The all Sufficient God (2) (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 20-01-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ NDIC/DMO Chapel,

Central Business District,

Garki - Abuja

20th January, 2016

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: The all Sufficient God (2)

* Text: Psalm 90:12 →"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

* God is willing to teach you all that will benefit you

★ The reason why God will teach you:

→ He wants you to apply your heart unto wisdom

* Solomon asked for wisdom

★ Proverbs 4:7 → "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

★ Joshua 3:4-7 →"Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee."

* God is willing and able to guide you

* You need to set yourself aside for the service of the Lord

★ Psalm 115:3 → "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him."

★ Psalm 115:12-18

* God does whatever He pleases.

→ He has the final say

* NOTE: God is mindful of you

 

* Psalm 90:12 → "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

* God is willing to teach you all that will benefit you

★ The reason why God will teach you:

→ He wants you to apply your heart unto wisdom

* Solomon asked for wisdom

★ Proverbs 4:7 → "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

★ Joshua 3:4-7 →"Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee."

* God is willing and able to guide you

* You need to set yourself aside for the service of the Lord

★ Psalm 115:3 → "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him."

★ Psalm 115:12-18

* God does whatever He pleases.

→ He has the final say

* NOTE: God is mindful of you

The All Sufficient God (1) (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 19-01-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ NDIC/DMO Chapel,

Central Business District,

Garki - Abuja

19th January, 2016

Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: The All Sufficient God

* Text: Psalm 90:12 →"teach us to keep account of our days so we may develop inner wisdom."

* God will teach you because:

→ He is all-knowing

→ He is all sufficient

→ He loves you

→ He wants you to be victorious

* God is not selfish or self-centred and is willing to teach you

→ He will not hoard knowledge

★ Psalm 32:8 → "I will instruct you and teach you concerning the path you should walk; I will direct you with my eye."

★ Joshua 3:2-3 → "Three days later, the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people. They said, “When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then get up, leave where you are, and follow it."

* Many people covet God's blessings but they do not want to obey God's Word

* There is a special blessing reserved for those who obey God

* It is wisdom to obey God's commands

★ 2 Corinthians 2:16-17 → "To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a living fragrance. Who is qualified for this? At least we are not commercializing God’s word like so many others. Instead, we speak with sincerity in the Messiah’s name, like people who are sent from God and are accountable to God."

* God wants to guide you

→ don't depend on your strength

* Many people only do things that are convenient and regard those who do not do [similar things] it as sinners

* Your relationship with God must proceed out of sincerity

☆ Prayer:

→ Father, give me the grace to be dependent upon you

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

Bible studies on the 5 wise and foolish Virgins 1 (Joseph Ayiaka Embugushiki)

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

IT Staff Fellowship

10th March, 2015

* Speaker: Barr. Joseph Ayiaka Embugushiki 

* Topic: Bible studies on the 5 wise and foolish Virgins 1

* Text: Matthew 25:1-13

★ Verse 6:

→ There is definitely going to be a second coming

→ When it is time, would you be wise? or would you be among those who are unwise?

* What is your purpose in life?

→ The Midnight cry is a call for accountability & reckoning

* Live daily for Christ

→ Assess your life for Christ

→ How have you lived for Christ?

→ Always evaluate your life. Are you doing what God wants you to do?

★ Verses 7 and 8:

→ NOTE: all the bridesmaids had equal opportunity. They occupied the 'same office'!

