Showing posts with label Word of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Word of God. Show all posts

Tuesday, 29 December 2015

How to grow in Faith (7) (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 29-12-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ NDIC/DMO Chapel,
Central Business District,
Garki - Abuja
29th December, 2015

Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu
Topic: Prevailing by faith (How to grow in Faith) (7)
Text: John 7:48 →"Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?"

★ Romans 10:17 →"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

☆ Components of Effectively Hearing God's Word:
1. Listening

2. Agreement (assent)
→ The agreement must be a personal thing

* The word of God is something that you must believe personally.
→ Don't wait until someone in power or authority believes

3. Meditate on and Obey God's Word
→ It will be very difficult for a man to obey God's word if there is no meditation
→ Mediation entails thinking about something actively and deeply as it relates to you

★ Joshua 1:7-8 →''Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 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."

* Much of the fear that Christians entertain comes as a result of a lack of meditation

* You should not waste your time meditating on discouraging news in the media that is being churned out everyday

★Psalm 119:78 →"Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts."

* If you want your faith to increase, you must be committed to meditating on God's Word everyday

* The word of God takes preeminence over everything

* You must not allow anyother thing to preoccupy your mind

Wednesday, 23 December 2015

How to grow in Faith (6) (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 23-12-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ NDIC/DMO Chapel,
Central Business District,
Garki - Abuja
23rd December, 2015

Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu
Topic: Prevailing by faith (How to grow in Faith (6)

* Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), but you must listen with both ears

* As you listen to God's Word, faith is built up in you

★ Proverbs 8:34 →"Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors."

* You must listen to God's word to the point that you become deaf and dumb to every other voice

* The 2nd component of hearing (after listening) is acceptance of what you are hearing

★ 1 Thessalonians 2:13 →"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

* As long as you do not accept the Word of God, it will never be effective

* For faith to come, you must receive the word, accept it, welcome it, agree with it and embrace it, knowing that God's word does not fail, regardless of what happens (Mathew 5:18)

Tuesday, 22 December 2015

How to grow in Faith (5) (Pastor Ambrose Nwogu) 22-12-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ NDIC/DMO Chapel,
Central Business District,
Garki - Abuja
22nd December, 2015

Speaker: Pastor Ambrose Nwogu
Topic: Prevailing by faith (How to grow in Faith (5)
Text: Romans 10:17 →"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (NIV)

* The major way to Grow in faith is by hearing God's Word

☆ Hearing has three (3) main Components:
(a) Listening

* The object of hearing and listening is the Word of Christ

* listening entails giving your full concentration and rapt attention

☆ Psalm 62:11 →"God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God." (KJV)

* Luke 10:38-42 →"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

* Listening entails sitting at the feet of the master to learn what he has to say. Nothing else matters

* In this life, so many things can encumber your life and rob you of concentrating on listening to God's Word

* One of the problems that Christians have about listening, is that, when they are hearing the word of God, they have no passion

* Whenever you hear God's Word, you must drown in what you are hearing. Soak it in

* You must listen to God's word like your life depends on it. Indeed, it does

☆ Prayer:
Father I thank you that I have ears;
help me to utilize my ears in hearing you;
Grant me the grace to shut my ears to what the devil is saying;
Open the ears of my heart to listen to what you want me to hear from your Word

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Worship on Wednesday (WOW) (Pastor Femi Olaiya) 18-02-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES
Worship on Wednesday (WOW)
@ The Capital Assembly (TCA)
Behind Bolingo Hotel,
Abuja
18th February, 2015

SERMON
* Speaker: Pastor Femi Olaiya
 
* Text: 1st Kings 18:41 → "And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain."

→ lf there has to be a fulfilment of God's promise upon your life, there has to be some form of 'movement'.

→ You need to move from where you are (to where God wants you to be)

* NOTE: For your physical body to move effectively, it needs the strength that comes from ingesting and digesting food.

* Just as strength is needed for the physical body to move, you also need to feed on spiritual food (God's Word) if you have to make it spiritually

* God will always make available the provision (food) you need in your life
* There is a level of 'eating' And 'drinking' (of God's Word) you need to engage in, in order to move to the next level

* Some people know that they need to get to be next level, but they are weak
★ Proverbs 24:10 →"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."

