IKOYI BAPTIST CHURCH's Podcast: Recent Episodes
IKOYI BAPTIST CHURCH
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Thanksgiving sunday worship service for Men and Women in the fourth sunday of November 2025
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Sermon preached by Deacon Oluwole Abegunde on thanksgiving sunday for youth thanksgiving sunday
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The Growing Family | Q&A:
Questions and Answer on the Grand Finale of Family Revival Service 2025
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Sermon preached on the 3rd day of the Family Revival Service
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Sermon preached on the First Day of the 3 Day Family Revival 2025
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Sermon preached on the First Day of the 3 Day Family Revival 2025
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The Sacred Mountain 3
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The Sacred Mountain 3
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Senior Citizens Service 2025
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Warnings about false prophets and teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3) provide background for considering two dimensions of God. It sounds paradoxical that the merciful God
is also the God of judgment. How do we explain God’s goodness demonstrated through His boundless love and the severity of His wrath?
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PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE
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Divine Call to Follow
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Warnings Against False Teachers
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All Round Growth
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Sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Olusegun Adeleke on the Day 8 of the Congregational Fasting and Prayer
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Sermon preached at the beginning of this year fasting and prayer
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Sickness and disease are consequences of the old (Adamic/sinful) nature because
everything God created was good and perfect (Gen. 1:4-31; Psalm 139:14). Despite the Fall, God made a way for humanity. Through Jesus, we are delivered from the
shackles of sin, sickness, and death (Isaiah 53:4-5 CEV). However, God’s ultimate goal for His children is not just salvation from sin, sickness, and disease, but to be
transformed into His likeness (2 Cor 3:18; Eph. 4:13). Through Christ, we are invited to participate in the divine nature — a supernatural privilege accompanied by practical responsibilities. We can explore five marks of the divine nature in the Word by using the acronym L-I-V-E-R.
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VBS 2025 Day 1 song
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VBS 2025 Theme song
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VBS 2025 Day 2 song
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VBS 2025 Day 3 song
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VBS 2025 Day 4 song
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VBS 2025 Day 5 song
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There is an escape involved in being a Christian; it is an escape from the corrupting, degrading and ruining powers of unholy lust and ungodly desires propelled by the sinful nature—the Old nature. This Old nature is known as the Adamic nature; the Old Man; the corrupt nature human nature, the flesh, etc.
This is the nature that is responsible for every confusion, contradiction, chaos and perversion we see everywhere in the world. It is completely contrary and opposing to God and His purposes - Romans 8:5-8.
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The call to loving the LORD is a divine imperative. All men, especially all God’s children are left with no choice but to love the Lord. For us as a local church, we are expected not only to love the Lord but to grow in our love for the LORD.
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One major fear some people had at the point of conversion (and some, for not giving their Iives to Christ) is the fear of backsliding and falling out of the faith.
Except the Lord intervenes (directly through the believer’s daily communion or indirectly through discipleship by mature believers), some believers may never go far in their walk of faith on account of this satanic mindset.
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One major fear some people had at the point of conversion (and some, for not giving their Iives to Christ) is the fear of backsliding and falling out of the faith.
Except the Lord intervenes (directly through the believer’s daily communion or indirectly through discipleship by mature believers), some believers
may never go far in their walk of faith on account of this satanic mindset.
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Sermon preached on the Father's Day service, date 15/6/2025
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sermon preached on the Grand Finale of the youth week 2025
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sermon preached during of the youth week 2025
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sermon preached during the youth week 2025
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sermon preached on the first day of the youth week 2025
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Sermon preached on the Children's day service, May 25th 2025
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Sermon preached by Rev. Olufemi Babalola
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Growing in the knowledge of Christ sermon preached on Mother's Day service of 2025
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We discussed around this time last month about the Divine Power. Specifically, we discovered that the Divine Power has made possible for us everything pertaining to life and godliness and that all things belong to us - 2 Pet. 1:3; 1 Cor. 3:21- 22.
One of the things that pertains to life and godliness for us in Christ, through the Divine Power, is healings and health.
It is my earnest prayer that supernatural healing by the Divine Power shall flow into
each and every one of us today in Jesus Name. May all of us begin to enjoy divine
health by the power of God in Jesus Name.
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Sunday Sermon preached on the 27th of April, 2025 during Nigerian Baptist Convention Emphasis Sunday.
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Sermon preached on the 6th of April, 2025 on the Miracle, Healing and Communion Service
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Sermon preached on the 30th of March 2025, continuing on the Operation Win One Bring One
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Sermon preached on the 23rd of March 2025, continuing on the Operation Win One Bring One
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Sermon preached on the 16th of March 2026, continuing on the Operation Win One Bring One Soul
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The Motivation for Soul Winning; continuing on Operation Win One and Bring One, Our Reverend shared with us the reasons why we should Win Souls (Proverbs 30:15-16)
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Operation Win One Bring One
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Operation Win One Bring One during Ark Bearer's Retreat on the 1st of March 2025
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Operation Win One Bring One
Sermon by Rev. Dr. Friday Bekee
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Breaking the Church Growth Barrier
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“What got your church to where it is will not get it to where you want it to be...
Larger churches are not just bigger versions of smaller churches; in reality they are an entirely different entity that requires different operational procedures.”
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Panel Discussion on Breaking Growth Barrier.
Panelist:Dn. Segun Badaru (Moderator), Dns. Funke Atanda, Dn. Niyi Ajao, Bro. Lanre Akinbo and Rev. Olufemi Babalola
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To grow and increase is not merely man’s desire. It is actually first and foremost the pleasure of God. The first charge God gave to man was to increase! God said, be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion Genesis 1:26-28. Even after the fall of man, and the destruction of the then world, God restarted a new world through Noah and still left him withthe charge to increase and spread Genesis 9:1-3. God repeated the same with the patriarchs Genesis 17:1-8; 26:1-4, 12-14, 22-24. God’s intention may seem to tilt towards establishing a perfect and eternal order for growth and increase. So, whenever there is a challenge to growth and a restriction to the same, the default reaction is to break it. We see the prophets do that in the days of Elisha 2 Kings 6:1-7. Therefore, the mind of God for His church is to grow and whenever growth is challenged, there must be a committed divine passion to break the barrier.
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Short charge by Bro. Joel Musa on the February MMU Breakfast fellowship.
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Evang. Kesiena Esiri ministering on the Final Day of the 2025 International Discipleship Summit, about what it takes to being like Jesus.
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Dr. Richard Blackaby speaking in the 2025 International Discipleship Summit, about The Commiission to Become like Jesus.
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Pastor Mrs Ibukun Awosika speaking in the 2025 International Discipleship Summit, about being like Jesus in the Business and Work space.
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Sermon preached on the First session on the second day of the International Discipleship Summit 2025
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Charge by Evang. Kesiena Esiri on the Third session of First day of the 2025 International Discipleship Summit
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Charge by Sis. Titi on the First day (Second Session) of the 2025 International Discipleship Summit
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Charge by Evang. Kesiena Esiri on the First day of the 2025 International Discipleship Summit
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There is a place you must regularly be throughout the coming year and the rest of your life! Where is that place you may ask? It is not church or any religious meeting. It is more than those regular religious exercise.
Where is it? It is the presence of the Most High God. It is the dwelling place of the Almighty God. This is where everything great and glorious happens in the life of a child of God. The presence of God is all that matters. It is the secret place where all secrets are manifest. May the Lord baptize and saturate all of us with unceasing hunger for His presence for the rest of our lives in Jesus Name.
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Last Night of Prophetic Blessing in the Year, 2025
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There are many references to mountains in Scripture. While some are significant Tdue to the events that occurred there, only one mountain is described as "sacred"
by the Apostle Peter. The term "sacred" means blessed, hallowed, consecrated,
sanctified, dedicated, spiritual, devotional, and ecclesiastical. In the context of the
church, a mountain symbolically refers to the presence of God. The place is sacred because it is where great and glorious things happen.
As we ascend the "sacred mountain" to be with Jesus, just as Peter and the other
privileged disciples did, during these 21 days, may the eternal weight of glory rest upon each of our lives in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Third Night of Prophetic Blessing 2025
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There are many references to mountains in Scripture. While some are significant Tdue to the events that occurred there, only one mountain is described as "sacred"
by the Apostle Peter. The term "sacred" means blessed, hallowed, consecrated,
sanctified, dedicated, spiritual, devotional, and ecclesiastical. In the context of the
church, a mountain symbolically refers to the presence of God. The place is sacred because it is where great and glorious things happen.
As we ascend the "sacred mountain" to be with Jesus, just as Peter and the other
privileged disciples did, during these 21 days, may the eternal weight of glory rest upon each of our lives in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Second Night of Prophetic Blessing 2025
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There are many references to mountains in Scripture. While some are significant Tdue to the events that occurred there, only one mountain is described as "sacred"
by the Apostle Peter. The term "sacred" means blessed, hallowed, consecrated,
sanctified, dedicated, spiritual, devotional, and ecclesiastical. In the context of the
church, a mountain symbolically refers to the presence of God. The place is sacred because it is where great and glorious things happen.
As we ascend the "sacred mountain" to be with Jesus, just as Peter and the other
privileged disciples did, during these 21 days, may the eternal weight of glory rest upon each of our lives in Jesus' name. Amen.
Click Here to Read More
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First Night of Prophetic Blessing 2025
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Sermon preached on the 29th of December 2024
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Thank God for another Christmas service. This is the first Christmas for some. But may it not be the last Christmas for any of us, in Jesus' Name.
This particular Christmas is a special one for somebody.
The Lord has sent me to somebody to tell you that your consolation has come. You
will see it; you will embrace it and you will praise God for it. So shall it be, in Jesus'
Name. Amen.
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The matter of eternity should daily be of paramount concern to every man.
We all should be daily living our lives with eternity in view.
The truth from scripture is that there is another life after this life.
This current life we are living is supposed to be “a preparation for our next life.”
Somehow, all men know that there is another life beyond this present life.
Somebody may say how come? The answer is clear in Ecc. 3:11(NLT).
“God has ... planted eternity in the human heart.”
Therefore, the truth remains that all men are made to live forever! We are “made for immortality.” The issue is where will you spend your eternity? Where are you going from here?
This message is prepared, not just to remind us about our eternity, but to help some people here, this morning, to settle the matter of their eternal destination by ensuring that their names are written in the book of life.
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Review of 2024, Budget, Theme and other events in IBC
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Paul achieved two main things in the book of Philippians: appreciation and
instruction. Since my Pastor has given me this awesome privilege to bring the
Word today, it will not be out of order for me to say a word of appreciation
to God and to the church. I will not be too detailed this morning because of time,
but God really helped me in the last three years of doctoral study.
Paul’s closing appeal for steadfastness and unity brings much to reflect on.
In Philippians 4, we are more conversant with verses 4, 13, 19. (If you believe
in Philippians 4:19, you will not be involved in “419”).
Preceding these verses is an issue we want to focus on today as we consider the
topic: Advancing in the Spirit of Reconciliation. Text: Philippians 4:1-5.
The passage begins by focusing on two characters: Euodia and Syntyche. What
do we know about the two characters?
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Sermon preached on the Annual Thanksgiving Serviceon the 24th of November, 2024
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Sermon preached by Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi during the Annual Revival of Ikoyi Baptist Church, November 2024
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Sermon preached by Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi during the Annual Revival of Ikoyi Baptist Church, November 2024
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Sermon preached by Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi during the Annual Revival of Ikoyi Baptist Church, November 2024
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Thank God for bringing us thus far in the year 2024. It has truly been a year of supernatural advancements, despite the global upheaval. As we prepare for the grand finale of our thanksgiving this year, permit me to share
with you what i feel should guide us in giving God our very best at this year’s
thanksgiving - the thanksgiving test!
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Crying has to do with weeping. It is “the dropping of tears in response to an emotional state or physical pain.” To cry is “to shed tears as an expression of distress, pain or sorrow.” Crying is not a sin. It is normal and expected in certain circumstances.
Some of the benefits associated with crying include “detoxification of the body;” “self- detoxification;” “dulling of pain;” “improving of mood;” “rallying of support;” “recovery from grief;” “restoration of emotional balance;” “helping a baby to breathe” and “sleep.”
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However, when a person is seen crying over everything or every situation, it may then be a symptom of depression. It’s advisable that such be referred immediately to a counselor, a doctor or a Priest for assistance. The emphasis of this message, however, is on the miracle cry. This speaks to cries that bring about miracles! And there are many instances of this in the Bible. The time has come for us to send miracle cries to heaven for our own lives, our families, our local church, and particularly our Nation and our world. We can’t afford to be silent and allow.
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Sermon preached on the Senior Citizens' Day 2024 by Rev. Dr. S.A Fagbemi
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Kingdom People Assembly Pulpit exchange on thwe 13th of October, 2024
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Sermon preached on the 6th of October, 2024
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Power and Prophetic Service
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Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him…
The word ‘therefore’ suggests that the exaltation of Jesus and His name did not just happen. Something led to it. We must be reminded that last week, God intentionally reminded us that “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5- 8). So, the Father’s decision to exalt the name came by Sonship, conquest, and humility. Therefore, if we are going to experience the power in that name and enjoy the victory that comes from that name, we must equally conquer the flesh, pay the price of humility, and bring ourselves under divine sonship.
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We have gone down the slippery slope, and what we once cherished as a symbol and identity of our brotherhood and faith has suffered spiritual erosion and social abuse. Before our very eyes, pervasion and every kind of vices has infiltrated our camp and weakened the cord of unity that binds us, the consecration of holiness that guides us, and the fear of eternal judgement that checks us.
If we are going to have any consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, affection and mercy as a community of faith, then we must mirror the life of Christ to our dying world.
If we are to restore the kind of fellowship that the fathers of old exemplified, then there is an expected character and necessary discipline that we must carry about with us - the mind of Christ!
If our fellowship will be of the spirit where genuine love exudes and infiltration of everything evil is dealt with then we must be like-minded, have the same love, be of one accord, and of one mind.
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‘The supernatural’ is that which is beyond the natural - It is ‘The Unusual’! It transcends the law of nature. It is God Himself in the affairs of humanity. The supernatural is a miraculous display of the power of God in the activities of man. Miracles and healings are ‘natural’ occurrences when The Supernatural is involved. Every man is in desperate need of something. For some, it is healing, miracles, breakthroughs, help, and divine interventions. While for some others, it is provision, protection, peace, in fact, the list is endless. Some of these challenges have defiled all human and biological interventions. However, when God steps in, there is always a turnaround. May God turn around someone’s situation today for good, in the name of Jesus.
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Fruitfulness has been part of God’s design for man from Genesis - Gen. 2:28-Jn. 15:16. The Lord wants all men to be fruitful in their endeavors. Fruitless labors are never His plan. It is my prayer that the Lord will make all of us fruitful in all our endeavors in Jesus Name - Gen. 39: May we all grow from level of fruitfulness to another in Jesus Name. Jn. 15:1-8.
Apostle Paul testified to fruitful kingdoms labors in our text this morning. It is my prayer that you and I will have a similar testimony to share to the glory of God. Amen.
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The gospel theme remains dominant in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This not only reveals Paul’s commitment to the gospel but also the positive attitudes of the brethren in the Philippians’ church to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that this study will elicit the right attitude towards the gospel in everyone. May we all become dependable partners in advancing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Exhortation by Rev. Dr. Mike Babatunde on the 17th of August, 2024 in the WMU/MMU Joint Fellowship
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The gospel theme remains dominant in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This not only reveals Paul’s commitment to the gospel but also the positive attitudes of the brethren in the Philippians’ church to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that this study will elicit the right attitude towards the gospel in everyone. May we all become dependable partners in advancing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Sermon preached on the 4th of August, 2024, during our healing, miracle and communion service by Rev. Dr. Olusegun Adeleke
The greatest tragedy in life is not the death of loved ones like that of Job (Job 1:9-19) or disaster - the type that befell the Galileans whom Pilate killed and whose blood was mixed with their sacrifices nor that of the 18 people from Siloam on whom the tower fell and died - Lk. 13:1-5.The greatest tragedy in life is not knowing and living for the purpose of God for one’s life. The reason why people live their lives anyhow is that they have not come to discover the purpose of God for their existence. The principal reason why organizations dies is lack of purpose.
Knowing God’s purpose for your life according to Rick Warren, will “give meaning to your life,” “simplify your life,” “focus your life,” “motivates your life,” and “prepares you for eternity.”
Paul the Apostle came to discover the purpose of God for his life and he lived to fulfill
it. He was not disobedient to the heavenly vision - Acts 26:19. What about you? Have you discovered the purpose of God for your life? Are you living
for it? No matter the advancement that you make in life, if it is not in line with the purpose of God, it is an advancement in the wrong direction - Gal. 1:14. May you not experience that type of advancement in Jesus’ Name.
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Sermon preached by Dn. Niyi Ajao on the 14th of July, 2024 about Overcoming difficult situations by Faith in the Word of God.
The importance of prayer in the Christian life and Christian church cannot be exaggerated. It remains an indispensable means for walking with God and for securing divine power for uncommon exploits in life and ministry. Everything that God does has always been in response to prayer. In other words, no Christian and no church can experience God performing great and mighty miraculous wonders in their lives more than they have ever asked Him in prayer. As we focus on prayer in our study today, I pray God will ignite the fire of prayer in the heart of every one of us so that our lives can become the showcase of His great wonders for our generation to know Him as the true God.
Celebration of Our Victory and Advancement as Jericho Walls are fallen, Worship led by Pastor Nathaniel Bassey on the 7th of July, 2024
The importance of prayer in the Christian life and Christian church cannot be exaggerated. It remains an indispensable means for walking with God and for securing divine power for uncommon exploits in life and ministry. Everything that God does has always been in response to prayer. In other words, no Christian and no church can experience God performing great and mighty miraculous wonders in their lives more than they have ever asked Him in prayer. As we focus on prayer in our study today, I pray God will ignite the fire of prayer in the heart of every one of us so that our lives can become the showcase of His great wonders for our generation to know Him as the true God.
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Sermon preached on 2024 FATHER’S DAY about Heroic Fathers from Bible Scriptures JUDGES 6:12; PHILIPANS 2:13;3:13, with Definition of Hero, Father and Heroic Father given. An hero is a person who is admired by many people for doing something brave or good, A father is the male parent of a child and a heroic father is the man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities – Hebrew 11:33-40.
Bible study on Wednesday 12th of June, 2024 topic Advancing The Gospel Ministry As Servants of Jesus
Principles to Advance Unto Newness: 1. Forget the Past 2. Be Ready to Pay the Price..3. Envision the Newness. 4. Know the Pedigree/Integrity of The One Who Promised the Newness......
Sermon Preached on the Opening Day of the Youth Convention 2024,
Theme:
Advancing Unto Newness
Minister:
Bro. Simeon Fabunmi
Sermon Preached on the Opening Day of the Youth Convention 2024,
Theme:
Advancing Unto Newness
Minister:
Rev. Dr. Samson Adedokun
Sermon Preached on the Opening Day of the Youth Convention 2024,
Theme:
Advancing Unto Newness
Minister:
Rev. Dr. Samson Adedokun
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Sermon Preached on the Opening Day of the Youth Convention 2024,
Theme:
Advancing Unto Newness
Minister:
Rev. Dr. Samson Adedokun
Prayer is one of the major responsibilities the Lord has given to every Christian, and by extension, every local church. A prayer-less Christian is not just a powerless Christian, but a dangerous Christian. Such could do greater damage to the purpose of God than Achan. The cry of one of the disciples who pleaded with Jesus to teach him and his fellow disciples to pray should also be our cry today. May this house truly be a house of prayer, in Jesus' Name.
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It is important to underscore that the advancement the Lord is promising us has a destination. It is not without a focus. It is not directionless. It is a purposeful advancement.
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Prayer remains one of the highly potent weapons Christ has given to the church to advance His purpose on earth. Prayer makes the church strong, formidable and impregnable. There is no wisdom, no insight or knowledge that can succeed against a praying church. It is only a prayer-less church that is a weak, beggarly and at the mercy of the enemy. It is my prayer that the house of IBC shall truly be a house of prayer, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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It is important to underscore that the advancement the Lord is promising us has a destination. It is not without a focus. It is not directionless. It is a purposeful advancement.
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Prayer remains an indispensable means to walking with God. The main business of the House of God - the church - is prayer. A local church that fails to be a House of Prayer will end up being a den of thieves. There is no in-between. You just have to be one.
One of the ways by which Satan is killing local churches today is through prayerlessness. This church, (our local church- IBC) by all means and by the grace of God must be a House of Prayer. Anything short of that is not acceptable with the owner of the House.
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Preaching by Rev. Dr. Friday Bekee in the Evening Session of the Grand Finale of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024
Theme:
The House of Prayer.
Preaching by Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer in the Evening Session of the Grand Finale of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024
Theme:
The House of Prayer.
Preaching by Rev. Dr. Julius Omomola in the Morning Session of the Day 3 of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024
Theme:
The House of Prayer.
Preaching by Rev. Dr. Friday Bekee in the Morning Session of the Day 4 of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024
Theme:
The House of Prayer.
Preaching by Rev. Dr. Friday Bekee in the Evening Session of the Day 2 of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024
Theme:
The House of Prayer.
Preaching by Rev. Dr. Thom Rainer in the Evening Session of the Day 1 of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024
Theme:
The House of Prayer.
Preaching by Rev. Dr. Friday Bekee in the Morning Session of the Day 2 of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024
Theme:
The House of Prayer.
Preaching by Rev. Dr. Friday Bekee in the Evening Session of the Day 1 of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024
Theme:
The House of Prayer.
Preaching by Rev. Dr. James Lawuyi in the Evening Session of the Day 1 of the Bi-Annual Revitalization conference 2024.
Sermon preached by Rev. Olufemi Babalola on Mission Emphasis Sunday on the 25th of February, 2024.
Bible study on Congregational Attitude for Supernatural Advancement preached by Rev. Michael Onyegbu on the 21st of February, 2024.
Bible Study on the Topic: He First Loved Us preached on the IBC Couples Fellowship Valentine Day Service on the 14th of February, 2024.
One of the best decisions that the fathers in IBC took some years ago was for IBC to become a Purpose Driven Church. This decision led to what is often referred to as the Purpose Driven Vision (PDV) in our church.
My personal attestation to the foregoing is that this is the best way to go for any local church. This principle is rooted in the Bible and it is the major path to Church Health.
It has become necessary for us to go through this series again for the purpose of carrying along those who joined the church in the last three years, and also for old members to refresh their understanding of this Scriptural approach to growing a healthy church.
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It is with great joy that I bring the word of the Lord to you today. I am praying that you will accept this message from the Lord and enter into something bigger and greater than you ever imagined. This is no doubt a year of supernatural advancement for us. Interestingly, as part of that package, the Lord is offering us something special that we all should embrace in order to experience supernatural advancements.
Let’s read Exodus 34:10.
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Bible study on the Rapture of the Saints, to conclude the reading on the Book of Malachi.
God is interested in raising for Himself a glorious church that will make herself ready for His coming. The second coming of Jesus is imminent and inevitable. His coming has become more evident when we consider the signs that are gradually unfolding before our very eyes. The events happening all over the world are sharp reminders that His coming is sooner than we can possibly ever imagine. We must brace up, because our experiences, expertise, education and endowments will not save us on that day (Zephaniah 1:14). Only those who have encountered Him and are regularly presenting themselves for His refining shall be saved
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Sermon preached by Prof. 'Gbola Ojewola at the Third day of Family Revival Program 2023
Sermon preached by Prof. 'Gbola Ojewola on the second day of the Family Revival Program 2023
Sermon preached on the Final day of the Mid-Year Congregational Fasting and Prayer, 2023
The history of gold is unequaled by that of any other metal because of its perceived value from earliest times. Gold is one of the densest of all metals. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is also soft and the most malleable and ductile of the elements’.
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The 110th Convention in Session just ended a couple of days ago, and the theme for the session was ENTERING INTO NEWNESS THROUGH LOVE AND UNITY. Various messages have been preached in the past one week calling our attention to the issue of love and unity. Today, the Lord is still interested in furthering this conversation with His church and our focus for today is LOVE; FOR PEACE AND UNITY. As a church, if we are to experience peace and unity, we must love like Jesus loved.
How must we love in order to experience peace and unity?
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The greatest need in the world today is not resources, technology or smart people.
Rather, the greatest need all over the world today is Peace and Peacemakers! Having spent some time to study about Peacemaking, it is my prayer that the Lord will make IBC a home of Peace. May all of us be Peacemakers wherever we find ourselves and hus be true children of God - Matt. 5:9. May there be peace within our walls all the days of our lives, in Jesus' Name.
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God’s word as contained in Isaiah 60:1 is a message of hope and one that requires careful consideration as we prepare to celebrate Christmas:
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.Click here to read more
One of the comforting revelations God sent our way this year from our study of the book of Haggai is the assurance of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our camp. The Lord declared “... my Spirit remains among you.”- V.5.
This is very cheering and quite challenging at the same time. It is cheering to have the Holy Spirit remaining amongst us! The blessings that go with this truth are innumerable. The principal challenge from the foregoing however is how to host the presence of the Holy Spirit so He does not go away! It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will eternally remain in this church and His presence will be evident and manifest with every passing day, in Jesus’ Name.
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Often times our concern and concentration has been on the woman with the issue of blood but the truth of the matter is that there is another character of possibly deeper spiritual lessons to draw from. It will interest you that the life of Jairus- a synagogue leader, leaves us with a huge base of faithful living to help us activate God’s healing anointing upon our lives. As he watched the condition of his 12year old, Instead of waiting hopelessly or looking for help where there is none, he went in search of Jesus.
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The Lord has brought you and I to this special day!
Being alive to be part of this thanksgiving finale in 2022 is a testimony to the faithfulness of the
Almighty God. Our God deserves our best - best of praises, best of gratitude, best of dancing, best of
jumping, best of shouting and best of whatever we have come to show our gratitude.
May the Lord help us to give Him our best today and always, in Jesus’ Name.
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There is a glory that is coming upon us as a church and the church worldwide. The Lord has assured us of this from His word. And it shall come to pass, in Jesus' Name. Things won’t remain as deplorable as they are in the church and the world at large. It is my prayer that we all shall be alive to partake of this coming glory. Our “Lazarus” shall rise again, in Jesus' Name.
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There is a glory that is coming upon us as a church and the church worldwide. The Lord has assured us of this from His word. And it shall come to pass, in Jesus' Name. Things won’t remain as deplorable as they are in the church and the world at large. It is my prayer that we all shall be
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There is a glory that is coming upon us as a church and the church worldwide. The Lord has assured us of this from His word. And it shall come to pass, in Jesus' Name. Things won’t remain as deplorable as they are in the church and the world at large. It is my prayer that we all shall be alive to partake of this coming glory. Our “Lazarus” shall rise https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fA6nbH7RwlAqmxibvpEKviIKnRvHeco4/view?usp=sharingagain, in Jesus' Name.
Peace is one simple and popular word used in a variety of ways in our world. As simple and popular as it is, it is one commodity that is very scarce everywhere. Several attempts have been made by different persons, groups and governments of the world: national, regional, continental and international organizations to bring peace into the world but to no avail. For instance, the formation of United Nations Organization after World War 2 was an effort to ensure peace among all the nations of the earth. Despite that, there have been several outbreak of wars among nations of the world. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a vivid example.
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Life in this world comes in different phases. There are moments of warfare and a season of
victory. There are periods of great excitement and time of outer disappointment. In short,
there is no permanent condition here on earth because the world itself and everything therein
is never permanent but subject to change.
In the same way, it is not unusual nor is it a strange phenomenon for a faithful child or servant
or church of God who had once been lifted high on the mountain top of uncommon exploits to
suddenly descend into the valley of despondency, distress, rejection, and depression. However,
the only comfort or hope that guarantees victory and a bright future for the children of God in
every changing season in the world is the presence of our unchanging God.
The Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has passed
through every phase of life including death and He triumphed gloriously eventually. This is the
reason why He alone can give us succor and save us from every season of life Satan our enemy
has determined to exploit to rob us of our fulfillment in life. You also, in your difficult and
terrifying season of life can overcome as Jesus overcame. With determination to avoid certain
attitudes that will further sink you deeper in the ocean of adversity and a courageous heart to
appropriate God's provision for you to continue the journey and finish strong.
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Words are powerful and have creative ability. They are forces for enforcing the demands
of the one pronouncing them. What we hear has a way of forming our outlook and shaping
our outcome. The Word of God itself is His instrument for establishing His plans and
purposes here on earth. The Word of God is the instrument for creation. In the beginning,
God said let there be light and there was light Genesis 1:1-3. Anywhere the Word of God
has been applied it has always worked!
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will never pass away Matthew
24:35
Forever O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven Psalm 119:89
Everything God does endures forever Ecclesiastes 3:14
...has He has said it, He will do it, has He promised He will bring it to pass Numbers
23:19
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Praise is one of our spiritual act of worship that can trigger heaven’s response very easily. It is
an easy pathway for assessing God’s attention- As Men Praise, God Raises!
- Praise is an instrument of war for defeating the enemy 2 Chronicle 20:20-22.
- Praise breaks chains Acts 16:26
- Praise grants us access into God’s Presence Psalm 22:3, 100:4
- Praise is a game changer Proverbs 27:21
- Praise is a direct response of a life translated from light to darkness 1 Peter 2:9
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To summarise the story of Haggai chapter 1 and the gravity of the assignment involved
in rebuilding the Temple, it would require something beyond mere reasoning. When we
consider the decay the once celebrated and palatial edifice has become and the rubble
that is left of what used to be the cynosure of all eyes but now a mere caricature. When
we imagine what resources and energy would be required to rebuild it, we will agree
that it is a tall order. Presently, when we look at the harsh economy, the uncontrolled
devaluation of Naira, deep poverty in the land, poor economic situation, unfavourable
business climate and the challenge of insecurity, we are left to conclude that, as a
nation we are facing tough and turbulent times. If there is anything we need now, it is
faith. We must transact by faith!
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There is no doubt in my mind that our God is a miracle working God. The Scripture provides a catalogue of His miracles and wonders in the lives of people, communities and Nations.
That same God of the Bible has not changed - Mal.3:7. He is the same yesterday, today and forever - Heb. 13:8.
He is still doing miracles today! And you are the next in line! Amen.
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The Lord has been speaking strongly to us about the necessity of His word. We have
been challenged severally to take the word of God very serious. It is my prayer that the
Lord will make all of us lovers of His words in Jesus Name.
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IBC Musical Concert tagged: The Blood Speaks.
Ministering:
Panam Percy Paul and Other Ministers of God
God Bless You in Jesus name
The word of God remains one of His principal means of operation. No man, no Christian, no church, church organization or para-church organization can amount to much in God and with God without taking the word of God seriously.
It is my prayer that each one of us will resolve to take the word of God serious and make it our best companion, in Jesus’ Name.
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The word of God remains one of His principal means of operation. No man, no Christian, no church, church organization or para-church organization can amount to much in God and with God without taking the word of God seriously.
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- Sermon preached on the 3rd of July, 2022 as the end of the Mid-Year Fasting and Prayer, 2022..
Ministering:
Prof. Tunde Farombi
- Sermon preached on the 3rd of July, 2022 as the end of the Mid-Year Fasting and Prayer, 2022..
Ministering:
Prof. Tunde Farombi
- Sermon preached on the 2nd of July, 2022 as the end of the Mid-Year Fasting and Prayer, 2022..
Ministering:
Prof. Tunde Farombi
- Sermon preached on the 1st of July, 2022 as the end of the Mid-Year Fasting and Prayer, 2022..
