My Be-Attitude 9 - Blessed are those who are persecuted for Righteousness Sake (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 23-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

2nd Sunday Service

23rd October, 2016

Pastor Sarah Omakwu
Picture Credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON:

*   Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu

* Topic: My Be-Attitude 9 (Blessed are those who are persecuted for Righteousness Sake)  

* Text: Matthew 5:1-12

 

★ 1 Peter 3:13-17

 

* NOTE: Ironically, the reward for imbibing the be-attitudes (humility, meekness, peace, righteousness, etc) is persecution!

→ The world will not praise or applaud you for being Christlike.

→ The world persecuted, oppressed, opposed, mocked and even killed Jesus only because He was fully pleasing to God. You should not expect anything less

 

☆ Meaning of 'Blessed':

* 'Blessed' here connotes the joy that comes from knowing that God is for you, in you and that He will help you

→ 'Happiness' is an emotion that is conditional and dependent on circumstances.

⇒ Jesus did not promise us happiness, but JOY

→ Joy is not dependent on circumstances. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that bubbles in the heart of a child of God regardless of what he/she is experiencing (see: Galatians 5:22-23)

 

* Joy enables a child of God to endure difficulties and challenges

★ Job 13:15 →"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him." 

 

★ Philippians 4:4 →"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again! I say rejoice." 

 

* This blessing cannot be diminished or undermined by anything - even extreme suffering and death!

★ Acts 7:54-60

 

* Happiness comes and goes, but joy stays!

 

☆ Meaning of 'Persecution'

* Persecution is like an enemy pursing you

→ it means 'being vexed'

→ it is an all-out act of violence

→ it entails cruel mocking

→ Reproachful language or attitude

→ imprisonment

→ unjust punishment

 

* If as a Christian, you are not persecuted, something is wrong

→ You must brace yourself for persecution and pray for the grace to overcome

 

☆ Meaning of 'Revile'

→ It is is to be shamed

→ it is contempt

 

☆ Why would I be persecuted?:

1. The world is fallen and you (as a Christian) oppose its values  

→ The world oppresses anything that does not conform to its values

★ 2 Timothy 3:12 →"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

 

2. Because your righteous life judges them

→ If unbelievers or people feel free to sin around you, this is a sign that you have compromised

 

3. Because you are attached to Christ

→ If the world persecuted Jesus your master, they will persecute you too (see: John 15:20)

 

4. Because you have refused to be a hypocrite

 

5. Your stated belief in the articles of the Christian faith and your adherence to it will make the world hate you

 

6. Because you have been separated from the world and you do not belong to them

 

* NOTE: If you have never been persecuted as a Christian, it means you are compromising in some area of your life

 

* There are many Christians that are so determined to be loved and accepted by the world that they lower their standards

→ this is bad Christianity

 

* NOTE: What you compromise to keep, you will lose!

 

* You must reject anything that God did not give you

→ Take a stand for righteousness

→ If you must compromise your faith in Jesus to get something, then such a thing is not worth it (see: Matthew 16:26)

 

* We live in a generation that is flippant and does not believe in righteousness or integrity

 

* Today, many Christians are not persecuted for their faith

→ This is because they behave like the children of the devil

→ The devil will not oppose what is his own!

 

* The Church is not making any impact because of its many compromises

→ Question: When was the last time you told anyone about Jesus?

 

* NOTE: All religions, sects and beliefs are united in their attack of our Lord Jesus Christ

→ This is because Jesus is the Rock of Offense (See: 1 Peter 2:8; Romans 9:33; Isaiah 8:14)

 

* The time has come for Christians to stand out for Jesus

→ You were not called to blend in but to stand out

 

* Jesus was a 'one man riot' and could not be convicted of any sin or wrongdoing (see John 14:30; Luke 23:4)

→ with God, you are a majority

 

* When you compromise, you cannot freely talk about Jesus to those who know you have no integrity

 

* NOTE: A true Christian ought to be a standing rebuke to the world

 

* Unfortunately, no one wants to persecute the Church because there is nothing to oppose.

→ The Church and Christians have 'blended in'

 

* To be persecuted for righteousness sake is to be 'punished' or 'victimized' for doing what is right, for the right reasons and for the sake of Christ

 

* Righteousness means moral uprightness

→ A child of God must be above board (a person of integrity)

 

* If you are not persecuted for being a Christian, check you life, something is wrong

★ Luke 6:26 →" Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets."

