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))

Responsibilities of Spouses (Husband) 05-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)

Lugbe Group, Abuja Zone

5th May, 2016

* Topic: Responsibilities of the Husband

* Leader: Barr. Panshak Haggai

 

1. The Husband as Father:

(a) Training (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-6)

- Training is a process of inculcating moral, spiritual, physical and economic (etc) values in children

- The difference between teaching and training is that teaching involves passing of information (whether learning occurs or not) while training is a sort of continuous discipleship whereby the character of a child is transformed

 

* For training to be effective: 

- It must be practical (children learn more from what they observe in their parent's lives)

- It must be consistent

- It must be done with a specific goal in mind

(b) Discipline (Proverbs 13:24; Ephesians 6:4)

* Discipline is a process of correcting a child when a wrong occurs

 

* Principles to note in Child Discipline:

- do not discipline a child to the point that he/she becomes provoked or discouraged

- ensure that you explain why you are disciplining the child

- discipline must be done in love

- always consider the age and temperament of a child in choosing an appropriate form of discipline

- a parent must not always over-react when children does wrong

- both parents must be one while disciplining their children. They must always be on the same side!

 

(c) Encourage & Exhort (Colossians 3:21)

- Children need to be constantly encouraged

- Parents must be wary of the words they use against their children especially when they fail in school or are not performing as good as their peers

- Your words should always be gracious towards your children

- When a parent is harsh, a child may be pushed to rebellion

2. The Husband as Head and Provider

(a) Hardwork (1 Timothy 5:8)

- It is the sole responsibility of the Husband to provide for the home

- A man must not be lazy

- When the husband's income or job is affected, the wife should support him if she is able

- A woman who becomes the breadwinner of the family  must not look down on her husband and she must not cause the children to disrespect him

(b) Pastor of the House (Deuteronomy 6:1-6; Job 1:1-5; Joshua 24:14-15)

- The husband is the Priest of his own home and he is expected to take the lead in spiritual matters  

- The spiritual wellbeing of the family is the husband's primary responsibility.

- He must always take the lead in family worship

- He must not abandon that duty to his wife, though she may support him  

- His goal should be to ensure that everyone in his house makes heaven

Joint Heirs to the Kingdom of God (Dr. Patrick Dakum) 26-11-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF),

End of Year Combined Fellowship,

Abuja Zone,

@ Mungo-Park Garden, off Gimbiya Crescent, Area 11,

FCT - Abuja, Nigeria

26th November, 2015

☆ EXHORTATION

* Speaker: Dr. Patrick Dakum

* Topic: Joint Heirs to the Kingdom of God

* Text: 1 Peter 3:1-7

* NOTE: Yourself and your wife are joint heirs of the Kingdom of God

* This means that you both have a responsibility to uphold each other spiritually

 

* You would not be happy if you see your spouse in hell

* The problem that couples face is a global one

* At the point you become married, you have become one

→ NOTE: Becoming one is a process because marriage involves two different people that must adjust to each other

* If you have to properly adjust to each other, you must be able to understand each other, complement each other and uphold each other

* A man must take his place and discharge responsibility as the Priest & provider of the home

* A wife must comport herself in such a manner that her life is attractive to God

* Wives: learn to trust God for the change that you want to see in your husband

→ Place emphasis on developing inner beauty

* Wives: If you want your husband to treat as a queen, you must treat Him as a King

→ You must not disrespect Him [Esther 1:9-18]

* Husbands: You must treat your wife with consideration

* Violence against women is one of the worse things that a man can ever do!

→ A Christian man must never disrespect a woman by beating and oppressing her

* NOTE: Your wife is not your servant or your cook.

→ She is your partner and a helpmate

* You must not use your wife in a harsh way, but you must help her and treat her with

★ Joel 2:28 → "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."

→ The same spirit that is in you is the same spirit that your wife has

★ Assignment: Evaluate your family:

1. How has this year being?

2. Have we been able to achieve our goals for this year?

3. What are the goals we want to achieve next year?

4. What are your spiritual plans for the family?

5. Do you have any plans for academic advancement?

→ Do not go into the next year accidentally without a plan.

* NOTE: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance

We are Partners, not Rivals (Rev. David Pofi) 15-08-2013

COUPLE’S FELLOWSHIP ANNUAL RETREAT

15^TH – 18^TH AUGUST, 2013

MIANGO REST HOME

DAY ONE: THURSDAY, 15^TH AUGUST, 2013

 

OPENING CHARGE

Topic: We are Partners, not Rivals

Speaker: Rev. David Pofi

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

 

An overview of the Opening Charges of the Christian Couples Fellowship Retreat from 2010:

2010 Opening Charge:

Things that only God can do:

1.    Unless the Lord builds your home, the builders build in vain. [Psalms 127:1]

2.    Unless the Lord watches over your home, you watch in vain

3.    Only the Lord can bless your children.

 

2011 Opening Charge:

Ø  Luke15:11-19

Ø  If you are disconnected from the Lord, you will never be full.

Ø  When a man/woman is disconnected from God (the Father), they become prodigal and cannot connect with each other appropriately.

Ø  When a family is disconnected from God, they beg when they are not supposed to beg.    

 

2012 Opening Charge:

*Ephesians 1:4, 7, 13 & 14

Ø  We were created by God for His pleasure, but sin separated us from Him.

Ø  God paid again for our sins in order to purchase us back to himself.

Ø  God bought (purchased) us for himself so that we might be set aside for His exclusive Holy use.

Ø  We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Ø  You can only bear fruit according to your kind.

*Galatians 5:19 – 21 [works of the sinful nature]

Ø  When a man/woman is filled with God’s Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Holy Spirit will definitely manifest

 

2013 Opening Charge:

Ø  The Corinthian Church was a composition of everything. It had both good and bad traits.

*1 Corinthians 1:7 – The Church at Corinth did not lack any spiritual gift at all [see: 1 Corinthians12:7-11]

Ø  The Church was endowed and was very spiritual.

Ø  But the Church had other problems [see: 1 Corinthians 1:10 – 13 there was division in the Church; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 there was incest and sexual immorality]

Ø  Carnality was the root of the division and immorality [1 Corinthians 3:1-4]

Ø  Note: The Church is made up of many families. There cannot be Church without families.

Ø  The reason why the Church at Corinth was the way it was, was because they were ‘mere men’ and they were worldly, carnal and spiritually immature (babies in the Lord)

Ø  Whenever you find division and quarrelling, there is only one reason for that: you are dealing with ‘spiritual babies

Ø  Spiritual babies are carnal, immature and cannot handle strong/solid food.

Ø  Babies cry for everything and make unrealistic demands; they give fault to other people; they hide things that don’t belong to them.

Ø  When spiritual babies are found in the family, there is bound to be fights, quarrelling and jealousy.

Ø  You must learn to see your partner as a partner, not as a rival whom you are competing against. You should walk, think and work together

Ø  Your relationship with the Lord will definitely reflect in the family. If you are growing in your relationship with the Lord, your relationship with your spouse will also grow

Ø  If you have a healthy relationship with the Lord, you will seek your partner’s happiness

Ø  You cannot be so spiritual and yet not live well at home – it is a contradiction

Ø  You must use God’s Word as a mirror to make all the necessary adjustments in your life