Couple's Retreat (Exhortation) Mr. Sunny Ekunwe 20-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

28th October, 2016

COUPLE'S RETREAT 

(Day One: Friday)

☆ PRAYER SESSION (EXHORTATION)

* Leader: Mr. Sunny Ekunwe

* Text: 1 Peter 5:8 →"Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

* The devil is seeking the man in which he will embarrass

→ You need to be vigilant and prayerful at all times

* The devil has no power over a man who knows this rights in Christ!

☆ Three (3) Points to Note if you are to have a Successful Marriage:

1. Be Knowledgeable about God's word

→ Everything you need is in God's Word

2. You should be a person of Prayer

★ Luke 18:1 → "Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up."

→ Heaven is moved when men pray!

* A man must not relegate the duty of prayer to his wife

→ Do not relinguish your priesthood

3. God desires that men should provide for the family

→ God's endorsement is upon the man to fulfil the mandate of provision

Testimony and Thanksgiving Service (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 09-06-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

NDIC/DMO Chapel,

Central Business District,

Garki - Abuja

9th June, 2016  

Pastor 'Lola Owotumi ministering

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Testimony and Thanksgiving Service

* NOTE: Not all haste is bad.

→ There are situations you find yourself that you need God to intervene in a haste!

* Nothing is too hard for God to do

★ Psalm 40:13 →"Be pleased, O Lord, to take me out of danger; O Lord, come quickly and give me help."

★ Psalm 38:22 →"Come quickly to give me help, O Lord, my salvation."

★ Psalm 70:1 → "Let your salvation come quickly, O God; come quickly to my help, O Lord."

* When you are faced with a difficult situation in life, you just have to call upon the Lord

→ Do not panic

→ Do not resort to self help

* Ensure that your trust in the Lord is consistent

* God always answers prayers

★ Psalm 34:17- 19 → "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all."

* Your deliverance is just a prayer away!

* You must have the right attitude when calling upon the Lord in trouble:

→ attitude of faith

→ attitude of hope

★ Proverbs 18:10 → "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe."

* Whenever you call upon the name of Lord, He has an obligation to honor His name

* There is power in the name of Jesus

★ Acts 3:6 → ''Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

☆ Prayer:

I bless you Lord

Because you love me and you

Always hear me when I call

I thank you for

Of your help in times past. 

Thank you because you will

Always carry me in your hands

Jesus Believes in Prayer (Elder Yunana Malo) 17-01-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja

17th January, 2016 

 

☆ SERMON

* Speaker: Elder Yunana Malo

* Topic: Jesus Believes in Prayer

* Theme: Imitating Christ

* Sub-Theme: Imitating Christ in Prayer

* Service Leader: Elder Simon Bunshak

* Text: Matthew 21:18-22

★ 2 Chronicles 20:1-24

★ Matthew 6:5-13

* Prayer is the live-wire of every believer. It is the believer's primary source of spiritual strength

★ Genesis 2:17 →"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

* Sin caused the critical part of man that relates to God to die

→ Your communion with God is affected every time sin is present in your life

* If you do not have God's Spirit, you cannot communicate with Him

* Jesus came to restore the lost relationship between man and God through the shedding of his blood

★ 1 Peter 1:23 →"For you have been born again, not by a seed that perishes but by one that cannot perish—by the living and everlasting word of God."

★ Isaiah 59:1-3 →"See, the LORD’s hand is not too short to save, nor are his ears too dull to hear. Instead, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have concealed his face from you so that he won’t listen. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your tongue mutters wickedness."

* Sin hinders God from hearing your prayers

* Communication is very critical to our spiritual survival, welfare and warfare

→ You cannot afford to be cut off from your Central Command Centre as you engage in the battles and issues that life throws at you

* It is the nature of Jesus inside of you that energises you to pray in line with God's will

* In most cases, we do not listen to God's spirit

→ If you are sensitive in the Spirit, you will always sense His promptings to pray

* Laziness prevents believers from praying

* Through prayer, you are able to remove what is dirty in your life so that you are able to receive the nature of God

* Prayer enables us to have fellowship with God

* Whenever you encounter challenges on your way, always remember the promises of God

☆ Prayer entails:

(a) Asking (making petitions)

(b) Seeking (engaging God's word to find his will concerning an issue)

(c) Knocking (praying God's Word back to Him)

* You must remain consistent and persistent in prayer

* Jesus is our best model for prayer

* Jesus prayed:  

→ privately (Matthew 14:23)

→ publicly (Matthew 14:18-19)

→ all night (Matthew 14:23)

★ What is prayer?

