Sustaining the Blessings you have Received

HARVEST HOMILY SUNDAY 15TH, NOVEMBER, 2015.
(THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR, B).

SCRIPTURE READING:
1. DAN. 12:1-3
PS. 16: 5.8.9-10:11 (R. 1)
HEBR. 10:11-14.18; Accl; LK 21:36.
GOSPEL MK. 13:24-32.

Lord Jesus, I give you my mind, help me understand.
Lord Jesus, I give you my ears, help me hear your voice.
Lord Jesus, I give you my heart, help me welcome you.
Holy Spirit, rekindle in me the fire of your love. Amen.

I will love you beloved in Christ to quietly sit and have some deep reflection on what God has done for you and your household in this harvest of divine decoration.

Don’t say you have not received anything from the Lord because if you say you have not it means you are calling God a liar-today I need you thank him for what you have received and even what you are expecting him to do in your life.

Today is our day-a day of divine decoration-God has indeed blessed us and we are gathered here to thank him for so many reasons. We are here to thank him because it has been him all the way; for the past six months dear friends brothers and sisters, you have been sowing your money, time and faith in God in this year’s harvest-now it is time to gather in your crop, you and your household will not be declared missing from the blessings awaiting you in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Friends I have no doubt that you have all received blessings from the Lord in one form or the other for we received glad testimonies from a vast majority of you of what God has done, what he is doing and what he is doing in your life-may those testimonies be permanent and the blessings you have received, may nothing spoil that blessing in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Friends one secret to receiving and even sustaining the blessings you have received is to thank him continuously for what you have received from the Lord; even when what you have been praying for is yet to be received-your thanksgiving is necessary to attracting that blessing to yourself and your generation. I am most certain that God will perfect his blessings because I have indeed received my own blessing from the lord as your shepherd for he is the perfect answer to every situation.

As you are seated there, you are here to thank him because he has decorated your family in a unique way.

We are here to thank him as one big family because I don’t have a specific reason but I know that it has been God’s love that has been sustaining my family and I.

We are here to thank God because God is opening new doors unto us in this chaplaincy, in our family, in our vocation, in our businesses, work, studies and things that concerns us.

We are here to thank God because God is doing great things in our health.
We are here to praise God because God has been protecting us.
We are here to praise God because God has been guiding us.
We are here to thank God because God has been providing, sustaining, defending, sanctifying and guiding our individual families.
We are here to thank God because of his love.
We are here to thank God because of his mercy.
We are here to thank God for his forgiveness.
We are here to thank God because of his powerful hand extended upon our individual families through Jesus Christ, to heal, save and set us free from shame and defeat.
We are here to thank God because of the power of his word that kept our families alive.
We are here to thank God because of the name of Jesus that was given to us for our salvation.
We are here to praise God because of the blood of Jesus that redeemed us from all sin.
We are here to give God thanks because of the cross of Jesus with which we gain victory over sin, death and the evil one.
We are here to give God thanks because of the wounds of Jesus by which we are healed.
We are here to give God thanks because of the Eucharist living and real presence of Jesus in our midst.
We are here to give God the thanks because of his Holy Spirit whom the father pours so abundantly into our hearts to convert, transform and sanctify us.
We are here to give God thanks because of the powerful intercession of our heavenly mother, the Virgin Mary, who has anticipated so many times the hour of Jesus in response to our supplications.
We are here to give God the thanks because of the gift of the faith that grows in our heart.
We are here to give God the thanks because of the gift of conversion.
We are here to give God the praise because of the new life we have received in Jesus Christ your son and our Lord.
We are here to give God the thanks because of our discovery of your love for us.
We are here to God the thanks for taking care of us in all our afflictions.
We are here to give God the thanks for fortifying us with his Holy Spirit.
We are here to give God the thanks for sustaining us in our weaknesses and failures.
We are here to give God the thanks for consoling us when we are in pain.
We are here to give God the thanks because he is always with us.

Friends as we are here to give God thanks as harvest time suggests, we must seek to ask him to secure the blessings we have received. Prayer serves as the key to securing your blessings.

Prayer arms you for spiritual engagement and warfare and brings you victory for us. Prayer protects your blessings from spiritual and physical invaders.
In exodus 17:8-9 scripture tells us that Amalek attacked the children of Israel. “Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim and moses said to Joshua, choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”

This was an unprovoked attack by the Amalekites against Israel. In response, moses called Joshua to lead the armies of Israel into battle, to defend the nation against the attack from Amalek. Amalek was grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:12), and although akin (similar in quality or character) to Israel because of their ancestral lineage-their father was Isaac.

Amalekites were the ancient enemy of the children of Israel because of what had happened between Esau and Jacob over their father’s blessing. The anger resurfaced again because there was the possibility the Amalekites had known about the promise of the land of canaan that had been given to Esau’s twin brother, Jacob; therefore, they should not have felt any threat to their interests in the Negev had this promise been remembered and taken seriously.

Deut 25:17-18 tells us of the wicked method of attack used by Amalek-“remember that amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.”

The amalekites were after the possessions of the children of Israel as they came out of Egypt. As they went after the possessions of the children of Israel, they came in contact with women, children, aged and infirm persons and they killed them. those who target your blessings will not see you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Moses told Joshua to go out and fight with the amalekites- we must know that this was a significant first experience of warfare for ancient Israel. They had lived for hundred of years as slaves and God fought the Egyptians for them. now they had to learn how to rely on God as they fought a military battle.

They were unskilled in battle but the lord positioned them for victory as he went into battle with them. today the battles of your life whether spiritual or physical, the lord shall win for you great victory in the name of Jesus. 2 Chron. 20:15 says “…you must not be discouraged or be afraid to face this large army, the battle depends on God not on you.”

Friends even as you begin to enjoy the blessings of the Lord, you must always trust in God and rely on God every time and you will see what he will do for you.

The rod of God in moses hand was the combination of human instrument and the divine power.

Verse 10-11 tells us that the more Moses prevailed in prayer the more Israel remained victorious. Moses’ hands became heavy: the job of supporting the battle in prayer was difficult and moses could not easily continue. We might think that fighting was the hardwork and praying the easy work, but true prayer was also hard work.

Prayer is sometimes sweet and easy; other times it is hard work. this is why paul described the ministry of Epaphras in col. 4:12 as always laboring fervently for the Colossians in prayer and why paul wrote in Col. 4:2  we must continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.

Aaron and Hur supporting his hands: Aaron and Hur came alongside Moses and held his hands up in prayer. They helped him and partnered with him in intercession. Their help was successful: his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Though this was moses’ work to do, it was more than he could do by himself. Moses alone could not win the battle of prayer. He needed the support of others-the intercession of brothers and sisters.

Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the edge of the sword-because of this work of prayer Israel was victorious over amalek. We are left with no other option than to say if Moses, Aaron, and Hur did not do the work in prayer, Israel would have been defeated, and history would work been changed.

Friends prayer takes you to the next level, secures and protects you from every adversary targeted at your possessions, blessing and joys. The battle over the amalekites was won with prayer but also through normal instruments the work of the army, led by Joshua.

Whatever we have accomplished let us have a recourse to God for he is our banner and shield. Ps 60:4 says: you have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. May the lord assist us to sustain the blessings we have received in the name of Jesus. Amen. Happy harvest day.