Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Why should I save sex until Marriage? (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 31-05-2016

MY SERMON NOTES
@ NDIC/DMO Fellowship
Central Business District,
Garki - Abuja
31st May, 2016



* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu
* Topic: Why should I Save Sex until Marriage?

1. God Commands that we abstain from sexual immorality
Exodus 20:14 → "You shall not commit adultery."

→ God as your father knows what is good for you. He knows the danger in pre-marital and extra-marital sex, and He says 'don't do it'
→ Like babies, we sometimes do not understand God's plan for us, but obedience is to our advantage.

2. There are dangers inherent in sex before marriage such as:
(a) Sexually transmitted diseases of all kinds
→ some of them are incurable
→ treatment is expensive in most cases
 
(b) Unwanted pregnancy
→ Ladies are usually at the receiving end
→ This is something that can destroy a person's life  
→ Many boys deny the ladies when it pregnancy sets in  
→ Confusion sets in when the issue of pregnancy is involved  
→ Premarital sex opens the door for confusion at all levels

3. The body is not meant for Sexual Immorality
1 Corinthians 6:13 →" Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

4. The feeling of Worthlessness  
→ When a person engages in sexual immorality, it leads to a feeling of worthlessness before God and before men

* When a young lady looses her virginity, she 'looses it again'.
→ The circle of abuse never stops once it starts!  
→ It is like a chain reaction

* A young person who does not maintain his/her stand becomes a disgrace to God, parents and society at large

Prayer:
Father, help me to overcome
Every temptation to loose my chastity.
Cleanse me, uphold me.  
Make me whole again.  
I do not want to feel worthless in my life
Help me never to trivialize your commandments


Sunday, 29 May 2016

The Deity of Jesus Christ 3 (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 29-05-2016

MY SERMON NOTES
@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)
First Service
Wuye, Abuja
29th May, 2016


Pastor Sarah Omakwu 
Photo Credit: FWC Media

* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu
* Topic: The Deity of Jesus Christ 3 (Our Jesus, No Ordinary Birth)
* Text: Matthew 1:1-17

* All the names in the above passage were an amazing calculation before the world was created
→ It was a plan: none of them was happenstance

Genesis 49:10 →"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people." [NKJV]

Isaiah 9:6-7→"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." [NKJV]

* NOTE: Jesus did not just come like any religious leader.
→ He came by prophesy & the prophesy came from God
* There is no prophesy that came in details foretelling the birth of any other religious leader in the world
* Jesus did not wake up one day, gathered pieces of philosophy and declared himself as prophet
* Everything Jesus did was according to plan by order and by command of God
* The coming of Jesus was planned before the foundation of the world

What is a Prophesy?
→ A foretelling or prediction of what is to come
→ It is something that is declared by a prophet
→ It is a divinely inspired prediction, instruction or exhortation
→ It is a divinely inspired utterance or revelation
→ It is a prediction that was said years before it was fulfilled
* There were many prophesies associated with the Birth of Jesus

* NOTE: Even for you, there was a prophesy concerning you
→ see: Jeremiah 1:5
→ All your days are recorded in a book even before you were born (Psalm 139:16)
→ Things may not look good or be working fine for you at present, but if you stay with the plan [of God], it will all work out for your good
→ God is faithful

* The fulfillment of the prophesies [concerning Jesus] demonstrate:
1. The infinite knowledge, wisdom and power of God
→ When God says a thing, He has the capacity to make it happen

2. That God is a God of Precision
Isaiah 46:9-10 →''Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure."

* The good thing about a good God is that He cannot do anything bad

* God orchestrates events in history and in life to ensure that his counsel stands

* A prophesy shows the reliability of scriptures which do not come from men but are sent by God

* Don't doubt the Bible!
→ If God is able to move things to ensure that what He said comes to pass, He is surely going to fulfill His word concerning you

2 Peter 1:21 →"for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." [NKJV]

* NOTE: Everything prophesied concerning Jesus did not come by man;
→ men prophesied as they were inspired by God
* Many prophets spoke within a span of 1,000 years about the birth of Jesus Christ through the anointing of the Holy Spirit
* Everything the prophets prophesied came to pass!
* God is great, mighty and awesome.
→ He can do things that we cannot even fathom. Unbelievable!

