TUESDAY - 31ST JANUARY, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
WHEN YOU'RE INQUIRED TO YIELD THE DAINTIES OF YOUR MINISTRY - Helpmeet Series 004
Read Acts 15:1-33
Acts 15:19-20, KJV
"19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood."
A time would come that you'll be required to yield the dainties of what you say you're given to. What you're given to is what you're a rabbi in. You can't be repeatedly given to a thing and not mature in it until you're graduated into a master. We read of Asher who yields his royal dainties.
Genesis 49:20, KJV
"Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties."
You must be known for something and that's what you produce!
There are things that are the products of our diligence, persistence, mastery or having given ourselves to things like prayer and the ministry of the Word. Many ministries anyway there be! A time would come I say when what we say we do and have given ourselves to would be sought and needed to be benefited from. That day must prove your day if indeed you've given yourself to it.
In today's reading, Paul and Barnabas were sent by the church at Antioch to find out what's acceptable for the church in Antioch to believe amidst the flying around teaching in town that "if you're not circumcised after the manner of Moses, you can't be saved (v.1). This school even when disputed with by Paul and Barnabas (v.2) rather leaves the brethren in confusion of which to really believe, uphold and practice. For these reasons were Paul and Barnabas sent back to Jerusalem to find out from the source - men Jesus directly discipled and gave the ministry of prayer and the Word (to feed His lamb) to which to believe of the two being said.
The response of the apostles or what is called the Jerusalem Council immediately proves that indeed, when the apostles said they'll give themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer in Acts 6, they indeed did same. It isn't that they went to sleep. The reward of having laboured at a particular time is to be able to enter rest another time. That proves for the apostles. When the matter was tendered, though some amidst them who are of the Pharisees contended it yet Peter wasted no time on the need "not to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither their fathers nor them were able to bear? (Acts 15:7-11)." These Pharisees only wanted the Jews to be as they are but there's a cultural difference. Circumcision came prior to the law and that was at Abraham's time. It's a step to being God's people. But, should that still count now even for the salvation of the Gentiles? Peter and James gave the right answers which consequently is having effect on those of us who are Gentiles today. Immediately, it shows some people have been gazing into the perfect law of God than others or are more yielding to the Spirit.
Later on, James speaks more authoritatively on the matter. Like a judge called to give the final verdict, he says, "and this is my sentence..." Imagine that! Who gives a sentence that he's not sure of? Who gives a sentence or declare a conclusion/resolution over what he has not first thought about and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to him on? So, when James says, "and this is my sentence" and vomited same, we're immediately hinted what good it does one to have being committed to his ministry. It'll allow you to answer a long or tough question in brief moment to the awe of all. You'll make tactical decisions under God easily. It'll make you have a ready answer at hand for anyone and everyone who request of you the hope in you.
Indeed, when the brethren agreed to what Peter and James said and author a letter to that effect, when read, the entire church rejoiced and found consolation in it. Did you see how quick the confused and some who might have heeded that doctrine were quickly recovered? That's because some didn't leave the ministry of the Word to serve tables. If they have left or have ran both together, their profit wouldn't have been this revealed for all to see.
You see, someone will one day benefit from the fact that you have ample time to pray until you have assurance of prayer that your own prayer always command answers even if they are muttered. So, when we should give (without holding back ourselves) to what would make our usefulness experienced, let us. What you have time for is what you can sharpen and take to its topmost height of usefulness and calling.
PRAYER: Lord, I clear myself of distraction to be taught of the Holy Ghost as I study the Bible.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 8:1-9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5
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