"an address (as a petition) to God in Word or thought."

* NOTE: prayer does not only involve speaking words, but also thoughts.

→ That is why it is important to ensure your thoughts always glorify God;

→ Your thoughts are clear and echo powerfully in Heaven as your words!

 

★ Forms of Prayer:

1. Adoration (Psalm 144-150)

2. Confession (Psalm 51)

3. Thanksgiving (Psalm 75)

4. Conversation (Genesis 18:16-33)

* Christian prayer has been essentially been essentially petition in nature

* Your worries persist because you have not understood and unlocked the provisions of God through prayer

★ Benefits of Prayer

1. You recieve strenght

2. It builds your trust in God

→ It deepens your faith

3. You receive salvation

4. You obey God

5. You seek God's face

6. You recover all

7. You receive direction

8. Your character is transformed

9. You are able to overcome temptation

10. You recieive nourishment and encouragement

11. It prepares you for heaven

12. You receive ability to deal with situations

13. Deep secrets are revealed

14. Bondages, yokes, curses are broken

15. It transforms the weak into the strong

16. It restores the sick

17. It purges away your faults and guilt

18. It governs the rich

19. Upraises the fallen

20. It gives you access to God's presence

☆ Question:

→ Why are your prayers not heard by God?

* You must always ensure that you are connected to God so that your prayers will be heard

★ Romans 10:13 →''Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

* If the communication line between you and God is broken, you need to take deliberate steps to restore it today!

★ MISSION CHARGE

"I profess and claim to be by the grace of God a sound Christian and while there is breath in my body, I will speak forth and defend the law of it. I am ready to defend my convictions even unto death."

→ John Wycliffe

★ QUOTE

"Don't tiptoe into God's presence, trying to find the secret of attracting his attention. Just call home and say 'Hello father' and know that He loves you and loves to hear your voice. Pray."

→ Bill Hybels

Raising Godly Children (Mrs. Yinka Adeboye) 16-08-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)

Couple's Annual Retreat

@ Miango Rest Home (MRH), Miango,

Plateau State, Nigeria

16th August, 2015 (Day Four)

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE/PRAYER FOR COUPLES

* Speaker: Mrs. Yinka Adeboye

* Topic: Raising Godly Children

* Text: Psalm 127:1 →"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour uselessly. Unless the LORD guards the city, its security forces keep watch uselessly."

* If you leave the aspect of the mercy of God out of your life, nothing will work.

* You can't leave God out of child upbringing

→ nothing will work regardless of the moral and academic principles that you employ outside God

* You cannot push the aspect of prayer aside when it comes to raising children.

→ You cannot raise godly children without prayer

* As you pray for your children, the power of God will transform them and they will become godly

* NOTE: This message is not only for those who have biological children:

→ God expects even mature Christian to have spiritual children (disciples)

→ If you are raising only biological children, then you are operating at less than your full God-given potential!

☆ Matthew 15:21-28

→ Note, that in the above passage, though it was the woman's daughter that was possessed, the woman asked Jesus to have mercy on her (as a parent) and she did not relent in making her request in spite of the discouragements she encountered

→ Jesus commended her faith on behalf of her daughter

* All that Jesus is looking for in a father or mother is faith, regardless of the state of their children

→ There is nothing that God's mercy and faith (in Him) cannot do

* What you say to your children is very important especially (when you are angry or disappointed with them)

→ Ensure that you speak positive words into their lives consistently

★ Proverbs 18:21 →"The power of the tongue is life and death— those who love to talk will eat what it produces."

 

⇒"Your words can kill or give life. They are either poison or life."

(the Massage translation)

* NOTE: What you say (to your children) is totally your choice & there are consequences

* Speak only positive words into the life of your children

★ SOME SCRIPTURES YOU CAN USE TO PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN:

☆ Luke 2:40 →"Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor rested upon him."