THE PROPHESIES ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST:
1. He is the 'Seed' of the Woman
Genesis 3:15 →"And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” [NKJV]

NOTE: the 'Seed' here refers to Jesus Christ
→ The 'Seed' was being sought after in every birth since creation with the aim of destroying it [Exodus 1:22; Matthew 2:16]
* This prophesy was fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-21, 25

* NOTE: The egg of Mary, and the sperm of Jesus did not have anything to do with Jesus

→ It was the Word of God that the Holy Spirit acted upon to produce Jesus Christ in the flesh

2. He will be a descendant of Abraham
→ God factored you in the scheme of things!
→ We were all en-grafted as heirs of Abraham so we could inherit the promised blessings
→ It is through Jesus Christ that we [Gentiles] became a part of the Covenant of God with Abraham

3. He will come from Isaac
4. He will be of the tribe of Judah
→ 'Shiloh' is a Messianic title for the Seed of the Woman; It also means 'peaceful' and 'peacemaker'
→ Before Jesus Christ came, God had already factored your peace into these prophesies
→ peace will not just come to you: you have to 'let' it
→ peace ruling is actually Jesus ruling, because He is the Prince of Peace (see: Isaiah 9:6)

5. He will be born in the Family of Jesse
* In these prophesies God thought about everything concerning:
→ your birth
→ your peace
→ who will rule & govern you over you
* These prophesies point towards the superiority of Jesus Christ

6. He will come from the House of David
* NOTE: In your gene somewhere, there is royalty
7. He will come by Virgin Birth
Isaiah 7:14 →"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. [NKJV] 
⇒ This passage was fulfilled in Matthew 1:23

8. He will come from Bethlehem
Micah 5:2 →"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
→ This scripture was fulfilled in Luke 2:4-7

* NOTE: Everything you are going through is all in the plan of God and it will all make sense one day
→ Nothing is out of turn or out of order: it is all in the plan
☆ See: Jeremiah 29:11

10. He shall be preceded by a Forerunner
Isaiah 40:3''The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God."
→ This was fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-12

11. He shall be presented with gifts by Kings and Shepherds
Psalm 72:9-11 →"Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him."
→ It was fulfilled in Matthew 2:10-11

12. There will be wailing and Lamentation
Jeremiah 31:15"Thus says the Lord: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”
→ There was weeping and mourning when women cried for their slain babies in Matthew 2:16
* All these fulfilled prophesies point to the fact that the Bible is authentic and Jesus Christ is authentic

13. That Jesus will be taken to Egypt
Hosea 11:1"When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son."
→ This Scripture was fulfilled in Matthew 2:13-15

* NOTE: All these fulfilled prophesies make Jesus superior to anyone who claimed He was sent by God

CONCLUSION:
* God carefully selected how Jesus came so that you can connect yourself to it
→ If He came through Holy means, you are Holy
→ If He came through rich means, you are rich

* We are from a divine heritage;
We are a royal priesthood, a Holy nation;
We are from the true blue blood of Heaven
We are not ordinary people;
We are people of promise;

Galatians 3:8-9 ''And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed." So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."

* NOTE: You are not ordinary! You did not come by chance, you came by prophesy
→ When God was bringing Jesus forth, He factored you in
→ You are en-grafted into the genealogy of Abraham

* You must stop walking around as if you are cursed orphan
→ You are a child of Abraham and the Bible calls you blessed
→ You are a God-person: You do not belong to the economy of the world

* God knew that the devil will be running in rampage, He connected you with Abraham
→ Every thing you need in life has been provided for you through the blessing of Abraham

* In your bloodline, there is nothing that defeats, nothing that fails, nothing that is small

* Your bloodline:
→ is victorious
→ is prosperous
→ is successful
→ defeats the devil everyday
→ never takes 'no' for an answer
→ goes from glory to glory, strength to strength, victory to victory

DECLARATION:
"I am of Faith, therefore, my name is blessed;
I am blessed.
I may not look like it,
I may not feel like it,
But that does not have anything to do with anything.
I am Blessed with believing Abraham."

* The audio of this message and other messages by Pastor Sarah Omakwu and other Pastors of Family Worship Centre, Abuja can be downloaded via the Church's Online Store

Friday, 27 May 2016

The Plan of God is that You Move Foward (Pastor Yakubu Yola) 27-05-2016

MY SERMON NOTES
@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)
Wuye, Abuja
27th May, 2016

FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICE

* Speaker: Pastor Yakubu Yola
* Topic: The Plan of God is that You Move Forward
* Text: Mark 11:1-6

Proverbs 4:18"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day."

