Thankful for Salvation and Heaven (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 27-11-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja 

2nd Sunday Service  

27th November, 2016 

Pastor Sarah Omakwu
Picture Credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON: 

* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu 

* Topic: Thankful for Salvation and Heaven 

* Text: Psalm 103:1-22 

* Thanksgiving is an act of rendering appreciation or gratitude for God's goodness 

* Thanksgiving can be done as an individual or as a family 

* Thanksgiving should not be a casual thing

→ It must be done deliberately  

* You should not allow yourself to be cajoled or manipulated before you give thanks to God for His blessings and goodness to you 

* Genuine thanksgiving involves emotions (singing, dancing, jumping, crying, shouting, etc) 

* Thanksgiving has a voice! 

→ If you are really thankful about something, you will express it 

→ NOTE: Your silence may be mistaken for ingratitude 

★ Psalm 116:12 → "What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me?" (NIV)

* Thanksgiving must be internal 

→ It must proceed from within your heart 

* When you look back at what you use to be and what you are now, you cannot remain silent 

* When you are grateful, you spare nothing to show appreciation 

* Thanksgiving is a command from God

★ Psalm 100:4 → "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." 

★ Psalm 107:8 → "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind." (NIV)
★ Psalm 107:15
★ Psalm 107:21 

* When you do not testify of God's goodness, you are in disobedience

* You owe it to God and to God's people to testify 

* Thanksgiving is not a function of what God has done, it is a function of what you remember and the value you choose to place on it 

*NOTE: People respond to issues and experiences in life differently 

* In thanksgiving, you do not give according to what you have, 

→ You give according to the value you place on what God has done for you 

* Thanksgiving is a private thing (it is between you and God) 

* You should thank God for and rejoice because of your salvation 

★ Luke 10:20 → "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

★ Luke 17:11-19 (The Story of the 10 lepers) 

* Nothing on earth is more important than your name being written in Heaven 

→ Heaven is an eternal inheritance 

* What should give you the highest joy is that as a child of God, you are entitled to eternal inheritance in Heaven 

* "Rejoice because your name is written in Heaven." 

⇒ Earthly accolades, acquisitions or achievements cannot be compared with Heaven!  

* No matter the breakthroughs or the disappointments you have experienced in life, thank God! 

☆ Why should you give thanks to God? 

1. Because the Lord has justified you! 

2. Because God does not input sin unto you 

3. Because you have passed from death to life 

4. Because we have access into God's presence 

5. Because you have been delivered from the power of darkness 

→ Satan's plan was to kill you, steal from you, and destroy you totally. But God delivered you.  

6. Because you are not dead today!

→ You deserved to die because of the sinful lifestyle you had lived, but mercy Said "No"

☆ Questions to Consider: 

→ Will you return like that one healed leper and give thanks to God?

→ Will you be like David who gave God His best dance of Praise?

→ Will you be like Hannah who gave her only son to God's service as a sign of her appreciation? 

→ Will you be like Solomon who gave sacrifices of praise till it became grotesque?  

* NOTE: You are expected to give thanks for all that God has done for you

☆ The Demons who Undermine Thanksgiving:

→ Ungratefulness 

→ Lies 

→ Sadness

→ Pain 

→ Depression 

→ Pride and arrogance 

→ Discouragement 

→ Ingratitude 

→ Taking God for granted 

→ Deception 

→ Lack, need and poverty 

→ Recession 

The Diety of Jesus 4 (Immanuel - God With Us) Pastor Sarah Omakwu 05-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

2nd Sunday Service

5th June, 2016

Pastor Sarah Omakwu  Picture Credit: FWC Media

* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu

* Topic: The Deity of Jesus 4 (Immanuel - God With Us)

* The birth of Jesus was not an ordinary event:

→ Nature was involved in His birth

→ When the shepherds heard about His birth, they rejoiced

→ Wise men brought Him symbolic gifts

→ When people met Jesus, their lives were transformed for good

* Jesus' name is His Assignment:

→ Immanuel (God with us)

→ Yahweh (Savior)

* He came to lead us to God

→ If you come in contact with Jesus, you have encountered God (because He is God)

☆ Important Scriptures that Talk about the Birth of Jesus Christ:

★ Matthew 1:18-25

→ The Holy Spirit can make a person pregnant! Nothing is impossible with Him

→ The Holy Spirit brings to manifestation things that were pronounced by God's Word

★ Matthew 2:1-23

→ NOTE: It was not fools that came to worship the baby Jesus: They were wise men

→ Sometimes it is okay to be afraid: Wisdom and common sense may dictate that you run away from trouble (verses 13-15)

→ Not all boldness is good

★ Luke 1:5-25

→ Because you did everything right does not mean that everything will happen to you right

→ NOTE: Bad things also happen to good people (verse 7)

→ When you remain faithful to God's service, you will be transformed

→ As long as you are alive and you trust God, you will experience His goodness

→ God will send a 'sign of reference' through somebody you know so that you understand that if He did it for them, He will do it for you.

→ The key to receiving from God is believing His Word (verse 45)

→ God is committed to fulfilling His promises

→ You cannot be in Christ and not have a testimony: Your mouth cannot be shut (see Mary's praise in verses 46-55)

→ You must not forget the mercies of the Lord towards you

→ There are some things that happen to you that you need people of 'kindred spirit' to encourage and support you (verse 56)

★ Luke 2:1-52

→ If God says it, He will do it; it may not be now, but He will do it

→ Every first child belongs to God and must be dedicated to Him (verse 23)

→ Nothing will happen to you until all the plans of God concerning your life are fulfilled (verse 26)

⇒ when you love God, you will take everything He wants from you seriously. No sacrifice is too much for God. (verse 41)

☆ Things to Note from the above verses:

* Joseph was a good & decent man: he obeyed God's Words and instructions to the very end

* As a child of God, you are supposed to be a person of integrity, totally subject to the will of God in all things

* When God gives you an instruction concerning your sexuality, you must obey Him.

→ Do not rationalize or analyze it with your intellect

→ Joseph did not violate Mary sexually while she was pregnant with Jesus (Matthew 1:25)

* When God is to work with and through you, He looks at your heart

* The attitude of ingratitude is blocking many people's blessings

→ Learn from Mary who praised God for all that He did for her

→ Learn from the shepherds and the wise men who looked for Jesus and worshiped Him, bringing praise and valuable symbolic gifts

* You must never get to the point that you take your salvation for granted

* If wise men followed Him, you must do same!

* NOTE: The Shepherds told others about Jesus (Luke 2:17):

⇒ when was the last time you told somebody about Jesus?

* Herod was jealous of Jesus

→ There are people that will always seek to antagonize and undermine God's blessings upon your life

* The main reason Jesus came to the world was to deliver you from your sin (Matthew 1:21)

→ This is His primary mission

☆ Question: When it is all said and done, will Jesus be an offense to you?

→ Jesus was an offense to Herod and He sought to suppress and eliminate Him by killing all of Jesus' peers (Matthew 2:16)

* You must respect the anointing of God upon His servants and ministers, regardless of their age, gender or status in life (Luke 1:43)

* Question: What will you do with the Son of God?

* NOTE: Jesus Christ has neutralized the power of sin

→ You must appropriate that victory in every aspect of your life and live daily as an over-comer! 

PS: This message and other messages 

by Pastor Sarah and other Pastors of Family Worship Centre 

may be downloaded via the Church's Website 

As my Father sent me, even so I send you (Evangelist Nuhu Bakwa) 12-07-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

12th July, 2015

NEW LIFE FOR ALL WEEK

☆ SERMON
* Speaker: Evangelist Nuhu Bakwa
* Topic: As my Father sent me, even so I send you
* Theme: Growing Up in Christ
* Sub-Theme: Growing in Love
* Service Leader: Elder Boniface Katlong
* Text: John 20:19-23

* God has given every child of God authority to preach the Gospel

☆ Important terms to note from the passage (John 20:19-23):

* "Just as" (verse 21): this means "in like manner"

* "Whosoever" (verse 23): this relates to choice.