* Moving to your next level depends on how much (of God's Word) you 'eat' and 'drink'

* God sometimes announces the entrance of His move with a 'sound'

* The 'next level' is for those who have ears to hear

* You have a choice to either hear (from God) first-hand, or to be told (what He said) by others
→ there is no problem being told, provided you will obey

* Regardless of what the enemy does, the sound of the abundance of rain will only intensify
→ Satan cannot stop God's blessings for you, your family and our Nation Nigeria!

* It is possible to stop/prevent showers from falling on you (e.g., by using an umbrella or taking shelter in a building), but how do you stop a tsunami?

* There is a 'next level' where the happenings of God (blessings) will be like a tsunami! → unstoppable, unquenchable and unappeasable!

* NOTE: The fact that you have not seen or experienced something before does not mean it will never happen

→NOTE: Noah's generation never saw a ship or experienced flood before, but that fact did not stop the flood from coming, even when they trivialized his warnings.

* Noah had no prior experience in building ships. God had to guide Him in building the Ark.
→ NOTE: Noah had no reference point.

* The fact that you do not have a reference point does not mean God cannot take you where He has promised you!

* Many of us learnt a lot by the process of systematic comparison (via formal primary education) and we became accustomed to comparing things with each other; and also by comparing ourselves with our peers as we grew up

* It is foolish to keep comparing yourself with others or making them your reference point in life

★ 2 Corinthians 10:12 →"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

* Sometimes God shows up without a reference point because He wants to make you THE reference point!

* The fact that you do not have a reference point does not mean you should throw it (your dream/vision) away

* If God wants to make you a reference point, you'll not have many friends (because not many people will understand you)

* The difference between vision and ambition:
→ Ambitions are easily achieved (the resources needed to make them happen are at your disposal); but
→ It takes God's intervention & supernatural provision for a vision to be fulfilled

* NOTE: Professors made the Titanic and an illiterate made the Ark
→ Yet, the Titanic was sunk by an iceberg; the Ark was invincible, even in the worse flood ever experienced in the world

* God will make you a reference point by what He will do in your life

* 1 Kings 18:42 →"So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees."

* Sometimes, the problem with the body of Christ (the Church) is that we are quick to speak God's Word, but we hesitate to cast ourselves down (in humility) before Him (like Elijah did) till that Word is fulfilled

* Elijah 'locked' himself in (by the posture He took), so that He cannot be distracted by the events around Him

* The Word of God that comes to you is just the beginning, not the end
→ Many Christians read or proclaim the Word of God and they 'go away' as if that is the end. No! that is just the 1st step in the journey of faith towards enforcing its manifestation

* The ability to 'settle' the Word of God comes in the place of prayer

* The assurance of faith does not come by just "right believing", but by "right praying".

★ 1 Kings 18:44 → "And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not."

* NOTE: The man that heard the Word from God outran the man it was just Announced to

→ God's Word has the capacity to give you supernatural speed in life

* Question: Are you willing to brood over the Word of God that you have heard in the place of prayer until it comes to pass?

★ Isaiah 66:8 →"Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children."

PRAYER:
→ Father, grant me the grace to tarry in your presence,
till I receive what you have promised me in your Word.
Help me to play my part, by waiting on You

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Saturday, 14 February 2015

18 TRUTHS ABOUT GOD-GIVEN VISION

19 TRUTHS ABOUT GOD-GIVEN VISION
 
1. All God-given visions are 'revelatory' in nature
→ It is a product of divine inspiration
→ God can give you an idea that is capable of changing your life and the lives of others for good
→ If I am attentive enough, I will catch the vision God wants me to see

2. God-given visions are 'compulsive' in nature
→ I will never be genuinely at ease unless I discharge what God has put in your heart  
→ I can ignore or run away from God's call upon my life, but the compulsion will always be there
→ The fire of vision can motivate (heat up) my faith to ensure it materializes
→ Once you decide your direction, God will maintain your energy for the distance
→ There will always be a "strong desire" to make it happen. But if I ignore that desire long enough, It will naturally die  
 
3. Vision is transferrable
→ It is possible to 'pass on' the passion in my heart to others who can run with it
→ If I get others to believe in my vision, it can grow, multiply and eventually "out-live" me
→ I must be careful who I share my vision with [yes, vision can be stolen!] 
 
