WHAT CAUSES US TO MISS GOD?

Pr. Geoffrey Kibombo

In these later days, there are a couple of habits we have adopted that cause us to miss God. Let me hit on these three below

Familiarity:

Malachi 1:6 (AMP)

“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the [reverent] fear and respect due Me?’ says the Lord of hosts to you”

Some people get so used to godly principles and church services to the extent that they no longer carry significant meaning to them. They no longer have the fear of God when doing certain things because they are so familiar with them. There is no fear of God in them when it comes to offering, fasting, bible study, fellowship, praise and worship - they are so used to scriptures and no longer have faith in the word; they fast for health reasons and not for spiritual enrichment and cleansing; they are so familiar with praise and worship to the extent they no longer focus on the throne of God when singing but just do so as a routine and end up missing on the power operating behind it. The love for God is no longer burning in them; the first love is no more – they are so lukewarm spiritually (Revelation 3:15-16).

The respect for God's servants and faith in the word and anointing is no more. They at times despise, analyse and criticize what has been taught or preached. The fear of God in them is no more. As Malachi 1:6 (NLT) says; “If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve?”  

Evaluate yourself. Do you still have the fear of the Lord in you? Do you still have faith in the word of God? Do you still respect His servants?

Motive:

James 4:3 (AMP)

“You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires”

God considers the motive behind our actions whether bad or good. He weighs and judges the actions of men.  Jeremiah 17:10 (NLT) says; "But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” 

Many people have missed God because of the motive behind their intentions and prayers - we ask and don’t receive because we do so with self-centered intentions. Some give so as to be praised but not out of obedience; others come to church expecting to get marriages, jobs and turn away from church after receiving without using them to the benefit of the kingdom of God. But even after blessing you, God wants you to dwell in His house all days of your life (Psalm 27:4). When God gives you something, He expects you to use it to further His kingdom and to draw people to him – that’s His motive (Luke8:38-39; John 12:17, Psalm 40:9-10; 66:16). If you want to see God, if you don’t want to struggle, amend your motive to match God’s.

Selfishness:

Philippians 2:4-5 (AMP)

“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility]”

The spirit of me, myself and I is very predominant in this era of sociological individuality. People have lost the zeal in the things concerning the kingdom of God. They are only concerned about themselves, their families and future. Their prayers and money are all about them, everything revolves around them. As long as they are okay, they are not bothered about the rest; for they do not care about the welfare of the pastors, fellow believers or the needs of God’s house. Matthew 24:12 (NKJV) says; “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold”

We are no longer concerned about the issues of the church or our brothers and sisters; we only talk about people's weakness instead of praying for them. We no longer have the burden to pray for those with problems but only for ourselves, and because of our selfishness, we miss God.

Evaluate yourself, work on and eradicate those vices in your life and you will surely see God at work and His goodness in your life 

 

2021 - A YEAR OF OPEN DOORS

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

1 Corinthians 16:9 (AMPC)

“For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one]”

This New Year - 2021 is the year that God is going to open new doors for many people. And therefore I pray for the grace of prayer to increase on this ministry for you to be able to contain what is about to happen. And because of the doors that are going to be opened for the ministry and believers, the enemies are going to increase - for every new level, there is a new devil; but when they increase we need to humble ourselves, get on our knees and pray. As 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) says; “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” 

1. Open Doors

This new year God is going to open doors but you have to be very careful because even the devil is also going to open doors. May God give you the spirit of wisdom and discernment so that you can differentiate between the two!

2. A Bountiful Harvest

In 2021, the harvest is going to be bountiful. People are going to get a great harvest, but during the harvest, there are foxes that attack the harvest, and it all goes back to the need for prayer so as to protect our harvest (Song of Songs 2:15). Many people will come into this ministry and because of the spiritual harvest, there are foxes that will want to grab these souls, but the Holy Spirit is going to give us a way to keep the flock. People are going to be promoted and others are going to become rich. In this year, we shall also see many buildings rise up.  So we have got to be careful that we can protect and keep our harvest. I want to thank God for the many things He is going to do but I ask you to sit under the anointing.

