The Place of the Holy Spirit in the Christian Home (Pastor Francis) 05-07-2014

★ MY SERMON NOTES

Wedding - Umushe Jane Matta & Naanlong

@ ECWA Plateau Church, Laminga Road,

Jos, Plateau State - Nigeria

5th July, 2014

SERMON

* Speaker: Pastor Francis  

* Topic: The Place of the Holy Spirit in the Christian Home

* Christian marriage is based on sacred promises & vows

* Today, many couples have abandoned their marriage vows

* There is a call on every Christian couple to go back to the basics - which is the Word of God

* We must get back to the original plan of God for marriage

* The world has been trying to redefine marriage by introducing and promoting strange perversions in the marriage institution with a view to undermine God's standards

* The Christian home is under attack from the secular movement and carnal philosophies

★ Colossians 3:2 → "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

★ Ephesians 4:1 →"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."

★ Ephesians 4:17 →"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind."

* Our values as Christian couples/families must portray the light of Christ

* We must not be influenced by the world

* Only the distinction that we have in Christ can draw the World to Christ

★ Ephesians 5:18 → "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."

* What is lacking today, making Christians a far-cry from what God wants us to be is the fact that the Holy Spirit has been relegated to the background in our personal affairs

* It takes the Holy Spirit to be able to love someone outside of yourself

* The "Adamic man" (the unreformed heart) is naturally selfish

* Today, there is no difference between Christians & those who are not

* The hope of this Country is not in political ideologies but in Christians who live up to the calling of God upon their lives

* We are often too preoccupied with living life and pursuing our businesses to live in the Spirit

* When the Holy Spirit controls a man, He Submits to his wife in love; When the Holy Spirit controls a woman, she submits to her husband with respect & without compulsion

* NOTE: Bacchus is the god of wine & intoxication

-When a person is drunk, his body is open to control from the demonic influence of Bacchus to do his will

* When the Holy Spirit controls you, your hope will be established in righteousness

* 1st Corinthians 12:13 →"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

* The Holy Spirit indwells only persons who have accepted Jesus as their Lord & Saviour

* The 'in-filling' with the Holy Spirit is different from being "baptized" with the Holy Spirit

* God is looking for those who are constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit

* When The Holy Spirit is in control, Jesus has a say in the family affairs

* When you are truly submitted to the Holy Spirit, He gives you what to input into Your marriage, so that you're not just looking for what you will get out of it.

* The Holy Spirit must be the centre of attraction in your home & marriage

* The Holy Spirit can reconcile and restore all that is lost

How to know Whether a Person is controlled by the Holy Spirit:

1. Joy (Christian Joy is internal stability despite external instability)

2. Gratitude & thankfulness

3. Submission

★JOY

* Joy is the evidence of a true Christian home

* Joy regulates the spiritual atmosphere of a situation

* Joy insulates your heart against being carried away by the circumstances of life

* Alcohol is a temporary depressant which brings no permanent Solution

★THANKFULNESS

* Ephesians 5:20 →"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

* A person who comes to terms with the fact that he cannot become what he now is without the help and input of others is never grateful

* You must learn the principle of constant gratitude in the Christian home

★ SUBMISSION

* One institution that humbles a man is marriage because it offers plenty opportunities for serving each other selflessly

* Ephesians 5:21-22

* The man is actually called to submit to his wife in love

* The wife is called to submit to her husband in respect

* Christian couples are to submit to Christ out of reverence

* Submissiveness does not disturb the established order of authority

* Serving the interest of another is anti-world system where selfishness is the order of the day

* How is your home today?

* What is the place of the Holy Spirit in your home & life?

Watch Out for False Prophets (Rev. S. Andrew) 25-05-2014

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

25th May, 2014

★ SERMON:

*Speaker: Rev. S. Andrew (Pastor, COCIN Kubwa, Abuja)

* Topic: Watch Out for False Prophets

* Theme: Knowing the Will of God

* Text: Matthew 7:14 → "How narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and there aren’t many people who find it!”

* Matthew 24:3-8 → "While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “See to it that no one deceives you, because many will come in my name and say, ‘I’m the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people. You’ll hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you aren’t alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn’t come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains.”

* A false prophet is one who speaks prophesies that are not from God

*How to know false Prophets

1. Do their predictions come true?

2. Are their predictions consistent with God's word?

3 . Where does their massage come from?

4. What is the substance of the massage

5. What is the benefit to be derived from the massage?

* Counterfeit believers always follow and tolerate false Prophets

*2nd Peter 2:1-3 →" Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.Many people will follow their immoral ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned. In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed."

