Power of Praise in preaching the Infallible Word of God (Rev. John A. lbrahim) 21-09-2015

SUNDAY SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA)

Central Business District, 

Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

[NDIC 25th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service]
21st September, 2014

 

* Speaker: Rev. John A. Ibrahim

* Topic: Power of Praise in preaching the Infallible Word of God

* Text: Joshua 5:13-6:27

* When we preach the word of God through songs of praise to God, there is joy & peace

 

* Many people have been saved as a result of preaching the Word of God through Songs

 

* In Acts 16:25-35, the Jailer and his entire family were saved as a result of preaching the Word of God through Songs as ministered by Paul & Silas

* Songs are powerful tools of ministration

* Who Was Joshua? (Joshua 5:1-5)

- He Was Moses' personal aide

- He was the successor of Moses

- He was a Military genius

- He was a leader of Israel

- He was courageous and eloquent

* But at the beginning, Joshua was not so mighty. God had to encourage him to be strong and courageous

★ Deut 11:24 -25

"Every place upon which the soles of your feet tread will be yours as boundaries—from the desert to Lebanon and from the River (that is, from the Euphrates) to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand against you. The LORD your God will instill terror and fear of you throughout the entire land wherever you go, just as he promised you."

★ Deuteronomy 7:24

"He will deliver kings into your control, and you are to wipe out the memory of them from under heaven. No one will be able to stand before you. You are to utterly destroy them."

* NOTE: The Church of God is the new Israel

- The Lord will defend the church as Long as we obey Him and do His will

* God desires that we should go out to preach the Word and bring the unsaved to Him

* NOTE: Whether you realize it or not, there is a battle before us (the Church of Christ)

* God has assured us of His presence as we advance in faith

* As we engage in the battle before us, we must always remember that the victory is to be accomplished by God Himself, not by any human effort/wisdom

* Our victory comes from God

→ Psalm 108:12-13

"Give us help against the enemy, because human help is useless. I will find strength in God, for he will trample on our foes."

* God always designs unusual strategies for battle

* The most offensive weapon that will destroy any type of enemy is praise & faith in God 

★Hebrews 11:30

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days."

* By faith you will conquer your enemies and overcome every hurdle in life

★ Joshua 5:1 - the Lord melted the heart of the enemies of the Children of God

* God has an appointed time to subdue our enemies

* God will never disappoint His Children

The Place of the Holy Spirit in the Christian Home (Pastor Francis) 05-07-2014

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Wedding - Umushe Jane Matta & Naanlong

@ ECWA Plateau Church, Laminga Road,

Jos, Plateau State - Nigeria

5th July, 2014

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Francis  

* Topic: The Place of the Holy Spirit in the Christian Home

* Christian marriage is based on sacred promises & vows

* Today, many couples have abandoned their marriage vows

* There is a call on every Christian couple to go back to the basics - which is the Word of God

* We must get back to the original plan of God for marriage

* The world has been trying to redefine marriage by introducing and promoting strange perversions in the marriage institution with a view to undermine God's standards

* The Christian home is under attack from the secular movement and carnal philosophies

★ Colossians 3:2 → "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

★ Ephesians 4:1 →"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."

★ Ephesians 4:17 →"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind."

* Our values as Christian couples/families must portray the light of Christ

* We must not be influenced by the world

* Only the distinction that we have in Christ can draw the World to Christ

★ Ephesians 5:18 → "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."

* What is lacking today, making Christians a far-cry from what God wants us to be is the fact that the Holy Spirit has been relegated to the background in our personal affairs

* It takes the Holy Spirit to be able to love someone outside of yourself

* The "Adamic man" (the unreformed heart) is naturally selfish

* Today, there is no difference between Christians & those who are not

* The hope of this Country is not in political ideologies but in Christians who live up to the calling of God upon their lives

* We are often too preoccupied with living life and pursuing our businesses to live in the Spirit

* When the Holy Spirit controls a man, He Submits to his wife in love; When the Holy Spirit controls a woman, she submits to her husband with respect & without compulsion

* NOTE: Bacchus is the god of wine & intoxication

-When a person is drunk, his body is open to control from the demonic influence of Bacchus to do his will

* When the Holy Spirit controls you, your hope will be established in righteousness

* 1st Corinthians 12:13 →"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

* The Holy Spirit indwells only persons who have accepted Jesus as their Lord & Saviour

* The 'in-filling' with the Holy Spirit is different from being "baptized" with the Holy Spirit

* God is looking for those who are constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit

* When The Holy Spirit is in control, Jesus has a say in the family affairs

* When you are truly submitted to the Holy Spirit, He gives you what to input into Your marriage, so that you're not just looking for what you will get out of it.

