Service Brochure: 18.10.2026

Pastors Desk

Winning by Counsel (Part 1)

Proverbs 11:14

Counsel is advice, guidance, direction, or strategic instruction received with wisdom and discernment to help navigate new situations, accomplish goals, or resolve difficult challenges. God does not desire anyone to live a defeated life. In His divine purpose, He has provided various channels through which we can receive the information, instructions, and direction needed to navigate life's journey successfully and safely.

Tributaries of Counsel

1. Advice and Opinion (Proverbs 14:11)

This refers to guidance, recommendations, or instructions given by one person to another concerning a specific matter. God often uses people around us to provide insights that can help us make wise decisions.

2. Consultation and Deliberation (Matthew 12:14)

This is the process of gathering people together to discuss an issue and formulate an action plan. Through collective thinking and careful deliberation, solutions can emerge for complex situations.

3. Prudence and Wisdom (James 1:5)

This is the superior knowledge that comes through sound judgement, good sense, and divine wisdom. God promises to give wisdom generously to those who ask Him in faith.

Every believer who desires victory in life must seek godly counsel concerning spiritual, personal, marital, financial, and leadership matters. Life becomes easier to navigate in proportion to the quality of counsel available to us. For this reason, God has provided counsellors, individuals through whom wisdom and guidance can flow. Through them, valuable direction can be received. However, not every counsel is godly., we must constantly pray for discernment and ask the Lord to connect us with wise and godly counsellors.

The race of life is not won by strength, intelligence, talent, or chance alone. Many battles that destroy destinies are not lost for lack of effort but for lack of counsel. One moment of godly guidance can save years of pain, prevent costly mistakes, and position a person for lasting success. Every major victory in life is usually connected to the right instruction received at the right time.

Those who ignore wise counsel often learn through painful experience, but those who embrace godly counsel walk in safety, confidence, and divine direction. As Proverbs 11:14 reminds us, "in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." Therefore, make it a habit to seek God's wisdom and surround yourself with people whose counsel is rooted in truth, experience, and the fear of the Lord.

May the Lord connect us with wise and godly counsellors, deliver us from wrong and destructive counsel, and grant us the humility to receive instruction that leads to victory. As we walk in the light of divine counsel, we shall avoid needless battles, escape hidden traps, fulfil our God-given purpose, and finish our race successfully to the glory of God.

See you next week as we continue our exploration of Winning by Counsel and uncover more keys to victorious living through godly guidance.

Life Matters

Life Matters Topic:

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Text: Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-19, Joel 2:28-29
Memory Verse Acts 2:39): For the promise is to you and your children and to all who are afar off as many as the Lord our God will call

INTRODUCTION: The Holy Spirit is the Father’s promise to all who
have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. He is fully God and the third Person of the Godhead. Through the Holy Spirit, God imparts His nature, strength, and abilities into the life of every believer. When the Holy Spirit comes, He brings the power of God (Acts 1:8).

This power enables us to fulfil our divine assignments and walk in the destiny God has prepared. The Holy Spirit is the “muscle of God,” equipping us with supernatural might to do good, just as Jesus did (Acts 10:38). He is the One who quickens our mortal bodies, energising our human spirit so we can carry out God’s will on the earth.

No believer can function effectively without the help of the Holy Spirit. Trying to live the Christian life without Him is like a man who has a fully loaded pickup truck waiting for him, yet chooses to carry a heavy load with his bare hands. Without the Spirit’s assistance, life becomes unnecessarily difficult, and spiritual progress becomes slow and frustrating.

The Lord desires to reintroduce the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit to us so we can fully maximise all He has made available. The Holy Spirit is not an optional addition to the Christian life; He is essential for guidance, strength, revelation, holiness, and victorious living. Through Him, we gain access to divine possibilities, spiritual gifts, and the power to overcome the flesh and the enemy.

As we open our hearts to Him afresh, we will not miss any blessing God has prepared for us. May the Holy Spirit’s presence, power, and ministry be fully manifested in our lives in Jesus’ name.

Lesson outlines

Facts about The Holy Spirit.
How to receive the Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Hindrances to the Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Outline 1. Facts About the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

It is the Father’s Promise: God Himself promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit to His children (Acts 1:4; Luke 24:49).
It Belongs to Every Born Again Believer The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a covenant right for all who have received salvation (Acts 2:39).
Believers Must Expect and Desire It Every child of God should look forward to receiving this baptism (Acts 1:5).
Christian Living Is Impossible Without Him The Holy Spirit is essential for understanding, obedience, and victorious living (John 14:16–17, 26).
It Requires a Prepared Heart God pours His Spirit into vessels that are ready, humble, and expectant (Acts 10:30–33).
It Is Received Through Waiting on God Believers receive the baptism while praying, seeking, and waiting upon the Lord (Acts 2:1–8).
It Comes Through Hearing the Word As seen in Cornelius’ house, the Spirit falls when hearts respond to God’s Word (Acts 10:34–44).
It Comes Through Worship and Fellowship The Holy Spirit moves strongly in environments of worship, unity, and ministry (Acts 13:1–2).
It Can Be Received Through Impartation God uses His servants to impart the Spirit through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14–17; 19:1–6).
It Empowers Our Mortal Bodies The Spirit strengthens us to fulfil God’s will and serve effectively.
It Comes With Visible Signs The most common initial sign is speaking in new tongues (Acts 2:1–4; 19:6).
It Reveals God’s Will The Spirit unveils divine mysteries and God’s intentions for the believer (1 Cor. 2:10).
It Establishes God’s Government in Us After baptism, the believer becomes Spirit led and Spirit guided (Rom. 8:14).
It Gives a New Identity The Spirit affirms us as God’s children and shapes our character into Christlikeness (Matt. 3:16–17).
It Brings a Clear, Recognizable Voice of God The believer begins to hear God personally and unmistakably (Acts 3:17).

Outline 2. How to receive the Ministry of the Holy Spirit:

Before exploring how to receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it
is important for us to know a few things amons so many
about His Ministry to us (John 14:16 – “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may
abide with you forever.”)

i. He Is Our Divine Helper (Comforter / Advocate): Jesus
promised “another Comforter”—One who continues His
ministry in our lives. The Holy Spirit strengthens, guides,
comforts, teaches, and empowers believers to live victoriously
(John 14:16).

ii. He Abides With Believers Forever: Unlike the temporary
anointing seen in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit remains
permanently with every believer. His ministry is continuous,
stable, and everlasting (John 14:16–17).

iii. He Makes God’s Presence Real in Us: The Holy Spirit reveals
Christ, teaches truth, and brings God’s voice and will into our
hearts. Through Him, believers experience intimacy with God
(John 14:26; John 16:13–14).

How to Receive the Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Draw Me Nearer

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Daily Scriptural Confession

Mon- Father, remove every dross I my life IJN (Prv 25:4)
Tue – Dear Lord, purify and refine me IJN (Mal 3:3)
Wed – I receive the empowerment to confidently
approach the throne of grace to obtain mercy IJN (Heb 4:16)
Thur – God has heard my prayers, my prayers, I shall not be rejected IJN (Ps 6:9)
Fri- I receive more grace to hear and obey the Lord; my prayers will not be detestable IJN (Prv 28:9)
Sat- Father grant me the grace be a vessel unto honour IJN (2nd Tim 2:20-21)
Sun – Dear Lord, refine me IJN (Jer 18:4-6)