 

* If you are causing trouble for yourself, and they punish you, repent. This does not qualify as persecution

→ A Christian must not go looking for trouble

→ What God expects of you is to preach the good news and take a stand for righteousness

 

* Be meek and humble about your persecution

→ Do not go about bragging, complaining or whining

 

☆ When you are persecuted, You must not:

→ retaliate

→ sulk

→ lick your wound like a dog

 

* You should not allow injustice, oppression or suffering (that arises as a result of your belief in Jesus) to separate you from the love of God (see: Romans 8:35-36)

 

☆ Advantages of Persecution:

1. It brings you into fellowship with Jesus

2. It builds up your character

3. When you are persecuted, you will know how strong you are

4. It exposes areas of weakness in your life

5. It produces Christian character and virtues in your life

6. It tests your loyalty, faith and trust

7. It is accompanied by a glory

 

* Caution: Always ensure that you are not suffering for wrongdoing, but for righteousness (see: 1 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 3:17)

 

* Every Christian must expect persecution

→ You cannot pray it away

→ If Jesus suffered, you will also suffer! (unless you are compromising)

 

☆ PRAYER:

Lord, I repent for compromising

And for not standing out for you

Have mercy on me

I want a new life that comes from you

I need to make things right today

Help me to be the kind of man/woman

that you want me to be

Help me to be bold

Help me to stand out for you

All the days of my life

Amen

Pastor Sarah Omakwu
Picture credit: FWC Media

My Be-Attitude 4 (Blessed are the Meek for they shall Inherit the Earth) (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 04-09-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

1st Sunday Service

4th September, 2016

Pastor Sarah Omakwu

 

☆ SERMON:

* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu

* Topic: My Be-Attitude 4 (Blessed are the Meek for they shall Inherit the Earth)

* Text: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

 

★ Philippians 2:5-11

 

★ Psalm 37:11 →"But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (NKJV)

 

* The beatitudes have in them imbedded joy!

→ Obedience in applying them to your life produces joy

 

* Jesus himself was a meek person

→ He never taught us to do what He did not do!

→ He inherited the earth

 

* Definitions of meekness:

→ to be gentle

→ to be strong, yet tender

→ to be mild of temper

→ not easily provoked or irritated

→ soft hearted

→ to be submissive to the divine will of God

→ to be loving, patient and gentle towards others

→ to have the ability to take and conquer, but choose not to use it against others

 

* The easiest way people will know that you are a Christian is by being meek & loving

 

* Your emotions should have a calmness about it

 

* A truly meek person is not occupied with themselves

 

* Meekness is an attitude that accepts everything as God's will and for His purpose

→ You should realize that everything that happens is working out for your good

 

* If you are meek, you will have peace

→ A person who is meek does not take things to heart

 

* The meek are those who are:

→ gentle

→ modest

→ humble

→ pleasant

→ unassuming

→ polite

→ lacking arrogance

→ simple in faith

→ soft-spoken

→ patient in the face of every affront

 

* Meekness is the state of being gentle because you are God-controlled

 

* Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit

 

* Meekness is not accepted today in the aggressive and self-centred world

 

* The world equates meekness with weakness and foolishness

 

* David demonstrated meekness

→ Even though he had the chance to kill his enemy Saul, he refused to do so twice! (1 Samuel 24:3-7; 1 Samuel 26:5-12)

 

* Meekness is having great strength under control

 

* The world defines strong people as: "Assertive" and "Aggressive"

 

* The Bible teaches that meekness is the opposite of what the world believes

 

* Many broken marriages would have been saved from divorce if only there was meekness on the part of the couples

 

* Meekness is rooted in God

→ He is kind & forgiving

→ He is patient

→ He is tolerant

→ He overlooks our faults

 

★ Philippians 2:5-8

→ NOTE: Jesus had the same power God has and could have use it to His advantage, but He choose not to

 

* Jesus humbled Himself and came to the world through the birth canal of a woman. He was despised, opposed and eventually murdered like a criminal, yet He did not challenge His 'enemies'. He prayed for them!

 

* You must live the kind of life that is not always seeking to 'proof a point' to anybody

→ Jesus did not need to proof a point to anyone that He is God.

→ This should also be your disposition as a Christian

 

★ Isaiah 53:7 →"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth."

 

* There must be a cleanness, calmness and sweetness about your life!

→ You do not need to comment on everything

→ Learn to let things go (including the worse offenses against your person)

 

★ Matthew 26:62-68

→ This is the mind-set that every child of God must have

⇒ You should pity those who hate and oppress you

 

★ Mark 15:3 →"And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.''

 

* Meekness is maintaining peace in the face of provocation

 

* A meek person fights to correct injustice, but He submits/yields when it comes to himself

 

* A meek person is not self-willed

→ he always puts others' interests ahead of his own

 

☆ John 5:30 → "I can do nothing on my own initiative or authority. Just as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just (fair, righteous, unbiased), because I do not seek My own will, but only the will of Him who sent Me." (AMP)

 

* Meekness is the opposite of self-will

 

* NOTE: It requires a lot of self-control to be meek!

