Growing up in Christ (Mr Ishaya Manji) 30-11-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE

MY SERMON NOTES
Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Garki Area 1 - Abuja, Nigeria
30th November, 2014

* SERMON

* Speaker: Mr Ishaya Manji

* Topic: Growing up in Christ

* Theme: Knowing the Will of God

* Sub-Theme: Blessings of Doing God's Will

* Service Leaders: Mr Timothy Pam

* Text: Ephesians 4:14-15 - "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."

★ Round up & Summary of the COCIN Community Missions Week 2014

* The problem of the Church today is that many Christians still remain as infants even after many years after becoming believers.

* The desire of God is that we all grow up to become mature believers

* The Church has a bunch of Christians who are physically growing older, but remain Spiritually immature

* Spiritual maturity cannot be measured by your eloquence, or Physical appearance. It can only by demonstrated by displaying the Characteristics of Jesus (that is, the fruits of the Spirit).

* Growing in Christ entails the following:

1. A Continuous willingness to develop & display the character traits of Christ

2. To remain Connected to Christ

3. To be rooted and grounded in order to bear fruit that will last

4. To hold onto the truth and share it boldly, regardless of the consequences.

* The genuine Christian life is magnetic.

- You will automatically attract people to Christ if your life radiates the love of Jesus

* The difference between a mature and immature Christian:

→ A mature Christian produces the fruits of the spirit, the immature Christian does not

→ Galatians 5:22-24 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

* Every mature Christian is a missionary.

* Anywhere you find yourself is your primary mission field (office, family, community, etc.)

* Essential Elements for growing up in Christ:

1. The Character of Christ

→ Galatians 5:22-23

* God's plan is for you to be transformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ

2. Commitment

- This entails a willingness to work hard and to give your energy to the discharge of a given duty

- God requires Christians to be committed in missions and support it by all means possible.

* As a Christian, You are expected to grow not only physically, but also spiritually.

*When you spend time with God and His Word, you will grow in love and Spiritual knowledge of God's Will.

* You must be ready to give every fibre of yourself as an instrument to honour and Serve God

* Everything you have been entrusted with (e.g.. Your job, talents, resources, possessions, opportunities, experiences, etc.) are tools for serving Christ and advancing His kingdom here on earth.

* You must show the love of Christ to everyone, especially those who are under Satan's bondage

* If you must grow spiritually, you must study to know the mind of God so that you can project that same mind through mission work and liberate those in darkness and translate them into the Light of Christ.

* It is expected that once you give your life to Christ, you must grow spiritually, just as a new born baby is naturally expected to grow and become strong & independent

* The Church cannot be able to grow into a holy temple if every Christian are not ready to play their parts in God's plan

* Encouragement: we need to encourage each other (especially the Missionaries) by prayer, visitations, generous giving etc.

* Three things that the devil will never ask you to do:

1. give (in support of the advancement of Christ's kingdom)

2. pray

3. preach

* Causes of Spiritual Immaturity:

1. Sin

2. lack of Self-Control

3. lack of humility

4. lack of Spiritual balance-diet

   - This results in Spiritual stunted growth

   - God's word is our spiritual food (the balanced-diet)

   - You cannot give what you have. You must know the word for yourself

5. lack of submission to authority

6. lack of Spiritual discipline (e.g. through prayer and fasting & Bible Studies)

* If you really want to be effective in God's scheme of things and influence your generation for Christ, you must determine to grow Spiritually and be committed to knowing God's Word

* Allow God to work in you and through you

* Your life should sparkle (for Christ) like a diamond

* Spiritual infancy results in lack of effectiveness on the part of a Christian

* Practical ways by which you can be involved in Missions:

1. You can go to the Mission fields to preach personally

2. You can Support Missionaries through:

   -   Your financial gifts

   - Your consistent prayers for the success of Missions & Missionary endeavours

The Use of Gadgets in the Home (Dr. Patrick Dakum) 27-11-2014

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)

Combined Meeting (Abuja Zone) 

