EASTER RETREAT 2019

CALVARY IS BIBLE CHURCH

13 UKWANSI STREET ABAKALIKI

EASTER RETREAT 2019

DATE: 19^TH – 21^ST APRIL, 2019

THEME:          DEALING WITH YOUR ESAU

TOPIC:            ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK

Text:                GEN. 32:1-30; Matt. 7:7-11

INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE:

Dealing with your Esau

For any man to enter into God’s purpose for His life, he needs to deal with the Esau of his lives. Jacob had been a clever man, used cleverness to collect Esau’s’ birthright Gen. 25:29-34. He ran for 21 years unto Laban his uncle but that could not remove Esau on his way. Esau had vowed that whenever he shall see Jacob He shall kill him; Gen. 27:41, Jacob had to run away from the wrought of Esau.

Ever before a man will enter into the land of promise in his life, or enter into his rest or before you will become what God wants you to become, there is an Esau. If there is any sin Jacob lived to remember or any offence he was trying to cover up in his life or whom he cheated to become something; it was Esau. As far as Esau was not dealt with, Jacob will only be a walker about abroad. As far as he has not confronted it, he can only dwell outside the land of God’s promise for his life. He could only pretend it does not exist or even run away from it though may have a lot of possessions and riches, yet he cannot come into fulfillment of God’s purpose in his life if his Esau has not been dealt with. The Lord needed to tell Jacob to go home; how long will he dwell in a strange land which cannot make him to begin to advance God’s purpose for his life to be where God has planned for him which though had all material possessions yet he was not where God has planned for his life. 

A man that needs to enter into God’s purpose for his live may encounter an Esau waiting at the gate of his destiny. No matter how successful you can be in a strange land, a wonderful preacher or how God have spoken about you or planning to use you or anoint you; when you are ready to be serious with your destiny, eternity; you will be ready to confront your Esau.

Any man that is not ready to confront his Esau in his life no matter the droves available to him, you will remain in exile as far as God’s purpose for your life is concern until you deal with your Esau.

What are those Esau’s that makes a man become outside the purpose of God for his live;

·        Sins you do not confess

·        Character/sin we are struggling with

·        Discouragement

·        Unbelief

·        Restitutions to be made

·        Fear

·        Inferiority complex

·        Self will

·        Etc.

Jacob lived for 21 years without knowing there was an Esau waiting for him. Before you can begin to find identity for your life and have fulfillment, dealing with our Esau is essential if you want God to settle you. Our various Esau’s differs. The Esau you don’t uproot becomes storms that can grow back and destroy whatever plastering you make on that ground.

There are Esau’s that will not pursue you to the bush or around but wait for you at the gate of your destiny no matter what you have achieved like Jacob. God has secured certain privileges for us, at the gate (a step inside), Esau is saying ‘please you have not dealt with my case’

The Esau you do not uproot, as you grows it also grows. When Jacob offended Esau, he was only one but after 21 years, he was coming to him with 400 strong men. Esau was 40 years old as well as Jacob when Jacob deceived him, after 21 years they both where 61 years. The Esau you leave noe can become more complicated and stronger tomorrow. It does not matter how you have grown in your ministry.

Also, when the children of Israelites was about going to the promise land and needed to pass through Mount Seir (Edom) – Esau descendant, they refused that made the Israelite to divert through the wilderness for forty years before entering into the promise land. They murmured along the way and God was wrath with them. There problem can be traceable to be dealing with Esau.

When Jacob discovered that money and gifts could not do anything; for Esau said I have enough, he divided his men in batches (droves), yet Esau was still coming; his wisdom of deception to allow others to die and he will have the opportunity to escape if anything happen was still playing. He used wisdom of cleverness to also take numerous possessions from his uncle Laban. He also knew that Leah the elder daughter was to be married first and asked for the second, Rachel.

Finally, he needed to pray Gen. 32:11 when he has tried all he could to remove Esau humanly possible but could not, he said the Lord to deliver him from Esau. It was that prayer that brought the angel of God to come and wrestle with him. For God to conquer any of our Esau, He must need to first conquer us. Jacob needed to answer the right answer when he was asked his real name. It was not Jacob but taking account of his life and deceptive nature and previous encountered. God gave him a name: Israel meaning As a prince, you have power with God, then you will prevail with men. A man that have not power with God will not have power to live among men. To have power with God is to be conquered by God to the extent that between you and God nothing will separate you again. A man with an uninterruptable relationship with God.

