Our Jesus, His Command, Our Vision (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 03-01-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC),

Wuye - Abuja, Nigeria

First Service

3rd January, 2016

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omaku

* Theme for 2016: Our Jesus, His Command, Our Vision

* Text: Colossians 3:1-14

★ Matthew 6:33 →"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

* It is important to start the year right

* If you get this message and obey it, you are guaranteed a good life on earth and a greater life in heaven

* Aim at seeking the eternal treasures by setting your mind on things above

* If you substitute your desires for having material possessions with the desire for having eternal treasures, your life will change for the better!

* You must ask yourself how these things that consume you now will affect you in the next 1,000 years

* What does it mean to 'set' something?

→ It means to position something immovable in one place

→ To put into a specific state

* If you set your mind on heaven, no matter what goes on around you, your mind is programed by heaven and nothing else matters

* When heaven is your thermostat, your desires, are conditioned by God's standards

* Setting your mind on heaven means that:

(a) you do not seek the accolades of the world

(b) you have positioned your mind on God's promises

★ John 4:34 →"Jesus told them, “My food is doing the will of the one who sent me and completing his work."

* NOTE: The worst thing in heaven is better than the classiest thing on earth

★ James 4:13-15 →"Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money.” You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live—and do this or that.”

* No matter how long your life is, it cannot be compared with the lenght of eternity

→ Many people exhaust the whole of their lives on earth chasing vapor

* You must only mind and pursue things that are eternal

★ Hebrews 11:8-10 →" By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who also inherited the same promise, because he was waiting for the city with permanent foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

* Abraham must have seen something that is still eluding many people on earth today

→ He lived life very light, with eternity in might

* If you live right on earth, you will be entitled to rewards in heaven

→ Not everyone in heaven will get the same rewards

* You must get to the point that the things of earth are not your primary motivation

* You cannot set your mind in two places at the same time

* Where you set your mind determines:

→ how you live

→ your priorities

→ how you spend your resources (time, money, intellect, etc)

★ 1 John 2:15 -17→'' Stop loving the world and the things that are in the world. If anyone persists in loving the world, the Father’s love is not in him. For everything that is in the world—the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world and its desires are fading away, but the person who does God’s will remains forever."

* When your mind is set on heaven:

→ it is easy to forgive, be humble, to give, to be kind or help, etc.

→ loving everyone comes easily

→ you do not you struggle to acquire things on earth at all cost

→ sin will not be a problem

★ 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

* Love is the greatest and it is the lifestyle of heaven

* How you respond to the issues of life (good or bad) is determined by where your mind is set

* Your response in love to every situation is what gets you great rewards

* Seek every opportunity to be kind and loving

* You must purpose to do something good for someone everyday

* When any one ask you for help, do not turn them down if you have the capacity to help

* Ensure that your life is not controlled by temporal things

* NOTE: You cannot set your mind on heaven if you are not born again

★ Quotes:

* Fasting does not change God, it changes you

First things First (Pastor Dangana Nyazan) 27-12-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Jiyep - Hwolshe, Jos;

Plateau State - Nigeria

27th December, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Dangana Nyazan

* Topic: First Things First

* Text: Matthew 6:33 →"But first be concerned about God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well."

★ ILLUSTRATION

A man went to a motor park early in the morning hoping to catch a taxi to Jalingo, Taraba State of Nigeria from Jos, Plateau State. Other passengers arrived and tickets were sold. At the time for boarding, no seat was reserved for the man and he started making trouble that he was the first to arrive the park and therefore, should be given a seat in the taxi. On further investigation, it was discovered that the man possessed a ticket for the previous day and was prevented from boarding. His ticket was not valid.

* There is a destined date attached to everything and every event in the world

* In the Nigerian educational system, before you proceed to the next level, you must show a certificate evidencing that you had passed the previous level(s) as a prerequisite (Eg: the Secondary School Certificate is a prerequisite for gaining admission into University)

* As you make your plans for the next year, there are uncertainties that may affect the success of your plans

★ Jeremiah 29:11 →"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for well-being, and not for calamity, in order to give you a future and a hope."

* God has a good plan for his sons and daughters.