* "Father" (verse 21): this refers to the Almighty God. Every other god apart from the One living God is useless!

* "Send": this means to cause or ask someone to go and do something

* NOTE: All of us have been sent by Christ to preach the Gospel (Matthew 28:19)

* Before you go (to preach the Gospel), you must ensure that you have a relationship with God

* Having a relationship with God starts by being born again; accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior (John 3:3)

* Jesus cannot trust a sinner or an unbeliever with the Gospel of salvation!

→ You must be known by Him in order to work for Him acceptably

* Jesus has not lowered or changed His standards of loyalty and holiness after these many years

☆ Hebrews 13:8 →"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

* HOW HAS THE FATHER SENT JESUS?

1. As a Savior into the World

* Jesus came to save those who are in darkness (see: Matthew 1:21)

→ He is sending you also to go and preach the gospel of salvation because the world is reeling in sin

2. As Christ the Lord

* The word 'Christ' means 'the anointed one.'

* When God sent Jesus, He was full of anointing

* The Holy Spirit empowered Him to do what God sent Him to do

* Without the Holy Spirit, you are spiritually impotent & powerless

* It is impossible to serve God using human ability and wisdom: You need divine endowment that is available through the Holy Spirit

3. As God into the World

* Jesus came as God, that we might worship Him and that He may subdue other gods on in the World under His supreme authority

☆ Exodus 7:1 →"And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet."

→ As a child of God, you are sent to the world as God's own representative everywhere you go

* No other god is supposed to reign over you anywhere you are

→ See: Daniel 3:28-29 and 4:34-35

4. As the Redeemer

* To redeem means to recover ownership of something by buying it back or to liberate by payment of a ransom

→ Jesus bought us back (to Himself) after being previously sold out to sin

★ 1st Corinthians 6:20 → "for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

* The price for your redemption is the blood of Jesus

* NOTE: You are sent by Jesus into the world as a 'trader' to facilitate the exchange of the sins of people with Jesus Christ

5. As a Man of Sorrows

☆ John 15:18 → "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you."

→ You are to preach the gospel of salvation regardless of any pain or suffering you encounter in the process

→ The greatest suffering Jesus experienced was rejection by God His Father when He bore the sins of the world on the cross

(see: Matthew 27:46)

* A minute without Christ is not worth living

☆ Acts 17:28a →‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being...’

* NOTE: You have been called to go and suffer in like manner

6. As a good Shepherd

* A Shepherd is a person who is responsible for taking care of and nurturing others (the flock)

* You have been called also to go and take care of others

* You have been sent by God to bring the message of peace to the world

→ As a Christian, you have an obligation to minister comfort to those around you and 'gather the flock' together for Christ

7. As a Teacher

* Jesus went everywhere to preach the Gospel, even when the conditions were not right or perfect

☆ Acts 10:38 → "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

☆ Matthew 28:19 → "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

* Today, ungodly and perverted teachings (of God's Word) are prevalent everywhere (even in some Churches)

* NOTE: Your life is a message. People are observing and learning something from your life.

→ What are you teaching with your life as a Christian?

* You are sent by Jesus everywhere for the primary purpose of teaching God's Word

→ Are you fulfilling that responsibility?

8. As a Prophet

* Everything Jesus prophesied came to pass

* As a child of God, you are supposed to know everything in advance

☆ Amos 3:7→ "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets."

→ However, when you get revelations from God (through dreams, visions, word of knowledge, etc.), do not hoard them. TeIl it to the Church

9. As a miracle worker

☆ Acts 10:38 →"even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."

10. As a Son of Man

→ He took the body of sin and came into the world

→ ln spite of His divine nature, Jesus humbled himself and became just like one of us

☆ Philippians 2:5-8 →"Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross."