4. A God-given vision is "satisfying"
→ I cannot afford to waste my future being dissatisfied with myself every day
→ There will always be an unquenchable hunger, thirst and void in my life, unless I do what God has put in my heart
→ No amount of money (or the things money can buy) can satisfy the innate longing of fulfilling God's mandate for my life!    

5. All God-given visions and dreams are an investment, not an expenditure
→ Will I have a fulfilled life or would I just contribute to the wealth of the grave?
→ The more I trust God to help me fulfil the vision He has given me, the better I become, and others will benefit from it  

6. Do I know why am on earth?
→ God's will (for me) is manifested through the visions I have
→ The indicators of God's will for my life include: the things I am most passionate about; My Skills; My natural talents; and priceless opportunities  . . .

7. My vision is my future
→ My life is shaped by the visions I have
→ The quality of my life depends on the quality of my vision(s)
→ I need to write down every revelation and vision I receive from God, because my life depends on it (Habakkuk 2:2-3)  

8. Vision serves as a compass
→ It helps me find the direction of my future
→ As long as I have a viable vision, I will never 'get lost' in life
→ Having a vision gives me a defined destination
→ It takes me to the original purpose of God for my life

9. A vision helps me focus my energy (to do God's will)
→ Having a vision helps me appropriate and maximize the (scarce) resources at my disposal
→ It helps me choose the relationships I invest in

10. A vision helps me to stay within my gift combination
→ Unless I do what I am endowed to do, my gifts, visions & dreams will be wasted

11. My vision will see me through tough times
→ The wells of Joy are often dug with spades of sorrow
→ Psalm 126:5-6
→ Vision has the capacity to fuel your hope and faith, even in the most challenging times

12. My vision will give me hope
→ Satan may steal everything from me but I will not let him steal my hope!

13. A vision is something to work by/with
→ A man who has no dreams, has no wings. He cannot fly
→ My vision is the raw material I can use to produce great things  
 
14. A written vision will help me live a selective life
→ Vision makes my life unique
→ Vision is personal

15. Vision helps my perception of myself and the future
→ He who never walks, except where he sees other people's footprint, will never make any new discoveries

16. My vision needs to be defined, acquired and applied

17. Vision fuels my belief system

18. Having a defined vision is the best way to measure success
→ Some people feel like a failure even after successes because they did not define their vision well; some feel successful whereas, they are achieving below their God-given capacity


☆ PS:
I found this piece written behind my 1998 Sermon Notes jotter. I can't recall whether it was a sermon that I listened to, my own thoughts/personal study, or excerpts from some book I read. Regardless, I think it is worth sharing.
→ Panshak Haggai: 14th February, 2015


Monday, 10 November 2014

Interaction on Family Matters (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 10-11-2014

★  MY SERMON NOTES 
NDIC/DMO Chapel
Central Business District, 
Garki - Abuja 
10th November, 2014  

* Leader: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi
* Topic: Interaction on Family Matters


* Your spouse should be your best friend



* When you entertain gossip in your marital relationship, trust will be eroded



* Watch who gives you advice 

- Watch the background of your advisers


* Note: The friends you keep always have a great influence in your life






* When you keep your distance from the Church and other believers, you become susceptible to sin and evil






* All that you need that pertains to life and godliness is contained in the Word of God (2 Peter 1:3)



* The best counsel you can get in any circumstance is found in the Bible, and through the counsel of committed believers



* Do not follow signs & wonders - it should be the other way round 



* Stick to the Word of God at all times. 
- It must be your standard and basis for taking decisions 


Thursday, 28 August 2014

Why Prayers are not Answered (Evangelist Tobias) 20-08-2014

MY SERMON NOTES
* This Sermon was delivered by a Freelance Preacher in a Commercial Bus en-route Owerri to Enugu, Nigeria. (and YES, I took notes in the bus!)

