★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)
Wuye, Abuja
30th October, 2016
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| Picture Credit: FWC Media |
☆ SERMON:
* Speaker: Rev. Reuben E. Ezemadu (Founder, Christian Missionary Foundation Inc.)
* Topic: Missions
* Text: Matthew 24:1-14
* We are living in a special time in God's agenda and program.
→ It is the End Time!
→ Many prophets of old, talked about it; Jesus amplified it (Matthew 24; Luke 21)
* Satan is doing all he can to distract us from fulfilling God's agenda, hoping he will delay it
* There had been political regimes that resisted the spread of the Gospel:
→ One of the recent ones was Communism (the Iron Curtain)
→ Presently, Russia has banned all forms of missionary work and evangelism
→ Christians are being persecuted all over the world
* These are events that point to the fact that the end is near
* The challenge before us is that many people (including Christians) cannot discern the times
* Many people will become lovers of self → [survival mode]
* NOTE: The events that are happening in the world today (violence, oppression, terrorism, wars, economic recession, political turmoil, migration etc) are creating opportunities for ministry
→ Jesus describes this as 'big & ripe harvest' (see: Matthew 9.37)
* God is using persecutions, and diverse events to bring the harvest closest to us
* The reason that Jesus has not come is because we have not finished the work [of evangelizing the lost]
* The Lord is not leaving the Church just to worship Him. There will be plenty worship in Heaven
→ God expects us to do what cannot be done in heaven; that is outreach (reaching the unsaved)
★ Revelation 7:9 →"After these things, I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands."
* God is raising people of all races and tribes to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth
* God ordains and orchestrates unlikely situations and circumstances to advance His Kingdom
★ Acts 1:8 →"But you’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you’ll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
→ we all have a part to play
→ the reward you will receive in heaven will be determined by how well you play your part
* You cannot remain idle and expect a rich reward in Heaven
* You must convert your earthy resources (money, time and talents) into eternal treasures
* You must identify your portion and occupy it
☆ How You can Fulfill your Part:
→ God has an assignment for everyone in the work of missions
* Some suggestions:
1. You can go (into the field and evangelize)
2. You can support the work of missions (financially & materially)
3. You can pray for the success of missions and missionaries
* God expects you to use your skills and profession to preach the Gospel of Christ
* Every Christian is supposed to be a witness of Christ everywhere
→ Slave girl in Na'aman's house (2 Kings 5:1-4)
→ Jael the housewife aided Israel's victory (Judges 4:17-24)
→ Mordecai the gate man (Esther 4)
* You should use the resources you have to advance God's kingdom
★ Exodus 35:21-22 →" and every person whose heart moved him and all whose spirits prompted them, brought an offering to the LORD for constructing the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. Both the men and women came—all whose hearts prompted them—and brought brooches, earrings, rings, pendants, and all kinds of gold jewelry. Every person presented a wave offering of gold to the LORD."
→ Everyone should take up his/her responsibilities
→ It has to be with the realization of urgency. Opportunities do not last for ever (see: John 9:4)
* NOTE: There is no corporate reward in heaven!
⇒ Every one will be personally accountable to God
* Your work cannot earn you Salvation
→ You must believe personally
→ After you believe, you must do the work
→ It is the work you do that determines your reward
* A spectator has no reward!
→ Only active players are recognized and paid
★ Matthew 25:23 →"His master told him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you’ve been trustworthy with a small amount, I’ll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s joy!" (ISV)
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
☆ Pastor Sarah Omakwu
→ You must constantly have a Kingdom mentality
→ Do not be concerned about gathering material riches on earth
→ What is on God's mind is not your next breakthrough!
→ God is more concerned that the lost are saved
→ How many people are you saving?
→ There is no horror compared to loosing heaven
→ Today is the perfect time to write your name in the books of Heaven
→ The most important thing you can do on this earth is to get people saved and reconciled to Jesus
★ John 10:16 → "I have other sheep that don’t belong to this fold. I must lead these also, and they’ll listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd."
* How many people have you led to Jesus Christ?
→ If you have not done so, you are failing
* There are endless opportunities to bring people to Christ everyday
* Do the things that please God. That is the souls of men
* Your testimony is a powerful tool of evangelism
→ You can share your story with others
* To those going all over looking for love and acceptance in the wrong places:
→ God has the key to everything that you need in life
→ God wants to give you rest and peace of mind
☆ QUOTE
"A great church is not known for its seating capacity,
but by its sending capacity."
but by its sending capacity."
→ Oswald J. Smith
