OCTOBER: THE MONTH OF PERFECTION OR COMPLETION OF GOD’S “DIVINE ORDER” AND HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY
“Always see every day as a chance to start afresh and make it count by living it as if it is your last.” “The only way you can live your life to the fullest is by understanding that you do not have all the time in the world.” “Christ has won victory over sin and death, guilt and shame, fear and anxiety. His Spirit empowers us to step out of the darkness and to walk in the light of freedom.”
We are excited to be in the month of October, the tenth month of the year in Julian and Gregorian Calendars and the eighth month in the old Roman calendar with 31 days. The month retained its original name from the Roman calendar from Latin “Octo” which means eight, when the calendar year began in March. It is the second EMBER month. “Life is too short to put up with fools.”
October is the birth month of our Director, Pastor/Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill. We enjoin all our readers, supporters, friends and well-wishers to celebrate with him because of the gift of life and good health and uncountable blessings that the great Lord bestowed on him within the past year. He just returned from Nigeria with his wife, Eileen and baby son, Chijindu where they laid to rest His mom madam Grace Oyidie Nnana Ogbonnaya at 88 in a peaceful and carnival celebration of life. She was a compassionate heroine of her Christian faith, a legend of perseverance and fulfilled lifestyle. What is truer of her is that though dead, her footprints on the sand of history lives on. She was a loving wife, an amazing mom, whose enviable disposition lighted not only her family but all those who crossed her path. We thank God for journey mercies and His protection, especially for keeping his house safe from the hurricane Harvey in Houston. The Lord also lifted the work of the ministry to a new height and encouraged him through divine helpers that sustained the labor of love and increased readership and supporters as well as open doors for ministering. We thank God for pastors and Church leaders who support the work of this ministry and acknowledge the calling of God on our Director.
We are excited with this gracious month of October because it carries with it a number of perfection or completion of God’s “Divine Order” and human responsibility. The number ten is built into our very anatomy. We have ten fingers to hold tight the gifts and do God’s work and ten toes to walk upright before God. Ten symbolizes the completion of a cycle. It’s the number of heaven and the world and universal creation. God gave a man the Ten Commandments which contain God’s order and man’s responsibility – the first five concern our relationship with God and the last five concern our relationship with other human beings. Abraham gave 10% of his loot from war to Melchizedek as tithes. The number ten begins the double-digit numbers which signify that this month shall bring you double miracles, double blessings and everything double-double, in Jesus name, amen!!!
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Your Monthly DISCIPLESHIP DIGEST and WEEFREE MINISTRIES NEWSLETTER go digital from January 2018. We shall phase out paper print. You are encouraged to obtain a working email, facebook or whatsapp to receive monthly publications. You are the reason we do ministry. We appreciate your continuous readership, support and useful comments that have helped us improve our production and the way we serve you. Thanks and God bless.
Ten is the highest score possible in Olympic competition; 10 Downing street is the residence and office of the Prime Minister of UK; John Tyler was the Tenth President of US; Virginia became the 10th States of the US (June 25, 1788); Interstate 10 is a coast to coast highway in the US; The Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles ten days after the ascension of Jesus; Jesus healed ten lepers; God sent the Ten plagues of Egypt to help Moses manifest God’s power and Boaz took ten witnesses to marry Ruth (Ruth 4:2).
We are excited with the Notable events/ information about October and the No. ten: Oct.1st– Nigeria celebrates her 57 Independence Anniversary; National Day China People’s Republic. Oct.2 –International Day of non-Violence. Oct 5th – International World Teachers’ day; Columbus Day (Most of USA). In US, Clergy Appreciation month; Domestic Violence Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness month. American Pharmacist Month, Lupus Awareness Month, National Diabetes Month, National Pizza Month, National Vegetarian Month, National Popcorn Popping Month, Seafood Month, National Orthodontic Health Month, Liver Awareness month and STD Awareness Month.
Few Other Special Event: 5th – National Karl Day; World Teacher’s Day; 6th – Physician Assistant Day; 9th – Fire Prevention Day; 10th – Columbus Day; 13th – International Skeptics Day; 14th – World Egg Day; 22nd – National Nut Day; 23rd – Mother-In-Law Day; 24th – United Nations Day; and 27th– Navy Day. World Series for Major League Baseball, The NBA, and NHL all begin in October. “A person can never be too old to dream again, set new goals in life and start afresh.”
Discipleship Digest is excited to reflect on a critical message of Christian Faith title: Lord, Renew and change me! Change is something everyone desire and need. It’s an ongoing part of life. Life in itself demands adjustment for our schedules and plans. However, people’s spiritual lives call for more than slight changes to the calendar and need transformation. In every spiritual change, God begins, processes and pilots it. It is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases Him and He gives you the power to do it” (Phil 2:13).
At the beginning of the year or during our birthdays and anniversaries, we always desire to change something about us. Most times we can’t exactly pinpoint what it is or where to start. Our subconscious minds keep telling us something needs to change if we must move forward. Some people know what is in their life that must change but don’t know how to start; probably they must have tried that way several times in the past and failed to move to the next level. Some are even afraid to start again, while others are confused and may decide to settle for their mediocrity. Somehow, somewhere they know they are not where they want to be and inside of them, they need more of the Lord of their salvation or need to turn around and meet Him as a person and Savior.
As I celebrate my birthday this October, my heart cries to God is, I want more of you and Lord, renew me and change me. I don’t know about you……You may have gotten to where you are comfortable and satisfied and need no more change. That’s good! But remember the race is not finished until we get to Final victory. We have got to know that life is worthless and pointless without God. God’s purpose is to draw us out of the world, out of our neighborhood, out of our houses…into a place where God is always…. and wants us to be with Him.” Until a person truly relinquishes his/her control to the Lord’s will and destiny for his/her life, things will never change….Saying that you want to change is idle words except God is the person in charge of doing the changing in a person’s life.
Consider the struggles you have undergone in life, what would you like to change about yourself on the inside? Is it your doubts, fears, anger, grief, grudge, un-forgiveness, confusion, pride, insecurities and dissatisfaction/contentment? Could it be how we perceive God even in our difficulties and unbelief? How we doubt God’s sufficiency and availability (always present) even when we don’t see Him or feel Him, He’s always there. In a time of spiritual dryness, and stagnancy or delay, we should learn to trust in His presence and in His promises. We should hold unto His words when our feelings fail us or situations do not seem God’s presence and ability.
- There will be no change except there’s a renewing of the mind. You have to change YOUR THINKING PATTERN because as a man thinks, so does he act (Prov. 23:7). Real change starts from inside out. Little wonder Apostle Paul addressed the saints in Rome and today’s believers: Rom 12:1-3.
- True and proper worship: The trust and deepest act of worship are to trust God even when our feeling is saying the opposite. In recognition of the mercies of God offer your bodies not only as living sacrifice but must be also holy and pleasing to God.
- Do not conform to the pattern of the world: Live not feeling, but in purity and holiness. Sacrifice the body to give room for the Spirit to duel and act. Let go your flesh and let God rule it through His Spirit.
- Transformed by Renewing of mind: We come to worship God for His Spirit to touch and influence us and change us. The word of God (as we hear, read and meditate) points where we allow the body to rule over the Spirit and challenge us to come to the place of realization and surrender (by the renewing of the mind) resulting in transformation (change).
- God’s will is to be tested and approved: that it works for those who accept His word and act on it, not only to hear and read but to act and approve:
*good,
*pleasing, and
*perfect.
God’s grace is available to every believer and gift given to each person. Hold unto gift and use it to serve the body of Christ. Do not consider your gift higher than another for they are distributed to the benefit of the whole body.