Heavenly Places (Pastor Yakubu Yola) 13-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES 

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC), 

Wuye, Abuja 

Friday Prayer Meeting

13th May, 2016 

* Speaker: Pastor Yakubu Yola 

* Topic: Heavenly Places 

* Text: Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-22; 2:1-9

★ John 17:14 →"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

* NOTE: As a child of God, you are not of the world 

* One of the ways to study how to live as 'not of the world' is to study the life of Jesus 

→ Nothing could conquer Jesus; the things of the world could not overcome Him because He was not of the world 

* God designed your life as a Christian to overcome every situation

→ Difficult situations can only challenge you, but they cannot overcome you 

* The life of Jesus is testimony of the fact that no situation can challenge and overwhelm you

→ There was always a way out for Jesus under any circumstance 

* As long as you follow and trust in Jesus, there will always be a way out 

* The plan of God is that there should always be provision for your needs & that you'll never be stranded because of the power of God that is at work in you

* God did not design you to be stuck 

* You must not accept and confess anything negative concerning your life 

→ Your confession must always be based on God's finished work of grace in your life  

★ 1 Corinthians 10:13 →''No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 

→ NOTE: There is always a way out of every situation

* NOTE: You must realize that every difficult situation comes with an imbeded way out!

* We serve a God who always makes a way out of every difficult situation 

* If you are stuck in any difficult situation, God will show you the way out 

* It is wrong for a door to be closed and you give up, thinking that there is no other door of escape 

→ there is always a way out of every situation 

* NOTE: As a child of God, you have the Power of God embedded in you to represent Him properly on earth 

★ 1 John 5:4 →"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." 

* If you are not operating in the power and might of God (as a Christian), something is wrong 

* Every time you are confronted with any situation, (realize that) you have overcome it already - by virtue of the power of God in you! 

* A child of God must never panic, fear or be discouraged when faced with difficult situations 

* God's power invested in you is your empowerment tool to overcome every situation 

★ Ephesians 2:6 →"and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." 

* The design of your ability to overcome in life is determined by where you are 'seated' 

⇒ Christ is not seated there alone; You are also there with Him! 

* NOTE: The moment Christ was raised from the dead, your victory was sealed 

→ He has already accomplished it and you are expected to exercise it by faith 

* You do not have to fight and struggle through demons. You are already seated above them 

→ You don't have to pray about it. It is already yours  

* If you know your position in Christ, there are certain prayers you do not need to pray 

* There is nothing the devil can do about your spiritual position 

→ It has been given by a higher spiritual power - Jesus 

* Many Christians are not aware that spiritual forces recognize and obey authority! 

→ Spiritual powers and forces respond only to spiritual authority 

* There was an election for you to sit in heavenly places: 

→ God was the only electorate, and He voted in your favor! 

→ It was an incontestable decision 

* NOTE: The devil is not in charge in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3)

★ Ephesians 1:22 →"And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church." 

* When one General shows up, He can command an entire legion of soldiers

→ If you are a General in God's army, your orders cannot be contested by Satan, his demons or his agents. They must obey! 

→ One with God is majority 

★ 1 John 4:4 →"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 

* As a child of God, you need to be aware of your spiritual position and authority at all times 

* You must take your place and the Lord will make a way for you

☆ What is your limitation?

→ Times and seasons 

★ Ecclesiastes 3:1 →"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven." 

→ A true child of God is not limited by times and seasons 

→ Anytime you like, you can get your breakthrough 

* There were men that entered the place of God and determined time:

→ Joshua makes the sun stand still (Joshua 10:13) 

→ Elijah proclaims drought (1 Kings 17:1)  

→ Aaron's staff budded, blossomed & produced fruit overnight (Numbers 17:1-8) 

→ Elizabeth's supernatural conception in old age (Luke 1:18-25) 

* There is no level that faith cannot take you to in life

* There are no limitations to a man who walks by faith and in the power of God  

* You must refuse to be like every other person & fit into a mold of mediocrity 

* You have the grace to: 

→ complete any abandoned project

→ walk in victory 

→ live in perpetual good health 

→ experience financial breakthrough  

God with us (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 20-03-2015

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja, Nigeria  

20th March, 2015

 

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

* Topic: God with us  

* Text: James 4:6 → But he gives all the more grace. And so he says, “God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble.”

* God resists the proud, because the proud resists God

* God, grant me the grace never to resist you

* Why God gives grace to the humble

1. To be everything He has designed them to be

2. To be everything they want to be

* There are things you cannot experience or achieve by your strength - except by God's grace and by divine empowerment  

* Galatians 2:21 →"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

* 2 Peter 3:18 →"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

→ Father, help me to grow in grace

* Zachariah 9:16 -17 →"And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids."

God with us (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 17-03-2015

NDlC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria 

17th March, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

* Topic: God with us

* Text: Luke 19:1-6

* Anyone that must be saved by Jesus must act the same way Zaccheus acted, that is, such a person must be humble

→ God gives grace to the humble

* Grace is given to you so that you can became everything God designed/destined you to be

→ It is able to help you go over the mountains

* Humility is the attitude that makes you come to the realization that you are not as good as people think you are

* Humility makes you realize that you can not have achieved anything without God's help

* Proverbs 11:2 →"When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it, but humility is present with wisdom."

