The Early Years of Jesus (Pastor Sarah Omakwu) 12-06-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

2nd Sunday Service

12th June, 2016

Pastor Sarah Omakwu 
Picture Credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Sarah Omakwu

* Topic: The Early Years of Jesus

* Theme: Our Jesus

* Text: Luke 2:21-52

★ Proverbs 22:6 →"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." 

* Jesus came from Bethlehem, one of the towns of Judah

★ Micah 5:2

★ Matthew 2:6

* He came from a humble 'human' background.

→ Joseph and Mary were just ordinary people looking forward to an ordinary marriage, but Jesus' birth into their family and changed their lives because He was not an ordinary child

→ Jesus charged the trajectory of his parents

☆ Question: What have you changed in the lives of your parents? Have you made their lives better or worse?

* NOTE: Your children are not ordinary and you must diligently train them up to fulfill the purpose of God in their lives

* Jesus came [to the earth] by prophesy

→ You also came by prophesy and you are not ordinary. Your birth Was not merely happenstance

→ You must stop living life as if you are ordinary

* The most noblest thing for every woman to do is to take care of her husband and raise great giants for God

→ No amount of professional, social or business achievement can compare with that!

→ We live in a world where parents abandon their family at the expense of career - especially mothers

* As a child, you must do something to lift up your parents and change their trajectory for the better

* Jesus is God, yet He was born into a humble human family and lived a humble life

→ He did not make a big deal out of the fact that He came from a 'Royal' background

→ Regardless of your present circumstances, you will breakthrough and become great someday. Remain humble.

* Nazareth was a small despised town that Philip (a would-be disciple of Jesus) thought that nothing good or valuable could ever come out of it

★ John 1:45

* You must not allow people's pessimistic comments to discourage you from becoming what God wants you to be

☆ Challenge: You must be that good thing that proceeds out of your clan!

→ You were created to break the bounds of ordinary and show forth the [extraordinary] praise of God

* Many parents today are consumed in the endless quest for acquiring material things, while the lives of their children are falling apart

* NOTE: Joseph really took care of Jesus and was 'hands on' with respect to the godly upbringing of Jesus

→ He was intensely involved in the life of Jesus at every step of the way

* The purpose of your birthing children is to craft them to become what God wanted them to be

→ Don't just give them things

→ Ensure that you spend quality time with them, mentoring them in God's precepts

* Young boys (especially children of single mothers) need godly men who will mentor them, not those who will come around and want to take advantage of their sisters or mothers

* Do not relegate your responsibility of raising your kids to the television [or the maids]!

→ what the television spews out, that is what they will consume

* Mary was a woman of the Word

★ Luke 1:46-55 (she quoted scriptures)

→ Mary directed Jesus when he was growing up.

→ She taught Him the Torah (The 5 books of Moses)

* Jesus had a strict Jewish upbringing

→ He was taken to the Passover, to the Synagogue etc. till it became His way of life when He started ministry at the age of 30

→ Your children must also be brought up and instructed in the way of the Lord

* By age 13 Jesus must have become a 'Bar Mitzvah' (son of the commandment)

→ Jesus did that so that He will never be termed a lawless person

→ He fulfilled all righteousness

★ Matthew 5:17

* Your children can achieve all they can (academically, socially and materially), but if they do not have Jesus, they are nothing!

→ The outcome of your children is the report card of your parenting

* NOTE: A good foundation is important

* Training is more than telling.

→ It involves teaching, mentoring and modelling

* Do not just tell them about God, 'show' them God

→ Be a godly example

→ You must be willing to 'travel down the road' yourself with your children

* You must remove anything that introduces demonic influence in the the lives of your children:

→ pornographic materials

→ Indecent clothes

→ alcoholic drinks in the fridge

etc

* To train a child in the way he/she should go, you must be in the way yourself!

* NOTE: Children do not do what you say; they do what you do!

→ Question: Are you doing the right thing?

* The goal of training is to make the trainee proficient

★ Verse 51:

→ Jesus was subject and obedient to His parents

→ Parents must be proactive and diligent in disciplining their children to do the right thing at all times

* Do not go to Church and leave your children at home

→ Teach them the importance of fellowship and the discipline of praying and studying God's word right from an early age

★ Proverbs 22:15 →"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him."