1 Peter 2:9"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

* Not only do living things grow, the things that accompany them also grow

* Time cannot pass and living things will not grow

* NOTE: stagnation is not of God

* The will of God for your life:
→ Advancement
→ Growth
→ Movement

* When things do not change, it is an indication that something is wrong and it is a good cause for concern

Matthew 7:11"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

* Our God is a progressive God
→ He is a God of advancement

* God wants you to move forward, advance and progress

* He does not want you to stagnate in one position for a long time, doing the same thing
⇒ That is not His plan

* When you plant a seed, it grows with time

Proverbs 4:18 "The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker — travellers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces." The Message Version [MSG]

* God's plan is that life will get better for you

Mark 4:30-32 →"And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.” 

Luke 2:52 → "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

* God is interested in increase that it has become His exclusive preserve & job description

Acts 2:47 → "praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." 

1 Corinthians 3:6 → "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow." 

* God delights in your increase

* If increase is God's job, and you are not increased, it is an indictment on His person

Luke 13:9 → "If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down."

→ God is not impressed when you stagnate and do not grow or increase

☆ Function of God's Word in your Life:
★ 1 Timothy 4:15 → "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress."
→ Your progress by the reason of God' word should be evident to everyone that comes in contact with you  

1 Peter 2:2 → "Like new-born babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation"

Joshua 1:8 → "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

* God's word in your life should cause you to progress and be successful

★ 2 Corinthians 3:18 → "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
→ God's word transforms us from one degree of glory to another

* Anything in life for you to acheive progress has already been provided by God

* All you need to do is to exercise your faith

* If you are not making progress, it is not God's fault

* It does not take God anything to move you from one level to another

* Ask yourself:
→ Why am I not making progress?
→ Which area of my life is not growing?

* Destiny is a function of time

* The devil's plan is that if he cannot do anything about your past, he delays and frustrates your future through delays and stagnation

* Many Christians give up when they experience delays & they loose their faith

★ James 1:6 → "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

* The tied donkey in Matthew 21:2 was designed for glory, but limited in one place by a rope by the road.  
* NOTE: Even though it was tied and restricted, Jesus knew about the donkey!
→ God is mindful of your present condition
→ God knows where the knots are and he is willing to untie you

* God is also aware that whenever he is about to untie you, there are always contentions and oppositions (Mark 11:4-5)

* Progress is the plan of God, but delay is the strategy of the devil to:  
→ make you discouraged
→ make you loose faith
→ make you doubt God

* NOTE: Every delay & stagnation responds to the command of the Master

★ Luke 5:5 →"Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." 

★ Matthew 8:8 → "The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed."

Declarations:
Isaiah 43:18 →"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."  

Isaiah 61:7 →"Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours."

Hebrews 13:20-21''Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

1 Peter 2:9"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Philippians 1:6 →"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Proverbs 4:18 →"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day."

★ As you declare God's word, something will give way!  

Things to do:
1. Continue these declarations
2. Start doing that thing that will enable you make progress


Except as otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV)



Thursday, 26 May 2016

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF) - Rev. Dr. David Pofi & Mrs. Gyarta Pofi 26-05-2016

MY SERMON NOTES
@ Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)
Combined Fellowship, Abuja Zone
☆ Venue: Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Nyanya - Abuja

26th May, 2016

* Guest Speakers: Rev. Dr. David Pofi & Mrs. Gyarta Pofi



* Marriage is a lifetime venture.
→ Do not just wake up one day and decide that you want to break it up
→ You must resolve to make your marriage work at all cost
→ You must delibrately invest in your marriage



Deuteronomy 5:9-10 "you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." [NKJV]



Isaiah 59:21 →"As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.” [NKJV]



* You can choose to be a source of blessing to your children up to a thousand generation
→ You may also choose to be a curse to your children to the 4th generation



 * Your present lifestyle will determine your children's blessings



 * Today, Satan is waging war against godly marriages
⇒ This explains the rise of divorces, domestic marriages and stained relationships



 * If you get it right by sowing the right seeds, your children will also get it right when their time comes



 * Your relationship with God will definitely affect your relationship with your spouse



 * Once you are disconnected from God, you will invariably be disconnected from your spouse



 * Do not be bold to stand before people to minister God's Word when your "home Church" is in disarray



 * You can pretend to believers outside, but you cannot successfully pretends to his family!


