Topic: The Source Matters

MEMORISE: The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

READ: Proverbs 13:11

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 15-17; Matthew 5:27-48

MESSAGE:

A blessing is not as important as it’s source. For example, if someone is driving a stolen car, everyone will hail him as the car owner. But after a while, when the police catches up with him, the car will be retrieved and he will end up in jail. The ‘blessing’ was good, but the source was bad. In this time and age where every teenager wants to own a car, flash money around and live big, you need to be careful what you wish for.

If you want all these things, that is fine, but from which source? Is it from having rich boyfriends? Is it from cybercrime (‘yahoo yahoo’ as they call it in Nigeria)? Is it from stealing, drugs or any other kinds of crimes? Any of these sources will only make the seemingly good things destroy your life. But if you decide that you will win a competition like World Chess Championship, create a great mobile app, et cetera, then that will be good.

If you see anyone who is enjoying certain pleasures from a sinful source, don’t envy them because they will soon suffer the consequences (Psalm 37). Be patient, yours is coming from God – the right source at the right time (Psalm 37:4-5).

Key Point: Anything you did not get from God will come along with sorrows.

Hymn 1: Stand up! Stand up for Jesus,

  1. Stand up! Stand up for Jesus,
    Ye soldiers of the Cross!
    Lift high His royal banner,
    It must not suffer loss.
    From victory unto victory
    His army shall He lead,
    Till every foe is vanquished,
    And Christ is Lord indeed.
  2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
    The solemn watchword hear;
    If while ye sleep he suffers,
    Away with shame and fear.
    Where’re yeah meet with evil,
    Within you or without,
    Charge for the God of battles,
    And put the foe to rout.
  3. Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
    Stand in His strength alone;
    The arm of flesh will fail you,
    Ye dare not trust your own.
    Put on the gospel armour,
    And watching unto prayer;
    Where duty calls, or danger,
    Be never wanting there.
  4. Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
    The strife will not be long;
    This day the noise of battle,
    The next the victor’s song.
    To him that overcometh
    A crown of life shall be;
    He with the King of glory
    Shall reign eternally.