After this encounter in Gen. 33:1-….., Esau problem was settled, all fighting has been done.

In like manner, in this our Easter program, for you to benefit maximally and gain the resurrection power of Jesus, what is that Esau in your life that has been a night mare to you. You need to deal with them; is it sin, unforgiveness, or one problem or the other. You need to pray rightly and ask God in prayer to remove them for you to enter into God’s purpose for your live.

In the same vein, to proper take this study further, we need to consider the medium to gain into the presence of God and taking our inheritance by Asking, seeking and knocking.

TOPIC: ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK

INTRODUCTION:

Christ death has a significant in the life of every child of God. 1 Cor. 1:18; Rom. 1:16 For we are saved through His death to be raised unto newness of life. The resurrection power as stated by Paul makes a man to work in victory over sins and dominion in life Rom. 6:3, 4, 6-7, 9, 11; Gal. 2:20. The Lord has decided through this program according to His word in obedient of the kingdom principal as stated by Christ on Asking, Seeking And Knocking; we shall have access to the divine riches of the Lord as has been brought to us through Christ 2 Pet. 1:3. As we shall be asking from the Lord what will He want us to do (Acts 9:6) as you will be encountering you in this meeting as in the case of Apostle Paul, believe the lord in showing you what He really wants from you. Different aspect of asking of the Lord are noticeable as in the quest of answering the call of God upon your lives which not necessary be material needs.

The Lord shall not only meet your material needs but will satisfy our unquenchable desire to know Him more. It takes a man that will pour down his life on the altar of sacrifice for the Lord, that He the Lord will be willing to ask him: saying; ask anything from me, and I will do it. That will be someone visitation in this program.

In the same vein, him that will seek the Lord shall surely find Him in the program and receive the power over any sin and inherent character that may be revenging such soul Phil. 3:10. To him that knocks; the door of the Lord shall be open unto him as the Lord is ever ready to open us up unto Himself and open the door of heaven to whosoever wills.

Also, this is part of instruction for holy and godly living in the kingdom of God as taught by the Lord on the mount. It cannot be over emphasized that every child of the kingdom must pay close attention to these instructions and cultivate this attitude and lifestyle of the kingdom. If we must please God and possess our kingdom possessions, now is the time to cry to God in prayer and work on our lives and character until we become conformed to Christ’s lifestyle.

May the Lord grant you an understanding heart as you study on?

To further understand this topic, we shall be considering the following sub-theme;

1.         WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK

            Matt. 21:22; Phil. 4:6; Psa. 27:4; Matt. 13:44-46; Lk. 15:8; Rev. 3:20

In order to get our needs met as children of the kingdom, the instruction is ask, seek and knock. Nothing happens except in answer to your asking, seeking and knocking in prayer. To neglect this instruction is to suffer unnecessary lack and eventually fail to accomplish God’s call on our lives.

Even though God knows our needs, He has given us the privilege to ask, seek and knock for them to be granted us. We have a part to play and God has a part to play too in this.

            When we play our part by asking, God plays His part by granting our request so that we can             receive it. When we ‘seek’, God plays His part by showing us what we are looking for so that   we can find it. And when we ‘knock’, God plays His part by opening the door so that we can           enter in.

Asking involves making a definite request while seeking involves a strong desire for something, leading us to a definite search for it. It is clear that we only search for things that are precious, things that we can regard as treasures. When something is not a treasure, you do not bother to get it. Even if you have it and it eventually gets lost, you will not have an inner urge to search for it.

Therefore, before we can truly ‘seek’ for something, it must become a treasure to us. We may even be willing to sell all that we have to get it. Seeking is also involved when we lose a treasure in order to find it. Furthermore, we only knock when we have a desire to have something which has been kept behind locked doors.

Precious things are normally kept behind locked doors. They are not found outside or on the surface. Knocking alerts the one inside to open the door so that we may enter in and get what we need.

