A New Commandment (Pastor Victor T. Amos) 19-07-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

19th July, 2015

Pastor Victor T. Amos

☆ SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Victor T. Amos

* Topic: A New Commandment

* Theme: Growing Up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Growing in Love

* Service Leader: Mrs. Aisha Telta

* Text: John 13:31-35

* NOTE: Love is not the same thing as lust, as many young people (erroneously) think

→ Many things have gone wrong in our country today because of a widespread lack of love

☆ Illustration:

The story is told of a married couple who were blessed with three children. The man was latter discovered to be HIV positive. His wife berated and stigmatised him seriously. She even left their matrimonial bedroom for him and slept in the guest room. One day, the man got a syringe, extracted his blood and injected the woman with it while she slept. She was eventually also diagnosed to be HIV positive.

* What made the couples in the story above behave the way they did towards each other?

→ Lack of love

→ The desire for revenge on the part of the husband

→ The wife's unforgiveness

* We are living in a generation of lack of love which is demonstrated in the following:

→ An increasing lack of devotion for God

→ The media is full of bad news (terrorism, suicide bombings, genocides, wars, assassinations, rapes, ritual killings, armed robberies, etc)

→ Incest among family members

→ Domestic workers killing their employers because of material things

→ Young people misbehaving

→ Increase in rate of suicides

* The incentive to perpetrate such evils ultimately comes from lack of love for God 

* What goes around comes around: when you refuse to respect your parents, your own children will not respect you

* You cannot find yourself in a situation that you are totally incapable of forgiveness (except you choose not to)

* Questions for young people:

→ Who are your friends?

→ Are you showing genuine love? (towards God and others)

→ Are you being controlled by lust?

* There is a general lack of love in marriages today because of pursuit for material things. Both husband and wife are struggling to make more money at the expense of their families

→ This is evidenced by increase in the rate of divorces

→ Malachi 2:16 → “Indeed, the LORD God of Israel says that he hates divorce, along with the one who conceals his violence by outward appearances,” says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. “So guard yourselves carefully, and don’t be unfaithful.”

* An ungodly quest for power exists today even in the Church.

→ Some 'believers' want to undermine their leaders, elders & parents. This is not love

* NOTE: God is Love - therefore, embracing God is embracing love

→ This is the solution for all our problems

* When a person says "I love you", (agape love), this means they accept you unconditionally, regardless of your faults and weaknesses

→ Agape love is the secret to long & happy marriages

* Some people love others only when it is convenient or when they can get something in return 

* You don't need to have any reason why you should love people

* Love is a mystery

→ It is more than just a feeling,

→ It is God working in your heart to accept another person

* We claim to love each other in Church, but, how many people can you die for and support sacrificially?

* NOTE: Jesus' love for you has no limit and has no conditions attached to it.

→ His love towards us is so practical & He demonstrated it by coming into the world and even dying for us on the Cross of Calvary!

* True love exists in the realm of humility

→ Pride and arrogance hinders a person from reaching out to others sacrificially

* Leadership is all about serving others in love

→ Jesus led by example when He washed the feet of his disciples

(see: John 13:1-17)

* God expects us to love, honour and serve one another in humility

(see: Philippians 2:3-4)

☆ Luke 22:21 →"Yet look! The hand of the man who is betraying me is with me on the table!"

→ Jesus knew that Judas will betray him, but he loved him still

* God's model for true leadership is anchored on selfless service and humility

* Why did Jesus demand this kind of love from us?

→ Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him three (3) times, yet His love for them was not affected. It was consistent!

* NOTE: Jesus knows your disobedience, self-centeredness, and sins, yet He keeps making allowance for you

* Similarly, you must always make allowance for others when they hurt and betray you

* If you are a Pastor, do not carry yourself with arrogance and pride

→ You must be humble

* As a child of God, you must understand the concept of 'glorification'

→ The concept of glorification entails praising someone in a manner that places that person in the limelight

* God is going to be glorified in your character when you live in obedience to Him

* It is impossible to glorify God when you are living in sin

* When you live in total obedience to God, He is glorified

* If Jesus' quest in life is to glorify His father, you must have the same priority

* When you do something and the name of God is being glorified, He is honoured

* Why did Jesus call the people Little Children in John 13:33?

