Missions (Rev. Reuben E. Ezemadu) 30-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja  

30th October, 2016 

Picture Credit: FWC Media 

☆ SERMON: 

* Speaker: Rev. Reuben E. Ezemadu  (Founder, Christian Missionary Foundation Inc.) 

* Topic: Missions 

* Text: Matthew 24:1-14 

* We are living in a special time in God's agenda and program. 

→ It is the End Time! 

→ Many prophets of old, talked about it; Jesus amplified it (Matthew 24; Luke 21) 

* Satan is doing all he can to distract us from fulfilling God's agenda, hoping he will delay it 

* There had been political regimes that resisted the spread of the Gospel: 

→ One of the recent ones was Communism (the Iron Curtain)

→ Presently, Russia has banned all forms of missionary work and evangelism 

→ Christians are being persecuted all over the world 

* These are events that point to the fact that the end is near 

★ Matthew 24:37-39 

★ Luke 12:54-56 

* The challenge before us is that many people (including Christians) cannot discern the times  

* Many people will become lovers of self → [survival mode] 

★ 2 Timothy 3:1-5  

★ Matthew 9:35-38

* NOTE: The events that are happening in the world today (violence, oppression, terrorism, wars, economic recession, political turmoil, migration etc) are creating opportunities for ministry

→ Jesus describes this as 'big & ripe harvest'  (see: Matthew 9.37) 

* God is using persecutions, and diverse events to bring the harvest closest to us 

* The reason that Jesus has not come is because we have not finished the work [of evangelizing the lost] 

* The Lord is not leaving the Church just to worship Him. There will be plenty worship in Heaven  

→ God expects us to do what cannot be done in heaven; that is outreach (reaching the unsaved) 

★ Revelation 7:9 →"After these things, I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands." 

* God is raising people of all races and tribes to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth 

* God ordains and orchestrates unlikely situations and circumstances to advance His Kingdom 

★ Acts 1:8 →"But you’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you’ll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

→ we all have a part to play 

→ the reward you will receive in heaven will be determined by how well you play your part 

* You cannot remain idle and expect a rich reward in Heaven 

* You must convert your earthy resources (money, time and talents) into eternal treasures 

* You must identify your portion and occupy it 

☆ How You can Fulfill your Part:

→ God has an assignment for everyone in the work of missions 

* Some suggestions:

1. You can go (into the field and evangelize) 

2. You can support the work of missions (financially & materially) 

3. You can pray for the success of missions and missionaries 

★ Matthew 25:34-36 

★ Matthew 5:13-15 

* God expects you to use your skills and profession to preach the Gospel of Christ 

* Every Christian is supposed to be a witness of Christ everywhere 

→ Slave girl in Na'aman's  house (2 Kings 5:1-4) 

→ Jael the housewife aided Israel's victory (Judges 4:17-24) 

→ Mordecai the gate man (Esther 4) 

* You should use the resources you have to advance God's kingdom 

★ Exodus 35:21-22 →" and every person whose heart moved him and all whose spirits prompted them, brought an offering to the LORD for constructing the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. Both the men and women came—all whose hearts prompted them—and brought brooches, earrings, rings, pendants, and all kinds of gold jewelry. Every person presented a wave offering of gold to the LORD." 

→ Everyone should take up his/her responsibilities 

→ It has to be with the realization of urgency. Opportunities do not last for ever (see: John 9:4) 

* NOTE: There is no corporate reward in heaven! 

⇒ Every one will be personally accountable to God 

* Your work cannot earn you Salvation 

→ You must believe personally

→ After you believe, you must do the work 

→ It is the work you do that determines your reward 

* A spectator has no reward! 

→ Only active players are recognized and paid 

★ Matthew 25:23 →"His master told him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you’ve been trustworthy with a small amount, I’ll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s joy!" (ISV) 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 

☆ Pastor Sarah Omakwu 

→ You must constantly have a Kingdom mentality 

→ Do not be concerned about gathering material riches on earth 

→ What is on God's mind is not your next breakthrough! 

→ God is more concerned that the lost are saved 

→ How many people are you saving? 

→ There is no horror compared to loosing heaven 

→ Today is the perfect time to write your name in the books of Heaven 

→ The most important thing you can do on this earth is to get people saved and reconciled to Jesus  

★ John 10:16 → "I have other sheep that don’t belong to this fold. I must lead these also, and they’ll listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd." 

