The Baptism of Jesus (Pastor Yakubu Adamu Yola) 19-06-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

2nd Sunday Service

19th June, 2016

Pastor Yakubu Adamu Yola
Picture Credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Yakubu Adamu Yola

* Topic: The Baptism of Jesus

* Theme: Our Jesus

* Text: Matthew 3:13-17

* Baptism is an outward demonstration of a person's faith in Jesus

→ It entails complete immersion in water (which signifies being buried and raised with Christ)

☆ Points to Note about Baptism:

1. Voluntary:

→ Baptism should be a voluntary act and not out of compulsion

Note: "Jesus Came to be baptized' (verse 13)

→ He was deliberate about it

→ Was not forced to do it

2. Submission:

* Jesus submitted Himself for baptism as a model of obedience

→ As a Christian, you must follow the example of Jesus in all things

3. Sign:

* Jesus' baptism was a sign to John the Baptist which authenticated his ministry and prophesies

★ John 1:30

→ Baptism signifies our death and resurrection with Christ Jesus 

4. Humility

→ Jesus' baptism is a demonstration of His humility

→ He went to John (despite the fact that He is God)

→ Humility preceded the ministry of Jesus

→ It shows His commitment to doing what was right (Jesus traveled 90 Kilometers from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized)

★ Verse 15:

→ Jesus did not need to be baptized, but He still submitted Himself for it

→ NOTE: Jesus did not need to be baptized in order to be righteous. [He is the righteousness of God].

* He went through baptism so that the entire plan of God prophesied through John the Baptist will be fulfilled

* It doesn't matter how the plan of God is.

→ It is always fitting

5. It affirmed John the Baptists' Ministry

★ John 1:26-27

6. It is the fulfillment of the righteous requirement of the law as required at that time

★ Matthew 5:17

☆ Lessons to Note from Jesus' Baptism:

* Doing the will of God was Jesus' priority

→ At the beginning of your Christian life, ensure that you are baptized

→ There is a big picture for your life and you must be ready to make the necessary sacrifices to bring it to pass

→ Having the big picture in mind helps you keep focus in life

→ Every Christian should always have something greater than him/her that he/she is living for

* There is nothing wrong in being humble:

→ Men: There is nothing wrong in serving your wife, your children or others

→ Humility does not make you less of a man

* NOTE: Jesus did not introduce Himself (as the Son of God) when the got to the river Jordan

→ It was not important!

* Even when Jesus started making going to the Temple his custom (between age 12-30), He humbled Himself under the instruction of the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Priests

* There is nothing wrong in learning under the authority of those who do not know more than you

* You must always obey instructions that are prescribed in Church, at your workplace, in the Nation etc

* Being Humble will not make you cease to be who you are

→ Humility is very powerful

→ Humility makes you more honorable

* NOTE: David respected order, authority and processes [and that is why he excelled as a shepherd, soldier and later as a King].

→ This is our model as Christians

→ Humility is the key to honor (Proverbs 18:12)

* (verse 16) There is a 'coming up' for every humble person

→ there is honor and elevation in humility (see: Matthew 23:12, 1 Peter 5:6)

☆ 3 Things that Happened when Jesus became baptized:

(a) The Heavens were Opened

(b) Spirit of God came upon Him

→ this is anointing; empowerment

→ There is an anointing of God for every assignment on earth

→ Jesus affirmed this truth in Luke 4:18-20

(c) God's approval

→ God does not approve proud people

* Everything in life has a foundation

★ Hebrews 3:4 →"For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God."

* One day, everything in your life will be tested

→ If the foundation (of your works) is not solid, it will not endure

★ Matthew 7:23

* Before you start any business or endeavor, ensure that you start right

* It is fitting to fulfill all righteousness

☆ Prayer:

Father, help me to be humble,

I realize that what you have

called me to do is greater than me,

Therefore I need your empowerment 
Reveal your love to me anew;

I need you in every area of my life

The Deity of Jesus Christ 3 (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 29-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

First Service
Wuye, Abuja

29th May, 2016

Pastor Sarah Omakwu 
Photo Credit: FWC Media

* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu

* Topic: The Deity of Jesus Christ 3 (Our Jesus, No Ordinary Birth)

* Text: Matthew 1:1-17

* All the names in the above passage were an amazing calculation before the world was created

→ It was a plan: none of them was happenstance

★ Genesis 49:10 →"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people." [NKJV]

★ Isaiah 9:6-7→"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." [NKJV]

* NOTE: Jesus did not just come like any religious leader.

