Growing Up (Rev. David Kwamkur) 01-02-2015

SUNDAY SERVICE

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki-Abuja, Nigeria

1st February, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Growing Up

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service leader: Mr. Stephen Barthner

* Text: Hebrews 11:24-26

* The life of Moses began as a Journey of faith. (See: Exodus 3)

* Moses' parents demonstrated faith for the protection of their child even in the midst of danger

* You can destroy your future if you disregard your past.

* Parents have a significant role to play in the life of their children's spiritual growth and maturity

→ Note: Moses' parents were not afraid of the verdict of the Pharaoh. They trusted God to preserve their son

* One thing that is destroying many people today is fear

★ Matthew 10:28 → "Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell."

* If you are interested in growing deeper spiritually, you should study the life of Moses - His life Was a life of faith

* Benefits of Studying the life of Moses:

(a) It will help you understand that God is greater than every evil scheme or person in the world

(b) It will help you to focus on God, rather than on your circumstances

(c) It will help you understand that God is faithful and will never fail to keep His promises

→ The most dangerous thing you will ever do in life is to doubt God's faithfulness

→ Hold on to God until your situation changes

(d) It will help you let God work through you

→ God will not force you to do anything (including submitting to Him) that you don't want to do willingly

(e) It will help you realise that you are not an ordinary person

→ NOTE: You are the Child of the King of the Universe & you are important to God

* Moses made faith decisions:

→ if you are ever going to grow spiritually, you must walk by faith all the time

→ Children cannot make certain decisions on their own because they are immature

→ The quality of your decisions is an indication of your maturity (or immaturity)

→ If you do not know how to make decisions, other people will decide for you based on what they want for you

* Decisions You Must make if you want to grow in Christ:

1. Refusing the wrong

* Hebrews 11:24

→ It is not enough to know what is right or wrong, but you must be courageous enough to out-rightly refuse to do what is wrong in the sight of God

→ When faith comes into operation, your ability to recognize and refuse to do anything that is contrary to God's will is strengthened

* Examples of persons who refused to do what was wrong, even at the cost of their lives:

(a) Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar's wife (Gen 39:9)

(b) The 3 Hebrew boys

* Daniel 3:12 → “Certain influential Jewish men whom you appointed to manage the city of Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—have neither paid attention to you, your majesty, nor served your gods. And they won’t worship the golden statue that you set up.”

* It did not make any (reasonable) sense why they would choose to disobey the King's express orders at the detriment of their political positions and even their lives

*NOTE: When faith is in operation, your reason is inactive.

(c) Daniel refused to obey a Royal ban on prayer→ Daniel 6:13

"Then they told the king, “Daniel, who is one of the Judean exiles, pays no attention to you, your majesty, or to the written decree, since he is still praying three times a day.”

(d) Peter and John refused to obey a decree not to preach in the name of Christ → (Acts 4:17-20)

- They did not allow themselves to be intimidated by the Jewish Council (the most powerful and influential entity in Israel at the time)

* You must always refuse to do the wrong thing, even when it is the most popular thing to do

* Nobody grows in Christ by doing the wrong thing

* If you don't want evil to multiply, you must always refuse to do what is wrong

* Don't follow your reason; follow your faith

* God is calling you to refuse anything that is contrary to your faith

2. You must choose to do what is right

→ It is Impossible to choose to do what is both right and wrong at the same time. You have to choose only one

* Sometimes, the right thing to do does not appeal to your reasoning, But you must always follow faith, rather than your reason

* You must be wise in making your decisions

* Always make decisions in the light of tomorrow and eternity

* Don't mortgage your tomorrow for the brief pleasures of today

* If you choose to be a believer/disciple of Jesus, You Must be willing to pay the price:

★ The cost of Discipleship

(Luke 14:25-33)

→ You must be willing to cut links with your family and loved ones, if need be (verse 26)

→ You must carry His cross (verse 27)

→ give up everything for the sake of Christ (verse 33)

* A person who is not a faithful disciple of Christ cannot enter His kingdom in eternity

* Making the right decision would always cost you something (time, privileges, relationships, possessions, advantages, certain pleasures, your life, etc.)