* NOTE: discipline must be done in love

→ Do not carry out your frustration on your children

* NOTE: After the age of 12, nothing was recorded about Jesus until He was 30

→ He was busy learning subjection (to His earthy parents) in silence and humility, before His manifestation in Ministry

→ You must not be in a hurry to be 'seen' by the world. Take time to prepare yourself in your closet before going public

☆ Lessons to learn:

* Your background is important as a springboard to worship God

→ You background has happened, your future has not happened. Therefore, your background must not be used to deprive you of a glorious future

* Do not allow what people say about you to discourage you

→ You can make it

→ Your greater days are ahead of you

→ There is hope for you

* You must refuse to be small and ordinary

☆ Challenge: Prove somebody wrong!

→ There are always pessimists that try to pull you down but you must not fall into their trap

→ Believe what God says about you in His Word and step out in faith

* NOTE: Family is important

→ Pay attention to raising godly kids

→ Women: Your scorecard is your children

→ Do not ignore your children's upbringing in the process of building a career or business

* Godliness is the greatest legacy you can give your children

⇒ Not money in the account

→ Not even a good education!

* Come with your child to Church

→ Dedicate them to God's service, especially your first born

* Name your children well

→ Names have a prophetic significance that influences the children's destiny

→ A child's name is what he/will do

* NOTE: Jesus was learning submission for 18 years before He started public ministry at age 30!

* Through submission, you will get blessings and favor

→ Never leave a place of employment without a blessing from your employee

→ When you are getting married, ensure you get the blessings of your parents and pastors. Ensure you fulfill all cultural rites (pay her dowry!)

★ Proverbs 28:20 →"A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished."

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

☆ Closing:

☆ Pastor Wilson Akubo

★ Judges 13:12 →''Manoah said, “Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy's rule of life, and his work?”

→ You must ask the Lord for the rule of God concerning the life of every child God gives you

☆ QUOTE:

"In your business, you cannot outsource seed."

→ Mr. Boss Mustapha

Responsibilities of Spouses (Husband) 05-05-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)

Lugbe Group, Abuja Zone

5th May, 2016

* Topic: Responsibilities of the Husband

* Leader: Barr. Panshak Haggai

 

1. The Husband as Father:

(a) Training (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-6)

- Training is a process of inculcating moral, spiritual, physical and economic (etc) values in children

- The difference between teaching and training is that teaching involves passing of information (whether learning occurs or not) while training is a sort of continuous discipleship whereby the character of a child is transformed

 

* For training to be effective: 

- It must be practical (children learn more from what they observe in their parent's lives)

- It must be consistent

- It must be done with a specific goal in mind

(b) Discipline (Proverbs 13:24; Ephesians 6:4)

* Discipline is a process of correcting a child when a wrong occurs

 

* Principles to note in Child Discipline:

- do not discipline a child to the point that he/she becomes provoked or discouraged

- ensure that you explain why you are disciplining the child

- discipline must be done in love

- always consider the age and temperament of a child in choosing an appropriate form of discipline

- a parent must not always over-react when children does wrong

- both parents must be one while disciplining their children. They must always be on the same side!

 

(c) Encourage & Exhort (Colossians 3:21)

- Children need to be constantly encouraged

- Parents must be wary of the words they use against their children especially when they fail in school or are not performing as good as their peers

- Your words should always be gracious towards your children

- When a parent is harsh, a child may be pushed to rebellion

2. The Husband as Head and Provider

(a) Hardwork (1 Timothy 5:8)

- It is the sole responsibility of the Husband to provide for the home

- A man must not be lazy

- When the husband's income or job is affected, the wife should support him if she is able

- A woman who becomes the breadwinner of the family  must not look down on her husband and she must not cause the children to disrespect him

(b) Pastor of the House (Deuteronomy 6:1-6; Job 1:1-5; Joshua 24:14-15)

- The husband is the Priest of his own home and he is expected to take the lead in spiritual matters  

- The spiritual wellbeing of the family is the husband's primary responsibility.