As part of the harvest, we will see many honourable people from government and different organisations join MCFM. The church should have a way to pastor these people. God is going to heal greatly among the elders and also deal with problems. Miracles are going to be done in the homes of these people.

3. Marriage and Weddings

For the many people that were waiting for the miracle of marriage, there will be many weddings in this year 2021. However, among the many weddings there are some people who will fall out of the grace and get out of salvation. There are many things that will cause them to stumble and thus we need to pray for it early. Otherwise we will see people getting married but not return to church. This will be the devil at work so we need to launch a spiritual attack. I want to thank God that our single daughters and single mothers, are going to get holy matrimony, but there are many stumbling blocks ahead. So pray early enough so that we can break them.

4. Excellence of the Ministry

This very year, there are going to be various invitations on the different pulpits around the world. This is the year for the ministry to excel, and so many people are going to know it especially those in southern Africa.

5. Extraordinary Wisdom and Speed

Many ministers are going to be lifted in ordinary things and spiritual things, and this church is going to skip about three levels ahead. There is wisdom that is not ordinary and a speed that is going to be unleashed. Just like we have been seeing in the pastor’s life, it is going to happen to the flock when people begin to get great things.

6. An Anointing of Wealth

The anointing of wealth is going to be great in this ministry and that is one of the things that will bring many to salvation. Many people including pastors are going to come in great numbers to tap into this anointing.

7. Authority to Resist the devil’s Plans

January is going to be filled with a lot of prayer. I feel a lot of authority that was given to me to be able to resist what the devil had planned for this nation. I feel it in my control that we can resist the gates of hell and destroy what the devil had planned.

8. Mountains will be Flattened

We are going to see great mountains moving out of our way - great problems, sickness, debts etc. The Lord is going to show His mighty power through the name of his dear Son by removing those great mountains. Struggle will go forever in Jesus name. This year many things are going to happen in a way that is amazing.

9. Many will Return to God

This year many people are going to turn back to God. But it is going to be because of the works that the Lord is going to do. And I pray to God to lift the teaching ministry so that the multitudes of people that are going to come into this ministry are discipled well. Whoever will step on the pulpit, will be overtaken by the anointing and will speak what the Lord desires them to speak.

10. Yokes will be Broken

Every situation that had stayed for long was a yoke. This year the anointing will break the yoke and you will find yourself running when you are no longer bound. You will find yourself being invited for opportunities even where you have never put in an application. There is going to be an amazement - people will be amazed with the miracles of the latter days. The Lord is going to educate our children, give wisdom to people, and greatly lift his ministers.

11. False Prophets will Fall

So many false prophets are going to fall - for they’re going to be ashamed and destroyed. We are living in the season when we are going to see all of this come to pass. We are in the very season when God is going to perfect His word.

12. March 2021 - a Month of Thanksgiving

One thing you must know is that in March 2021, regardless of what is going on, we need to prepare a day of thanksgiving for that which we do not yet know. The bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) that; “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Prepare to thank God in the month of March for the good things that you are yet to see and for that which you will have already seen. This is a special year. Believe the report of the Lord because He is going to perfect that which concerns you.

13. Rewards for Service

Every person who has ever served this anointing in the past 20 years and is still standing is going to be rewarded this year. This includes even those who started serving just yesterday. The Lord is going to bring out the files and reward those who have served diligently.

14. Diaspora Congregants Will Be Established

For those in the diaspora, God is going to establish most of you. For instance, a time will come when the Pastor wants to travel with ministers abroad and you will be in position to buy tickets for a team of up to four people. This is the kind of blessing that is going to be upon people. That grace will come and I am just establishing what God is going to do.

The book of tears has been closed, the agenda of the devil of 2020 for bloodshed, tears and grumbling has been cancelled. A door of prosperity, great fruit, harvest and increase has been opened. Darkness is over and light has started.  As God was with you in the lockdown, He will be with you this year.

Wishing you a blessed year of open doors

Happy 2021.