→ Excellent blessings for the present and the future

* Before you will enjoy God's blessings in the coming year, you have to seek the Kingdom of God as a prerequisite

* You should subject ALL your plans to the Lord's will as you seek him earnestly

* God desires to bless you, but you have to choose to access these blessings by faith

* As you prepare to step into 2016, realize that God is the owner of every day and every year

* Life is full of uncertainties, and only God knows the end of every person

* Many of us make plans without God - like the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21 who erroneously assumed that he controlled his own life

* Ensure that you plan with God every step of the way

* Make it your priority to seek God today and in the coming years

* The wise who always seek God have wonderful testimonies because He will always bless them

* As you continuously seek God earnestly, He will grant the desires of your heart

* If you walk alone, you will never reach your destiny

→ If you walk with God, he will guide and prosper you

How Not to Talk to An Angel (Rev. Tongsmang Dasbak) 25-12-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Jesus Revelation Assembly,

Tudun Wada Ring-Road

Jos - Plateau State

25th December, 2015

SERMON

☆ Speaker: Rev. Tongsmang Dasbak

☆ Topic: How Not To Talk To An Angel

☆ Text: Luke 1:5-20;

* Luke 57-64

Rev. Tongsmang Dasbak

 

☆ Question: Why do we bother celebrating (Christmas & New Year) when things are not going the way they should go?

* Zachariah asked angel Gabriel a question that got him into trouble.

★ Verse 18: Then Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?”

→ In other words, he doubted the information passed on to him from God

* NOTE: Gideon asked a similar question but 'escaped' God's wrath

→ See: Judges 6:12-21

* Many times, we are also skeptical of the efficacy of God's Word, especially in challenging circumstances

* How long you have walked with God is not an automatic ticket to know all of God's ways

→ those 'experienced' in God's ways and knowledge also doubt Him sometimes

* Many people doubt God's Word by believing that nothing will work out fine because of the unfavorable circumstances around them

* Many people will never access what God has in store for them because their unbelief acts as a barrier.

→ They want concrete proof before they believe God

* Compare Zachariah's response with Mary's response to the angel's message (Luke 1:34-38)

→ Mary submitted to God's will in faith

* God does not bless people that hoard

→ They do not release blessings to others

→ God blesses people that are liberal and generous in everything

* Many people treat God as if he is a man. They do not trust him

☆ What is so Special about Christmas?

→ Historically, Jesus was not given birth to on the 25th of December

→ Jesus never requested to be celebrated on the 25th of December of every year!

* NOTE: The only thing Jesus expressly requested that we should frequently remember is his death and suffering (through communion), not his birth! (1 Corinthians 11:24)

→ Unfortunately, this is what we do infrequently and without as much excitement which is always associated with Christmas

* There are certain situations in your life that cannot be reversed without God's divine visitation

* There is nothing too hard or too late when it comes to God

★ Luke 1:37 →"Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God’s promises.” (lSV)

* Maybe God allowed you to see today so that you can trust him for the reversal of your (negative) situation

→ But you must believe that He is capable of doing anything

* Maybe you are in that particular difficult situation so that you can learn to believe in God for deliverance

* God is the "impossibility specialist"

(a) an old couple giving birth;

(b) a virgin giving birth without intercourse

* It is easier for younger people to give birth, not old couples. This expains Sarah & Abraham's scepticism when God promised that Sarah will give birth to a child in her old age

→ See: Genesis 17:17; 18:12-13

★ POINTS TO NOTE:

1. Even very strong believers can stumble in an area of unbelief

→ You will have what God has already ordained for you, regardless of what happens

→ If the Lord said it, it will definitely happen

2. Sometimes, long delays can cause you to have unbelief

→ no matter how dire your condition is, you must never accept what God has not ordained for you

→ When it comes to God, he does not have 'time'. He is limitless!

→ Do not be tired of trusting God

★ Luke 1:10 →"And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned."

* There may be times in our lives when we feel as if God does not hear our prayers and everything looks hopeless

* There are times that it seems God does both good and bad at the same time:

→ He answers Zachariah's prayer by promising him a baby, but he made him dumb (See: Luke 1:13, 20)

★ My Confession:

"My own life will not remain like this; In the next few years my situation will this around for good"

3. Man's Unbelief will not cancel God's plan

☆ Luke 1:19-20 →"The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens.”