* The Holy Spirit must be the centre of attraction in your home & marriage

* The Holy Spirit can reconcile and restore all that is lost

How to know Whether a Person is controlled by the Holy Spirit:

1. Joy (Christian Joy is internal stability despite external instability)

2. Gratitude & thankfulness

3. Submission

★JOY

* Joy is the evidence of a true Christian home

* Joy regulates the spiritual atmosphere of a situation

* Joy insulates your heart against being carried away by the circumstances of life

* Alcohol is a temporary depressant which brings no permanent Solution

★THANKFULNESS

* Ephesians 5:20 →"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

* A person who comes to terms with the fact that he cannot become what he now is without the help and input of others is never grateful

* You must learn the principle of constant gratitude in the Christian home

★ SUBMISSION

* One institution that humbles a man is marriage because it offers plenty opportunities for serving each other selflessly

* Ephesians 5:21-22

* The man is actually called to submit to his wife in love

* The wife is called to submit to her husband in respect

* Christian couples are to submit to Christ out of reverence

* Submissiveness does not disturb the established order of authority

* Serving the interest of another is anti-world system where selfishness is the order of the day

* How is your home today?

* What is the place of the Holy Spirit in your home & life?

The Consequences of heeding Another Gospel 28-06-1998

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA)

(Now, Evangelical Church Winning All)

Airport, Abuja - Nigeria

28th June, 1998

SERMON

* Topic: The Consequences of heeding Another Gospel

* Speaker: [no data]

* Text: Galatians 1:6-9

* Every Christian is specially commissioned to spread/preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ

* Some Christians forsake the time Gospel message and follow other 'gospels' - such people should be eternally condemned

* God would add to his/her plaques or will take away his place from eternal rest (Revelation 22:19) of him who perverts the Gospel of life

★ Matthew 7:21-23

→ God will curse and deny knowing Christians/those who pervert His Word

★ Genesis 17:5

★ 1 Kings 21:19

→ The Lord stands by His promises. He who perverts His glory will face wrath

* God blesses those who are faithful (just like He blessed Abraham)

* God's judgment is sure and just. He pours His wrath on the rebellious

* All other ground is sinking sand; Only Christ is the solid rock

* The Word of God is true;

the Judgement of God is Sure;

Only Jesus is the true way

Race/Competition (Pastor Williams Nyashi) 21-06-1998

★ MY SERMON NOTES
SUNDAY SERVICE
@ Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA)
(Now, Evangelical Church Winning All)
Airport, Abuja - Nigeria
21st June, 1998

SERMON
* Topic: Race/Competition
* Speaker: Pastor Williams Nyashi
* Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 → "(6) I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for my departure has come. (7) I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. (8) The victor’s crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day that he comes, and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing."

* The most important thing in any race or competition is the ending part

* Every one in life is in one form of race/ competition or the other

* Verse 7: Paul lived and examplary life, which young people should emulate

* A good begining is not a guarantee for a successful ending

* NOTE: Paul wrote this passage while in chains (in prison custody)

* Christians engaged in the race should endeavor to initiate others also, like Paul did

* The secret of death is hidden to every mortal. We all must carry on the good race of faith if not so, we'll face the judgement

* Our spiritual competition is with our arch-enemy, the devil who fights to keep us from worshipping God

* The Holy Spirit will help us win (the race before us)

* NOTE: It is not over till it is over

What Satan is doing in the World Today (Mr Jonathan Achimugu) 15-06-1998

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Evangelical Church of West Africa

(now Evangelical Church Winning All) (ECWA),

Airport, Abuja - Nigeria

15th June, 1998

★ BIBLE STUDIES

* Topic: What Satan is doing in the World Today

* Speaker: Mr. Jonathan Achimugu

* Almost all news media today report nefarious acts of Satan: famines, fraud, theft, massacres, cult activities, and the like. Satan is the root of all these social evils

★ Revelations 12:9 → "The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels."

* Satan and his angels (demons) join forces to fight against God's people

* Satan is the adversary of the Children of God who seeks day and night to destroy them

* The Children of God Should not take the activities of Satan lightly!