☆ Luke 2:52 →"Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man."

☆ 1 Samuel 2:26 →"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men."

☆ 1 Samuel 3:19 →"And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground."

☆ Isaiah 8:18 →"Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion."

☆ Isaiah 54:13 →"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children."

☆ Isaiah 11:1-2 →"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."

Prayer Service (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 06-03-2015

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

Prayer Service

6th March, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

★ Isaiah 42:18-20 → “Listen, you deaf people, and look up, you blind people, so you may see! Who is blind except my servant, or deaf like my messenger I am sending? Who is blind like the one committed to me, or blind like the LORD’s servant? You’ve seen many things, but you pay no attention. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen."

* Lord, heal me of spiritual blindness . . . I want to see

* Father, where out of neglect I have moved away from your presence, have mercy & revive me

★ Proverbs 16:15 → "When a king is pleased, there is life, and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain."

* Luke 18:40-42 → "And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God."

Foundation In Christ (Sister Osato James-Amanyi) 24-03-2015

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja 

24th March, 2015

IT Staff Fellowship

* Speaker: Sister Osato James-Amanyi

* Topic: Foundation In Christ

* Psalm 91:1 - "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." (NIV)

* How do you relate with God?

→ Your relationship with Christ determines your foundation in life

* The most important thing in life is having a solid Spiritual foundation

* The Secret Place of The Most High entails:

→ Prayer/Petitioning

→ Praising

⇒ Meditation & reflection

* In the Secret place is where you 'keep it real'.  

* In the secret place, you get:  

→ Direction

→ Peace

→ Wisdom

→ Favor

* You can get direction through:

→ dreams

→ visions

→ the Word of God

→ other believers' confirmation/prophesies

→ etc.

* When your relationship with God is intact in the secret place, nothing in life moves you

* Note: Jesus had a secret place where he always retreated to get Spiritual nourishment and fellowship with God

* You have to cultivate the discipline of staying in the secret place

* God loves us equally but he treats us differently depending on how we relate to him in the secret place

 

Worship on Wednesday (WOW) (Pastor Femi Olaiya) 18-02-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Worship on Wednesday (WOW)

@ The Capital Assembly (TCA)

Behind Bolingo Hotel,

Abuja

18th February, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Femi Olaiya

 

* Text: 1st Kings 18:41 → "And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain."

→ lf there has to be a fulfilment of God's promise upon your life, there has to be some form of 'movement'.

→ You need to move from where you are (to where God wants you to be)

* NOTE: For your physical body to move effectively, it needs the strength that comes from ingesting and digesting food.

* Just as strength is needed for the physical body to move, you also need to feed on spiritual food (God's Word) if you have to make it spiritually

* God will always make available the provision (food) you need in your life

* There is a level of 'eating' And 'drinking' (of God's Word) you need to engage in, in order to move to the next level

* Some people know that they need to get to be next level, but they are weak

★ Proverbs 24:10 →"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."

* Moving to your next level depends on how much (of God's Word) you 'eat' and 'drink'

* God sometimes announces the entrance of His move with a 'sound'

→ 1 Kings 18:41

* The 'next level' is for those who have ears to hear

* You have a choice to either hear (from God) first-hand, or to be told (what He said) by others

→ there is no problem being told, provided you will obey

* Regardless of what the enemy does, the sound of the abundance of rain will only intensify

→ Satan cannot stop God's blessings for you, your family and our Nation Nigeria!

* It is possible to stop/prevent showers from falling on you (e.g., by using an umbrella or taking shelter in a building), but how do you stop a tsunami?

* There is a 'next level' where the happenings of God (blessings) will be like a tsunami! → unstoppable, unquenchable and unappeasable!

* NOTE: The fact that you have not seen or experienced something before does not mean it will never happen

→NOTE: Noah's generation never saw a ship or experienced flood before, but that fact did not stop the flood from coming, even when they trivialized his warnings.

* Noah had no prior experience in building ships. God had to guide Him in building the Ark.

→ NOTE: Noah had no reference point.