→ He is their creator, provider and protector

→ Regardless of their age, social status or experience, Jesus existed before them

* No sinner can See God:

→ To see Christ, you must be born again and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior

(see: John 3:3; Romans 10:9)

* There is no hope for a person who does not have any relationship with Christ

☆ 1 Corinthians 3:13 → "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."

☆ Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “I’m going where you cannot follow me now, though you will follow me later on.”

* Jesus made the above statement because:

→ It was not yet their time to die

→ He was going to leave them on earth to peach the Gospel

→ He needed them to stay behind and plant Churches

→ He needed them to take care of the Saints

→ He was going to prepare a place for us (See: John 14:1-2)

* What we call 'love' today is also done by many unbelievers and people who have no regard for God. There is no difference

→ As a child of God, your standard of love should be higher, genuine and unconditional

* How many people (in your Church, office or community) can declare boldly that they have felt God's tangible through you?

* How many people (in need) have you reached out to?

* NOTE: People don't care how much you know, unless they know how much yon care!

* Whenever you go out for evangelism and you discover some needs, meet them first and the people will be more willing to listen to you afterwards

* Many Christians are sitting comfortably in Church while there are so many people in our communities & Churches who are destitute, orphans, widows and in need of the basic necessities of life (water, food, shelter & clothing) & everyday these needs go un-met

* What makes this Command New?

1. Jesus introduced a new standard of love: 'Just as I (Jesus) have loved you' (John 13:34)

* In the past, the standard for love was 'as you love yourself' (Matthew 22:39)

* Jesus is now taking the standard of love a notch higher to 'Just as I have loved you.'

* Jesus expects you to love others with His kind of pure, genuine and sacrificial love

⇒ NOTE: Jesus' love for you and I caused Him to experience and endure unpleasant things on Calvary, including humiliating death

2. The focus shifted from 'love your neighbour' to 'love one another.'

→ Those around you must experience God's love though you on a daily basis

* This new commandment is given to those who are disciples of Christ

→ Question: Are you a disciple or a bully?

☆ PASTOR'S CORNER

Unconditional love is so essential in human existence so much that it has become the greatest need of man. Agape love is a divine from above, we all wish for it and no one can effectively exist in life without it. Love from our families, from friends and associates. True and sacrificial love from that fellow you consider the most important person. It was love that drove Jesus to the cross.

God is love and love is God, when true love happens to you, it is God himself that happens to you. But unfortunately sacrificial love is so scarce and rare in our present generation and I can strongly submit that, the faces of calamities we see in the world presently is the result of lack of unconditional love for one another.

The last period of Jesus' life on earth was full of practical teachings. He admonished His disciples to love one another unconditionally and sacrificially just as He loved them and gave up His life for them. Jesus spoke from a heart that is absolutely full of unquenchable love to the entire world. Jesus is still calling on you and I today to obey His NEW COMMANDMENT, to love one another unconditionally. If indeed you love Him, your quest in life will be to obey Him.

☆ MISSION CHARGE

"Every person should have a special cemetery lot in which to bury the faults of friends and loved ones. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you."

→ John Mason

☆ QUOTE

"The greatest need of man is love and this love is stronger than any addiction... I shall puss through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it. For I shall never pass this way again."

→ Etienne de Grelet

As my Father sent me, even so I send you (Evangelist Nuhu Bakwa) 12-07-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

12th July, 2015

NEW LIFE FOR ALL WEEK

☆ SERMON
* Speaker: Evangelist Nuhu Bakwa
* Topic: As my Father sent me, even so I send you
* Theme: Growing Up in Christ
* Sub-Theme: Growing in Love
* Service Leader: Elder Boniface Katlong
* Text: John 20:19-23

* God has given every child of God authority to preach the Gospel

☆ Important terms to note from the passage (John 20:19-23):

* "Just as" (verse 21): this means "in like manner"

* "Whosoever" (verse 23): this relates to choice.

* "Father" (verse 21): this refers to the Almighty God. Every other god apart from the One living God is useless!

* "Send": this means to cause or ask someone to go and do something

* NOTE: All of us have been sent by Christ to preach the Gospel (Matthew 28:19)

* Before you go (to preach the Gospel), you must ensure that you have a relationship with God

* Having a relationship with God starts by being born again; accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior (John 3:3)

* Jesus cannot trust a sinner or an unbeliever with the Gospel of salvation!