* Your celebration will not be complete till your situation is turned around

→ Trust Him for something definate today!

Rev. Tongsmang Dasbak

The Church Band ministering

The Great Past and the Great Future (Rev. David Kwamkur) 01-01-2015

2015 NEW YEAR SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki - Abuja
1st January, 2015

★ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: The Great Past and the Great Future

* Theme for 2015: Growing up in Christ (Ephesians 4:14)

* Service Leader: Pastor Victor Amos

* Text: Ecclesiastes 7:8 "The conclusion of something is better than its beginning, and a patient attitude is more valuable than a proud one."

★ Philippians 3:12-21

* The future, the present and the past are inter-connected to each other

* You cannot talk about the future without making reference to the past

* You must not forget about the past if you really want to walk into the future with boldness, that is why the work of historians is important

* History keeps repeating itself every time. There is nothing new under the sun

★ Ecclesiastes 1:9

" Whatever has happened, will happen again; whatever has been done, will be done again. There is nothing new on earth."

* Businessmen usually make reference to the past in order to get vital information that would be useful in making future business decisions. You Should learn from this.

 

* Information is vital to the success of any venture in life.

 

* You will need credible information if you intend to venture into an unknown territory

* Question: How did you end 2014?

* How you ended the last year would give you an idea of how the coming year might turn out to be

* NOTE: Faith does not deny the reality of things. What is the current reality of your life?

* You might have ended 2014 on a wrong note, but you still have the opportunity to make amends now before it is too late

 

* When Apostle Paul took inventory of His life, he realized that he had not yet arrived his destination (of knowing Christ intimately), that is why he said: " It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah Jesus" → Philippians 3:12

* The primary work of every Christian is to do the will of God. Your (secular) job is secondary to that primary work/calling.

* NOTE: there is a major distinction between "work" and "job"

* Your (secular) job should not hinder you from fulfilling God's primary purpose for your life. If it is, then you need to reconsider.

* NOTE: God will not Judge you based on the success recorded in your secular job, but on whether (or not) you fulfilled your primary purpose/calling in life

* Question: Did you do what God asked you to do in 2014?

☆ 3 Things to do with the Past:

1. You need to look at the past.

* This requires careful and honest evaluation of your past experiences - both good and bad

* If you do not look at (honestly confront & evaluate) your past, there is a tendency to erroneously think that you have "arrived" at your destination or fulfilled your divine purpose in life

2. You must learn from your past

- The historical accounts of the Bible were written so that we can learn from them today

★ 1st Corinthians 10:11 - "These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down as a warning for us in whom the culmination of the ages has been attained."

* Keep records of the past because the past is not yet past!

* You need to learn from your past experiences and make necessary adjustments accordingly

* Failure to learn from the past is a sign of foolishness

* Don't keep doing the same thing over and over again that is not producing positive results

* Look for information; get to know more about what you are doing and how you can do it better in the new year

 

3. Leave the past behind

- Though there are things to learn from it, you are not supposed to carry the past into the future

* Many people today live on past glory (of spiritual achievements and service to Christ)

* NOTE: You cannot walk forward if you keep looking backwards

* Sometimes we carry our past mistakes into our future and they constitute obstacles on our way to moving forward

* NOTE: It is not possible to wind back the hands of time to correct the mistakes of the past. leave them behind you

★ Philippians 3:13b → "But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead"

☆ 3 things to do with the future:

1. Plan for a good future.

* Evil things grow on their own, while good things are a product of careful planning and preparation

2. Move into the future with Courage

* Do not give room for fear in your life

* Fear cripples and hinders you from becoming who God wants you to be.

3. Do Something Great for God

* Doing great things requires great faith in God

* The surest way to please God is to consistently walk in faith (Hebrews 11:6 → "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.")

