Beloved,
RE: BELIEVERS’ RETREAT 2021
Grace, peace and God’s mercy be multiplied unto you and to all that belong to you, as you relish in God’s love, this season.
We are glad to inform you that we shall gather, during this year’s Easter period, for our annual Believers’ Retreat, having secured clear signals from the LORD, of His interest to have us gather. This is a short notice, no doubt.
The verse of emphasis for the coming Believers’ Retreat is:
“For EVERY ONE shall be salted with FIRE, and EVERY SACRIFICE shall be salted with SALT.
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:49,50 (KJV) [Emphasis mine]
Jesus just brought some hard teachings to His audience; teaching them to pluck out their eye if it becomes offensive, cut off their hand or foot if any becomes offensive. And to crown it, He said, “every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt”.
The word “salted”, in this context, implies “seasoned”, while the word “fire” points to the Word of God (at its premium and its right dimension). Both Man and the sacrifice must be seasoned, according to Jesus. Fire (the Word) seasons the man and salt (the man with fire, the man with the Word or the salted man) seasons the sacrifice. Though no seasoning is implied to be higher or better or more needed than the other, it is clear that the seasoning of the man comes ahead of the seasoning of (his) sacrifice. Abel’s life comes ahead of his sacrifice (Gen. 4:4).
Seasoning could be for enhancement (of taste), for preservation or elongation (of life or shelf life) and could also be for optimum performance (of a material). Soup without salt insults the tongue, as it brings no good taste, just as speech without grace does the ear! The shelf life of fish, meat and other perishables can be prolonged with the right application of salt. Wood is best for construction or combustion when it is well-seasoned.
It, therefore, follows that every man who will not be insulted in this generation and will not be an insult to his generation and God, has to be salted (seasoned) with fire (with God’s Word at its premium). The man who will not be lost to the corruption of sin, self and the world, and who will be preserved to the end, must also be salted with fire. Maggots can multiply in corruption, but, certainly, not in the salt! Every man who will be at his best, brings the best to God and his generation; and in his season, he is excellent by being seasoned with fire! No exception, no shortcuts!
You cannot be the salt of the earth if you have not been salted in the heart– retaining, as it were, the salt (fire) within. No sacrifice (work) is acceptable on the altar without being salted (seasoned) with the salt. If the hand of Moses was healed of the dangerous serpent he was carrying, then his bosom (his heart) must also be healed of leprosy; for no matter how good the work of his hand might be, the corruption of his heart will destroy the good work of his hand!
Salt is good, so also is fire! Either you speak well or ill of salt, it remains good. Too much or too little salt (in your food) does not mean salt is bad; no, salt is good, it may be your bad cooking skill that needs an upgrade! This is why we must know the right application of salt (fire, the Word), to give us the best result in its seasoning work in our lives, so that, in turn, we can also season our sacrifices correctly. Why should being seasoned (having salt or fire or the Word of God) be the reason for pride, division, resentment and lack of peace, among us? Selah!
The LORD bids you come for this retreat, where this matter shall be discussed further.
Venue: Bethphage, Alata Village, off Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan Road, Adebayo, CRIN Area, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan.
Date: Wednesday, 31st March to Sunday, 4th April, 2021 (Easter period).
Theme: Seasoned with Fire
Take-Off Time: 6:00 p.m. (Wednesday 31st March, 2021)
Registration (online via www.thepottersmission.org or onsite at Bethphage), feeding and accommodation shall be free, as the LORD, thy Host, shall provide. Please bring along with you your beddings, toiletries and things that can make your camping experience a comfortable one for you. Do not forget that we shall observe all COVID-19 protocols.
For enquiries, call: Akanji: 0803-438-3636, Pius: 0803-369-1667, Muyiwa: 0802-495-8881, Dimeji: 0806-893-6060
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Shalom!
In HIS grip,
Segun Ariyo,
For the Labouring Team.
segunariyowordpresscom 