Journey off the Map (Vocation Bible School) (VBS) 2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

9th August, 2015

Rev. David Kwamkur 

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Vocation Bible School (VBS) 2015

* VBS 2015 Theme: Journey off the Map

* Sub-theme: Growing in Love

* Service Leader: Dr. Mrs. Zipporah Kpamor

* Text: Isaiah 30:19-22

☆ Isaiah 30:21 → "And whether you turn to the right or turn to the left, your ears will hear a message behind you: “This is the way, walk in it.”

* Whether you realize it or not, life is a journey

* As Christians, we are not citizens of the world; we are only 'passing through' to Heaven, our ultimate destination

* There are many ways, but for us as Christians, there is only ONE WAY

* The most important thing (in communication) is not the "saying" aspect, but the "listening" aspect

* Many people have encountered serious problems in life because of their failure to listen properly

* Your ears are not merely for decoration

→ It was not a mistake that God created you with two ears and only one mouth!

* The act of hearing has nothing to do with the size of your ears

→ It has every thing to do with your listening ability

* To listen properly, you must be silent

* Meditating on God's Word is an excellent way to listen to what He has to say

* A guide is person that leads travelers or tourists through an unfamiliar location

→ If you know your destination, you will not need a guide

* As a traveler, you must rely on your guide and you must:

→ trust your guide

→ realize that you do not know your way

→ remember that you do not know more than your guide

☆NOTE: Jesus is our guide through our journey through the unfamiliar terrains of life

☆ Summary of the Week-Long VBS Teachings:

DAY 1 - Monday:

→ Jesus is our guide.

→ Your journey begins with Him if you accept Him as your Lord and Savior

DAY 2 - Tuesday:

→ Daniel chose to obey God no matter what

→ God wants you to follow Jesus no matter what, even when you don't understand it

DAY 3 - Wednesday:

→ Shedrack, Meshak & Abednego did not obey the King's ungodly orders

→ God wants you to obey our guide even in difficult circumstances

→ Jesus is your guide and you must trust in Him always

DAY 4 - Thursday (Stay on track):

→ This is the major problem for many Christians

→ Staying focused on the right track to the end is a personal choice

→ if you are in a race, no one will reward you if you derail from the stipulated approved tract

→ You must be consistent in your walk with God

→ Keep your focus on God no matter what happens in life

→ When you remove your eyes off Jesus, you will begin to sink

DAY 5 - Friday (Keep Watching)

→ Daniel received a vision of things to come

→ Jesus also revealed to us in His Word the things that we are to expect in the future

→ If you are not watching, you will miss out on the promises in God's Word

☆Matthew 26:41 → "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

☆ NOTE: Our journey is a part of a much bigger story. God gave Daniel a promise of things to come. God has promised to complete our journey with Him through life

* Many times, even when we are sure that Jesus is talking to us, we attempt to 'convince' Him that our own way or plan is the best

→ this is the source of our problems in life!

Help us to Help them (Rev. David Kwamkur) 24-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

24th May, 2015

★ WIDOWS, ORPHANS &

VULNERABLE CHILDREN WEEK

 

Rev. David Kwamkur

★ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Help us to Help them

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Add to your Faith

* Service Leader: Mrs. Jessica Adams

* Text: Matthew 9:35-38

★ Psalm 10:17-18 → "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."

* God does not want anyone to be alone (Genesis 2:18)

* The major problem that widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children face in life is the issue of loneliness

* The loss of the breadwinner puts a lot of pressure on the surviving members of the family

* Jesus Saw 3 things (in Matthew 9:36):

(a) He saw the crowd

(b) He saw their condition

(c) He saw the reason for the suffering (there was no shepherd to take care of them)

* NOTE: Jesus did not only stop at pity, he had compassion on the crowd (by meeting their needs)

→(see: Matthew 9:35)

* Every genuine Church should meet the needs of people as much as it can

→ Many Church organise evangelism programmes & embark on expensive projects but they do not care for people's welfare

* NOTE: people don't care About how much you know, unless the know how much you care!

* There is no way to engage in genuine evangelism and not 'see' the needs of the people you are ministering to

* Any time God sees anyone in need, His heart is moved

* God desires that His people should be concerned about the condition of widows, orphans and vulnerable children in the Church and society

* Many people do not even want to imagine what being a widow, orphan or widower entaiIs

* The major problem is not death, but the unforeseen circumstances that death throws people into when it suddenly occurs

* Imagine going through life without the presence of loved ones around you . . .