3. You must run away from any appearance of wrong/evil

→ Running away from evil does not mean you are a coward

* Temporal things are just temporal - they will not last

* Amos 5:14-15 →"Pursue good and not evil, so that you may live, and this is what will happen: The LORD God of the Heavenly Armies will be with you, as you have been claiming. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in court— perhaps the LORD, the God of the Heavenly Armies, will be gracious to the survivors of Joseph.’

* Titus 2:11-12 →"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age."

→ As a Christian, God expects you to always renounce all forms of ungodliness

→ Renunciation must be total: You're not expected to go back to something you have renounced already

→ It is the by the grace of God that you are able to renounce every act of ungodliness, not by your own power or will

★ 2nd Timothy 2:19 →"However, God’s solid foundation still stands. It has this inscription on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”

→ Departing from evil is a prerequisite for serving God faithfully and effectively

* 2nd Timothy 3:1-5

→ People that have a form of godliness but deny its power must be "quarantined" from your life before they infect and pollute you too

* 2nd Timothy 2:22

→ "Flee from youthful passions. Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart."

* Mark 8:36 →"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

→ It is foolish to mortgage your life and eventually loose/destroy your soul

* Romans 8:17 →"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

→ There is an eternal glory that comes after our temporal sufferings here on earth

* Look beyond your senses and depend or your faith

* If you have faith, you have everything!

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

MISSION CHARGE

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming"

→ Ephesians 4:14

QUOTES

"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety".

→ George Mueller

"Sadness takes you away from true worship of the Lord."

→ Rev. David Kwamkur

"Satan will always make you feel that there is no reason to be happy. He will give you reasons to be angry at everyone, everything and even at yourself."

→ Rev. David Kwamkur

Like Newborn Babies (Rev. John Lohor) 18-01-2015

SUNDAY SERVICE
MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki-Abuja
18th January, 2015

★ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. John Lohor

* Topic: Like New-born Babies

* Text: 1st Peter 2:1-3

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service Leader: Miss. Alheri Mutashi

* 1st Peter 2:1-3

"Therefore, rid yourselves of every kind of evil and deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. Like new-born babies, thirst for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in your salvation. Surely you have tasted that the Lord is good!"

* Peter wrote this epistle out of concern for the Christians who have refused to grow in Christ regardless of the fact that they have been Christians for a long time

* If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are expected to grow - there must be a positive change

* There are evil/ungodly virtues that must not be found in your life as a Christian

* Your life and character must undergo positive (godly) transformation as you grow in Christ

* When you come to Christ, you are expected to conform to His character and image. Your Christ-likeness must be evident to everyone around you

* When you give your life to Christ, you have to learn and take positive steps to be mature. This entails making deliberate effort

* The first step to spiritual maturity is taking the 'milk' of the Word of God

* The "milk" has to be pure, not diluted

* Mental growth is more difficult than physical growth

 - whatever you feed your mind on becomes a part of you. For instance, If You feed Your mind on sexually explicit materials, you are likely to manifest such in your life unconsciously

* As a Christian, It is very important to always study the Word of God. Take advantage of the availability of Bibles, and the various avenues to study God's Word.

→ NOTE: In some counties, it is a crime to even be in possession of the copy of a Bible!

* The basic ingredient you require for a balanced spiritual growth is the Word of God

* You must deliberately make time to study God's Word regardless of your tight schedules and diverse commitments

* If you do not study the Word of God, how can you grow?

