Imitators of God (Barr. Joseph Ayiaka Embugushiki) 19-01-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ NDIC/DMO Chapel,

Central Business District,

Garki - Abuja

19th January, 2016

IT STAFF FELLOWSHIP

* Speaker: Barr. Joseph Ayiaka Embugushiki

* Topic: Imitators of God

* Text: Ephesians 5:1-3

* Christ is our primary model

* There are many people that we want to imitate and there are those who want to imitate you

* Your calling as a Christian is to become like Christ in every aspect of your life

★ Acts 11:22-30

* The term 'Christian' came about as a result of the early Christians imitating Christ (Acts 11:19-26)

* As a believer, you must carry the 'brand' of Christ everywhere you go 

★ Philipians 4:8-9 → "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—keep thinking about these things. Likewise, keep practicing these things: what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you."

* When the above listed virtues abound in your life, it will become evident to all that you are a child of God

★ Romans 8:15 → "For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

★ 1 John 3:10 → "This is how God’s children and the devil’s children are distinguished. No person who fails to practice righteousness and to love his brother is from God."

★ Ephesians 5:1 → "So be imitators of God, as his dear children."

* Every father wants to model his child into his own likeness

* There are things that only a father can do for a son/daughter

→ We have become children of God through adoption

★ John 8:44 → "You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood for truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies."

* Becoming like Christ is critical to our faith as Christians

* Sin will always compromise your potential and capability to become like Christ

Bible studies on the 5 wise and foolish Virgins 2 (Joseph Ayiaka Embugushiki) 17-03-2015

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District

Abuja, Nigeria

17th March, 2015

 

Industrial Training (IT) Staff Fellowship

* Speaker: Barr. Joseph Ayiaka Embugushiki

* Topic: Bible studies on the 5 wise and foolish Virgins 2

* Text: Matthew 25:1-13

* Verses 10 & 11

→ Preparation in life is key to achieving success in life

→ Our primary purpose in life is to see the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ

→ Preparation is key to achieving your purpose or target in life

* Whether you like if or not, there are things that will always seek to extinguish your lamp, but you must not allow that to happen

* Note: The bridesmaids all started together, but it takes wisdom to succeed

* You must always be ready to see the Lord in His glory

* Stand for Christ while You have the opportunity to do so

* Verse 11:

→ When you walk or work in the "extra time" you become branded as the "other" (inconsequential)

* Those who do not prepare will be rejected by Christ

* If you are late, you might never get the chance again

* Failure to prepare can be caused by:

→ Laziness

→ Procrastination

→ Fear

→ Bad influence

→ Pride & arrogance

 

Bible studies on the 5 wise and foolish Virgins 1 (Joseph Ayiaka Embugushiki)

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

IT Staff Fellowship

10th March, 2015

* Speaker: Barr. Joseph Ayiaka Embugushiki 

* Topic: Bible studies on the 5 wise and foolish Virgins 1

* Text: Matthew 25:1-13

★ Verse 6:

→ There is definitely going to be a second coming

→ When it is time, would you be wise? or would you be among those who are unwise?

* What is your purpose in life?

→ The Midnight cry is a call for accountability & reckoning

* Live daily for Christ

→ Assess your life for Christ

→ How have you lived for Christ?

→ Always evaluate your life. Are you doing what God wants you to do?

★ Verses 7 and 8:

→ NOTE: all the bridesmaids had equal opportunity. They occupied the 'same office'!

→ The only difference is the level of their preparedness

* Salvation is a personal venture

→ It is an individual thing, else, they would have been given one lamp

→ Every body will account for himself

→ The reward that Christ gives is an individual reward. It is not collective

 

* The Word of God is the oil that keeps our lamps burning

→ When I run out of God's Word, I walk in darkness

→ I must do everything possible to ensure that my 'lamp' is always burning

→ We ought not to live in doubt about the status of our light

★ Verses 9 and 10:  

→ They were not only wise to carry extra oil, but also in rendering advise to those who were foolish 

→ The children of God are not only wise in their conduct, but also in their speech

→ The walk with Christ is a personal thing

→ You cannot repent before God, after the Midnight cry is sounded 

→ You must be wise. There is no room for backsliding