* The fact that you do not have a reference point does not mean God cannot take you where He has promised you!

* Many of us learnt a lot by the process of systematic comparison (via formal primary education) and we became accustomed to comparing things with each other; and also by comparing ourselves with our peers as we grew up

* It is foolish to keep comparing yourself with others or making them your reference point in life

★ 2 Corinthians 10:12 →"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

* Sometimes God shows up without a reference point because He wants to make you THE reference point!

* The fact that you do not have a reference point does not mean you should throw it (your dream/vision) away

* If God wants to make you a reference point, you'll not have many friends (because not many people will understand you)

* The difference between vision and ambition:

→ Ambitions are easily achieved (the resources needed to make them happen are at your disposal); but

→ It takes God's intervention & supernatural provision for a vision to be fulfilled

* NOTE: Professors made the Titanic and an illiterate made the Ark

→ Yet, the Titanic was sunk by an iceberg; the Ark was invincible, even in the worse flood ever experienced in the world

* God will make you a reference point by what He will do in your life

* 1 Kings 18:42 →"So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees."

* Sometimes, the problem with the body of Christ (the Church) is that we are quick to speak God's Word, but we hesitate to cast ourselves down (in humility) before Him (like Elijah did) till that Word is fulfilled

* Elijah 'locked' himself in (by the posture He took), so that He cannot be distracted by the events around Him

* The Word of God that comes to you is just the beginning, not the end

→ Many Christians read or proclaim the Word of God and they 'go away' as if that is the end. No! that is just the 1st step in the journey of faith towards enforcing its manifestation

* The ability to 'settle' the Word of God comes in the place of prayer

* The assurance of faith does not come by just "right believing", but by "right praying".

★ 1 Kings 18:44 → "And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not."

* NOTE: The man that heard the Word from God outran the man it was just Announced to

(See: 1 Kings 18:45-46)

→ God's Word has the capacity to give you supernatural speed in life

* Question: Are you willing to brood over the Word of God that you have heard in the place of prayer until it comes to pass?

★ Isaiah 66:8 →"Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children."

PRAYER:

→ Father, grant me the grace to tarry in your presence,

till I receive what you have promised me in your Word.

Help me to play my part, by waiting on You

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Leader's Meeting (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 18-02-2015

NDIC/DMO Chapel,

Central Business District,

Garki-Abuja

Leader's Meeting

18th February, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Text: Romans 1:1 and 7

Sets of people in the Church:

(a) Workers

(b) Members

* Paul recognized his calling and office

→ Do you recognize who you are?

→ Are you comporting yourself as such?

* We have been called to be Apostles of Jesus

* Let the knowledge of Christ be seen in everything you do

* Verse 7:

→ Being saved by Jesus makes us saints

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

* Pastor Amby

→ Having being saved, do everything possible to stand in that salvation

→ Prayer is the primary tool for fetching blessings from God

* Psalm 78:15 -16 → "He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers."

* 2nd Kings 3:17 → "For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts."

* God is ready and willing to bless you abundantly - if you will key into it

* Many people are retarding today because they are not paying God His due

* 2 Samuel 3:1 → "Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker."

PRAYER

* Father, may nothing hinder or weaken my spiritual/physical prosperity

Interactive Session on Family Issues (2) (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi 17-11-2014

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Garki - Abuja

17th November, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: Interactive Session on Family Issues (2)

* Text: Psalm 24:7-8 →"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle."

* Question: What are you to do when one of the parents do not have interest in the fanfare of naming ceremony?

★ Amos 3:3 → "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

* Both parents must have a consensus/ a common ground

* Any difference in expectations or opinion must be settled in the place of prayer

* Compromise (finding common ground between couples) is always important in life

* Always seek and go after peace in the home.