* Joshua 1:8

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

*You must not only desire to 'ingest' God's Word at every opportunity, you must be crave for it with absolute passion

★ Additional Notes from Mr. Badung Gyang☆☆

* Milk Satisfies the hunger of a baby, nothing else would do

* Milk has all the nutrients that a baby requires for growth

* Milk contains the essential ingredients to protect the child from sickness

* Milk does not need any additive or it would be adulterated. The word does not need any addition or supplement

★ MISSION CHARGE

"There is a difference between interests and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you only do it when it is convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results . . . Lack of decisiveness has caused more failures than lack of intelligence or ability. "

- John Mason

★ QUOTE

"Character is something you either have or not. It is the real foundation of all worthwhile Success. A good question to ask Yourself is: 'what kind of world would be if everybody were just like me?' You are Simply a book telling the world about its author . . . Never be ashamed of doing, you need not choose evil; but only to fail to choose good."

- John Mason

Growth is not Automatic (Rev. Chrysanthus B. John) 11-01-2015

SUNDAY SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki - Abuja
11th January, 2015

★SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Chrysanthus B. John

* Topic: Growth is not Automatic

* Text: Mark 4:26-29

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

* Sub-Theme: Intentional Growth

* Service Leader: Mr. Mark Chollom

* "Growth" means a process of growing, development, increase & maturity

* "Automatic" means a process that takes place "without human control or intervention"

* The first stage in the growth process of a seed is germination.

- The 'seed' that is planted in the hearts of men is the Word of God

- The 'farmer' is the evangelist (and through evangelism of the Gospel of Christ, "seeds" are planted)

* The farmer does not know how the seed grows from the moment it was planted, till it is mature for harvest. This is the law of nature. So as it is with crops, so also is it with every person

* God expects that the seed(s) of the Gospel that is planted in your heart will germinate, mature and become ripe for harvest

* You have to undergo a systemic process before you attain the level of spiritual maturity. It does not occur immediately or within a day.

* Spiritual growth is an intentional process that is activated and maintained by a personal choice to be surrendered to God; to know & obey His word and to serve Him faithfully

* The process of becoming like Christ starts with a decision

* It takes a lot of changes to ensure growth

* Things to help you grow spiritually:

(a) Prayer (and fasting)

(b) studying God's Word; and

(c) Fellowship with other believers

* Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit

* The commitment you choose to make in life shapes your life

* You become what you are committed to

* 1st Corinthians 13:11

" When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways."

* Christians should grow up, and stop thinking or doing things like children

* God expects every Christian to attain spiritual maturity and become like Christ

 ★ SEE: Romans 8:29 → "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that the Son might be the firstborn among many brothers."

* God has made all necessary provision to ensure that you grow up and become spiritually mature

 ★ SEE: 2 Peter 1:3 → "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the full knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence."

* If you deliberately refuse to grow, you will be cut off from God's eternal inheritance when the 'harvest' comes

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

EXHORTATION DURING HOLY COMMUNION

* Rev. David Kwamkur

★ Romans 6:13-14

"Stop offering the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have been brought from death to life and the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin will not have mastery over you, because you are not under Law but under grace."

* As long as you are living in sin, You cannot grow in Christ

* Christians are susceptible to temptations, but living in sin is the personal choice of each individual

★ Galatians 5:25 → "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

* Christians that desire Spiritual maturity must eschew drunkenness and other vices

 ★ Ephesians 5:18 → "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."

* God expects you as a Christian to behave decently in all circumstances

* Instead of being drunk with alchohol, you must be filled with the Holy Spirit

★ Romans 13:13-14

"Let’s behave decently, as people who live in the light of day. No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy! Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and do not obey your flesh and its desires."

"Growing up in Christ" - (Rev. David Kwamkur) 04-01-2015

SUNDAY SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki-Abuja
4th January, 2015

★ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Introduction of Theme for 2015 "Growing up in Christ" (Ephesians 4:14)

* Text: Jeremiah 17:7-8 → "Blessed is the person who trusts in the LORD, making the LORD his trust. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by a stream. He won’t fear when the heat comes, and his leaves will be green. In a year of drought he won’t be concerned, nor will he stop producing fruit.”