2.         DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS INSTRUCTION ON OUR LIVES AND OUR OPERATIONS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Jn. 15:4-5; Isa. 45:15; Col. 2:3; Prov. 25:2; Psa. 24:7; Psa. 62:8; 78:23-24; Rev. 3:7-8; Lk. 11:5-8

We are made to depend on God, not to be independent. You are a co-laborer with God over your life and your operations in the kingdom. It is therefore necessary to understand this and abide by His instructions.

The Lord delights in hiding Himself and His treasures are hidden in Him. That is one of the things He does in order for Him to be glorified as God. If you do not know how to seek for the Lord and search for Him with all your heart, you may not find Him or know Him. His knowledge comes to us only by seeking.

The treasures of the Lord are kept under lock and key and He is the only one that holds the key. There is no duplicate kept elsewhere. There is need for us to knock in order for the door to be opened, and to seek for what we need in order to find it. All this is done in the place of prayer. Our needs whether spiritual or physical, personal needs or needs that confront us in fulfilling our call, will only be met as we learn to ask, seek and knock.

3.         DISCUSS THE VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF:

A.        What to Ask for, Why?

Jn. 15:7; Matt. 7:9-11; Psa. 2:8; Lk. 11:13; Jas. 1:5; 4:2; Jn. 3:27; Jer. 6:16

Whatsoever we need for life and for kingdom service falls under this instruction. The food we need for our physical sustenance, the souls in the nations to win for Jesus, the Holy Spirit, wisdom, the way and the path to walk in etc are all what to ask for. Without asking, there shall be no receiving.

A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from heaven. Wishful thinking, strong desire to have and fighting to have, are not the same as ‘asking’. Until you ask, you have not asked. Ask, and it shall be given you.

What have you identified as your needs? Whether spiritual or physical, ask. Stop wishing; stop envying. The Lord is thinking about you and is zealously driving away dogs from the bread He has been keeping from you Mrk. 7:27; He is only waiting for you to ask. He that made your body, will He not provide the food needed to sustain it? He that gave you a call, will He not provide what you need to fulfill it? Be not unbelieving, says the Lord. Ask.

B.        Treasures to seek after. Why?

Isa. 55:6; Prov. 8:17; Psa. 34:14; Prov. 2:1-7; Jer. 5:1; Jn. 5:39; Matt. 6:33; Col. 3:1; Heb. 4:16; 1 Cor. 2:7-9

The Lord is the first and only object of our search. All other things are secondary and are only necessary because they will help us in finding the Lord. Peace is not found on the surface. It is not easy to get. It must be deliberately sought after, whether peace with God or with men.

Revelation from God’s word, the wisdom of God, the kingdom of God, things that are above (heavenly things), the grace of God etc are all normally hidden. God deliberately hides them away probably so that careless people and ‘dogs’ will not easily come by them. It is an honor for us to seek the Lord and His treasures diligently with all our hearts. He that seeks finds.

C.        Doors to Knock, Why?

Jn. 10:1-2, 9; Rev. 3:7; Hos. 2:15; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3; Psa. 78:23-28; 24:7; 118:19-20; 119:18; 2 Cor. 3:15-16

The Lord owns the sheep. Christians are the sheep of His pasture and He keeps us secured in His pavilion under lock and key. If you desire to serve the Lord among His people, you must knock in prayer before the door of ministry will be opened to you.

Even all nations are under His authority. He is the one who has the keys of David, who opens and no one shuts, who shuts and no one opens. If you knock, He can open doors of ministry to you among nations to bring them into the kingdom. Such was the experience of Paul with the Lord. The door of utterance and the door of faith are all doors to be knocked upon in order for them to be opened.

There are other doors that must be entered through knocking in order to receive what God has kept in store for our personal lives. These include door of righteousness and the door of our spiritual eyes in order to gain insight into the word of God.

The man who knocks is the one that will make definite progress both in life and in ministry. Knock and the door will be opened to you, says the Lord.

God has reasons for instructing us to ask, seek and knock. To get things done here on earth and to live a normal progressive, fulfilling Christian life; these spiritual buttons must be presses as often as necessary. This is an important part of kingdom lifestyle.

May you not be presumptuous In Jesus’ name, Amen.