Ministering:
Prof. Tunde Farombi
Prayers and Declarations made for the Country, the Church, The Families and Ourselves concerning the Month of June, 2022
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a theological truth but an historical fact.
Christ is risen! Death could not hold Him captive!
He is Lord and He is alive for ever and ever. Amen.
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We have come to a time when we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. This celebration is the hallmark of the Christian faith. It is what makes Christianity different from any other faith.
It is my prayer that as we celebrate this particular Easter, that God will help us to get a better
understanding of the necessity of Christ's death.
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Against the backdrop of perpetual sins and attendant judgement, Jeremiah wondered
if there was going to be a way out for God’s people. The verse in consideration this morning was actually an expression of perplexity in the face of hopelessness. As we take a closer look at this verse of scripture, May the Lord come true for all of us and administer His Divine Balm on every one of us, in Jesus' Name.
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This is our third service talking about the Hand of God. This is because, without Him,
we can do nothing. It is obvious from scripture that God’s means of accomplishing His
purpose on earth and in our lives is by His Hands – 1 Kings 8:24.
It is my prayer that the Hand of God will rest upon your life. May the Hand of the Lord
forever work for your good, in Jesus' Name. May the Hand of the Lord never be against
you, in Jesus' Name.
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In addition to what we discovered last week about the Hand of the LORD, there is still so much to know about this subject. It is advised that we all spent some time on our own to study more about the subject.
More importantly however, we trust God that we all will have a personal experience of His Hand on our lives, in Jesus' Name.
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Sermon preached on the 6th of February, 2022 which was the Healing/ Miracle and Communion Service for the Month of February, and also the conclusion of the Discipleship Summit.
Teaching on the Purpose Driven Life, Book by Rick Warren to continue on the 40 Days of Purpose Study for the Church.
Sermon preached on the last Night of Prophetic Blessings on the 21st of January, 2022.
Minister:
Rev. Dr. Julius Omomola
Teaching on the Purpose Driven Life, Book by Rick Warren to commence the 40 Days of Purpose Study for the Church.
Sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Samson Adedokun on the Sendforth Service of Rev. Mrs. Bosun Adegboyega
Sermon preached on the 3rd Night of Prophetic Blessings on the 21st of January, 2022.
Minister:
Rev. Dr. Olu Aibinuomo
One of the best things that can happen to a man is to hear a word from God. If there is a time to hear from God, it is now! No one can survive supernatural shaking unless he hears a word from the LORD. A word from God can turn the table around and bring solution to hitherto difficult situations and circumstances. If we do not hear a clear instruction from the LORD we will not be able to utilize the manual of life.
- God spoke to Abraham Genesis 13:5-17
- God spoke to Isaac Genesis 26:1-6, 22
- God spoke to Jacob Genesis 32:24-28
- God spoke to Moses Exodus 3:1-10, 33:11
- God spoke to the Prophets 1 Kings 19:11-13, 2 Samuel 12:1-15. God spoke to the early Apostles (Acts 10:9-16)
- Even now, God is speaking to you! Hebrews 3:7-15
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Sermon preached during Sunday Worship Service on the 16th of January, the date of the conclusion of the 12 days congregational Fasting and Prayer.
Sermon preached on the second Night of Prophetic Blessing of the Year 2022.
Minister: Rev. Dr. Tammy Siloko
Sermon preached on the first Night of Prophetic Blessings of 2022
Minister:
Rev. Dr. Ayo Oguntade
Sermon Preached on the Cross Over Service into the Year 2022, Our Year of Supernatural Shaking for Glory and Peace
The God we serve is a God of progress. It is His desire for us to continue to move forward in every positive area of our lives. Specifically from our text, God wants us in the coming year and the rest of our lives to continue to make progress in our knowledge of Him and be strong for Him all the way. May the Holy Spirit help you and I to grow in our knowledge of God and grow stronger and stronger in Him.
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The Faithful God has done it again. He has brought us to the glorious last days of another year.
Alleluia! Despite the challenges this year, God helped us! He wrought Supernatural Exploits in and through us as individuals, families and church. May His Name alone be exalted forever and ever in Jesus' Name.
Meanwhile, though we are ending the year 2021 tagged our year of Supernatural Exploits, this does not mean that an end has come to our doing exploits. Rather, it should be the beginning for us as individuals, families and church. WE MUST CONTINUE TO ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD AND EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM HIM. So, supernatural Exploits continues!
It will continue for the rest of our lives, in Jesus' Name.
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Sin is perhaps the greatest tragedy that has befallen humanity. It severed the sweet fellowship between God and man in the Garden of Eden. It has remained a terrible enemy of mankind till date. God has however provided the solution to the problem of sin. Jesus Christ is the final solution to the problem of sin. -;Matt. 1:23; Jn. 1: The essence of Christmas is therefore not just to enjoy good meals, travel on vacation, and have good time with family and friends. It is rather to celebrate God's provision of the solution to the problem of sin - Matt. 1:23.
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The race of life could be very interesting and unpredictable. Some started their journey in life
well, but had a very poor ending. Some actually are good starters but very poor finishers! They know how to start but never end well. On the other hand, there are those who start on a
challenging note but end with testimonies! - Gen. 45:25-28; 46:28-30; 47:7-9; 49:33. It does not matter how tortuous your life’s journey is or has been; you will end your journey/this year on a better note! No matter how rough and difficult the journey of your life has been, with Jesus on your side, your ending would be better than your beginning! - Job 42:12. Even if it has been good all the way for you, the Lord is guaranteeing you that it will continue to be better - Pro. 4:18. So shall it be in Jesus Name.
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The Lord has done it again!
He has brought us safely, gloriously, triumphantly and wonderfully through another year.
Despite the storms, the whirlwind, the fire, the thunder and the lightings, we made it. Alleluia!
Thank God for victory everywhere!
To the Lord our God be all the glory in Jesus Name!
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The subject of thanksgiving is familiar to most of us. Unfortunately, it is still the most misunderstood in the body of Christ.
Thanksgiving is more than what we do once in a year!
With good understanding, every believer need to grow beyond thanksgiving to thanks-living!
The essence of this message is to prepare our hearts to give to God acceptable thanksgiving, not just during this thanksgiving period, but for the rest of our lives. May the Lord help us to do so in Jesus Name.
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The subject of thanksgiving is familiar to most of us. Unfortunately, it is still the most misunderstood in the body of Christ. Thanksgiving is more than what we do once in a year!
With good understanding, every believer need to grow beyond thanksgiving to thanks-living! The essence of this message is to prepare our hearts to give to God acceptable thanksgiving, not just during this thanksgiving period, but for the rest of our lives. May the Lord help us to do so in Jesus Name.
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Sermon preached on the Grand Finale of the Annual Revival of the Year 2021.
Tagged;
Divine Shaking
Ministering;
Evang. Isaac Omolehin
Sermon preached on theThird Day of the Annual Revival of the Year 2021.
Tagged;
Divine Shaking
Ministering;
Evang. Isaac Omolehin
Sermon preached on the Second Day of the Annual Revival of the Year 2021.
Tagged;
Divine Shaking
Ministering;
Evang. Isaac Omolehin
Sermon preached on the First Day of the Annual Revival of the Year 2021.
Tagged;
Divine Shaking
Ministering;
Evang. Isaac Omolehin
The matter of divine appearance has been a recurring part of our prayer this year. This is in consonance with our quest to know God better and deeper, and to engage in supernatural exploits.
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A Sermon preached by Rev. Mrs. Bosun Adegboyega on the 24th of October, 2021; A charge to remain Strong
As we glean through our theme book for this year, one can see pointers of the mercy of God in
the life and activities of His people. The lions that refused to eat Daniel throughout the night did not allow his accusers to touch the base of den, they tore them and ate them mid air, Mercy! (Daniel 6:16-24). The three Hebrew boys survived the heat of fire that leapt and consumed the mighty men of Babylon that were outside the fire, Mercy! (Daniel 3:19-23). The time that was not given to the magicians and astrologers was graciously given to Daniel to seek the face of his God, Mercy! (Daniel 2:1-16)
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Sermon Preached by Rev. S.M Leigh on the 17th of October, 2021; Celebrating our Senior Citizens
Sermon Preached on the 13th of October, 2021; a teaching on Nebuchadnezzar, His Dream and Daniel's revelation and interpretation.
Sermon Preached on the 6th of October, 2021; a teaching on Nebuchadnezzar, His Dream and Daniel's revelation and interpretation.
Sermon Preached on the 3rd of October, 2021 celebrating the 61st Annual Independence day of Nigeria with Declarations and Prayer raised the Nation.
Sermon Preached on the 29th of September, 2021; a teaching concerning the Church Planting exercise that took place the week before.
The story of the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda teaches us some vital lessons about the need for divine intervention for visible progress. It is my prayer that Jesus will repeat this kind of miracle in the life of someone today - Heb. 13:8.
May someone experience divine intervention for visible progress today, this month and the rest of this year, in Jesus' Name.
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I have a very strong conviction that God wants us to experience supernatural progress as individuals, families, church and Nation this month and the rest of the year.
For as many as will believe God and His Prophets, they will experience supernatural progress like never before from today and the rest of this year in Jesus Name.
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The book of Daniel provides a wealth of information to those who will diligently consider it and its teachings. While the book has some things that we may consider difficult to understand, it provides many principles, lessons, and insights that cannot be neglected. If anyone wants to understand the book of Revelation, it is important to understand the book of Daniel.
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The message from God to us as individuals, families and church today is very clear and simple.
The Lord our God is telling us:
“You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”
This word can be viewed from different perspectives viz. as a word of advice, an observation or a rebuke. It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will help us as individuals, families and church to break every limitation around our lives and move forward with God’s purpose.
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In recent weeks the Lord has challenged us on the need to draw near to Him and build intimacy. As we press on with the call for intimacy with God, we will peep into the scriptural book for 2021 to guide our thought for today. Have you imagined what it would look like standing before God?. The scripture says that He dwells in inapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). His eyes cannot behold sin (Habakkuk 1:13), yet, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Standing before God could mean so many things to so many people depending on how we choose to use the word. Using the example of Elijah, we can conclude that standing before God could mean:
- Position and authority in God (1 Kings 17:1)
- Promise that should be trusted (1 Kings 18:15)
- Pronouncement of a sure relationship (2 Kings 3:14)
- Possible expectation of divine judgement. If standing before God opens us to a possible
expectation of judgment, then we must set our house in order.
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In recent weeks the Lord has challenged us on the need to draw near to Him and build intimacy. As we press on with the call for intimacy with God, we will peep into the scriptural book for 2021 to guide our thought for today. Have you imagined what it would look like standing before God?
The scripture says that He dwells in inapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). His eyes cannot behold sin (Habakkuk 1:13), yet, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Standing before God could mean so many things to so many people depending on how we choose to use the word. Using the example of Elijah, we can conclude that standing before God could mean:
- Position and authority in God (1 Kings 17:1)
- Promise that should be trusted (1 Kings 18:15)
- Pronouncement of a sure relationship (2 Kings 3:14)
- Possible expectation of divine judgement. If standing before God opens us to a possible
expectation of judgment, then we must set our house in order.
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Jesus commanded the man with a shriveled hand to stretch out his hand. That instruction
looked strange! However, when the man obeyed the Master’s instruction, the miraculous took
place.
It is my prayer that as you stretch out your hands this month and the rest of this year, that you
will experience the miraculous in Jesus’ Name.
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The Lord God in His omniscience knows time and seasons. Out of His love for His children, He often reveals His mind to us. Such revelation are divine secrets when obeyed, and they often lead to blessings, deliverances and the advancement of His people.
It is my prayer that all of us will take the call from God this morning very seriously and apply our hearts to it. The outcome would be greater blessings, deliverances and progress in our lives, families and church in Jesus' Name.
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The Lord God in His omniscience knows time and seasons. Out of His love for His children, He often reveals His mind to us. Such revelation are divine secrets when obeyed, and they often lead to blessings, deliverances and the advancement of His people.
It is my prayer that all of us will take the call from God this morning very seriously and apply our hearts to it. The outcome would be greater blessings, deliverances and progress in our lives, families and church in Jesus' Name.
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David fought many battles in life, David also had the testimony of experiencing victory in all his life’s battles - 2 Sam. 8:1-18. 1 Chr. 18:1-17. I'm challenged to know the secrets behind these victories of David. It is to this end that an attempt is being made to explore David’s secrets of Supernatural Exploits. It is my prayer that the Lord would give us this kind of testimony as well in Jesus' Name.
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Youth Convention week sermon, talking about taking territories, knowing your enemies, discernment and how to overcome and taking territories and the Missiles used in fighting and Taking Over Territories
Minister: Bukki Gbenro
Youth Convention week sermon, talking about taking territories, knowing your enemies, discernment and how to overcome and taking territories
Minister: Bukki Gbenro
Defilement is very, very dangerous to the believer, the family, local church and a nation.
It is the fastest way of getting in trouble with God. God abhors a defiled life and the
atmosphere that it creates. Supernatural exploits can hardly occur in an atmosphere of
defilement. On the other hand, Satan thrives in an atmosphere of defilement. This
explains why all kinds of evil work is found in such atmosphere.
The Lord is sending this message to us as individuals, families and as a local church to
deal with every defilement in our lives personally and collectively if we truly want to
experience supernatural exploits in life.
Defilements and supernatural exploits do not go together!
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Defilement is very, very dangerous to the believer, the family, local church and a nation.
It is the fastest way of getting in trouble with God. God abhors a defiled life and the
atmosphere that it creates. Supernatural exploits can hardly occur in an atmosphere of
defilement. On the other hand, Satan thrives in an atmosphere of defilement. This
explains why all kinds of evil work is found in such atmosphere.
The Lord is sending this message to us as individuals, families and as a local church to
deal with every defilement in our lives personally and collectively if we truly want to
experience supernatural exploits in life.
Defilements and supernatural exploits do not go together!
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Defilement is very, very dangerous to the believer, the family, local church and a nation.
It is the fastest way of getting in trouble with God. God abhors a defiled life and the
atmosphere that it creates. Supernatural exploits can hardly occur in an atmosphere of
defilement. On the other hand, Satan thrives in an atmosphere of defilement. This
explains why all kinds of evil work is found in such atmosphere.
The Lord is sending this message to us as individuals, families and as a local church to
deal with every defilement in our lives personally and collectively if we truly want to
experience supernatural exploits in life.
Defilements and supernatural exploits do not go together!
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We are in desperate times which call for desperate prayers.
We need desperate prayers to secure divine interventions in our individual, family,
National and Global lives.
David in the above passage read made desperate intercession. It was a royal prayer for
victory over treacherous enemies. There seems to be so much similarity between
verses 1-10 and Psa. 18.
We need to pray the same prayer for ourselves, families, our Nation and the world at
large today. May the Lord part His heavens and come down to us now in Jesus' Name.
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Pastors' Appreciation Service
There has never been a time as this when the men of the clergy are being faced with much ridicule, shame and contempt. Due to the misbehaviors of some, the priesthood has been dragged in the mud. Many people today think that all men of God are dupes, fakes, and exploiters.
No doubt, some "so-called" men of God have messed up, stained their holy garments, and become a ridicule to the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is however worthy of note that there are still many genuine men of God in the body of Christ today. Men of God who are sacrificial, free from the love of money, never a burden to their congregation and truthful to their calling.
Permit me to say that IBC is blessed with such men of God, who by the grace of God, have been proven and tested in their calling.
It is my prayer that the Lord would keep all of us to the end. That the Lord would help us fight the good fight, finish our race and keep the faith to a glorious end in Jesus' Name - 2 Tim. 4:6.
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Introduction
Obedience is the last of the seven (7) realities in Experiencing God, and it appears to tie all the other realities together. Obedience is one of the major pillars on which the Christian faith rests. It is key to a consistent and continuous love relationship with God. The only way we can prove our love to Jesus Christ is by a life of obedience.
Until you learn to take orders from God, your Heavenly Father, you will not be a correct child. You would continue to bring grief to your Maker. Unfortunately, however, you are the one that will suffer the consequence.
May the Lord fill each and every one of us with the spirit of obedience to Him and all His commands. May we all continue to grow in our obedience to God. May our obedience to God be radical, total, prompt, and unconditional in Jesus’ Name.
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KNOWING AND DOING THE WILL OF GOD
The Journey of Experiencing God is moving from Knowing God's Work down to Obedience and Experience part, where you discover that :
- God is always at work around you
- God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal
- God invites you to become involved with Him in His work
- God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, Circumstances, and the Church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways
- God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action
- You must take a major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing
- You come to know God by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you
The Journey of Experiencing God is moving from Knowing God's Work down to Obedience and Experience part, where you discover that :
- God is always at work around you
- God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal
- God invites you to become involved with Him in His work
- God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, Circumstances, and the Church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways
- God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action
- You must take a major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing
- You come to know God by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you
THE CALL TO BE MUSIC MINISTERS
It is necessary to constantly remind ourselves of our purpose as a ministry, because “when purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable.” The following Scriptures remind us of our main purpose:
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INTRODUCTION
There is no doubt in my mind that 2021 will be an exciting year. It promises to be one characterized with testimonies of genuine and lasting personal encounters.
It is my prayer that we all will maximize the opportunity another year presents. May the Lord not pass you by this year in Jesus' Name.
We have an unusual offer this year to know God, be strong and do exploits. Failure in any of these areas would be unfortunate. It is my prayer again that we all shall know the Lord deeper and better this year in Jesus' Name.
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The Journey of Experiencing God is moving from Knowing God's Work down to Obedience and Experience part, where you discover that :
- God is always at work around you
- God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal
- God invites you to become involved with Him in His work
- God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, Circumstances, and the Church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways
- God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action
- You must take a major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing
- You come to know God by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you
A major challenge before us as individuals, families and church this year is to know God. It is
clear from Daniel 11:32b that our ability to do exploits for the Lord in 2021 and beyond
depends on how much of the knowledge of God we have.
It is therefore my earnest prayer that we all shall grow fatter, taller and deeper in our
knowledge of God this year in Jesus’Name - Eph. 1:15-20.
Meanwhile, the journey to knowing God starts with Divine Appearance. In other words, if the
Lord has not appeared to you and does not continue to appear to you, knowing God would be
difficult. We all therefore need to pray that the Lord would continue to reveal himself to us
again and again this year and the rest of our lives. This is because, the more the revelation of
God you have, the more the knowledge of God you possess, and the more the exploits you will
perform for the kingdom of God.
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The book of Daniel is the 27th book in the Old Testament. It is classified among the Minor Prophets. No doubt, the Lord in His mercy has prepared a table before us from this book in 2021. It is my prayer that none of us will miss his or her portion in Jesus’ Name. This thus challenges each of us to take this book (and the entire scripture) seriously in the coming year. We must endeavor to hear it, read it, memorize it; meditate on it and obey it. May the Lord help us as we do these in Jesus Name.
- Authorship
· Internal evidence attests to Daniel’s authorship. The Lord Jesus Christ agreed with this position when he quoted from Daniel 9:27; 11:31; and 12:11.
· Daniel was of the tribe of Judah and possibly a descendant of the royal Davidic family - Dan. 1:3-6. His Jewish name is Daniel and it means God is my judge. He was given a Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, meaning “protect his life.”
· He was born around 620 BC. He was taken into Babylonian captivity at the age of 15 by Nebuchadnezzar alongside 10,000 captives around 605 BC. Daniel spent the rest of his life in captivity and possibly died at the age of 85 to 90 years. This was sometime after the release of the first set of exiles by the Medes and Persians in 536 BC.
· Daniel lived and served during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus.
· Daniel’s life and service in Babylon is a great lesson to teenagers, government officials and all Christians in general. That we all should be people with convictions and that, “wherever life takes us, whatever it brings, however difficult our problems, we must remain faithful to God.”
· Can you imagine the outcome if all Christians would live like Daniel at home, school, workplace, church, etc.?
- Date of Writing
Strong arguments place the writing of the book around 530 BC. This was shortly after the capture of Babylon by Cyrus.
- Purpose of the Book
· To encourage the exiles about the dealings of God among the nations. Daniel used this means to remind the exiles that God remains in control of all things, and so could be trusted to bring to pass His promises as regards their future. Dickson, 965.
· To prepare the people of God for a turbulent history until the consummation of national Israel.
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The book of Daniel is the 27th book in the Old Testament. It is classified among the Minor Prophets. No doubt, the Lord in His mercy has prepared a table before us from this book in 2021. It is my prayer that none of us will miss his or her portion in Jesus’ Name. This thus challenges each of us to take this book (and the entire scripture) seriously in the coming year. We must endeavor to hear it, read it, memorize it; meditate on it and obey it. May the Lord help us as we do these in Jesus Name.
- Authorship
· Internal evidence attests to Daniel’s authorship. The Lord Jesus Christ agreed with this position when he quoted from Daniel 9:27; 11:31; and 12:11.
· Daniel was of the tribe of Judah and possibly a descendant of the royal Davidic family - Dan. 1:3-6. His Jewish name is Daniel and it means God is my judge. He was given a Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, meaning “protect his life.”
· He was born around 620 BC. He was taken into Babylonian captivity at the age of 15 by Nebuchadnezzar alongside 10,000 captives around 605 BC. Daniel spent the rest of his life in captivity and possibly died at the age of 85 to 90 years. This was sometime after the release of the first set of exiles by the Medes and Persians in 536 BC.
· Daniel lived and served during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus.
· Daniel’s life and service in Babylon is a great lesson to teenagers, government officials and all Christians in general. That we all should be people with convictions and that, “wherever life takes us, whatever it brings, however difficult our problems, we must remain faithful to God.”
· Can you imagine the outcome if all Christians would live like Daniel at home, school, workplace, church, etc.?
- Date of Writing
Strong arguments place the writing of the book around 530 BC. This was shortly after the capture of Babylon by Cyrus.
- Purpose of the Book
· To encourage the exiles about the dealings of God among the nations. Daniel used this means to remind the exiles that God remains in control of all things, and so could be trusted to bring to pass His promises as regards their future. Dickson, 965.
· To prepare the people of God for a turbulent history until the consummation of national Israel.
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INTRODUCTION
The book of Daniel is the 27th book in the Old Testament. It is classified among the Minor Prophets. No doubt, the Lord in His mercy has prepared a table before us from this book in 2021. It is my prayer that none of us will miss his or her portion in Jesus’ Name. This thus challenges each of us to take this book (and the entire scripture) seriously in the coming year. We must endeavor to hear it, read it, memorize it; meditate on it and obey it. May the Lord help us as we do these in Jesus Name.
- Authorship
• Internal evidence attests to Daniel’s authorship. The Lord Jesus Christ agreed with this position when he quoted from Daniel 9:27; 11:31; and 12:11.
• Daniel was of the tribe of Judah and possibly a descendant of the royal Davidic family - Dan. 1:3-6. His Jewish name is Daniel and it means God is my judge. He was given a Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, meaning “protect his life.”
• He was born around 620 BC. He was taken into Babylonian captivity at the age of 15 by Nebuchadnezzar alongside 10,000 captives around 605 BC. Daniel spent the rest of his life in captivity and possibly died at the age of 85 to 90 years. This was sometime after the release of the first set of exiles by the Medes and Persians in 536 BC.
• Daniel lived and served during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus.
• Daniel’s life and service in Babylon is a great lesson to teenagers, government officials and all Christians in general. That we all should be people with convictions and that, “wherever life takes us, whatever it brings, however difficult our problems, we must remain faithful to God.”
• Can you imagine the outcome if all Christians would live like Daniel at home, school, workplace, church, etc.?
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INTRODUCTION
Today is testimony Sunday. A time set aside to tell of God’s righteous deeds, His saving acts, His mighty acts, His marvelous deeds (Psalm 71:15-17). Sharing testimony is one of the good practices gradually disappearing from the church. As it used to be, it is no longer part of the modern day church life to regularly share testimonies. Even though God has been good, most believers (for one reason or the other) keep quiet as if they have not experienced supernatural interventions. And because of this morbid silence to God’s faithfulness, mercy, love and goodness, the church today is missing greater demonstration of God’s grace (Acts 4:33-34).
DEFINITION OF TESTIMONY
Merriam Webster defines it in several ways, one of which is, “Firsthand authentication of a fact: evidence.” But for for the purpose of this exhortation, TESTIMONY is:
-An open acknowledgement and declaration of God’s goodness and power by an individual or group of people.
-Simply sharing what God has done for you.
TRUTH ABOUT TESTIMONY
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Testimony is a Public Declaration-Psalm 71:15; Psalm 22:22.
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We Must Recognize God as the Source of Our Testimony-Psalm 71:15.
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Testimony is a form of Praise and Honor to Christ.
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Testimony must be God focused―not to ‘show off’ but to ‘show forth’-Psalm 71:15.
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Testimony must be Intentional―not an afterthought-Psalm 71:16; Luke 8:39.
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Testimony should be ongoing―must never stop-Psalm 71:17.
WHAT TESTIMONY CAN DO (POWER OF TESTIMONY)
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Testimony Enhances Longevity-Psalm 71:18, 20-21; Psalm 9:13-14.
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Testimony Reminds us of God’s Goodness-Joshua 4.
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Testimonies Are Great Tools for Edification and Encouragement-1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14.
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Testimony is a Witness to the Unsaved- Luke 8: 39; John 4:39.
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Testimony Seals our Victory over the Enemy- Rev. 12:11.
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Testimony is an Open Declaration of Your Stand-Rev. 12:11.
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Testimonies Attract More Grace- Acts 4:33.
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Testimonies Beget Testimonies.
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Testimonies Foretell the Future- Rev. 19:10b; I Samuel 17:34-37.
CONCLUSION
Someone said, “One of the reasons for less supernatural acts in today’s church is that we don’t place enough premium on what God has done in the past.” Telling what God has done in the past has the capacity to activate raw faith to do supernatural exploits.
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TOPIC- “…BUT THE DISCIPLES…”
BIBLE PASSAGE- MATTHEW 19:13-15
Message Prepared and Presented by Rev. Mrs. Bosun Adegboyega on Sunday, 13th December, 2020 during her worship service
INTRODUCTION- As we gradually close the curtain on the year 2020, we can say, indeed God has been good to us as individuals, family and Church. Though it was a year filled with many ups and downs and many of us have had a share of the good, the bad and the ugly either directly or indirectly; we still saw God as He showed His Supernatural Light and Glory and extended His mercy towards us. That is why we are alive today and still standing.
However, having discovered that our God is good, we also come to the point where we take stock of how we have done as children of God particularly in our service to Him and our relationship with others.
Our focus from the text today will be on the following:
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The People’s Request
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The Disciples’ Résumé
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The Disciples’ Reaction
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Jesus’ Response
A. THE PEOPLE’S REQUEST V. 13
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They brought the children to Jesus to be blessed.
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They brought the children to be prayed for. They had heard and seen Jesus as He performed miracles and taught the people.
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They brought the children to Jesus for Him to impact their lives.
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They brought the children so they could also have an encounter with Jesus.
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They brought the children to Jesus so He would leave a long lasting impression on them.
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They were bringing the children to a safe place.
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Their desire was for the children to carry the mark of Jesus’ touch.
Interestingly, none of the biblical records addressed these people as the parents of the children.
B. THE DISCIPLES’ RÉSUMÉ
We need not assume that we know who the disciples were. We need to put their identity into perspective so we can better understand the implication of their action and relate it to our own lives.
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MOVING FORWARD: FROM SUPERNATURAL LIGHT AND GLORY TO SUPERNATURAL EXPLOITS
The year 2020 is an historic year. We sensed from the onset that there would be thick darkness over the land in the course of the year, but none of us imagine it was going to be this challenging. As we were coming out of the Covid ‘19 pandemic, we were greeted with the #EndSARS protest and its attendant problems. It will be difficult to forget the events of the year 2020 in a hurry. In all, we have every cause to yet appreciate the Lord for His mercies that has shielded us from the disasters of the year 2020 (Psa. 57:1). Thank God for His supernatural light and glory...
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The year 2020 has been quite eventful.
Despite the numerous challenges we have gone through this year, we still have every cause to celebrate God’s goodness and mercies.
Meanwhile, due to the challenges of the year 2020, many of us may have become weary in our faith. Worse still, as some of us take stock of the year, we may begin to wonder what we have really achieved. The outcome of such stock taking could not only be worrisome, but could be very depressing for some.
Consequently, many may have lost hope, not just in themselves, but in God. Some may have given up, not expecting anything good to happen to them in the rest of this year. Some may even be contemplating suicide now!
The Lord has however sent me to tell such people this morning, not to give up! God is still in charge and He has the final say! God can still do a lot for you in the 24 days left in 2020. So, thus saith the Lord: "don’t give up!"
1. Don’t give up your love and devotion to God - V.5-10.
The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is quite inspiring and challenging.
It is a challenge to couples in all generations.
This couple truly loved the Lord and were genuinely devoted to serving Him - V.5-10.
They were described as “upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.”
For reasons beyond human explanation, Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless.
Yet, they did not stop serving the Lord.
The "but"(need) in their lives was not a sufficient reason to stop serving the Lord.
Their persistence, consistence, faithfulness and commitment to kingdom service finally paid off.
The Lord remembered and visited them. He answered their prayers and gave them a lifetime miracle.
Please, don’t give up on God.
Keep loving Jesus.
Keep serving the Lord.
He will come for you one of these days - Lk.13:10-13.
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The Lord designs every Christian and Church to be fruitful. Fruitfulness has to do with a life of positive impact. It is a life that counts. It is a life that flows with God’s blessings. Such life is characterized by genuine Christian Character and soul winning.
Seven insights we can glean about the fruitful vineyard from our text include:
- God has zero tolerance for fruitlessness - V.1-2a.
It is evident from both the Old and New Testament that God has zero tolerance for fruitlessness.
The option for a fruitless vine is to be cut down.
Judgment awaits every fruitless vine.
Don’t be a fruitless vine;
God will cut down every fruitless tree - Lk. 13:
- She enjoys divine privileges - V.2b; Isa. 27:2-3; Lk. 10:17-20; 13:6-9.
The divine privileges that go with fruitfulness are many.
It is my prayer that we all shall begin to enjoy the benefits that go with being fruitful.
- She must constantly depend on the Lord - V.4-5, 6.
It is great folly for a believer to depend on self or any other thing or person other than the Lord - Jer. 17:5-7.
The truth remains that APART FROM CHRIST, we can do just NOTHING - V.5.
- She has the capacity of reaching her highest potential - V.5; cf. V.2, 8.
From no fruit, God expects us to move to the next level of one fruit, many fruits and much fruits.
We can reach that highest potential if we would abide in the vine.
- Being fruitful provides a platform for praying to get results - V.7.
Prayer is the live wire of the believer/church.
We are all to be praying Christians/Church.
Meanwhile, it is not all prayers that get answered.
One way to secure a platform to praying to get results is to be committed to soul winning.
- Being fruitful helps us to glorify God - V.8a.
The climax of the experience is to bring glory to the Almighty God.
One way to do this is by a fruitful life.
Soul winning helps us to bring glory to the Almighty God.
- Being fruitful is one of the evidences that you are a correct disciple - V.8b.
How do you proof that you are a correct disciple?
One of such ways is to bear much fruit.
May the Lord help us to be correct disciples in Jesus' Name.
Beloved, this is time to justify God’s investment in your life and family. Failure to be fruitful may be very dangerous. Don’t be like Mephibosheth, who despite eating always at the king’s table, remained crippled on both feet. It is time to go out and proof to be a fruitful, grateful and useful Christian/Church.
This message is a character study. We trust God to draw some lessons for our personal, family and congregational lives. I appeal that nobody should take offense about the character used for our study. It is not meant to spite or insult anyone.
