HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The women’ fellowship was very good. We shared testimonies. We praised God with singing and dancing. Sister D said that two times a rat ate the photocopy of an important document. Then when she came to church last month ago, she said that we prayed against physical and spiritual ‘rats’ that do damage to our property. She had faith and prayed hard. Since then, no ‘rat’ destroyed anything in her possession. All the sisters gave thanks to God calling Him the Faithful One. Then the Word came. It was about the spiritual gift of helps. We said that this gift is not just a natural tendency to ‘do good’. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who will change your heart. You shall receive the desire to help others who have less than you. You shall pray for wisdom and anointing to help others and God will give these ennoblements to you. We prayed that for each sister who desires to be supernaturally generous to help others, God will open a door of financial breakthrough.

ONESIPHORUS – PAUL’S HELPER

“The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus” (2Tim 1:16-18)

One of the best examples of a child of God engaged in the ministry of helps is Onesiphorus (2Tim 1:16-18). Paul was in prison. This brother Onesiphorus did three wonderful things to bless Paul.

*He was not ashamed of Paul’s chains (how many of us can make time to visit prisoners?)

*He sought Paul ‘very zealously’ until he found him. Onesiphorus was not a man who will easily give us. He wanted to be a blessing to Paul, to help him in prison, and he found him at last.

*Onesiphorus often did ‘refresh’ Paul. The word means to cool somebody off. To refresh it means to help somebody to feel better, to visit him, to encourage him, to help him carry a burden, to listen to somebody who needs to speak, to give water of food. We do not know what Onesiphorus brought to Paul. Maybe it was some apples or some juice. Jesus said that even giving water to one of His people will be rewarded by God. “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mt 10:42). Paul prays for him to receive mercy from God at the judgment day. Good gifts are never lost. If you sow kindness you shall reap kindness hundredfold. Every good thing you do for others, in the name of the Lord, shall be rewarded by Him. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (PV 11:25)

This is our testimony: There are people in the church who often refresh us with an encouraging word, prayer or gifts. There are people who send us bottled water, fruit juices, puff puff, bread, eggs, fruits, vegetables, oil, books, phone recharge cards, cooked meals, fish, meat, chicken, Christmas hampers and many other gifts. I may not remember all of them but God knows each one of you. I pray that you may find mercy on that day! I pray that God will send Holy Ghost refreshing on you! I pray that God will bless you and your families, spiritually and materially! In Jesus name, amen!