* Ensure that your family worship is vibrant and that your spouse and children are connected to God
→ This affects your children in a positive way


* You must ensure that you pass on the Word of God as a legacy to your children
→ this solidifies the foundation of having a thousand godly generations


* Whatever spirit you are carrying is also what will be obtainable in your kids
→ Children learn alot by watching & emulating their parents


* NOTE: Consciously or otherwise, there is something that somebody around you is learning from your life
* Your relationship with God will definitely affect your relationship with your spouse


* Your values will be passed on to your children
→ Ensure that your values are based on the Word of God


* Do all it takes to make your marriage work


* There are so many couples who need you to encourage them. Do not disaapoint them; do not disappoint God!  



☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆



Mrs. Gyarta Pofi
Matthew 13:44-45 ''Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls."


* If your family is valuable to you, you will make all the required sacrifices to make it work


* You must make up your mind to make heaven TOGETHER with your spouse!
→ You must not do it all alone. It is a partnership
→ Read God's Word TOGETHER, Pray TOGETHER, attend Church TOGETHER, do everything TOGETHER. This is the secret of success in marriage!


Ecclesiastes 9:8-10 →"Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going."



3 Levels God wants You to Maintain in your Life:
1. Personal Holiness (verse 8)
→ Make sure there is no sin in your life
→ You must spend time with God
→ The anointing must never be lacking in your life


2. Your Family (verse 9)
→ Ensure that their is an unbreakable bond of friendship between you and your spouse
→ Friendship is what makes marriage enjoyable
→ Enjoy each other: decide together, plan together, talk together, play together, sleep in the same room and on the same bed together


* Marriage is the bridge you must cross into outside ministry
→ If your marriage is not correct, your ministry outside is futile


* When you are not united with your spouse, your children will divide and rule you
→ Issues of discipline must be approached from the same perspective by both spouses
→ It is disastrous for spouses to antagonize themselves on the issue of discipline of their children


3. Outside Work (verse 10)
→ Crossing the first two bridges successfully empowers you to excel outside
 
Mrs. Gyarta Pofi



Rev. Dr. David Pofi (Founder, Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF))













Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Mischievous Madness 19 (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 18-05-2016

MY SERMON NOTES
@ NDIC/DMO Fellowship
Central Business District,
Garki - Abuja
18th May, 2016

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi
* Topic: Mischievous Madness (19)
* Text: Proverbs 23:33 "Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things." (KJV)

Proverbs 15:2 →"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." (KJV) 

* Question: What comes out of your mouth?

Proverbs 15:4"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." (KJV) 

Proverbs 16:28 ''A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends." (KJV) 

* You must not use your mouth to sow strife & whispers that separate friends

* 'Whisperers' are deadly poison to be avoided
→ Shut them down when they bring their gossips to you

Numbers 12:1-2 →"And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it."

* God was not happy with Aaron and Miriam (Numbers 12:9-10)

* Unless you repent from gossip and tale bearing, you will be cut off from the congregation of the righteous (Numbers 12:14-15)

Prayer:
"Lord, help me to use my mouth to give you glory 
and edify your people;
May my tongue not lead me into trouble."



Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Mischievous Madness 18 (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 17-05-2016

MY SERMON NOTES
@ NDIC/DMO Fellowship
Central Business District,
Garki - Abuja
17th May, 2016

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi
* Topic: Mischievous Madness (18)
* Text: Proverbs 23:33 "Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things." (KJV)

Psalm 15:1-3"Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend." (KJV) 

* You must not misuse the information that comes to you by virtue of your privileged position (in whatever capacity)
→ This is especially true for believers and ministers of the Gospel

* Slander must be very far from you



* Those who are wise will guard their tongue

* God expects you to abide in wisdom

* You know a foolish man as soon as he opens his mouth

Titus 1:10 →"For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain." (KJV)

Proverbs 15:4"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit." (KJV) 

Prayer:
"Father, make my tongue wholesome"

Monday, 16 May 2016

Mischievous Madness 17 (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 16-05-2016

MY SERMON NOTES
@ NDIC/DMO Fellowship
Central Business District,
Garki - Abuja
16th May, 2016

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi
* Topic: Mischievous Madness (17)
* Text: Proverbs 23:33 →"Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things." (KJV)

