Rediscovering the Good in the Marriage Institution (Rev. Ejide Eme) 28-10-2016

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Family Worship Centre (FWC)

Wuye, Abuja

28th October, 2016

COUPLE'S RETREAT 

(Day One: 1st Session)

Rev. Ejibe Eme
Picture Credit: FWC Media

☆ SERMON

* Speaker: Rev. Ejibe Eme

* Topic: Rediscovering the Good in the Marriage Institution

* Text: Genesis 2:7-25

* Rediscovery is a process of seeking out what the original plan of a thing is

☆ Discovery arises when there is:

1. Confusion

→ Today, there is much confusion about marriage institution

→ Civilization has worsened the confusion

→ Many perversions have been introduced to undermine the sanctity of marriage

2. Damage

→ To repair a damage, you need to refer back to the original manual of the product

→ The manual for marriage is the Bible

☆ Points to note:

* 1. At the institution of marriage at Eden, everything was provided (material wealth was is abundance)

→ NOTE: The presence or absence of material wealth is not enough to determine the good or structure of marriage

→ There is something about marriage that money cannot provide

2. God is the sole initiator of marriage

→ The design of marriage precedes civilization and human knowledge

★ Acts 17:26

→ Man cannot have a superior design more than God

→ God's design predates your village tradition & customs

☆ The Principles that can bring out the good in Marriage:

→ For anything to be good, it must follow the right principles and specifications (as predetermined by the initiator or manufacturer)

1. The God Factor and the Divine Agenda (Genesis 2:21)

→ "God made"

→ "God caused deep sleep"

→ "God brought her to Adam"

* NOTE: God is deliberately involved in your marriage

→ He has an agenda for your marriage

→ He has an interest in your interest

→ He is a major stakeholder/shareholder in your family affairs

* God always works behind the scenes to establish and sustain marriage

★ Malachi 2:14 →"Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant."

* NOTE: The consciousness that God is a constant witness in your marriage should cause you to be mindful of how you treat your spouse

★ Malachi 2:15 →"And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.''

* A seed is a deposit that will produce more harvest

→ when God is looking for bountiful harvest, he plants seeds in godly families!

* God always searches for a man and woman whom He can trust and entrust them with His godly seed

* NOTE: Examples of the 'seeds' God planted in godly families:

(a) Moses (see: Exodus 2:1-2)

(b) Samson (see: Judges 13:2)

(b) John the Baptist (see: Luke 1:5)

(c) Jesus Christ (see: Matthew 1:18)

* Question: Where are the families that God can trust today?

* Satan is always targeting the structure of marriages to bring it down

→ he aims at destroying the psyche of our children (eg, by planting them in homes with homosexual 'parents'. They will not be able to appreciate the sanctity of marriage as they grow up)

★ Psalm 11:3 →"When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (ISV)

★ Psalm 127:3

→ Your children are a gift from the Lord and you must protect them from the perversions of the world

* God has a divine arrangement for a woman to bring joy to the man

→ A woman carries destiny and births it!

⇒ Women play important roles in the godly upbringing of children

★ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

→ A man a woman are meant to compliment each other

2. The Covenant Factor in the Union

★ Genesis 2:23

→ Marriage is not a business contract (that may be terminated when the conditions are not favorable)

→ Marriage breaks the covenant of birth (leave father and Mother)

→ It is not a social arrangement between two people to co-exist

* Marriage is not about compatibility (it is virtually impossible for two different people to be totally compatible)

→ That is why it is a mystery

→ Two different personalities becoming one

* What the world cannot understand, they try to develop a new theory

3. The Mystery of Oneness

→ In marriage, the two different personalities have collapsed into one!

→ This is what the world does not understand

★ Matthew 19:4-6

* God's plan is for the couples to be ONE in everything

→ If your wife does not know something about you, then you are not one!

* A sane person would never maltreat or insult himself

* Whenever there is anything wrong with your marriage, somebody or something is intruding

* Your marriage is your life!

→ You should do all that is possible to preserve, protect and nourish it

* When there is oneness, you will always feel the pain of your spouse

* NOTE: You must keep an eye on the devil

→ Question: What is the devil sponsoring to undermine your marriage covenant?

* You must understand the tricks of the devil and guard against them

☆ Questions for Personal Reflection:

→ Can God brag about your marriage?

→ If God is looking for a family that He will use as a model to convince unbelievers that His principles of marriage are timeless and enduring, can He send them your way?

→ SINGLES: If God is about to send a seed into the world, can He trust you with it?