* How many people have you led to Jesus Christ? 

→ If you have not done so, you are failing 

* There are endless opportunities to bring people to Christ everyday 

* Do the things that please God. That is the souls of men 

* Your testimony is a powerful tool of evangelism 

→ You can share your story with others 

* To those going all over looking for love and acceptance in the wrong places:

→ God has the key to everything that you need in life 

→ God wants to give you rest and peace of mind 

☆ QUOTE

"A great church is not known for its seating capacity, 
but by its sending capacity." 

→ Oswald J. Smith 

Are you Communicating with your Spouse? (Rev. Ejibe Eme) 29-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

29th October, 2016

COUPLE'S RETREAT (2nd Session)

Rev. Eme Ejibe
Picture credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON:

* Speaker: Rev. Eme Ejibe

* Topic: Are you Communicating with your Spouse?

* Text: Genesis 2:25 →"And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

* Free flow of communication is the lubricant that makes the engine of marriage to function effectively

* Marriage is a lifelong project 

→ It was not designed to be discarded when it is inconvenient

* Communication is the act or process of using words, signs etc to exchange ideas, thoughts and feelings

☆ Biblical Blessings of Good Communication in Marriage:

→ These are principles that stand the test of time

★ 1 Corinthians 14:2-11

1. Edification (v.5)

→ Good communication builds up the marriage

→ A communication that does not build you up is not good for you

★ Colossians 4:6 →"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (KJV)

2. It produces mutual profitability (v.6)

→ After good communication, value & gain must be added to the listener

3. It provokes right actions and response (v.8)

→ Bad communication confuses those who listen

4. It precludes wastage of resources (v. 9)

→ lack of good communication gives room for unplanned expenses, lack of rest, bad health, etc. 

5. It breaks walls of separation and by it, broken walls are built (v. 11)

→ When you do not communicate well, you become strangers with your spouse

→ Bad communication encourages the building of walls

☆ Sex as a Tool of Communication

* NOTE: Where there is bad communication, it gives Satan opportunity to wreck serious havoc

⇒ Sexual intimacy is a good form of communication

★ 1 Corinthians 7:4-5

★ 1 Corinthians 6:16 → "You know that the person who unites himself with a prostitute becomes one body with her, don’t you? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” (ISV)

→ Satan understands this powerful tool and he uses it against many people

→ Anyone you have sex with has a strong grip over your life because a bond has been established

* Once you start engaging sexual relations with someone 'outside' marriage, it distorts your entire system

⇒ Sexual sin distorts your behavioural pattern

* NOTE: Where there is good communication, there is nothing that cannot be sorted out

* Wrong perception undermines good communication

☆ Factors that affect good Communication

1. Characteristic nature & identity of the thing

★ 1 Corinthians 14:10 → "Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning." (NIV)

→ You should not allow the natural factor of your identity to determine your manner of communication

→ NOTE: Your identity as a child of God is not subject to the limitation of the flesh, of blood (genetic) or of culture

★ 2 Corinthians 5:17 → "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

★ John 1:2 → "He was with God in the beginning." 

★ John 1:13 → "children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

* The nature of God that you carry should affect your communication

→ When you are born of the Spirit, You are operating on a different (higher) realm

★ John 3:8 → "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

* The nature of a thing affects its behaviour

* Question: Does your manner of communication reflect the fact that you have the nature of Christ?

★ 1 John 5:4 → "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 

★ John 3:10 → "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?"  

→ In Christ, we have a life that is abundant in quality

2. The Pattern of Operation

→ Different sounds come from a musical instrument depending on how it is played

→ How do you determine your style of play?

→ You must derive your style of play (communication) from God's Word

★ Psalm 19:7-11

* When you operate on the principles of the Word of God, success is guaranteed

☆ Sexual communication

→ When you operate on the principles of the Word of God, your sexual relationship is rendered as an act of benevolence towards your spouse

★ 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

* God is the initiator of sex and His Word must guide us in this matter

* You must not place impediments on the path of your spouse when it comes to sex

→ Marital sex is a duty

→ You must not defraud your spouse of his/her entitlement

* When your pattern of play is in accordance with God's word, it removes tension

* NOTE:

→ Marital sex is a duty

→ The fact that sex is not convenient does not exclude the fact that it is a duty (your spouse's entitlement)

* Your (negative) attitude in your sex life can even block answers to your prayer

* The principle of mutual ownership:

→ You own your spouse' body and vice versa

* You have a responsibility to take care of your spouse

★1 Timothy 5:8 → "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (KJV)

* When you deny sexual relations to your spouse, it is fraud! (v. 5)

3. When you play according to the word of God, it is sweet

★ Song of Songs 4:11 → "Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon."

