If He can turn around the circumstances of a prisoner, lame man and every other hopeless case,  He can surely turn you around in this season. Note that each of these persons made the best use of all the opportunities and destiny helpers sent to their lives. Joseph ministered to others in prison and the lame man came to the daily prayer meeting at the temple, brought their by friends or some arrangements he made with contractors.

Please ensure that you spend quality time to thank the Lord for the first half of this year , including the glorious things He did during our last Convention and since then and also thank Him for what He has promised to do in this second half, checking that you are doing all that is expected of you. God bless you.

This month is our Youth Camp in Budapest, Hungary. Please help mobilize your youths to go and please support them. It is also a summer season when we go out of our churches to play games and meet people in our neighborhood. Never let this opportunity pass you by to reach out to others.

May the Lord bless you.  

July 2, 2011