→ You must be known by Him in order to work for Him acceptably

* Jesus has not lowered or changed His standards of loyalty and holiness after these many years

☆ Hebrews 13:8 →"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

* HOW HAS THE FATHER SENT JESUS?

1. As a Savior into the World

* Jesus came to save those who are in darkness (see: Matthew 1:21)

→ He is sending you also to go and preach the gospel of salvation because the world is reeling in sin

2. As Christ the Lord

* The word 'Christ' means 'the anointed one.'

* When God sent Jesus, He was full of anointing

* The Holy Spirit empowered Him to do what God sent Him to do

* Without the Holy Spirit, you are spiritually impotent & powerless

* It is impossible to serve God using human ability and wisdom: You need divine endowment that is available through the Holy Spirit

3. As God into the World

* Jesus came as God, that we might worship Him and that He may subdue other gods on in the World under His supreme authority

☆ Exodus 7:1 →"And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet."

→ As a child of God, you are sent to the world as God's own representative everywhere you go

* No other god is supposed to reign over you anywhere you are

→ See: Daniel 3:28-29 and 4:34-35

4. As the Redeemer

* To redeem means to recover ownership of something by buying it back or to liberate by payment of a ransom

→ Jesus bought us back (to Himself) after being previously sold out to sin

★ 1st Corinthians 6:20 → "for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

* The price for your redemption is the blood of Jesus

* NOTE: You are sent by Jesus into the world as a 'trader' to facilitate the exchange of the sins of people with Jesus Christ

5. As a Man of Sorrows

☆ John 15:18 → "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you."

→ You are to preach the gospel of salvation regardless of any pain or suffering you encounter in the process

→ The greatest suffering Jesus experienced was rejection by God His Father when He bore the sins of the world on the cross

(see: Matthew 27:46)

* A minute without Christ is not worth living

☆ Acts 17:28a →‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being...’

* NOTE: You have been called to go and suffer in like manner

6. As a good Shepherd

* A Shepherd is a person who is responsible for taking care of and nurturing others (the flock)

* You have been called also to go and take care of others

* You have been sent by God to bring the message of peace to the world

→ As a Christian, you have an obligation to minister comfort to those around you and 'gather the flock' together for Christ

7. As a Teacher

* Jesus went everywhere to preach the Gospel, even when the conditions were not right or perfect

☆ Acts 10:38 → "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

☆ Matthew 28:19 → "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

* Today, ungodly and perverted teachings (of God's Word) are prevalent everywhere (even in some Churches)

* NOTE: Your life is a message. People are observing and learning something from your life.

→ What are you teaching with your life as a Christian?

* You are sent by Jesus everywhere for the primary purpose of teaching God's Word

→ Are you fulfilling that responsibility?

8. As a Prophet

* Everything Jesus prophesied came to pass

* As a child of God, you are supposed to know everything in advance

☆ Amos 3:7→ "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets."

→ However, when you get revelations from God (through dreams, visions, word of knowledge, etc.), do not hoard them. TeIl it to the Church

9. As a miracle worker

☆ Acts 10:38 →"even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."

10. As a Son of Man

→ He took the body of sin and came into the world

→ ln spite of His divine nature, Jesus humbled himself and became just like one of us

☆ Philippians 2:5-8 →"Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross."

11. As God's own child

☆ John 1:10 →"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not."

* Jesus was sent to the world with a message from His Father

→ Being also a child of God through faith in Jesus, you are to go and tell the world about your Father in heaven and the salvation He offers them

→ If you are truly a child of God, you will definitely know the secrets of the Kingdom of your Father, and you will be confident to speak about it everywhere you go

12. As a Servant

* He came serving us in humility

☆ This was clearly demonstrated when He washed the feet of His disciples in John 13:1-5

* Pride hinders people from rendering service to God and to other people (without expecting anything in return)

* NOTE: Regardless of your position In life, without Christ, you are nothing!

* It takes humility to be a servant

* Servants are generally looked down upon in the society as unimportant people

* As a servant, Jesus bore all manner of humiliation

14. As a Mediator

☆ 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 → "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, new things have come. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation."

☆ Hebrews 7:24-25 →" But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him. We need such a high priest—one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself."