→ The only difference is the level of their preparedness

* Salvation is a personal venture

→ It is an individual thing, else, they would have been given one lamp

→ Every body will account for himself

→ The reward that Christ gives is an individual reward. It is not collective

 

* The Word of God is the oil that keeps our lamps burning

→ When I run out of God's Word, I walk in darkness

→ I must do everything possible to ensure that my 'lamp' is always burning

→ We ought not to live in doubt about the status of our light

★ Verses 9 and 10:  

→ They were not only wise to carry extra oil, but also in rendering advise to those who were foolish 

→ The children of God are not only wise in their conduct, but also in their speech

→ The walk with Christ is a personal thing

→ You cannot repent before God, after the Midnight cry is sounded 

→ You must be wise. There is no room for backsliding

 

The Building of a Life (Dr. Yakubu Usman) 03-05-2001

* MY SERMON NOTES

@ Arts & Speakers,

Elratam Network  

Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN),

(now, Church of Christ in Nations)

Hwolshe, Gigiring – Jos

3^rd May, 2001  

SERMON  

* Speaker: Dr. Yakubu Usman

* Topic: The Building of a Life  

* The Three Things That Happen During the Teaching of the Word of God:

1. Some do not understand the teaching 

2. Some misunderstand the teaching  

3. Some understand but will respond with anger because it exposes their lifestyles

4. Some understand and are inspired to change their lives

 

* How wise are you?

- Is it possible you can be wiser?

- Are you as wise as you can be?

 

* If you had everything in your power (finances & resources) where will you site your building in Jos?

 

* Matthew 7:24-27

* These two builders represent types of Christians

* Being wise means living in accordance to the Word of God

 

* NOTE: The Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of the teachings of Jesus delivered at a particular period (not necessarily at one sitting)

 

* What is a parable?

- It is a story with a hidden spiritual meaning that may not be obvious at the first instance

- It is God’s special revelation to believers seeking more light

 * The FOOLISH BUILDER (in Jesus’ parable) used sand to make his foundation

* The location and quality of a foundation determines the survival of any building

 * The WISE BUILDER chose the rock as his foundation

- Great effort is required to move building materials up a rock

- It takes tough and deliberate effort to live by the Word of God

 

* NOTE: Every Christian is a builder, having some sort of foundation

 

* Note the Similarities between the two (2) builders:

1. They were both builders

2. They had the same wood from (probably) the same source

3. They were subjected to similar challenges – wind & rain

    - There is ample evidence that good and bad people suffer alike  

* Matthew 5:45 – These are challenges:

    - Rain represents blessings in scriptures

    - If the foundation is not solid, rain which is supposed to be a blessing would become a curse

 

* Both houses represent five (5) things:

(a) Character  - (the stuff you are made up of)

(b) Lifestyle – (things that portray you/your life’s priorities)

(c) Goals of your life (things you want to accomplish in life) 

(d) Dreams – (things you wish you had)

(e) Conduct – (behavior)

* The only thing that they had as a variable was the foundation

* On what foundation are you standing on?

* If you are faced with a situation, how many scriptural principles come to your mind?

* You cannot lay a strong foundation if you don’t hear clearly from God

 Some ‘Building Materials’ available to Christians:

1.   Righteous acts (Matthew 6:1-6)

2.   The Knowledge of God (Matthew 5:5-8)

    -  This always results in producing humility in your life 

3.   Dealing with your weaknesses (Matthew 7:1-5)

    -  This prepares you to withstand the storm of temptations whenever they arise  

4.   Doing God’s will

5.   Appreciating God’s forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15)

6.   Rightly handling material possessions (Matthew6:19-42)

7.   A consistent life of integrity

    -  The fruits of God’s Words and your lifestyle must tie together, if not, something is definitely wrong

 

Important Questions you need to ask yourself: 

* How rich or poor are you spiritually?

* How often do you mourn over your sins and those of others?

* To what extent do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?       

* Do you deserve God’s mercy judging from how you treat others?

* How pure is your heart?

* Do people call you a child of God?

* Are you experiencing some form of persecution because of your faith?

* How meek are you?

* Are you hiding your light or are you shining it?

* How wise are you?

* What extent are you willing to go in order to become wise?

 

* NOTE: A life committed to Christ will never fall

 

* What you do about the Word of God that you hear reveals whether you are wise or not

* Psalm1:1-6

 

* Are you so knowledgeable that you think that there is nothing new to learn?