→ Things are not usually the same after their untimely exit

* Sometimes widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children wish that someone will understand what they are going through

* Widows usually suffer rejection and are stripped of their husband's assets and put under a lot of pressure and unpleasant circumstances

→ Unfortunately, even their so called Christian relatives and friends are involved in this evil, instead of protecting them

* Most widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children are:

→ Physically abused

→ Financially defrauded

→ Spiritually neglected

→ Nutritionally malnourished

→ Emotionally harrassed

* Many people (including some Christians) maltreat these set of people

★ Why do we have widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children in our midst?

1. Widows:

* The sudden untimely death of a husband is the loss of the breadwinner and it is a serious thing

2. Vulnerable Children:

* In our society today, children are being raised by other children because parents are too busy to invest in quality parenting

* Busy parents procure the services of other children (househelps) to raise and take care of their children while they pursue material things

* If parents do not take care of their own children, there will be more vulnerable children in the society

★ What is the Way out?

→ God is the answer and the Church is the channel!

* The Church is the primary means of support for widows, orphans and vulnerable children

★ James 1:27 → ''A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

* NOTE: The care & help you render to widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children determines whether or not you are truly a godly person (this is the ultimate test).

* Do you care whether widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children:

→ eat decent meals everyday?

→ have clothes to wear?

→ are protected from oppression?

→ are able to acquire basic education?

→ are reached with the Gospel of Christ?

→ have access to basic medical care?

* Caring for widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children is a command from God

→ It is not an option

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

★ PASTOR'S CORNER

God's heart is greatly moved by the plight of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Most of us cannot imagine going though a day without food, clean water, shelter, education or the presence of loved ones.

Most often, the widows, orphans and vulnerable children experience loneliness, hunger, insecurity, rejection, discrimination, anxiety, depression, suppression, distress, discouragement, injustice etc.

God is the answer and the Church is the means by which He will change The lives of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Because God cares for those in need. He wants His children to care for them as well.

 

★ MISSION CHARGE

"We are all in life potential widows and widowers. Be mindful of what you do and the way you treat those with that status today. You might as well receive the same treatment soonest."

→ Pastor Victor T. Amos

★ QUOTE

"What most people need to learn in life is how to lone people and use things instead of using people and loving things."

→ Annonymous

It is Finished (Rev. David Kwamkur) 03-04-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

Easter Friday

3rd April, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: It is Finished

* Text: John 19:28-30

* Question: Why do people die?

→ You must know why people are born

→ The same reason why people die is the reason why they live

→ Every person is born with a specific purpose

* As believers in Christ, we must realize that we are merely ambassadors on this earth. At the end of our 'Diplomatic Mission', we will return back to Heaven, our home country

* On earth, people who have material possessions made of gold always brag about it, but in heaven, gold is trampled underfoot on the streets (Revelation 21:21)

* Note: Heaven is far better than even the most beautiful part of the earth!

* Why does God not rapture a person the moment he or she becomes born again?

* The same reason why Jesus came to the earth is the same reason why God leaves believers to walk and work on the earth!

* Question: Was Jesus happy knowing that He Was about to face a terrible death?

→ Ordinarily, people fear the prospect of dying and dread it with all their heart

* Jesus' death was a death with a difference!

→ Yes, Jesus was happy to die for your sins because that is the will of His Father

* Question: is Jesus still happy that he died?

→ By continuing to live in sin, you show that you do not appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, and this displeases him

* Jesus prayed for (and still desires) the unity of the Church

→ John 17:11

* If a person dies, he or she is eulogised on a tombstone, remembering what the person lived for

→ If you die today, what do you want to be remembered for?

★ 2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith."

* Before the Lord returns, the gospel must be preached to the whole world

(Matthew 24:14)

* The 2nd coming of Jesus is dependent on the work and efforts of believers (reaching the unreached and those in darkness)

* Just like a good father would not want anything bad to happen to his children, Jesus preferred to die in the place of his children, the believers

* John 10:10b → Jesus came to give us abundant life

* The purpose of Jesus' coming is to bring salvation

→ He knew the will of God for His life and He was determined to fulfil it

* though It was not easy to fulfil God's will, yet Jesus obeyed and endured till the very end, even to death

* The miracle in the death of Christ is more spectacular than his resurrection

☆ The Significance of the death of Jesus:

1. It marks the end of the era of agony and ushers us into the period of triumphant victory

2. It marks the end of bondage from sin

3. It marks the end of the era of fear, and ushers in the era of peace and victory

4. It marks the end of the era of Law and the beginning of the era of grace

* The purpose of Jesus' coming is to bring salvation to mankind

* Jesus left us on earth to:

1. Preach the Gospel of Salvation

→ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 →"But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation."