* The fact that a person preaches the Gospel does not exclude him or her from speaking perverse things

* Those who misuse the privilege they have as ministers to speak perverse things will be judge

James 3:1 "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment."  (KJV) 

* Your service unto the Lord shall be judged by Him

* NOTE: Anybody can be rejected

Matthew 12:35-37 →''A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

* You must watch your mouth so that you do not speak idle words

* Every word you speak should be for the edification of your hearers

Job 42:7-8 → "And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

* Do not use your words to discourage others or undermine the service of a minister of the Gospel

* The Minister you are speaking against and undermining is the one praying for you
→ If God is angry, He will turn his blessings for you into curses

* Your negative words have the potential to destroy the faith of others

* There is a command for us that we must not speak evil against another person

James 4:11-12"Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?" (NKJV)

* Anytime you speak evil against others, you cause people to disrespect them

Psalm 141:3"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips."

* Fear the anointing of God that is upon the lives of your leaders

Prayer:
"Father, make my tongue wholesome;
May my mouth be a fountain of life and blessing."

Sunday, 15 May 2016

The Diety of Jesus Christ 1 (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 15-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)
Wuye, Abuja
2nd Sunday Service
15th May, 2016

Pastor Sarah Omakwu
Picture Credit: FWC Media


* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu
* Topic: The Diety of Jesus Christ (1)
* Theme: Our Jesus

* The doctrine of the diety of Jesus Christ is one of the most important doctrines of Christianity
→ It is non negotiable
→ It is a major rock of offense for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ
→ It is the major distinguishing point between Christianity and other religions, sects and cults

* Many religions do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God
→ They argue that since God does not have a wife, He could not have had a Son. By this, they limit God's Almightiness
→ God does not need anything to create anything (see: Hebrews 11:3)
 
* The Diety of Christ means:
→ The 'God-ness' of Jesus [the fact that Jesus is God, and is the Son of God];  
→ The incarnation of the Son of God [Jesus came in the flesh but He is still God]

* Jesus Christ was God, before He became the son of God [at birth through Mary]
→ Many religions do not accept the diety of Jesus. They regard Him as a created being

* NOTE: Jesus was nota created being. He is seIf existent even before the world was created

Question: Why is Jesus' Sonship to God a problem?
⇒ It is a demonic problem.
→ The idea that Jesus is not the Son of God started from the devil
→ The diety of Jesus had always been challenged by Satan
→ It is satan's grand plan & strategy to cause people to reject Jesus as the Son of God

* The bedrock of the Christian faith rests upon the fact that Jesus is God, and He came into the world in flesh
→ If there is anything that Satan can take away from you, it is this belief

* It is exteemly important for every Christian to know, understand, accept and be able to defend the diety and incarnation of Jesus Christ. If you don't, Satan has you exactly where he wants

1 John 4:2-3 ''By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world." [NKJV]

* There is no Christianity if the diety of Jesus Christ is not the prime tenet
→ Every faith, religion or sect that does not accept this fact is essentially antichrist

* The diety of Jesus Christ is the presupposition of the New Testament & the bedrock of our Christian faith

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THE ORIGIN OF JESUS
NOTE: Jesus Christ did not come into existence with His birth through Mary
→ He existed even before the world was created as a limitless, eternal, unending, unchanging God!
→ He was at the beginning with God

THE TRINITY
* Jesus is the Second person of the trinity
* The trinity is the existence of One God in three persons (God the Father, Gd the Son, and God the Holy Spirit)
→ This is a major offense to Islam and to all those who do not believe in Christ
NOTE: God is supreme, and He can choose to manifest Himself in as many forms as He desires. He is limitless

Genesis 1:26 →"Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

NOTE: At creation, it was the three persons of God working together as one to create every thing

* The trinity is the ultimate creative force in the universe
→ God spoke His Word (Jesus); the Holy Spirit takes the Word and makes it into what God desires
→ The same creative force was manifested at the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ

* Whatever happens to you has to be done by the Trinity
→ When you speak God's word [into your situation], the Holy Spirit takes it and makes it happen. This is the Key to getting any miracle you require in life

JESUS IS FROM GOD
Micah 5:2''But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” [NKJV]

* NOTE: Jesus Christ is ageless, changeless, limitless and eternal
→ He came from 'everlasting'  

John 1:1-3 →"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." [NKJV]

* Everything that exists [in the Universe] was made THROUGH Jesus Christ
→ There is nothing that exists that was not made THROUGH Him
→ If you need anything, you must come THROUGH Him
⇒ You must put 'pressure' on the Word of God for all you require
→ See: Acts 20:32  

Revelation 13:8 →"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

NOTE: God had already made provision for the redemption of man right from the foundation of the world!