→ It is not a simple laid- back, complacent disposition of a weak hearted person

 

* A meek person yeilds to others, even if they cheat him

 

* If you live as a meek person, many people will be drawn to Christ and become saved through your disposition and response to situations

 

* You must learn to allow things go

⇒ You must not always insist on having your own way or enforcing your rights

 

☆ Who should be meek?:

★ Galatians 6:1 → "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." (NKJV)

 

* You should be kind and gentle to people who offend you

 

* REMEMBER: You will one day need the mercy of others.

 

☆ Who should we be meek to?:

★ 2 Timothy 2:25 → "in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth." (NKJV)

→ Those who oppose you

→ Those who seek to take undue advantage of you

 

★ Titus 3:1-3 → ''Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another." (NKJV)

 

* If you do not have anything good to say about others, keep quiet!

 

☆ What are the Rewards of Meekness?

→ You will inherit the earth

→ People like meek people (no one likes those who are cantankerous)

 

★ Psalm 37:11 → "But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (NKJV) 

My Be-Attitudes 3 (Attitude of Mourning) (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 21-08-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja 

Sunday Service  

21st August, 2016 

Pastor Sarah Omakwu

 

☆ Rules of Good behaviour that you must Inculcate as a Believer at Social Occasions: 

1. When you are invited for any occasion, study the Invitation card properly 

→ Do not bring another person(s)  along if you were the only person invited (except with the prior permission of the organisers) 

→ If you cannot afford the precise dress or colour code, try as much as you can to wear something close to what is required. This adds beauty to the event. 

 

2. Never attend any celebration (birthdays, naming ceremonies, bridal shower, baby shower, house dedication, etc) empty handed.  

→ Always prepare to take an appropriate gift along with you, no matter how small. 

→ Do not just go to a party to eat and leave. If you do that, you are a liability! 

 

3. If you are invited as a dignitary at any event (eg. Chairman), and you accept, you must perform that function honourably by also giving good gifts to the celebrants or organisers. 

→ NOTE: Your transportation expense to the event (via road, air or sea) is not part of your contribution and does not suffice as a gift!  

 

4. Always attend every event on time

→ Lateness is a sign of disrespect  

 

5. Do not take your children with you to a party where you are invited, unless it is a children's party - or the organizers have specifically invited them too 

 

6. Realize that anytime you are 

given an invitation card, you are expected to add value to the event

→ Bear in mind that the organisers specifically thought about you before writing your name. Do not disappoint them. 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

 

 SERMON: 

* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu 

* Topic: My Be-Attitudes 3 (Attitude of Mourning)

* Text: Mathew 5:4 →"Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted."  

 

★ Isaiah 53:3-6 

 

★ Isaiah 61:1-3

 

★ Matthew 11:28-30 

 

* NOTE: Mourning was an attitude that Jesus had while on earth. 

→ As a believer and follower of Jesus, you should have that same attitude  

 

* Being happy (blessed) while in a state of mourning sounds like a contradiction 

→ Happiness (blessedness) is produced by the experience of God's favour - not by external circumstances. 

 

* This be-attitude (godly mourning) is the other side of being poor in spirit

 

* To mourn means to experience deep grief. 

→ It is an expression of intense sense of loss, helplessness, hopelessness or despair 

→ It is to be contrite and penitent 

 

* To be penitent is to feel and express regret, a sense of guilt and resolve to amend your life, to change. 

 

* There cannot be penitence without a corresponding action 

 

* Contrition involves FEELING sorry; while Penitence involves ACTION (doing something to amend the wrong)

 

* You must realize that you cannot help yourself, and a spiritual bankrupt, therefore you surrender to God by coming back to Him 

 

* Genuine mourning is composed of both contrition and penitence 

→ when you FEEL something (eg, a conviction), you should DO something about it (eg, repentance)

→ when you feel convicted about a particular sin, you should repent and turn away from it 

 

* Repentance is to completely turn away from sin

⇒ It involves a 180 degree turn in the opposite direction from the confessed sin 

→ Those who mourn do not hide, trivialize or justify sin.

★ John 8:11 

 

* When you hide or trivialize your sins, you can never know the comfort that comes from a pure heart; you will never enjoy the ministry of the Angel of Comfort! 

★ Psalms 51:17

★ Psalm 34:18 

 

* A pure heart is one that has mourned before God and surrenders to Him

- He (God) removes the sin from your heart, washing it with the blood of Jesus thereby restoring it to Himself.  

