A MATTER OF CUSTOM

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and went there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for the read.

Luke 4:14-16

Custom is second nature and no less powerful

Michel de Montaigne.

      Man is a creature of habit or custom.

      Let us define the word custom:

-          A tradition: something people always do in a particular way

-          A habit/the way somebody usually or routinely behaves in a certain situation.

-          A law: a traditional practice so long established that it has become a force of law.

-          The norm, routine pattern or way of ritual.

*It is important to note that a habit or custom is acquired over a period of time.

     The story of Jephthah and his daughter in Judges 11:30-40 tells a story of a man who made a vow that he regretted greatly. This vow came at a great cost, the price being his daughter. This vow changed the customs of the Israelite people for generations to come.

Customs:

(i)                  May develop consciously/deliberately-Luke 4:14-16

(ii)                May be communal or individual

(iii)               May be developed unconsciously

          You may have a few habits or customs that may have come into your life in any of the three ways above…question is: What shall be said of you? What people say is your custom? Customs must bring impact in your life.

        As a child of God there are customs that you must be identified with. Develop these customs and your life will have definite impact:

1. Prayer and Bible Study: This must a daily practice not just on Sunday mornings. Colossians 4:2, Psalm 119:11
2. Giving: As His child realize that there is no end to the expanse of God’s wealth. No believer should live beyond the poverty line or live to be pitied. When you give, you receive; not just finances but divine ideas, secrets and treasures in His Kingdom, His favour etc. 2 Corinthians 8:1-7
3. Productivity: God has loaded you to be needed and to be a blessing. Productivity is the process of downloading heavenly ideas to make impact. To download greatness-Take a risk. Rise.Shine.Be somebody. Productivity hinges on diligence.
4. Relevance: You must be relevant in your generation doing something that people need. Be diligent in your profession, in your calling and in all you put your hand to doing. Proverbs 22:29
5. Excellence: Though you may not be the only person in the field or work that you are involved in, be a cut above the rest. Be unique. Be you. Be the very best. Be excellent. When people see or work with you there should be a ‘label’ on your forehead that says RESULTS GUARANTEED. Philippians 1:9-10
6. Thanksgiving: Don’t lose your ability to give thanks. Thanksgiving in the life of a believer is a strong indicator of faith. Give Him the praise due Him. Psalm 69:30
7. Change: The most permanent thing in your life should be change! You must be willing to challenge the status quo. Let it be known of you that you are a world changer, a history maker and a trail blazer. Acts 17:5-6

     What shall be said of you? What is your custom?

                                                             Pastor.

DANGERS TO COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master. If then I be a father, where is Mine honour? And if I be a master, where is the fear of me?saith the Lord of hosts unto you, o priests, who despise My name. And ye say, "Wherein have we despised Thy name."

Malachi 1:6

The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the dangers of love is hell.

 Anonymous

          Having looked at a wider study in the past three lessons, it is of utmost importance to understand what the dangers to covenant relationships.

          There are pitfalls and signals that could terminate a covenant relationship if not observed with a keen eye and cause harm to one or both parties in the relationship.

The following are some of the dangers that should not be taken lightly when protecting a covenat relationship:

1)     1) Familiarity: It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. The success of any key relationship is ring dependant on honouring one another. When familiarity creeps into a relationship, the ‘wall of respect’ crumble down and within a short while you will realize that the core values that kept the relationship going are no longer important. Accountability ceases, excuses are exchanged for spending quality time together and communication skills are compromised. Familiarity breeds pride in the relationship which usually comes before a fall.

2)     2) Pride: This fuels reactions especially when one is confronted regarding an issue, or when does rebuke comes their way. The Bible says that “where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work.”- James 3:16. Pride makes one arrogant and not ready to be corrected. This will kill the relationship if the person on the wrong does not admit they are wrong and humble enough to accept correction.
3)     3) Disloyalty: This is another word for betrayal especially in times of hardship or adversity. The Bible says that a friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity – Proverbs 17:17. If one of the parties in this relationship goes against or rather violates the terms of agreement in the covenant relationship, he or she is considered disloyal. It is going against the will and the purpose of the covenant which can result to pain and bitterness between the friends.