@ Sasha's Garden,

Area 11, Garki Abuja

27th November, 2014

EXHORTATION

* Speaker: Dr. Patrick Dakum

* Topic: The Use of Gadgets in the Home

* Couples should make every effort to maintain communication in every situation - even where there is a conflict between them

* Some of the issue of use of phones in the family that causes friction between couples:

- Phones that are switched off or unreachable when the other spouse needs to be reached/contacted

- delayed reply to SMS/missed calls

- checking of phones of the other spouse (messages, picture gallery, call logs, etc)

★ Tips on the use of Communication Gadgets

1. The internet world contains a lot of good and bad - ensure you know how to benefit from the good and avoid the bad

2. Learn about communication gadgets better so that you Know how to use them positively

3. Never allow any gadget to get in between your relationship with your spouse

★ The Commitments that Christian Couples must make:

(a) Commitment to God by the spouses

- Know that God will require you to account for how you use the gadgets that you have

- Biblical stewardship is all encompassing (including use of our possessions, time & money)

- The telephone & other gadgets Should never replace physical intimacy

- Your commitment to God will determine how you use your gadgets

(b) Commitment to use your gadgets for building and not for tearing down each other

- It is possible to make a commitment to encourage, say kind words, build love, etc

- If your love for your spouse does not affect your pocket, you are only joking!

- Every commitment will cost you Something

(c) Commitment to respect for each other

- It is a sign respect to create time for each other and not allow gadgets to get is the way

(d) Commitment to each other

- Don't replace your physical contact with gadgets

- Don't measure your love for each other with communication quantum over gadgets

- Don't make a big issue out of the usage of gadgets

* Note: No family can ever have a perfect scenario of communication but there must be a definite commitment among spouses to love and build each other all the time

Inner Strength (Pastor Victor Amos) 23-11-14

SUNDAY SERVICE

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja

23rd November, 2014

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Victor Amos

* Theme: Knowing the Will of God

* Topic: Inner Strength

* Text: Philippians 4:10-13

→ Deuteronomy 33:26-27

* Six Facts Concerning Inner Strength:

1. You cannot possess inner strength if you are not connected to Christ.

2. Inner Strength for a child of God entails peace from God

★ Isaiah 9:6 →"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

* Note: Jesus is our prince of peace & genuine peace can only be found through Him.

3. Inner Strength has nothing to do with your physical (muscular) build or material possessions.

4. Inner strength is only available to those who are interested in having a relationship with Christ.

5. Victory in Christ comes as a result of possessing inner strength.

6. If you enjoy sin, you cannot benefit from inner strength & genuine peace will continue to elude you.

* Happiness does not depend on your present circumstances or by having material possessions

* Life is not a party, but a race & a trust

* To utilize the Lord's purpose for your life, you must possess inner strength.

* If you know the will of God and are doing it, you will enjoy the peace of God.

* Enjoying the peace of God does not mean that you will not face challenges in your life.

* Paul's letter to the Philippians is full of the theme of joy.

→ Assignment: Take time to read the book of Philippians and understand the concept of having joy in the face of challenges.

* NOTE: Paul's letter to the Philippians was written from the Prison!

→ He gave what he had.

→ You cannot give what you do not have

→ Paul demonstrated the fact that with inner strength from God, he can adjust to any situation in life and still be victorious.

* Paul depended on Christ for the grace to be victorious.

* Inner strength has a lot to do with your (mental) state of mind and who you are connected to.

* Inner strength equips you to face the issues of life with confidence.

* You must realize the fact that making it in life is not by your might.

* Where is your strength? What is your source of confidence in life?

★ Psalm 34:5 → "They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed."

* God is the source of your radiance.

* When you think all hope is lost, that is when God is at his best!

* The problem with many Christians is that we do not believe God's Words.