→ A pure heart is not something you do (through your personal effort); It is something God does Himself 

 

★ Psalm 32:1-2

 

* The reason why people always repent and still go back to the same sin is because there was no real repentance in the first place 

 

* There cannot be real rejoicing where there is no real mourning

 

* This generation does not know anything about mourning 

→ Today, people do not mourn and groan over their sins 

→ There is so much busyness and distractions by gadgets and quest for prosperity that we forget or neglect to be contrite and penitent before God 

 

* You must take time to reflect in prayer and weep over your sins, and intercede for others  

 

* You must not brush over your sins and hide under the 'grace of God'. 

⇒ NOTE: Jesus Himself who is the Lord of all grace had occasion to mourn severally while He was on earth. 

 

* Question: When was the last time you closed your door and truly interceded for the salvation of  others?

 

★ Psalm 119:136 

 

* David was called a man after God's own heart because He was acquainted with mourning (See: 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) 

 

* As a Christian, you must be passionate for the salvation of the souls of people who are lost  

→ This is what is in the heart of God

 

* Those who really mourn for their own sins find the peace and comfort of God 

★ See: Psalm 51 

 

* The person that hurts another and then apologises half-heartedly will only attract anger and more wrath from the offended party

⇒ Never explain or justify your weakness, shortcoming or sin 

→ Repentance (to God or to any person you have hurt) must be genuine and unconditional 

 

* When you truly repent and mourn, the Holy Spirit then works on your heart, thereby giving you comfort 

 

* There cannot be genuine repentance without 'righting' the wrongs you have committed 

 

☆ Biblical Examples of Mourning:

1. Nehemiah wept and stopped eating when he learnt about the desolation of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:1-4) 

 

2. Jeremiah mourned and wept the captivity of the Children of Isreal (Jeremiah 4: 19-31) 

 

3. When the Jews were facing eminent genocide from their arch-enemy Haman 

→ Mordecai and all Jews mourned (Esther 4:1-3)

→ Esther fasted and mourned (Esther 4:15) 

 

4. Hannah mourned over her reproach of barrenness (1 Samuel 1:8-10) 

 

5. Paul suffered in the course of ministry (2 Corinthians 6:3-10) 

 

☆ When you Should Mourn: 

1. When you have personal sins, mistakes and failures

 

2. When you experience any kind of personal loss arising from bereavement, loss of money, a bad investment, etc. 

 

3. When there is sickness or loss of any bodily function 

 

4. When you cannot do what is natural for other people (e.g. natural conception, etc.) 

 

5. When someone around you is afflicted, going through crisis or a challenge (Job 2:11-13)   

★ Romans 12:5 →"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." 

6. When you are going through personal tribulations and challenges

* NOTE: Whenever you go back and fall before God in total surrender, you are endeared to Him! 

* The things you do not have and the challenges you experience in life should draw you closer to God and cause you to pour yourself completely to him in dependence. 

7. For the condition of the world 

8. For false religions, false prophets and heresies that exist in the world 

9. For Christians who are persecuted all over the world 

10. For the terrorized world  

11. Christians should mourn over the rise of all manner of perverseness and immorality in the world 

→ Instead of judging and criticising homosexuals, lesbians, murderers, drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, etc, intercede for them! 

★ 1 Corinthians 5:1 →"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you." 

12. When a sweet relationship breaks down 

★ 2 Corinthians 7:10 →"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." 

* NOTE: Any Sorrow which pushes you back to God for comfort is godly sorrow.

→ You must always run back to God whenever something go wrong. 

→ Do not seek solace or comfort outside God.  

* When you mourn 'properly', God comforts and heals you 

☆ Instances when Jesus mourned:

1. When John the Baptist (His cousin) was murdered by king Herod (Matthew 14:1-13) 

2. When Lazarus died (John 11:35) 

3. When He saw the condition of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44)  

4. In the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-39) 

5. When He carried our sins on Calvary (Matthew 27:45-46) 

* NOTE: 

→ You cannot be greater than your master 

→ You must intercede for those who are in darkness and those who do not know Jesus 

→ You need to start praying for the salvation of your relations who are far from God

* Jesus was always seeking the face of God in prayers as a sign of dependence 

* "Those who mourn are happy" (Mathew Henry) 

* You must be mindful of things that are important to God 

* NOTE: God cannot do anything in this world unless we give Him permission in prayer

* Real Christianity is accompanied with moaning, groaning and prayer 

* You need to get to the level that the things that worry God are the same things that worry you 

→ Be connected to God's High Tension Grid!   

☆ Challenge: 

→ when was the Iast time you groaned in prayer over somebody else's problem? 

→ when was the last time you groaned over somebody's lost opportunities?

→ when was the last time you prayed, groaned and wept over your own sins?  

☆ PRAYER: 

Help me father

to mourn for my sins,

Help me to be 

contrite and penitent 

for those who are going through 

I pray for every hurting person 

l pray for the Chibok girls,

than they be restored to their families 

I make you Lord over my life

I pray that Your kingdom come and 

May your will be done