A. Who is Mephibosheth?
- The only known surviving son of Jonathan - 2 Sam. 4; V.3.
- His name means “utterance of Baal.” What a name! I can’t imagine Jonathan giving his son this kind of name. This was perhaps the reason for the misfortune he suffered later in life. Be careful about the kind of name you bear and the kind of name you give your children.
- He was lame on both feet - V.4
- He was not born lame but became lame accidentally at the age of five when his nurse was running away with him - V.4.
- He experienced unusual favour - 2 Sam.9:1-13.
- Against protocol, Mephibosheth experienced God’s favour.
- He wasn’t the only one left of the household of Saul. There were others, but Ziba particularly mentioned the one that was be of interest to David.
- Mephibosheth was brought from seclusion from Lodebar (meaning with pasture)to stay with the King in Jerusalem – V. 4
Note the levels of Kindness shown Mephibosheth viz:
- A reassurance from the king - V.7
- He was shown kindness for the sake of his father Jonathan - V. 7
- Restoration of all the land that belonged to his grand-father Saul - 7.
- He was made to eat at the King’s table always from that day - V.7. Cf. v.10b, 11b; Ps 23:5.
- The favors were overwhelming and perhaps not expected by Mephibosheth that he referred to himself as a “dead dog” - V.8.
- David also made Ziba, his 15 sons and 20 servants to become Mephibosheth’s servants from that day - V.9-10, 12.
- Mephibosheth was made to live in Jerusalem from that day - V. 13.
The sad news was that, despite all these privileges, Mephibosheth was crippled on both feet. He was more a dependant and a burden to people around him. Even when he had the opportunity to minister to David when Absalom attacked him, he did nothing and that led to his losing everything. He went back to square one - insignificance and oblivion! – 2 Sam. 16:1-4; 19:24-30.
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Theme: Pressing On With Supernatural Light and Glory.
Speaker: Dr. Mrs. Martin Adeleke
Panelists:
- Mrs. Bunmi Olowude
- Mrs Alaba Gbadebo
- Mrs Bunmi Awe
- Dr. Damola Adelakun
Theme: Pressing On With Supernatural Light and Glory.
Speaker: Dr. Mrs. Martin Adeleke
Panelists:
- Mrs. Bunmi Olowude
- Mrs Alaba Gbadebo
- Mrs Bunmi Awe
- Dr. Damola Adelakun
Theme: Pressing On With Supernatural Light and Glory.
Speaker: Dr. Mrs. Martin Adeleke
Panelists:
- Mrs. Bunmi Olowude
- Mrs Alaba Gbadebo
- Mrs Bunmi Awe
- Dr. Damola Adelakun
Kingdom work is so large in scope that no individual Christian, family, Church or organization can do it alone. More hands are required from time to time to meet up with the task of advancing the Kingdom of God.
In the above passage, Jesus appointed and commissioned additional 72 disciples. They were to go "... ahead of him to every town and place where he was to go."
A. Definitions.
· Appointed is same as chosen or selected.
· Commissioned has to do with "authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts." It could also mean "authority to act for, in behalf, or in place of another."
B. Appointed and Sent: 7 Ideas to Share.
1. The need to be grateful to God for being among those appointed and sent - V.1 cf. Jn. 15:16; 20: 21; Judges 1:4-7.
It is a unique privilege to be appointed by God to kingdom service.
Of the thousands following Jesus all over the place, just 72 were selected for this special mission.
What a privilege!
What a privilege we have to be involved in the Great Commission!
What a privilege that God is asking you to go on Church Planting next weekend!
It is a special privilege that you should be grateful for.
That your hands and legs are not chipped.
That you are in good health and strong.
I hope you will not give untenable excuses.
- The need to be a responsible and reliable worker in God's house - V.2a.
It is sad that the number of people involved in God's work in every local church is often few.
A large majority are mere consumers of God's grace, chair warmers, SMO Christians.
This is a major reason why God's work has not spread at the rate it should - workers are few! This is sad.
It is happening live now, even in IBC!
It is sad to see the number of people who have written their names down to go for Church Planting
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Mercy according to the dictionary is to show “compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”
Robert Young’s on the other hand explained Mercy to be as following: “kindness, loving kindness, pity, compassion, beneficent,” etc
The Almighty God has indeed been so merciful to you and I, especially since the beginning of this year. That we are alive despite going through the valley of the shadow of death of 2020 is a miracle of God’s mercies.
If there is anything to be thankful to God for today, it is to appreciate Him for His boundless mercies over us all.
Why Celebrate God’s Mercies?
- We have been Preserved by His mercies - Lam. 3:22
What does it mean to be Consumed?
It means the following: eat up, devour, ingest, swallow, gobble up, wolf down, gorge oneself on, feast on, etc.
It also means to destroy, demolish, annihilate, lay waste, wipe out, raze, gut, ravage, ruin, wreck, etc.
Wow! Thank you Lord for your mercies!
- The mercies of God never fail - Lam. 3:23
God’s mercies is the divine joker.
Where every other thing fails, the mercies of God always succeed.
- We experienced it every morning - Lam. 3:23.
God’s mercies are new every morning.
We receive a fresh dosage of His mercies every brand new day. Alleluia!
- We have been Spared sorrow upon sorrow - Phil. 2:25-27.
The mercies of God not only bring us deliverance, it also helps to spare us sorrow upon sorrow.
May you be spared from sorrow the rest of this year in Jesus Name.
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Annual Revival Programme
Date: Sunday 8th November to Wednesday 11th November, 2020
Preacher: Evang. Isaac Omolehin
Annual Revival Programme
Date: Sunday 8th November to Wednesday 11th November, 2020
Preacher: Evang. Isaac Omolehin
Annual Revival Programme
Date: Sunday 8th November to Wednesday 11th November, 2020
Preacher: Evang. Isaac Omolehin
Annual Revival Programme
Date: Sunday 8th November to Wednesday 11th November, 2020
Preacher: Evang. Isaac Omolehin
What does ‘Victory’ entail?
- Victory is “an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition.”
- Victory is also referred to as ‘Success’
- It is a terminology that has to do with being above, as opposed to being under.
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Esther is one of the two Books in the Bible named after a woman, the other is Ruth. Esther lived in a time of powerful empires and ambitious, cruel, egoistical despots. The Jewish exiles among whom Esther lived in Babylon faced a tumultuous and dangerous times of their lives. Haman, the enemy plotted against the Jews. This conspiracy was well orchestrated and its execution was also sure not to fail except for the divine intervention through Esther the Queen.
The experience of the Jewish exiles then is very similar to our present situation today as a nation. The various evils we have witnessed in the past and the experience of this past one week are enough proofs that there are evil conspiracies against us. However, the boldness and courage displayed by Esther in the face of sinister enemies and potentially dire consequences paid off eventually for the deliverance of the Jews. She was challenged to consider all her previous life experiences and her current royal position as God’s preparation “for such a time like this.” Likewise, God is ready to set Nigeria free from the bondage of our oppressors if we will also know the things that are required in such a time as this.
- We must understand and never trivialize the grand plan from the pit of hell against us. Esther 3:8-11
l Obviously, there can be no smoke without fire and no evil of such magnitude can occur without the backing of the king. But there is the King of kings who rules and reigns forever. He will rise to expose and destroy every evil plan against us (Psalm 2:1-6).
- We must cease from ostentatious lifestyle and humble ourselves before God. Esther 4:1-4.
l Humility before God is one of the preconditions for experiencing divine intervention that brings revival, restoration and refreshing (2 Chronicles 7:14).
l Replacing fine clothing with the humble apparel and covering oneself with ashes were acts of utter humility and dependency on God.
l The drastic change in the outward appearance was also a sign to the onlookers of a deeply serious situation. The hope then was that others would see and sympathize with their plight, and that God would be moved to action.
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Introduction: The greatest privilege or investment God has ever made into the human life particularly His children is His indwelling presence. Our God, as great, mighty, powerful and highly exalted He is graciously and voluntarily offered Himself to live among His children in order to manifest His glory, His splendor and to display His wisdom, might and power (v. 8; Ephesians 3:8-12; Colossians 1:27). Unfortunately, many of us are ignorant or do not appreciate this divine honour. This naivety were aptly captured in the following passages of the Scriptures: Psalm 49:20; 1 John 3:9; 4:4).
However, in our pursuit of becoming the Gold Church we certainly cannot afford to ignore this special right God has bestowed on us as His people. The neglect of it will render us everything but Gold. How I pray that the Lord Jesus Himself will shine His glorious light over our hearts that we may be able to comprehend this glorious riches we have as God’s people in Jesus name.
A. The Necessity of God Dwelling in Man: Exodus 25:8
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It is not for want or lack of place where God could live. Psalm 103:19; Isaiah 66:1
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It is His wisdom or method for accomplishing all His works on earth through the mortal man, made of ordinary dust. Genesis 1:26-28; Ephesians 3:8-12; Colossians 1:27.
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It is the distinguishing mark of His people from everyone else. Exodus 33:15
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It gives or provides us divine direction in life. Exodus 40:34-38
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It is the unmistakable evidence of His pleasure. Exodus 33:15-16; Matthew 3:16-17
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It gives us unrestricted access into places and people that are difficult to penetrate. Psalm 114; Joshua 2:8-13; 6:1-5, 20-21
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It gives us unusual boldness and courage to confront the powers and forces sent to render us unfulfilled and unfruitful in life and ministry. Acts 13:5-12...
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The above topic was borne out of an experience God gave me some years ago in a dream. One of my spiritual fathers who is now late (Dr. Uzodinma Obed) prayed for me in that dream. Amongst many other things he said in that dream that I remember vividly was that “...the time has now come for the Gold Church.” He made several other utterances in his prayer for me in that dream which are quite personal and would be left for another time.
That divine experience brought a radical turn in my life and ministry. It became the direction and the driving force for my life and ministry. The local church I was pastoring then, soon blossomed, multiplied and was able to accomplish great fetes for God in her church life and ministry.
It took a while before I actually began to talk or teach about the Gold church in my last local church pastorate, because I needed a good understanding of what God was saying. While I cannot say I have it all figured out yet, I am sure I can begin to shed some light on the subject. Thank God for the spiritual fathers the Lord placed over my life. They have brought a lot of clarity to this through their teachings, personal life and ministry, as well as through their oversight on my life.
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Christ life was filled with prayer. He started His ministry on the foundation of prayer, continued with prayer and ended with it. If there is someone that should be expected not to pray, it is Jesus Christ, because He is the Son of God. However, S.D Gordon who was quoted by Dave Earley said the following about the prayer life of Jesus Christ:
“The man Christ Jesus prayed;
he prayed; prayed much;
needed to pray; loved to pray.”
Prayer remains the present day ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. He ever lives to make intercession for the saints - Heb. 7:25.
The goal of this message is to challenge us to step up in our prayer lives more than ever. There is so much need for praying men and women at this time. God is eagerly looking for men who will stand before the “tomb” of our Nation, family and church, as Jesus did at Lazarus' tomb, to intercede and pray them back to life - Lk. 11:41; Ezek. 22:30.
May the Lord find you and I as gap fillers at this time in the life of our nation. This would be a means of averting looming National disaster.
Some of the insights that can be gleaned from the recorded prayers of Jesus Christ in our text are as follows:
1. His prayer is always borne out of compassion - V.33.
You can’t be an effective intercessor without a bowel of compassion.
Dry eyed and strong hearted people can’t be effective intercessors.
2. His prayer is always predicated on purity - V.39,41.
The stone in this passage stands for hinderance. This may symbolise sin which stands to hinder our prayers. Once sin is dealt with, there is a high probability of getting answers to our prayers.
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The year 2020 has been quite challenging for many of us. It has been a year in which darkness, in fact thick darkness, covers the people. Instead of experiencing God’s light and glory, some of us have had contradictions instead.
The Lord has however come to assure us this morning that regardless of what you have seen in the last 9 months, you can still see the glory of God!
A. The Glory of God in Context.
· The intervention of God.
· The arrival of God in your situation
· The miracle of God
· The supernatural
· The blessing of God
· The answer of God
· The restoration of God.
B. Prerequisites for Beholding the Glory of God.
There are a number of Biblical requirements to seeing the glory of God. Some of them that can be gleaned from this text include the following:
- You need Jesus Christ the Advocate on your side - V.33-35,38,39,40,41,42-43.
· Jesus wept! That is a serious matter!
· Jesus wept twice in scripture; here and over Jerusalem - Lk.19:41.
· Jesus' weeping here was not out of weakness.
· Rather, he wept out of compassion, concern and burden.
· He wept out of deep love for Lazarus and even Mary and Martha.
· Can I tell someone this morning that Jesus is touched by what you are going through - Heb. 4:15.
· He is deeply moved by your situation and has come to do something about it.
- You need to deal with every hindrance - V.39.
· As powerful as Jesus is, there are certain things he would not do for you.
· You will have to do them by yourself.
· Jesus would not remove the stone for Martha and the rest.
· It was their responsibility to remove the stone, while it was His responsibility to perform the miracle.
· What is the stone hindering you from experiencing your miracle?
· Is it anger? Is it bitterness? Is it un-forgiveness?
· What is the sin that you need to deal with?
· What is the restitution that you need to make?
· What is that stone that you need to remove?
· May the Lord open your eyes to see such and deal with it right away. Otherwise, you can’t see the glory.
- You need to avoid pretense - V. 39.
· The reason why some of our problems persist is because we pretend they don't exist.
· We thus continue to suffer in silence.
· Martha, though she spoke out of
INTRODUCTIONThe death of a loved one usually bring pain, sorrow, inexplicable darkness and grief. If one is not there when it happened, it comes like a BREAKING NEWS and actually breaks one down. Death confronts us with the reality of a sudden separation and paints a picture of an irreversible situation. But there are times when receiving the news of someone's demise is also a sign of relief, peace and Joy.
As Disciples of Christ, for us to arise, shine and manifest God’s glory, we must be ready to die. Probably, the reason why some of us are struggling to fulfil God’s purpose is because the ‘Herod factor’ in us has not died. We can only come alive in Christ after an experience of death to sin, self and the world (John 12:24 NLT). May the LORD help us.
THE DIVINE PURPOSE
God initiated His purpose of reconciling the world by sending His only begotten Son into the world (John 3:16).
The manifestation of divine purpose found expression through Joseph and Mary.
Satan tried to frustrate God’s purpose before the birth of Jesus, but he failed.
Even after His birth, around the territory of king Herod, against all odds, God’s purpose was fulfilled through Joseph and Mary.
You can be sure that with God on your side, you will also fulfil divine purpose.
THE DYNASTY OF HEROD
· Herod the Great (Herod I): Roman king of Judea, referred to as Herodian Kingdom. He was of Arab origin, although he was a practicing Jew.
· Herod Antipas (Son)
· Herod Archelaus (Son)
· Herod Philip (Son)
· Herod Agrippa (Grandson)
MANIFESTATIONS OF HEROD
1. Insecurity- Matthew 2:1-3
-Insecure people are troubled when they hear other people around them are rising.
-They feel bad getting information about an emerging “star”-v.2.
-They are threatened about other people’s progress around where they perceived as their “territory.”
-Sometimes they use the instrument of destructive criticism to outshine others or “demarket” their perceived opponent.
2. Deception-Mathew 2:7-8
-The mask of deception is usually well packaged. It doesn’t appear dangerous on the surface.
-Deceptive people may appear as someone in need of help or trying to help but they are actually after the “star”-v.7.
-Deceptive people may hide under trying to get information but they have ulterior motive.
-They rely on people to give them feedback, so as to know their next line of action-v.8.
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RISING TO SHINE OVER THE WORLD’S DARKNESS - ISAIAH 60:1-2; MATTHEW 14:22-33
Being the message delivered by Olufemi Babalola at the worship service on Sunday 20th September, 2020
Introduction: It is no news again to everyone living in this world that the entire universe is under a severe attack. The Covid-19 pandemic that started like a child play has dealt a great blow to every inhabitant of the world without any exemption. This is one disaster too many in a year that has not only disrupted virtually every human endeavor worldwide, it has also claimed several lives globally and ruined many individual, corporate, national and global economies.
While Covid-19 on one hand is ravaging the whole world with its devastating effects, several parts of the universe are also not at peace due to different natural and man made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, genocide, terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, rape, famines, poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Indeed, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness the people.
Certain questions that one may ask in all of these include where is God? Does God really exist? Does He really care for the world? What is the fate of God’s children? Why does God permits all these troubles? Truly, there may seems to be some contradictions in the world today just as we see in the scriptures we read (Matthew 14:22-24). The truth is that there’s a solution available for you still, it is grounded in God’s sovereignty, that He has a purpose that you’re meant to fulfill, that there’s always hope, and that combined with faith, each day is one step closer to a better day. So, with Jesus you will overcome the thick darkness and with Jesus you will rise and shine again. How?
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He knows all about your situations and He is coming to help you out of it all, Matthew 14:23-24; 10:29-31. It is no new thing for Christ's disciples to face with storms of life, but He thereby shows Himself with the more grace to them and for them. He can take whatever way He pleases to save his people.
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Be attentive to hear from Jesus, Matthew 14:26-27. It is not unlikely that even appearances of deliverance sometimes may trigger trouble and perplexity for God's people, from mistakes about Christ. Those of us who have Jesus near us need not to fear no evil not even death itself (2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18).
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Dare to take Jesus by His word, Matthew 14:28-29. Anyone who dare to trust Jesus and act on His word will surely experience the supernatural. Every bold step taken in spiritual pursuits will receive divine supports. You will never know that you can do the impossible except you trust Jesus.
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Stay your focus always on Jesus, Matthew 14:30a. The divine principle for staying afloat and walking on the storms of life is looking only unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). As long as you keep walking by faith and not by sight you will surely overcome (2 Corinthians 5:7; 1 John 5:4-5). But the moment you look off from Christ, and look at the greatness of opposing difficulties, fear will arise. Once fear invades, there’s no pressing forward in faith or summoning of courage anymore. The presence of fear brings doubt and he who doubts is no difference from the waves of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
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Be humble to cry out Jesus, Matthew 14:30b-31. Christ is the great Saviour; those who would be saved, must come to him, and cry to him for salvation; we are never brought to this, till we find ourselves sinking: the sense of need drives us to him. Once you become aware that you have drifted away from Jesus, the wisest step to take is to humble yourself, return to Him and cry out to Him in prayer (2 Chronicles 7:14; James 4:6, 10; Isaiah 66:2b).
Conclusion: The only antido
INTRODUCTION
Injury time is the time added after regulation time before time is called to a game. It is the extra time added to compensate for time spent attending to injured players and moments not used for the specific purpose of playing during a match. It is called stoppage time! As we look at the world that we are in, we are convinced that we are in the added time of our events here on earth. The signs of the times seem to suggest that we are living on ‘borrowed time’. We are without doubt on a final stretch in our journey of life.
Romans 13:12-14
- TWO THINGS WE MUST KNOW
V12a. The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
The night is far gone;...
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We are definitely not in the early moments of the night but in the final moments of the night- The night is far gone.
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For every night, there is the early night, mid night and late nights. The times we are in, is the late night!
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This night has been spoken of since the days of the New Testament. It has been long spoken of that the kingdom of God is at hand.
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The unfolding of the fulfilment of last day prophesies in Matthew 24 is highly suggestive that the night is far gone.
...the day is at hand. (John 9:4)
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The day can represent so many things to different people. It could imply and truly so be:
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The end to this global Pandemic- Isaiah 26:20
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End to personal struggles, sorrow & sufferings- Genesis 35:17-18, 1 Samuel 4:19-21
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The day of accountability- Genesis 49:1-33
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Our final days here on earth- 2 Corinthians 5:10
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Rapture is at hand- Matthew 24CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
INTRODUCTION
Injury time is the time added after regulation time before time is called to a game. It is the extra time added to compensate for time spent attending to injured players and moments not used for the specific purpose of playing during a match. It is called stoppage time! As we look at the world that we are in, we are convinced that we are in the added time of our events here on earth. The signs of the times seem to suggest that we are living on ‘borrowed time’. We are without doubt on a final stretch in our journey of life.
Romans 13:12-14
- TWO THINGS WE MUST KNOW
V12a. The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
The night is far gone;...
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We are definitely not in the early moments of the night but in the final moments of the night- The night is far gone.
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For every night, there is the early night, mid night and late nights. The times we are in, is the late night!
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This night has been spoken of since the days of the New Testament. It has been long spoken of that the kingdom of God is at hand.
-
The unfolding of the fulfilment of last day prophesies in Matthew 24 is highly suggestive that the night is far gone.
...the day is at hand. (John 9:4)
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The day can represent so many things to different people. It could imply and truly so be:
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The end to this global Pandemic- Isaiah 26:20
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End to personal struggles, sorrow & sufferings- Genesis 35:17-18, 1 Samuel 4:19-21
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The day of accountability- Genesis 49:1-33
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Our final days here on earth- 2 Corinthians 5:10
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Rapture is at hand- Matthew 24CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
INTRODUCTION
It is still our year of supernatural light and glory. The good news is that our light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us (Isaiah 60:1). There is abundance of glory to go round. The problem is not the absence or scarcity of glory but the availability of ready glory carriers. Walking in the supernatural begins on the premise of revelation. Until a man catches a personal revelation of glory, he cannot experience and manifest the glory of God. We have learned so much about glory. It is now time for us to operate in the revelation of glory. May the Lord help us as we trust Him to develop in us the right attitude to walk in the revelation of His glory. May the Lord show us His glory.
A. THE ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GLORY- Isaiah 40:4-5
God is deliberate about His glory for His children.
He promised us supernatural glory this year and it will come to pass.
Supernatural glory is not reserved just for some people, it is originally intended for all.
But there is a glory that awaits us beyond God solving our problems.
B.SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTER WITH GLORY- Luke 9:28-36.
· The Mountain top experience
· Glorious identity revealed-transfiguration
· The Disciples saw His glory
From the experience of Peter, James and John, encountering supernatural glory would require the following:
1. INTIMACY WITH THE LORD-Luke 9:28
-It begins on the premise of intimacy (in-to-me-see) with Jesus.
-It takes more than being an occasional disciple to experience the glory of God.
-Discipleship requires consistent intimacy with the Lord.
-Peter, James and John earned this place because of their intimacy with the Lord.
-The call for intimacy is for all-Luke 9:23
2. DEEPER WALK WITH THE LORD-Luke 9:28
-It comes through a deeper walk with the Lord.
-The place of encountering glory is usually not in a “common room.”
-It requires going to the “mountain,” going the extra miles to get maximum concentration and focus on Jesus.
-It is a journey of sacrifice.
-It is an atmosphere devoid of distraction.
-Prayer plays a vital role-Luke 9:29.
-We must be ready to labour in the place of prayer- Luke 6:12; Luke 22:39-45; 1 Thessalonian 5:17.
-How many times have you gone on personal retreat, fasting, spiritual quarantine, self-isolation just to be with Jesus?
3. REVELATION- Isaiah 40:5; Luke 9:29-34
-Supernatural glory comes by revelation.
-Revelation is “The making known of something that was secret or hidden”.
-The uncovering of deep knowledge and understanding. Having great wisdom of what's hidden.
-The three disciples (P.J.J) saw what they had never seen and heard what they have never heard about Jesus.
-They had a correct understanding of Christ. No wonder they were instrumental to writing part of the gospels.
-We all need a personal revelation of supernatural glory to succeed in our walk with God.
-We need revelation from God to succeed in our walk and work.
-Where are the Josephs and Daniels of our time?
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INTRODUCTION
The awaiting glory is for all those who are expectant of it. By expectant, we mean those who are prepared and working it out in faith. After every successful and faithful story of the experiences of our life journey, there is always a glory to show for it. Little wonder Moses demanded that God should show him His glory Exodus 33:18. My desire today is that the LORD will show us His glory as we look up to Him and bring an end to the somewhat torturous waiting so that men may see the glory of God after the story of our lives.
In Romans 8:19-25...
TO RECEIVE THE AWAITING GLORY
1. PERSEVERANCE IN GODLY SUFFERING- Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Peter 4:13-16; 5:1
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Nothing is as discouraging as experiencing the delays and battling with life challenges- no one understands what you are going through when you are at the lonely moments of your life.
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At the same time, nothing can be compared to the sweet joy that comes with the breakthrough after protracted suffering.
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It’s like what a pregnant woman goes through. If she considers the pain of pregnancy and labour pain, she wouldn’t want to go through that process but when she remembers the life that is coming forth she endures the pain.
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Job went through different levels of suffering but an amazing glory came afterwards.
Job lost all his children in one day
He lost all his means of living- cattle
He lost his wife
He plummeted from hero to zero- completely abandoned
His friends became a thorn in his flesh and constituted themselves as miserable comforters
He was deathly ill with painful sores all over his body
- At the end of the story, he got double for all that he lost- Job 42:10
2. BELIEVE GOD IMPLICITLY- Mark 5:36, 9:23, John 11:40
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Today, again the LORD is pointing His finger on the matters of Martha and the corresponding attitude of Mary.
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Martha exemplified disbelief and exhibited it by:
Literally walking out on Jesus v27
Telling Mary what may supposedly have been a lie v28
Discouraging Jesus to a point that He could not lift a foot and move an inch v30
Following her sister behind to further discourage Jesus v39
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Jesus thought to finally end all this by literally shouting at her, ‘have I not told you’?
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Have you ever pondered on the unusual faith of the Centurion? Matthew 8:7-11CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
a. The Lord called Joshua to circumcise the people because those who were first circumcised had died in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb.
b. God would remove the reproach of Egypt through this circumcision.
c. This circumcision was the beginning of a new phase with this generation.
1. REASONS FOR THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION
a. Covenant of circumcision was an eternal covenant which was started in the time of Abraham. Genesis 17:10-12
b. God instructed Joshua to do this circumcision in order to renew His covenant relationship with them. This is because their fathers had failed God severally
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They manifested unbelief
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They manifested stubbornness
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They practised idolatry
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They rebelled against their God-given leader Moses.
c. This period was a period to make the people aware of the sins of their fathers which made the Lord to destroy their fathers in the wilderness. God did not want this new generation to fall into the same mistake.
d. God wanted to use this as a removal of the reproach of the Egyptian that they carried. The punishment meted on their fathers made it look like God was not capable of taking His people to the Promised Land.
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For God to fulfil His promise they had to be circumcised and consecrated unto Him.
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For God to fulfil the agenda of taking them to the Promised Land and giving them their expected desire, they had to be circumcised, they had to be consecrated.
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As a matter of necessity, we as Christians today must learn from the mistakes and sins of the Israelites.
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We must also know that there is a greater, better and compulsory circumcision that we also must do today in order to be pleasing unto God and in order for God to be able to fulfil His agenda for us.
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Also in order for us to be qualified to partake in God’s agenda, we must of a necessity carry out this better circumcision so that we can be able to rise and shine in God’s glory.
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This better circumcision is the circumcision of our heart.
2. WHAT IS THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART
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It is the reconditioning and realigning our heart unto God.
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It s the yielding of our life unto God to please Him and Him alone.
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This is done through conscious, genuine repentance.
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It can also means reconciling our heart and life unto God- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
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INTRODUCTION
A Divine Mandate is a command from the LORD empowering believers to act based on His Agenda. Genesis 1:28 is a divine injunction which provides us with a perfect understanding of Divine Mandate. From the verse we can see God clearly putting in the hand of man the authority to be in control of the world around him. This mandate covers 5 distinct levels of authority within the 3 operational spheres of life.
Every Divine Agenda is backed up with a Divine Mandate, which is a clear instruction on how to fulfil God's purpose. While Divine Agenda sets out God's instruction, assignment and purposes for His people, Divine Mandate places action to the intention. Divine Mandate is therefore the authority and order to carry out the Divine Agenda.
Genesis 30:25-30, Exodus 3:18, 7:16 8:1-25, 9:1, 13; 10:3, John 11:1-44
It is possible that you are operating at a spot with no significant progress in life. Maybe you have laboured and tried so many options, made several consultations but you seem to be locked in a spot. There is a Divine Mandate for you- it is your moment to go!
ACTIVATING DIVINE MANDATE
Drawing from the experience of Jesus with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Activating Divine Mandate would require the following:
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INTRODUCTION
Our response to God’s call and His work is very important if we are going to fulfill divine agenda. From the scriptures, we see the dangers of disobedience and how it has halted the giant strides of great champions, extinguished the glory of mighty armies, ended the destinies of many, truncated great promises, stopped so many mighty men of valour, rubbished and reduced the supposed great and accomplished men who were too careless with sacred things. It therefore behoves on us to understand the gravity of what the Lord is intending for us, so that we assess our response in our pursuit of His divine agenda.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF DIVINE AGENDA
The church is the institution for enforcing God’s agenda and His Word is the instrument for executing the agenda. So our part is to discover where God is at work, find our role and assignment in the agenda and join Him in His work. It was God's agenda to bring the children of Israel out of slavery after 400 years in Egypt, but we see clearly the insistence of Pharaoh not to let the people go. Time will fail us to talk about the agenda of God in the days of the Patriarchs, the prophets of old and the days of early beginnings of the New Testament Church as recorded in Acts.
Every:
- Divine agenda has its fulfilment in Christ- Colossians 1:16
- Divine agenda must surely come to pass- Isaiah 14:27
- Divine agenda is carried out by Man- Ezekiel 22:30
- Divine agenda can never be carried out by human method- Zechariah 4:6
- Divine agenda is executed via divine instruction- Exodus 25:40, Hebrews 8:5
- Divine agenda must always take priority over personal ambition- John 3:30
So to stand in the way or to disobey divine agenda can be very costly!
THE DANGERS OF DISOBEDIENCE
If we are going to press on with God’s agenda, then we must avoid disobedience because:
- It hinders the ability to deal with the disobedience of others
2 Corinthians 10:6, Matthew 15:13-14, Luke 6:39, Romans 2:21, Jeremiah 6:14
- Due to sin in the lives of leaders, the morality of dealing with sin has been eroded.
- Those placed to deal with sin, no longer have the courage to speak against the sin of others
- The reason why some people in power, government and other organizational leadership cannot boldly deal with people’s errors is because they themselves are not clean.
- The agenda of God is facing challenge because certain men of weak character and low integrity with high level disobedience are unfortunately placed to dispense and discharge sacred assignments of the church.
- As a result, God’s purpose is treated as though they do not matter
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Topic- Victory Over BarriersText- Joshua 1:1-4Message Preached by Rev. Mrs. Bosun Adegboyega on Sunday, 16th August, 2020Life is a pilgrimage. Most times, this pilgrimage is not like a straightforward graph. Life’s journey is full of ups and downs.
It is a scriptural truth that for every new level, there is a new devil. This implies that we shall face resistance as God’s people at every time we desire to advance with God’s agenda for our lives as individuals, families and church - Dan. 10:13; 1 Cor. 16:9.
A. Definitions
i. Victory is the act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle or game or other competition. It also means success.
ii. Barrier is a fence or other obstacle that prevents movement.
B. Some Examples of Barriers in Scripture and How to Overcome Them.
- Physical/ Natural Barrier - Josh. 1:2; cf. 2 Kg. 2:8, 13-14
Even though it had other usefulness, the Jordan River was a natural barrier.
How would the Israelites cross the Jordan without a ship or boat, etc.
Even for those who could swim, how far could they have gone swimming?
2. Personality Barrier - Ex.23:22; 1 Cor.16:9
E.g. Pharaoh - Exodus 5:1
Pharaoh was a personality barrier.
He would not let Israel go from serving Egypt.
He was very cruel to the people of God and would not let them go.
3. Systemic Barrier - Esther 4:9-11
The system says you cannot see your husband except he stretches the scepter to you.
How many women would like to marry this type of husband?