- He must always take the lead in family worship

- He must not abandon that duty to his wife, though she may support him  

- His goal should be to ensure that everyone in his house makes heaven

Raising Godly Children (Mrs. Yinka Adeboye) 16-08-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Christian Couples Fellowship (CCF)

Couple's Annual Retreat

@ Miango Rest Home (MRH), Miango,

Plateau State, Nigeria

16th August, 2015 (Day Four)

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE/PRAYER FOR COUPLES

* Speaker: Mrs. Yinka Adeboye

* Topic: Raising Godly Children

* Text: Psalm 127:1 →"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour uselessly. Unless the LORD guards the city, its security forces keep watch uselessly."

* If you leave the aspect of the mercy of God out of your life, nothing will work.

* You can't leave God out of child upbringing

→ nothing will work regardless of the moral and academic principles that you employ outside God

* You cannot push the aspect of prayer aside when it comes to raising children.

→ You cannot raise godly children without prayer

* As you pray for your children, the power of God will transform them and they will become godly

* NOTE: This message is not only for those who have biological children:

→ God expects even mature Christian to have spiritual children (disciples)

→ If you are raising only biological children, then you are operating at less than your full God-given potential!

☆ Matthew 15:21-28

→ Note, that in the above passage, though it was the woman's daughter that was possessed, the woman asked Jesus to have mercy on her (as a parent) and she did not relent in making her request in spite of the discouragements she encountered

→ Jesus commended her faith on behalf of her daughter

* All that Jesus is looking for in a father or mother is faith, regardless of the state of their children

→ There is nothing that God's mercy and faith (in Him) cannot do

* What you say to your children is very important especially (when you are angry or disappointed with them)

→ Ensure that you speak positive words into their lives consistently

★ Proverbs 18:21 →"The power of the tongue is life and death— those who love to talk will eat what it produces."

 

⇒"Your words can kill or give life. They are either poison or life."

(the Massage translation)

* NOTE: What you say (to your children) is totally your choice & there are consequences

* Speak only positive words into the life of your children

★ SOME SCRIPTURES YOU CAN USE TO PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN:

☆ Luke 2:40 →"Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor rested upon him."

☆ Luke 2:52 →"Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man."

☆ 1 Samuel 2:26 →"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men."

☆ 1 Samuel 3:19 →"And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground."

☆ Isaiah 8:18 →"Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion."

☆ Isaiah 54:13 →"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children."

☆ Isaiah 11:1-2 →"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."

Journey off the Map (Vocation Bible School) (VBS) 2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

9th August, 2015

Rev. David Kwamkur 

SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Vocation Bible School (VBS) 2015

* VBS 2015 Theme: Journey off the Map

* Sub-theme: Growing in Love

* Service Leader: Dr. Mrs. Zipporah Kpamor

* Text: Isaiah 30:19-22

☆ Isaiah 30:21 → "And whether you turn to the right or turn to the left, your ears will hear a message behind you: “This is the way, walk in it.”

* Whether you realize it or not, life is a journey

* As Christians, we are not citizens of the world; we are only 'passing through' to Heaven, our ultimate destination

* There are many ways, but for us as Christians, there is only ONE WAY

* The most important thing (in communication) is not the "saying" aspect, but the "listening" aspect

* Many people have encountered serious problems in life because of their failure to listen properly

* Your ears are not merely for decoration

→ It was not a mistake that God created you with two ears and only one mouth!

* The act of hearing has nothing to do with the size of your ears

→ It has every thing to do with your listening ability

* To listen properly, you must be silent

* Meditating on God's Word is an excellent way to listen to what He has to say

* A guide is person that leads travelers or tourists through an unfamiliar location

→ If you know your destination, you will not need a guide

* As a traveler, you must rely on your guide and you must:

→ trust your guide

→ realize that you do not know your way

→ remember that you do not know more than your guide

☆NOTE: Jesus is our guide through our journey through the unfamiliar terrains of life

☆ Summary of the Week-Long VBS Teachings:

DAY 1 - Monday:

→ Jesus is our guide.