 

* Attempt something great for God this year

★ SUMMARY

☆ 3 Things to do with the Past:

1. Look at the past

2. Learn from your past

3. Leave the past behind

☆ 3 things to do with the future:

1. Plan for a good future

2. Move into the future with courage

3. Do something great for God

5 Keys to a Happy New Year (Rev. Tongsmang T. Dasbak) 28-12-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Jesus Revelation Assembly (JRA)
Tudun-Wada Ring Road,
Jos, Plateau State
28th December, 2014

* Speaker: Rev. Tongsmang T. Dasbak

* Topic: 5 Keys to a Happy New Year

* Text: Philippians 3:12-16

→ INTRODUCTION

- In Philippians Chapter 3, Paul used the power of imagery and illustration to portray himself as three (3) different persons:

(a) In Philippians 3:1-11, Paul portrays himself as an Accountant.

- Key words: "I have new values"

- If you do not have any godly values, you have nothing to live for

(b) In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul portrays himself as an Athlete

- Key words: "I press towards the goal"

- In other words, Paul is saying "I have a new vigour"

- Without the discipline and the vigour of an athlete, you cannot pursue your values in order to attain your goals

(c) In Philippians 3:17-21, Paul portrays Himself as an Alien

→ Key words: "I look"

- This world has everything that you need to become what God wants you to become, but you have to look for them diligently

- If you do not look, you will not discover

☆The 5 Keys to a Happy New Year

★ Key #1: Dissatisfaction

→ Philippians 3:12-13

"It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I have been embraced by the Messiah Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet. But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."

- Paul was satisfied with Jesus as his Lord, but he was dissatisfied with his life & achievements

- You must be careful of entertaining a false estimate of your own spiritual condition

- When you become satisfied with your present condition, you will not grow

- If you want more out of life, You must be dissatisfied with your present condition

- Whatever you are doing, try to be the best that you can possibly be

- Stop comparing Yourself with others

- Do whatever you can to improve your lot in life

- Regardless of what you have achieved so far, there is always room for further improvement and growth

★Key #2: Devotion

→ Philippians 3:14

"I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly call in the Messiah Jesus."

- You need to have a definite Focus for your life

- Your focus must be defined

- You must be determined to avoid anything that may distract you from your goal(s) is life

- Set time aside everyday to prayerfully evaluate your life's purpose

- If you aim at nothing, you will achieve nothing

- You need to persist and focus on your goals

★ Key #3: Direction

→ Philippians 3: 13b

"But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."

- In order to forge ahead in life, there are some past experiences that you must forget

- Do not allow yourself to be controlled by your past experiences of failure, discouragements, betrayals, weaknesses and rejection

- Do not be weighed down or discouraged by the many times you have failed at achieving your goals

- Have a genuine direction for your life

- "Do not cry over spilled milk" - if you fail at succeeding at something, ensure that you recover as fast as you can and try again

- There is a greater future ahead of you than your past (unpleasant) experiences

★ Key #4: Determination

→ Philippians 3:14:

"I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly call in the Messiah Jesus."

- The two (2) extremes you must avoid in life while pursuing your goals include the misconceptions that:

(a) "God must do all"

(b) "I must do all"

- You must not achieve all that you have set out to achieve all at once

- Aim at 'winning' small territories at a time, gradually

- Use the resources at your disposal to do the best you can possibly do

- You don't have to be a 'great person' to make it in life.

- You must realise that greatness is in categories and levels. Do not despise the days of little (small) beginnings

- Don't be jealous of anybody, but work hard on your goals

- Be satisfied with what God is about to do in your life

★ Key #5: Discipline

→ Philippians 3:14-15

"I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly call in the Messiah Jesus. Therefore, those of us who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you how to think."

- Without discipline, an athlete can be disqualified from a sporting event

- You can learn from others, but don't argue with them

- If you want to be great, you must make friends with great people and seek great ideas

- Work gradually towards getting to where you want to be and God will Surely bless you

- You must be consistently diligent and disciplined at maintaining focus on your life's goals

- Without the discipline of diligence, it would be impossible to achieve anything meaningful in your life

- Discipline will enable you to overcome any weakness that may potentially hinder you from reaching your goals in the coming year(s)

SUMMARY

☆The 5 Keys to a Happy New Year

★Key #1: Dissatisfaction

★Key #2: Devotion

★Key #3: Direction

★Key #4: Determination

★Key #5: Discipline

An Excellent Vision for this Millienium (Rev. Gyang Moses Chuwang) 09-01-2000

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN )

(now Church of Christ in Nations)