The type you will have to gather the whole community to fast for for you for 3 days and three nights before you can see his face.
4. Blood line barrier - 1 Chr. 4:9-10
This relates to family and ancestral curse.
Many of us are still having trouble with the bloodline barrier even after we have given our lives to Christ.
We can cry to the Lord like Jabez did and He will deliver us in Jesus Name.
5. Denominational Barrier -
This barrier makes it difficult that you can’t go beyond a particular level.
Once you get to that bar, no more progress.
6. Traditional Barrier - Gen. 29:25-26.
We don’t allow younger sister to marry before the elder sister.
How many young ladies have been kept single as a result of this barrier.
7. Racial Barrier - Jn. 4:9-10; Acts 10:28-29.
This is another terrible barrier.
This is currently ravaging the whole world.
The church is not immune from it.
May the Lord deliver us from this in Jesus Name.
8. Satanic Barrier - Zech. 3:1-2; Dan. 10:13
This the one commonly associated with barriers.
Even it is physical, we blame it on Satan.
Christ has however given us victory over satanic barriers.
9. The flesh barrier - Rom. 7:15-17.
Until the barrier of the flesh is removed, the human spirit can not be liberated.
10. God’s barrier - James 4:6-7.
God detests proud people.
God cannot tolerate pride around Him.
If you would not enter into trouble with God, run away from pride.
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There is no doubt that the year 2020 has been a special year for the entire world, and especially for us in IBC.
There will perhaps be no other year like this as we move on in our Christian pilgrimage.
IBC must maximize the opportunity the light and glory of God presents to us this year - Isa. 60:1-2.
No doubt, we have dwelt long enough on this mountain - Deut. 1:5.
We must not miss our God moment.
Time is running out.
We have received the light and experienced the glory - Isa. 60:1-2.
It is time to rise and shine now, for the glory of God has come on our lives.
It is time to move on with God’s agenda.
It is now or never!
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INTRODUCTION
God has great plans for all of His creation. What He has set for you and me is beyond what the mind can comprehend or the eyes can see. Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Corinthians 2:9. However, many Christians today are living below their potential because of the works of glory killers. It is time for you to arise and say like David, “Arise my glory,” as you confront the glory killers in your life.
WHAT IS GLORY?
Glory is that which makes you unique.
Glory is that which shines when you fulfill God’s given purpose.
Glory is that which radiates when you fulfill destiny.
It is in fulfilling God’s purpose that His glory is released in your life.
In John 2:11, Jesus performed the first miraculous sign and the Bible says “…thus revealing His glory.” Unless there is fulfilment of purpose, there cannot be manifestation of glory.
WHAT ARE GLORY KILLERS?
Glory killers are the things that can hinder the glory of God from manifesting.
The things that can hinder your intimacy with God.
Those things that can make you fall short and not meet up with God’s expectations for your life.
EXAMPLES OF GLORY KILLERS
1. Disobedience
Disobedience can be outright refusal to do what the Lord wants you to do
Disobedience can be delay in acting on God’s instructions for you.
Disobedience can be being selective of what to do and what not to do
Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord by eating of the fruit of good and evil- Genesis 3:6-7
Saul disobeyed by sparing the king of Amalek and leaving some choice animals- 1 Samuel 15:7-9
One moment of disobedience can have long lasting consequences not just for the persons concerned but also the people connected to them.
The disobedience of the children of Eli led to “Ichabod,” the glory departing from Israel and from the family. 1 Samuel 2: 30-35; 4:21
In what areas are you disobeying God’s instructions?
In what areas are you doubting God’s instructions?
The effect of the disobedience of Adam and Eve caused man to fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.
2. Anger-
So many would have gone far and achieve more but for their inability to control their anger.
Many have destroyed what they labored for because of anger.
Lack of self-control has led many to truncate the plans of God for their lives.
Moses was a man known for his anger. Exodus 32:19; Numbers 20:9-10.
Anger can lead to regret when actions and words spoken at the heat of the moment become irreparable and irreversible – Ecclesiastes 7:9; Proverbs 29:11- “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” (NIV)
Anyone who can make you angry can control you- Proverbs 16:32
Stop making excuses for your anger- James 1:20 ‘For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
3. Immorality-
Many glories have been destroyed on the platter of immorality.
Many have sold themselves to the devil and become crippled emotionally and psychologically as a result of sinful and filthy acts of immorality.
One does not even have to leave his room these days to get into all kinds of immorality.
The internet has made it open to all and sundry and only those who are disciplined and committed to the Lord can overcome.
Samson’s glory was destroyed abruptly because he refused to keep himself in check. Judges 16:19ff – “She lulled him to sleep on her knees…and his strength left him.”
The relationship of a man and woman can only be consummated in marriage. Hebrews 13:4.
Anythi
Apostle Peter is another example of a glory carrier.
From an ordinary, unlearned, unschooled, “raw” fisherman, Peter became a foremost Apostle.
Peter’s ministry legacy remains outstanding even several thousand of years after his passing into eternity.
Scripture reveals that Peter contacted the glory on two vivid occasions viz. On the Mount of Transfiguration, and on the day of Pentecost - Matt. 17:1-9; (2 Peter 1:16-18); Acts 2:1-4, 11.
Till His death, the Spirit of glory and of God rested on him. He died as a Martyr between AD 64 and 68. Amongst others, the following additional features can be observed about glory carriers.
- They are Collaborators - V.1; 2:14.
Glory carriers don’t operate in isolation.
They collaborate with others to achieve kingdom objectives.
Peter must have learnt this from the Lord. – Matt 17:1-10
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not operate in isolation.
It was always Peter and John – Acts 3:1
Or Peter with the eleven – Acts 2:14
- They are Committed to spiritual disciplines - V.1.
Spiritual disciplines in the Church are many.
Two notable ones we see Peter committing himself to in this passage are Temple worship and Prayer.
Despite Peter’s status, he does not miss church service - Heb. 10:25.
Despite his status, he would not miss a prayer meeting - V.1.
Spiritual disciplines are not just required to secure the glory,
they are highly essential to sustain it.
Many people pay great sacrifice in obtaining the glory, but later become lazy at sustaining it by omitting the price they earlier paid to obtain it.
- They are Compassionate - V.4
It was compassion that made Peter and John look in the direction of the beggar.
It was compassion that made them not see him as a burden or a distraction.
The compassion of Christ won’t let them just pass by this beggar.
How compassionate are you?
One major way to know that you carry the glory is how compassionate you are.
- They are Conscious of what they carry - V.2-6.
When you are not conscious of what you have, you would soon loose it. You won’t even know that you have lost it when it gets lost, because you were never conscious of it in the first instance.
Moses did not know that he carried the glory until he was told, and so, he covered it with a veil. That became a problem to the Jews until Christ came.- Ex. 34:29-35
Moses, perhaps forgot that he carried the glory when he erred at Meribah, and faced divine sanction – Numbers 20:6 ff
Peter and John were conscious that they had something.
See what they said in V.4-6.
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INTRODUCTION
The issue of glory is beyond story. You don’t merely tell glory stories, they announce themselves. Through the ages, God has always manifested Himself by the display of His glory. One of such men, privileged to carry and display the glory of the LORD was Daniel. He interpreted dreams and received apocalyptic visions.He was taken from Judah during the Babylonian captivity led by king Nebuchadnezzar. Interestingly, even in such lockdown, the glory he carried shone even brighter.
THE BLESSINGS
- Influential Across Different Kings- Daniel 1:18-21
It is difficult to look beyond those who carry the glory of God. When a glory carrier is involved in a matter to go against him is to pitch tent with failure. Kings don’t go for battle until the prophets have consulted God and received clearance, nations don’t lift a finger until the one with the mandate has declared the road free. Such was the glory that was on Daniel that made him to exert influence across four different kings. In a world where leaders emerge with the necessary overhaul of their cabinet, that practice did not shake the position of Daniel. He practically had a permanent seat in power because of the glory he carried. From Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar, to Darius and to the 1st year of Cyrus’ reign.
- Men With Prophetic Eyes- Daniel 2:1-45
They see! They foretell and they forth tell. Nothing is hidden from their eyes- what is discussed in secret is made bare before them. Hidden matters are unravelled by them. They give interpretation of a dream not disclosed. Clear cut prophecies with accurate result.
- It is the glory of God to conceal a matter but the glory of kings to search out the matter- Proverbs 25:2
- Filled With Unusual Wisdom & Carriers of God’s Spirit- Daniel 5:11-14
They are endowed with an incredible gift of wisdom that cannot be equated to what the world offers. A carrier of God's glory is gifted with unusual application of knowledge, such a man is never considered as a pushover.
THE CONSECRATIONS
- Determined Never To Defile Himself- Daniel 1:8
In the face of general acceptance Daniel chose to be different. It was a tough call to say ‘No’ to the offer of the King. He didn’t only refuse the King’s request, he denied himself of the opportunity of feeding fat and enjoying the sumptuous meal that was to be presented from the kitchen of the king. He won’t defile himself no matter what was up for offer.
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INTRODUCTION- The life of Joseph is a practical example of a man that was set for glory. God’s presence and power was with Joseph and that made the difference and helped him to achieve glory in spite of all he went through. Joseph went from the pit to Potiphar’s house; he went from Potiphar’s house to the prison and from the prison to the palace and eventually he became a Prime Minister in Egypt. We can learn some powerful lessons from the life of Joseph as we trust the Lord to take us to a new realm and help us to attain glory by His grace.
The following are important lessons from the life of Joseph
1. His beginning- Genesis 30, 37
a. Joseph was the son of old age- It took many years before his mother had him. He came after years of delay. Glory carriers can only be delayed but cannot be denied. Genesis 30:22-24. Glory carriers may not appear early, but they cannot be stopped at God’s appointed time.
b. Glory Carriers are not lazy people- 37:2- Because you carry glory does not mean that you will do nothing, even the Bible says “Arise, shine…”
c. Glory carriers must learn to manage spiritual information- 37:5
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Joseph told his dreams to his half brothers and they hated him for this. “...So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.” verse 8c
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Be mindful who you share your “dreams” with. It doesn't matter who they are- family, colleagues or close friends.
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You do not have to share in public what the Lord showed or told you in secret.
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It is important to know when to share your dreams and where.
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Dream killers can come in any form and their aim is always to make sure that the dream does not see the light of day. Joseph’s brother’s said, “Come therefore, let us kill him and cast him into the pit...we shall see what will become of his dreams.”verse 20
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Joseph’s dreams would have been truncated and his glory destroyed had the Lord not been on his side.
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It has always been the desire of God for His house to be filled with His glory. A church that is devoid of God's glory or Ichabodic, (that is, where the glory has departed) is not the will of God.
However, the glory of God is not a cheap thing! It is, perhaps, the height of divine experience God could share with a mortal. No words would be sufficient in explaining or describing God's glory, and it is an experience every child of God should earnestly hunger and pray for ever before being called to glory. One moment of glory is far better than a lifetime of fame. Alleluia!
A. God's Glory Defined/Explained.
- It is God's special covering on His Redeemed Child - Gen. 3:10.
- It is the visible presence of God in His Sanctuary - Exod. 40:34; 2 Chro. 5:13.
- It is the weighty presence of God in the lives of His people.
- It is God's supernatural response to those who fully obey Him - Exod. 40:34ff
- It is the travelling companion of the Redeemed in the journey of life (from Egypt to the Promised land) - Exod. 40:36-38.
- It is perhaps the height of divine experience open to a Redeemed child of God - Exod. 34:29ff.
- It is perhaps God's way of announcing His arrival amongst His people - Isa. 40:3-5.
- It is perhaps God's way of responding to His children/church that walks with Him in full obedience - Exod. 40:34ff; 2 Chron. 5:13-14; 7:1.
- The glory is what makes an individual/family or church divinely immune to the enemy’s attacks, assault and intimidation - 1 Chron. 16:19-22 cf. Gen. 20:1-5.
- It is the secret of awesome miracles manifesting through the life of His servants - Acts 19:11; 5:12-16.
- Etc.
B. Prerequisites for Bearing His Glory.
- A life that is regenerated - Jn. 3:3,7; Acts 9:1-4, 11-19.
- A life that has been weaned from worldliness - 1 Jn. 2:15-17.
- A life that is committed to dying daily (death to the self life; death to pride) - 1 Cor. 15:31.
- A life that is solely devoted to pleasing God - Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Jn.8:29.
- An uncommon hunger for God - Psa. 63:1; 84:1-12.
- A life that is committed to prayer - Exod.33:18; Psa. 84:1-2, 8-12; Matt. 17:1-13.
- A life that is committed to purity - Isa. 40:3-5; 2 Chronicles 5:11-12; 1 Sam. 6:20.
- A life that is committed to the unity of His church - 2 Chronicles 5:13; Acts 2:1; Eph. 4:1-6.
- A life devoted to worship - 2 Chronicles 5:13-14.
- A life committed to complete obedience - Exod. 39:42-43; 40:16, 33-38.
- A life of faith - Jn. 11:40.
- Etc.
It has always been the desire of God for His house to be filled with His glory. A church that is devoid of God's glory or Ichabodic, (that is, where the glory has departed) is not the will of God.
However, the glory of God is not a cheap thing! It is, perhaps, the height of divine experience God could share with a mortal. No words would be sufficient in explaining or describing God's glory, and it is an experience every child of God should earnestly hunger and pray for ever before being called to glory. One moment of glory is far better than a lifetime of fame. Alleluia!
A. God's Glory Defined/Explained.
- It is God's special covering on His Redeemed Child - Gen. 3:10.
- It is the visible presence of God in His Sanctuary - Exod. 40:34; 2 Chro. 5:13.
- It is the weighty presence of God in the lives of His people.
- It is God's supernatural response to those who fully obey Him - Exod. 40:34ff
- It is the travelling companion of the Redeemed in the journey of life (from Egypt to the Promised land) - Exod. 40:36-38.
- It is perhaps the height of divine experience open to a Redeemed child of God - Exod. 34:29ff.
- It is perhaps God's way of announcing His arrival amongst His people - Isa. 40:3-5.
- It is perhaps God's way of responding to His children/church that walks with Him in full obedience - Exod. 40:34ff; 2 Chron. 5:13-14; 7:1.
- The glory is what makes an individual/family or church divinely immune to the enemy’s attacks, assault and intimidation - 1 Chron. 16:19-22 cf. Gen. 20:1-5.
- It is the secret of awesome miracles manifesting through the life of His servants - Acts 19:11; 5:12-16.
- Etc.
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In the mind of many the church is thought to be a human institution, a social arrangement to facilitate the interests and mission of like-minded people. Good as this may sound, the revelation we have in the Bible goes beyond this. The origin of the church actually lies in the desire of God to have a people of His own through which He will accomplish His redemptive plan for the rest of the world (Exod. 19:1-8; Deut. 7:6). In a both strategic and as well as eternal sense, the church is God’s instrument for displaying His manifold wisdom, to dislodge Satan, the prince of this world and to establish His Kingdom here on earth (Matthew 16:18; Eph. 3:10).
What is the Church? Matthew 16:13-19
The Church is an “ekklesia” a separate and new community of people created by Jesus Christ for Himself (Matthew 16:18). People that is built “on this rock” the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). People who through faith in Christ have established personal relationship with Jesus after they have been redeemed from the life of sin, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and have been baptized in the name of Christ (Acts 2:37-38).
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Isaiah 60:1-3 is our text today and it is indeed a prophetic declaration upon the people that survived the Assyrian captivity. This prophetic declaration came through Prophet Isaiah at the time the remnants were in disarray, confused and dejected, not knowing what to do and how to make sense of their lives.
While many of them were certain that it was God that delivered them from the powers that took them captives they doubted themselves and possibly questioned God because of the situation they found themselves in. It was at this crucial moment that God spoke expressly through Prophet Isaiah not only to encourage His people on His sovereignty and His power but to fire them into action. It was to fire them into productivity, purpose and into their destiny based on what God Himself had done, what He was doing and was coming to do.
Upon this threshold we stand today declaring to all and sundry, especially the children of God, irrespective of what may be your fear that you should “Arise, shine for your light has come” and understand it, not only prophetically but practically and existentially that the glory of God is “risen upon you.” It does not matter the darkness that covers the earth and the pandemic ravaging the world and the thick darkness that is over the people, the word of God for you today is to “Arise, Shine for your light has come,”
God bless you as you enter the moment of manifestation, glorification and celebration.
INTRODUCTION
Life is full of promises, hopes and expectations. Often times, these anticipated glorious manifestations are challenged with battles, struggles and contentions. So, while we live in anticipation of the promises made and lofty heights envisioned we are careful not to be deterred by the strains of disappointments we face as things are apparently not turning out as envisioned. It is important I let you know that God is not slack concerning His promises- if He has said it, then He will do it, if He has promised to show up, then He will show up, if He has assured you of His glory regardless of the time delay (as measured by man)- God will definitely show up in that room both in power and glory!
UNDERSTANDING GLORY
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Glory is used to describe the manifestation of God's Presence. God's glory is a reference to the visible manifestation of God. You cannot separate the Presence of God from His glory. (Exodus 33:11-23) This speaks of His Attributes.
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In the Old Testament, Glory is derived from the Hebrew word ‘Kabod’. (1 Samuel 4:14-22) This speaks of His holiness and weightiness, which is, His significance. (Leviticus 10:1–3, 2 Corinthians 4:17)
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In the New Testament, Glory is derived from the Greek word ‘doxa’. Meaning The honour, praise, to appear, appearance that commands respect, excellence, and magnificence. This describes God's nature and actions in His Self-manifestation.
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Glory is an indescribable and incomprehensible light (Revelation 21:22–25), an overwhelming experience (Exodus 3:1-4), unquantifiable greatness (Ezekiel 1), limitless splendour and impressiveness (Ezekiel 1) and an unusual delight and terror all at the same time (Exodus 20:19-21; 34:27-35) (Exodus 3, (Ezekiel 1, Luke 2)
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Glory is ‘Substance’. (Exodus 16:6-8, 10, 24:15-18; 33:18, 40:34-35, Leviticus 9:4, 6, 23) 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Verse 1
THE SETTLED CASE!
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. v1
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To Arise Means to get up, braze up, wake up, take your place, emerge, become apparent, come to light. No more time and room for story, the glory has come!
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To Shine Means to emit light, to give out a bright light.
Manifesting Glory in Varying Dimensions: 1 Corinthians 15:41
Those who have decided not to make you enter into the fullness of your purpose. Some of these challenges can be personal battles of life, natural phenomena, government regulations, work place politics, societal deprivation, gender bias, social stratification, whatsoever it is, I would like you to know that all you need to do is Arise, Shine!CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Our God is a promise Maker and a promise Keeper. He never lies to any man. He keeps everyone of His promise. We can all attest to the truth that all God said was going to happen this year are already happening. If He said to us that “...darkness will cover the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples” and it is currently happening, then we should believe Him to show us His glory as well.
We have actually experienced His glory in a measure as promised in Isa. 60:1b & 2b. This explains why nothing is missing in our camp. I encourage us to remain under the glory cloud. I am only praying that none of us who have seen the Corona darkness ravaging the world will miss out on the Glory of God that is about to break forth on us this second part of the year!
I pray that there will be no other “darkness” again the second half of the year, in Jesus’ Name.
A. The Certainty of the Coming Glory
- The reason why Christ came - Rom.3:23.
· Adam lost the glory in Adam and became naked.
· Every sinner is naked until they give their lives to Christ.
· That is why the first thing God gives to a man when he gives is life to Christ is a garment, popularly called in scripture the garment of righteousness.
· So, Adam lost the glory in Eden, but Christ came to restore it at the cross!
· If you want to experience the glory of God during this season, give your life to Christ and continue to abide in Him - Jn. 15:4
- The revelation of the indwelling Christ - Col. 1:28.
· Christ is in every believer!
· This happened at conversion; when we invited him into our lives as savior and Lord.
· A revelation of the indwelling Christ is however required for every believer to enjoy the benefits of our redemption in Christ.
· That Christ is in you means a lot!
· Who is Christ? The Anointed One; the Savior; the Healer; the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit; the Miracle Worker; the Resurrection and the Life; the Light of the World; the teacher; the Helper; God Incarnate! Wow!
· May the Lord grant you a revelation of the indwelling Christ!
· Christ in me, the hope of Glory!
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TEXT - 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. NLT.
GLORY(Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Ps. 49:12); glory (Gen. 31:1; Matt. 4:8; Rev. 21:24, 26 .
(2.) Honour, dignity (1 Kings 3:13; Heb. 2:7 1 Pet. 1:24; of God (Ps. 19:1; 29:1 ; of the mind or heart (Gen. 49:6; Ps. 7:5; Acts 2:46 .
(3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Gen. 45:13; Isa. 4:5; Acts 22:11; 2 Cor. 3:7 ; of Jehovah (Isa. 59:19; 60:1; 2 Thess. 1:9 .
(4.) The glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God (Isa. 40:5; Acts 7:2; Rom. 1:23; 9:23; Eph. 1:12 (refs5)). Jesus is the "brightness of the Father's glory" (Heb. 1:3; John 1:14; 2:11 (refs3)).
(5.) The bliss of heaven (Rom. 2:7, 10; 5:2; 8:18; Heb. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1, 10 (refs7)).
Glory means honor or excellent reputation. God's glory is the created brightness that surrounds God's revelation of himself, it is the outward expression of his excellence. Such revelation is more than just an exhibition of overpowering brightness; it is the revelation of the nature of God. God’s glory is an expression of his character – his goodness, love, justice, power and holiness (Exo 33:18-19; 34:6-7; Psa 29:3; Isa 6:3; Joh 12:41).
Why the Need to Behold His GloryMan that was created in Genesis was clothed and covered with the Glory of God. Sin came to make man to fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. God's image and likeness in man was corrupted and defaced. God repackaged the lost glory in a person called Jesus Christ (John 1:14) and gave him to us as our pattern to whose image we must be conformed. Roman 8:29. He being the brightness of the glory of God and the express image of his person. Hebrews 1:3. There is the glory of God that radiates on the face of Jesus, (2 Corinthians 4:6) and it is only as we behold this glory that we can be transformed to be like him.
When you behold the glory of God, the dazzling glory of this world loses their alluring power over your life, such that the desire for the glory of this world will never made you to sin against God or bow to the devil. Matthew 4:8-10; John 17:5.
We can only behold his glory with open face. Open face is a face that is not covered with veils. Luke 24:31,45. There are veils that God must remove if we are going to behold his glory. 2 Corinthians 4:4. These includes:
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TEXT - 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. NLT.
GLORY(Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Ps. 49:12); glory (Gen. 31:1; Matt. 4:8; Rev. 21:24, 26 .
(2.) Honour, dignity (1 Kings 3:13; Heb. 2:7 1 Pet. 1:24; of God (Ps. 19:1; 29:1 ; of the mind or heart (Gen. 49:6; Ps. 7:5; Acts 2:46 .
(3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Gen. 45:13; Isa. 4:5; Acts 22:11; 2 Cor. 3:7 ; of Jehovah (Isa. 59:19; 60:1; 2 Thess. 1:9 .
(4.) The glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God (Isa. 40:5; Acts 7:2; Rom. 1:23; 9:23; Eph. 1:12 (refs5)). Jesus is the "brightness of the Father's glory" (Heb. 1:3; John 1:14; 2:11 (refs3)).
(5.) The bliss of heaven (Rom. 2:7, 10; 5:2; 8:18; Heb. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1, 10 (refs7)).
Glory means honor or excellent reputation. God's glory is the created brightness that surrounds God's revelation of himself, it is the outward expression of his excellence. Such revelation is more than just an exhibition of overpowering brightness; it is the revelation of the nature of God. God’s glory is an expression of his character – his goodness, love, justice, power and holiness (Exo 33:18-19; 34:6-7; Psa 29:3; Isa 6:3; Joh 12:41).
Why the Need to Behold His GloryMan that was created in Genesis was clothed and covered with the Glory of God. Sin came to make man to fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. God's image and likeness in man was corrupted and defaced. God repackaged the lost glory in a person called Jesus Christ (John 1:14) and gave him to us as our pattern to whose image we must be conformed. Roman 8:29. He being the brightness of the glory of God and the express image of his person. Hebrews 1:3. There is the glory of God that radiates on the face of Jesus, (2 Corinthians 4:6) and it is only as we behold this glory that we can be transformed to be like him.
When you behold the glory of God, the dazzling glory of this world loses their alluring power over your life, such that the desire for the glory of this world will never made you to sin against God or bow to the devil. Matthew 4:8-10; John 17:5.
We can only behold his glory with open face. Open face is a face that is not covered with veils. Luke 24:31,45. There are veils that God must remove if we are going to behold his glory. 2 Corinthians 4:4. These includes:
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The Almighty God has been merciful to us. Against all odds, He has led us thus far in the long dark days of this year. The Lord has preserved our lives, provided for us, strengthened and blessed us despite the challenges around. May His great name be exalted.
As we press on in our journey of life this year, the Lord is assuring us of not just recovering all our lost grounds, but is also going to help us break the new grounds He has promised us. It is my prayer that you will trust the Lord to do this in your life and family. May we also break new grounds as a church in the rest of this year despite the Corona Pandemic slowdown.
From our text, the following are required to break new grounds:
1. The Right and of God - V.1-3.
The right hand of God guarantees divine help, divine protection, divine favours, divine strengthening, divine encouragements, divine blessing, divine power; etc.
May the Lord renew His right hand on your life in Jesus' name.
2. The Arm of God - V.3; Deut. 33:26-29.
The Arm of the Lord is symbolic of God’s mighty strength to uphold, carry and sustain.
3. The Light of God’s face - V.3.
This refers to the two-sided dimension of God’s favour. To one group, it is an experience of God’s uncommon favour.
To the other group it is a blinding and judging experience (MSG).
4. The Love of God - V.3;
The Love of God is sweet.
The love of God is enduring; it is everlasting.
God’s love is beyond human comprehension.
It is the kind of love that transforms a sinner to a saint.
It is the kind of love that turns a rebel to a redeemed child of God.
5. Submission to the Lordship of Christ - V.4.
The path of submission to God opens you to enjoy the very best of God.
You may not be able to go too far in life until you submit yourself to the Almighty God.
6. Readiness to fight the good fight - V.5
Believers in Jesus Christ are engaged in the good fight.
What makes this fight good is because Jesus Christ has already won the victory for us on the cross at Calvary.
He has made us more than conquerors - Rom. 8:37.
He has made us over-comers - I Jn. 4:4; 5:4.
7. Total dependence on God - V.6-7.
The time we live in calls for total dependence on the Lord.
Without that, all you think you have gathered over the years may just fizzle away before your eyes.
To break new grounds in the post Covid period, you need to depend on the Lord totally or else you may be disappointed - Prov. 3:5-6.
As we enter this uncertain times, I want you to be encouraged by the word of the Lord. Against all odds, you will break new grounds for the Lord. You will enter your promised land. You will eat the good of the land. God will displace nations for your sake. You will fulfil purpose in Jesus' Name.
The God of heaven has been so good to the house of IBC. By His grace, IBC turned 53 three days ago - Thursday, May 28.
Thank God for our founding fathers. Thank God for those men, women, youths and children who took the step of faith to come and break a new ground by starting this church 53 years ago. Thank God for the succeeding generations who built on their labors. Thank God for giving great increase to the labours of our fathers over the years and for the many great legacies they left behind. It is my prayer that God will use our generation to move His purpose forward in IBC. We pray this local church will begin, not just to recover her lost opportunities, but to also seize other new opportunities the Lord brings our way in Jesus' Name. Amen.
A. Some Lost Grounds IBC Needs to Recover, and New Opportunities.
- In the area of education. It is time to put into action the thoughts we have cherished over the years, to have a Crèche, Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools. We can do all of these by the grace of God on our lives. We can conquer many nations (Children) through education. This is the time to arise and shine in this area. May the Lord give us success in Jesus' Name.
- Hospital Ministries: We also need to trust God to build hospitals. This would not just help to complement government efforts, but help to fulfil our purpose as Salt and Light in reaching out to many lives with the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Welfare Ministries: It will be good also to plan to have orphanages, shelter for the homeless, etc. These are avenues to take care of the needy, most of whom are often neglected by Government. We can recover this ground and do exploits for the kingdom in this area.
- Church Planting: The Lord has no doubt helped us to do greatly in the area of church planting over the years. We can however do more. We should in fact do more. May the Lord help us to do more in Jesus' Name.
- Studio: Our need for a standard studio has become apparent with the coming of Covid - 19. We need to urgently recover this lost ground as soon as possible.
- Investments in farming and other laudable projects.
- In our relationships: Especially with Our Cooperate bodies - Association, Conference and Convention. The same goes with our mother church and daughter churches.
B. The Urgency of Our Assignment
The truth is that we don’t have all the time on our hands again! One of the things Corona Virus Pandemic has taught us is to "make hay while the sun shines." Whatever we need to do must be done NOW! Night is already gradually closing in on us. We must not delay in doing all of the foregoing.
If the Lord is laying on your heart to give towards any of the aforementioned, please kindly contact us.
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I have been pondering the issues of the changes the world will likely see when we emerge from the corona virus pandemic for these past few weeks. And then I received the note from our Pastor Dr. Segun Adeleke requesting me to minster in the conversations on a post Covid19 recovery. I immediately knew the Lord is at work. I accepted and I am honoured and privileged to stand before you all to talk about the promises of the Lord to restore us and provide recovery for His servants and His people.
Let us pray: O Lord God who keeps his covenant of love with those who love and obey His commands, we ask O Lord that you hear our prayers and see our conditions, and that you will not harbor your anger at us forever and that you will not treat us as our sins deserve. We pray O Lord that you remember your great and precious promises of restoration and in your unfailing kindness and mercy help us rebuild our broken walls and ruins. Strengthen our feeble limbs and weak hands and enable us recover all we have lost and transform us to become your true servants purposed to worship and serve you all the days of our lives. Father grant us this in the name of your only Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Brethren, we will recover our lost grounds. I am confident of this because the Lord has promised this to us. These promises are the foundation for King David recovering his lost possessions as recorded in 1 Sam 30:18. This verse tells us that “David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken including his two wives”.
In this conversation, we will:
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Examine our reality today. What is the state of the world regarding this pandemic?
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We will examine what are the likely losses we may have suffered as a result of this pandemic
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We will make observations of some general trends that are emerging from the pandemic
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We will examine the implication of the emerging trends from the pandemic on our nation, businesses and on us as individuals
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We will examine some of the promises of recovery in scripture and brief examples of a few of God’s people who have recovered possessions in scripture
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We will briefly examine David’s character to discover some of the attributes of God’s people who recover their lost possessions
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We will finish this conversation with a few principles God’s people must abide in to recover their possessions.
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INTRODUCTION:
It is no news again that the human race has been undergoing global crisis for at least three months now. This is due to the outbreak of Corona Virus that started like a spark in the city of Wuhan in China but has turned to a wild fire which has engulfed all the countries of the world. COVID-19 pandemic is considered as the most crucial global health calamity of the century and the greatest challenge that the humankind faced since the 2nd World War. It has rapidly spread around the world without religious, ethnic, racial, territorial and language restrictions. It has posed enormous health, economic, environmental and social challenges to the entire human population. Millions of people have been infected and hundreds of thousands have been killed across the globe while several thousands too have recovered from it. Global economy has been severely disrupted. Our religious life has also been adversely impacted due to the social distancing, partial and total lockdown measures adopted to prevent the further spread of the virus.