* Ephesians 4:15 → "Instead, by speaking the truth in love, we will grow up completely and become one with the head, that is, one with the Messiah."

* Christianity in Africa is like Africa itself - it is very wide, but very Shallow. The same situation is reflective of Christianity in Nigeria

* Questions that we must ask Ourselves:

→ Why is it that there are no developed Counties on the African continent?

→ Did God create Africa to remain 'undeveloped' or 'developing'?

→ For how long will Nigeria remain a 'developing' Country?

→ What have we been doing as a nation that has caused us to stagnate on the level of underdevelopment?

→ What can we do differently as a nation to enable us move from the status of "developing" to "developed"?

→ Is Nigeria too comfortable to develop?

→ Who is not telling the truth: the leaders or the masses?

* The Definition(s) of Growth:

1. Growth entails the process of adding value to your life or to something

2. to Increase in size or quality

3. to begin to do something

4. to improve on something

5. to develop emotionally, spiritually or mentally

* Two types of Growth:

   (a) positive growth

   (b) negative growth

* Growing in Christ is the desired positive growth. Anything outside Christ is like a cancerous growth that eventually leads to death

* Every negative growth in the body kills its host, if it is not removed in time

* 10 Facts about Growth:

1. Nobody is born an adult - (both Physically and spiritually)

- At birth, every living thing starts off as an infant

2. Every one can grow

- Growth is not limited to a few people

- Every living thing has the natural potential to grow

3. The right time to grow is now

- When you fail to do what is required of you, your growth process would be stunted

4. To grow is not easy

- It involves discipline and numerous sacrifices

5. Growth is not accidental

- Growth is purely a deliberately planned and strategic process

6. Babies are immature but they are expected to grow eventually

7. Healthy things grow

- Sicknesses hinder the normal process of growth

8. There is no short-cut to growth

- there is nothing like an "instant growth"

- Growth is a process which must be allowed to take its course

9. We were born babies so that we can grow into maturity

10. Growth is always needed

- Regardless of the level you are presently, there is always room for improvement

* 7 Steps to (Spiritual) Growth

1. Have a desire to grow

- Growth depends on you

- For you to grow, you must be dissatisfied wits being a "baby Christian"

2. You must keep your desire to grow alive

3. Always see the need for growth in your life

4. Eat spiritual balanced diet (God's Word) regularly

★ Matthew 4:4 → “It is written, ‘One must not live on bread alone, but on every word coming out of the mouth of God.”

★ Joshua 1:8 → "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success."

★ Acts 17:10-11 → " That night the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so."

5. Exercise and practice your faith

- Failure to exercise your faith will cause it to become weak and ineffective

6. Be patient

★ James 1:4 → " But you must let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

* Growth is a tedious process that takes time

7. Don't be discouraged

★ Joshua 1:6-7 → "Be strong and courageous, because you’ll be leading this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Only be strong and very courageous to ensure that you obey all the instructions that my servant Moses gave you—turn neither to the right nor to the left from it—so that you may succeed wherever you go."

* You need courage to be able to grow

* NOTE:

- Genesis 1:28-29

- When you became born again, you were given seeds, not fruits

- You must maintain a right spiritual balance in order for the 'seeds' to grow into 'fruits'

- You were born to blossom & boom

- Spiritual growth is optional. It purely depends on your personal Choice

* Quotes & bits During the Service (Pastor Victor Amos):

→ "When you take God seriously this year, you will see the difference"

→ "Responsible people always do the right thing at the right time"

Growing up in Christ (Mr Ishaya Manji) 30-11-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE

MY SERMON NOTES
Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Garki Area 1 - Abuja, Nigeria
30th November, 2014

* SERMON

* Speaker: Mr Ishaya Manji

* Topic: Growing up in Christ

* Theme: Knowing the Will of God

* Sub-Theme: Blessings of Doing God's Will

* Service Leaders: Mr Timothy Pam

* Text: Ephesians 4:14-15 - "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."