Gigiring, Hwolshe, Jos,

Plateau State, Nigeria

9th January, 2000

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Gyang Moses Chuwang

* Topic: An Excellent Vision for this Millienium

* A vision is an unusual discernment or foresight

* Not every person sees unusual things, except men of vision

* Vision is the ability to see something ahead as already accomplished

* Vision can be linked with faith

* When you have a vision, you'll have a conviction

* When you have a vision, you'll meet with enemies and oppossers

* But when you are working in God's vision, it will be good

★ Proverbs 29:18 →"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

* People do not prosper because of lack of vision. People do not excell in their marriage, businesses, academics, etc because of lack of vision

* When you have a vision, you have direction. When you don't have a vision, you cannot be regarded as an 'exceller'

* You must ask God for vision - it gives you stability & balance.

→ With a good God-ordained vision, you will not be shaken by trouble and uncertain times

* When you don't have a vision, you will always live in fear

* Vision enhances your creativity

* When a man has vision, he will think of how to achieve it and seek the resources

* NOTE: You will possess your confession

* When you have vision, you will have motivation to see things come to pass - There is nothing that is impossible to achieve

* Just like Nehemiah (in the Bible), you can build the fallen walls of your life, home, study, christian life, etc

* When you have a vision, it gives you a generous spirit

* A person without vision is extravagant and wastes time on things that are not important

* Stingy people don't want to give and they become jealous When another person gives

* If you fail to take risks, risks will take you!

* Only people of vision are generous

* When you have vision, it will help you to discipline yourself

* Vision helps you to live in perpetuity!

→ Your vision has the potential to outlive you

* It is better to have a vision and not achieve it at the set time than the one who will not dare have any

* NOTE: God created you to be wholishic

★ How do you develop your Vision?

* God has given his children a gift, a talent and a ministry (to be a soul-winner and a discipler)

* Your number one (1) vision should be your spiritual vision, without this, other visions you'II have are vain.

* NOTE: God wants you to be perfect, holy and give Him glory

* God has kept you for a purpose So that you will fulfil His vision for your life - to be pure, holy and blameless

★ Psalm 24:2 →"For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods."

* If everything belongs to God, then God has already 'given' us all that we need in life!

* God's work can be promoted by your resources

→ You can't give what you don't have

* Vision must be accomplished by a plan of action for definite execution

* God says that all that we lay our hands to do shall be prosperous (see: Deuteronomy 28:8) 

→ Set for yourself a realistic physical vision, also have a mental, intellectual vision

* No one was created to become a dummy in life 

→ God destined you to excel

* When you have a vision, you will achieve great things

→ If you seek God's face, there will be no reason why you will fail

* Even if you fail 20 times, say to yourself "I have learnt 20 ways of not doing it right" and try again  

* No one was born to know everything but you can know at least something and you can excel in that which you know

* You have to set a vision that is social. Friends are made not born. Making friends should be part of your vision: sharing, caring and loving

→ Be generous and caring

→ Don't think you are everything

→ Get involved with people and socialize

* NOTE: You need people, just like they need you too

* Your vision should be to qlorify God in the end or in the process

☆ Points to note in setting your vision:

1. Set your vision prayerfully

2. Set your vision with the standard of God's Word.

* It has to agree with God's Word. It must not contradict it.

3. Spend time and meditate on your vision (Joshua 1:8)

→ Some people set vision, but they don't spend quality time to develop it.

* Joy is not found in the abundance of what you have, but in God's grace

* Having a wonderful vision without exercising it is useless

* If you Want to be a high achiever, you must have an excellent vision that touches every aspect of your life

★ Luke 18:35-43

→ In order to have a clear vision, you must have a supernatural touch from Jesus

☆ Things you must Consider:

1. Ask yourself: "what do I understand as my primary purpose in life?"

2. Create a strong mental picture of the situation you want to be your reality in the future by faith

3. State your long-range goals and your short-range goals

4. Identify your immediate goals

→ Break them down into months & days

5. Pick one of the goals and decide what you want to act upon

→ Note the ways you are progressing

→ Note the challenges, if any

→ It is important to write them down

6. Be willing to change or modify your vision in accordance with God's will as time goes on