2. To be a blessing to others

3. To bring rebels back to Christ

→ Anyone who does not accept Christ is a rebel

* The work of spreading the gospel is not only for Pastors but it is the duty of every believer

* If you cannot go (out to preach the gospel), then, send someone

* life is very short. Stop waiting and start doing something (about what God has called you to do)

* Death is sure, either you die, or the person you were sent to dies

* You should have an urgent disposition towards preaching the gospel

* There are many people who are ready to hear the Good news

* Do not be discouraged by those who do not accept the gospel

* Remember as you preach, that you are not responsible for ensuring that people repent and turn to Christ. Your duty is just to TELL them the good news; the Holy Spirit will do the rest

QUOTE

* "The value of your life does not depend on the money in your bank account or the degrees you have, but on the relationship you have with Jesus Christ"

→ Rev. David Kwamkur

Make Every Effort (Rev. Chrysanthus John Bala) 29-03-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki -Abuja

29th March, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Chrysanthus Bala John

* Topic: Make Every Effort

* Theme: Growing in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service Leader: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Text: 2 Peter 1:5-8

 




Rev. Chrysanthus John Bala

 

* You have something to do (for Christ), but you have to strive to get it done

* 2 Peter 3:1 → This 2nd Epistle was written by Peter because He knew his time was short; the Church of Christ was facing persecution; false teaching was prevalent; believers were falling away from the true faith

→ He was encouraging them to not only remain steadfast in their faith, but to add certain godly virtues to it (that is, their faith)

* Laziness should never be part of God's children

→ Our God is not a lazy God.

* The 7 (seven) virtues that must be ADDED to your faith as a believer in Christ to enable you become effective and productive include: 
 

1. Goodness

→ The quality that makes a person friendly to all people

→ A believer is supposed to be amiable and accommodating. You must not be an irritable person

2. Knowledge

→ Enables you to decide between right and wrong

→ Having a solid knowledge of God's word delivers from the scourge of false teachings and heresies that are prevalent

3. Self-control

→ This is not only the ability to bring your emotions and instincts under subjection, but it entails a total submission to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in you

→ When a man submits to the Spirit of God, he is divinely empowered to become what God wants him to be

4. Perseverance

→ This is regarded as the queen of all the other virtues

→ It is patience mixed with courage

→ Without the virtue of perseverance, a believer can easily give up in the face of the slightest challenge to his faith

5. Godliness

→ This entails words and actions of piety towards God and love towards others

★James 1:27 →"A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

6. Brotherly kindness

→ This entails an undiluted love for the brethren

→ When we genuinely love each other, the world will be convinced that we are disciples of Christ

★ John 13:35 →"This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

7. Love

→ God's unconditional love is seen clearly in Jesus (John 3:16)

→ As a believer, you must show love to everyone, including those who hate you

★ 1st John 3:16 →"This is how we have come to know love: the Messiah gave his life for us. We, too, ought to give our lives for our brothers."

* The 7 virtues listed above must be seen in the life of EVERY child of God who desires to be effective and productive for Christ

★ Titus 3:8 →"This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have put their faith in God may devote themselves to good actions. These things are good and helpful to other people."

* The Christian life is a 'working' life

→ to be successful in your Christian walk, you must work hard and be focussed

* Faith alone is not sufficient to make you effective and productive as a Child of God

★ James 2:17 → "In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead."

★ 2 Peter 1:8:

→ As a believer, you are required to imbibe these virtues in your life by making all necessary effort, through discipline & hard work as you trust in God to help you become like Christ

★ 2 Peter 1:9:

→ If you don't have these 7 virtues, it means you are short-sighted & blind

→ The blindness here refers to spiritual blindness

* The knowledge of Jesus Christ will not be barren in your heart if the 7 virtues abound in you & you will continue to grow in him and become efficient and productive in His Service

Ought to be Teachers (Rev. David Kwamkur) 08-03-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki, Abuja

8th March, 2015

SERMON

* Topic: Ought to be Teachers

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Text:

★ Hebrews 5:11-14

★ Hebrews 6:1-12

* Isaac Newton's 1st law of motion states that: "An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force."

* Isaac Newton made reference to "inertia" which is the resistance an object has to a change in its state of motion.

