How Not to Talk to An Angel (Rev. Tongsmang Dasbak) 25-12-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Jesus Revelation Assembly,

Tudun Wada Ring-Road

Jos - Plateau State

25th December, 2015

SERMON

☆ Speaker: Rev. Tongsmang Dasbak

☆ Topic: How Not To Talk To An Angel

☆ Text: Luke 1:5-20;

* Luke 57-64

Rev. Tongsmang Dasbak

 

☆ Question: Why do we bother celebrating (Christmas & New Year) when things are not going the way they should go?

* Zachariah asked angel Gabriel a question that got him into trouble.

★ Verse 18: Then Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?”

→ In other words, he doubted the information passed on to him from God

* NOTE: Gideon asked a similar question but 'escaped' God's wrath

→ See: Judges 6:12-21

* Many times, we are also skeptical of the efficacy of God's Word, especially in challenging circumstances

* How long you have walked with God is not an automatic ticket to know all of God's ways

→ those 'experienced' in God's ways and knowledge also doubt Him sometimes

* Many people doubt God's Word by believing that nothing will work out fine because of the unfavorable circumstances around them

* Many people will never access what God has in store for them because their unbelief acts as a barrier.

→ They want concrete proof before they believe God

* Compare Zachariah's response with Mary's response to the angel's message (Luke 1:34-38)

→ Mary submitted to God's will in faith

* God does not bless people that hoard

→ They do not release blessings to others

→ God blesses people that are liberal and generous in everything

* Many people treat God as if he is a man. They do not trust him

☆ What is so Special about Christmas?

→ Historically, Jesus was not given birth to on the 25th of December

→ Jesus never requested to be celebrated on the 25th of December of every year!

* NOTE: The only thing Jesus expressly requested that we should frequently remember is his death and suffering (through communion), not his birth! (1 Corinthians 11:24)

→ Unfortunately, this is what we do infrequently and without as much excitement which is always associated with Christmas

* There are certain situations in your life that cannot be reversed without God's divine visitation

* There is nothing too hard or too late when it comes to God

★ Luke 1:37 →"Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God’s promises.” (lSV)

* Maybe God allowed you to see today so that you can trust him for the reversal of your (negative) situation

→ But you must believe that He is capable of doing anything

* Maybe you are in that particular difficult situation so that you can learn to believe in God for deliverance

* God is the "impossibility specialist"

(a) an old couple giving birth;

(b) a virgin giving birth without intercourse

* It is easier for younger people to give birth, not old couples. This expains Sarah & Abraham's scepticism when God promised that Sarah will give birth to a child in her old age

→ See: Genesis 17:17; 18:12-13

★ POINTS TO NOTE:

1. Even very strong believers can stumble in an area of unbelief

→ You will have what God has already ordained for you, regardless of what happens

→ If the Lord said it, it will definitely happen

2. Sometimes, long delays can cause you to have unbelief

→ no matter how dire your condition is, you must never accept what God has not ordained for you

→ When it comes to God, he does not have 'time'. He is limitless!

→ Do not be tired of trusting God

★ Luke 1:10 →"And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned."

* There may be times in our lives when we feel as if God does not hear our prayers and everything looks hopeless

* There are times that it seems God does both good and bad at the same time:

→ He answers Zachariah's prayer by promising him a baby, but he made him dumb (See: Luke 1:13, 20)

★ My Confession:

"My own life will not remain like this; In the next few years my situation will this around for good"

3. Man's Unbelief will not cancel God's plan

☆ Luke 1:19-20 →"The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens.”

* Your celebration will not be complete till your situation is turned around

→ Trust Him for something definate today!

Rev. Tongsmang Dasbak

The Church Band ministering

Knowing God's will in Christ Jesus (Rev. Festus S. Dashem) 07-12-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE

MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Jiyep-Hwolshe, Jos
Plateau State - Nigeria

7th December, 2014

SERMON

* Topic: Knowing God's will in Christ Jesus

* Theme: Knowing the will of God

* Speaker: Rev. Festus S. Dashem

* Text: Luke 2:1-14

* So many people do not know the true meaning of Christmas, even though they celebrate it every year

* The common expression "as weak as a baby" does not apply to Jesus Christ - He is God; He is the Centre of Power

* It was the Roman Government's tradition to conduct population census every 14 years.

* Bethlehem means "house of bread". Note: Jesus is the bread of life. → John 6:35 "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

- Therefore, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was symbolic.

* The announcement of the Messiah's birth was given by an angel to some anonymous Shepherds. Why shepherds, not Priests or Scribes?

* Reason: The Grace of God was revealed to all men, regardless of status or position.

→ Romans 2:11 - "For there is no partiality with God."

* Their work (as shepherds) made them ceremonially unclean, and kept them away from the temple for weeks, so they could not be made clean

* God does not only call the rich and mighty, but also the poor and lowly

* The shepherds were conscripted as heralds and evangelists of the Saviour's Coming

* The Massage of the Angels:

→ Verse 10: "fear not, we bring good news"

* As a Christian, you must not be afraid to preach the good news of Christ anywhere you go

 

* The Hebrew word "Shalom" means more than peace (absence of war), but total well-being, security, soundness and completeness of mind.

* NOTE: Outside Jesus, you cannot experience genuine peace/Shalom

* Shalom has more to do with character, more than circumstances

* At the time of difficulty for the Israelites (taxes were high, there was unemployment, and poverty) God Sent his Son to usher in a reign of lasting peace

* During the period of Jesus' birth, High Priests and Priesthood was controversial for the following reasons:

→ No person/worshiper could see the Priest except through his Captains;

→ A Priest must marry a virgin of not more than 12 Years old;

→ A Priest must not eat in public;

→ A Priest must not touch any woman except his wife;

→ The temple was segregated according to levels of Holiness. Only the High Priest can enter into the Holy of Holies once a year to offer atonement on behalf of the people;

→ A Priest must not come near a corpse

→ The crippled, lame, leper can not enter the temple for any reason

→ A Priest must wear 18 garments to heal 18 ailments

* Jesus Came to deliver people from the old order of things

* Jesus is the High priest that sets the captives free

* In Jesus Christ, Priesthood is no longer dependent on garments and the fulfilment of strict religious criteria, but by faith in Jesus Christ

* In Jesus, healing is a matter of faith, not of garments or religious ceremonies and rituals

* The mission of Jesus is to rescue all men from darkness and translate them to the light of God

* The coming of Jesus is absolute good news to all of us

* Question: is your life a source of good news to your family, office, colleagues, community, Church, etc.?

* You should live a life that portrays good news to the world

* If your life is not a source of good news, the solution is simple → Repent and accept Jesus Christ the Messiah as your Lord and Savior.