* Satan is cruel, clever, hungry and always looking for an opportunity to destroy the Children of God

* Satan is a deceiver. First, he deceived himself (wanting to exaIt himself above the stars of God) then, he deceived the creatures of God [Isaiah 14:13-14] but God humiliated him

* Satan hates anyone who does not believe in his lies. That is why He accuses believers.

★ Revelations 12:10 →"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, “Now the salvation, the power, the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah have come. For the one who accuses our brothers, who accuses them day and night in the presence of our God, has been thrown out."

★ 1 Thessalonians 2:18 →"That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, wanted to come time and again, but Satan blocked our way."

* Satan always tries to hinder Christians from following Christ

★ Matthew 16:21-23

→ Satan opposes the will of God in our lives through (willing) relatives, friends, associates, colleagues etc

★ 1 Thessalonians 3:5 →"But when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and that our work had been a waste of time."

* Satan is a tempter. His primary aim is to frustrate the work of God's Ministers

* The devil's power is limited. He is not everywhere and does not know everything - unlike our Almighty God who is omnipresent and Omnipotent. That is why Satan uses demons to carry out his evil deeds.

(Ephesians 6:12)

★ See: Exodus 7:11, Matthew 12:22, Acts 4:7

* Demons cause havoc (Luke 7:27)

* NOTE: It is a mistake to attribute the cause of every sickness to the devil; Although many cases of sicknesses, famines, injuries etc. are caused by him.

* Satan uses man's sinful nature to accomplish his will, eg: kidnappers, murderers, armed robbers, liars, fraudsters, smugglers, drunkards, the sexually immoral, and the like - they are helping Satan, but most of them do not realize this fact

* People who are demon-possessed can be delivered through the blood of Jesus Christ

* Spiritually matured Christians Can pray for people who are possessed (by demons) and help them to be restored to God's love

* Satan should not be feared; his demons Should not be dreaded - Jesus has overcome them. Praise be to His name!

☆ PRAYER

1. Pray that God will protect as and our families from the attacks of the devil

2. Praise God for Jesus (He has won eternal victory over Satan and the forces of darkness)

☆ MEMORY VERSE

☆ John 10:10 →"The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I’ve come that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mr Jonathan Achimugu) 14-06-1998

SUNDAY SERVICE

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA),

(now Evangelical Church Winning All)

Airport, Abuja - Nigeria

14th June, 1998

* Topic: The Gospel of Jesus Christ

* Speaker: Mr Jonathan Achimugu

* Text: Mark 1:14-15 →"Now after John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and proclaimed the gospel about the kingdom of God. He said, “The time is now! The kingdom of God is near! Repent, and keep believing the gospel!”

* God's heart is to reconcile the sinful world to himself using the Gospel

* Jesus preached the Gospel Saying the Kingdom of God is at hand

★ Mark 1: 1-13

→ Jesus' primary mission is to save the world

★ Matthew 1:21 →"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

* There is no any other 'gospel' that can save man from sin and eternal condemnation

★ 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."

* Men can only be saved through the name of Jesus

★ 2nd Timothy 1:10 →"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

* Darkness shall disappear because the Gospel of Jesus is the Gospel of Light

* The New Testament (Covenant) is centred around Jesus

★ Revelation 22:13 →"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

★ John 17:4 →"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

* Jesus accomplished His mission of planting and spreading the Gospel of goodness

★ Matthew 28:19-20 →" Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

☆☆CHALLENGE:

→ Go and also spread the Gospel of the Lord, bringing the lost back to the WAY of life

Rescue the Harrased and the Helpless (Pastor D. D. Sakoma) 07-06-1998

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA),

(now Evangelical Church Winning All)

Airport, Abuja - Nigeria

[Missions Week]

7th June, 1998

* Speaker: Pastor D. D. Sakoma (from ECWA Karu)

* Topic: Rescue the Harassed and the Helpless

* Text: Matthew 9:35-38

★ Romans 12:18 →"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people."

★ Romans 10:13-15

★ Romans 6:9-10

* Our God is a "seeking God''. The Bible is a record of the Shepherd seeking the lost sheep

★ Genesis 9:6 →“Whoever sheds human blood, by a human his own blood is to be shed; because God made human beings in his own image."

→ Man was made in the image of God

★ Exodus 3:7-9

★ Matthew 9:35 →"Then Jesus began traveling throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness."