→ Your journey begins with Him if you accept Him as your Lord and Savior

DAY 2 - Tuesday:

→ Daniel chose to obey God no matter what

→ God wants you to follow Jesus no matter what, even when you don't understand it

DAY 3 - Wednesday:

→ Shedrack, Meshak & Abednego did not obey the King's ungodly orders

→ God wants you to obey our guide even in difficult circumstances

→ Jesus is your guide and you must trust in Him always

DAY 4 - Thursday (Stay on track):

→ This is the major problem for many Christians

→ Staying focused on the right track to the end is a personal choice

→ if you are in a race, no one will reward you if you derail from the stipulated approved tract

→ You must be consistent in your walk with God

→ Keep your focus on God no matter what happens in life

→ When you remove your eyes off Jesus, you will begin to sink

DAY 5 - Friday (Keep Watching)

→ Daniel received a vision of things to come

→ Jesus also revealed to us in His Word the things that we are to expect in the future

→ If you are not watching, you will miss out on the promises in God's Word

☆Matthew 26:41 → "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

☆ NOTE: Our journey is a part of a much bigger story. God gave Daniel a promise of things to come. God has promised to complete our journey with Him through life

* Many times, even when we are sure that Jesus is talking to us, we attempt to 'convince' Him that our own way or plan is the best

→ this is the source of our problems in life!

Help us to Help them (Rev. David Kwamkur) 24-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

24th May, 2015

★ WIDOWS, ORPHANS &

VULNERABLE CHILDREN WEEK

 

Rev. David Kwamkur

★ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur

* Topic: Help us to Help them

* Theme: Growing up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Add to your Faith

* Service Leader: Mrs. Jessica Adams

* Text: Matthew 9:35-38

★ Psalm 10:17-18 → "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."

* God does not want anyone to be alone (Genesis 2:18)

* The major problem that widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children face in life is the issue of loneliness

* The loss of the breadwinner puts a lot of pressure on the surviving members of the family

* Jesus Saw 3 things (in Matthew 9:36):

(a) He saw the crowd

(b) He saw their condition

(c) He saw the reason for the suffering (there was no shepherd to take care of them)

* NOTE: Jesus did not only stop at pity, he had compassion on the crowd (by meeting their needs)

→(see: Matthew 9:35)

* Every genuine Church should meet the needs of people as much as it can

→ Many Church organise evangelism programmes & embark on expensive projects but they do not care for people's welfare

* NOTE: people don't care About how much you know, unless the know how much you care!

* There is no way to engage in genuine evangelism and not 'see' the needs of the people you are ministering to

* Any time God sees anyone in need, His heart is moved

* God desires that His people should be concerned about the condition of widows, orphans and vulnerable children in the Church and society

* Many people do not even want to imagine what being a widow, orphan or widower entaiIs

* The major problem is not death, but the unforeseen circumstances that death throws people into when it suddenly occurs

* Imagine going through life without the presence of loved ones around you . . .

→ Things are not usually the same after their untimely exit

* Sometimes widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children wish that someone will understand what they are going through

* Widows usually suffer rejection and are stripped of their husband's assets and put under a lot of pressure and unpleasant circumstances

→ Unfortunately, even their so called Christian relatives and friends are involved in this evil, instead of protecting them

* Most widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children are:

→ Physically abused

→ Financially defrauded

→ Spiritually neglected

→ Nutritionally malnourished

→ Emotionally harrassed

* Many people (including some Christians) maltreat these set of people

★ Why do we have widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children in our midst?

1. Widows:

* The sudden untimely death of a husband is the loss of the breadwinner and it is a serious thing

2. Vulnerable Children:

* In our society today, children are being raised by other children because parents are too busy to invest in quality parenting

* Busy parents procure the services of other children (househelps) to raise and take care of their children while they pursue material things

* If parents do not take care of their own children, there will be more vulnerable children in the society

★ What is the Way out?

→ God is the answer and the Church is the channel!

* The Church is the primary means of support for widows, orphans and vulnerable children

★ James 1:27 → ''A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

* NOTE: The care & help you render to widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children determines whether or not you are truly a godly person (this is the ultimate test).

* Do you care whether widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children:

→ eat decent meals everyday?

→ have clothes to wear?

→ are protected from oppression?

→ are able to acquire basic education?

→ are reached with the Gospel of Christ?