* Pride is the root of most marital problems and divorces

* As a man, you must not react to everything your wife says - this might breed problems

* It takes humility to overlook offense even when you have opportunity to revenge or react

 

God with us (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu)

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

16th March, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

* Topic: God with us

* Text: Luke 19:1-6

* How did Jesus end up in Zaccheus' house (Continued from 11th March, 2015)

5. Zaccheus demonstrated humility

→ regardless of his wealth and position in the society, he humbled himself

→ Many people want to 'see' Jesus but they are too pompous

→ Humility made Zaccheus to run ahead of the crowd to the sycamore tree

→ Pride makes many rich people to attend Church late. They feel they are doing the Church or the Pastor a favour by coming  

→ Humility will make you not care about what other people care about.
 

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POINTS TO NOTE:

1. Those who are humble experience God's grace

* James 4:6 →"But he gives all the more grace. And so he says, “God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble."

2. God dwells and associates with the humble

* Isaiah 57:15 → "For this is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."

3. God exalts the humble

* Mathew 23:12 → "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

4. God honours those who are humble

* Proverbs 15:33 →  "Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honour."

Access to God's Grace (Rev. David Kwamkur) 05-10-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE

MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki- Abuja, Nigeria

5th October, 2014

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Access to God's Grace

* Theme: Knowing the will of God

* Sub-theme: Blessings of doing God's Will

* Service leader: Mrs. Anna Yoila

* Text: 2nd Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

* John 1:16 -17

SERMON

* There is no point knowing the will of God if one has no intention of doing it

* If you do the will of God, there are blessings that are sure to follow you

* A preacher asked Someone: "do you know anything about grace?" The person answered "grace who?"

* Many people think of "grace" only as a name

* Grace is more than just a name

* Grace is everything we are today & will become tomorrow through the unquantifiable mercies of God

* Grace is the unmerited favour of God

* There are things that you will never achieve in life based on just credit & merit

* Grace is God's enablement, God's power, God's wisdom that compensates man's inability

* There is something in God that man does not have

* God's Grace is the sufficiency of God

* As a believer, you have the fullness of God in you

* Grace makes things that are inaccessible to become accessible

* God's grace helps the natural man to access things that are obtainable in the spiritual realm

* God's grace makes the impossible possible

* God's grace is the strength of God in times of weakness

* God's grace is the courage that comes to you when you are discouraged

* God's grace makes difficult things to be easy and surmountable

* God's grace is not in opposition with obedience

* God's grace enables you to obey God

* We cannot do as we like just because we are living under grace

* The grace of God keeps you away from sin

 

→ Romans 6:1 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"

* The grace of God keeps you from Struggling - Whenever you struggle to get something, you must check

* God's grace promotes you from one level of struggle to the level of consistent victory

* You should not be struggling with the same thing that you struggled with this time last year

* Two Great Commodities given to Believers

1. Grace

2. Mercy

* Note: Most time, God gives us raw materials, not the finished product - There is something useful in every raw material

* Grace is the raw material used to produce what you not deserve

* Mercy is God not giving you what you deserve

* Grace & Mercy work & operate in every circumstance - their principles are static

* Types of Grace

1. Saving Grace

→ Ephesians 2:8-9

- This is potentially given to everybody

- You can only access it when you confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour

2. Sanctifying Grace

→ Leviticus 11:44 "I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground."

- This grace Keeps you away from Sinning & Sets us apart for God

3. Sustaining Grace

→ 2nd Corinthians 6:3-10

- Grace keeps you from being overwhelmed by the issues of life

- Grace helps us to endure hardship

4. Growing Grace

→ Philippians 3:12-14

- this grace helps you to realize and maximize your potentials

* Being in the middle of God's grace does not exclude you from the Challenges of life

→ 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10

* God's grace is inexhaustible; it is infinite

* When you draw from God's Grace, you cannot get to the end of it.

Knowing the Will of God (Engr. Markus Dye) 14-09-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1 - Garki, Abuja

14th September, 2014

SERMON

* Speaker: Engr. Markus Dye

* Topic: Prepared Giver

* Theme: Knowing the Will of God

* Excelling in the Grace of Giving

* Service Leader: Mrs. Lois Dakum

* Text: 1st Corinthians 16:2 "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made."

* 2nd Corinthians 9:4-5

* If you are not prepared, you will be caught Unaware

* Preparation entails getting ready for something

* Preparation is also part of Planning - preparation is a critical element of Success

* John 14:1-2- Jesus himself went to prepare a place for us in heaven

* Jesus gave himself first before requiring us to give

* To get to Heaven, you must prepare yourself

* Preparation is setting aside time to do something or to perfect an objective/goal

* Preparation positions you to maximize opportunities that come your way

* Who is a giver? - God Himself is a giver. He demonstrated His love to us by giving us His Son

* You cannot give what you do not have

* You must prepare yourself to receive what God has prepared for you to get

* When you receive the free gift of God, you are in a better position to give

* A prepared giver is one who gives thankfully

* Before your giving is acceptable to God, you must:

(a) be submissive to God's authority

(b) give cheerfully

* Prepare or decide in advance what you want to give

* You must not appear before God empty handed- prepare before you appear

* You must, as a Child of God yield to the call to give for the expansion of the kingdom of God here on earth

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