DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 14 May 2022 — Cooperation in the church
DCLM Higher Everyday 14 May 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Cooperation in the church
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TOPIC: COOPERATION IN THE CHURCH
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-9
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
MEMORY VERSE: “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 CORINTHIANS 3:8).
MESSAGE:
A study of the ants proves that unity is might. They have neither leader nor supervisor, yet by cooperation, everyone does a job to complement others’ efforts. They build their nests, fight battles and store food for themselves. No wonder, King Solomon counselled people to “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6).
In the Corinthian Church, Apostle Paul learnt that there was division as a result of preference for ministers among members. Competition and self-comparison crept into the house of God. He wrote to exhort them to understand that Christ is the Lord of His church.
No minister owns the church of God, but they complement one another, working with God to raise a viable, formidable and holy congregation of believers. There are diversities of ministerial gifts but none is superior to the other.
There is a common goal under one God, the Father; one Lord, Jesus and the Holy Ghost. As a believer, play your part and support others to walk in faith to enable them to get to heaven.
QUOTE: None is superior to the other.
CHALLENGE: Shun competition and comparison in the church.
PRAYER: Give me a cooperating and a supportive heart, oh God.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
