Holiness (Rev. John Longhor) 11- 10 -2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja

11th October, 2015

☆ SERMON
* Speaker: Rev. John Longhor
* Topic: Holiness
* Theme: Growing up in Christ
* Sub-Theme: Wholistic Growth
* Service Leader: Elder Boniface Katlong
* Text: 1 Peter 1:16-18

★ Hebrews 12:10-14

* We serve a God that is Holy, in Him there is no darkness or impurity

* God created man to pursue holiness

* Believers are called to Holy living

* Only those who are Holy will see Him

★ Romans 1:18 → God was angry with man because of man's godlessness and consistent wicked lifestyle

★ Genesis 6:9 → God wiped the earth because of man's wickedness

* Today, many believers are falling into the trap of sexual sins. This has become a major problem in our society and the Church at large

* NOTE: Sexual sins polutes the entire body and makes you vulnerable to the control of evil spirits

★ 2 Timothy 3:1-2 →" You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come' People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy."

★ Galatians 5:19-21 →''Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

* Sexual immoralty is listed as the first fruit of the flesh (which is in opposition to God's nature)

★ Hebrews 12:14 →''Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

→ Those who will inherit God's kingdom are those who are holy & pure

* Question: Are you growing in Holiness?

* The Holy Spirit grants you the grace to be Holy

★ Colossians 1:2 → "To: The holy and faithful brothers in Colossae who are in union with the Messiah. May grace and peace from God our Father be yours!"

* The desire of those who are holy is to share in God's nature of holiness continually

★ Revelations 21:1-2 →" And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

☆ NOTE: Heaven is a holy city, not a poluted city

* Your responsiblity is to live a holy life and avoid anything that grieves the Spirit of God

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★ HOLY COMMUNION

☆ EXHORTATION

* Speaker: Pastor Victor Amos

* Topic: Divorce & Double Dating

* Text: Malachi 2:10-16

* Many children of God understand Him only is one part - as a loving God. We tend to forget that God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) 

* A loving and obedient child will always obey God

* Today many Christians take the Lord for granted. This is evident in the rising incidences of divorces in the Church

* If the Church is not whole, what will happen to the Society?

* Those who engage in double dating are playing on the emotions of others and this is wickedness in the sight of God

* Before you make any commitment in a relationship or marriage, rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit

* Disobedience to God hinders His blessings in our lives

* You cannot take the Lord for granted. His consuming nature will destroy you

* Understand that divorce and double-dating are sins against the Lord

* God desires that you build and maintain godly relationships that will glorify Him

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★ MISSION CHARGE

"All I have to do is keep my Spirit, feelings and conscience like a sheet of blank paper, and let the Spirit and power of God write upon it what He pleases. When He writes, I will read; but if I read before He writes, I am very likely to be wrong."

→ Brigham Young

★ QUOTES

"At the moment of commitment, the universe conspire to assist you . . . Always do more than is required of you."

→ George Patton

"Good works is the evidence of our growth in Christ. You cannot do good works and hate your brother."

→ Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri (COCIN President)



Cross-section of Worshippers at COCIN LCC, Garki, Abuja

Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri, COCIN President visited the Church in company of the entire Executive Council of COCIN

Be strong in the Lord (Rev. Christopher Nosike) 08-10-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Funeral of Late Alfred Mwantok

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

LCC Duhur, Kombun,

Mangu Local Government Council,

Plateau State,

8th October, 2015

Rev. Christopher Nosike

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Christopher Nosike (of Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, (AVMCC))

* Topic: Be strong in the Lord

* Text: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

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

* The world would want to show you 'ways' and not 'way'

* NOTE: If you are in Christ, there is only one way!

★ Luke 16:19-31

* You must always live with the consciousness that hell is real, and Heaven is real

* Question: Are you taking care of your 'Lazarus'?

→ They are needy people around you and you have responsibilities toward them

* Your life must be lived in a way that you impact others

* You might live a good life, but if you are not making a positive impact in the lives of those around you, then you are not living optimally to God's glory

★ Proverbs 28:27 →"Whoever gives to the poor will never lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to their poverty will be cursed."