However, Covid-19 pandemic just like every other adversity has also come with some positive sides. One thing that is very sure is that there is a shift globally. Status quo can no longer remain in every area of our human existence. The dark moment this pandemic brought us into has also given us the following opportunities:
- Opportunity for a deep REFLECTION. There is an adage in Yoruba that says, “When a child stumbles and falls to the ground, he looks ahead but when an adult falls he looks behind himself.” Covid-19 pandemic had forced each of us to ask ourselves the following questions:
l What happened?
l How did we get here?
l What did we suppose to have done that we did not do or done well?etc.
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Opportunity for REFOCUSING (Revelation 2:5). As we look behind, we are bound to discover certain mistakes or significant omissions we must repent from in order to forge ahead with hope into the brighter future and greater tomorrow.
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Opportunity for REDISCOVERY (Revelation 3:1-3). As long as there’s still life, there’s usually another chance, another opportunity and another possibility for recovery. However, if there will be recovery of all lost ground, there must first and foremost be a rediscovery. A rediscovery of purpose, passion and plans...
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•Indeed it’s not all gloom and doom as Green Shoots are emerging in the NEW Normal Economy
•Concerted efforts globally towards developing a vaccine - Remdesivir Drug by US, Gilead ($4,460/patient), Moderna; Sanofi, Paris-based firm with US Research Funding, Madagascar’s Herb, UK training Sniffer Dogs that could handle 250 tests/hour, UK provided £84m funding to accelerate development, etc
•One of the first fights will be over access to any lasting treatment or vaccine. Many global leaders contend that any vaccine should be viewed as a “public good,” though some populations will have delayed access
•EU gradually opening up regional movement, tourism, retail, cafes, restaurants, churches, etc some States in the US too while China resumed regional travels a while back with factories ramping up production again
•German Bundesliga back in action last weekend after months of stoppage, as EPL weighs options
•Oil has started a modest recovery as demand begins to rise on back of lockdowns lifting. Opinions vary it could likely take more then a year before oil demand goes back to pre-pandemic levels
• The “Great Lockdown” has likely tipped the world into its deepest economic contraction since the Great Depression. Some forecasters say a bottom is near, but few expect the economy to snap back to the way it was before the pandemic. Get ready for massive debt relief, more government intervention, heightened China-U.S. tensions, and—on the bright side—more women in the workforce - BloombergDOWNLOAD PRESENTATION SLIDES
INTRODUCTION
As we continue to trust God to recover our lost ground, it is important for us to consider the miraculous recovery God granted Samaria when they were besieged by the Army of Aram. 3 Major features in 2 Kings 6:24-31 characterized the season before their miraculous recovery:
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Samaria was locked in, just like a great part of our world is on a lockdown.
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Every attempt to go out to make a living was denied them. They were hedged in on all sides and refused every opportunity to break forth. They were besieged by the whole army of the Arameans. No one was coming in or going out. A total lockdown!
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They could not travel from their country to another country, all international engagements, conferences and meetings cancelled. Their economy was grounded and everyone was hopelessly left to ultimately die of starvation.
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The king was hopeless, helpless and hapless, just like our leaders are clueless.
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Even when the woman demanded help from the king, he shouted back, ‘how can I help you if the LORD does not help you?’. He was particularly disturbed that the threshing floor (grain) and the wine-press (wine) had nothing to offer.
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I can imagine the moment of respite the woman must have felt, when the king walked by, she must have said to herself- thank God, redemption has finally come. Painfully, the man she thought was a redeemer, himself needed redemption.
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The people started eating their children,...
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The level of hunger was unimaginably unexplainable. I cannot imagine what level of deprivation can bring a man to a point of mortgaging the destinies of his children, just to keep hopes alive. Unfortunately, this was the case of these women. They needed to be alive and the way out was to kill their children and eat them.
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I don’t know what represents ‘eating the children’ in your life? Maybe you have started selling your property or about to, losing your property by making distress sales. What was meant to be an inheritance and outlive you- you now eat it. Things you cherished have now become the exact opposite for you, I declare, that siege shall be broken and you will recover your lost ground.
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Ask me, how did it taste, as they ate the child? It must have been the worst days of their lives.
If we must BREAK THIS SIEGE and RECOVER OUR LOST GROUND, what must we do?
- The Principle of The Word of God verse 1
Ref: Genesis 1:1-3, Psalm 30:5, 107:20, 118:17, Isaiah 3:10, Ezekiel 37:1-10
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The story about the rescue of Noah, his family and all that were with him in the ark is a testament to the fact that when God begins a journey with a man, He will not abandon him either half way or at any point in the course of the journey. God will surely remember you where He has kept you! (Genesis 7:1, 16).
God’s ‘remembrance’ is not an indication that He has forgotten. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me” (Isaiah 49:15-16).
“God remembered Noah” is an expression rendered as, “God turned His attention to Noah……” (Genesis 8:1 MSG). This also indicates, God was faithful to His promises to Noah (Genesis 6:17-18). Our God is not a covenant breaker. He is a constant covenant keeper. Since He started the journey with us this year, He will keep us till the end of this pandemic and beyond.
A. What God Can DoI believe it will never take God hours, weeks or months to give the world solution to Covid-19, when the appointed time comes. Just the way He did with the flood, God can:
- Send a wind to blow Coronavirus away -V.1. Cf. Exodus 10:19
- Stop the virus from spreading or multiplying- V.2
- Flatten the curve steadily- V. 3
- Bring us to a complete rest from Covid-19- V.4
- Bring us to a fresh start, where opportunities will be visible again-V.5
B. It Seems Like Lost OpportunitiesThere were great expectations and excitement when the year 2020 started. We didn’t see the pandemic coming. We didn’t know there will be lockdown. We never saw that there will be restriction of movement. We didn’t know wearing nose mask will be part of our dress code. It’s unbelievable that churches have not been able to gather for worship as usual, in their beautiful Cathedrals.
There are divergent opinions as to the exact total number of days Noah and his family spent in the ark and their period of waiting before resuming normal activities again. But most Biblical scholars proposed nothing less than 370 days, (about a year by Jewish calendar). If we are to go just by textual account:
- 40 days and 40 nights of rain (Genesis 7:4, 17)
- 150 days of flood (Genesis 7: 24; 8:8)
- Another 40 days before Noah opened the window (Genesis 8:6)
- 7 days of waiting before sending another dove from the ark (Genesis 8:10)
- Another 7 days of waiting before sending the dove out again (Genesis 8:12)
- If we include the first 40days as part of the 150days, we have a total number of 204 days (about 6 or 7 months of uncertainties, restricted movement, no economic activities e.t.c)
- It was an experience of beginning life all over again when Noah disembarked from the ark.
- In all these, God has recovery plans for His children, which is predicated on meeting His requirements.
C. Requirements for the Recovery of Your Lost Opportunities:
- You Must Be Rightly Positioned to Hear the Voice of God-V. 15
-There is tendency to continue to focus on lost opportunities in retrospect and not rightly positioned to hear what God is saying about opportunities ahead.
-Some of us can’t hear God because there is so much noise around us.
-God must be saying something to you now, if you will listen.
-God will give you “very great insight” if you will listen (1 Kings 4:29).
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INTRODUCTION
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Praise God it is another Sunday, the second Sunday in the month of May.
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Praise God it is another Mother’s Day.
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Praise God we are all surviving Covid-19 and we shall all see the end of it in Jesus name.
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The fact that we are on lockdown does not mean we cannot celebrate Mother’s Day.
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Father’s and children make sure you do something special for her today.
The Lord will be speaking to us from our theme text for the year- Isaiah 60:1 and Judges 4:4-9 as we relate the passages to Mother’s Day. Though the focus is on the women, the message is for all because we have all been called to bear His light and shine His glory.
Our focus is on the life of Mrs Deborah Lapidoth. She was first a lady, then a wife and a prophetess and judge. Being a woman should be a thing of joy and pride. Bearing the title “Mrs” is God’s desire so you should cherish it. It is part of projecting what God has created you for. The following are some of the lessons the Lord will like us to see from the life of this great woman.
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Mrs. Lapidoth was a woman of God. Verse 4- “Now Deborah, a prophetess...”
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She knew God.
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She had personal encounter with God.
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She had a genuine relationship with God.
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It is not an easy thing in a Jewish culture for a woman to serve as a prophetess and also a judge.
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You cannot be a prophetess without knowing God.
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A prophetess is one who hears from God, speaks for God and for the people of God.
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If you do not know God, you cannot shine His glory in this area.
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Real women have genuine relationship with God.
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Real women are serious in their walk with God irrespective of their position or cadre.
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Real women know that they came from Him and shall return to Him, hence their seriousness in serving and walking with Him.
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It is the light that you have that you can bear and show forth.
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Mrs. Lapidoth’s relationship with God was what made a difference in her service to Him and the people.
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It is honourable to bear the glory of God and shine His light. It is sweet to serve Him.
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The Bible Called her the wife of Lapidoth- “...the wife of Lapidoth.”
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The wife is a home maker.
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The wife is a support to her husband and vice-versa.
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Lapidoth was blessed to have her as his wife.
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She bore the name of her husband well.
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She did not lose her home because she was serving as a prophetess and a judge.
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Your career must not affect your home negatively.
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Your light must first shine in your home before it can be seen in the society.
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The story of the floating ax-head attests to the Biblical truth in Lk. 1:37, that “With God nothing shall be impossible.” It remains a mystery how iron can be made to float with just a stick. Our God indeed is the Almighty, the All Powerful and ever Dependable.
While it is true that many have lost a lot due to Corona virus Pandemic, we are assured of recovery from this passage and encouraged. You will surely recover in Jesus' Name. Your recovery may look impossible to the natural mind, but if you will trust God and follow the instructions in this passage, you will surely recover whatever you have lost in Jesus' Name.
A. Definition
Axe Head = “A cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood.”
Your axe head = Your spiritual gift.
= Your weapon
= Your tool.
= What gives you a cutting edge.
= What makes you sharp and effective
= Your means of livelihood,
= Etc
B. Requirements for the recovery of Your Lost Ground:
1. You need to be discontent with your present situation- V.1.
The truth of life is that, it can always be better. No matter the height attained or the situation you find yourself in life, it can always be better. So many people have not been blessed or blessed the more because they are soon-satisfied.
Some others have accepted where life has placed them as their fate. They never think it could be better than it is with them.
The company of the prophets became dissatisfied with their living condition and requested for something better from their Master. This was the beginning of their miracle. Until you are dissatisfied with your present condition, you will never see the need to recover the lost ground in your life. You will just be managing - patching and patching life, when God is ready to give you something better.
2. You need initiative - V.1.
The idea of building a bigger meeting place came from the sons of the prophets. They initiated it. We all must be full of initiative at this time.
We should not wait for people to push us around. This is time to initiate the process of recovering your lost ground (ax-head).
3. You need a vision - V.1-2.
The next thing you need is vision. Vision is the revelation of a preferred future.
Personal vision is required for the recovery of your lost ground. Collective vision is required for the recovery of the lost ground in our Organization. The company of the Prophets had a collective vision.
They were not just dissatisfied with their state, they had a clear vision of what they wanted and pursued it. What is your post-Covid vision?
If you don’t have any vision to run with after Covid 19, you can be sure you will recover nothing.
4. You need a team spirit/work - V.1-2.
Recovery of some lost ground will not be accomplished by your singular effort.
Recovery of a God-sized vision would require both team spirit and team work.
The company of the prophets had both and were divinely helped to fulfill their vision.
5. You need the spirit of agreement - V.1-2.
The necessity of agreement in recovering lost ground especially in a group setting can never be over emphasized. A house divided against itself cannot stand says the Lord – Lk 11:17 But one shall chase a thousand and ... two, ten thousand – Deut. 32:30. The company of the prophets were in agreement with respect to their vision, strategy, etc. They were all headed in the same direction.
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The story of Naaman is perhaps a very popular story to an average church goer. Most people know at least two things about Naaman: he is remembered as a great commander in the army who had a “but” in his life despite his great achievements. Many preachers have often used this at evangelistic rallies to hammer on the “but” of sin in the lives of their hearers.
It is however interesting to note that there were so many wonderful things about Naaman. A closer look at our text reveals many vital information about this character that are worthy of emulation.
While it is true that the Bible didn’t talk much about Naaman again, except for a single reference by our Lord Jesus Christ in Lk. 4:27, it is important to know that Naaman’s story leaves us with unchanging and tested principles from the word of God on how we can recover our lost grounds.
It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will help you and I to understand these principles and use them as we make effort to recover all we have lost at the personal, family or organizational levels, in Jesus' Name.
A. Who was Naaman?
- The name - Naaman is a Syrian name that means Pleasant. Who does this remind you of? Naomi! Ruth 1-4.
- An Army Commander - V.1
Some other translations used the word General (MSG), Captain (KJV), etc. whichever, these titles suggest that Naaman was not a mean man.
- A Great Man - V.1.
Naaman was a great man by all standards. His status, his position, his accomplishments, etc. attest to his greatness.
- Highly Regarded/admired for the great victories wrought through him - V.1
As a result of his accomplishments, Naaman was reputable in the palace. The king of Aram particularly “had great admiration for him" (MSG).
- A Valiant Soldier (mighty warrior -NLT; a truly great man, MSG; a mighty man of valor, NKJV- V.1)
To be valiant is to be courageous and determined. This, no doubt, is required of a soldier of Naaman’s status. Naaman possessed these attributes. His rising to the position was not based on ethnic consideration, political manipulation and such like.
- A Married Man - V.2.
It is clear from our story that Naaman had a wife. It seems to me that this man had a good marriage and a good home where everybody was free to express themselves. I think there must have been a good atmosphere in Naaman’s home.
- A Compassionate and Caring Husband - V.2
No doubt, Naaman was a compassionate and caring husband. That he would allow his wife have a helper at home is noteworthy. Some men won’t permit this. They would tell you that the woman is being lazy for asking for a house help.
If that was the case, you can imagine how Naaman’s wife would have coped with her husband’s status. I want to assume that they must have always had visitors of great standing coming to their home from time to time. How would she have coped all alone. Naaman was a good husband.
Some wives are actually afraid of having house helps because their husbands are yet to be delivered from promiscuity. Some men can sleep with anything and anybody anywhere and at anytime. It may therefore not be safe to have female helpers especially.
- A good-hearted man - V.3, 4.
This young girl from Israel could have gotten into serious trouble for daring to talk to her mistress about her husband’s health condition. Naaman’s reaction however shows how good-hearted he was. Though a Commander, he was still open to suggestions, even from a slave girl. He was not a know-it-all master. He was approachable.
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INTRODUCTION - The events of the recent past has been sudden, terrible and challenging. When issues of life are getting tough, man easily give up as a result of confusion and the inability to see beyond the present situation. Only a few can forge ahead in faith and in trust that the future will be better and glorious.
A. David’s Situation-In Psalm 27, David expressed his trust in the Lord and also asked to be delivered from his many troubles.
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David faced the wicked- 2a
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David faced enemies and foes-2b
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David faced an army and war- verse 3
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David faced trouble- verse 5
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David faced adversaries and false witnesses –verse 12
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David faced violent men- Verse 12
B. David’s Response-
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In all of these, David did not give up.
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David saw beyond the present
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David saw that it did not matter what the enemy did, he was going to stay strong- verse 3.
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David expressed his trust in the Lord- verses 1-6.
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David made his petition known to God- verses 7-12
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David reaffirmed his trust in the Lord- verses 13 to 14
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In verse 13 David said “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” KJV
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“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” NKJV
C. Why It Is Difficult for Some to See Beyond Now-
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They have lost hope
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They have been disappointed.
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Age is no longer on their side.
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They are in bondage.
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They have refused to push further
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They have been praying for the same thing for so long.
D. Seeing Beyond Now Demands That-
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You see with the eyes of faith- Ephesians 1:18-19; Hebrews 11:1
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It demands that you see beyond problems, fear and anxiety.
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It demands that you see yourself as one that is not hopeless.
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It demands that you see that the challenges will melt away in the light of God’s glory.
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It demands that you see the great God and what He can do.
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You see beyond yourself- Psalm 139:13-17
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You are more than who you think you are.
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God is not limited by your strength or weaknesses.
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You see beyond the situation- Job 14:7-9; Romans 8:18
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The situation has a beginning and it will end one day.
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The situation is not the issue but what you do with the situation.
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There is light at the end of the tunnel.
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INTRODUCTION: Considering the current happenings all over the world, it has become very necessary and mandatory for us to return into the Scripture to re-examine it closely with the view of reminding ourselves of our mandate in the World as God’s people. Right from the time of the creation till the time of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven, God’s purpose for our creation and recreation in Christ has never been vague. The ultimate intention of God for our creation was stated expressly in the Scripture before and after He concluded His work (Genesis 1:26-28).
God’s entire efforts for the creation of mankind was in response to the terrible condition of the earth (Genesis 1:2). Our Lord Jesus Christ also did not leave us in doubt of His mission for redeeming us and establishing His Church (Matthew 4:19; 5:13-16; John 20:21-23; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8). The commission given by Jesus to His Church was also as a result of the state of the world (Matthew 9:35-36) and His desire to see the entire human race saved and transformed. In other words, the assigned mission of the Church of Christ is simply to go back into the world and establish the reign and the Kingdom of Christ everywhere human beings are found (Mark 16:15; Revelation 11:15). However, the fulfillment of our mandate in the world demands we understand the following:
1. Our Mission in the World - Isaiah 60:1, 2c; Philippians 2:15. As it were, our divine assigned mission supersede our chosen vocation or profession in the world. As a matter of fact, if well understood, our vocation or whatever we are doing is the platform for fulfilling our mission on earth which is to manifest Jesus, show case Jesus, proclaim Jesus, shine the gospel light to terminate the darkness in the world. Except we understand this and do this, the world will remain under the locked down of the darkness.
2. The Opportunity or Occasion for our Mission - Isaiah 60:2; Philippians 2:15. What Prophet Isaiah and Apostle Paul refer to as darkness, the thick darkness, crooked and perverse generation are simply the activities of the Devil who is on rampage with a great fury in every part of the world causing different kinds of troubles. We hear of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes eruption, tornadoes, typhoons, raging fire, storms and heavy rains resulting in great flood even in places where you least expected are also taking their toll in inflicting vengeance on mankind everywhere. Apart from natural disasters, we hear of ship wrecks, plane crashes, automobile accidents killing their passengers and crews. Socio-economic crisis in all over the world such as loss of jobs, unemployment, increased cost of living without corresponding increase in income and inflation causing the hearts of people to break and leading to depression even suicide. Domestic crisis and violence everywhere resulting in broken marriages, increased children delinquency and high rate of murder. Ethnic clashes, religious persecutions, communal violence are also on increase in our time. And now, the entire world is locked down by the pandemic of Coronavirus. All these are occasions for the Church to arise with her members already equipped with the knowledge and the power of God to shine in the midst of the dark world. One thing about the darkness and the light is this, the darker the darkness becomes the brighter the light shines. May the Lord cause His Church to heed His call to arise urgently and go into the world to fulfill our mandate in Jesus name.
3. God’s Provision for our Mission - Isaiah 60:1b, 2c. The God who has sent us is not unaware of both the nature and the terrain He asked us to go. We are to resist the darkness in the hostile, crooked and perverse world
INTRODUCTION: The passage before us is a perfect example of individuals who refused to lose hope, depressed, give in or give up in their ‘lockdown’ period. Paul and Silas suddenly found themselves in a period of ‘lock in’ and ‘lockdown’ after faithfully doing the work of ministry (Acts 16:16-18). They were severely flogged and thrown into prison (v.23). The jailer kept them in the inner cell and clamped their feet in the stocks (v.24). Instead of complaining, weeping, crying or being afraid, Paul and Silas engaged the supernatural. About midnight, Paul and Silas decided to allow God into their ‘lockdown’ period by praying and singing hymns to God. One ofthe Greek words for singing, humneo from where we get the word Hymn: is an expression for singing the praise of God, singing paschal hymns (Psalms 113-118) or songs of praise directed to God and not to humans or any other object.
Some motivational speakers have suggested many brilliant ways to maximize this lockdown period and make things to work for our advantage. One of the Biblical ways I want to suggest to every believer is to spend quality time in God-focused Worship. A lifestyle of praise significantly made David to survive his ‘lockdown’ period in the wilderness, when king Saul was after his life (as recorded in many chapters in the book of Psalms). Study the Word, give thanks, praise, and exalt God in the midst of this lockdown and Covid-19. And as we continue to do these, the supernatural will begin to happen.
7 BENEFITS OF SINGING PRAISE TO GOD THROUGH THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD
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Atmosphere Shift (v.26). When we praise God, suddenly things begin to happen both in the spiritual and physical realms. The devil can’t dwell in the atmosphere of praise offered by genuine children of God (Psalm 22:3; 2 Chronicles 20:20-22; Psalm 43:5).
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Foundational Issues Are Addressed (v.26)
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Open Doors (v.26)
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Deliverance and Breakthrough (v.26)
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Divine Honour (v.27-29). A moment for divine exchange (Isaiah 61:3).
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Divine Freedom (v.30)
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Undeniable Testimonies (v.30-34). After this lockdown period, there will be undeniable testimonies of deliverance, breakthrough, healings, salvation of souls…….
CONCLUSION: Yes, we have been going through the lockdown period. In the wisdom of the health professionals, the State and the Federal Government, this is to curtail the spread of COVID-19. But we thank God, it is ‘lockdown’ and not ‘lock out’, for thousands have died as a result of this pandemic. We have to thank and praise God in line with 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9 [The Message] “We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken.” LET HIS PRAISE BEGIN!
INTRODUCTION: It is no strange thing anymore that evil, difficult times, tribulations or dark moments are existential realities in this world. Storms of life are common experience to all mankind whether high or low, rich or poor, saints or sinners, committed Christians or lackadaisical Christians, Pastors or Church members. In short, storms of life or difficult times are no respecter of persons, families, congregations, nations and the entire world at large as we are currently witnessing.
Just as there are different categories of storms of life as God’s servant made us to understand on Sunday, there are also different causes for the storms.
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Satanic presence and his mission in the world. Revelation 12:7-12; Job 1:6-7; John 10:10; Genesis 1:1-2; 2 Chronicles 21:1; Luke 13:16; 1 Peter 5:8-9
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Sins - Genesis 3:16-19; 6:1, 5-8; 18:20-21, 4-8, 24-25
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The fallen condition of the earth - Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:21
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Ignorance - Isaiah 5:13
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Commitment to God and His will. Genesis 37:3-5; 39:6-20; Job 5:7; 14:1; 1 Samuel 18:7-9; 19:1-2; Esther 3:1-6; Daniel 3:8-25; 6:1-8, 10-17, 19-23; Acts 4:1-3, 5-22; 7:8-15; 26:19-22; 2 Timothy 3:12.
However, there is no storms of life no matter its category or cause that will last forever (1 Peter 1:6; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Revelation 2:10). Every difficult time in itself is time bound, only our God reigns from everlasting to everlasting and His mercy endures forever. God has destined His children to pass through and walk through their storms notwithstanding it’s fierceness. You will also pass through triumphantly in Jesus name. We shall together navigate through the present plague of Coronavirus in Jesus name. According to the word of God in Job 5:24, we shall come to know at the end of the storm of Coronavirus that our tent is in peace and intact; we shall altogether visit our dwelling place and find nothing amiss or nothing missing in Jesus name.
HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE STORMS TRIUMPHANTLY
From our text, Job 23:1-12, it is obvious that certain experiences make the life during the storm very complicated, terrific, terrifying and terrible. These experiences include:
l Bitter complaint and groaning, v. 2
l Strong desire to see God in order to prove one’s innocence before Him, vv. 3-7
l Absence of correct and true comforters
l The seemingly absence of God, vv. 8-9
Despite all these, the hope of victory over the storm is very certain, real and possible. However, the possibility of your triumphant navigation will be determined by the following:
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The conviction that God has the perfect knowledge of your present situation, v, 10; Psalm 1:6; 139:1-3; 103:14; Deuteronomy 2:7; Joshua 22:22. Because He knows all about your struggles He will not abandon you here, He will surely guide you till the storms is over and you come out it triumphantly in Jesus name.
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The conviction that the storm is for a limited time and it will result in your glorious manifestation at the end, v. 10b; 1 Peter 1:6; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Revelation 2:10. Every test that is successfully contested produces outstanding testimonies to show the worth of it at the end. When this storm is over, you are coming out shining brighter than gold in Jesus name. Jesus Himself said in John 16:21-22 “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” Now you are...SEE MORE @ https://bit.ly/IBCAp2220
THE STORM...
Life is full of all kind of storms! In the context of today’s message, it is a violent disturbance of life and well-being. When these storms happen, they do not come with sweet experiences, rather they bring fear and anxiety. Amazingly, there is always calm before the storm. Ref: Acts 27:13-14. So often times, we are at a loss on the swift change of event. Some of these storms can be personal battles, some are battles that spread across family ties and some sweep across a people, community, country, even the entire world. It is interesting to note that these storms have categories.
CATEGORIES OF STORMS
Isaiah 43:2a
- General Storms (Psalm 34:19, Ecclesiastes 9:11)
Storms are common to all human. It is only a matter of time, we will all go through one storm or the other. Our relationship with God does not immune us from storms. However, the good news is as it is in verse 1 of our text- Fear Not, I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name; you are Mine. This storm may be the reason for that sickness, endless battles at your place of work, poverty, barrenness, failures, unemployment, financial struggles, spiritual attack, depression. For some, it is life threatening and they cannot tell anyone. In the name of Jesus, that storm is over!
- Sickness: Luke 8:43-48
- Recurring Death: Ruth 1:3-5, Luke 7:11-17
- Oppression: Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39
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Age-Long Affliction: John 5:1-9
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Generational storms (Genesis 9:22-25, Genesis 49:3-4, Deuteronomy 33:6)
These are the kind of storms that have assumed permanent residency in the lives of some. Not because of what they did but because of what others did, it is called the grandfather’s bill (Jeremiah 31:29-30, Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32). Their children have been engulfed in unfortunate evil cycle running through family lineage- Everyone born into the family automatically enters into it. Ham sinned, Canaan (one of his children) got the curse and generations after him followed. It is in the same way that Adam sinned and all of us became sinners, but in Christ- everything written ordinance against us, He has taken to the cross (Colossians 2:14-15)
- Global Storms (2 Chronicles 7:12-14)
When global storms come (like it has come), it does not take into cognizance the person, his personality, achievement, background, position of influence or affluence. It is a leveler for both the high and mighty, north or south. Everyone on the path of the storm, are swept along.
AFTER THE STORM
Isaiah 43:2b
No storm lasts forever! Every storm leaves in its wake, certain wreckage. Ranging from displacing of people from their settlements, untold loss of property and lives, destabilizing of process(es). The good news is that after every storm there is respite. Beyond and above the respite, we are sure that:
- We Shall See Rain. 1 Kings 18:41-46
The rain is coming. Abundance of rain! Both the former and the latter rain. The rain of blessing, rain of deliverance, rain of hope, rain of breakthrough. That rain will fall!
- We Shall Experience Peace. Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25
Suddenly, there shall be peace, the kind of peace associated with the end to a storm is visiting someone today. Very soon, there shall be a great calm. That storm is over.
- We Shall Be Victorious. Numbers 31:48-49
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The times we live in is a challenging and dangerous time. The Bible described it as perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-7), evil days (Ephesians 5:14-16). We are certainly in the last days! We are in the days when the heart of men are melting (Isaiah 13:7), strong men are afraid and increasingly going weak (Isaiah 13:7, 8) and those who have long trusted in their might are suddenly seeing the vanity of life (Isaiah 2:10-18).
1 Chronicles 12:32
Two things clearly distinguished the men of Issachar- They where men who understood the time and they knew what Israel needed to do. In times like this, we must understand the times and know exactly what we need to do if we must survive the times, else we may be swept away by the torrent of uncertainties and challenges.
- ...THEY UNDERSTOOD THE TIME
To know our situation is to bring ourselves to the point of reality. It is a common saying that if you know you have a problem, then the problem is half solved.
The times we are in, is characterized by:
- Shocking Realities
Someone said: So suddenly,
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New York 'the city that never sleeps' is now asleep, all quiet!
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Paris the 'center of romance' lives in echos.
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Rome 'the eternal city' is deserted.
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Disney is out of magic.
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London is caged in silence, the Queen speaks to her people from a hidden room.
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Mecca is empty! Nobody to 'stone the devil'.
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The Chinese wall is no longer a fortress.
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The G8 Nations are speechless.
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The developed world suddenly on its knees.
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Churches, mosques, great parks, monuments, stadiums are filled with unfilled spaces.
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The busiest places at present were hitherto the most dreaded: hospitals and cemeteries.
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The famous football leagues, the fashion shows, exotic weddings, festivals all lost to memory.
I can imagine how the sky feels right now? If the sky was human, it would have wondered, what is happening? How come no one is traveling? All the high flyers have suddenly found that there is something called land.
- Status Quo Is Altered
There is a total change all over the world. Things are no longer the same! It is not possible for the world to remain the same after this lockdown. Things have fallen apart and the center can no longer hold. People are now working full length from their home, what do you think would be the state of our work places when this times are over? How would we settle back to normal life? What happens to those that would be out of jobs, those that would have to settle for pay cut? Our educational system, all the bills to be paid, industries that have been grounded, how do we settle back in? Look around, all you see and hear is Security issues, Starvation among the low class and Sickness across board.
Status quo has changed, and we cannot remain the same again! What manner of men ought we to be in times like this? 2 Peter 3:11
2. ...KNEW WHAT MEN NEED TO DO
Our biggest problem this season would be knowing the right things to do. We must find a way to survive this season and the way to survive it is to know what to do like the men of Issachar. What must we do:
- Real-Time Observation- Matthew 16:1-3, 26:40-41, 1 Peter 5:8, Romans 13:11-14
It is important for us to be proactive and do things at the right time and never procrastinate. The time is far spent, we do not have luxury of time for any delays. It is time to awake, the times we are in is not a time to sleep but a time for vigilance. We must pay careful attention to all that is happening around us at a time as this. Be deliberate about what you take in as information and weigh everything in the light of God’s Word. Let the Word of God guard your heart and guide your decisions in times like this.&a
The subject of Christ's resurrection is central to the Christian faith. This subject is so crucial that all the gospel writers gave prominence to it in their writings. The truth of the scripture is that Christ resurrected on the third day. Evidences of this abound in scripture. There are also historical and archaeological evidence that authenticate this claim. To therefore deny the resurrection means ignorance of scripture and a terrible denial of the power of the Almighty God to raise the dead. It is my prayer as we celebrate another Easter, that all of us would have a fresh encounter with the resurrected Christ.
Some of the vital lessons that can be gleaned from the resurrection would be the focus of our interaction this morning. May the Holy Spirit speak to each of our hearts and perfect His will for our lives on this resurrection morning in Jesus' Name. Amen.
7 Vital Lessons About Christ’s Resurrection.
1. God is a Promise Keeper - Psa. 16:9-10; Matt. 16:21.
Our God is ever faithful to His promises.
Jesus agreed with the Trinity to die, with the assurance that He would be raised on the third day.
That promise was fulfilled. He was neither abandoned to the grave nor allowed to see decay.
Similarly, Christ severally told his disciples about His death, and that He would rise on the third day.
It came to pass exactly as He foretold.
Our Lord and God is a promise keeper.
He will surely do whatever He has promised you.
Don’t ever forget the ff scriptures 1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Cor. 1:20; Rom. 4:16-21; Josh. 21:43-45.
So beloved, let’s continue to stand on the promises of the Almighty God.
If God says it, He will do it! It is a matter of time.
2. Christianity remains the only authentic way to God - Jn. 14:6; Jn. 8:12; 1 Tim. 2:5.
That Christianity is the only authentic way to God is attested to by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is the hallmark of the Christian faith.
