Purity of Purpose (Bro. Alex Davou) 21-05-2001

* MY SERMON NOTES

@ Rescue Team,

Hwolshe – Gigiring, Jos

Plateau State, Nigeria

21^st May, 2001

SERMON

* Speaker: Bro. Alex Davou

* Topic: Purity of Purpose

 * Purity means to be clean/holy

* Purpose is one’s intention (to achieve a particular goal)

* You’ll not be judged by your intention unless it is realized.

* Men have good purposes/intentions but they usually find it hard to achieve them

* There is no greater poverty than that of imagination

* If you believe a lie, you’ll always be controlled by that lie

* Unless you ‘drink’ that which is of the Holy Spirit, you will not know what is of the Holy Spirit

* Unless you fight, you cannot be counted as being part of those who are bold

* The wisdom of the world is limited

* Many acquired wealth out of impunity – it will all be taken away

* Luke19:11-26

* If you forfeit your crown, it will be given to another person

* As a Christian, your primary purpose is to please your master – Jesus

* Our beauty as Christians is not physical but that of the spirit

* Everything we do here on earth is for an eternal reward

* If you die today, what will you be remembered for?

* Psalm40:6-7 

       

 

 

The Compassion of Jesus (Rev. Dr. Sidney Garland) 12-05-2001

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN)

(now, Church of Christ in Nations)

Hwolshe, Gigiring - Jos,

Plateau State - Nigeria

12th May, 2001

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Dr. Sidney Garland

* Topic: The Compassion of Jesus

* Text: Matthew 9:27-38

* Unless God Himself fills you with compassion, you cannot do it on your own

* As Jesus becomes more real to you, He shows you His compassion and He wants you to fix your eyes on Him

* The world is generally deficient in compassion;

→ Many people who genuinely need help never get a hand of love

☆ Some Observations on the Compassion of Jesus Christ

1. Jesus had compassion on the crowd because of the fact that they were harassed and without a shepherd (verse 36)

→ He looked at them with the understanding of their need

→ He identified with their cares and burdens

→ Where were the shepherds? ('shepherd' literally means, a leader of God's people)

→ Every good shepherd is sacrificial: "He lays down his life for His sheep." (See: John 10:11) - Do we see this practically happening today?

2. Compassion moved Jesus to do something

→ Unlike sympathy and pity, compassion is always backed with action - there is always a 'reaching out'

→ Jesus asked people to pray (Matthew 9:37-38)

→ Let compassion move you to pray for missions - that the Lord will send out workers & labourers into the fields

→ Jesus saw the need - do you?

3. The shortest verse in the Bible tells us more of Jesus' sympathy (John 11:35)

★ John 13:1 → "Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

* Jesus loved His own and He showed them the full extent of His love

→ Is your love (towards others) dependent on any condition?

4. Jesus humbled Himself because of compassion

→ He is our High Priest and He sympathises with our weaknesses

→ He doesn't just feel it, He acts!

★ Hebrews 4:15 → "For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin."

5. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem (because of their sins and rebellion) → Luke 19:41-44

→ How many times do you weep over the sins and the rebellion of your community/Nation?

6. While on the cross, Jesus asked the women crying to weep for themselves and their sins

- (Luke 23:27-28); and He asked God His Father to forgive His enemies (Luke 23:34)

→ This is a wonderful demonstration of compassionate prayer

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

* We should have compassion for the people of God not only when they are suffering, but also when they are doing wrong

* Compassion entails patience

* Jesus wants us to love Him and take care of His sheep (John 21:16)

* Gossip is not an act of compassion

→ We must learn to solve our differences in love

* Jesus expects you to reach out to those in trouble.

→ By doing that, you are ministering to Him (Matthew 25:34-46). He wants us to do the same

* What is your personal attitude towards those around you?

→ Are you involved?

* Some Christians have a self-centered attitude

→ They help only those they know

☆ Obstacles to Showing Compassion

1. If you don't have Jesus living in you, you'll not have a heart for others

→ Only Jesus can empower you to look beyond yourself or the weaknesses and helplessness of others

→ It takes Jesus to genuinely love anyone other than yourself and to put their interests above your own

→ Unless you see others through the "eyes of Jesus", it is impossible to genuinely show compassion

2. Sometimes we (Christians) forget that we are saved by grace (Luke 18:9)

→ If you have recieved mercy, you should be ready to show mercy to others who deserve it (either because they are in trouble, in need or they are doing wrong)

→ You're not better than others - You are what you are today by the grace, favour and mercy of God

→ NOTE: You are a product of God's mercy & grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)

3. Many people (including Christians) talk about themselves when they are approached by others in trouble, seeking help

→ Selfishness is one of the biggest hindrances to showing genuine compassion to anyone

4. Sometimes we look at other people and think that they are just getting what they deserve

→ Example: Job's friends think he was suffering because of some sin in his life (Job 4:7-9)

* NOTE: The issue about what our attitude or disposition towards suffering is always a hard one

→ You are not to ask "why", but rather: "what am I going to do about it?"