* Biblical Characters that Operated with Inner Strength:

→ King Hezekiah (2nd Kings 20)

→ David: Consistently relied on the Lord for victory over difficult situations and ever-present enemies

→ Joseph: forgave His brothers in spite of their deep betrayal (Genesis 50)

→ Samson: repented and regained inner strength to overcome his enemies thereby accomplishing his mission. (Judges 16:23-30)

→ Abraham: He walked closely with God by faith (Hebrews 11:8)

→ Esther: Stood up and defended her people who were about to experience genocide, at the risk of her own life (Esther 4:14-17)

* If you know your God, you will not be subjected/ defeated by any situation in life.

★ Jeremiah 29:11 →"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

* God's plan for you is to live a victorious Christian life.

★ John 15:5 → "I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing."

* When you remain (abide) in God, He will help you to accomplish much more than your own strength and human effort can achieve.

* Sin is your enemy: It drains your spiritual strength and makes you vulnerable.

* Every sin you commit is an evil seed that will germinate and haunt you latter in life - unless God has mercy on you when you return to him in genuine repentance.

* Sin is a burden that weighs you down and hinders you from fulfilling God's purpose.

Interactive Session on family Issues (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 19-11-2014

NDIC-DMO Chapel,
Central Business District,
Garki-Abuja, Nigeria
19th November, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor Owotumi
* Topic: Interactive Session on family Issues
* Text: 2nd Timothy 4:18 → "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will take me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory belongs to him forever and ever! Amen."

* NOTE: There are many men that initially did not set out to cheat on their wives, but there are 'wicked' women out there who will stop at nothing in their quest in seducing the men the lust after

* Except you trust God to keep your spouse, there will always be trouble

* 2nd Timothy 1:12 →"That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes."

* Always commit your home unto to the Lord & He will preserve you

* Question: How do we handle the issue of difficult in-laws?
★ Ruth 1:10-12

* we should be patient with them

* we should always seek to maintain peace

Interactive Session on family Issues (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 19-11-2014

NDlC-DMO Chapel,

Central Business District,

Garki-Abuja, Nigeria

19th November, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: Interactive Session on family Issues

* Text: 2nd Timothy 4:18 →"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will take me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory belongs to him forever and ever! Amen."

* NOTE: There are many men that initially did not set out (or intend) to cheat on their wives, but there are 'wicked' women out there who will stop at nothing in their quest in seducing the men they lust after

* Except you trust God to keep your spouse, there will always be trouble

* 2nd Timothy 1:12 →"That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes."

* Always commit your home unto to the Lord & He will preserve you

* Question: How do we handle the issue of difficult in-laws?

★ Ruth 1:10-12

→ You should be patient with them

→ You should always seek to maintain the bond of peace [as long as it depends on you] 

Interactive Session on Family Issues (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 18-11-2014

★ MY SERMON NOTES 

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District, Abuja 

18th November, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: Interactive Session on Family Issues

* Text: Psalm 33:6-11

* It is not possible to downplay the importance of family to the Church

* When the family is not strong, the Church cannot be Strong

* We must not allow anything to divide our families.

* Let wisdom be your watch word in making decisions in the family

* Wisdom can save your family from disgrace and breakup

★ Philippians 2:3 →  "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

* Do not pursue vain glory

★ Philippians 4:4-5 → "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near."

* Be careful to ensure that everything you do is done with moderation

* Do not borrow money in order to embark on any celebration. This will impoverish your family eventually 

* Do not enslave your family with debts

★ Question: Whose responsibility is it to finance family projects?

* There must be consensus and agreement among the couples

* Note: The two have become one (Genesis 2:24)

- Christian couples must see themselves as partners, not rivals 

* Final Caution: "Do not bite your nose to spite your face!"

Interactive Session on Family Issues (2) (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi 17-11-2014

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Garki - Abuja

17th November, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: Interactive Session on Family Issues (2)

* Text: Psalm 24:7-8 →"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle."

* Question: What are you to do when one of the parents do not have interest in the fanfare of naming ceremony?

★ Amos 3:3 → "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

* Both parents must have a consensus/ a common ground

* Any difference in expectations or opinion must be settled in the place of prayer

* Compromise (finding common ground between couples) is always important in life

* Always seek and go after peace in the home.