* Characteristics of False Prophets:

(a) false Prophets always try to pressure you into doing things you would ordinarily not do

(b) they use guilt to manipulate people

(c) they generalize all issues (they speak ambitiously)

(d) they have fake holiness

(e) they use various gimicks to attract people to themselves and their "Churches"

(f) they use personal power to convince people, instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to bring conviction

(g) they will continue to repeat things over and over again (the use mind control techniques on their audience)

(h) They have traces of materialism in their conduct (this may be evident in their choice of clothes, buildings, friends, insatiable desire for luxury living, etc)

(i) they come in sheep clothing but they are actually wolves (only with spiritual eyes can you discern them)

★ Matthew 7:15 → “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are savage wolves."

* The wolf is the greatest enemy of sheep

* Wolves are very deceptive

 

★ Matthew 24:4 → "Jesus answered them, “See to it that no one deceives you."

★ 2nd Peter 2:1 → " Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves."

* Whether we realize it or not, there will always be false prophets amongst us disguised as genuine Men of God

* NOTE: There is no totally 'pure' Church on this side of heaven. Not every body that comes to Church is a true believer in Christ. The Church will be perfected when we are finally raptured into the presence of the Lord

* Satan is a counterfeit

* False Prophets know what you desire in life and they will try to exploit your sentiments using biblical Justification (used wrongly)

* They are tricksters

* They make emphasis on messages of increase and prosperity, ignoring or relegating other equally important doctrines of Scripture

* In every meeting, they demand for money (directly or indirectly)

* They live in luxury while most of their members/followers live in abject poverty

★1st Timothy 4:1→ "Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons."

★1st Kings 18:20-21 → "Ahab sent for the Israelis and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel, where Elijah approached all the people and asked them, “How long will you keep hesitating between both sides? If the LORD is God, go after him. If Baal, go after him.” But the people didn’t say a word."

* Food, power & authority are the main areas of temptation for most people, including Christians

* It is greed that makes people subsceptible to false teachings

* The antidote for falling prey to false prophets is to know God for yourself

* False prophets see and treat the Church as a commercial business

* When you fully yeild and submit to the Holy Spirit, no one will lead you astray and decieve you

★ Romans 7:13-25

* Do not allow yourself to be mastered by any false teaching

* You must invest in knowing God's word for yourself and having a solid personal relationship with Jesus

God Desires Truth (Pastor Victor T. Amos) 18-05-2014

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki - Abuja
Nigeria
18th May, 2014

* Speaker: Pastor Victor T. Amos
* Topic: God Desires Truth
* Theme: Knowing the Will of God
* Sub-Theme: God's Will for the World
* Text: Proverbs 11:1 → "The LORD hates false scales, but he delights in accurate weights."

★Proverbs 12:22 → "Deceitful speech is reprehensible to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight."

★John 8:39-47

★ The primary purpose for Which Man was created is to love, serve and worship God

*Serving God entails serving humanity

* When you serve those you see, you are doing it unto God

*Worshiping God entails being lost in His presence and to be totally devoted to God and to think about God every time

* In doing all of these things, we must be truthful

* Truthfulness for a child of God is not optional

* Truth is God's nature and we must also conform to that nature

* The language of God's kingdom is truth, love gentleness etc

* The language of the kingdom of Satan is lies and deceit

* Truth is God's main attribute

* Truth is the quality of saying what is factual

* Truth is the absence of lies

* Truth is the virtue that all God's children must have in their lives

* NOTE: It is what you do for Christ that matters

* Every one is prone to lies due to our Adamic nature

* God grants us the grace to always live in truth

* The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth

* Just like sports requires discipline, we must also be commitment to God's call upon our lives with all discipline, commitment and dedication

* NOTE: The day of Judgement is coming when all deceit will be exposed and punished

* Those who oppose God do not live in truth

* The whole world is divided into two:
 (a) those who love God and live in His truth; and
 (b) those who do not live in God's truth

* God is not requiring from us an impossible thing... You must always stand for the truth regardless of the circumstance

* It takes the grace of God and courage to stand on the truth always

* Only truthful people are trusted

* Note: Christianity is a Commitment

* Our role-model for living a life of truthfulness is Jesus Christ Himself

* Note: Our lives here on earth is all about Christ. When you are constantly conscious of this fact, you will eschew every form of deceit