* Preacher: Evangelist Tobias (Peace Park Owerri)
* Topic: Why Prayers are not Answered
* Date: 28th August, 2014

→ Prayer is the avenue of converting God's promises to reality
* Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
* John 14:14 - "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
- Any prayer made outside the name of Jesus will not be answered. Such a prayer is incomplete

1. Sin
- Sin is a destroyer
* Isaiah 59:1-2 - "Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."

- Sin puts God off
- If you really want God to intervene in your case, you must avoid and hate sin
- Anything that is wrong in God's sight is sin

2. Unbelief (Lack of faith)
* Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

* Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

* Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
 
- Unbelief and doubt affects your prayer
- we please God through faith

* Daniel 3 (the 3 young Jewish men trusted God even in the face of danger)
- Faith provokes God to action
- Don't allow the enemy to have the final say
- When your faith is alive, you don't have to struggle in prayers

3. Un-forgiveness
- Until you live in the realm of forgiveness you are not yet a mature Christian
* 3 people you must forgive
(a) God (some people blame God for the unfavourable circumstances they had experienced in life)
(b) Yourself
(c) Others

* Bitterness is a tool used by the devil to frustrate your life
 
* Matthew 18:21 - "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times"

* In other words, you don't have any reason to retaliate until you are wronged 490 times by the same person!

* It is not biblical to pray for your enemies to die

* Mark 11:25 - "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

* Mathew 6:9-13 → Jesus taught his disciples to forgive

4. Matrimonial disputes
* Genesis 1: 24
- God places premium On matrimonial unity
* Ephesians 5:22-25
- The devil uses disharmony among couples to hinder their prayers
* 1st Peter 3:7 - "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
- Many men don't know how to give honour unto their wives

5. Praying without the word of God
- Everything you need is already in God's word
- You have a duty to research and find out the Scriptures that is in line wits your desire
* 2nd Tim 2:15 - "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  
* Put God in remembrance as you pray.  
* Isaiah 43:26 - "Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right."

6. Praying according to the will of God
- When you do not pray in accordance with God's will, You will not receive any answer
*1 John 5:14 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

7. Not praying in the Holy Ghost
* Jude 1:20 - "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,"  

Thursday, 3 May 2001

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
3rd 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?
 
* 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

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

 

 

 

Tuesday, 4 April 2000

Seeking the Paths of Honor (Bro. Gideon) 04-11-2000

* MY SERMON NOTES
@ KADUNA POLYTECHNIC (KADPOLY) CHRISTIAN ALUMNI FELLOWSHIP
ANNUAL CONVENTION
4th November, 2000

SERMON
Speaker: Bro. Gideon (NIFES Leader)
Topic: Seeking the Paths of Honour
Theme: Where Is The God Of Elijah?
 
* The 'Elijahs of God' are found in the Bible – the portrait of men of God is found in Scripture

* Elijah walked honorably with God

* It is possible for you to stand out and distinguish yourself as a believer

* It does not take a majority to bring about change – it takes God’s move

* You and God means a lot in making a difference

* Elijah took the initiative to seek the path of honour

* You’ve got to be honest in everything you do – especially in your dealings with your family

* Because Elijah was there in Israel, he revealed God’s glory

* The path of honour is an unknown path

* Many people want honour but do not want to pay the price for it

* The path of honour is a very costly path

* The life of simplicity is something we should thank God for

* Today, there are many people (including Christians) that have many honourable titles, but they are dishonourable in their ways (character deficiency)
 
  - We are cleansed by the Word of Jesus, not by our own efforts  

* Just make up your mind to be different in your own little way

* The test of effective Christian discipleship is to be able to stand for Christ

* Discipleship is God’s standard for all believers at all times in all places, regardless of wherever they find themselves

* Elijah is an epitome of a loner for God. He simply lived for God

* When you live for God, you do not have to go pursuing miracles – they will come pursuing you

* Elijah was ruthless but when it comes to hearing God, he was careful
 
* It is possible to move heaven on your own, alone!

* You can decide to make maximum impact for God – God is not partial (if you seek Him, you will find him)

* We cannot make speaking in tongues and casting out demons a mark of spirituality

* There is no such thing as ‘super-believers’

* Elijah spent a lot of time in prayer

 

* Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. He was give birth in pain. He did not rely on the prayer of his mother

* Jabez cried out to God, he wanted to change his identity

* Jabez was a man of noble prayer

* Materialism has eaten deep into the Church

* When you make God’s business you business, he will make your business His business

* When God blesses you, ask him to make you a blessing

* Jabez was a man who relied on God to redefine his destiny

* Don’t let Satan use the Church to crush the anointed

 
Discerning the Times


* Elijah was a man just like us – he understood God’s mind before he prophesied

* Prayer is the hidden centre point on which our Christian faith revolves

* Prayer changes destinies of persons and nations

* Always create time to pray – it’s our spiritual centre of gravity

* Prayer life of a Christian should not be one directional