admin – Page 16 – Dr. Michael Oyedokun II

Day 4: Gratitude as Motivation—Serving Because God Has Been Good

By admin on September 11, 2025

Day 4: Gratitude as Motivation—Serving Because God Has Been Good

The motivation for gathering and serving in the church should not be obligation or self-importance, but gratitude for all that God has done—His salvation, deliverance, and healing. When believers come together with thankful hearts, their service and worship become acts of love and appreciation, not attempts to earn favor or recognition. Let your presence and participation in the church be a response to God’s goodness, not a favor you think you are doing for Him.

Psalm 100:2-4 (ESV)
“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

Reflection: How can you intentionally express your gratitude to God through your service and attitude in the church this week?

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Day 3: The Resident Homeless—Contributing Versus Consuming

By admin on September 10, 2025

Day 3: The Resident Homeless—Contributing Versus Consuming

Some people dwell in the house of God but contribute nothing to its life, expecting the benefits of community without any investment; God calls His people to be contributors, not just consumers. Just as a roommate who never pays bills or helps out is a burden, so too is a believer who only takes from the church without giving back. True membership in God’s house means serving, giving, and participating in the work and well-being of the community, not just receiving its blessings.

1 Corinthians 12:14-18 (ESV)
“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”

Reflection: What is one specific way you can contribute to the life of your church this week, rather than just receiving from it?

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Day 2: In the House or Of the House—Belonging Versus Attending

By admin on September 9, 2025

Day 2: In the House or Of the House—Belonging Versus Attending

There is a difference between simply being present in the church and truly belonging to it; God desires that His people not only be in the house but of the house, connected, related, and invested in the life of the body. Being “of” the church means you are recognized as part of the family, contributing and sharing in its mission, rather than just occupying a seat. This belonging is marked by visible evidence of Christ in your life and a deep connection to the people and purpose of God’s kingdom.

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

Reflection: In what ways can you move from simply attending church to truly belonging and being recognized as part of the body of Christ?

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Serving God: A Journey of Gratitude and Surrender

By admin on September 8, 2025

Today is a day of gratitude, reflection, and worship as we gather to honor the Lord for His faithfulness and lovingkindness. Drawing from Isaiah 40 and Psalm 63, we are reminded that God is the everlasting source of our strength, never growing weary, and always ready to renew us when we feel faint. Our worship is not just about what we receive from God, but about what we can offer back to Him—our praise, our service, and our lives. The heart of our gathering is captured in the question: “Lord, what can I do for you?” This is a call to shift our focus from seeking blessings to becoming a blessing, from asking to giving, and from receiving to serving.

The psalmist’s yearning for God is like a thirst in a dry land, a longing that can only be satisfied by God’s presence. This longing leads to three responses: praising the Lord, blessing the Lord, and lifting up our hands in surrender and trust. Praise is more than a song or a shout; it is an expression of adoration for who God is, not just for what He does. Blessing the Lord means using what He has given us—our gifts, our resources, our time—to serve others and honor Him. Lifting our hands is a sign of surrender, sacrifice, and security, symbolizing our willingness to let go of what we hold and trust God to carry us through every circumstance.

As we reflect on the journey of our Christian walk, we see that serving God often requires sacrifice, faith, and perseverance. The story of this church is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the power of giving without expecting anything in return. Whether through music, service, or simple acts of kindness, every offering made to God is multiplied and used for His glory. The invitation remains open: to come to God, to surrender, and to ask daily, “Lord, what can I do for you?” In doing so, we find true joy, purpose, and the assurance that God’s love is better than life itself.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Strength Is Unfailing. No matter how weary or faint we become, God’s strength is inexhaustible. He gives power to the weak and renews those who wait on Him, reminding us that our limitations are opportunities for His power to be displayed. Trusting in His everlasting strength allows us to rise above our circumstances and continue forward with hope.
2. Worship Is About Giving, Not Just Receiving. True worship shifts our focus from what we can get from God to what we can offer Him. Like the psalmist, our first thought each day should be, “Lord, what can I do for you?” This attitude transforms our relationship with God from one of entitlement to one of gratitude and service, deepening our fellowship with Him.
3. God’s Love Is Loyal and Unconditional. While human love often comes with conditions, God’s love remains steadfast even when we are unfaithful. His agape love pursues us in our brokenness and never withdraws, inviting us to love others with the same loyalty and grace. Reflecting on God’s faithfulness inspires us to respond with praise and commitment.
4. Blessing the Lord Means Blessing Others. We bless the Lord not only with our words but by using our gifts and resources to serve others. Every act of kindness, generosity, or service is a way of honoring God and fulfilling our purpose as His people. When we give freely, God multiplies our efforts and uses them to impact lives beyond what we can imagine.
5. Surrender and Security Are Found in God. Lifting our hands in worship is a physical sign of surrender, sacrifice, and trust. It means letting go of what we cling to and allowing God to take control. In surrender, we find true security, knowing that God is our protector, deliverer, and the one who carries us through every trial.