* Always focus on things that unite you as a couple

* Downplay things that divide you

* Make every effort to come to an express agreement, not just permissive agreement on any issue

Life of Victory (Elder Simon Bunshak) 16-11-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki-Abuja, Nigeria
16th November, 2014

SERMON:
* Speaker: Elder Simon Bunshak
* Topic: Life of Victory
* Text: Romans 6:1-14
* Theme: Knowing the Will of God
* Sub-theme: Blessings of Doing God's will
* Service Leader: Mrs. C. Mangut

* When you are walking with God, the Seed of God is deposited in you. That seed produces the life (fruits of the Holy Spirit) that sets you apart from people who do not walk with God

☆ Effects of Sin in the life of a man:
1 . Sin dishonours the name of God in Your life

2. Sin can rob you of the joy and the power of God in your life
- The joy of the Holy Spirit is the source of your victory

3. Sin destroys your Christian testimony
- Satan's aim is to ensure that you never fulfil God's purpose in your life by being constantly under the bondage of sin

☆ How to overcome sin and live in victory:
- Note: Sin is the primary cause of failure in the life of a man

* Victory is an act of God
- You cannot attain victory on your own or by your own personal effort(s)

* Victory can only be attained by consistently living in obedience to God's Word
★ Deuteronomy 28:1-14

* Jesus has already won the victory for us; that is what we are standing upon

★ 1st John 1:8 → "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

* The victorious life entails:
- Overcoming sin (including the so-called "little sins" such as anger, fault-finding, irritability, complaining, lack of love, wrong thoughts, worry, anxiety,)

* The "small" victories you get by overcoming in "small" areas of your life translates to bigger victories eventually

* There is nothing like a "small sin". Before God, sin is sin and He hates it.

*Every sin is a major obstacle in your quest to attaining victory in Christ

* Many people have overcome the temptations and tendencies of falling into "sign-board" sins (ie, the known "big sins") and neglect the more subtle ones

* The trick of Satan is to magnify the power of sin in your life to such an extent that you are constantly kept in fear and bondage and therefore, fail to be liberated.

* Overcoming the power of Sin can only be possible in Christ Jesus.

* As soon as your faith in Christ dies, genuine victory will always elude you

* When you are defeated in your mind, you cannot attain victory
→ Victory proceeds from a mind that is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God

* The life of Heaven begins with a life of holiness

* Holiness is the Key to attaining constant victory

* Here on earth, you will constantly struggle with sin, till you get to Heaven where sin and death lose their power

* Three (3) Blessings that accompany a victorious Christian life:
1. Unbroken fellowship with God
→ Genesis 3:8-10
* When sin comes into your life, it breaks your relationship with God

2. The power to do the work of God.
- Sin robs you of the confidence to serve God effectively
- Holiness enables you to receive massages from God and to also deliver them with power and confidence
★ Philippians 4:13 → "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

* You share in the privilege of reconciling people back to God (through evangelism)

3. It opens you up into a life of prospect to the possibilities of being used by God for honourable and noble purposes

* Ephesians 3:20-21

* Victory in Christ is a gift, just like salvation & eternal life

* You cannot get victory in Christ through your merits, achievements and human effort

* Grace is God's omnipotent power working through us, in us, and for us

* Living in constant victory is only possible when you depend upon God's grace to live a holy life

★ Romans 5:17b → "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."

* How to live a life of victory in Christ:
1. Dedicate your life to Christ totally & allow Him to sustain you
★ 2nd Timothy 1:12 → "That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes."

2. Drop your burdens and challenges at the feet of the Lord
★ 1st Peter 5:7 →"Throw all your worry on him, because he cares for you."

3. You must take Christ as your Victory

4. When you fail, don't accept defeat & remain subdued.
- Anytime there is a challenge, run to the Saviour for support

*NOTE: Victory is not just trying, but trusting
→ 'Trying' is what you do on your own, by your own strength and wisdom (self-sufficiency)
→ 'Trust' entails looking up to God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself

_____________________________________________________________________
* HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE
EXHORTATION

* Speaker: Rev. Chrysanthus John Bala
* Text: Luke 22:39-46

* Anguish & pain caused Jesus to prevail in prayer at Gethsemane

* Jesus Submitted Himself to God's will in prayer.
- What He wanted at that point was immaterial because His desire was for God's will to be done in His life

* Today, many Christians tend to 'command' God to do what they wish, whenever they desire. This is not supposed to be so.

