Help us to Help them (Rev. David Kwamkur) 24-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

24th May, 2015

★ WIDOWS, ORPHANS &

VULNERABLE CHILDREN WEEK

 

Rev. David Kwamkur

★ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Help us to Help them

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Add to your Faith

* Service Leader: Mrs. Jessica Adams

* Text: Matthew 9:35-38

★ Psalm 10:17-18 → "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."

* God does not want anyone to be alone (Genesis 2:18)

* The major problem that widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children face in life is the issue of loneliness

* The loss of the breadwinner puts a lot of pressure on the surviving members of the family

* Jesus Saw 3 things (in Matthew 9:36):

(a) He saw the crowd

(b) He saw their condition

(c) He saw the reason for the suffering (there was no shepherd to take care of them)

* NOTE: Jesus did not only stop at pity, he had compassion on the crowd (by meeting their needs)

→(see: Matthew 9:35)

* Every genuine Church should meet the needs of people as much as it can

→ Many Church organise evangelism programmes & embark on expensive projects but they do not care for people's welfare

* NOTE: people don't care About how much you know, unless the know how much you care!

* There is no way to engage in genuine evangelism and not 'see' the needs of the people you are ministering to

* Any time God sees anyone in need, His heart is moved

* God desires that His people should be concerned about the condition of widows, orphans and vulnerable children in the Church and society

* Many people do not even want to imagine what being a widow, orphan or widower entaiIs

* The major problem is not death, but the unforeseen circumstances that death throws people into when it suddenly occurs

* Imagine going through life without the presence of loved ones around you . . .

→ Things are not usually the same after their untimely exit

* Sometimes widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children wish that someone will understand what they are going through

* Widows usually suffer rejection and are stripped of their husband's assets and put under a lot of pressure and unpleasant circumstances

→ Unfortunately, even their so called Christian relatives and friends are involved in this evil, instead of protecting them

* Most widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children are:

→ Physically abused

→ Financially defrauded

→ Spiritually neglected

→ Nutritionally malnourished

→ Emotionally harrassed

* Many people (including some Christians) maltreat these set of people

★ Why do we have widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children in our midst?

1. Widows:

* The sudden untimely death of a husband is the loss of the breadwinner and it is a serious thing

2. Vulnerable Children:

* In our society today, children are being raised by other children because parents are too busy to invest in quality parenting

* Busy parents procure the services of other children (househelps) to raise and take care of their children while they pursue material things

* If parents do not take care of their own children, there will be more vulnerable children in the society

★ What is the Way out?

→ God is the answer and the Church is the channel!

* The Church is the primary means of support for widows, orphans and vulnerable children

★ James 1:27 → ''A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

* NOTE: The care & help you render to widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children determines whether or not you are truly a godly person (this is the ultimate test).

* Do you care whether widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children:

→ eat decent meals everyday?

→ have clothes to wear?

→ are protected from oppression?

→ are able to acquire basic education?

→ are reached with the Gospel of Christ?

→ have access to basic medical care?

* Caring for widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children is a command from God

→ It is not an option

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

★ PASTOR'S CORNER

God's heart is greatly moved by the plight of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Most of us cannot imagine going though a day without food, clean water, shelter, education or the presence of loved ones.

Most often, the widows, orphans and vulnerable children experience loneliness, hunger, insecurity, rejection, discrimination, anxiety, depression, suppression, distress, discouragement, injustice etc.

God is the answer and the Church is the means by which He will change The lives of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Because God cares for those in need. He wants His children to care for them as well.

 

★ MISSION CHARGE

"We are all in life potential widows and widowers. Be mindful of what you do and the way you treat those with that status today. You might as well receive the same treatment soonest."

→ Pastor Victor T. Amos

★ QUOTE

"What most people need to learn in life is how to lone people and use things instead of using people and loving things."

→ Annonymous

Knowledge (Mr. Simon Gunkat) 17-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki, Abuja - Nigeria

17th May, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Mr. Simon Gunkat

* Topic: Knowledge

* Theme: Growing Up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Add to your Faith

* Service Leader: Mr. Nanyak Kumsal

☆ Text: 2 Peter 1:1-11

* As you grow (physically and spiritually), you are expected to add certain virtues to your life so that your development can be wholistic

☆ Galatians 5:22-23

☆ Colossians 3:12-14

* Knowledge means 'to know', or having something in your memory

→ Knowledge connotes the deposit of information or experience in your mind/heart

* When you put knowledge into use, it make sense and translates into wisdom

* The proper application of knowledge is wisdom

Types of wisdom:

1. Satanic wisdom (wisdom that is corrupted)

2. Human wisdom (also known as common sense)

3. Godly wisdom (wisdom that comes from God: it is pure and uncorruptible)

* Any wisdom that claims superiority over godly wisdom is faulty

* The proper application of knowledge will enable you to live right;

* The improper usasge of knowledge will destroy you

* Acts 17:16-23

* Greek philosophers in Athens claimed that they knew all things & they always wanted to hear the latest ideas; yet, they served and worshipped gods they did not know

→ Acts 17:23

* Like the times of Paul, today secular knowledge has increased and godly knowledge is relegated to the background

☆ Colossians 2:8

* You must be careful not to be swayed by any knowledge or ungodly wisdom

* The existence of God cannot be investigated through scientific or philosophical knowledge

* Human knowledge is limited

* God can only be known by faith through the revelation of the gospel

☆John 14:5-14 (Thomas & Philip tried using human logic to unravel divine mysteries)

☆ Judges 16:15-22 (story of Samson & Delilah)

* Samson used godly knowledge wrongly and it cost him his ministry and eventually, his life

★ Blessings of applying Godly Wisdom and Knowledge Correctly:

1. You will surely be blessed

2. You will be productive

3. You will gain eternal life

* Those who are wise fear God, and as a result, they live long (Proverbs 1:7)

★ Examples of Biblical Characters who rightly applied godly Wisdom:

1. Joseph

☆ Genesis 39:9 (Joseph)

→ Because of godly wisdom, he considered sexual immorality, as wickedness against God

2. Daniel

☆ He considered the knowledge of God as a matter of life and death

→ Godly knowledge produces courage, strenght and even supernatural miracles

* Daniel 1:8

* Daniel 6:10

* Daniel 3:16 &18

→ Regardless of the challenges face in life, godly wisdom and knowledge will enable you stand by your faith

* If you use your knowledge for the right things, God will protect you

★ Lessons to be learnt:

→ If you add godly virtues to your life:

1. You will be productive

2. Lack of them causes you to be short sighted

3. You will reach your expected destination (Heaveny)

★ Characteristics of foolish people:

1. They acquire knowledge and yet apply it wrongly

2. They build on the sand (faulty foundations)  (Matthew 7:26)

3. They abide in sin hoping that There will not be nagative consequences (Romans 6:23)

4. They indulge in indiscriminate sexual activities even when they know the adverse spiritual, physical and health consequences

* NOTE: Those who are foolish do not always end well

* Question: will you continue to live a life of foolishness or will you accept God's knowledge that will produce godly wisdom in you?

★ MISSION CHARGE

"Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go and learn at once how big and precious it is."

→ Maxim Gorky

★ QUOTE

"There are three enemies of personal peace. Regret over yesterday's mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow's problems and ingratitude for today's blessing."

→John Mason

Testimony of God's Mercies in the Marketplace (Arch. Wale Ademo) 04-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ National Hospital Chapel,

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

4th May, 2015

☆ Marketplace Ministry Seminar

TESTIMONY

* Speaker: Arch. Wale Ademo [Deputy Director, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)]

* Topic: Testimony of God's Mercies in the Marketplace

* Godliness with contentment is great gain

* You do not have to cheat for God to bless you

* When you stand by the truth, God will vindicate you

* As a Christian, you must always refuse to be influenced negatively

* When you live in integrity, you will have the opportunity to influence others for Christ in the marketplace

* The issue of bribery is commonplace in the marketplace, but as a child of God, you must resist the temptation to give or take bribes  

* Integrity gives you confidence and produces joy in your heart. You may loose some temporary perks (as a result of your refusal to compromise), but you gain God's eternal favor

* God will always complete what He started!

* When you honour God, He will embarrass you with blessings

* It pays to serve Jesus

* God has called you to be light of the world and salt of the earth (the Marketplace)

* Do not live or be influenced by the love of money

Following the Star (Rev. Stephen Gyang) 03-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

3rd May, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Stephen Gyang (Pastor, COCIN Kuje, Abuja)

* Topic: Following the Star

* Theme: Growing Up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service Leader: Pastor Victor T. Amos

* Text: Matthew 2:1-10

★ REGIONAL CHURCH COUNCIL (RCC) REVIVAL

Rev. Stephen Gyang 

* A star may be defined as a luminous white 'dot' in the dark sky; or a widely known person/a celebrity;

→ It may be a symbol used to direct people to a hotel, or an organization

* NOTE: The star led the wise men to Jesus

→ Anything or anyone that leads or points people to Jesus represents a sort of 'star'

★ Different dimensions of the star:

1. Church as the star

→ Which Church is the true Church that leads people to the saving grace of Jesus?

→ Today, there is a proliferation of Churches and many of them are a sham (a fraud) that Satan is using to mislead and distract people

2. The Pastor as the star

→ A Pastor is the shepherd; He is the one that tends the flock of the Lord

→ A Pastor is meant to direct people to Jesus, not to himself or to his own ministry

→ Today, there is a proliferation of fake pastors and preachers who take undue advantage of the flock of the Lord for selfish reasons

3. Jesus as the star

→ This is the ultimate star that will lead us to God, the Father

☆ John 14:6 →"Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

☆ John 14:8-9

→Many people have been Christians for a long time, yet they do not have a personal relationship with the Father

* Question: who are you looking up to?

★ The Right way of following the star

☆ Matthew 2:1-2

1. Look up to Jesus

→ The wise men were not blind

→ Their eyes were wide open & they recognized the star of Jesus

* How do you see Jesus today?

→ through faith in Him

2. You must believe & trust in Jesus

→ As you decide to follow the star, You will meet many obstacles (Herod) on the way

☆Matthew 2:8-9

→ In spite of obstructions on their way, the wise men trusted the star and they found Jesus

3. You have to confess Jesus with your mouth

☆ Romans 10:9-13

* If you are truly saved, it will reflect in your character and how you treat the things of God

4. You must be born again

→ This is the first step in establishing a relationship with Jesus

☆ John 3:1-7

★ Blessings of following the Star (Jesus)

☆ Romans 10:10-11

1. You will be saved

2. You will not be put to shame

★ NOTE: Before you can see a star, there has to be darkness

→ Stars shine brighter at night

→ No amount of darkness or challenge or obstacle can subdue the light of a star!

* Those darkest moments, (when things are not clear) are the times that the star of Jesus shines the brightest!

* When you go through challenges in life, who do you look up to?

* Only Jesus can save you

☆ Acts 4:12 →"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

* When you follow the star, there should be visible changes in your life & character;

* You must grow in Christ

MISSION CHARGE

"This is my prayer for all of us: Lord, increase our faith. Increase our faith to bridge the chasm of uncertainty and doubt . . . Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future . . . Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequences follow."

→ Gordon B. Hinckley

QUOTE

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back."

→ Harvey Mackay