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Day 1: Forsake Not the Assembly—The Necessity of Gathering Together

By admin on September 8, 2025

Day 1: Forsake Not the Assembly—The Necessity of Gathering Together

God calls His people not to neglect assembling together, for it is in the gathering of believers that spiritual growth, encouragement, and accountability take place. Just as a product out of the box requires assembly to function as intended, so too do believers need the community of faith to be built up and made whole. Coming together is not just a ritual, but a vital part of God’s design for His church, where each person is shaped and strengthened for His purpose.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Reflection: When was the last time you truly invested yourself in the gathering of believers, not just by showing up, but by seeking to encourage and build up someone else in the assembly?

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Day 5: The Unshakeable Power of Praise

By admin on September 5, 2025

Day 5: The Unshakeable Power of Praise
No matter what the enemy takes from us—possessions, relationships, health—the one thing he cannot steal is our praise. Our relationship with God and our ability to worship Him are secure, even in the darkest seasons. When all else fails, praise becomes our weapon and our refuge, reminding us that God is still good, still present, and still worthy. Let your praise rise today, knowing that it is the one thing the world cannot take away.

Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Reflection: In what practical way can you express your praise to God today, regardless of your circumstances, as a declaration that your worship belongs to Him alone?

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Day 4: God’s Faithfulness in Our Trials

By admin on September 4, 2025

Day 4: God’s Faithfulness in Our Trials
God never allows us to be tested beyond what we can bear, and in every trial, He provides the strength and support we need to endure. Like a spotter helping a weightlifter, God stands ready to lift our burdens when they become too heavy for us. Even when Satan tries to rob us of our joy and worship, we can trust that God is faithful, and He will bring us through every challenge stronger than before.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Reflection: What is one burden or trial you are carrying right now, and how can you invite God to be your “spotter” and help you lift it today?

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Day 3: Living as Stewards, Not Owners

By admin on September 3, 2025

Day 3: Living as Stewards, Not Owners
Everything we have—our bodies, our possessions, our very lives—belongs to God, and we are merely stewards entrusted to manage them for a season. When we understand that nothing truly belongs to us, it frees us from anxiety over loss and helps us focus on using what we have for God’s purposes. Our true treasure is not in earthly things, but in the eternal reward that awaits us when we are faithful stewards of what God has placed in our care.

Psalm 24:1 (KJV)
The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Reflection: What is one area of your life or possession that you need to surrender back to God, acknowledging His ownership and your role as a steward?

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Day 2: Remembering God’s Faithfulness in the Past

By admin on September 2, 2025

Day 2: Remembering God’s Faithfulness in the Past
Gratitude grows when we look back and recognize that every good thing we have ever received is a gift from God. Instead of focusing on what is gone or what we lack, we are invited to thank God for the blessings He has already given us—family, provision, and the years we have enjoyed. This perspective shifts our hearts from bitterness to thankfulness, helping us to see that even in loss, God’s goodness has been present all along.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV)
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Reflection: Think of one specific blessing from your past that you have overlooked or taken for granted—how can you thank God for it today?

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Assembly Required: Embracing Community in Faith

By admin on September 1, 2025

So often, we approach our spiritual lives thinking we are already “put together,” but the truth is, each of us is still in need of assembly. Just like a product that comes with a label reading “some assembly required,” our walk with God is a continual process of being shaped, refined, and connected. When we gather together, it’s not because we have arrived, but because we recognize our need for God and for one another. The call to “forsake not the assembly” is not just about showing up; it’s about coming with a heart ready to be assembled, to be worked on, and to grow in community.

There’s a temptation to believe that we can do faith on our own, that we don’t need the church or the people in it. But God’s design is for us to be part of His body, not just as individuals, but as a collective, a church that He will one day present without spot or wrinkle. The difference between being “in” the house and being “of” the house is crucial. Being “in” means being present, surrounded by others, but being “of” means belonging, being connected, and contributing to the life of the body. God calls us not just to attend, but to belong, to relate, and to invest ourselves in His kingdom.

There are those who are “resident homeless”—present in the house but not truly part of it. Like a roommate who lives in a home but contributes nothing, some come to church expecting to receive without ever giving back. They want the benefits of community without the responsibility of participation. But God desires more for us. He wants us to move from being passive recipients to active participants, from being consumers to contributors. This means investing our time, our gifts, and our hearts into the life of the church, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for all God has done for us.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual growth is a process of continual assembly.None of us are fully put together; we all have areas that need work, healing, and connection. Coming together as a church is an act of humility, acknowledging our need for God and for each other in the journey of faith.
2. There is a profound difference between being “in” the house and being “of” the house.Being “in” is about proximity, but being “of” is about belonging, connection, and identity. God calls us to move beyond mere attendance and to embrace a deep sense of belonging and responsibility within His family.
3. Treating God and His church as if we are doing Him a favor by showing up reveals a misunderstanding of grace.Our presence is not a gift to God, but a response to His goodness and mercy toward us. True worship flows from gratitude, not obligation or entitlement.
4. The “resident homeless” mindset is spiritually dangerous.It is possible to be present in the community of faith but contribute nothing, expecting to receive without giving. God calls us to examine our hearts and move from passive consumption to active participation in the life of the church.
5. Investing in the church means more than just showing up; it means serving, giving, and being faithful even when things are not perfect.If we see something lacking, God invites us to help fix it, to ask questions, and to stay committed. Our investment is a reflection of our love for God and His people.

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