God Desires Justice (Rev. John Lohor) 04-05-2014

SUNDAY SERVICE MY SERMON NOTES @ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria 4th May, 2014   * Preacher: Rev. John Lohor * Topic: God Desires Justice * Theme: Knowing the will of God * Sub-Theme: God's will for the World * Service leader: Mr. Yunana Mallo * Text: Amos 5:24 - "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" * Jeremiah 9:24 - "but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD."   * Justice is the process of accuracy, impartiality & fairness   * God expects fairness & justice to be a part of the life of His people   * Exploitation is not of God   * As children of God, we must treat each other with equality and fairness in all issues   * Prophet Amos was speaking about the sins of the people of Israel   * God was not happy with the prevalent state of immorality & social injustice   * Amos 7:12 - "Then Amaziah sent orders to Amos: "Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there!" * Prophet Amos faced persecution because of the message he was Proclaiming   Amos 3:10 - "They do not know how to do right," declares the LORD, "who store up in their fortresses what they have plundered and looted." * Injustices in the society occur as a result of a dead conscience   * Exploitation in the name of doing business is unacceptable to God. This is wickedness & does not have God's blessings   * Amos 5:12 - "For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts." * Your Sins Shall find you out   * You cannot hide your Sins from God; He knows what you do in the secret   * Amos 1:4 - "I will send fire on the house of Hazael that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad." * God's Judgment will come by fire   * Amos 5:24 - But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! * As a Christian, you must ensure that you are fair and just in all your dealings   * Christian Lawyers and Judges must stand on Justice   * God is interested in righteousness and uprightness   * God tests our uprightness by Justice   * Our Justice must not be selective or partial   * God is in the business of restoration   * Proverbs 23:18 - There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. * There is a hope in God

Finding Genuine Rest (Rev. Dr. Pandam Yamsat) 30-08-2013

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

LCC Pushit, Mangu LGA,

Plateau State, Nigeria

30th August, 2013

Funeral Service of Mrs. Rauta Haggai

(My Paternal Grand Mother)

*Speaker: Rev. Dr. Pandam Yamsat

* Topic: Finding Genuine Rest

*Text: Revelation 14:6-13

* When someone dies, you should also think of your own day of death

* Two great things that God brought into the world - work and rest

* Rest is very important (physically, bodily and spirituality)

* When you work without resting, you will get sick

* Good doctors encourage their patients to take time to rest

* Sleeping pills are not always the best solution to rest

* Genuine rest is dependent upon genuine work

* Work is not a curse. It is a blessing. When we work, we are aligning with God in the development of His world

* The world is suffering today because Men are engaged in selfish work

* There is no rest where there is no genuine work

* There is great blessing in genuine work

* You are the product of someone's genuine work

*Verse 6: The Gospel is the primary work that God expects you to do

* The Gospel is eternal! It will stand the test of time

* The Gospel the angel declared: "Fear God, Worship God"  - We are called to worship God and Honour Him

* When you recognize God's sovereignty, you will not rest. You will fear God and Honour Him

* God created you with the ability to fend for yourself

* Brain is money. Your ideas are given for your enrichment. When you have ideas, money will come

* Many are poor because they refuse to work with their God given ideas

* Verse 8-10: Rest of mind and the spirit is not gotten through sin

* Seek genuine prosperity through genuine work

* It doesn't take a rich man to raise rich and prosperous children. It takes a man who fears God

* Rest is not gotten through ill-gotten riches

* Sin robs you of rest

* GENUINE work involves sweat

* Challenges and trials and pressures are good for helping you stay on track

* Pray, work, think

* The problem of Nigerian Christians is that they do not want to pray, work and think. They are mentally and spiritually lazy

* Verse 11: If you do not work, you will not rest

* Those who work and die in the Lord will find rest

* Works are not enough, character is important

* Character cannot be separated from you. It will accompany you everywhere you go

* Without good character, you cannot do genuine works

* You will take your character with you to eternity

* No one who does not work will ever find genuine rest

* Begin to work and God will give you rest

* Do everything to God's glory

* Train your children in character, in faith, to appreciate hardwork and you will find rest

We are Partners, not Rivals (Rev. David Pofi) 15-08-2013

COUPLE’S FELLOWSHIP ANNUAL RETREAT

15^TH – 18^TH AUGUST, 2013

MIANGO REST HOME

DAY ONE: THURSDAY, 15^TH AUGUST, 2013

 

OPENING CHARGE

Topic: We are Partners, not Rivals

Speaker: Rev. David Pofi

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

 

An overview of the Opening Charges of the Christian Couples Fellowship Retreat from 2010:

2010 Opening Charge:

Things that only God can do:

1.    Unless the Lord builds your home, the builders build in vain. [Psalms 127:1]

2.    Unless the Lord watches over your home, you watch in vain

3.    Only the Lord can bless your children.

 

2011 Opening Charge:

Ø  Luke15:11-19

Ø  If you are disconnected from the Lord, you will never be full.