11. As God's own child

☆ John 1:10 →"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not."

* Jesus was sent to the world with a message from His Father

→ Being also a child of God through faith in Jesus, you are to go and tell the world about your Father in heaven and the salvation He offers them

→ If you are truly a child of God, you will definitely know the secrets of the Kingdom of your Father, and you will be confident to speak about it everywhere you go

12. As a Servant

* He came serving us in humility

☆ This was clearly demonstrated when He washed the feet of His disciples in John 13:1-5

* Pride hinders people from rendering service to God and to other people (without expecting anything in return)

* NOTE: Regardless of your position In life, without Christ, you are nothing!

* It takes humility to be a servant

* Servants are generally looked down upon in the society as unimportant people

* As a servant, Jesus bore all manner of humiliation

14. As a Mediator

☆ 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 → "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, new things have come. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation."

☆ Hebrews 7:24-25 →" But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him. We need such a high priest—one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself."

* Just like Christ, you are called to be an intercessor

* Instead of gossiping or rejoicing that someone has fallen into sin, pray for such a person

15. As the Way

☆ John 5:27

☆John 5:30

☆ John 14:6 → "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

→ Any one that rejects Jesus as his Lord and savior cannot make heaven

Following the Star (Rev. Stephen Gyang) 03-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

3rd May, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Stephen Gyang (Pastor, COCIN Kuje, Abuja)

* Topic: Following the Star

* Theme: Growing Up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service Leader: Pastor Victor T. Amos

* Text: Matthew 2:1-10

★ REGIONAL CHURCH COUNCIL (RCC) REVIVAL

Rev. Stephen Gyang 

* A star may be defined as a luminous white 'dot' in the dark sky; or a widely known person/a celebrity;

→ It may be a symbol used to direct people to a hotel, or an organization

* NOTE: The star led the wise men to Jesus

→ Anything or anyone that leads or points people to Jesus represents a sort of 'star'

★ Different dimensions of the star:

1. Church as the star

→ Which Church is the true Church that leads people to the saving grace of Jesus?

→ Today, there is a proliferation of Churches and many of them are a sham (a fraud) that Satan is using to mislead and distract people

2. The Pastor as the star

→ A Pastor is the shepherd; He is the one that tends the flock of the Lord

→ A Pastor is meant to direct people to Jesus, not to himself or to his own ministry

→ Today, there is a proliferation of fake pastors and preachers who take undue advantage of the flock of the Lord for selfish reasons

3. Jesus as the star

→ This is the ultimate star that will lead us to God, the Father

☆ John 14:6 →"Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

☆ John 14:8-9

→Many people have been Christians for a long time, yet they do not have a personal relationship with the Father

* Question: who are you looking up to?

★ The Right way of following the star

☆ Matthew 2:1-2

1. Look up to Jesus

→ The wise men were not blind

→ Their eyes were wide open & they recognized the star of Jesus

* How do you see Jesus today?

→ through faith in Him

2. You must believe & trust in Jesus

→ As you decide to follow the star, You will meet many obstacles (Herod) on the way

☆Matthew 2:8-9

→ In spite of obstructions on their way, the wise men trusted the star and they found Jesus

3. You have to confess Jesus with your mouth

☆ Romans 10:9-13

* If you are truly saved, it will reflect in your character and how you treat the things of God

4. You must be born again

→ This is the first step in establishing a relationship with Jesus

☆ John 3:1-7

★ Blessings of following the Star (Jesus)

☆ Romans 10:10-11

1. You will be saved

2. You will not be put to shame

★ NOTE: Before you can see a star, there has to be darkness

→ Stars shine brighter at night

→ No amount of darkness or challenge or obstacle can subdue the light of a star!

* Those darkest moments, (when things are not clear) are the times that the star of Jesus shines the brightest!

* When you go through challenges in life, who do you look up to?

* Only Jesus can save you

☆ Acts 4:12 →"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

* When you follow the star, there should be visible changes in your life & character;

* You must grow in Christ

MISSION CHARGE

"This is my prayer for all of us: Lord, increase our faith. Increase our faith to bridge the chasm of uncertainty and doubt . . . Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future . . . Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequences follow."