It is the resurrection of Jesus that distinguishes Christianity from every other faith.
While the founder of every other world religion is long dead and buried, Christ died but rose again on the third day.
This is a historical fact. It a Biblical truth.
It is also a personal reality for those who have encountered the resurrected Christ.
3. Nothing can hinder God from accomplishing His determined purpose in your life - Matt. 27:57-60, 62-66
Despite the big stone rolled to cover the entrance to the tomb - V.60;
Despite the seal on the stone and the guard posted by the haters of Jesus Christ - V.62-66;
Despite the conspiracies against Christ and the gang up of wicked men and spiritual darkness, nothing could stop Him from resurrecting!
Despite all of the foregoing, Jesus still came out! Matt. 28:2-4.
Nothing will stop you also. You are coming out of your "grave" situation today.
Let every stone that has been rolled against your destiny be divinely removed today in Jesus' Name - John 11:38-40.
4. Jesus Christ was very, very patient with His disciples - Matt. 28:1, 5, 8-10; Jn. 20:19ff, 25-29; 21:1-23.
Christ’s disciples were all slow learners like most of us - Lk. 24:5-6, 25-27.
It often took them some time to grasp spiritual principles.
Many times they mis-construed the teachings of Jesus Christ - Matt. 16:5-12; Jn. 4:32-35;
They quarrelled over such things as- who is the greatest amongst themselves.
Though Jesus told them many times about His death and resurrection, it still did not register in their minds.
When the reality came, they all fled leaving Him alone.
It was not only Judas who disappointed Jesus. All His disciples did.
Thomas boldly declared that he was not going to believe, unle
A timely word to encourage our hearts in this trying time. Here is a reminder about the character of the Maker of the ends of the earth and the sustainer of the same.
Rev. Mrs. Bosun Adegboyega is the Minister in charge of Children and Teenagers at Ikoyi Baptist Church, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Christ made seven statements on the cross. His Sixth statement on the cross is what we shall be looking at this morning. This sixth statement was observed by H.L. Wilmington to be one word in the original Greek -tetelestai. Tetelastai means “it was finished and as a result it is forever done.”
The phrase "it is finished" is also “the kind a painter or sculptor would use after putting finishing touches to the vivid landscape or the marble bust; he would then stand back a few feet to admire the masterpiece, and seeing in it nothing that calls for correction or improvement, would exclaim fondly and with delight, Tetelestai! Tetelestai!”
It is important to note that Jesus said- “It is finished” and not ‘I am finished.’ This was more of a statement of accomplishment rather than one of regret and sorrow. “Christ completed all that was necessary in order to accomplish the plan of redemption.”
The Greek word translated finish here is teleo. It means the following viz. to accomplish, to fill up, to fulfill, to make an end, to pay, to perform, to expire.
Specifically, the following got finished that day when Jesus died for you and me on the cross:
1. It is finished with Sin and the sinful nature - Isa. 53:6-8; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 6:14.
• Sin has remained man’s greatest enemy since Adam.
• It was sin that caused the separation between man and God.
• It is true God loves the sinner but detests his sinful nature and lifestyle.
• Sin is a destroyer. It destroys everything it touches, including the sinner. It has the capacity to wreck a man and damn his soul in eternity.
• Sin is spiritual. This explains why no man, regardless of size, color, status, education, etc., has been able to defeat it with human strength.
• Adam brought sin into the world, but Jesus brought salvation and righteousness.
• The main reason why Jesus died the cruel death on the cross was to destroy sin and its consequences.
• Thank God for Jesus Christ. What Noah, the Patriarchs, the Prophets, etc could not do, God had to come Himself in human form to do, in the likeness of His Son Jesus Christ.
• Christ paid the full price for our redemption from the slave market of sin with His life. It is therefore finished with Mr Sin and its consequences.
• Sin does not have dominion again over all who have repented and surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.
2. It is finished with curses - Galatians 3:13.
• The curse is one of the consequences of sin.
• God placed a curse on Adam, Eve and the Serpent for disobeying His instruction. Every human being is under this same curse until such turns to Christ.
• Other curses - be it inherited, generational, family, personal, etc., were taken care of by Jesus Christ on the cross.
• It is finished with all the curses in our lives in Jesus' Name.
- We declare broken every curse you may be still carrying right now in Jesus Name.
3. It is finished with sickness and diseases - Isa. 53:4-5.
• Another consequence of sin is sickness and disease.
• Sickness was not part of the first creation in Genesis.
• It was sin that opened the door for sickness and disease.
• Jesus however came, and on the cross declared an end to every sickness & disease.
- It’s already finished with every sickness and disease in your life.
- Therefore refuse to carry it anymore.
- It is finished with sickness and diseases. Alleluia.
- It is finished with Corona virus since over 3000 years ago!
- Corona virus and every sickness and disease that comes against any child of God is actually Dead On Arrival.
- Refuse to accept nonsense! Get up and walk in Jesus Name.
We don’t need any prophet to tell us we are in a dark season. It is a time the Prophet Isaiah prophesied about thousands of years ago - that “darkness will cover the earth and gross darkness the people” - Isa. 60:2.
The darkness of Corona Virus has taken over the entire world in the last four months. It has left many great nations and world leaders perplexed, dazed, confused and horrified.
The days we are in are really dark days!
The hope of a cure doesn't seem in sight.
Many are even warning that we should not take the vaccine that may come out soon because of the fear that it is invented to kill more people than the virus itself. The world is totally confused and does not know what to do.
The Big question is, are we going to survive these seeming unending dark days?
Our best option is to return to the Almighty God and trust Him to help us through this season - Hos.6:1-3.
To this end, I will like to share with you some Biblical tips to surviving these dark days. These are:
- Repent of the bad choices we have made in time past - V.21. See where our bad choices have led us. God gave us a beautiful word, but we have messed it up with our own hands. We have abandoned the Rock of ages and have hewn for ourselves cisterns that cannot hold water. We actually need a National day of mourning! Jonah 3:6-10. Unfortunately, our leaders still cannot get it! How have we become so unsound as not to know that God is not happy with us? Oh that this prodigal world would come quickly to her senses. God will surely forgive us if we would repent of our sins!
- Avoid making more bad choices during this season - V.21. It would be foolhardy to continue to make more bad choices in these dark days. This is not time to fool around. It is not time to add sin to sin. It is not time to misbehave and continue with worldly passions. It is time to repent and stay repentant and pure! To our leaders, you need to lean on God for divine wisdom! You need to be discrete about where you go for help at this time. You need to be discrete about whom you go to for help at this time. For instance, why do we need those doctors and supplies coming from China? Why is everything China? Has China become our God? Can’t we think again? Can’t we look inward and to God for our salvation? It is better we stay at home and be safe rather than go outside and expose the Nation to more danger. Our Medical Personnel are already doing a great job and we should continue to pray for them. We don’t need help from China at this time please!
- Listen to good counsel - V.21, 31. Especially to our leaders. This is not time to gamble with the lives of millions tied to your leadership. Seek counsel especially from older and genuine men of God at this time. Note the role Paul played. They would have saved themselves so much losses if they had listened. Don’t say the “Pauls” lack experience and turn your backs on them. We are dealing with a global challenge that requires Medical and Divine solution!
In this time of crisis, when the whole world seems to be at a loss on what to do, this word from Rev. Michael Onyegbu will greatly encourage your heart.
Rev. Michael Onyegbu is the Minister in charge of Youth and Education at Ikoyi Baptist Church, Ikoyi, Lagos.
In this time of crisis, when the whole world seems to be at a loss on what to do, this word from Rev. Olufemi Babalola will greatly encourage your heart.
Rev. Olufemi Babalola is the Pastor in charge of Missions and Evangelism at Ikoyi Baptist Church, Ikoyi, Lagos.
INTRODUCTION- The family is the basic unit of a society, so is it in the Church. In fact, the Church is a family or household of God. 1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” As we are interrelated through blood with our natural family so are we interrelated in the church through the blood of Jesus Christ. Individual families go a long way in determining the life and the strength of the church as a family of God’s people; this is because every member of the church is from one family or the other. Only a healthy family can build or breed a healthy church through their membership. So, the task of leading my family to become healthy church members is a very big one. The following are some of the actions to be taken in order to lead my family members to become healthy church members.
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APPRECIATE YOUR FAMILY- The family in question here is the nuclear family. That is, the father, the mother, the children and all who are living with them e.g wards, domestic servants etc. If you appreciate your family, you will look out for them. You will not only be concerned for their physical welfare but for their spiritual well being as well. No family will be happy if any of the children drops out of school, so is it in the church. Your family is not a healthy family until they are healthy members of the church. That is, people who are growing in the Lord and functional, committed, members of the church, irrespective of their age and status. If you appreciate your family you will develop a loving relationship irrespective of flaws and shortcomings of every member.
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BUILD A FUNCTIONAL FAMILY ALTAR- According to Tom Rainer “part of the opportunity and honour of being a church member is the teaching of our family to love the church. And that teaching often begins by praying together as a family for the church where God placed us.” page 60. A functional family altar is a prerequisite to a healthy family and it is seriously important to leading the family members to be healthy members of the church. We must pray for one another and with one another. There is the need to have family devotion, family retreat and family Bible study time. As you pray for one another, you must lead your family members to pray for the local church. Pray for the leadership of the Church- for spiritual protection, against moral failures, for God’s inspiration as they present His word, for their families, for their emotional health, courage etc. You must also lead your family to pray for the needs of the church- physical, spiritual, financial, emotional, social needs as well as the God-given vision of the church.
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BUILD A FUNCTIONAL FAMILY MINISTRY- Ministry in this context is meting needs. Every family must have a ministry and this tradition must pass from one generation to the other. The individual members of the family must be known for something in the church. Family ministry can be done by involving your children in what you do for the Lord and in the name of the Lord. Another way you can build a family ministry is to prayerfully work and grow with your family members to discover God’s plans and purpose for them in the church and for the church. This is because God can be laying a ministry that is entirely different from what the father and mother are doing in the church.
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UPDATE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH YOUR CHURCH AFFILIATION- Cultivating the minds of your family members for the church of God is one major way through which you can lead your family members to be healthy members of a local church. This implies, helping your family members to understand&
It did not make much sense when the Lord spoke to us on the eve of this year that gross darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness shall be over the people - Isa. 60:2.
This truth has now become a reality with the ravaging effect of Corona Virus which started in a small village in China, but has now spread all over the world.
Available information as at today reveals:
It is obvious that the government of the world has no answer to the Corona Virus challenge. The only dependable and reliable source of intervention is God. We who have a covenant relationship with God therefore need to arise and call on our God who is more than able to deal with this challenge.
Meanwhile, we all must be rest assured that this plague will stop. When and how, I don’t know. But based on the word of God, I do believe this plague will soon stop.
A. Reasons Why This Plague Will Stop.
- Every plague in the Bible stopped - Num. 16:41-50; 25:8; Psa. 106:28; 2 Sam.24:25.
- The present world would not be destroyed by plague but by fire - 2 Peter 3:7, 10,12; 2 Thess. 1:7.
- God’s servants and children around the world are daily crying to Him in prayers - Numbers 16:46-47. He will respond because He answers prayers.
- The assurance of the word of God - Psa. 57:1
- Light will always triumph over darkness - Jn.1:5; 8:12.
B. What We Need To Do.
- Get the word of God for our situation - V.11; Psa. 57:1.
- Heed the prophetic - V.11-14.
- Operate in the knowledge of God - V.13-14.
- Take responsibility and repent - V.17.
- Build an altar to the Lord - V.25.
It is an open secret from the word of God that the present disaster has not come to stay. It is also not the end of the world. It will surely expire very soon in Jesus' Name. We should therefore enjoy this season of stay at home. Let’s make the best of this season. Let it be a season of refreshing, renewal, meditation and receiving fresh inspiration for greater accomplishments in the coming days.
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PP
- Bring repentance to the Lord for every sin in your life, family, church and Nation.
- Ask the Lord for forgiveness for the sins of rebellion against the leaders God has set over us - Num. 16:41; 31:15-16.
- Ask the Lord for forgiveness for every sin of idolatry as individuals, families and as a Nation Psa. 106:28-31.
- Bring repentance to the Lord for our sins of prayerlessness- 2 Sam. 24:21.
- Begin to plead for God’s mercies over your life, family and church - Num. 16:47-48; Psa.57:1.
- Plead with the Lord to rebuke the Corona Plague to stop - 2;Sam. 24:16; Zech. 3:1-2.
- Pray for the wind of the Holy Spirit to blow away the Corona plague across the entire world tonight - Exod. 14:21-22.
- Plead the blood of Jesus Christ over your life, family Church, Nigeria and the entire world - Rev. 12:11
- Decree that our lives and tent shall be secure and nothing shall be missing in our camp in Jesus' Name.
- Release the peace of God on your life, family, church, Nigeria and the entire world.
- Pray that your life, family, church, Nigeria and the entire world will be filled with His Li
RESOLUTION TO BE A PRAYING MEMBER FOR MY CHURCH LEADERS: ACTS 12:12-19; EXODUS 17:10-13A Message Prepared For Worship Service of Sunday March 22, 2020 By Nebolisa O. Arah
Few families face the kinds of pressures and expectations as families of Pastors and Church leaders. A typical day of a Church Pastor is filled with mountain tops and valleys and subject to up’s and down’s of life (see pages 43-46). Church members believe their leaders are superhuman. They must remain calm in the face of crisis, disagreement, abuse, opposition. We expect our leaders to be above reproach, maintain good self-control, be sensible, respectable and hospitable. We believe they must be good teachers, gentle, not argumentative, not greedy, have a good reputation among unbelievers and not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap. The list is endless. But like all of us our Pastors and leaders have 24 hours in a day. They are fathers, mothers and parents as we are. They need our support and encouragement. Most of all they need our prayers. Without ongoing intercessory prayer our church will not be healthy.
A. DO YOU KNOW THAT SURVEYS SHOW THAT…
· 90% of Pastors work between 55-75 hours per week and their spouses believe they are overworked.
· 80% of Pastors have insufficient time with their spouses
· 75% of Pastors report being “extremely” or “highly” stressed and 90% are fatigued and worn-out every week.
· 44% of Pastors do not take a regular day off. 85% have never taken a sabbatical and 31% do not exercise at all.
· 40% of Pastors have considered leaving the Pastorate in the last three months. They feel their families are in a glass house.
· 100% had a colleague who left the ministry because of burnout, church conflict or moral failure.
· 70% of Pastors do not have someone they consider a close friend.
B. HOW ABOUT THE SPOUSES, WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE?
· 56% say they have no close friends and see their spouses work schedule as a source of conflict.
· 45% say the greatest dangers to them and their family are physical, emotional, mental and spiritual burnout.
· 21% want more privacy. 80% feel pressured to serve in ways that do not fit their gifts.
· 80% of them feel left out and under-appreciated by the Church, unqualified and discouraged in their roles. They see their spouse’s work schedule as a source of conflict.
v Source: HB London Jr. & New Wise-wan, “Pastors at Greater Risk”*
C. WHAT DO THESE STATS MEAN? WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?
· The pressures of ministry are I____________________________
· Because of unfair/unmet expectations, leaders are often under G________________S_______________
· From the above we can deduce our leaders greatest need is P______________________ S________________ or I__________________
D. WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY?
· In 1 Tim. 2:1-4, Paul urges that petitions, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all P__________________ so that we can live P_____________________ and Q___
Most likely, everyone has personal preferences and desires. We have unique ways of doing certain things and peculiar methods of ensuring that our desires and expectations are met. Our preferences and desires are often reflected in the type of food we choose to eat, the colour of outfit we wear, the style of music we easily respond to or where we love to sit in public gatherings (if we can have our way).
The second resolution we all need to make apart from being functioning church members, is to be a unifying church member. This is because God desires it and it is the only way the world would identify us as Christ’s disciples. Unfortunately, the church today appears more divided than ever before. This is evident in the politics we see at different levels - denominational and inter-denominational, local church internal conflicts, bitterness, unforgiveness and irreconcilable differences in local churches. The foregoing are many more reasons why the church is sick and weak. There is no way we can advance the kingdom of God the way we should when we're scattered and divided. It would be foolhardy to face the enemy when we have not set our house in order. It is my prayer that the Lord would use this study to further heal and strengthen the bond of unity in IBC and in our homes, in Jesus' Name.
- Have you ever been to an ugly church business meeting? How do you feel attending such a
meeting? What does it tell about that local church?
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From last week and this week's studies - Why do you think God added you to the church? See pp. 16-17, 22.
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According to the author, why is unity important? Pp.22- 23.
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Mention the church killers that the author mentioned on p.24ff. Can these be found in IBC? What of in our families?
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What is the effect of gossip and negative talk on a local church? P.25.
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What lesson can we learn about the way the organization mentioned on p. 25 handled gossip? Does this challenge the way we handle gossip as Christians, especially in our local church?
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From Psalm 52, list some of the harmful effects of the negative use of the tongue?
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Who was Doeg in the Bible? What did he do with his tongue? 1 Sam. 22:6-19.
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What are the author’s suggestions on how to deal with the problem of gossip in the local church?
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What is unforgiveness?
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What are the effects of unforgiveness on the believer and the local church?
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How did the author deal with the problem of unforgiveness in his life? P.27.
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Mention specific scriptural reasons why every member must have a forgiving heart?
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Who are those who are bitter against the church, the leadership, each other
in IBC that we need to talk to based on this study?
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What is the scriptural verdict for irreconcilable church members? Matt.
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What is God saying to you from chapter two of our study book?
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Highlight the challenges this book presents to us as a local church?
Mention some of the reasons why we must be united as a local church?
Thank God for the insights, the rebukes, the instructions, and the light the Holy Spirit has shed on our hearts through this study. It is my prayer that God will help me and you to be unifying church members in Jesus' Name. This would make us healthier as a people, as families, as a church, and as a Nation.
No one cares about how much you know until they. know how much you care and the scriptures is clear when it alluded to the fact that the world will know is we are christians or not by the way we, who are believers act towards one another...
It is a known fact that not all church members in a local church are functioning members. While this is quite sad and unfortunate, it is however a reflection of a deeper problem - a heart problem ! It is simply a lack of love for Jesus Christ !
If you are truly born again and love Jesus Christ, you will not be satisfied with being as SMO christian, you would detest being a CEO christian
Lost ground has to do with lost opportunities.
There is no doubt that as individuals, families, and church, we have lost some opportunities in life. While it may look humanly impossible to recover some of these opportunities, God can still turn things around for us if we would trust Him enough.
It is my prayer that the Almighty God would confirm His word this night, in the lives of as many of us as have lost some grounds in life, in Jesus' Name. May the Lord help us recover all our lost grounds as individuals, families and church in Jesus' Name.
Definitions
· Recover = Return Back to a normal state of health, mind or strength.
= Find or regain possession of (something stolen or lost).
· Lost Grounds = Lost opportunities, jobs, relationship etc.
From our text, recovering our lost grounds would demand the ff:
1. Good Leadership - V.1.
Amongst others, good leaders are loving, courageous, wise and visionary.
David was, no doubt, a good leader.
His leadership skills were formed during his days as a shepherd boy, through life’s adversities and divine help.
Till date, even in death, David is still celebrated as one of the greatest leaders who ever lived.
David’s good and visionary leadership helped him and his followers recover their lost ground.
- Team spirit/work - V.1.
Recovering lost ground is always a huge assignment.
It often requires that "all hands be on deck."
Team spirit is therefore an essential requirement to recovering lost grounds.
For IBC to recover her lost grounds, we must learn to work as a team. Leaders and members need each other.
We must resolve to work together!
3. Deliverance from wandering - V.1.
Part of the problem with David and his 600 men was their wandering lifestyle.
For obvious reasons, they had to be moving from one place to another.
However, having been given Ziklag, one would expect them to remain in one place and direct their energies towards recovering their lost grounds. Unfortunately, their wandering lifestyle made them lose additional land (Ziklag).
For us to recover our lost ground, we need to stay in one place.
We must remain focused.
4. Sense of appreciation - V.1-2
There is always something for which we can be grateful to God.
The enemy destroyed Ziklag but did not kill any of the women or children that were captured.
5. Right response to tragedy - V.3-6.
Weeping is an emotional way of responding to tragedy.
While this has it’s own place, it's not a solution in itself to the problem.
Rational and God-glorifying steps must be taken afterwards.
6. Right Relationship with your Priest – V. 7a
People who don’t know how to relate with their Pastor will find it difficult to relate with God as their shepherd. The anointing you don’t respect will not benefit you.
7. The God Factor – V. 8
This is a crucial factor in recovering our lost ground.
Without God, not much can be accomplished.
But with God, we shall surely recover all in Jesus’ Name.
8. Passionate pursuit of your goal - V.9-10
David’s goal eventually was to pursue the raiders and recover his wives and others that were captured.
This he pursued passionately.
9. The right information - V.11 - 16.
In recovering our lost ground, we need to be sensitive to available information.
David and his team were able to extract useful information from the abandoned Egyptian slave.
The Almighty God delights in the well-being of His people - Psa. 35:17. God desires that His children enjoy the good of the land. Unfortunately, many of God’s children are far from experiencing this divine provision.
It is my prayer that everyone of us would come to experience the fulfillment of God’s promise in our lives. May the Lord help you to locate your promised land, access it and begin to eat the good of that land in Jesus Name.
A. From Isa. 1:19, which land is the Bible referring to? Gen. 11:31; 12:1-5; 49:29-32; Exod. 3:7-8; Deut. 8:1, 7-9;
B. What do you understand by the phrase- “good of the land?” Gen. 45:18.
C. What are the conditions for eating the good of the land from Isa. 1:19.
D. From Gen. 26:1-35, point out some additional principles required to possess and eat the good of the land.
E. What is Rehoboth? What is its implication for us as individuals, families and a church?
F. What is the importance of well and water to Isaac in our text? Gen. 26:32.
Dearly beloved, I sense the Lord is about to usher us into ‘something’ that is great this year. It must not be business as usual. We must break barriers and all forms of lethargy. We must be bold to confront systems and structures that would not allow us to arise and shine! May the light and the glory of the Lord that has been released upon us not be wasted in Jesus Name.
Sermon Preached during the first service by:
Rev. Dr. Jerry Akinsola
Anchor Scripture: Acts 8: 26 - 39
Discipleship Summit 2020 Day 1 Session 1
Theme: Adjustments to Follow Him-Uninterrupted Fellowship with God
Focus: The Crown For Following
No man walks with God and loses. The benefits of following the Lord will be the focal point in these two sessions to draw men to the feet of the cross.
Discipleship Summit 2020, Day 3 Session 1
Theme: Come Before Winter
Focus: The Crown For Following
No man walks with God and loses. The benefits of following the Lord will be the focal point in these two sessions to draw men to the feet of the cross.
Discipleship Summit 2020 Day 2 Session 1
Theme: Follow Him -The Church for the Common Good
Focus: The Challenge Of Following
The spiritual journey is a unique one with the enemies of the cross posing a steady and regular challenge to our continuous walk with Him. This session will help us plunge into the various issues that can sidetrack us in our discipleship walk. We trust God that this session will expose hidden issues that have gradually made our discipleship walk with the Master a struggle.
Discipleship Summit 2020 Day 1 Session 2
Theme: 2 - Consecrated to Follow Him
It is our expectation that this session will expose us to God’s demands, requirements, and the urgent need to be separated for the kingdom assignment. A call to follow Him, not on our terms, but absolutely on His terms. We will trust the Lord for a divine x-ray of both the specific and general call!
Discipleship Summit 2020 Day 1 Session 1
Theme: Follow Him by Loving Him, Experiencing God-Knowing & Doing the Will of God
Focus: The Call To Follow
It is our expectation that this session will expose us to God’s demands, requirements, and the urgent need to be separated for the kingdom assignment. A call to follow Him, not on our terms, but absolutely on His terms. We will trust the Lord for a divine x-ray of both the specific and general call!
- Most of the glory we have as believers are of the past, what is your present state?
- For one who has no place with God, their silver has become dross and their wine mixed with water. (Isaiah 1:22)
- A life of double standards can be said to be a life that has become dross.
- What level of glory has God taken you to that has made you mess up?
- How royal is our priesthood as individuals, as families, as a church and as a nation? Has our priesthood lost royalty.
Consistent encounter with God is not cheap. You must be ready to pay the following price if you would enjoy regular and consistent encounter with God:
- Daily communion in prayers - Mk.1:35. The price of early rising to meet with God. Some of only pray when we are in trouble.
This is very dangerous.
2. Daily communion in the word of light - Psa. 119:105; Jer. 23:29; Heb. 4:12; Lk. 7:2-10. The word of God is very powerful.
- The word of God has the power to arrest (like a soldier) and set people free - Jn.8;32.
We often encounter God through His word.
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Reading the Bible through provides us opportunity to hear God and encounter Him.
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Regular fellowship with the children of God - Heb. 11:25
Regular fasting - Isa. 58:
6. Discipler - Matt. 17:1ff. One who can take you up the mountain of transfiguration.
7. Discipline - Matt. 17:1ff. Climbing the mountain is not easy but it is a glorious experience up there on the mountain.
8. A pure heart - Matt. 5:8.
Only those with pure heart can see God.
- A hunger for God - Psa. 42:1; Matt. 5:
Books written by genuine Christian authors - 2 Tim. 4:13.
Personal Retreats -
Having been enlightened, cleansed and called, Isaiah was then commissioned to go and minister to the people of God.
It is evident in scripture that despite the difficult and dangerous nature of his commission, Isaiah fulfilled his ministry. It is my prayer that we all shall fulfill our ministry this year in Jesus Name.
It is interesting to note that even Isaiah did arise and shine for the Lord in his own generation. You also will arise and shine this year, this decade and the rest of your life in Jesus’ Name. We would not take the grace of our God in vain.
- It is God’s way of giving us another opportunity to step up in His agenda for our lives - V.8a.
Isaiah had actually been doing ministry for some time.
At least, we see him prophesying from Chapter 1 - 5, before this uncommon encounter with God in Chapter 6.
This encounter was perhaps not Isaiah’s first encounter with God.
This encounter was an opportunity from God to help Isaiah step up in his calling.
We all need divine encounters to help us experience progress in life and ministry.
2. It requires that we maximally utilize every “God moment” - V.6, 8b.???
It is not enough for God to encounter us.
Such encounters should be maximized, otherwise their benefits would be lost - Gen.28:16-22
3. It provides opportunity for the freshness required for continuous relevance in life and Ministry - V.8bff.
Supernatural encounters (SE) offers us divine freshness.
If you don’t know how to position yourself for Supernatural Encounter, you may just be going about with stale bread from previous experiences that may be of no current relevance.
People would still be addressing you by your title(s), not knowing that you have been long discarded by God.
4. It helps to understand the nature, the scope, the difficulty or the danger our
mandate presents – V.9-13.
5. It provides us with the rare privilege of divine - human interaction –
V.8,9,11.
God has always desired to interact with His children.
We see Him doing this severally with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden – Gen. 3:8
Abraham had several of such interactions with God. The Trinity even came to eat in His house - Gen. 18:1-15.
May the Lord stir your heart up towards this kind of relationship with God this year.
May you come to a point in your walk with God where you are enjoying God and not enduring Him.
6. It helps to set one’s life on the right path - Chapter 7ff.
Many of us were heading in the wrong direction in life until God helped us and brought us to the right path.
Some of us are in the wrong career path. May the Lord send His help to such in Jesus’ Name.
Some of us have found ourselves in wrong marriages and relationships. There is not much to do in such situations than to trust God for His Supernatural Help.
The encounter Isaiah had, set his life on the right path.
His prophetic ministry took a new dimension from this point.
May your life and mine take a new dimension from this fasting period in Jesus’ Name.
7.It opens you to a life of global and eternal impact – Chapter 7-66.
Till date, though Isaiah is dead, we are still reading and studying his book.
His life and ministry is of global and eternal relevance.
The content of Isaiah’s book would continue to be of great blessing to future generations.
Oh God, make my life have global and eternal relevance in Jesus Name. May my life, by
Having been enlightened, cleansed and called, Isaiah was then commissioned to go and minister to the people of God.
It is evident in scripture that despite the difficult and dangerous nature of his commission, Isaiah fulfilled his ministry. It is my prayer that we all shall fulfill our ministry this year in Jesus Name.
It is interesting to note that even Isaiah did arise and shine for the Lord in his own generation. You also will arise and shine this year, this decade and the rest of your life in Jesus’ Name. We would not take the grace of our God in vain.
- It is God’s way of giving us another opportunity to step up in His agenda for our lives - V.8a.
Isaiah had actually been doing ministry for some time.
At least, we see him prophesying from Chapter 1 - 5, before this uncommon encounter with God in Chapter 6.
This encounter was perhaps not Isaiah’s first encounter with God.
This encounter was an opportunity from God to help Isaiah step up in his calling.
We all need divine encounters to help us experience progress in life and ministry.
- It requires that we maximally utilize every “God moment” - V.6, 8b.???
It is not enough for God to encounter us.
Such encounters should be maximized, otherwise their benefits would be lost - Gen.28:16-22
- It provides opportunity for the freshness required for continuous relevance in life and Ministry - V.8bff.
Supernatural encounters (SE) offers us divine freshness.
If you don’t know how to position yourself for Supernatural Encounter, you may just be going about with stale bread from previous experiences that may be of no current relevance.
People would still be addressing you by your title(s), not knowing that you have been long discarded by God.
- It helps to understand the nature, the scope, the difficulty or the danger our
mandate presents – V.9-13.
5. It provides us with the rare privilege of divine - human interaction –
V.8,9,11.
God has always desired to interact with His children.
We see Him doing this severally with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden – Gen. 3:8
Abraham had several of such interactions with God. The Trinity even came to eat in His house - Gen. 18:1-15.
May the Lord stir your heart up towards this kind of relationship with God this year.
May you come to a point in your walk with God where you are enjoying God and not enduring Him.
6. It helps to set one’s life on the right path - Chapter 7ff.
Many of us were heading in the wrong direction in life until God helped us and brought us to the right path.
Some of us are in the wrong career path. May the Lord send His help to such in Jesus’ Name.
Some of us have found ourselves in wrong marriages and relationships. There is not much to do in such situations than to trust God for His Supernatural Help.
The encounter Isaiah had, set his life on the right path.
His prophetic ministry took a new dimension from this point.
May your life and mine take a new dimension from this fasting period in Jesus’ Name.
7. It opens you to a life of global and eternal impact – Chapter 7-66.
Till date, though Isaiah is dead, we are still reading and studying his book.
His life and ministry is of global and eternal relevance.
The content of Isaiah’s book would continue to be of great blessing to future generations.
Oh God, make my life have global and eternal relevance in Jesus Name. May my life, by
The Almighty God has brought to another divine moment in our walk with Him as a church. It is my prayer that none of us would be left out of this great divine and defining moment in Jesus Name.
A. Definitions
- Supernatural has to do with “a manifestation or an event attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or laws of nature.”
- Encounter has to do with an- “unexpected experience, or to be faced with something difficult or hostile.”
OTHERS:
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“A meeting, particularly a sudden or accidental meeting of two or more persons.”
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“A meeting in contest; a single combat, or a sudden meeting of parties; sometimes less properly a duel.”
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“A fight; a conflict; a skirmish; a battle; but more generally, a fight between a small number of men, or an accidental meeting and fighting of detachments, rather than a set battle or general engagement.”
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“A sudden or unexpected address or accosting.”
B. Features of Supernatural Encounters.
- It is always God initiated - V.1.
Supernatural encounters are always initiated by God.
Even when we desire and tirelessly pray for it, it is still God that puts the desire in us.