* Just like Christ, you are called to be an intercessor

* Instead of gossiping or rejoicing that someone has fallen into sin, pray for such a person

15. As the Way

☆ John 5:27

☆John 5:30

☆ John 14:6 → "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

→ Any one that rejects Jesus as his Lord and savior cannot make heaven

Think Good Thoughts Only (Pastor Ishaya Paul Demsa) 28-06-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ FOLMI Lighthouse Family Church,

Venue: Nigeria Bible Translation Trust (NBTT),

Old Airport Road, Jos, 

   28th June, 2015

☆PRAISE JAM FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE

★ SERMON

* Topic: Think Good Thoughts Only

* Speaker: Pastor Ishaya Paul Demsa

* Text: Philippians 4:4-8

Pastor Ishaya Paul Demsa

* Your whole life is 'made up' of your thought life

* Your life can never be better than your thoughts

* Your life is the manifestation of your thoughts

* You can hide your thoughts from people around you, but you can't hide its manifestation

* Your present life is the product of your thoughts over the past years

* God wants your thoughts to be pure and good because if you think good, you will inevitably live good

* The Word of God is given for the primary purpose of transforming your mind

* God's goal is for you to think and live like a god here on earth: this can only be possible through constantly meditating on His Words

* If you are not living like a god, it means you are wasting the God-given resources allocated to you

* Proverbs 23:7a → "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."

☆ POINTS TO NOTE:

1. Fill your mind with good thoughts

→ You cannot put anything more in a container that is already filled

→ If your mind is saturated with good thoughts, evil thoughts will not find an accomodation there

→ Thoughts are powerful: All human inventions (no matter how trivial or sophisticated) are the product of thoughts

2. Fix your mind and attention on beautiful things

→ Continuous thoughts soon become a reality

→ Your mind is a tool for transforming your life

→ God gave you your mind so that you can create your life

→ Anything happening in your mind is a preview of what will eventually happen in your life!

* Romans 12:2 →"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

* Until your thoughts change, your life won't change

* The quality of your thought life determines the quality of your actual life

* The 'mother' of your real life is your thoughts

* Your thoughts have the ability to mold you, more than your actual life ever can

* Your thought life is more realistic than your actual life

* The preparation for success in real life begins in your mind.

→ It is virtually impossible for a man who thinks of himself as a failure to ever become a success in real life

* Those who fail in life had already failed in their minds a long time ago

★ TWO WAYS THOUGHTS ARE CREATED:

1. Godly thoughts

→ These are the thoughts that proceed from God Himself

* Jeremiah 29:11 →"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

*God is a 'thinking being'

*God's thoughts are not like man's thoughts (See: Isaiah 55:8-9)

*Nothing you do (or fail to do) can ever change God's thoughts about you

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

→ The real reason why many people are not living their at their personal best is because they fail to 'agree' with God's thoughts for their life

*All good and positive thoughts come from God

→ Satan does not have the capacity or ability to produce good thoughts that are in conformity with God's Word

2. Devilish thoughts

☆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 Corinthians 4:4 →"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

* All bad and nagative thoughts are from the devil

*God will never scare you with evil thoughts for any reason!

☆ 2 Corinthians 10:5 →"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

* You must guard your thoughts against all forms of negativity and evil (See: Proverbs 4:23)

* NOTE: Satan can't stand a man of good thoughts

* Thoughts are ideas that are fighting to become real in your life

* The best way to fight a bad thought is to speak out the Word of God that neutralizes it

→ Is order to do this effectively, you must study and memorize the Scriptures regularly

* Thoughts are the foundation of all things

* Question: What are you thinking?

* The easiest thing to do in this life is to think

→ You do not need anybody's permission to generate a thought in your mind

☆Food for thought: God's mind is full of good thoughts about me!