☆ Things to note about Honey:

→ Honey does not flow like water

→ Tapping it requires intelligent approach

→ You do not embarrass the bee while fetching honey. You go gently!

4. The positional relationship with each other

→ Musical notes operate on a different wave length

→ The positional features of a guitar determines the sounds that are produced when played

* The position that couples occupy determines how they should relate to each other

* Unfortunately, the world tries to scuttle God's original plan with strange philosophies

★ Ephesians 5:22 → "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord."

→ The head is not on top of a body as a weight

→ When the head becomes a weight, it simply means that the body is weak

→ The head is on top for the sake of positional and directional advantage

→ It is strange for the body to always agitate to become the head

* A head is only appreciated when it is properly aligned on the body

* A head severed from its body, no matter how beautiful it is becomes a monster

* The head is supposed to lead, coordinate and direct

* The head is responsible for anything that goes wrong in the body

* The body carries the head and aids its movement (support)

* Sickness is a sign that there is a failure of communication with a part of the body

* The head is the saviour of the body

* NOTE: When you understand positioning, it aids your communication

★ 1 Corinthians 14:20 →"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men."

→ A child can be moved by anything

→ An adult is solid and mature and not easily influenced by anything

* NOTE: Effective communication in marriage requires a sense of maturity and understanding 

Rediscovering the Good in the Marriage Institution (Rev. Ejide Eme) 28-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

28th October, 2016

COUPLE'S RETREAT 

(Day One: 1st Session)

Rev. Ejibe Eme
Picture Credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Ejibe Eme

* Topic: Rediscovering the Good in the Marriage Institution

* Text: Genesis 2:7-25

* Rediscovery is a process of seeking out what the original plan of a thing is

☆ Discovery arises when there is:

1. Confusion

→ Today, there is much confusion about marriage institution

→ Civilization has worsened the confusion

→ Many perversions have been introduced to undermine the sanctity of marriage

2. Damage

→ To repair a damage, you need to refer back to the original manual of the product

→ The manual for marriage is the Bible

☆ Points to note:

* 1. At the institution of marriage at Eden, everything was provided (material wealth was is abundance)

→ NOTE: The presence or absence of material wealth is not enough to determine the good or structure of marriage

→ There is something about marriage that money cannot provide

2. God is the sole initiator of marriage

→ The design of marriage precedes civilization and human knowledge

★ Acts 17:26

→ Man cannot have a superior design more than God

→ God's design predates your village tradition & customs

☆ The Principles that can bring out the good in Marriage:

→ For anything to be good, it must follow the right principles and specifications (as predetermined by the initiator or manufacturer)

1. The God Factor and the Divine Agenda (Genesis 2:21)

→ "God made"

→ "God caused deep sleep"

→ "God brought her to Adam"

* NOTE: God is deliberately involved in your marriage

→ He has an agenda for your marriage

→ He has an interest in your interest

→ He is a major stakeholder/shareholder in your family affairs

* God always works behind the scenes to establish and sustain marriage

★ Malachi 2:14 →"Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant."

* NOTE: The consciousness that God is a constant witness in your marriage should cause you to be mindful of how you treat your spouse

★ Malachi 2:15 →"And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.''

* A seed is a deposit that will produce more harvest

→ when God is looking for bountiful harvest, he plants seeds in godly families!

* God always searches for a man and woman whom He can trust and entrust them with His godly seed

* NOTE: Examples of the 'seeds' God planted in godly families:

(a) Moses (see: Exodus 2:1-2)

(b) Samson (see: Judges 13:2)

(b) John the Baptist (see: Luke 1:5)

(c) Jesus Christ (see: Matthew 1:18)

* Question: Where are the families that God can trust today?