Having initiated the process of an encounter with God in this fasting and prayer, it is my prayer that all of us would truly encounter Him in Jesus’ Name.
- It sometimes comes in our reflective - sober moments or periods we least expect- V.1
Our difficult moments in life offers God the opportunity of revealing Himself to us.
The death of King Uzziah was the precursor to Isaiah’s encounter with God.
While Isaiah was mourning the death of this great king due to their relationship, God had a different agenda.
The death of Uzziah was perhaps what was required to serve as a bait to arrest Isaiah’s attention.
May the Lord reveal Himself to us during this fasting and prayer period.
- It leaves us with a deep, unforgettable, lasting and memorable impact - V.1-4.
There is no way you will have an encounter with God and remain the same.
An encounter with God would leave on you a deep, unforgettable, lasting and memorable impact.
When God gives you one encounter with Him, you will never be the same again.
- It is always a “contra” - V.5.
What is a contra?
“It is a coming against or coming to counteract someone on his path.”
It is like two vehicles having a head-on-collision.
It could sometime be obtrusive - that is, not welcoming.
This is to suggest that a supernatural encounter with God is not usually friendly - Isa. 55:8-9.
Consider Isaiah’s experience - 6:5.
Consider Abraham’s experience - Gen. 12:1
Consider Jacob’s experience - Gen. 28:10-15
Consider Moses’ experience - Exod. 3:1f
Consider Nehemiah’s experience - Neh. 1:1-11
Consider Saul’s experience - Acts 9:1-19
- It is always meant to help us become better vessels in God’s hand - V.6-7.
Though encounters with God could be a contra and obtrusive, they are not usually meant to injure us once we cooperate easily. However, they can lead to injury or death if we ignorantly resist Him.
Encounters with God are part of God’s way of demonstrating His great love to us. God often uses them to deliver us from a wasted life/ existence, re-direct our lives, and help us become our best for the Lord.
Once Isaiah acknowledged his sinful state, God sent help to him through the angel. God forgave his sin and also cleansed him.
Sin, no matter how small, would disqualify you from divine usage.
God is pe
Christmas is more than a season for eating, drinking and relaxing. It is a season we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world; a season to experience the supernatural
The Bible is replete with insights on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, probably due to faithlessness and/or laziness in searching the scripture, most of God’s people are ignorant about these gifts. This ignorance, especially in our denomination, has not made us better as conservatives; rather it has made us ineffective in the fulfillment of our mandate as a people of God.
It is my prayer that this study will not only open our eyes of understanding, but provoke us to desire and trust God for the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
-
What is a gift?
-
What is a spiritual gifts?
-
What is the difference between talents and spiritual gifts?
- What did Apostle Paul say should be the believers’ disposition on spiritual gifts? V.1; cf. Lk. 11:11-13.
-
Read 1 Cor. 12:4-6 and explain what you understand from these verses
-
Why should a believer have the gift(s) of the Holy Spirit? - V.7; 1 Cor. 14:1-4.
-
From 1 Cor. 12:8-10, list the various gifts mentioned by Apostle Paul and explain what you understand about each of them.
-
How many of these are currently manifesting in your life?
-
Is it possible for a believer to manifest all these spiritual gifts?
10. How to activate the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life. Lk. 11:9-10.
a. You must be born again - Jn. 3:3,5.
b. Have the right disposition (Not of fear, doubt, criticism, etc) - Lk.11:9-13; 1 Cor. 12:7.
c. Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Acts 19:1-7.
d. Praying in the Holy Ghost - Jude 20.
e. The right atmosphere (where all believe what you believe; liberty,) - Acts 2:12-13.
f. Active involvement in kingdom service (not mere activities) - Acts 14:8-13.
g. Stay little in your eyes - 1 Sam. 15:7; James 4:6.
h. E.t.c
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are still available today for the good of the church. A major reason for our ineffectiveness as people of God is because we have despised these gifts. We would accomplish much for the kingdom of our God and wreck havoc to Satan and his kingdom once we allow God to begin to manifest these gifts through us. May the Lord help you and I to allow God flow through us in this regard in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Thanksgiving is a familiar subject in scripture. Simply put, thanksgiving offers God's children the opportunity to regularly come back to Him to say thank You for the great things He has done in their lives.
It is my prayer that we shall all grow in our thanksgiving to the Almighty God. More importantly, I pray we shall be more intentional, thoughtful , generous and exceptional whenever we come to appreciate the Almighty God
a. What is thanksgiving?
b. What is divinely acceptable and unacceptable thanksgiving ?
c. Mention some examples of people that God accepted their thanksgiving in Bible
c. Mention some examples of people whose thanksgiving offerings were rejected by God in scripture.
e. What are the requirements for divinely acceptable thanksgiving ?
Sacrificial
Another thanksgiving season has come on us. Wisdom demands that we reflect and remember God's gracious dealings with us over the years, especially in the past months of this closing year. it is my prayer that none of us would give to the Lord an unacceptable thanksgiving this coming Sunday. may our thanksgiving open greater doors of blessings and not trouble in Jesus Name. May we all grow from thanksgiving to thanks-living in Jesus Name.
It has come to that period of the year that we all as a congregation deliberately look up to
God, waiting upon Him in fasting and prayer, leading us into the week of congregational
revival and afterward, annual thanksgiving service. It has become an annual tradition in IBC,
and we thank God for this godly heritage. But we must take caution so that we don’t get lost
in the euphoria and activities, going through the motions without maximising the spiritual
benefits this season has to offer. As we begin to wait on the Lord together from today and
throughout this week, may the Lord strengthen our hands and empower us to be actively
involved in this exercise.
SOME SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR CONGREGATIONAL FAST
Joel 2:12-13
Esther 4: 12-16
Ezra 8: 21-23
Acts 13: 1-3
Acts 14: 23
Fasting and prayer are indispensable for any individual or any church that will consistently
operate in the realm of the supernatural. The great men of old fasted and prayed, and they
experience the power of God. The Apostles and people of the early church fasted and prayed, and God never disappointed them. Jesus fasted and prayed (Matthew 4: 1-2; Luke 4: 1-2) as a way to declare mastery over human nature and be led by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also approves fasting (Matthew 6: 17; 17:21).
SOME SCRIPTURAL BENEFITS OF FASTING (Isaiah 58: 8-9; 11-12; 14)
1. Divine Visitation (v.8)
2. Divine Acceleration (v.8)
3. Divine Enclosure (v.8)
4. Divine Response/Answered Prayer (v.9)
5. Divine Guidance (v.11)
6. Divine Satisfaction (v.11)
7. Divine Strengthening (v.11)
8. Divine Flourishing (v.11)
9. Divine Restoration (v.12)
10. Divine Joy/Celebration (v.14)
11. Divine Triumph (v.14)
12. Divine Compensation (v.14)
SOME WRONG PERCEPTIONS ABOUT FASTING (Isaiah 58: 2-5)
1. When Fasting is seen as a mere religious exercise
2. When Fasting is seen as showmanship
3 When Fasting is seen as a display of physical appearance.
4. When Fasting is seen as a way to bribe/impress or change the hand of God
5. When Fasting is seen as an event/program
GOD’S STANDARD OF ACCEPTABILITY (Isaiah 58:6-7; 10)
What we call fasting sometimes is far from God’s expectation. It is actually ‘hunger strike’ or mere abstinence from food. The kind of fast God approves is predicated on RELATIONSHIP.
It is self-deception to think you have a healthy relationship with God when your human
relationship is defective. If it is our ultimate desire to please God, then we must align with the kind of fast God has chosen (v.6). This kind of fasting has to do with:
Genuine Repentance (v. 6)
Release (v.6)
Restitution (v.6)
Sharing and Caring for the Needy (7)
Spending time to Pray (v.9). Fasting is scarcely mentioned in isolation in the Bible. It is
usually combined with prayer/worship.
There are many reasons why a believer in Christ Jesus cannot do without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The benefit of having the Holy Spirit in your life as a believer far outweighs not having Him. (if any).
Amongst others, some of the reasons why you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit include:
- To attest that you truly belong to Christ-Rom. 8:9.
- To maximize your potential-Acts 1:8.
- To be a carrier of the power of the Almighty God-Acts. 1:8.
- To be a global christian with worldwide impact-Acts. 1:8.
- To enjoy your christian life-Isa. 32:11-15.
- To operate in the supernatural-Acts 19:11.
- To become unstoppable, unexplainable, untameable and "unkillable"-Acts 4:1; Jn. 3:8.
- To be protected and preserved from the enemy's assault-2Cor. 1:21-22.
- To be raptureable-2Cor. 1:22.
- Etc.
What is a symbol?
1. "A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object, represents something abstract."
- "A mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process..."
The subject of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was one of those under dispute in several denominations in the 1970s and early 1980s. Many churches were able to resolve this Pneumatological challenge by returning to the scripture. This resolution led to ta great revival, particularly in our denomination and the body of Christ in Nigeria.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit has to do with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. it is often described as a second experience after salvation. Speaking in other Tongues is the principal evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
There are many reasons why a believer in Christ Jesus cannot do without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The benefit of having the Holy Spirit in your life as a believer far outweighs not having Him. (if any).
Amongst others, some of the reasons why you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit include:
- To attest that you truly belong to Christ-Rom. 8:9.
- To maximize your potential-Acts 1:8.
- To be a carrier of the power of the Almighty God-Acts. 1:8.
- To be a global christian with worldwide impact-Acts. 1:8.
- To enjoy your christian life-Isa. 32:11-15.
- To operate in the supernatural-Acts 19:11.
- To become unstoppable, unexplainable, untameable and "unkillable"-Acts 4:1; Jn. 3:8.
- To be protected and preserved from the enemy's assault-2Cor. 1:21-22.
- To be raptureable-2Cor. 1:22.
- Etc.
What is a symbol?
1. "A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object, represents something abstract."
- "A mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process..."
There are many reasons why a believer in Christ Jesus cannot do without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The benefit of having the Holy Spirit in your life as a believer far outweighs not having Him. (if any).
Amongst others, some of the reasons why you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit include:
- To attest that you truly belong to Christ-Rom. 8:9.
- To maximize your potential-Acts 1:8.
- To be a carrier of the power of the Almighty God-Acts. 1:8.
- To be a global christian with worldwide impact-Acts. 1:8.
- To enjoy your christian life-Isa. 32:11-15.
- To operate in the supernatural-Acts 19:11.
- To become unstoppable, unexplainable, untameable and "unkillable"-Acts 4:1; Jn. 3:8.
- To be protected and preserved from the enemy's assault-2Cor. 1:21-22.
- To be raptureable-2Cor. 1:22.
- Etc.
What is a symbol?
1. "A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object, represents something abstract."
- "A mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process..."
The Lord made it clear to us that the year 2019 is a year of Supernatural Power. We
were expected to trust God for the power of the Holy Spirit for our living and not rely
on our own power or might. Zech. 4:6
Most part of the year has been spent on teachings and preachings about the various
means by which the Supernatural Power of the Almighty God can be exhibited.
Thank God for what He has done already in each of our lives by His Supernatural
power in the first nine months and what He will yet do in the remaining part of this
year.
We shall deliberately be studying about the Holy Spirit this month as we round up
with the theme for this year. It is our prayer that the Lord will further open our eyes
of understanding and give each one of us a unique, personal and glorious encounter
during and after this series in Jesus Name. We therefore welcome the Holy Spirit into
our lives, family and church for a fresh and deeper experience with Him from this
day in Jesus Name. Welcome Holy Spirit!
A. Who is the Holy Spirit (aka Holy Ghost)?
1. He is the third person of the Trinity - Matt. 28:19; Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 2Cor. 13:14;
1Pet.1:2
2. The Spirit of the Living God - Joel 2:28.
3. The Spirit of truth - Jn.15:26. A true Spirit – filled believer can lie or live a liar
4. The Spirit of Jesus - Acts 16:7.
5. Parakletos - Jn. 15:26; Advocate = A person who pleads on someone’s behalf.
Champion, Upholder; Spokes Person, etc- 1John 2:1. One called to the side
of another for help or counsel; Comforter; Counselor; Strengthener; Stand
By; Helper; Teacher; Revealer- Jn. 16:12-15; cf Jer. 33:3; Intercessor;
6. Dunamis - Might; Efficiency & Ability - Acts 1:8; Dan. 5:12
7. Yoke Breaker - Isa. 10:27; Judges 15:12-15
8. Enabler - Lk. 1:35 = Dunamis = Ability, Power
9. Director - Acts 8:26 - 29; 16:6-9.
10.Inspirator/Mover - Lk. 2:27; Acts 8:39;
11.Teacher - Jn. 14:26 Teach = Didasko Yoke = Slavery; Bondage;
Restriction;
12.Testifier - Jn. 15:26 = To bear witness Limitation; Barrier
13.Guide - Jn. 16:13-15 = To show the way
14.Protector - Isa. 59:19.
15.Etc.
It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit would become real to you and I in this season of
our lives. May none of us by reason of ignorance, tradition, pride and a host of other
tendencies, biases and prejudices loose out on what the Lord intends to do in our
camp from this season onward. AMEN.
Life is filled with contradictions.
Examples of people and places with contradictions abound in scripture and in contemporary time.
May the Almighty God give every one of us victory over every form of contradiction in our lives as individuals, families and church in Jesus Name.
A. What is contradiction?
B. Examples of contradictions?
- In the Bible - V.19; Exod. 15:22-25a; Acts 3:1-10.
- In our nation -
- In our local church (there are many i think) - An acceptable one is brethren falling and breaking bones within the church compound.
- In your life/family/career/business C. How do we secure victory over contradictions?
Securing victory over contradictions demands that we all pay attention to the following principles:
- To seek help from godly sources - V.19
Most believers acknowledge God as the right choice to seek in the time of trouble.
Unfortunately when the chips are down, some of us begin to waver and start seeking help from sources that are questionable.
Can we ask you this morning, where have you gone and where are you going to seek for help other than from the living God?
Where else do you go after church on Sunday morning?
The men of the city of Jericho left us with an example to follow. See V.19;
- Maximize every opportunity God brings your way - V.19 cf. V.23, 26.
Elijah was actually not going to stay long in Jericho.
He had very few days before he leaves for his final destination - V.23, 26.
The elders seem to sense this and so they maximized their opportunity.
Delay, they say could be dangerous!
This is the time to seek the Lord to resolve every contradiction to the word of God in our lives, families and church.
- Never allow pride to rob you of God’s intervention - V.19; cf. 5:1ff.
Pride is one of the things that the enemy often use to rob us of divine intervention.
Pride is one of the manifestation of the flesh (aka the old man; the Adamic nature; corrupt nature;)
The men of Jericho never allowed their pride to rob them of their miracle. They put pride aside and went after Elisha and God did it for them.
- Approach a correct prophet of God - V.19 cf. Hos. 12:13.
The Bible is replete with examples of correct men and women of God who operated in the prophetic ministry.
There are also many examples of fake prophets both in the New and Old testaments.
The question is how do you know a fake prophet?
· You register with N25t to see them!
· You are given appointment at very odd hours!
· You are required to sow seed before you see the prophet!
· You are told to do things that are not rooted in scripture.
· Etc.
Elisha was a genuine prophet of God. He had a definite call experience and he received a thorough equipping under the great prophet Elijah.
So, the men of Jericho approached Elisha with their city challenge.
And God used Elisha to solve this age-long problem - Hos. 12:13
God has always used His prophets to intervene in the situation of his people. He still does so till date.
It is my prayer that the Lord will bring to a good end every contradiction in your life, family and our local church today in Jesus Name.
Meanwhile, prophet Moses, Elijah, Elisha, etc have gone to their reward.
So where do we go to now? ———
Heb. 13:8.
- Exercise your spiritual authority over every m
The Lord made it clear to us that the year 2019 is a year of Supernatural Power. We
were expected to trust God for the power of the Holy Spirit for our living and not rely
on our own power or might. Zech. 4:6
Most part of the year has been spent on teachings and preachings about the various
means by which the Supernatural Power of the Almighty God can be exhibited.
Thank God for what He has done already in each of our lives by His Supernatural
power in the first nine months and what He will yet do in the remaining part of this
year.
We shall deliberately be studying about the Holy Spirit this month as we round up
with the theme for this year. It is our prayer that the Lord will further open our eyes
of understanding and give each one of us a unique, personal and glorious encounter
during and after this series in Jesus Name. We therefore welcome the Holy Spirit into
our lives, family and church for a fresh and deeper experience with Him from this
day in Jesus Name. Welcome Holy Spirit!
A. Who is the Holy Spirit (aka Holy Ghost)?
1. He is the third person of the Trinity - Matt. 28:19; Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 2Cor. 13:14;
1Pet.1:2
2. The Spirit of the Living God - Joel 2:28.
3. The Spirit of truth - Jn.15:26. A true Spirit – filled believer can lie or live a liar
4. The Spirit of Jesus - Acts 16:7.
5. Parakletos - Jn. 15:26; Advocate = A person who pleads on someone’s behalf.
Champion, Upholder; Spokes Person, etc- 1John 2:1. One called to the side
of another for help or counsel; Comforter; Counselor; Strengthener; Stand
By; Helper; Teacher; Revealer- Jn. 16:12-15; cf Jer. 33:3; Intercessor;
6. Dunamis - Might; Efficiency & Ability - Acts 1:8; Dan. 5:12
7. Yoke Breaker - Isa. 10:27; Judges 15:12-15
8. Enabler - Lk. 1:35 = Dunamis = Ability, Power
9. Director - Acts 8:26 - 29; 16:6-9.
10.Inspirator/Mover - Lk. 2:27; Acts 8:39;
11.Teacher - Jn. 14:26 Teach = Didasko Yoke = Slavery; Bondage;
Restriction;
12.Testifier - Jn. 15:26 = To bear witness Limitation; Barrier
13.Guide - Jn. 16:13-15 = To show the way
14.Protector - Isa. 59:19.
15.Etc.
It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit would become real to you and I in this season of
our lives. May none of us by reason of ignorance, tradition, pride and a host of other
tendencies, biases and prejudices loose out on what the Lord intends to do in our
camp from this season onward. AMEN.
Anchor Scripture: Psalm 133:1-3;
INTRODUCTION- A popular chorus goes thus “the more we are together, the happier we shall be.” The glue that sustains every relationship is unity. Christians are so divided today that we cannot confront the enemy in togetherness. He knows that there is power in unity so he does everything to disorganize and separate us. Unfortunately, we have allowed the devil to have a field day.
OUESTIONS
1. What are the main indicators of disunity in an organization, family and Church?
2. What often cause disunity? James 4:1; Philippians 2:3-4; 4:2-3; Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 19:11
3. Why is unity important in an organization, family and Church?
4. What are the practical steps in fostering unity in any relationship? Proverbs 17:14; Luke 17:3-4; Proverbs 17:14; Proverbs 20:26; 26:20; James 1:19; Philippians 2:3; Matthew 18:15-17; Psalm 34:14; Romans 12:18.
Being divided is an opportunity for the devil to have field day and take advantage of us. We must always remember that “if we are fighting each other, we can’t fight the enemy.”
1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:3; Romans 14:19; Romans 12:4-5; 1 John 4:12; 1 Corinthian 12:27
The building blocks of unity:
1. Time
2. Trust
3. Faith
4. Forgiveness
5. Sacrifice
6. Love
7. Knowledge.
Apart from prayer, God’s word remains His ever-lasting method to bring about the release of
supernatural power. In fact, prayer without the appropriate understanding and backing of
the Word may be ineffective. A. W Tozer says, “Satan’s greatest weapon is man’s ignorance
of God’s Word.”
Living in the realm of the supernatural becomes possible when a believer knows and apply
‘what is written’ (Matthew 4:1-11) against what is happening around. The Word of God is the
‘super’ behind the ‘natural.’ Only the Word can stop the hand of the devil (Matthew 4:11).
A good understanding of the Word sets a believer on the pathway to continuous victory. This
study is meant to stir up our hunger for the Word of God. We can only succeed when we
operate from the platform of the Word. Tonight, we will consider a general overview of the
potency of God’s Word.
1. Mention (with scriptural references) individuals/people in the Bible who depended on the
Word and it worked for them.
2. What is the meaning of the statement, “The word of the Lord came to me”?
3. What truth can we learn about the Word of God from these passages: Zech. 4:8-9; 6:9-11;
7:4-5, 8-11; Jeremiah 1:4-5; 2:1-2; 16:1-4; Ezekiel 1:1-3; 12: 26-28.
4. John 1:1-5. What implications can we draw from the following statements about the
Word, for supernatural life today?
“In the beginning was the Word” (v.1)
“The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (v.1; Hebrews 1:3)
“Through Him, all things were made.......” (v.3; Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3)
“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men” (v.4 Read AMP; Proverbs 3:1-2; Psalm
107:20)
“The Light shines in the darkness....”(v. 5; Psalm 119:105).
5. What should be our attitude to the WORD? Romans 10:17; Psalm 119:97; John 5:39; Col.
3:16.
CONCLUSION:
The Word of God is still alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). Supernatural power is always
available when we give due diligence to the study of God’s Word. The Word still works!
The Lord Jesus Christ is a man of prayer. He was committed to prayer during His life
in the flesh. Scripture attests to the fact that He is still interceding for His church till
date. Talking about Christ’ prayer life, S. D. Gordon said: “The man Christ Jesus prayed;
prayed much; needed to pray; loved to pray.”
In his bid to teach his disciples “to pray,” Christ provided them with the prayer model in
Lk. 11:1ff.
A good understanding of the principles taught in this passage would no doubt help
everyone who desires to grow in his/her prayer life.
Meanwhile, apart from learning the principles of prayer from this model prayer, we
can also deduce principal reasons why we should pray. Some of the reasons are:
-
To Strengthen our Relationship with our Heavenly Father - V.9.
God is the Creator of all mankind. He is however not the Father of all human
beings.
God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is also the Father to all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and
Saviour - Jn. 1:12; 2 Tim. 2:19.
The word “Father” means source. Ancestor and inventor.
Prayer gives us the opportunity of daily and constantly connecting with our
Source.
This explains why you experience spiritual dryness when you are not consistent
with your prayer life. -
For the Establishment of God’s Kingdom - V.10.
Satan the thief is regarded in scripture as the god of this world. Till date, he holds
sway over people’s lives and communities. For us to dislodge him out of people’s
lives and communities, we must be committed to concerted prayers.
You can bring down the kingdom of God in your compound, street, office, school,
village, nation by your prayer.
Bringing down the kingdom of God is another critical reason why we must be men
and women of prayer. -
To Operate in the will of God - V.10.
Being at the center of God’s will is sweet and fulfilling.
Prayer is essential to knowing and doing the will of God.
Many of our young people are going through time of crisis today in the choice of
life partner, career, etc just because of prayerlessness. Prayer will help you
discern God’s will for your life and also help you submit to that will. -
To Receive our Daily Provisions - V.11
The Almighty God is our El-Shaddai. He is more than enough.
As a responsible and reliable Father, He is committed to providing for our needs
on a daily basis. Prayer gives us the access to receiving His daily provision for our
lives. -
To Receive Forgiveness for our Sins - V.12.
Man’s greatest problem is sin. Jesus came to save us from our sins. He paid the full price
for our sins past, present and the future. While Christians don’t sin deliberately, we do
fall into it once in a while. God has made provision through prayer for us to receive His
forgiveness through confession and repentance. -
To Offer Forgiveness to those who have Offended us - V.12, 14-15.
The condition for us to receive forgiveness of our sins is that we all must forgive
those who have offended us. Failure to do so would make the heavens to be
closed to us. It also means we are sitting in the place of God - Gen. 50:19.
God expects us to forgive people who have offended us regardless of the gravity of
their sins. Prayer offers us the opportunity of forgiving all who have hurt us. Lk.
11:24-25. -
To Shield us from Temptation - V.13; Matt. 26:41-41.
Believers are faced with temptations everyday. Part of Satan’s daily schedule is to
set traps for God’s people - Jn. 10:10b. Living a prayerful life helps to shield us
from the many temptations that come our way on a daily basis - Lk.22:31-32, 39. -
To Secure Victory over the evil one - V.8.
Christ has made us over-comers through His finished work on the cross - 1Jn.5:4;
Rev. 12:11. We are truly m
The Lord Jesus Christ is a man of prayer. He was committed to prayer during His life
in the flesh. Scripture attests to the fact that He is still interceding for His church till
date. Talking about Christ’ prayer life, S. D. Gordon said: “The man Christ Jesus prayed;
prayed much; needed to pray; loved to pray.”
In his bid to teach his disciples “to pray,” Christ provided them with the prayer model in
Lk. 11:1ff.
A good understanding of the principles taught in this passage would no doubt help
everyone who desires to grow in his/her prayer life.
Meanwhile, apart from learning the principles of prayer from this model prayer, we
can also deduce principal reasons why we should pray. Some of the reasons are:
-
To Strengthen our Relationship with our Heavenly Father - V.9.
God is the Creator of all mankind. He is however not the Father of all human
beings.
God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is also the Father to all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and
Saviour - Jn. 1:12; 2 Tim. 2:19.
The word “Father” means source. Ancestor and inventor.
Prayer gives us the opportunity of daily and constantly connecting with our
Source.
This explains why you experience spiritual dryness when you are not consistent
with your prayer life. -
For the Establishment of God’s Kingdom - V.10.
Satan the thief is regarded in scripture as the god of this world. Till date, he holds
sway over people’s lives and communities. For us to dislodge him out of people’s
lives and communities, we must be committed to concerted prayers.
You can bring down the kingdom of God in your compound, street, office, school,
village, nation by your prayer.
Bringing down the kingdom of God is another critical reason why we must be men
and women of prayer. -
To Operate in the will of God - V.10.
Being at the center of God’s will is sweet and fulfilling.
Prayer is essential to knowing and doing the will of God.
Many of our young people are going through time of crisis today in the choice of
life partner, career, etc just because of prayerlessness. Prayer will help you
discern God’s will for your life and also help you submit to that will. -
To Receive our Daily Provisions - V.11
The Almighty God is our El-Shaddai. He is more than enough.
As a responsible and reliable Father, He is committed to providing for our needs
on a daily basis. Prayer gives us the access to receiving His daily provision for our
lives. -
To Receive Forgiveness for our Sins - V.12.
Man’s greatest problem is sin. Jesus came to save us from our sins. He paid the full price
for our sins past, present and the future. While Christians don’t sin deliberately, we do
fall into it once in a while. God has made provision through prayer for us to receive His
forgiveness through confession and repentance. -
To Offer Forgiveness to those who have Offended us - V.12, 14-15.
The condition for us to receive forgiveness of our sins is that we all must forgive
those who have offended us. Failure to do so would make the heavens to be
closed to us. It also means we are sitting in the place of God - Gen. 50:19.
God expects us to forgive people who have offended us regardless of the gravity of
their sins. Prayer offers us the opportunity of forgiving all who have hurt us. Lk.
11:24-25. -
To Shield us from Temptation - V.13; Matt. 26:41-41.
Believers are faced with temptations everyday. Part of Satan’s daily schedule is to
set traps for God’s people - Jn. 10:10b. Living a prayerful life helps to shield us
from the many temptations that come our way on a daily basis - Lk.22:31-32, 39. -
To Secure Victory over the evil one - V.8.
Christ has made us over-comers through His finished work on the cross - 1Jn.5:4;
Rev. 12:11. We are truly m
The Lord Jesus Christ is a man of prayer. He was committed to prayer during His life
in the flesh. Scripture attests to the fact that He is still interceding for His church till
date. Talking about Christ’ prayer life, S. D. Gordon said: “The man Christ Jesus prayed;
prayed much; needed to pray; loved to pray.”
In his bid to teach his disciples “to pray,” Christ provided them with the prayer model in
Lk. 11:1ff.
A good understanding of the principles taught in this passage would no doubt help
everyone who desires to grow in his/her prayer life.
Meanwhile, apart from learning the principles of prayer from this model prayer, we
can also deduce principal reasons why we should pray. Some of the reasons are:
-
To Strengthen our Relationship with our Heavenly Father - V.9.
God is the Creator of all mankind. He is however not the Father of all human
beings.
God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is also the Father to all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and
Saviour - Jn. 1:12; 2 Tim. 2:19.
The word “Father” means source. Ancestor and inventor.
Prayer gives us the opportunity of daily and constantly connecting with our
Source.
This explains why you experience spiritual dryness when you are not consistent
with your prayer life. -
For the Establishment of God’s Kingdom - V.10.
Satan the thief is regarded in scripture as the god of this world. Till date, he holds
sway over people’s lives and communities. For us to dislodge him out of people’s
lives and communities, we must be committed to concerted prayers.
You can bring down the kingdom of God in your compound, street, office, school,
village, nation by your prayer.
Bringing down the kingdom of God is another critical reason why we must be men
and women of prayer. -
To Operate in the will of God - V.10.
Being at the center of God’s will is sweet and fulfilling.
Prayer is essential to knowing and doing the will of God.
Many of our young people are going through time of crisis today in the choice of
life partner, career, etc just because of prayerlessness. Prayer will help you
discern God’s will for your life and also help you submit to that will. -
To Receive our Daily Provisions - V.11
The Almighty God is our El-Shaddai. He is more than enough.
As a responsible and reliable Father, He is committed to providing for our needs
on a daily basis. Prayer gives us the access to receiving His daily provision for our
lives. -
To Receive Forgiveness for our Sins - V.12.
Man’s greatest problem is sin. Jesus came to save us from our sins. He paid the full price
for our sins past, present and the future. While Christians don’t sin deliberately, we do
fall into it once in a while. God has made provision through prayer for us to receive His
forgiveness through confession and repentance. -
To Offer Forgiveness to those who have Offended us - V.12, 14-15.
The condition for us to receive forgiveness of our sins is that we all must forgive
those who have offended us. Failure to do so would make the heavens to be
closed to us. It also means we are sitting in the place of God - Gen. 50:19.
God expects us to forgive people who have offended us regardless of the gravity of
their sins. Prayer offers us the opportunity of forgiving all who have hurt us. Lk.
11:24-25. -
To Shield us from Temptation - V.13; Matt. 26:41-41.
Believers are faced with temptations everyday. Part of Satan’s daily schedule is to
set traps for God’s people - Jn. 10:10b. Living a prayerful life helps to shield us
from the many temptations that come our way on a daily basis - Lk.22:31-32, 39. -
To Secure Victory over the evil one - V.8.
Christ has made us over-comers through His finished work on the cross - 1Jn.5:4;
Rev. 12:11. We are truly m
“...YOU WILL BE A BLESSING. Zech. 8:12 - 13.
A Message Prepared And Delivered By Rev. ‘Segun Adeleke, DMin On August 11, 2019 During her Worship Service.
It is the pleasure of the Almighty God to bless His children.
A major reason for this in the heart of God is so that His children could be a
blessing to their world - V.13.
The truth of the scripture is that you cannot be said to be blessed until you are a
blessing to your world. My prayer today is for the Lord to work in our hearts and
make us a blessing indeed in Jesus Name.
A. Dimensions of God’s Blessings. Gen. 22:15; 24:34;
• Spiritual Blessings
• Physical Blessings
• Financial Blessings
• Materials Blessings
• Marital Blessings
Etc...
Note
It is the will of God to bless us in every way as He did to Abraham. May we all
receive access into the multidimensional blessings of the Almighty God in Jesus
Name.