* Always focus on things that unite you as a couple

* Downplay things that divide you

* Make every effort to come to an express agreement, not just permissive agreement on any issue

Life of Victory (Elder Simon Bunshak) 16-11-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki-Abuja, Nigeria
16th November, 2014

SERMON:
* Speaker: Elder Simon Bunshak
* Topic: Life of Victory
* Text: Romans 6:1-14
* Theme: Knowing the Will of God
* Sub-theme: Blessings of Doing God's will
* Service Leader: Mrs. C. Mangut

* When you are walking with God, the Seed of God is deposited in you. That seed produces the life (fruits of the Holy Spirit) that sets you apart from people who do not walk with God

☆ Effects of Sin in the life of a man:
1 . Sin dishonours the name of God in Your life

2. Sin can rob you of the joy and the power of God in your life
- The joy of the Holy Spirit is the source of your victory

3. Sin destroys your Christian testimony
- Satan's aim is to ensure that you never fulfil God's purpose in your life by being constantly under the bondage of sin

☆ How to overcome sin and live in victory:
- Note: Sin is the primary cause of failure in the life of a man

* Victory is an act of God
- You cannot attain victory on your own or by your own personal effort(s)

* Victory can only be attained by consistently living in obedience to God's Word
★ Deuteronomy 28:1-14

* Jesus has already won the victory for us; that is what we are standing upon

★ 1st John 1:8 → "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

* The victorious life entails:
- Overcoming sin (including the so-called "little sins" such as anger, fault-finding, irritability, complaining, lack of love, wrong thoughts, worry, anxiety,)

* The "small" victories you get by overcoming in "small" areas of your life translates to bigger victories eventually

* There is nothing like a "small sin". Before God, sin is sin and He hates it.

*Every sin is a major obstacle in your quest to attaining victory in Christ

* Many people have overcome the temptations and tendencies of falling into "sign-board" sins (ie, the known "big sins") and neglect the more subtle ones

* The trick of Satan is to magnify the power of sin in your life to such an extent that you are constantly kept in fear and bondage and therefore, fail to be liberated.

* Overcoming the power of Sin can only be possible in Christ Jesus.

* As soon as your faith in Christ dies, genuine victory will always elude you

* When you are defeated in your mind, you cannot attain victory
→ Victory proceeds from a mind that is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God

* The life of Heaven begins with a life of holiness

* Holiness is the Key to attaining constant victory

* Here on earth, you will constantly struggle with sin, till you get to Heaven where sin and death lose their power

* Three (3) Blessings that accompany a victorious Christian life:
1. Unbroken fellowship with God
→ Genesis 3:8-10
* When sin comes into your life, it breaks your relationship with God

2. The power to do the work of God.
- Sin robs you of the confidence to serve God effectively
- Holiness enables you to receive massages from God and to also deliver them with power and confidence
★ Philippians 4:13 → "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

* You share in the privilege of reconciling people back to God (through evangelism)

3. It opens you up into a life of prospect to the possibilities of being used by God for honourable and noble purposes

* Ephesians 3:20-21

* Victory in Christ is a gift, just like salvation & eternal life

* You cannot get victory in Christ through your merits, achievements and human effort

* Grace is God's omnipotent power working through us, in us, and for us

* Living in constant victory is only possible when you depend upon God's grace to live a holy life

★ Romans 5:17b → "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."

* How to live a life of victory in Christ:
1. Dedicate your life to Christ totally & allow Him to sustain you
★ 2nd Timothy 1:12 → "That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes."

2. Drop your burdens and challenges at the feet of the Lord
★ 1st Peter 5:7 →"Throw all your worry on him, because he cares for you."