* Satan is always targeting the structure of marriages to bring it down

→ he aims at destroying the psyche of our children (eg, by planting them in homes with homosexual 'parents'. They will not be able to appreciate the sanctity of marriage as they grow up)

★ Psalm 11:3 →"When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (ISV)

★ Psalm 127:3

→ Your children are a gift from the Lord and you must protect them from the perversions of the world

* God has a divine arrangement for a woman to bring joy to the man

→ A woman carries destiny and births it!

⇒ Women play important roles in the godly upbringing of children

★ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

→ A man a woman are meant to compliment each other

2. The Covenant Factor in the Union

★ Genesis 2:23

→ Marriage is not a business contract (that may be terminated when the conditions are not favorable)

→ Marriage breaks the covenant of birth (leave father and Mother)

→ It is not a social arrangement between two people to co-exist

* Marriage is not about compatibility (it is virtually impossible for two different people to be totally compatible)

→ That is why it is a mystery

→ Two different personalities becoming one

* What the world cannot understand, they try to develop a new theory

3. The Mystery of Oneness

→ In marriage, the two different personalities have collapsed into one!

→ This is what the world does not understand

★ Matthew 19:4-6

* God's plan is for the couples to be ONE in everything

→ If your wife does not know something about you, then you are not one!

* A sane person would never maltreat or insult himself

* Whenever there is anything wrong with your marriage, somebody or something is intruding

* Your marriage is your life!

→ You should do all that is possible to preserve, protect and nourish it

* When there is oneness, you will always feel the pain of your spouse

* NOTE: You must keep an eye on the devil

→ Question: What is the devil sponsoring to undermine your marriage covenant?

* You must understand the tricks of the devil and guard against them

☆ Questions for Personal Reflection:

→ Can God brag about your marriage?

→ If God is looking for a family that He will use as a model to convince unbelievers that His principles of marriage are timeless and enduring, can He send them your way?

→ SINGLES: If God is about to send a seed into the world, can He trust you with it?

Couple's Retreat (Exhortation) Mr. Sunny Ekunwe 20-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

28th October, 2016

COUPLE'S RETREAT 

(Day One: Friday)

☆ PRAYER SESSION (EXHORTATION)

* Leader: Mr. Sunny Ekunwe

* Text: 1 Peter 5:8 →"Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

* The devil is seeking the man in which he will embarrass

→ You need to be vigilant and prayerful at all times

* The devil has no power over a man who knows this rights in Christ!

☆ Three (3) Points to Note if you are to have a Successful Marriage:

1. Be Knowledgeable about God's word

→ Everything you need is in God's Word

2. You should be a person of Prayer

★ Luke 18:1 → "Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up."

→ Heaven is moved when men pray!

* A man must not relegate the duty of prayer to his wife

→ Do not relinguish your priesthood

3. God desires that men should provide for the family

→ God's endorsement is upon the man to fulfil the mandate of provision

My Be-Attitude 9 - Blessed are those who are persecuted for Righteousness Sake (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 23-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

2nd Sunday Service

23rd October, 2016

Pastor Sarah Omakwu
Picture Credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON:

*   Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu

* Topic: My Be-Attitude 9 (Blessed are those who are persecuted for Righteousness Sake)  

* Text: Matthew 5:1-12

 

★ 1 Peter 3:13-17

 

* NOTE: Ironically, the reward for imbibing the be-attitudes (humility, meekness, peace, righteousness, etc) is persecution!

→ The world will not praise or applaud you for being Christlike.

→ The world persecuted, oppressed, opposed, mocked and even killed Jesus only because He was fully pleasing to God. You should not expect anything less

 

☆ Meaning of 'Blessed':

* 'Blessed' here connotes the joy that comes from knowing that God is for you, in you and that He will help you

→ 'Happiness' is an emotion that is conditional and dependent on circumstances.

⇒ Jesus did not promise us happiness, but JOY

→ Joy is not dependent on circumstances. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that bubbles in the heart of a child of God regardless of what he/she is experiencing (see: Galatians 5:22-23)

 

* Joy enables a child of God to endure difficulties and challenges

★ Job 13:15 →"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him." 

 

★ Philippians 4:4 →"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again! I say rejoice." 

 

* This blessing cannot be diminished or undermined by anything - even extreme suffering and death!

★ Acts 7:54-60

 

* Happiness comes and goes, but joy stays!