* Jesus encouraged His disciples to also pray along with Him in His hour of need & trial. (v. 46)

* NOTE: Prayer is the believer's sheild against falling into temptation

* Temptation will not overtake you if you consistently prevail in the place of prayer

Home Management (Rev. David Kwamkur) 28-09-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki-Abuja, Nigeria
28th September, 2014

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur
* Topic: Home Management
* COCIN Community Development Project (CCDP)/Kyautatawa Zaman Iyalin Kristi (KZIK) Week
* Theme: Knowing the Will of God
* Sub theme: Excelling in the Grace of Giving
* Service Leader: Mr. Boniface Katlong

SERMON
* Without a Home, you cannot have Home Management

* Anywhere you are living with your family is your home

* A home is any institution or place of refuge, love, shelter, care, rest, protection, security, comfort, & nourishment

* A Christian home is a place where everyone relates with each other in a Christ-like manner

* You must know Christ first before you know how to relate in a Christ-like manner

* In order to relate in a Christ-like manner, there must be Love

* A Christ-like relationship is self-less

* The home is very essential to the existence of the Church

★ HOME ESTABLISHMENT
* Marriage is essential in establishing a viable home

* Usually, marriage begins with courtship

* Courtship is a key foundation of a marriage. It is a crucial period

★ COUNSELLING
* This involves getting guidance on any issue from a more experienced person

* Marriage is not just an idea, it is a living thing and you need Knowledge & godly counsel to keep it alive

★ WEDDING AND WEDDING CEREMONY
* Make up your mind from the start that you will keep your vows

* As a Christian, the wedding ceremony must be done in a godly way, not as one who is god-less

★ BALANCE
* For you to be godly Man/Woman, you must have a measure of balance in your life

* You must balance your social life, spiritual life with your marriage

* Balance career with marriage

* Balance inner beauty with physical beauty

* Take your marriage as seriously as you would take your career

★ THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL VALUES ON MARRIAGE
* Some cultural beliefs are contrary to God's standards

* Under God's standard, men and women are equal and they are required to submit to each other out of fear for God
→ (Ephesians 5:21)

★ PRAYER
* You must be prayerful as a Christian

* Instead of talking about your problems, pray about it
→ Luke 18:1 "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

* Every shortcoming in your spouse, or family is a prayer request

* Every Christian family must have a vibrant prayer altar where worship and prayer become ingrained as part of the family tradition

* Children Must learn how to pray and trust God from the Home

★ BROKEN HOMES
⇒ Some causes of broken marriages
1. Wrong choices
2. Parental, friends, in-laws (external) influence
3. lack of genuine love among couples
4. Communication breakdown
5. Sexual unfaithfulness
6. Stinginess - couples starve their partners

★ COMPLEX ISSUES IN HOME MANAGEMENT
* Some of the Complex issues that confront Christian families include:
→ Impotency
→ Infertility
→ Divorce
→ Management of aged relatives
→ Betrayal among family members

* These must be handled with wisdom, if not, they have the potential of causing disaffection among couples and breaking up the marriage

* There is nothing that God cannot do
→ Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

★ THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHIILDREN TOWARDS PARENTS
* Children must obey their parents

* Children must take care of their parents, especially where they are aged, sick or poor

* Children must trust God for wisdom in handling unrealistic expectations from parents

★ HANDLING CONFLICTS AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS
* Acts 15:36-41

* Conflicts must be managed & resolved so that they do not affect family harmony

* Conflicts are usually a test

* We are expected to be peace makers as children of God

* A healthy & godly family is a product of hardwork and positive decision

Why Prayers are not Answered (Evangelist Tobias) 20-08-2014

MY SERMON NOTES

* This Sermon was delivered by a Freelance Preacher in a Commercial Bus en-route Owerri to Enugu, Nigeria. (and YES, I took notes in the bus!)