4)      4)Unfaithfulness: To truly understand this example, we shall look at the marriage covenant. “The integrity of the upright shall guide them; but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them-Proverbs 11:3. When unfaithfulness permeates a marriage relationship or any covenant relationship, it becomes damaged because vows which are terms that bind the relationship are violated. At the end of all this is pain/resentment. Both parties in this relationship must fight to keep this element away.

5)     5) Offense: We must learn how to respond to offense and not to react. When we react to offense we end up not tackling the issue at its root. Offense comes when we do not handle crisis with wisdom and humility. If we resolve to pursue peace we will find hope and rest in our covenant relationships.

                                                          From Pastor

Furnishing A Small Living Room

The crippled Shell

The man took a slow drag on his cigarette. The ember winked life-red against the warm evening backdrop. He exhaled, thinking about what he had just heard, what she had just told him, breathing out in time with his thoughts. The smoke floated up towards the dim night light.

“So you’re not coming back.” Flat voice.

The woman shook her head. He glanced down at the floor and rubbed the back of his head with his tough rough  hand. The small glass table was the only witness to their conversation, the lounge devoid of other furniture.

He grunted softly and continued. “Well, okay.”

“Okay?” She shifted her weight from one leg to the other.

“Yes, okay.”

She turned to leave, aged wooden boards creaking beneath her slight frame. Just outside the sphere of the room she hesitated, pale fingers caressing the doorframe.

“I can’t, I just can’t.” His gaze rose to the back of her head. She turned, still holding the frame, but couldn’t look at him. “I…” She stopped. “You understand.”

He said nothing. Her eyes traveled rapidly towards his but fell short of a reunion. She exited the room, her skirt hurrying after her, and the man turned to face the shore. He rested his elbows on the weathered wooden railing and stared. Blank eyes took in nothing.

A sudden splash in the water demanded his recognition. A sea animal, shell on its belly, rock in its hands, preparing supper. He watched the diligent animal fix itself a meal. Who would crack his oysters now?
He finished his cigarette, flicked it over the rail. It glowed warm on the sand and he studied at it as he drew another from his breast pocket. He realized that he needed to visit his friend,David, but instead closed his eyes.

 He visualized the house, his house, walked through every room noting every detail and committing it to memory. He opened his eyes and sighed. Sticking the cigarette between his lips and pausing briefly to light, he then hopped over the rail onto the sand. His left foot landed on the first smoldering cigarette and he picked it up in surprise. It burned him a little as he held it on his hand. Discarding the useless filter, he kicked the sand over it and began to walk to the water.

His second cigarette dropped to the sand. The man waded  into the waves and let the water push him. He felt one with the swelling and moving of the waves. He looked around for the sea animal, but couldn’t find it.
Dripping, he walked back up the beach to the house. He went into the house. He spent the rest of his night destroying all of her things.

The gallant gentleman

She turned around on the bed to avoid the light that came from the window. She embraced the cushion she had set aside during her nap and kicked the sheet until releasing her feet from under it.

     "You are awake already." he said, appearing at the door of the bedroom.

     "Almost...." she whispered. She could have slept forever.

     He came in and sat on the edge of the bed. It squeaked.

     "Could you prepare some tea?"

     "Please, put the water on and I'll prepare it."

     "Bad mood?"

     She turned around again towards the light coming from the window. That light reminded her that there was activity out of her bed, out of her house.

     "I am tired."

     "You took a two hour nap."

     She repeated, with a sigh, "I am tired."

     He went to the kitchen and she could hear the noise of the water running into the kettle and the sound of a match lighting. Then, he turned on the television and she heard a dialogue in English and the laughter of a studio audience. Soon after, the kettle began to whistle.

     "The water is ready." he warned.

     She stretched on the bed and then sat-up, still clutching the cushion in her arms. The kettle continued whistling. She pressed the cushion strongly against her chest.

     "Please, turn that off."

     The whistling stopped. Thank heavens, she thought, it was going to drive me crazy. She looked for her slippers under the bed and stood up. She went to the bathroom and washed her face. I should take a shower, she thought. I should take a shower to cry in peace. She walked with heavy steps towards the kitchen. He was watching the talk-show laughing quietly from time to time. "He was a gentleman indeed",she thought.