→ He came by prophesy & the prophesy came from God

* There is no prophesy that came in details foretelling the birth of any other religious leader in the world

* Jesus did not wake up one day, gathered pieces of philosophy and declared himself as prophet

* Everything Jesus did was according to plan by order and by command of God

* The coming of Jesus was planned before the foundation of the world

☆ What is a Prophesy?

→ A foretelling or prediction of what is to come

→ It is something that is declared by a prophet

→ It is a divinely inspired prediction, instruction or exhortation

→ It is a divinely inspired utterance or revelation

→ It is a prediction that was said years before it was fulfilled

* There were many prophesies associated with the Birth of Jesus

* NOTE: Even for you, there was a prophesy concerning you

→ see: Jeremiah 1:5

→ All your days are recorded in a book even before you were born (Psalm 139:16)

→ Things may not look good or be working fine for you at present, but if you stay with the plan [of God], it will all work out for your good

→ God is faithful

* The fulfillment of the prophesies [concerning Jesus] demonstrate:

1. The infinite knowledge, wisdom and power of God

→ When God says a thing, He has the capacity to make it happen

2. That God is a God of Precision

★ Isaiah 46:9-10 →''Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure."

* The good thing about a good God is that He cannot do anything bad

* God orchestrates events in history and in life to ensure that his counsel stands

* A prophesy shows the reliability of scriptures which do not come from men but are sent by God

* Don't doubt the Bible!

→ If God is able to move things to ensure that what He said comes to pass, He is surely going to fulfill His word concerning you

★ 2 Peter 1:21 →"for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." [NKJV]

* NOTE: Everything prophesied concerning Jesus did not come by man;

→ men prophesied as they were inspired by God

* Many prophets spoke within a span of 1,000 years about the birth of Jesus Christ through the anointing of the Holy Spirit

* Everything the prophets prophesied came to pass!

* God is great, mighty and awesome.

→ He can do things that we cannot even fathom. Unbelievable!

☆ THE PROPHESIES ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST:

1. He is the 'Seed' of the Woman

★ Genesis 3:15 →"And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” [NKJV]

→ NOTE: the 'Seed' here refers to Jesus Christ

→ The 'Seed' was being sought after in every birth since creation with the aim of destroying it [Exodus 1:22; Matthew 2:16]

* This prophesy was fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-21, 25

* NOTE: The egg of Mary, and the sperm of Jesus did not have anything to do with Jesus

→ It was the Word of God that the Holy Spirit acted upon to produce Jesus Christ in the flesh

2. He will be a descendant of Abraham

★ Genesis 12:1-3

→ God factored you in the scheme of things!

→ We were all en-grafted as heirs of Abraham so we could inherit the promised blessings

→ It is through Jesus Christ that we [Gentiles] became a part of the Covenant of God with Abraham

★ Genesis 22:18

3. He will come from Isaac

★ Genesis 21:12

4. He will be of the tribe of Judah

★ Genesis 49:10

→ 'Shiloh' is a Messianic title for the Seed of the Woman; It also means 'peaceful' and 'peacemaker'

→ Before Jesus Christ came, God had already factored your peace into these prophesies

* See: Colossians 3:15

→ peace will not just come to you: you have to 'let' it

→ peace ruling is actually Jesus ruling, because He is the Prince of Peace (see: Isaiah 9:6)

5. He will be born in the Family of Jesse

★ Isaiah 11:1, 10

* In these prophesies God thought about everything concerning:

→ your birth

→ your peace

→ who will rule & govern you over you

* These prophesies point towards the superiority of Jesus Christ

6. He will come from the House of David

★ Jeremiah 23:5-6

★ Isaiah 9:6-7

* NOTE: In your gene somewhere, there is royalty

→ see: Ephesians 2:6-7; 2 Peter 2:9

7. He will come by Virgin Birth

★ Isaiah 7:14 →"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. [NKJV] 

⇒ This passage was fulfilled in Matthew 1:23

8. He will come from Bethlehem

★ Micah 5:2 →"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

→ This scripture was fulfilled in Luke 2:4-7

* NOTE: Everything you are going through is all in the plan of God and it will all make sense one day

→ Nothing is out of turn or out of order: it is all in the plan

☆ See: Jeremiah 29:11

10. He shall be preceded by a Forerunner

★ Isaiah 40:3 →''The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God."

→ This was fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-12

11. He shall be presented with gifts by Kings and Shepherds

★ Psalm 72:9-11 →"Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him."

→ It was fulfilled in Matthew 2:10-11

12. There will be wailing and Lamentation

★ Jeremiah 31:15 →"Thus says the Lord: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”

→ There was weeping and mourning when women cried for their slain babies in Matthew 2:16

* All these fulfilled prophesies point to the fact that the Bible is authentic and Jesus Christ is authentic

13. That Jesus will be taken to Egypt

★ Hosea 11:1 →"When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son."

→ This Scripture was fulfilled in Matthew 2:13-15

* NOTE: All these fulfilled prophesies make Jesus superior to anyone who claimed He was sent by God

☆ CONCLUSION:

* God carefully selected how Jesus came so that you can connect yourself to it

→ If He came through Holy means, you are Holy

→ If He came through rich means, you are rich

* We are from a divine heritage;

We are a royal priesthood, a Holy nation;

We are from the true blue blood of Heaven

We are not ordinary people;

We are people of promise;

★ Galatians 3:8-9 →''And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed." So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."

* NOTE: You are not ordinary! You did not come by chance, you came by prophesy

→ When God was bringing Jesus forth, He factored you in

→ You are en-grafted into the genealogy of Abraham

* You must stop walking around as if you are cursed orphan

→ You are a child of Abraham and the Bible calls you blessed

→ You are a God-person: You do not belong to the economy of the world

* God knew that the devil will be running in rampage, He connected you with Abraham

→ Every thing you need in life has been provided for you through the blessing of Abraham

* In your bloodline, there is nothing that defeats, nothing that fails, nothing that is small

* Your bloodline:

→ is victorious

→ is prosperous

→ is successful

→ defeats the devil everyday

→ never takes 'no' for an answer

→ goes from glory to glory, strength to strength, victory to victory

☆ DECLARATION:

"I am of Faith, therefore, my name is blessed;

I am blessed.

I may not look like it,

I may not feel like it,

But that does not have anything to do with anything.

I am Blessed with believing Abraham."

* The audio of this message and other messages by Pastor Sarah Omakwu and other Pastors of Family Worship Centre, Abuja can be downloaded via the Church's Online Store

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."

Easter/Praise Sunday (Pastor Victor Amos) 05-04-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja

5th April, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Victor Amos

* Topic: Easter/Praise Sunday

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service Leader: Mr. Igwe Augustine

* Text: John 20:1-23



Pastor Victor Amos

* Many people depend on their intellectual prowess to understand the Bible, but it keeps eluding them

* They do not realize that the understanding of God's Word comes through the power of the Holy Spirit

* If you want to properly understand any book, you need to consult the author of that book

→ Through prayer, you can 'consult' God to give you divine insight into His Word

* You have to depend solidly on the Holy Spirit to help you understand the Bible

* Many people have tried to use their own understanding to interpret the Bible, and in the process, they have misinterpreted many portions it

* To the Romans & the Jews, in Jesus' time, there was no supernatural power behind the resurrection

→ But to us as Christians, we know that it was the power of God that raised Him up from death

* The mystery of the resurrection of Jesus can only be revealed to us through the Holy Spirit

* Easter, is a period of pertinence & reflection and not of aimless celebrations

* There is a lot of doubt about the authenticity of the resurrection of Jesus

→ The carnal mind cannot understand it, because the impossibilities are just too much!