* Preacher: Evangelist Tobias (Peace Park Owerri)

* Topic: Why Prayers are not Answered

* Date: 28th August, 2014

→ Prayer is the avenue of converting God's promises to reality
* Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
* John 14:14 - "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
- Any prayer made outside the name of Jesus will not be answered. Such a prayer is incomplete

1. Sin
- Sin is a destroyer
* Isaiah 59:1-2 - "Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."

- Sin puts God off
- If you really want God to intervene in your case, you must avoid and hate sin
- Anything that is wrong in God's sight is sin

2. Unbelief (Lack of faith)
* Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

* Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

* Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
 
- Unbelief and doubt affects your prayer
- we please God through faith

* Daniel 3 (the 3 young Jewish men trusted God even in the face of danger)
- Faith provokes God to action
- Don't allow the enemy to have the final say
- When your faith is alive, you don't have to struggle in prayers

3. Un-forgiveness
- Until you live in the realm of forgiveness you are not yet a mature Christian
* 3 people you must forgive
(a) God (some people blame God for the unfavourable circumstances they had experienced in life)
(b) Yourself
(c) Others

* Bitterness is a tool used by the devil to frustrate your life
 
* Matthew 18:21 - "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times"

* In other words, you don't have any reason to retaliate until you are wronged 490 times by the same person!

* It is not biblical to pray for your enemies to die

* Mark 11:25 - "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

* Mathew 6:9-13 → Jesus taught his disciples to forgive

4. Matrimonial disputes
* Genesis 1: 24
- God places premium On matrimonial unity
* Ephesians 5:22-25
- The devil uses disharmony among couples to hinder their prayers
* 1st Peter 3:7 - "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
- Many men don't know how to give honour unto their wives

5. Praying without the word of God
- Everything you need is already in God's word
- You have a duty to research and find out the Scriptures that is in line wits your desire
* 2nd Tim 2:15 - "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  
* Put God in remembrance as you pray.  
* Isaiah 43:26 - "Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right."

6. Praying according to the will of God
- When you do not pray in accordance with God's will, You will not receive any answer
*1 John 5:14 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

7. Not praying in the Holy Ghost
* Jude 1:20 - "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,"  

Our Perfect Standard (Bro. Shakalshang Biwul) 07-05-2001

* MY SERMON NOTES

@ Rescue Team,

Gigiring, Hwolshe – Jos

Plateau State, Nigeria

7^th May, 2001

 SERMON

* Speaker: Bro. Shakalshang Biwul

* Topic: Our Perfect Standard

 * Anything that is perfect is stress-free, ideal & harmless

* A standard is a reference point. It is ‘the’ goal to be attained

* Jesus is our perfect standard – the author and finisher of our faith

* Jesus is our ‘shock-absorber’ and our ‘pain-reliever’

* God made (created) man based on His own standard. It was a perfect arrangement

* Today, we are struggling to know God because that standard was demolished by sin – man was separated from God and the earth was spoilt

* NOTE: man is an extension of God

* Psalm 82:6 - "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.'"

* The moment man sinned, He discovered that he was naked (Genesis 3:7)

* The image of God was not destroyed, but His likeness in man was displaced

* The moment you come to Christ, every hindrance is done away with - that thing (or those things) that link you to the devil

* The devil is struggling to see that you do not attain the standard that the Lord has destined for you

* The standard must be built and developed

* To get the standard of God, you must be humble – humility should be your standard

* Matthew 11:29

* Some people place other things as the standard of their lives (not Jesus)

* Do you know that someone is looking at you as his standard? That person does not ‘look at you’ but the character of Jesus in you

* Philippians 2:7-11

* It was because Jesus was humble that He had a name capable of giving us salvation

* Humility makes you transparent

* As you stay close to God, you affect the world around you by a given undiluted taste

* Your target should be God’s Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)

* The path to achieving the perfect standard is narrow and hard. Many will struggle to enter but will not be able to do so

* Matthew 7:13a-14

* Psalm 119:9, 11, 105 and 144

 

Prerequisites for Attaining God’s Standards

1.   God’s Word

2.   Understanding/knowledge

-      The way you live depends on what you understand/know

3.   The light of God

-      The Holy Spirit burns the Word of God in us so that it will shine forth

4.   Prayer & waiting upon the Lord

-      Jesus MUST open your mind to move in God’s standard

-      Luke 24:4-5

-      To attain this standard, one must be totally clothed (with supernatural power) from on high

-      You must have [extra-ordinary] strength because the process is tiring  

5.   Faith

-      Hebrews 11:2, 6, 33-38

-      You must be faithful

6.   Love

-      1 Corinthians 13:13