 

☆ Meaning of 'Persecution'

* Persecution is like an enemy pursing you

→ it means 'being vexed'

→ it is an all-out act of violence

→ it entails cruel mocking

→ Reproachful language or attitude

→ imprisonment

→ unjust punishment

 

* If as a Christian, you are not persecuted, something is wrong

→ You must brace yourself for persecution and pray for the grace to overcome

 

☆ Meaning of 'Revile'

→ It is is to be shamed

→ it is contempt

 

☆ Why would I be persecuted?:

1. The world is fallen and you (as a Christian) oppose its values  

→ The world oppresses anything that does not conform to its values

★ 2 Timothy 3:12 →"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

 

2. Because your righteous life judges them

→ If unbelievers or people feel free to sin around you, this is a sign that you have compromised

 

3. Because you are attached to Christ

→ If the world persecuted Jesus your master, they will persecute you too (see: John 15:20)

 

4. Because you have refused to be a hypocrite

 

5. Your stated belief in the articles of the Christian faith and your adherence to it will make the world hate you

 

6. Because you have been separated from the world and you do not belong to them

 

* NOTE: If you have never been persecuted as a Christian, it means you are compromising in some area of your life

 

* There are many Christians that are so determined to be loved and accepted by the world that they lower their standards

→ this is bad Christianity

 

* NOTE: What you compromise to keep, you will lose!

 

* You must reject anything that God did not give you

→ Take a stand for righteousness

→ If you must compromise your faith in Jesus to get something, then such a thing is not worth it (see: Matthew 16:26)

 

* We live in a generation that is flippant and does not believe in righteousness or integrity

 

* Today, many Christians are not persecuted for their faith

→ This is because they behave like the children of the devil

→ The devil will not oppose what is his own!

 

* The Church is not making any impact because of its many compromises

→ Question: When was the last time you told anyone about Jesus?

 

* NOTE: All religions, sects and beliefs are united in their attack of our Lord Jesus Christ

→ This is because Jesus is the Rock of Offense (See: 1 Peter 2:8; Romans 9:33; Isaiah 8:14)

 

* The time has come for Christians to stand out for Jesus

→ You were not called to blend in but to stand out

 

* Jesus was a 'one man riot' and could not be convicted of any sin or wrongdoing (see John 14:30; Luke 23:4)

→ with God, you are a majority

 

* When you compromise, you cannot freely talk about Jesus to those who know you have no integrity

 

* NOTE: A true Christian ought to be a standing rebuke to the world

 

* Unfortunately, no one wants to persecute the Church because there is nothing to oppose.

→ The Church and Christians have 'blended in'

 

* To be persecuted for righteousness sake is to be 'punished' or 'victimized' for doing what is right, for the right reasons and for the sake of Christ

 

* Righteousness means moral uprightness

→ A child of God must be above board (a person of integrity)

 

* If you are not persecuted for being a Christian, check you life, something is wrong

★ Luke 6:26 →" Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets."

 

* If you are causing trouble for yourself, and they punish you, repent. This does not qualify as persecution

→ A Christian must not go looking for trouble

→ What God expects of you is to preach the good news and take a stand for righteousness

 

* Be meek and humble about your persecution

→ Do not go about bragging, complaining or whining

 

☆ When you are persecuted, You must not:

→ retaliate

→ sulk

→ lick your wound like a dog

 

* You should not allow injustice, oppression or suffering (that arises as a result of your belief in Jesus) to separate you from the love of God (see: Romans 8:35-36)

 

☆ Advantages of Persecution:

1. It brings you into fellowship with Jesus

2. It builds up your character

3. When you are persecuted, you will know how strong you are

4. It exposes areas of weakness in your life

5. It produces Christian character and virtues in your life

6. It tests your loyalty, faith and trust

7. It is accompanied by a glory

 

* Caution: Always ensure that you are not suffering for wrongdoing, but for righteousness (see: 1 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 3:17)

 

* Every Christian must expect persecution

→ You cannot pray it away

→ If Jesus suffered, you will also suffer! (unless you are compromising)

 

☆ PRAYER:

Lord, I repent for compromising

And for not standing out for you

Have mercy on me

I want a new life that comes from you

I need to make things right today

Help me to be the kind of man/woman

that you want me to be

Help me to be bold

Help me to stand out for you

All the days of my life

Amen

Pastor Sarah Omakwu
Picture credit: FWC Media