★ Round up & Summary of the COCIN Community Missions Week 2014

* The problem of the Church today is that many Christians still remain as infants even after many years after becoming believers.

* The desire of God is that we all grow up to become mature believers

* The Church has a bunch of Christians who are physically growing older, but remain Spiritually immature

* Spiritual maturity cannot be measured by your eloquence, or Physical appearance. It can only by demonstrated by displaying the Characteristics of Jesus (that is, the fruits of the Spirit).

* Growing in Christ entails the following:

1. A Continuous willingness to develop & display the character traits of Christ

2. To remain Connected to Christ

3. To be rooted and grounded in order to bear fruit that will last

4. To hold onto the truth and share it boldly, regardless of the consequences.

* The genuine Christian life is magnetic.

- You will automatically attract people to Christ if your life radiates the love of Jesus

* The difference between a mature and immature Christian:

→ A mature Christian produces the fruits of the spirit, the immature Christian does not

→ Galatians 5:22-24 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

* Every mature Christian is a missionary.

* Anywhere you find yourself is your primary mission field (office, family, community, etc.)

* Essential Elements for growing up in Christ:

1. The Character of Christ

→ Galatians 5:22-23

* God's plan is for you to be transformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ

2. Commitment

- This entails a willingness to work hard and to give your energy to the discharge of a given duty

- God requires Christians to be committed in missions and support it by all means possible.

* As a Christian, You are expected to grow not only physically, but also spiritually.

*When you spend time with God and His Word, you will grow in love and Spiritual knowledge of God's Will.

* You must be ready to give every fibre of yourself as an instrument to honour and Serve God

* Everything you have been entrusted with (e.g.. Your job, talents, resources, possessions, opportunities, experiences, etc.) are tools for serving Christ and advancing His kingdom here on earth.

* You must show the love of Christ to everyone, especially those who are under Satan's bondage

* If you must grow spiritually, you must study to know the mind of God so that you can project that same mind through mission work and liberate those in darkness and translate them into the Light of Christ.

* It is expected that once you give your life to Christ, you must grow spiritually, just as a new born baby is naturally expected to grow and become strong & independent

* The Church cannot be able to grow into a holy temple if every Christian are not ready to play their parts in God's plan

* Encouragement: we need to encourage each other (especially the Missionaries) by prayer, visitations, generous giving etc.

* Three things that the devil will never ask you to do:

1. give (in support of the advancement of Christ's kingdom)

2. pray

3. preach

* Causes of Spiritual Immaturity:

1. Sin

2. lack of Self-Control

3. lack of humility

4. lack of Spiritual balance-diet

   - This results in Spiritual stunted growth

   - God's word is our spiritual food (the balanced-diet)

   - You cannot give what you have. You must know the word for yourself

5. lack of submission to authority

6. lack of Spiritual discipline (e.g. through prayer and fasting & Bible Studies)

* If you really want to be effective in God's scheme of things and influence your generation for Christ, you must determine to grow Spiritually and be committed to knowing God's Word

* Allow God to work in you and through you

* Your life should sparkle (for Christ) like a diamond

* Spiritual infancy results in lack of effectiveness on the part of a Christian

* Practical ways by which you can be involved in Missions:

1. You can go to the Mission fields to preach personally

2. You can Support Missionaries through:

   -   Your financial gifts

   - Your consistent prayers for the success of Missions & Missionary endeavours

What Satan is doing in the World Today (Mr Jonathan Achimugu) 15-06-1998

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Evangelical Church of West Africa

(now Evangelical Church Winning All) (ECWA),

Airport, Abuja - Nigeria

15th June, 1998

★ BIBLE STUDIES

* Topic: What Satan is doing in the World Today

* Speaker: Mr. Jonathan Achimugu

* Almost all news media today report nefarious acts of Satan: famines, fraud, theft, massacres, cult activities, and the like. Satan is the root of all these social evils

★ Revelations 12:9 → "The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels."