* Do not despise others (especially when they are in need or in trouble)

Our Perfect Standard (Bro. Shakalshang Biwul) 07-05-2001

* MY SERMON NOTES

@ Rescue Team,

Gigiring, Hwolshe – Jos

Plateau State, Nigeria

7^th May, 2001

 SERMON

* Speaker: Bro. Shakalshang Biwul

* Topic: Our Perfect Standard

 * Anything that is perfect is stress-free, ideal & harmless

* A standard is a reference point. It is ‘the’ goal to be attained

* Jesus is our perfect standard – the author and finisher of our faith

* Jesus is our ‘shock-absorber’ and our ‘pain-reliever’

* God made (created) man based on His own standard. It was a perfect arrangement

* Today, we are struggling to know God because that standard was demolished by sin – man was separated from God and the earth was spoilt

* NOTE: man is an extension of God

* Psalm 82:6 - "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.'"

* The moment man sinned, He discovered that he was naked (Genesis 3:7)

* The image of God was not destroyed, but His likeness in man was displaced

* The moment you come to Christ, every hindrance is done away with - that thing (or those things) that link you to the devil

* The devil is struggling to see that you do not attain the standard that the Lord has destined for you

* The standard must be built and developed

* To get the standard of God, you must be humble – humility should be your standard

* Matthew 11:29

* Some people place other things as the standard of their lives (not Jesus)

* Do you know that someone is looking at you as his standard? That person does not ‘look at you’ but the character of Jesus in you

* Philippians 2:7-11

* It was because Jesus was humble that He had a name capable of giving us salvation

* Humility makes you transparent

* As you stay close to God, you affect the world around you by a given undiluted taste

* Your target should be God’s Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)

* The path to achieving the perfect standard is narrow and hard. Many will struggle to enter but will not be able to do so

* Matthew 7:13a-14

* Psalm 119:9, 11, 105 and 144

 

Prerequisites for Attaining God’s Standards

1.   God’s Word

2.   Understanding/knowledge

-      The way you live depends on what you understand/know

3.   The light of God

-      The Holy Spirit burns the Word of God in us so that it will shine forth

4.   Prayer & waiting upon the Lord

-      Jesus MUST open your mind to move in God’s standard

-      Luke 24:4-5

-      To attain this standard, one must be totally clothed (with supernatural power) from on high

-      You must have [extra-ordinary] strength because the process is tiring  

5.   Faith

-      Hebrews 11:2, 6, 33-38

-      You must be faithful

6.   Love

-      1 Corinthians 13:13 

   

   

 

 

The Compassion of God (Rev. Dr. Sidney Garland) 06-05-2001

MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN)

(now, Church of Christ in Nations)

Hwolshe, Gigiring – Jos,

Plateau State, Nigeria

6^th May, 2001

 

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. (Dr.) John Sidney Garland

* Topic: The Compassion of God

* Text: Psalm 111:4 - "He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate."

 

* If you have passion and interest in the things of God, you will have a burden in that regard.

 

* Compassion is feeling the pains or cares of others. It is a rare quality but it is also divine and God wants to give and show us

 

* Compassion is right at the heart of God. He is full of it.

 

* Hosea 11:1-11

 

* God loves his people. It was His compassion that made Him deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt 

 

* The first reference of compassion in the Bible was when Pharaoh’s daughter saw baby Moses in the bank of the river Nile, and she decided to save Him through adoption

* Exodus 33:19

* Exodus 34:6

 

* In spite of your sins and what He knows about you, God is compassionate and slow to anger.

- He looks at you with compassion

- You matter to Him!

 

* This compassion is an unconditional love which moves God to do something

 

* Deuteronomy 7:7

* Ezekiel 16:1 

 

* Sin has to be confronted

 

* Have you accepted His love and compassion in your life?