* Jesus Christ was not 'created', He 'existed' before the world was made

* Jesus Christ transited from to man, but He is God
→ He was God first, then He became man
⇒ Jesus Christ is an infinite, eternal and unchanging God

PROOF OF HIS DIETY
* The Scriptures give us enough evidence that He is the Son of God

* Jesus Christ esteemed Himself as divine (see: Matthew 6:17)

* Those who were with Him [His disciples] did not only give us a verbal evidence, but they wrote it down in the Gospels (see: Matthew 16:13-17)

* Those whom He taught recognized His divinity (see John 4:42)

* Those who crucified Him also attested to His divinity (Matthew 27:54)  

* Above all the Biblical evidence, is the great impression Jesus left in the world
→ The revolution which Christ has wroth in the world is the most convincing proof of the diety of Christ
→ Billions of lives have been affected and transformed by simply accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior
→ Our transformed lives as Christians bear the greatest proof that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
→ Many lives have been totally transformed [from darkness into light] through the power of the Son of God over the ages!

* By our different testimonies and the things that God has done in our lives, we can boldly say "Jesus is the Son of God, and Jesus is God''

John 5:16-18→"For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." [NKJV]

* NOTE: The only person who could break the Sabbath was God, because He was the person who instituted it
→ Jesus was there when the idea of the Sabbath was commissioned and He knew why it was created (see: Mark 2:27)

→ Jesus and God are one!
→ Jesus said the was the Son of God and He cannot lie

John 20:27-29 →"Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
→ Thomas made that proclamation by divine revelation

1 Timothy 3:16 →"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory."

THE CONCEALMENT & REVELATION OF JESUS
* Jesus Christ was concealed in the Old Testament (OT) but He was revealed in the New Testament (NT).

* Jesus was Prophesied about in the Old Testament (OT), but manifested in the New Testament (NT)

* The following set of verses are a clear evidence to this:

1. Jesus' Everlasting Rulership
★ OT: Psalm 45:6-7''Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."
★ NT: Hebrews 1:8-9 →"But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

2. Jesus the Good Shepherd
★ OT: Psalm 23:1 →"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
★ NT: John 10:14 →"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."
★ NT: Hebrews 13:20 →"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant."
★ NT: Acts 20:28 →"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

3. A Stone of stumbling & a Rock of Offense
★ OT: Isaiah 8:13-14 →"The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem."
★ NT: 1 Peter 2:4 →"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious."
★ NT: 1 Peter 2:7-8 →"Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed."

* NOTE: whenever you invoke the name of Jesus in prayer, you are addressing the entire godhead

4. Exaltation of Jesus
★ OT: Psalm 110:1 →"The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
★ NT: Matthew 22:42-46 →''saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’ ”? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore."

5. The I AM
★ OT: Exodus 3:13-14 →"Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
★ NT: John 8:57-58 →"Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

6. The Voice in the Wilderness
★ OT: Isaiah 40:3 →"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God."
★ NT: Mark 1:1-3 →"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’"

7. The First and the Last
★ OT: Isaiah 48:12-13 →''Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together."
★ OT: Isaiah 48:17 →"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go."
★ NT: Revelation 1:17-18 →"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last."
Note: when God speaks, it is Jesus that is also speaking

8. The Holy One
★ OT: Hosea 11:9 →"I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror."
★ NT: Mark 1:23-24 →"Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
→ For the first time, demons spoke the truth!

9. Jesus Exalted
★ OT: Isaiah 45:22-24 →"Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him."
★ NT: Philippians 2:10-11 →"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
NOTE: The same respect given to God (in the OT) was accorded to Jesus (in the NT).

10. Our High Priest: Melchizedek
★ OT: Genesis 14:18-20 →"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all."
★ NT: Hebrews 7:1-3 →"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."

* NOTE: Jesus not the Father, but He is the same as the Father
→ He is true man and true God! (100% man & 100% God)
 
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The audio of the message is available for download at:  https://store.fwcabuja.org/