* Satan and his angels (demons) join forces to fight against God's people

* Satan is the adversary of the Children of God who seeks day and night to destroy them

* The Children of God Should not take the activities of Satan lightly!

* Satan is cruel, clever, hungry and always looking for an opportunity to destroy the Children of God

* Satan is a deceiver. First, he deceived himself (wanting to exaIt himself above the stars of God) then, he deceived the creatures of God [Isaiah 14:13-14] but God humiliated him

* Satan hates anyone who does not believe in his lies. That is why He accuses believers.

★ Revelations 12:10 →"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, “Now the salvation, the power, the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah have come. For the one who accuses our brothers, who accuses them day and night in the presence of our God, has been thrown out."

★ 1 Thessalonians 2:18 →"That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, wanted to come time and again, but Satan blocked our way."

* Satan always tries to hinder Christians from following Christ

★ Matthew 16:21-23

→ Satan opposes the will of God in our lives through (willing) relatives, friends, associates, colleagues etc

★ 1 Thessalonians 3:5 →"But when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and that our work had been a waste of time."

* Satan is a tempter. His primary aim is to frustrate the work of God's Ministers

* The devil's power is limited. He is not everywhere and does not know everything - unlike our Almighty God who is omnipresent and Omnipotent. That is why Satan uses demons to carry out his evil deeds.

(Ephesians 6:12)

★ See: Exodus 7:11, Matthew 12:22, Acts 4:7

* Demons cause havoc (Luke 7:27)

* NOTE: It is a mistake to attribute the cause of every sickness to the devil; Although many cases of sicknesses, famines, injuries etc. are caused by him.

* Satan uses man's sinful nature to accomplish his will, eg: kidnappers, murderers, armed robbers, liars, fraudsters, smugglers, drunkards, the sexually immoral, and the like - they are helping Satan, but most of them do not realize this fact

* People who are demon-possessed can be delivered through the blood of Jesus Christ

* Spiritually matured Christians Can pray for people who are possessed (by demons) and help them to be restored to God's love

* Satan should not be feared; his demons Should not be dreaded - Jesus has overcome them. Praise be to His name!

☆ PRAYER

1. Pray that God will protect as and our families from the attacks of the devil

2. Praise God for Jesus (He has won eternal victory over Satan and the forces of darkness)

☆ MEMORY VERSE

☆ John 10:10 →"The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I’ve come that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

Spiritual Maturity (Rev. Gyang Moses Chuwang) 25-01-1998

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN)
(Now Church of Christ in Nations)

Gigiring, Hwolshe, Jos

Plateau State-Nigeria

25th January, 1998

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Gyang Moses Chwuang

* Topic: Spiritual Maturity

* Theme: Christian Maturity

* Text: 1st Corinthians 2:15-16 → "The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else’s evaluation. For “Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can advise him?” However, we have the mind of the Messiah."

* Spiritual maturity concerns the improvement of one's relationship with God

* A spiritual man is one who has the mind of God

- Such a person has a relationship with the Holy Spirit and He controls Him

* Characteristics of the unspiritual man is found in Romans 8:9

→" You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God’s Spirit lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah, he does not belong to him."

* The Characteristics of the spiritual man are found in Galatians 5:22-23

→" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things."

★ James 1:2 →"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trial."

* Suffering helps you to mature spiritually

★ 1st Corinthians 10:13 →" No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it."

* Spiritual maturity entails consistently walking in the Spirit

* If you walk in the Spirit, you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)

* The spiritual man experiences victory because of Jesus in Him

★ 1st Corinthians 2:14-15 →"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man."

★ 1st John 3:2 → "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."