 

* Compassion is God not giving up on His wayward children

* The book of Hosea paints a beautiful picture of God’s compassion

* Hosea 1:2

* Hosea 2:19

* Hosea 11:8

 

* Do you know God as a loving and compassionate Lord?

 

* Isaiah 49:15 - "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" 

 

* God will never forget you!

 

* What are you doing to God’s heart?

- Are you breaking it or are you ignoring it?

 

* What is it that you have to run away from, when you see God weeping over you?

 

* This compassion should cause you to humble yourself before God

 

* Have you humbled yourself to ask for God’s forgiveness?

 

* 2 Chronicles 36:15 – 16

 

* In spite of God’s compassion, some people will still refuse to turn away from their sins and accept Him             

 

* Compassion is something we need in our own lives so that we may become like Him

 

* Job 30:25

* James 1:25

* Hebrews 13:3

* 1 Peter 3:8 

The Building of a Life (Dr. Yakubu Usman) 03-05-2001

* MY SERMON NOTES

@ Arts & Speakers,

Elratam Network  

Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN),

(now, Church of Christ in Nations)

Hwolshe, Gigiring – Jos

3^rd May, 2001  

SERMON  

* Speaker: Dr. Yakubu Usman

* Topic: The Building of a Life  

* The Three Things That Happen During the Teaching of the Word of God:

1. Some do not understand the teaching 

2. Some misunderstand the teaching  

3. Some understand but will respond with anger because it exposes their lifestyles

4. Some understand and are inspired to change their lives

 

* How wise are you?

- Is it possible you can be wiser?

- Are you as wise as you can be?

 

* If you had everything in your power (finances & resources) where will you site your building in Jos?

 

* Matthew 7:24-27

* These two builders represent types of Christians

* Being wise means living in accordance to the Word of God

 

* NOTE: The Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of the teachings of Jesus delivered at a particular period (not necessarily at one sitting)

 

* What is a parable?

- It is a story with a hidden spiritual meaning that may not be obvious at the first instance

- It is God’s special revelation to believers seeking more light

 * The FOOLISH BUILDER (in Jesus’ parable) used sand to make his foundation

* The location and quality of a foundation determines the survival of any building

 * The WISE BUILDER chose the rock as his foundation

- Great effort is required to move building materials up a rock

- It takes tough and deliberate effort to live by the Word of God

 

* NOTE: Every Christian is a builder, having some sort of foundation

 

* Note the Similarities between the two (2) builders:

1. They were both builders

2. They had the same wood from (probably) the same source

3. They were subjected to similar challenges – wind & rain

    - There is ample evidence that good and bad people suffer alike  

* Matthew 5:45 – These are challenges:

    - Rain represents blessings in scriptures

    - If the foundation is not solid, rain which is supposed to be a blessing would become a curse

 

* Both houses represent five (5) things:

(a) Character  - (the stuff you are made up of)

(b) Lifestyle – (things that portray you/your life’s priorities)

(c) Goals of your life (things you want to accomplish in life) 

(d) Dreams – (things you wish you had)

(e) Conduct – (behavior)

* The only thing that they had as a variable was the foundation

* On what foundation are you standing on?

* If you are faced with a situation, how many scriptural principles come to your mind?

* You cannot lay a strong foundation if you don’t hear clearly from God

 Some ‘Building Materials’ available to Christians:

1.   Righteous acts (Matthew 6:1-6)

2.   The Knowledge of God (Matthew 5:5-8)

    -  This always results in producing humility in your life 

3.   Dealing with your weaknesses (Matthew 7:1-5)

    -  This prepares you to withstand the storm of temptations whenever they arise  

4.   Doing God’s will

5.   Appreciating God’s forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15)

6.   Rightly handling material possessions (Matthew6:19-42)

7.   A consistent life of integrity

    -  The fruits of God’s Words and your lifestyle must tie together, if not, something is definitely wrong

 

Important Questions you need to ask yourself: 

* How rich or poor are you spiritually?

* How often do you mourn over your sins and those of others?

* To what extent do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?       

* Do you deserve God’s mercy judging from how you treat others?

* How pure is your heart?

* Do people call you a child of God?

* Are you experiencing some form of persecution because of your faith?

* How meek are you?

* Are you hiding your light or are you shining it?

* How wise are you?

* What extent are you willing to go in order to become wise?

 

* NOTE: A life committed to Christ will never fall

 

* What you do about the Word of God that you hear reveals whether you are wise or not

* Psalm1:1-6

 

* Are you so knowledgeable that you think that there is nothing new to learn?