* Inertia is the tendency for an object to remain unchanged as long as nothing moves it (if it is static) or stops it (if it is moving).

* In order to overcome inertia, you have to apply force

* Force will make something that is static or still to start moving; and it will stop a moving object by applying/engaging resistance

* Many Christians have remained in the same condition since they gave their lives to Christ - They were experiencing "spiritual inertia".

* A person who becomes a believer is expected to grow to a level that he or she will become a teacher or mentor to others.

* Spiritual laziness is the main cause of spiritual inertia.

* Laziness may be defined as:

→ idleness;

→ sluggishness (or slothfulness);

→ procrastination;

→ carelessness;

→ forgetfulness;

→ negligence,

→ disorganisation.

* The features of Christians who are 'infected' by Chronic Spiritual Laziness (CSL) include the following:

1. They major on minor things; and minor on major things.

→ Earthly things should not be the major things for a Christian. Similarly, acquiring many educational degrees, building houses, having money are not as important as knowing God and having a personal relationship with Him

★ Matthew 6:33

2. They are inactive over active; and active over inactive

→ There are things that believers are expected to be active in and some others that they are expected to remain inactive

→ Spiritually lazy Christians always reverse expected roles just to please themselves, not God

3. They are satisfied with dissatisfaction and dissatisfied with satisfaction

4. They value short term gains over long term gains

5. They do nothing about spiritual their spiritual condition

6. They undermine spiritual things

7. They don't want to engage in spiritually oriented activities (such as Bible studies, fellowships, prayer & fasting, evangelism, etc.).

8. They are afraid to engage spiritual things because they feel they are inadequate.

* E.g.. They prefer to 'contract' other people (like their Pastor) to pray for them on every single issue

☆ Symptoms of Chronic Spiritual Laziness (CSL):

→ Feeling sluggish to get out of bed to pray;

→ Too busy to read Bible and pray;

→ They are tired of coming to Church (especially for weekly activities);

→ They are perpetual late comers to Church;

→ They don't want to give offerings or tithes

→ They sleep during Church services, especially when preaching is in progress;

→ They are insensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit (the Comforter)

* Warning against Laziness

→ Proverbs 6:6-11

→ Proverbs 10:4

→ Proverbs 18:9

→ Proverbs 26:13-16

* It is better to know your condition (that is, your true spiritual state) so that you can diagnose it properly

☆ The Solution to Chronic Spiritual Laziness:

1. Study your Bible frequently and diligently (Joshua 1:8)

2. Pray fervently (James 5:16b)

3. Maintain a close relationship with God.

* God is more interested yon being with Him, Than you serving or doing things for Him (Luke 12:41-42)

4. Give frequently and generously for the work of God

(2 Corinthians 9:7)

* Your father's business is also your business and it must be your priority

5. Attend church Services regularly and on time

* Be doers of The Word, not Just hearers (James 1:22)

* Unless you deliberately apply 'force', your condition will remain unchanged

* You have to do something about your spiritual condition

* Personal discipline is the antidote for laziness

* You must make a definite commitment to overcome spiritual laziness in your life

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

PASTORS' CORNER

The writer of Hebrews had many things to say of Christ but the Christians were spiritually lazy. This is very sad but often, this is the deplorable condition obtained among many Christians today.

* The Symptoms of spiritual laziness are:

1. Feeling sluggish to get out of bed to pray

2. Very busy to read the Bible and pray

3. Being tired of coming to Church

4. Perpetually coming to Church late

5. Slack in giving offerings and tithes

6. Sleeping during Church Services

7. Insensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit

* Solutions to Spiritual laziness are:

1. Diligence in studying God's Word

2. Fervent in prayer

3. Maintaining close relationship with God

4. Spending time with God and his word

5. Giving generously for God's work

6. Attending Church regularly and on time

* Are you okay being a lazy Christian?

 

* Be determined to follow Christ no matter the matter!

Dealing with the Natural Man (Rev. David Kwamkur) 22-02-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

22nd February, 2015

* Colossians 3:5-14

SERMON

* Topic: Dealing with the Natural Man

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service Leader: Elder (Mrs) Royina Lot

* Text: John 3:1-18

★ 1 Corinthians 2:14 → " But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

* People are generally divided into three (3) groups.

* The way you respond to the things of God determine the category you belong to:

1. The natural man

2. The carnal man

3. The spiritual man

* Every one in Church belongs to either one of these categories.

