NEVER GIVE UP. GOD IS FAITHFUL! °°Remember that: A large OAK TREE is just an acorn (seed) that refused to give up.° When God wants to make a mushroom, he takes six hours, but when God wants to make an oak tree, he takes 60 years. So, do you want to be a mushroom or an oak tree? Whenever you feel like quitting, just giving up, WATCH SOME ANTS! Ants never quit. If they’re headed somewhere and you try to stop them; they’ll look for another way.

Devotion refers to the quiet time one spends praying, reading God's word and reflecting ones relationship with him. Acts 2:42 - All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to fellowship and to sharing of meals (including the Lord's supper and to prayer (NLT). v41 shows that those who were added to the church were those who believed and were baptized. Acts 3:1-11 shows that the crippled beggar was healed at the time of prayer.

To launch means to move something far down, to move away from something or to move into something. In the ocean, many people want to remain on the shore sunbathing; but true riches (Blue Economy) are in the deep waters. A fisherman who stays on the sea shore has nothing to show. Launching into the deep means to have the right machines/equipment and a commitment. Luke 5:1-11 v2 Jesus saw two empty boats and wanted to use them to teach the people.

**Non Thoughtful Act by David and the Priests** 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 - The Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem The action of carrying God's ark of covenant on an ox like the philistines was done with ASSUMPTION, by not seeking God's will, and this brought punishment. 2 Samuel 6 Shows what went wrong v3 - It was carried on a cart and guided by non levites or priests. v5 - Celebration were on going and everything was looking okay.

Faith is made complete by actions 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. ................10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the

Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, 7 for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you,  but his heart is not with you. 8 You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten,  and waste your pleasant words. (Proverbs 23:6-8 ESV) v7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so he is - KJV This scripture is talking of a fake friend who invites you for a meal, but inwardly is calculating

The role of a believer as a priest is to offer spiritual sacrifices to the Lord. According to 1 Peter 2:9, through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we were all given the position of royal priesthood. Under the New Testament covenant terms, every believer is a priest. We do not offer animal sacrifices, but spiritual sacrifices. NB: With every priest, there is an altar and a sacrifice. In the New Testament priesthood, we should build an altar of

A. Mark 12:28-34  - A question by a teacher of the law v28  - Of all the commandments, which is the most important? v34 - Jesus said to him, "You are not far away from the kingdom of God" Reflection: Though this inquirer was a teacher of the the law, and probably a good man, something was lacking: To follow Jesus who came to fulfill the law. Reflection: Be inside not just near. B. Matthew 22:34-40 - A Question by the teacher of the Law 34 Hearing

The Church of Laodicea was saying they were rich, but God was saying they were poor. Revelation 3:17-18 - You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can

Haggai 1:2,5,7 Repeatedly states: "Give careful thoughts to your ways" ***(1:1-14, 2:1-9)** Haggai was a post exilic prophet after the Babylonian exile. The first group of the exiles following the decree by kin Cyrus the great laid and completed the foundation of the temple within 2 years. Construction of the temple stopped for 16 years following opposition. Under Darius, prophet Haggai urged the people to resume the work of building the temple under