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 (What You need to do to have Jesus Come into your House) (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 04-03-2015

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

4th March, 2015

* Topic: God with us

* Sub-Topic: What You need to do to have Jesus Come into your House

* Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu

* Text: Luke 19:1-5

* Things you must do to be saved

→ NOTE: You have a role to play

* You must believe in Jesus.

 

* Acts 16:30-31 - "He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

* Zaccheus took certain steps to enable him encounter Jesus:    

1. He had the desire to see Jesus

→ what you desire is what you get

→ Many believers are not consistent in their desire

2. He was determined to See Jesus

→ In spite of the challenges, the was determined

3. He persevered

→ For how long are you willing to hold on?

→ How can a man wish to know Jesus if he cannot persevere?

* Verse 3: "He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he couldn’t do so due to the crowd, since he was a short man."

→ what have they said you cannot do?

→ what are your apparent limitations in life?

* Every thing that God said I will be, I will be! 

4. He had Courage

→ this entails lack of fear

→ fear has paralyzed many believers from becoming what God has destined them to be

 

* 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

→ Zaccheus climbed the sycamore tree in order to see Jesus. It took Courage for him to to that