→ Gordon B. Hinckley

QUOTE

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back."

→ Harvey Mackay

Jesus the Joy Giver (Pastor John K. Abiodun) 08-04-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

NDIC/DMO Chapel,

Central Business District

8th April, 2015

 

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor John K. Abiodun

* Topic: Jesus the Joy Giver

* Text: Psalm 16:11 →"You will show me the path of life.

In your presence is fullness of joy.

In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

* Joy is in different levels
→ Only Jesus gives fullness of joy

☆ Conditions for getting joy (cont.)
2. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
→ NOTE: Joy is the second fruit of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23
→ Without the Holy Spirit, life becomes a struggle
→ You cannot be a successful Christian without the Holy Spirit
★ Romans 14:17 → " For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
→ Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are condition precedents for inheriting the Kingdom of God.  

3. Winning Souls for Christ
★ Luke 15:6-7
→ Every body who is born again is expected to win souls for Christ
→ It is not the job of only the Pastors
→ Anytime you win a soul for Christ, there is joy not only in your heart, but in heaven (Luke 15:7) 
→ "A container that brings water will never lack water." - African proverb
→ It is not possible for you to cause joy in the lives of others and to God Himself and your heart will be deficient in joy
→ Those who win souls are wise (Proverbs 11:30  and Daniel 12:3)
→ You must always use every opportunity to preach the gospel
→ If You want to experience unending joy in your life, then you must be consistent in preaching the Gospel of Jesus
→ Every Christian is called to be a soul-winner
→ Your greatest preaching is by your character
→ There are so many things you can do to win souls to Christ

Jesus the Joy Giver (Pastor J. K. Abiodun) 07-04-2015

☆ MY SERMON NOTES

@ NDIC/DMO Chapel,

Central Business District,

Garki, Abuja - Nigeria

7th April, 2015

 

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor J. K. Abiodun

* Topic: Jesus the Joy Giver

* Text: Psalm 16:11 →"You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

* One of the lessons of Easter is the joy that Jesus brought

* Jesus has given us victory and joy over all issues of life

* If Jesus is missing from your life, you cannot know joy; the best you can experience is happiness

* Happiness is temporary and dependent on circumstances

☆ Generators of Joy
1. Divine victory
2. Surpassed expectations
3. When the impossible becomes possible
4. God's visitation to you

☆ Conditions for getting joy
1. Salvation (Revelation 3:20)
→ without salvation, joy will not come
→ without Christ, crises will come

2. Holy Spirit's Baptism
→ This is a necessity for all believers
→ Before the advent of the Holy spirit, the disciples of Jesus were fearful
→ Acts 1:8
→ The baptism of the Holy spirit Can come upon you every where
→ A Christian without the Holy Spirit is powerless
→ When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, He fills you with joy and empowers you
→ Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot go far
→ Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

It is Finished (Rev. David Kwamkur) 03-04-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

Easter Friday

3rd April, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: It is Finished

* Text: John 19:28-30

* Question: Why do people die?

→ You must know why people are born

→ The same reason why people die is the reason why they live

→ Every person is born with a specific purpose

* As believers in Christ, we must realize that we are merely ambassadors on this earth. At the end of our 'Diplomatic Mission', we will return back to Heaven, our home country

* On earth, people who have material possessions made of gold always brag about it, but in heaven, gold is trampled underfoot on the streets (Revelation 21:21)

* Note: Heaven is far better than even the most beautiful part of the earth!

* Why does God not rapture a person the moment he or she becomes born again?

* The same reason why Jesus came to the earth is the same reason why God leaves believers to walk and work on the earth!

* Question: Was Jesus happy knowing that He Was about to face a terrible death?

→ Ordinarily, people fear the prospect of dying and dread it with all their heart

* Jesus' death was a death with a difference!