* God sent His Son into the world to rescue men. He sent His Word to bear witness

* The harassed and the helpless are those that are the sinners and those under the bondage of the enemy; those that have not yet heard the Gospel

★ Matthew 24:14 →"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

* Jesus will not come unless the Word (Gospel) has been heard by everyone

* If you cannot go out to the rescue mission, then you can pray, or give to support missionary efforts

★ Philippians 2:10 →"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth."

* Jesus humbled himself to become man. He was afflicted and brutally murdered but eventually, He rose from the dead.

* Poser: What are you doing (as a Christian) to share in the suffering of Christ?

★ 1st Thessalonians 2:1-2 →" For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a waste of time. As you know, we suffered persecution and were mistreated in Philippi. Yet we were encouraged by our God to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition."

★ Romans 1:14 → " Both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to foolish people, I am a debtor."

* The Gospel is an obligation that Christians are indebted to

★ Romans 5:6 →"For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, the Messiah died for the ungodly."

* If we don't preach the Gospel, our brethren will be left to die in darkness

★ Ezekiel 33:8-9 →" If I should say to a certain wicked person, ‘You wicked man, you’re certainly about to die,’ but you don’t warn him to turn from his wicked behaviour, he’ll die in his guilt, but I’ll seek retribution for his bloodshed from you. However, if you warn the wicked to turn from his behaviour and he does not do so, he will die in his guilt, and you will have saved yourself.”

* Unless you tell the lost about the love of Christ, if they die in darkness, God will require their blood from you

→ See: Romans 1:16-17

☆ HOW TO ENGAGE IN MISSIONARY WORK

1. Let people see the light of God in your life

2. Pray for the progress of God's work and the workers

3. Support the work through generous giving

4. Go out and tell others that are lost and are in darkness about the love of Christ

 

* Many Christians have turned from evangelism to back-biting and grumbling

* The lost cannot be found unless someone goes and tells them;

* God will require their blood from you if you relent in spreading the Word of truth that gives life

* NOTE: Missions is the heartbeat of God

What is My Spiritual Gift? (Mr. Achimugu Jonathan) 01-06-1998

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA),

(now Evangelical Church Winning All)

Airport, Abuja - Nigeria

1st June, 1998

☆ BIBLE STUDIES

* Topic: What is My Spiritual Gift?

* Leader: Mr. Achimugu Jonathan

* Text: 1st Corinthians 12:4-11

* All the Spiritual gifts listed in the above passage are by the Holy Spirit

★ Ephesians 4:11-13

* Unless God gives you a gift, man cannot forge it out of his own strength - and once given, it must not be left to waste away. Use it profitably

* If one does not know his gift, he should pray and ask God that the Holy Spirit should show him and read the Scriptures

★ Romans 12:3-8

★ 1st Corinthians 12:1-11

* Gifts are given to all Christians so that they can help strengthen others in their faith

* How to discover your gifts

(a) Pray for the Holy Spirit's revelation

(b) Try helping others grow to love God

- teaching Sunday School

- leading Bible Studies

- helping those in need

(c) Ask other members of your Church what they think your Spiritual gift is - they should be able to tell you

 

* Once you have discovered your Spiritual gift, you must use it without wavering. If you do not use your gift, you are like the unfaithful servant who did not use the talent his master gave him

* Do not feel inferior because you do not have a particular gift

* If you use the gift God has given you, He will be pleased

* The spiritual gifts are equally given by the same Spirit to glorify God

* Do not feel superior because you have a gift that others do not have

* If you do not speak in tongues, do not doubt your salvation. Salvation is by faith and not works

☆ Memory Verse:

★ 1st Peter 4:10 →"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Prayer (Pastor Allahyayi) 31-05-1998

SUNDAY SERVICE

@ Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA),

(now Evangelical Church Winning All)

Airport, Abuja - Nigeria

31st May, 1998

* Speaker: Pastor Allahyayi

* Topic: Prayer

* Text: Isaiah 38:1-6

* Prayer is communicating with God.

* God has commanded His Children to pray continually

* Through prayer, Hezekiah touched the throne of God and he was healed from sickness

* Prayer is the medium by which the impossible become possible

★ Romans 8:26-27 →"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

* Prayer can change the hand of God

★ 1st John 5:14-15 → "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

★ Matthew 7:7 → "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

★ John 1:12 → "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

* God has given us rights and promises that can only be appropriated through prayer

★ 2nd Chronicles 7:14 → "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

★ John 14:13 →"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

★ John 16:23-24 →"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

* You should always pray quoting important verses of the Scriptures