Ø  When a man/woman is disconnected from God (the Father), they become prodigal and cannot connect with each other appropriately.

Ø  When a family is disconnected from God, they beg when they are not supposed to beg.    

 

2012 Opening Charge:

*Ephesians 1:4, 7, 13 & 14

Ø  We were created by God for His pleasure, but sin separated us from Him.

Ø  God paid again for our sins in order to purchase us back to himself.

Ø  God bought (purchased) us for himself so that we might be set aside for His exclusive Holy use.

Ø  We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Ø  You can only bear fruit according to your kind.

*Galatians 5:19 – 21 [works of the sinful nature]

Ø  When a man/woman is filled with God’s Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Holy Spirit will definitely manifest

 

2013 Opening Charge:

Ø  The Corinthian Church was a composition of everything. It had both good and bad traits.

*1 Corinthians 1:7 – The Church at Corinth did not lack any spiritual gift at all [see: 1 Corinthians12:7-11]

Ø  The Church was endowed and was very spiritual.

Ø  But the Church had other problems [see: 1 Corinthians 1:10 – 13 there was division in the Church; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 there was incest and sexual immorality]

Ø  Carnality was the root of the division and immorality [1 Corinthians 3:1-4]

Ø  Note: The Church is made up of many families. There cannot be Church without families.

Ø  The reason why the Church at Corinth was the way it was, was because they were ‘mere men’ and they were worldly, carnal and spiritually immature (babies in the Lord)

Ø  Whenever you find division and quarrelling, there is only one reason for that: you are dealing with ‘spiritual babies

Ø  Spiritual babies are carnal, immature and cannot handle strong/solid food.

Ø  Babies cry for everything and make unrealistic demands; they give fault to other people; they hide things that don’t belong to them.

Ø  When spiritual babies are found in the family, there is bound to be fights, quarrelling and jealousy.

Ø  You must learn to see your partner as a partner, not as a rival whom you are competing against. You should walk, think and work together

Ø  Your relationship with the Lord will definitely reflect in the family. If you are growing in your relationship with the Lord, your relationship with your spouse will also grow

Ø  If you have a healthy relationship with the Lord, you will seek your partner’s happiness

Ø  You cannot be so spiritual and yet not live well at home – it is a contradiction

Ø  You must use God’s Word as a mirror to make all the necessary adjustments in your life

Christ our Model (Rev. Amos Tang’an) 15-07-2012

★ MY SERMON NOTES

@ Gindiri Old Students Association (GOSA),

Abuja Branch Meeting (Special Quarterly Prayer Meeting),   

Venue: Durumi Recreational Park,

Durumi, Abuja – Nigeria

15^th July, 2012

EXHORTATION  

* Speaker: Rev. Amos Tang’an (Chaplain, Gindiri Mission Compound Schools)
* Topic: Christ our Model

* Text: Philippians 3:17-21

* Paul the Apostle had personally experienced God and the benefits thereof, therefore he challenged believers to follow his example

* He was sure that he can present himself as a model to the believers

* The only addition/contribution you have in society is what you put into it

* Philippians 3:10,12

* Paul’s model is Christ

 

Enemies of the Cross

1.   Those whose appetite is their god

2.   Those who are proud of what they should be ashamed of

3.   Those who think of only life here on earth     

4.   Those who live only to fulfil their own desires 

* Anytime you consider anything/need as being greater than your desire for God, you make yourself an enemy of the cross

* Your spirituality must be your life and it must take preference above all things

To what extent are we enemies of the cross?

* Every glory that is not ascribed to God becomes your shame

* You must be careful so that the things you glory in do not become your (source of) shame

* When you have Christ as your glory, you will never be put to shame

* Philippians 3:20 - "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ"

* NOTE: Heaven is where our transformation from shame to glory is perfected/completed  

* Citizens have rights defined and protected by the Constitution of their country     

* Your citizenship (of Heaven) is a defining point for your relationship with God

* A person who is not a citizen of a country lives mindful of the fact that one day he will return to his home country

* My life MUST not be determined by the passions of my body

* When you are glorified in the end, you will have a body (that is) beyond what you think is best

* Remember that God has positioned you for glory

* Whatever you long for and desire (in the earth), the Scripture describes it/them as ‘lowly’ (Philippians 3:21)