→ have access to basic medical care?

* Caring for widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children is a command from God

→ It is not an option

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

★ PASTOR'S CORNER

God's heart is greatly moved by the plight of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Most of us cannot imagine going though a day without food, clean water, shelter, education or the presence of loved ones.

Most often, the widows, orphans and vulnerable children experience loneliness, hunger, insecurity, rejection, discrimination, anxiety, depression, suppression, distress, discouragement, injustice etc.

God is the answer and the Church is the means by which He will change The lives of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Because God cares for those in need. He wants His children to care for them as well.

 

★ MISSION CHARGE

"We are all in life potential widows and widowers. Be mindful of what you do and the way you treat those with that status today. You might as well receive the same treatment soonest."

→ Pastor Victor T. Amos

★ QUOTE

"What most people need to learn in life is how to lone people and use things instead of using people and loving things."

→ Annonymous

Train Up Your Child in The way of the Lord (Pastor Peter Adebola) 28-04-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Naming Ceremony

of Miss. Chimnemelum Blossom Samara Uche

@ Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe

Abuja - Nigeria

28th April, 2015

* Speaker: Pastor Peter Adebola

* Topic: Train Up Your Child in The way of the Lord

 

 

* Names are very important to God

- God Himself has several names

- When God wanted to do something spectacular in the life of a man, He addresses the issue of that man's name. For instance: God changed Abram and Sarai's names to 'Abraham' and 'Sarah' respectively when He wanted to bless them (Genesis 17:5 and 15); Jacob's name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28 and 35:10); Jesus changed Simon's name to Cephas (that is: Peter) (John 1:42)  

* Just like God, we must take names important

* Anything of value must pass through a process

→ A great child must pass through rigorous training (spiritually, academically, physically, socially etc.)

★ Proverbs 22:4 → "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

* Child training in the way of the Lord supersedes any kind of training

* Spiritual training is very important

→ It forms a foundation for a great future

* God will hold you responsible for instructing your children in the way of the Lord

→ You must ensure that they do not grow up to become wayward or backward

★ 1st Samuel 3:13 →" For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not."

★ Genesis 18:19 → "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."

★ Joshua 24:15 → "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

* God will not hold the church responsible for your failure [in raising your child in the fear of the Lord.]

→ Training of children is generational

★ 2 Timothy 1:5 → "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."

* Pay the price to train your children

- A well trained child is a product of consistent instruction and investment in time, prayer, discipline, money, and the like

* Spiritual training outweighs every other training

- Many parents spend a lot of money to ensure that their children get the best secular educational training, but they neglect instructing their children in the fear of the Lord.  

* Training of children is a sacrificial venture. It does not come easy, and initially, the child may not even appreciate it!

* You don't have to indulge them in everything

- Generally, children always want to have their way. They want to sleep longer in the mornings; they want to sleep late at night; they don't want to go to school everyday; etc. -  the list is endless!  

* As a parent, you have to be tender and tough at the same time

- You must learn to strike a balance when disciplining your children. Avoid both extremes of toughness or permissive tenderness.  

* Do not over-pamper your children

- It is good to let the kids have treats occasionally, but when it is too much or too frequent, it becomes detrimental

* You have to train your child today so that the child can be 'traced' tomorrow.

- What you sow in their lives is exactly what you reap in the future 

* Your children cannot be 'too young' to be instructed in the way of the Lord

- Some parents think that younger children should not be disciplined or instructed. This is wrong.

- NOTE: Younger children learn faster and retain better!

Interactive Session on Family Issues (2) (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi 17-11-2014

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District,

Garki - Abuja

17th November, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: Interactive Session on Family Issues (2)

* Text: Psalm 24:7-8 →"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle."

* Question: What are you to do when one of the parents do not have interest in the fanfare of naming ceremony?

★ Amos 3:3 → "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

* Both parents must have a consensus/ a common ground

* Any difference in expectations or opinion must be settled in the place of prayer

* Compromise (finding common ground between couples) is always important in life

* Always seek and go after peace in the home.

* Always focus on things that unite you as a couple

* Downplay things that divide you

* Make every effort to come to an express agreement, not just permissive agreement on any issue