→ Yes, Jesus was happy to die for your sins because that is the will of His Father

* Question: is Jesus still happy that he died?

→ By continuing to live in sin, you show that you do not appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, and this displeases him

* Jesus prayed for (and still desires) the unity of the Church

→ John 17:11

* If a person dies, he or she is eulogised on a tombstone, remembering what the person lived for

→ If you die today, what do you want to be remembered for?

★ 2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith."

* Before the Lord returns, the gospel must be preached to the whole world

(Matthew 24:14)

* The 2nd coming of Jesus is dependent on the work and efforts of believers (reaching the unreached and those in darkness)

* Just like a good father would not want anything bad to happen to his children, Jesus preferred to die in the place of his children, the believers

* John 10:10b → Jesus came to give us abundant life

* The purpose of Jesus' coming is to bring salvation

→ He knew the will of God for His life and He was determined to fulfil it

* though It was not easy to fulfil God's will, yet Jesus obeyed and endured till the very end, even to death

* The miracle in the death of Christ is more spectacular than his resurrection

☆ The Significance of the death of Jesus:

1. It marks the end of the era of agony and ushers us into the period of triumphant victory

2. It marks the end of bondage from sin

3. It marks the end of the era of fear, and ushers in the era of peace and victory

4. It marks the end of the era of Law and the beginning of the era of grace

* The purpose of Jesus' coming is to bring salvation to mankind

* Jesus left us on earth to:

1. Preach the Gospel of Salvation

→ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 →"But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation."

2. To be a blessing to others

3. To bring rebels back to Christ

→ Anyone who does not accept Christ is a rebel

* The work of spreading the gospel is not only for Pastors but it is the duty of every believer

* If you cannot go (out to preach the gospel), then, send someone

* life is very short. Stop waiting and start doing something (about what God has called you to do)

* Death is sure, either you die, or the person you were sent to dies

* You should have an urgent disposition towards preaching the gospel

* There are many people who are ready to hear the Good news

* Do not be discouraged by those who do not accept the gospel

* Remember as you preach, that you are not responsible for ensuring that people repent and turn to Christ. Your duty is just to TELL them the good news; the Holy Spirit will do the rest

QUOTE

* "The value of your life does not depend on the money in your bank account or the degrees you have, but on the relationship you have with Jesus Christ"

→ Rev. David Kwamkur

Jesus the Joy-Giver (Pastor John Kayode Abiodun) 01-04-2015

NDlC/DMO Fellowship

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

1st April, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor John Kayode Abiodun

* Topic: Jesus the Joy Giver

 

* Text: Psalm 16:11 - "You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for ever more." (American King James Version)

* With Jesus in your life, joy is sure

* Joy is the opposite of sorrow

* Joy gives strength

* Joy is essential to the life of a believer

* Satan is the author of sorrow and is in fact interested in our sorrowing

* God can intervene and bring you joy.

* Examples of Manifestation of Joy

1. When God meets and surpasses your expectation

2. When God makes a way where there is no way by making the impossible to become possible

3. When the irreversible becomes reversible

★ John 11:43-44

4. When God decides to visit you

★ Luke 19:1-10 (Jesus pays Zaccheus a visit)

★ Genesis 18:1-15 (Angels visit to Abram and Sarah, and their story of childlessness changed)

* God is the only one that gives joy not like the world gives

→ The world at best, can give happiness which is temporal

→ Happiness and joy look alike,

* Conditions for Getting Joy

1. Salvation

→ Genuine joy comes through having a relationship with God

★ Luke 1:13-14

★ Luke 2:10

→ The most noticeable thing When you receive Christ is a fullness of joy and peace in your heart

 

* Without Christ, there will be crises in your life

 

* Rejecting Jesus is like rejecting life and joy (Psalm 16:11)

★ Isaiah 31:1

★ Isaiah 30:1

 

→ Note: Jesus has no substitute - it is either you have Him or not

 

* Without Christ, there will be confusion, but with Him, everything will be alright

# Prayer:

"Let there be More of Jesus in my life"

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