Dareng Cj Nyam

Manji

Wordsmith

Praise and worship by the Lighthouse Family Choir

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

Knowledge (Mr. Simon Gunkat) 17-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki, Abuja - Nigeria

17th May, 2015

SERMON

* Speaker: Mr. Simon Gunkat

* Topic: Knowledge

* Theme: Growing Up in Christ

* Sub-Theme: Add to your Faith

* Service Leader: Mr. Nanyak Kumsal

☆ Text: 2 Peter 1:1-11

* As you grow (physically and spiritually), you are expected to add certain virtues to your life so that your development can be wholistic

☆ Galatians 5:22-23

☆ Colossians 3:12-14

* Knowledge means 'to know', or having something in your memory

→ Knowledge connotes the deposit of information or experience in your mind/heart

* When you put knowledge into use, it make sense and translates into wisdom

* The proper application of knowledge is wisdom

Types of wisdom:

1. Satanic wisdom (wisdom that is corrupted)

2. Human wisdom (also known as common sense)

3. Godly wisdom (wisdom that comes from God: it is pure and uncorruptible)

* Any wisdom that claims superiority over godly wisdom is faulty

* The proper application of knowledge will enable you to live right;

* The improper usasge of knowledge will destroy you

* Acts 17:16-23

* Greek philosophers in Athens claimed that they knew all things & they always wanted to hear the latest ideas; yet, they served and worshipped gods they did not know

→ Acts 17:23

* Like the times of Paul, today secular knowledge has increased and godly knowledge is relegated to the background

☆ Colossians 2:8

* You must be careful not to be swayed by any knowledge or ungodly wisdom

* The existence of God cannot be investigated through scientific or philosophical knowledge

* Human knowledge is limited

* God can only be known by faith through the revelation of the gospel

☆John 14:5-14 (Thomas & Philip tried using human logic to unravel divine mysteries)

☆ Judges 16:15-22 (story of Samson & Delilah)

* Samson used godly knowledge wrongly and it cost him his ministry and eventually, his life

★ Blessings of applying Godly Wisdom and Knowledge Correctly:

1. You will surely be blessed

2. You will be productive

3. You will gain eternal life

* Those who are wise fear God, and as a result, they live long (Proverbs 1:7)

★ Examples of Biblical Characters who rightly applied godly Wisdom:

1. Joseph

☆ Genesis 39:9 (Joseph)

→ Because of godly wisdom, he considered sexual immorality, as wickedness against God

2. Daniel

☆ He considered the knowledge of God as a matter of life and death

→ Godly knowledge produces courage, strenght and even supernatural miracles

* Daniel 1:8

* Daniel 6:10

* Daniel 3:16 &18

→ Regardless of the challenges face in life, godly wisdom and knowledge will enable you stand by your faith

* If you use your knowledge for the right things, God will protect you

★ Lessons to be learnt:

→ If you add godly virtues to your life:

1. You will be productive

2. Lack of them causes you to be short sighted

3. You will reach your expected destination (Heaveny)

★ Characteristics of foolish people:

1. They acquire knowledge and yet apply it wrongly

2. They build on the sand (faulty foundations)  (Matthew 7:26)

3. They abide in sin hoping that There will not be nagative consequences (Romans 6:23)

4. They indulge in indiscriminate sexual activities even when they know the adverse spiritual, physical and health consequences

* NOTE: Those who are foolish do not always end well

* Question: will you continue to live a life of foolishness or will you accept God's knowledge that will produce godly wisdom in you?

★ MISSION CHARGE

"Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go and learn at once how big and precious it is."

→ Maxim Gorky

★ QUOTE

"There are three enemies of personal peace. Regret over yesterday's mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow's problems and ingratitude for today's blessing."

→John Mason

Testimony of God's Mercies in the Marketplace (Arch. Wale Ademo) 04-05-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ National Hospital Chapel,

Central Business District,

Abuja - Nigeria

4th May, 2015

☆ Marketplace Ministry Seminar

TESTIMONY

* Speaker: Arch. Wale Ademo [Deputy Director, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)]

* Topic: Testimony of God's Mercies in the Marketplace

* Godliness with contentment is great gain

* You do not have to cheat for God to bless you

* When you stand by the truth, God will vindicate you

* As a Christian, you must always refuse to be influenced negatively

* When you live in integrity, you will have the opportunity to influence others for Christ in the marketplace

* The issue of bribery is commonplace in the marketplace, but as a child of God, you must resist the temptation to give or take bribes  

* Integrity gives you confidence and produces joy in your heart. You may loose some temporary perks (as a result of your refusal to compromise), but you gain God's eternal favor

* God will always complete what He started!

* When you honour God, He will embarrass you with blessings

* It pays to serve Jesus

* God has called you to be light of the world and salt of the earth (the Marketplace)

* Do not live or be influenced by the love of money

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