* Only God can do what Jesus experienced

(See: Luke 1:27 → For with God nothing will be impossible.)

* You need to be able to be personally convinced (about the truth of God's Word) so that you can be able to stand by yourself

→ Study God's word for yourself

→ Have a personal relationship with Jesus

* The earthy ministry of Jesus is replete with many convincing miracles

★ John 21:3-4

* Even when you detach yourself from God, He is still thinking about you and reaching out to you

* If you doubt the resurrection of Jesus, then:

→ You cannot defend it

→ You cannot believe in your own resurrection

→ You doubt the essence of your faith as a Christian

→ You constitute a hindrance to the growth of the Gospel of Christ

* The Significance of Jesus' Resurrection:

1. It is a fulfilment of the Scriptural prophesies

→ It shows that His word is true and dependable; you can take Him by His Word

2. The resurrection of Jesus validated all that was said about you, about the Church, about God and Himself

3. Because of His resurrection, you can be certain of your own resurrection

→ Many people today are tormented by the fear of death

→ Jesus' resurrection gives us hope of eternal life

4. The resurrection of Jesus is our message to the dying world

→ without it, the gospel message is not complete

5. His resurrection empowers you to face spiritual battles that abound around you

→ It is the evidence of victory over Satan and all the forces of darkness

(See: Colossians 2:12-15)

* Everything that God gives you is for you to serve Him

* How many times have you lost Jesus? (like Mary in John 20:13)

→ Are you looking for Him?

★ In John 20:19, when Jesus appeared to the disciples, he declared: "peace be with You"

→ This is what Jesus declared and He is still declaring peace concerning you

→ In your turbulent moments, believe Jesus' peace is available for you

→ Your situation may be difficult, but not impossible for God to intervene

* You must avoid doing God's work with your own strength

* The victory of Jesus on the cross was not just for Him, but also for you!

* Do not isolate yourself from the Church of God & from fellowshipping with other believers

→ Isolation opens you up and makes you susceptible to defeat by Satan

* Who are the people sent by God to help you?

→ Do not look down on them

* Jesus is ready to forgive you all your sins if only you will confess and forsake them

(See: 1 John 1:9)

* If you continue living in your sins, it means that you do not appreciate Jesus' sacrifice and you are still nailing him to the cross all over again

* Where is Christ Jesus in your life?

→ Is He on the cross or in your heart?

* He cannot be in the two places at the same time - He is either living and reigning in your heart, or to you, He is still dead on the cross

PASTOR'S CORNER

Do you really think you know how much it cost to see your sins nailed to the cross? There are two things about our Lord Jesus that I do not completely comprehend yet, and I daily seek Him for a better illumination. The questions are, why would Jesus die such a terrible and painful death for my sins and how can anyone who hears this glorious message still reject the saviour? Frankly speaking, these questions still mystify my very soul. The cross of Christ is the heart of the gospel message, "Jesus' life was His message to the whole world and He made it so inspiring." What is the significance of the cross of Christ to you? What would have been the story of your life by now if Christ had not resurrected? All hope of eternity would have been gone and Satan would have rejoiced over our lost souls.

But praise be to the risen Lord who promised life and eternity and He resurrected to give life and eternity. He is a trustworthy King and a Saviour worth having. The Lord has risen, be joyful, the Lord has risen, be hopeful, the Lord has risen, proclaim His Holy name, victory to the dying world - HAPPY EASTER

MISSION CHARGE

"I bring you message of HOPE in our RISEN LORD JESUS. Let this be HIS encouragement to you in this glorious Easter period. He says all that which I said about you, I will certainly do. I have crushed the world with its principalities and power with my blood, I have defeated death with its sting on your behalf, I have established you in my authority and victory by my Word, I have risen to grant you a divine and purposeful living and I have risen to beautify your life. "I 'am the Lord, and I have spoken."

→ Pastor Victor T. Amos

QUOTE

"Blessed are those who can give without remembering, and take without forgetting . . . Your life is your message to the world, make it inspiring."

→ Lorrin L. Lee

☆ Picture Credit: Mr. Gideon Ishaku Bewas