"Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody" - Romans 12:11-16 (MSG)
At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, the torch race was introduced to bring the Olympic flame from Olympia to the site of the games. Unlike other races, where the person who crossed the finished line first is declared the winner and given the gold medal. The torch race is quite different as the only prerequisite for winning the race is getting to the finished line with the lit torch and blazing flame. As believers, we are called to run the torch race at the Olympic of Life. We are expected to run with lit torch/lamp from the starting point to the finish line in heaven. Our dazzling beginning counts for nothing unless it is followed right through to the end. Hence, no one can be declared a winner until he/she reaches the finish line with lit torch and blazing fire. Therefore, the question every genuine believer should always ask is, ‘how can we keep the heavenly flame ablaze so that our life will be constantly transformed and we will be able to impact the lives of others in a way that is pleasing to God, for as long as we live and journey to the finish line?’
In Romans 12:11-16, God mentioned some key spiritual fuel and oil of godly virtues that we must pour into our torch/lamp regularly in order to keep our fire burning till the end of age. These spiritual fuel and oil of godly virtues includes fervent prayer, hope, patience, generosity, hospitality, forgiveness and humility. But unfortunately, many believers who used to manifest these godly virtues have now grown weary of doing good while the spiritual fuel of many praying believers have been exhausted. We are now playing politics with God instead of praying to God. The result of this is quite evident in our world today and we urgently need revival to reverse the ugly trend.
Beloved, has the fire on the altar of your prayerlife gone out? Are you now living in the euphoria of your past exploit? Has your dazzling beginning and past glory formed thick ashes over your flame?. Has the fire of your hospitality, patience and generosity gone out? Are you hoarding God's treasures in your custody? Is your torch/lamp of humility still lit or the fire has gone out? Has pride and arrogance turned you to the "Great Somebody" who looks down on all the "Nobodies" around? Do you find it extremely difficult to forgive those who offend you? If your answer to these questions is "Yes", then, I suggest you to plead with God for mercy. Please ask God to fill your lamp with fresh spiritual fuel and oil of godly virtues so that your torch/lamp can keep burning brighter and brighter till the end of age.
The wording of a popular old time Christian hymn titled "Give Me Oil in My Lamp" should be our prayer focus this week. May I urge you to please join me this morning to prayerfully sing this wonderful hymn below as we trust God for grace to finish the christian race with our torch/lamp still lit and fire burning till we see Christ in glory.
GIVE ME OIL IN MY LAMP
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.
Keep me burning till the break of day.
Refrain:
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King!
Give me love in my heart, keep me sharing.
Give me love in my heart, I pray.
Give me love in my heart, keep me sharing.
Keep me sharing till the break of day.
Give me joy in my heart keep me praising
Give me joy in my heart I pray
Give me joy in my heart keep me praising
Keep me praising till the break of day.
Give me faith in my heart, keep me praying.
Give me faith in my heart, I pray.
Give me faith in my heart, keep me praying.
Keep me praying till the break of day.
Make me a fisher of men keep me seeking,
Make me a fisher of men I pray
Make me a fisher of men keep me seeking,
Seeking souls 'till Jesus comes again.
Give me love in my heart keep me serving
Give me love in my heart I pray
Give me love in my heart keep me serving
Keep me serving till the break of day.
On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God,- Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, I will like to invite you to the July 2018 Holy Ghost service and Disciples Convention. Date: Friday, July 6th, 2018. Theme: Stronger Than Your Enemies -7 with the sub theme: Permanent All Round Victory . Time: 7pm (Nigerian Time). Venue: Redemption Camp, Km 46 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, Nigeria. Ministering: Our beloved Daddy G.O - Pastor E.A Adeboye and other anointed Ministers of God.
Good morning and God bless you.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
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