→ The categorization is personal. Every one knows exactly which group he belongs to, without being told.

* Today's focus is on the Natural man.

* The "Adamic nature" (in man) is the result of the fall of man (Adam) in the Garden of Eden when he disobeyed God

* Everyone born of a woman is subjected to the Adamic nature (by default)

* Romans 3:23 → 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.'

* We inherited this Adamic nature at birth but it was not originally what God planned for man (at the creation)

* Adam fell from God's original plan for him willingly (through the choices he made) and we were affected by it

* The different terms used in the Bible to refer to the Adamic nature:

1. "Law of sin & death" (Romans 8:2)

→ The Adamic nature operates like a law that must be obeyed by the natural man who is bound to it

* No matter how hard the natural man tries to stop sinning, he cannot. He is dominated by the power of sin and he cannot liberate himself

* The end of the natural man is eternal death

* Jesus came to get rid of this nature and to liberate us from the power of the law of sin and death

2. "The Flesh" (Romans 8:8)

→ This is the physical manifestation of the Adamic nature in man

3. "The Old Man" (Romans 6:6)

→ A man who yields to sin is living in accordance with the old order of things

★ 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."

* How to Identify the natural man:

→ He is not born again

→ He is not transformed

→ He is not liberated from the power of sin

→ He does not access divine revelation (because he does not have connection with God)

→ He knows nothing about the things of God

→ He operates in the realm of the natural (within His 5 physical senses)

→ His choices are controlled by his fleshy impulses (not by the Spirit of God)

→ He is the Servant of rebellion. (He antagonizes God at every opportunity)

* What Causes people to have this Adamic nature?

→ We were born with this nature

★ Romans 5:12 →"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

* Consequences of living in Sin (indulging the Adamic nature):

→ Eternal condemnation

→ Subjected to the wrath of God

→ Alienation from God

* How to Overcome the Adamic Nature:

★ 2 Corinthians 5:21 →"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

* NOTE: It takes God to save a man from the nature of sin. God has already made that provision through His son, Jesus Christ

* Jesus Christ has made the sacrifice. All you need to do is to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour

* Jesus has already declared you "not guilty", but you must believe and accept Him

★ Acts 4:12 → "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

* It is possible for a "natural man" to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.

→ No matter your sin, there is hope for you in Jesus

* As a Christian, are you bothered that some people around you are still living in sin?

→ What are you doing about it?

* NOTE: If you are not born again, you will not see the Kingdom of God

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

☆ PASTOR'S CORNER

Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians divided the whole human race into three, according to their responses to the things of God (the natural man, the carnal man and the spiritual man). Every person in Church falls into one of these categories.

The natural man does not access divine revelation; he knows nothing of the things of God. He lives life under the sense of flesh. He sees spiritual things as foolishness. He lives according to Adamic nature. He is lost.

The natural man remains God's enemy unless he yields to the conviction of the Holy Spirit by accepting Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour. What kind of man are you?

☆ MISSION CHARGE

"Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved."

→ Charles H. Spurgeon

☆ QUOTE

"Jesus himself did not try to convert the two thieves on the cross; He waited until one of them turned to him."

→ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Growing Up (Rev. David Kwamkur) 01-02-2015

SUNDAY SERVICE

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki-Abuja, Nigeria

1st February, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Growing Up

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service leader: Mr. Stephen Barthner

* Text: Hebrews 11:24-26

* The life of Moses began as a Journey of faith. (See: Exodus 3)

* Moses' parents demonstrated faith for the protection of their child even in the midst of danger

* You can destroy your future if you disregard your past.

* Parents have a significant role to play in the life of their children's spiritual growth and maturity

→ Note: Moses' parents were not afraid of the verdict of the Pharaoh. They trusted God to preserve their son

* One thing that is destroying many people today is fear

★ Matthew 10:28 → "Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell."

* If you are interested in growing deeper spiritually, you should study the life of Moses - His life Was a life of faith

* Benefits of Studying the life of Moses:

(a) It will help you understand that God is greater than every evil scheme or person in the world

(b) It will help you to focus on God, rather than on your circumstances

(c) It will help you understand that God is faithful and will never fail to keep His promises

→ The most dangerous thing you will ever do in life is to doubt God's faithfulness

→ Hold on to God until your situation changes

(d) It will help you let God work through you

→ God will not force you to do anything (including submitting to Him) that you don't want to do willingly

(e) It will help you realise that you are not an ordinary person

→ NOTE: You are the Child of the King of the Universe & you are important to God

* Moses made faith decisions:

→ if you are ever going to grow spiritually, you must walk by faith all the time

→ Children cannot make certain decisions on their own because they are immature

→ The quality of your decisions is an indication of your maturity (or immaturity)

→ If you do not know how to make decisions, other people will decide for you based on what they want for you

* Decisions You Must make if you want to grow in Christ:

1. Refusing the wrong

* Hebrews 11:24

→ It is not enough to know what is right or wrong, but you must be courageous enough to out-rightly refuse to do what is wrong in the sight of God

→ When faith comes into operation, your ability to recognize and refuse to do anything that is contrary to God's will is strengthened

* Examples of persons who refused to do what was wrong, even at the cost of their lives:

(a) Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar's wife (Gen 39:9)

(b) The 3 Hebrew boys

* Daniel 3:12 → “Certain influential Jewish men whom you appointed to manage the city of Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—have neither paid attention to you, your majesty, nor served your gods. And they won’t worship the golden statue that you set up.”

* It did not make any (reasonable) sense why they would choose to disobey the King's express orders at the detriment of their political positions and even their lives

*NOTE: When faith is in operation, your reason is inactive.

(c) Daniel refused to obey a Royal ban on prayer→ Daniel 6:13

"Then they told the king, “Daniel, who is one of the Judean exiles, pays no attention to you, your majesty, or to the written decree, since he is still praying three times a day.”

(d) Peter and John refused to obey a decree not to preach in the name of Christ → (Acts 4:17-20)

- They did not allow themselves to be intimidated by the Jewish Council (the most powerful and influential entity in Israel at the time)

* You must always refuse to do the wrong thing, even when it is the most popular thing to do

* Nobody grows in Christ by doing the wrong thing

* If you don't want evil to multiply, you must always refuse to do what is wrong

* Don't follow your reason; follow your faith

* God is calling you to refuse anything that is contrary to your faith

2. You must choose to do what is right

→ It is Impossible to choose to do what is both right and wrong at the same time. You have to choose only one

* Sometimes, the right thing to do does not appeal to your reasoning, But you must always follow faith, rather than your reason

* You must be wise in making your decisions

* Always make decisions in the light of tomorrow and eternity

* Don't mortgage your tomorrow for the brief pleasures of today

* If you choose to be a believer/disciple of Jesus, You Must be willing to pay the price:

★ The cost of Discipleship

(Luke 14:25-33)

→ You must be willing to cut links with your family and loved ones, if need be (verse 26)

→ You must carry His cross (verse 27)

→ give up everything for the sake of Christ (verse 33)

* A person who is not a faithful disciple of Christ cannot enter His kingdom in eternity

* Making the right decision would always cost you something (time, privileges, relationships, possessions, advantages, certain pleasures, your life, etc.)

3. You must run away from any appearance of wrong/evil

→ Running away from evil does not mean you are a coward

* Temporal things are just temporal - they will not last

* Amos 5:14-15 →"Pursue good and not evil, so that you may live, and this is what will happen: The LORD God of the Heavenly Armies will be with you, as you have been claiming. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in court— perhaps the LORD, the God of the Heavenly Armies, will be gracious to the survivors of Joseph.’

* Titus 2:11-12 →"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age."

→ As a Christian, God expects you to always renounce all forms of ungodliness

→ Renunciation must be total: You're not expected to go back to something you have renounced already

→ It is the by the grace of God that you are able to renounce every act of ungodliness, not by your own power or will

★ 2nd Timothy 2:19 →"However, God’s solid foundation still stands. It has this inscription on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”

→ Departing from evil is a prerequisite for serving God faithfully and effectively

* 2nd Timothy 3:1-5

→ People that have a form of godliness but deny its power must be "quarantined" from your life before they infect and pollute you too

* 2nd Timothy 2:22

→ "Flee from youthful passions. Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart."

* Mark 8:36 →"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

→ It is foolish to mortgage your life and eventually loose/destroy your soul

* Romans 8:17 →"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

→ There is an eternal glory that comes after our temporal sufferings here on earth

* Look beyond your senses and depend or your faith

* If you have faith, you have everything!

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

MISSION CHARGE

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming"

→ Ephesians 4:14

QUOTES

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety".

→ George Mueller

"Sadness takes you away from true worship of the Lord."

→ Rev. David Kwamkur

"Satan will always make you feel that there is no reason to be happy. He will give you reasons to be angry at everyone, everything and even at yourself."

→ Rev. David Kwamkur