3. You must take Christ as your Victory

4. When you fail, don't accept defeat & remain subdued.
- Anytime there is a challenge, run to the Saviour for support

*NOTE: Victory is not just trying, but trusting
→ 'Trying' is what you do on your own, by your own strength and wisdom (self-sufficiency)
→ 'Trust' entails looking up to God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself

_____________________________________________________________________
* HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE
EXHORTATION

* Speaker: Rev. Chrysanthus John Bala
* Text: Luke 22:39-46

* Anguish & pain caused Jesus to prevail in prayer at Gethsemane

* Jesus Submitted Himself to God's will in prayer.
- What He wanted at that point was immaterial because His desire was for God's will to be done in His life

* Today, many Christians tend to 'command' God to do what they wish, whenever they desire. This is not supposed to be so.

* Jesus encouraged His disciples to also pray along with Him in His hour of need & trial. (v. 46)

* NOTE: Prayer is the believer's sheild against falling into temptation

* Temptation will not overtake you if you consistently prevail in the place of prayer

Interaction on Family Matters (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 10-11-2014

★  MY SERMON NOTES 

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District, 

Garki - Abuja 

10th November, 2014  

* Leader: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: Interaction on Family Matters

* Your spouse should be your best friend

* When you entertain gossip in your marital relationship, trust will be eroded

* Watch who gives you advice 

- Watch the background of your advisers

* Note: The friends you keep always have a great influence in your life

★ 1 Kings 13:11-26

* When you keep your distance from the Church and other believers, you become susceptible to sin and evil

★ Revelation 3:20-22

* All that you need that pertains to life and godliness is contained in the Word of God (2 Peter 1:3)

* The best counsel you can get in any circumstance is found in the Bible, and through the counsel of committed believers

* Do not follow signs & wonders - it should be the other way round 

* Stick to the Word of God at all times. 

- It must be your standard and basis for taking decisions 

Thanksgiving (Rev. John Audu) 09-11-2014

Annual Thanksgiving Service 

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) 

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

9th November, 2014 

 

* Guest Speaker: Rev. John Audu

* Topic: Thanksgiving

* Service Leader: Mr Igwe Augustine

* Text: Luke 17:11-19

 

* Thanksgiving begins by admitting that God is a great God

 

* If you want to understand and offer unto the Lord thanksgiving, you must begin with a reflection about yourself

 

* You must learn to reflect upon the goodness of God to your life and you must count your blessings

 

* Think about how far God has brought you

 

* If not for God, you will not become what or who you are today

 

* If you forget your roots, you will fail to give thanks to God

 

* The best way of celebrating harvest thanksgiving is to reflect on your roots and on God's faithfulness

 

* It grieves God when we fail to come back and give Him thanks (v.17)

* Assignment: Read this Psalm 136 and reflect upon it as a family at least once every month

 

* Do not wait for when an annual thanksgiving Programme is organized in Church before you give God His due honour

 

* Thanksgiving Should be a way of life on a daily basis

 

* If Christians can learn to thank God in all circumstances, we will experience His power

 

* Daniel 6:10 - "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

 

* There is power in thanksgiving

 

* Today, most Christian's prayer is full of complaints & petitions

 

* Don't spend all your time going from one prayer house to another seeking for miracles  - You are a child of God & you have direct access to the throne of Mercy

 

* The Benefits of Thanksgiving for the Healed Leper:

1. The distance between Jesus & the Samaritans was closed

- When you begin to reap the dividends of thanksgiving, you are drawn closely to God

 

2. He was completely healed (v.19)

 

3. He enjoyed a hand of friendship & forgiveness of sins (v.19) 

- Our relationship with God is not possible where there is sin

- We must always thank God for Salvation & the forgiveness of our sins

- Remember that You were saved by grace

 

* NOTE: God complained that His people were thankless & do not fulfil their vows 

→ Psalm 50:14 - "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfil your vows to the Most High"

 

* NOTE: A vow is voluntary & when you make it, you must fulfil it.

 

*Two examples of people who fulfilled their vows even when it was difficult to do so:

⇒ Hannah  (1st Samuel 1:11; 27- 28)

⇒ Jephthah (Judges 11:30-31; 34, 39)

 

* God is honoured when you make a vow and you fulfil it.

 

★ God is always ready to bless you especially, when you show Him that you are grateful for all He has done for you and you fulfil your vows