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

Interactive Session on Family Issues (Pastor 'Lola Owotumi) 18-11-2014

★ MY SERMON NOTES 

NDIC/DMO Chapel

Central Business District, Abuja 

18th November, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor 'Lola Owotumi

* Topic: Interactive Session on Family Issues

* Text: Psalm 33:6-11

* It is not possible to downplay the importance of family to the Church

* When the family is not strong, the Church cannot be Strong

* We must not allow anything to divide our families.

* Let wisdom be your watch word in making decisions in the family

* Wisdom can save your family from disgrace and breakup

★ Philippians 2:3 →  "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

* Do not pursue vain glory

★ Philippians 4:4-5 → "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near."

* Be careful to ensure that everything you do is done with moderation

* Do not borrow money in order to embark on any celebration. This will impoverish your family eventually 

* Do not enslave your family with debts

★ Question: Whose responsibility is it to finance family projects?

* There must be consensus and agreement among the couples

* Note: The two have become one (Genesis 2:24)

- Christian couples must see themselves as partners, not rivals 

* Final Caution: "Do not bite your nose to spite your face!"

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

★ 1 Kings 13:11-26

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

★ Revelation 3:20-22

* 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 

Home Management (Rev. David Kwamkur) 28-09-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE
★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki-Abuja, Nigeria
28th September, 2014

* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur
* Topic: Home Management
* COCIN Community Development Project (CCDP)/Kyautatawa Zaman Iyalin Kristi (KZIK) Week
* Theme: Knowing the Will of God
* Sub theme: Excelling in the Grace of Giving
* Service Leader: Mr. Boniface Katlong

SERMON
* Without a Home, you cannot have Home Management

* Anywhere you are living with your family is your home

* A home is any institution or place of refuge, love, shelter, care, rest, protection, security, comfort, & nourishment

* A Christian home is a place where everyone relates with each other in a Christ-like manner

* You must know Christ first before you know how to relate in a Christ-like manner

* In order to relate in a Christ-like manner, there must be Love

* A Christ-like relationship is self-less

* The home is very essential to the existence of the Church

★ HOME ESTABLISHMENT
* Marriage is essential in establishing a viable home

* Usually, marriage begins with courtship

* Courtship is a key foundation of a marriage. It is a crucial period

★ COUNSELLING
* This involves getting guidance on any issue from a more experienced person

* Marriage is not just an idea, it is a living thing and you need Knowledge & godly counsel to keep it alive

★ WEDDING AND WEDDING CEREMONY
* Make up your mind from the start that you will keep your vows

* As a Christian, the wedding ceremony must be done in a godly way, not as one who is god-less

★ BALANCE
* For you to be godly Man/Woman, you must have a measure of balance in your life

* You must balance your social life, spiritual life with your marriage

* Balance career with marriage

* Balance inner beauty with physical beauty

* Take your marriage as seriously as you would take your career

★ THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL VALUES ON MARRIAGE
* Some cultural beliefs are contrary to God's standards

* Under God's standard, men and women are equal and they are required to submit to each other out of fear for God
→ (Ephesians 5:21)

★ PRAYER
* You must be prayerful as a Christian

* Instead of talking about your problems, pray about it
→ Luke 18:1 "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

* Every shortcoming in your spouse, or family is a prayer request

* Every Christian family must have a vibrant prayer altar where worship and prayer become ingrained as part of the family tradition

* Children Must learn how to pray and trust God from the Home

★ BROKEN HOMES
⇒ Some causes of broken marriages
1. Wrong choices
2. Parental, friends, in-laws (external) influence
3. lack of genuine love among couples
4. Communication breakdown
5. Sexual unfaithfulness
6. Stinginess - couples starve their partners

★ COMPLEX ISSUES IN HOME MANAGEMENT
* Some of the Complex issues that confront Christian families include:
→ Impotency
→ Infertility
→ Divorce
→ Management of aged relatives
→ Betrayal among family members

* These must be handled with wisdom, if not, they have the potential of causing disaffection among couples and breaking up the marriage

* There is nothing that God cannot do
→ Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

★ THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHIILDREN TOWARDS PARENTS
* Children must obey their parents

* Children must take care of their parents, especially where they are aged, sick or poor

* Children must trust God for wisdom in handling unrealistic expectations from parents

★ HANDLING CONFLICTS AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS
* Acts 15:36-41

* Conflicts must be managed & resolved so that they do not affect family harmony

* Conflicts are usually a test

* We are expected to be peace makers as children of God

* A healthy & godly family is a product of hardwork and positive decision