* If you are not giving to the poor, you are living under a curse

★ Isaiah 38:3 →"Please, LORD,” he said, “Remember how I have walked before you faithfully and with a true heart, and I have done what pleases you.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly."

→ NOTE: If you are a good child of God, you can challenge Him and hold Him to His Words

* You cannot live in disobedience and still claim the benefit of His promises

* When you live by faith in God you will receive answers to prayers

★ 2 Corinthians 5:17 →"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

★ Galatians 2:20 →"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

* You have been sent to the world to represent Christ & make disciples for Him

* Question: Are you truly a disciple of Christ?

→ If you are not a disciple of Christ and you attempt to handle God's Word, Satan and His agents will disgrace you

* Acts 19:14-16

★ Question:

→ who are you in Christ?

→ are you a child of God?

→ are you taking care of your Lazarus?

★ Revelation 22:12 →"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

* You must be ready for your day of death. It may come suddenly and without warning

* You must utilize every opportunity to live a life that is God-honoring

* Christ has assured us that He is coming very soon

* lf there is anything you can do for Christ, do it while you have the chance

★ Revelations 3:20 →"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

* Ensure that you live a Holy life and that you are a person of integrity

★ Call to action: Give your life to Christ today. Tomorrow might be too late

★ Ecclesiastes 12:13 →'' Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

A cross-section of sympatizers at the funeral service

Late Mr. Alfred Mwantok

The Blood of the Martyrs (Pastor Victor Amos) 04-10-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki - Abuja
4th October, 2015

☆ SERMON
* Speaker: Pastor Victor Amos
* Topic: The Blood of the Martyrs
* Theme: Growing up in Christ
* Sub-Theme: Wholistic Growth
* Service Leader: Mr. Japheth Chrysantus
* Text: Revelation 6:9-11; John 16:31-33

* WhoIistic growth is growth in Christ that is all-encompassing

* Eschatology deals with the study of future events that are recorded in the Scriptures (eg: the Book of Revelation)

* A martyr is a person who is killed because of his/her beliefs
→ the first martyr in the New Testament is Stephen (See Acts 7:54-60)
→ On a daily basis, people are dying due to the worsening state of security in the world. Many more are dying out of persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ

* Persecution is to treat a person in a cruel or unfair manner because of their race or beliefs etc
→ Persecution is not only from outside the Church but also inside the Church! (Many faithful Christians were persecuted and Killed by Church authorities in the past, eg, John Wyclilfe (for translating the Bible into English) and John Hus

* John the Apostle who authored the book of Revelation was a direct victim of extreem persecution and later became a martyr.
→ He was exiled to the island of Patmos where criminals and outcasts were barnished and left to die
→ Revelation 1:9

☆ Lessons to learn:
1. God will avenge the blood of all those who are martyred because of Him
→ We should comfort ourselves because God will avenge us in due course
2. Anyone who dies in Christ will have power over the second death

* Sometimes, simply bearing a Christian name is enough reason to attract persecution

* What are you being persecuted for?

* Are people comfortable to commit sin around you?

* What is your essence of following Christ?

* Our persecutors have God to contend with
★ Acts 9:4-5 →" He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice said, “I’m Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

* NOTE: The Church is Christ himself, not the physical building that we see
→ Anything done to the Church (true believers in Christ) is personally felt by Jesus

* The last Judgement will be a blessing for Children of God, but for those who antagonise Christ and His people, It will be a dreadful experience

* Do not take vengeance against those who hate you because you believe in Jesus

* Some famous Christian Martyrs
→ John Wycliffe
→ John Hus
→ Polycarp

* Be strong and focussed in your faith, regardless of persecution and opposition

* This is not the time to abide in division in the Church and to advance other personal agenda, but to serve God faithfully and be alert

☆ MISSION CHARGE
"I profess and claim to be bythe grace of God a sound Christian and while there is breath in my body, I will speak forth and defend the law of it. I am ready to defend my convictions even unto death."
→ John Wycliffe

☆ QUOTE
"I desire to be as Balaam's ass. Because the prelates sit on me, wishing to force me to go against the command of God to stop preaching. I will press the feet of their desire and will not obey them, for the angel of the Lord stands before me in the way,"
→ John Hus