God with us (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 23-03-2015

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

23rd March, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

* Topic: God with us

* Text: Luke 19:1-4

* Jesus will not really save every and anybody

* Jesus will not save anybody against their will

* Jesus saves only those who call out to Him for salvation

* Those who turn their backs against the Saviour will ultimately face God's judgment and wrath  

* NOTE: Zaccheus ran to the foot of the Sycamore tree and climbed it, not minding his social status, or what others might say -  he just wanted to see Jesus  

 

* Exodus 5:2 - "Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."

→ God resists the proud, because they oppose and resist Him first

→ Those who reject God always suffer for it

* Psalm 27:8 →"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

* It is one thing to get to the foot of the tree, it is another thing to climb the tree

* Grace was given to Zaccheus to climb the tree, despite his height disadvantage

* You require grace to do the things God wants you to do

* Note: Rich men don't Climb trees

→ Zaccheus humbled himself

* Now that Zaccheus is on the tree, there are things he must do to remain there and not fall off:

1. He must be Sober

* 1 Peter 5:8 → Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

2. He must be Vigilant

* 1 Thessalonians 5:6 - " So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober."

* Now is the time to be careful, sober, vigilant and observant as Christians

* The devil is serious about rubbishing your Christian testimony

→ You cannot afford to be frivolous in your walk with God

* Psalm 60:12 →"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."

* Psalm 108:13 →"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
 

* Through God, we can get to the "top of the tree" and remain there

3. While on the tree, he must remain calm".

→ You can't afford to dance on the tree, because, you will fall down

* Through God, you are empowered to climb heights you ordinarily could reach by your own strenght

God with us (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 20-03-2015

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja, Nigeria  

20th March, 2015

 

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

* Topic: God with us  

* Text: James 4:6 → But he gives all the more grace. And so he says, “God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble.”

* God resists the proud, because the proud resists God

* God, grant me the grace never to resist you

* Why God gives grace to the humble

1. To be everything He has designed them to be

2. To be everything they want to be

* There are things you cannot experience or achieve by your strength - except by God's grace and by divine empowerment  

* Galatians 2:21 →"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

* 2 Peter 3:18 →"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

→ Father, help me to grow in grace

* Zachariah 9:16 -17 →"And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids."

God with us (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 17-03-2015

NDlC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria 

17th March, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

* Topic: God with us

* Text: Luke 19:1-6

* Anyone that must be saved by Jesus must act the same way Zaccheus acted, that is, such a person must be humble

→ God gives grace to the humble

* Grace is given to you so that you can became everything God designed/destined you to be

→ It is able to help you go over the mountains

* Humility is the attitude that makes you come to the realization that you are not as good as people think you are

* Humility makes you realize that you can not have achieved anything without God's help

* Proverbs 11:2 →"When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it, but humility is present with wisdom."

* Pride is the root of most marital problems and divorces

* As a man, you must not react to everything your wife says - this might breed problems

* It takes humility to overlook offense even when you have opportunity to revenge or react

 

God with us (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu)

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

16th March, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

* Topic: God with us

* Text: Luke 19:1-6

* How did Jesus end up in Zaccheus' house (Continued from 11th March, 2015)

5. Zaccheus demonstrated humility

→ regardless of his wealth and position in the society, he humbled himself

→ Many people want to 'see' Jesus but they are too pompous

→ Humility made Zaccheus to run ahead of the crowd to the sycamore tree

→ Pride makes many rich people to attend Church late. They feel they are doing the Church or the Pastor a favour by coming  

→ Humility will make you not care about what other people care about.
 

                                   *****************

 

POINTS TO NOTE:

1. Those who are humble experience God's grace

* James 4:6 →"But he gives all the more grace. And so he says, “God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble."

2. God dwells and associates with the humble

* Isaiah 57:15 → "For this is what the high and exalted One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."

3. God exalts the humble

* Mathew 23:12 → "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

4. God honours those who are humble

* Proverbs 15:33 →  "Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honour."

Dangers of Pride (Reverend Maxwell Dayok) 12-11-2000

★MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN)

(Now Church of Christ in Nations)

Hwolshe, Gigiring, Jos

Plateau State, Nigeria

12th November, 2000

SERMON

* Speaker: Reverend Maxwell Dayok

* Topic: Dangers of Pride

* Theme: Jesus Christ & Mission

* Since we as a Church are not praying, the devil has occupied us with himself

* The prayerless Christian is at the mercy of Satan

* If you are not filled and empowered by the spirit of God, then you are filled, empowered and controlled by the devil

* There is no neutral ground in spirituality - either you are with Christ, or with Satan

* Everyone filled, empowered and controlled by God's Spirit manifests the fruits of the spirit of God

* When you are not filled with the Spirit of God and yon think you are, then there is danger

* One of the dangers of prayerlessness is that pride comes in

* Many Christians consider themselves as giants, and are filled with pride, but inside, they are empty

* God opposes those who are proud

★ Isaiah 29:13

★ Matthew 15:8-9

★ Proverbs 12:22

* You need to adjust yourself and who you are in reality

* Come back to God and humble yourself and ask God to help you

★ Proverbs 8:13

* Some Christians, instead of hating evil, plan and encourage evil to God's disgrace

→ If you fear God, you'll hate evil

★ Proverbs 11:2

* Unless you understand this, you'll soon be disgraced

* Stop thinking you are big, and humble yourself before the Lord

★ Proverbs 13:10

* Pride only breeds querells but wisdom is found in those who take advise

* Begin to think of yourself as nothing

★ Proverbs 16:18

★ Proverbs 29:23

* Pride is a demoter

* There is nothing that you have that has not been given to you by God

* The reason why you are growing in pride is because you are not praying much - you have become powerless; flesh becomes prominent in all you do and tradition surpasses the things of God (the Christian tradition)