B. Gateways to God’s Blessings
1. Commitment to the kingdom of God - Matt. 6:3; Jn. 3:3,7; 1 Pet. 1:3 - 4; Jn. 12:26.
2. Prayer - Matt. 7:7; 1 Chr. 5:9; Gen. 34:22 - 28.
3. Divine presence - Gen. 39:2 - 6, 19 - 23.
4. Inheritance - 1 Kg. 21:1 - 3; Prov. 13:22.
5. Obedience to divine instruction - Gen. 26:1 - 6, 12 - 16; Deut. 28:1 - 14; Lk. 5:1 - 11.
6. The Right Location - Psa. 1:1 - 3; Gen. 26:1 - 6, 12 - 16.
7. Favorable & Diligent labor - Prov.22:29; Ecc. 9:11.
8. Generous and sacrificial giving (tithes & offering, donations to God’s work, poor,
widows, orphans, fatherless, ministries, ministers, fellow brethren; ) Acts 4:36-37;
20:35; Gen. 22:1 - 2, 8 - 11, 15 - 19; Prov. 22:9; 28:27;Mal. 3:6 - 12; Philippians - 4: 14
- 19; Gal. 6:7-10; James 1:27;
9. Bestowal - Gen. 1:27 - 28; 49:22 - 26; Isa. 51:1 - 2; Num.6:22 - 27.
10. This can be done verbally and by laying on of hands.
11. Etc.
The Lord, our God, is faithful. He will surely fulfill His promise to make us a blessing.
It is therefore imperative that we all take take God at His word. We must trust God
to perform what He has promised. May the Lord bless us with overwhelming
blessings today and the rest of this year. Amen.
This is one of the Psalms that does not have any name to it as author. Some scholars however assume Moses’ authorship since the previous Psalm 90 carries his name. Nevertheless, this Psalm has been a great blessing to God’s people over the years.
Noteworthy though, is that for the timeless and many benefits of this Psalm, there are just two (2) requirements that the Lord has for whoever desires to be blessed by it. The beneficiaries are to: To dwell in the Secret place of the Most High - V.1. The secret place = shelter; cave; the place of prayer; God’s presence . To love the Lord - V.14; Mk. 12: 29 - 31.
Benefits of Dwelling in the Secret Place. Divine rest - V.1; 1 Kings 5:3 - 5. Divine testimony - V.2. Divine deliverance - V.3. Divine covering - V.4; Psa. 125:2; Zech. 2:5; Lk. 21:18. Divine security - V.5 - 7 Divine exemption - V.7-8 Divine protection - V.9 - 13. Divine response - V.14-15. Divine presence - V. 15. “I will be with him to deliver him and honor him” - V.1. 10. Divine longevity - V.16.
It is my prayer that the God of heaven will fulfill His word in your life, the rest of this year. May these 10 benefits come true in each of our lives in Jesus' name.
Today, God is extending two calls to us. First, a call to awake from slumber and secondly, a call to see correctly. Zechariah was a man who maintained a vertical posture with God. He kept looking up (Zechariah 1:18; 2:1; 5:1; 6:1). No wonder, God showed him many revelations that helped in reintegrating those who returned from the exile. What we see often determines what we become and how far we will go. People usually say, ‘seeing is believing’, but according to scriptural parameters, believing is seeing’ (2 Corinthians 5:7; John 11:40). The reason most of us still see difficulty and impossibility ahead is because we are not yet seeing correctly. Whenever a believer in God sees correctly, every mountain along the way will become level ground. May the Lord awaken us and help us to see correctly.
Wake up Call (Zechariah 4:1)
The ‘return’ of the angel presupposes a break in communication and transmission, considering what has been going on in the life of Zechariah in the previous chapters.
He had personal revelation from God (Zechariah 1)
God showed him visions about the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel (Zechariah 1:19, 2:4) and individuals
(Zechariah 3).
He had a continuous supply of divine presence (Zechariah 2:3).
Something happened along the way, there was a break in fellowship between God and Zechariah. It took the return of the angel for him to be awakened from sleep.
Sleep is one of the biblical symbolism of death (John 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13). How many of us are in church today but are already asleep? How do you and I measure up, considering what we used to be in the Lord?
There is need for a spiritual awakening if we will see correctly. We need to awake from slumber in order to fulfil God’s purpose for our life. I pray that when the Lord comes suddenly, we will not be found sleeping (Mark 13:36).
Seeing Correctly
It is instructive to note that Zechariah did not even see the mighty mountain before Zerubbabel but God saw it on his behalf. Something else caught Zechariah’s attention. What did he see?
i. A solid gold lampstand: also known as menorah, golden candlestick or candelabrum. Right from the tabernacle in the wilderness, the golden lampstand provided light for the holy place. Because this chamber had no windows, the lampstand was the only source of light.
· The lamps of the pure gold lampstand must be tended continually (Leviticus 24:4)
· The golden lampstand was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the light of the world (John 8:12, Hebrews 9:9) and who called the church to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16).
ii. Two olive trees: these are oil-supplying olive trees. Symbolic of the work, presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 89:20, Matthew 25:7-8). A connection between the olive trees and the Spirit made in Zechariah 4:6. Just as the olive trees supply the oil for the lampstand, the Spirit is the supplier of strength for Zerubbabel and for us now. Do you have this oil?
What Do You See?
After Zechariah saw correctly, he received a word for Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:6-7).
Satan usually want you to see mountains:
· defeat,
· failure,
· disappointment,
· setbacks,
· impossibility, darkness…..
But when you truly se
2 Chr. 20:14-17
Three nations came together to make war against Jehoshaphat. It was, no doubt, a terrible situation for Jehoshaphat - V.1-2.
Though alarmed, Jehoshaphat responded by inquiring of the Lord and proclaimed a fast for all Judah - V.3 - 13.
In response to their prayer, God spoke through Jahaziel to encourage and assure Jehoshaphat and Judah of victory.
Though it was a vast army that came against them, God gave Jehoshaphat and Judah victory over their enemies.
The same God is still on the throne and He will do same for you and I this coming month, and the rest of this year in Jesus' Name.
A. THE ASSURANCES AND INSTRUCTION FOR A
NEW BEGINNING
- Do not be afraid or discouraged - V.15, & 17b
PP: Reject fear and discouragement in Jesus' Name.
- The battle is not yours - V. 15.
PP: Ask the Lord to take over your battle and fight for you in the month of August and the rest of 2019.
- March against them tomorrow - V.16.*
PP: Receive boldness/faith to move forward.
- You will not have to fight this battle - V.17
PP: Praise Jehovah the man of war.
- Take up your positions - V.17.*
PP: Lord, help me to take my position in the place of prayer.
- Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord - V.17.*
PP: Declare that you will see the deliverance of the Lord in August and the rest of this year.
- Go out and face them tomorrow - V.17.*
PP: Receive courage to face the enemy of your soul in August and the rest of this year in Jesus' Name.
- The Lord will be with you - V.17.
PP: Ask the Lord to be with you every second, every minute, every hour, every day in the month of August and the rest of 2019.
B. JEHOSHAPHAT AND THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE TO GOD’S
MESSAGE : V18 - 21.
C. FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE - V.22-30.
It doesn’t matter the size of your foes or the magnitude of your challenge tonight. Our God is more than able to handle all of them. Just have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful - V.20b.
Let me ask you how has you prayer life been since we started talking about prayer? The same spot or you have moved forward? Have you grown taller or shorter? How has it been? Halleluyah!!! We are not just taking this teaching for its sake. Jesus Said my house shall be called of all nations. Ans the burden is God would make all of us Men and Women of prayer in Jesus name. AMEN!!! So tonight we want to move further I don't know how God is going to do it, if He allows us to finish the entire study plan or if it is just one point He allows us take all well and good.
Matthew 6 vs 9-15 Our Lord's prayer...The Lord Jesus Christ is a man of prayer...He was committed to prayer during His life on earth, Scripture attest to the fact that he is still interceding for His Church...
Please open with me to Galatians 2 vs 20 I have been crucified with Christ...Here Paul the apostle was narrating what happened to him...We are going to tie this chapter with Romans 6 vs 1-11...When Paul said i have been crucified with Christ he was talking about his experience, what happened to him...He was talking about the day he gave his life to Christ...The crucified life is a life that has encountered Jesus Christ...To be saved means to surrender your will, meaning you no longer have your own will...They have publicly come to tell everyone that Jesus is their personal Lord and saviour...Colossians 2 vs 12 Bury with him in baptism in which also you were raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead. Baptism, is for those who have given their lives to JESUS, That is why in the Baptist denomination, we believe that before you are baptised you must have encountered salvation. So Baptism is also a mark of our authenticity as believers, what authenticates you as a christian.
THE POWER OF INFORMATION
Ps. 62:11-12
A. Key statement
There is always a way out if you can get the right and timely information. Jer. 32:17, 26- 27; Lk. 1:37; 1 COR. 10:13.
B. Information: What is it
- Knowledge
- Intelligence
- Instruction
- Advice
- Guidance
- Direction
- Counsel
- Enlightenment
- News
- Hot tip
Let me ask you how has you prayer life been since we started talking about prayer? The same spot or you have moved forward? Have you grown taller or shorter? How has it been? Halleluyah!!! We are not just taking this teaching for its sake. Jesus Said my house shall be called of all nations. Ans the burden is God would make all of us Men and Women of prayer in Jesus name. AMEN!!! So tonight we want to move further I don't know how God is going to do it, if He allows us to finish the entire study plan or if it is just one point He allows us take all well and good. Matthew 6 vs 9-15 Our Lord's prayer...The Lord Jesus Christ is a man of prayer...He was committed to prayer during His life on earth, Scripture attest to the fact that he is still interceding for His Church...
Vessels of honour. A major problem in the house of God is the scarcity of correct Men and Women that God would use to accomplish His divine Purpose...How can the King of Glory call me to an assignment and I am saying to Him I am not available, The Church has the this problem and it is also establish even in research talk about the 80/20 principle, only 20% carry the burden of the remaining 80%...
PRAYER FOR MORE GRACE - Zech. 4:7; James 4:6
The Bible has so much to say about the grace of God.
There at least 169 direct references to the grace of God in the Old and New Testaments.
Apostle Paul alone talked about this theme at least 80 times in his letters.
I will suggest you take time out this week and do a deeper study about the grace of God.
But more importantly, I pray that we all shall experience more of the grace of God today
in Jesus Name.
A. What is Grace?
1. God’s unmerited favour
2. Chen = heb = Grace, favour
3. Charis = grk = Grace, graciousness
4. God’s Riches At Christ Expense (W.F. Kumuyi)
5. Supernatural supplement for daily revitalization -
6. Supernatural strength to do the extraordinary - 2 Cor. 12:9
B. Dimension of God’s Grace
1. God’s grace is boundless
2. God’s grace is inexhaustive (We have been sharing the grace since
we were born and it has never finish or depleted)
3. God’s grace is limitless
4. God’s grace is all encompassing
C. Response to God’s Grace
1. Have a positive attitude towards God’s the grace – 2Tim. 2:1; 2Peter 3:18
2. Do not receive God’s grace in vain – 2Cor. 6;1
3. Do not frustrate the grace of God- Gal. 2:21; Rom. 6:11
D. The Benefits of God’s Grace
1. It will provides Salvation for sinners - Eph. 2:5,8; Titus 2:1
2. It provides divine enablement for accomplishments more than your fellows - 1 Cor. 3:9-10.
It is noteworthy that Apostle spoke more about the grace of God more than any other Bible writer.
This is simply because Paul personally experienced the grace of the Almighty God.
3. It will divinely transform you - 1 Cor. 15:10.
God’s grace will not leave you where it met you. It will always take you higher and higher in God.
4. It will enable you do what you think you do not have the capacity or capability to do - Zech.
12:10.
5. It will enable you complete your assignment - Zech. 4:7;
6. It provides you with God’s help me in the time of your need - Heb. 4:16.
7. It enables you to be a sacrificial giver - 2 Cor.8:1-7
There are different types of giver in the Bible viz.
Generous givers - 1 Kg. 3:4; 2 Cor. 9:11.
Stingy givers - 2 Cor. 9:6-7
Reluctant givers - 2 Cor. 9:6-7
Cheerful givers - 2 Cor. 9:7
Sacrificial givers - Mk. 12:41-44; 2Cor. 8:1-5.
8. It teaches us to live to please God – Titus 2:15
9. It will keep you from going into oblivion - Acts 15:36-41.
10. Enable you to cope with difficult situations in life (thorny situations of life) - 2 Cor. 12:7-10.
11. Etc.
It is my earnest prayer that all of us shall receive more grace to continue to run the race that is
set before us. May the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ continue to be ours in
increasing measure in Jesus Name.
Page 3 of 3 | www.ikoyibaptistchurch.org
Take Away
1. Gen. 6:8.
2. Isa. 30:18
3. Heb. 4:16
4. James 4:16
5. Num. 6:25
BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
TOPIC: Building a Powerful and Effective Prayer Life - 2.
Date: JUNE 19, 2019 IBC/MW/BS/TOA/005
TEXT: JAMES 5:13-18
The need to build a powerful and effective prayer life cannot be overstretched. Prayer is one of the reasons for
the establishment of God’s house. A prayerless Christian and a prayerless church is a misnomer and an
aberration. In other words, to be a Christian is to be committed to a life of prayer. To be called a church is to be a
house of prayer of all nations.
It is my prayer that each of us would resolve to build our prayer lives. This is the gateway to experiencing the
supernatural power of God. .
Some additional ways by which we can build a powerful and effective prayer life are as follows:
-
Desire to build your prayer life - Lk. 11:1; Rom. 10:1; Dan.1:8.
This is perhaps where building a powerful and effective prayer life starts. Nobody, not even God, will
force you to pray. You must desire to pray, and from there the Lord will help you. -
Set a time for praying - Mk.1:35.
Prayer is not what you leave to chance. It is not a “whenever thing.” It must be the first thing on your daily
routine. Set the time for your prayer. Such time must be adjudged convenient, when you won’t disturb
anybody and vice - versa. -
Start from where you are and grow from there - Matt. 6:9-13.
It may not be possible for you to start praying like Elijah in a day. Simply start from where you are and
grow from there. The easiest way to learn to pray is by praying. You also don’t need to copy anybody, just
be yourself and be sincere before the Lord. -
Don’t forget the rudiments of prayer - Matt. 6:9-13
The rudiments of prayer has to do with the principles of prayer. The timeless rudiments of prayer
remains adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (ACTS). These should guide you in your
daily communion with God. -
Maintain iron-class discipline - Job 13:15-16.
Discipline is essential in amounting to anything in life, including becoming prayerful. You cannot build a
strong prayer life without iron-class discipline. Discipline is required to overcome satanic distractions,
obtain victory over the flesh, faithlessness and discouragements in the place of prayer.
Page 2 of 2 | www.ikoyibaptistchurch.org
-
Be determined - Lk. 18:1; Job 14:14.
A reason why many give up too soon in the building of their prayer life is a lack of determination.
Moments of discouragement abound when you are beginning to grow in your prayer life. Make sure you
don’t give up. Continue to press on till God helps you out. -
Take time to learn more about the subject of prayer -
Lk. 11:1
This requires being teachable, and it can happen by you meeting someone you feel can help you grow in
your prayer life. It can also happen through association with men of prayer, reading books on prayer,
studying the lives of Bible characters who had rich prayer lives, etc. -
Ensure consistency.
Consistency is required for prayer to become your second nature. All men and women of prayer were
consistent in their prayer lives. -
Seek for the help of the Holy Spirit - Rom. 8:26-27.
The Holy Spirit is our principal and greatest source of help in building a powerful and effective prayer
life. He is the One that makes prayer sweet and a delight. He is the oil and the fire of prayer. He teaches
us to pray, how to pray, when and where to pray. He is our indwelling intercessor. Not until you allow the
Holy Spirit to come to your aid, your prayer life would remain a routine and a drag. -
Make encounter with God the goal of your prayers –
Lk. 9:28-37.
There is more to prayer than coming to ask for stuff. Our chief goal in daily prayer must be to behold his
face. This has to do with fellowsh
BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
TOPIC: Building a Powerful and Effective Prayer Life - 2.
Date: JUNE 19, 2019 IBC/MW/BS/TOA/005
TEXT: JAMES 5:13-18
The need to build a powerful and effective prayer life cannot be overstretched. Prayer is one of the reasons for
the establishment of God’s house. A prayerless Christian and a prayerless church is a misnomer and an
aberration. In other words, to be a Christian is to be committed to a life of prayer. To be called a church is to be a
house of prayer of all nations.
It is my prayer that each of us would resolve to build our prayer lives. This is the gateway to experiencing the
supernatural power of God. .
Some additional ways by which we can build a powerful and effective prayer life are as follows:
-
Desire to build your prayer life - Lk. 11:1; Rom. 10:1; Dan.1:8.
This is perhaps where building a powerful and effective prayer life starts. Nobody, not even God, will
force you to pray. You must desire to pray, and from there the Lord will help you. -
Set a time for praying - Mk.1:35.
Prayer is not what you leave to chance. It is not a “whenever thing.” It must be the first thing on your daily
routine. Set the time for your prayer. Such time must be adjudged convenient, when you won’t disturb
anybody and vice - versa. -
Start from where you are and grow from there - Matt. 6:9-13.
It may not be possible for you to start praying like Elijah in a day. Simply start from where you are and
grow from there. The easiest way to learn to pray is by praying. You also don’t need to copy anybody, just
be yourself and be sincere before the Lord. -
Don’t forget the rudiments of prayer - Matt. 6:9-13
The rudiments of prayer has to do with the principles of prayer. The timeless rudiments of prayer
remains adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (ACTS). These should guide you in your
daily communion with God. -
Maintain iron-class discipline - Job 13:15-16.
Discipline is essential in amounting to anything in life, including becoming prayerful. You cannot build a
strong prayer life without iron-class discipline. Discipline is required to overcome satanic distractions,
obtain victory over the flesh, faithlessness and discouragements in the place of prayer.
Page 2 of 2 | www.ikoyibaptistchurch.org
-
Be determined - Lk. 18:1; Job 14:14.
A reason why many give up too soon in the building of their prayer life is a lack of determination.
Moments of discouragement abound when you are beginning to grow in your prayer life. Make sure you
don’t give up. Continue to press on till God helps you out. -
Take time to learn more about the subject of prayer -
Lk. 11:1
This requires being teachable, and it can happen by you meeting someone you feel can help you grow in
your prayer life. It can also happen through association with men of prayer, reading books on prayer,
studying the lives of Bible characters who had rich prayer lives, etc. -
Ensure consistency.
Consistency is required for prayer to become your second nature. All men and women of prayer were
consistent in their prayer lives. -
Seek for the help of the Holy Spirit - Rom. 8:26-27.
The Holy Spirit is our principal and greatest source of help in building a powerful and effective prayer
life. He is the One that makes prayer sweet and a delight. He is the oil and the fire of prayer. He teaches
us to pray, how to pray, when and where to pray. He is our indwelling intercessor. Not until you allow the
Holy Spirit to come to your aid, your prayer life would remain a routine and a drag. -
Make encounter with God the goal of your prayers –
Lk. 9:28-37.
There is more to prayer than coming to ask for stuff. Our chief goal in daily prayer must be to behold his
face. This has to do with fellowsh
The Fullness of Christ... Ephesians 4:1-13
The fullness we have talked about in God has been permanence in Christ. Col 1:19 says for it was the Father's fullness...Our soul our heart that is the place of worship would be totally dedicated to Him. I haven't seen a man that is living completely in His fullness. Hebrews 12:22-23...Revelation 7...All about God all about Christ all about the fullness of God. God who created the universe isn't concerned about the beautiful things we build because that isn't what he is looking for...Isiah 66 vs 1b-2.
At some point you have to challenge the status quo in order to establish the truth - Mrs Ibukun Awosika
To be different is who you were made to be- - Mrs. Ibukun Awosika
You cannot be different till you have the sense of who you are-- Mrs Ibukun Awosika
Counsel is information but the decision will always be yours - Mrs Ibukun Awosika
Every Customer is a key to the next Customer - Mrs Ibukun Awosika
Soaring like Eagles
When I look at this topic it gives me trouble, because it has to go to the foundation of our faith. Bible says in the presence of the Lord there is fullness of joy. Isiah 40:28-....
2 things I want you to pay attention to, 1st thing is that the God you serve does not fade.
God is saying that He is constant, consistent, there is no variableness in Him, He is saying you can trust Him. God can be trusted, He is stable, He is unchanging, He isn't a politician, you can rest on Him, except you know that your christian life is shaky, having one leg in the church and the other leg somewhere else. God stands by His words, He said His word shall not come back to me void, God is consistent.
Necessity of the Deacon's Ministry
1. To meet a Need
2. Healthy Church Life
3. IBC Church Planting and the potential explosion
4 IBC Constitutional Provision
5. The need to strengthen the Visitation Ministry of the Church through the Jethro Ministry Principle
6. Prevention/Resolution of Conflict
7. Counselor/Encourager
8. A means of divine help to the Pastors
9. A means of deliverance from distractions to the ministry of prayer and the word
10. Divine wisdom for the growth of a local church
The Deacon’s ministry is one of God’s gifts to the body of Christ. It was necessitated by the rapid growth of the early church and its attendant challenges. In order to deal with the protest from the Grecian Jews over the neglect of their widows in the church welfare program, the Lord led the Apostles to direct the congregation to choose seven men who could be trusted with the business of serving tables, and thereby deal with the emerging crisis. The result of this decision was positive for the early church. The scripture attest to this in Acts 6:7
Unfortunately, the trajectory of the Diaconate ministry in some contemporary churches is a complete deviation. Deaconship has been more of a curse in some churches than a blessing. This however should not be so for any reason. It is therefore important that we re-discover God’s purpose for the Deacon’s Ministry. This would help us to operate according to Biblical pattern and thus experience the benefits that accrue from it.
The Lord has helped Ikoyi Baptist Church(IBC) over the years in the election of Deacons. By the grace of God, He will help us again. May we all cooperate with the spirit of the living God again to choose those He has ordained for this set time. May we not choose based on personal sentiments or any of such carnal ways. May God help us to choose men and women after his heart - 1 Sam. 13:13-14; Acts 13:22.
John 2:5, Luke 1:38,45 Available in the School of Obedience
Mat 6:9-13- Available in the School of Prayer to get Equipped
OUR- Available to promote unity at home, church, workplace, community
FATHER- Available to raise altars to the Trinity and cultivate his Fatherhood
WHO ART IN HEAVEN- Available to attract opened Heaven
HALLOWED BE- Available to establish Holiness values for answered prayers
THE NAME- available to keep the Name of the Lord working in prayer
THY KINGDOM COME- AvailABLE to handle Kingdom key of dominion
THY WIIL BE DONE- Available to establish God's will through pray
ON EARTH- available to keep the earth working, be fruitful, multiply, have dominion
AS IT IS DONE IN HEAVEN- Available to bring Heaven to Earth
GIVE US- Available to receive
THIS DAY- Available consistently
OUR DAILY BREAD- Available by Faith and Trust
FORGIVE US OUR SINS- Available as intercessor
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SINNED AGAINST US- Available to be equipped for reconciliation
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION- Available to be equipped to defeat temptation
DELIVER US NOT FROM EVIL
The Deacon’s ministry is one of God’s gifts to the body of Christ. It was necessitated by the rapid growth of the early church and its attendant challenges. In order to deal with the protest from the Grecian Jews over the neglect of their widows in the church welfare program, the Lord led the Apostles to direct the congregation to choose seven men who could be trusted with the business of serving tables, and thereby deal with the emerging crisis. The result of this decision was positive for the early church. The scripture attest to this in Acts 6:7
Unfortunately, the trajectory of the Diaconate ministry in some contemporary churches is a complete deviation. Deaconship has been more of a curse in some churches than a blessing. This however should not be so for any reason. It is therefore important that we re-discover God’s purpose for the Deacon’s Ministry. This would help us to operate according to Biblical pattern and thus experience the benefits that accrue from it.
The Lord has helped Ikoyi Baptist Church(IBC) over the years in the election of Deacons. By the grace of God, He will help us again. May we all cooperate with the spirit of the living God again to choose those He has ordained for this set time. May we not choose based on personal sentiments or any of such carnal ways. May God help us to choose men and women after his heart - 1 Sam. 13:13-14; Acts 13:22.
Freedom From Curses
Zech. 5:1-4
A Message Prepared and delivered By Rev. ‘Segun Adeleke, DMin., On May 5th, 2019, During Her Worship Service.
The Lord has been gracious and merciful to the house of IBC. He has continuously moved us forward as individuals, families and church since the birth of this church. He has done this from month to month and He will still do it for us this month by His Spirit in Jesus’ name.
However, a major hindrance to progress in life are curses
A curse is a negative empowerment to fail.
If you have seen the effects of curses, you will not deny the reality of curses. It is my prayer that every curse on any of our lives be broken today in Jesus’ name.
Some Important Facts About Curses
- Curses can be very devastating and tragic in their effects - Zech. 5:3-4.
- Curses can be in operation for a lifetime if not terminated - Josh. 16:34; 1 Kg. 16:34.
- Curses can be on objects, people, places and communities - Josh. 9:23-27; 2 Kg.2:19
- Curses only thrive where sin exists - Prov.
- Curses can be from God - Zech. Mal. 3:6-9;
- Curses can be from self or from others.
- Curses can be generational/ancestral, inherited, etc.
- Curses can be terminated by the Supernatural Power of the Almighty God - Gal. 3:13; Deut. 33:1-6.
- Curses can be turned into blessings - Neh.13:1-2.
- Curses can be terminated through Repentance, renunciation, restitution and prayers -Gal. 3:13; Zech. 5:1-4; Judges 17:1-4; Gen. 49:1-4; Deut. 33:1-6.
By the Supernatural power of God, we are moving forward this month. No Pharaoh will succeed in dragging us back. No Red Sea can stop us. No Jericho wall can hinder us. No Jordan river can turn us back. We are moving forward in Jesus’ Name.
The Deacon’s ministry is one of God’s gifts to the body of Christ. It was necessitated by the rapid growth of the early church and its attendant challenges. In order to deal with the protest from the Grecian Jews over the neglect of their widows in the church welfare program, the Lord led the Apostles to direct the congregation to choose seven men who could be trusted with the business of serving tables, and thereby deal with the emerging crisis. The result of this decision was positive for the early church. The scripture attest to this in Acts 6:7
Unfortunately, the trajectory of the Diaconate ministry in some contemporary churches is a complete deviation. Deaconship has been more of a curse in some churches than a blessing. This however should not be so for any reason. It is therefore important that we re-discover God’s purpose for the Deacon’s Ministry. This would help us to operate according to Biblical pattern and thus experience the benefits that accrue from it.
The Lord has helped Ikoyi Baptist Church(IBC) over the years in the election of Deacons. By the grace of God, He will help us again. May we all cooperate with the spirit of the living God again to choose those He has ordained for this set time. May we not choose based on personal sentiments or any of such carnal ways. May God help us to choose men and women after his heart - 1 Sam. 13:13-14; Acts 13:22.
Today I would be so honoured to be God's words to you.
Leading your church through change. Philippians 4:8-13.
Pay attention to things that are true, loving, just, noble if they are of good report. Somethings we want to do certain things but for lack of opportunity, what used to be back then cannot suffice right now, things would continue to change, the only thing that is constant is CHANGE, humans do not accept change. That is one thing with humans we have issues with change no matter how easy it is to accept.
Man of 3 Cs Context Content and Concept. We must develop a positive attitude towards change. It is a process of growth that brings a man to a certain position. The word of God commands it, it is in the mind of God that people continue to grow Matthew 28;18-20 the reason we have to continue to grow is because the needs of people for repentance, reading 2 Corinthians 5:14, 2 Peter 3:9, God is always waiting for people to repent. The church needs to grow because people need Jesus, God wants his church to grow, their are criticism that has challenged the church growth.
1. Some people will say God isn't interested in numbers.
2. What matter is quality not quantity.
3. Some people will say large churches are shallow.
There's no correlation between size and quality.
Decide if the church should change.
The Spirit-Filled Church, Acts 2: 1-11
The Lord Jesus Christ established the of the new testament and He is committed to building the church with assurance in Matthew 16:18, thank God for the commitment of Christ in building the church, one way in which the Lord is building the church is through the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was leaving he told His disciples that he won't leave them as orphans, that he won't leave them without the comfort. We must be a spirit filled church no local church can fulfil the purpose for which he is born without the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8-9.
If our reach would extend beyond our Jerusalem we cannot do it alone we need the help of the Holy Spirit. No local church can take territories and become of global relevance without the fire of the holy spirit in their lives. Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16, I pray tonight you will catch fire in the name of Jesus... Amen
ROAST: Keeping Your Marriage Alive... Proverbs 12:27
You will be wondering how does it relate to marriage?
The fisherman is also a hunter in a sense and every man who is marriage has been a hunter before. All of us here hunted one time or the order. We all hunted and God gave us victory and he gave us wonderful preys. It is the lazy man who after going for hunting who would say i would go and sleep first i would come back to this and then you realise all your efforts have gone to waste. Even if you marriage is made from heaven you must work at it to make i work to make it succeed.
Easter Celebration Service 2019
Some Lessons on the Cross and the Power of His Resurrection
Anchor Scripture: Matthew 27: 62-66, 28:1-7
Preacher: Prof. Sunday Isehunwa
One of the visions that our forefathers in IBC had from our church’s earliest beginning was a congregation that would be Jesus’ light bearers and light givers. This is reflected in some of our old bulletins that show a hand holding a torch, with a caption at the top of the cover page that reads: “The LIGHT of the world is JESUS, Come to the LIGHT at IKOYI BAPTIST CHURCH.”
We, however, neither have a record of how they came about this revelation nor the particular scripture that can be referred to as their bearing. The recent past and present generation took this matter further by adopting a logo with light. It is now a standard practice that all IBC daughter churches bear names that have light as either a prefix or suffix.
While we celebrate the efforts, labors and the grace of God on our forefathers, necessity is however laid on the present generation of IBC Pastors and members to complete what they started. This include: knowing God’s mind as regards the scripture that conveys God’s purpose for our local church; re-writing or re-phrasing the present purpose statement; adopting a Membership Orientation Program Booklet/Covenant; re-shuffling and re-arranging the existing Purpose Driven Ministries’ portfolios for greater effectiveness; and any other thing that the Lord would lead us to do in this season.
The foregoing requires that we all be open to the Holy Spirit and make positive contributions to this process. It is my earnest prayer that the Lord would help us to get it right and thereby lay a solid foundation for a glorious future for our local church.
A. Read the following passages and mention what is common to them- Isa. 60:1-3; Matt. 5:14-15; Jn. 8:12; 12:35; Eph.5:8; 1 Jn. 1:5.
B. What do you observe from the following passages? - 1 Jn. 1:5; Jn.8:12; 9:5;
Matt. 5:14.
C. What do light and darkness symbolize in scripture?
D. What do you understand by the “image of God” from Gen. 1:26-27.
E. Mention the characteristics of light from the following passages? Matt. 5:14-
16; Jn. 1:5; 5:35; Eph.5:13; 2 Pet. 1:19; Isa. 60:3: 1 Jn. 1:5;
F. What is the immediate context to Matt.5:14-15?
G. What are we meant to be and to do from Matt. 5:14-15?
H. Evaluate the current IBC Purpose Statement in the light of Matt. 5:14-15. Do
you agree we need to redraft this Purpose Statement? Why?
I. Assignment: To see a group that will give us a Purpose Statement that is
Biblical, short and memorizable without compromising on the five purposes of
the church.
The desire to become a Purpose Driven Church is no doubt a laudable but challenging one. It requires diligence reading and study of God’s word, prayerful dependence, setting aside personal interests for the interest of Christ, collective understanding and ownership, and a high level of humility. May the Lord help us to pay the required price and fulfill God’s expectation over us as a local church.
One of the visions that our forefathers in IBC had from our church’s earliest beginning was a congregation that would be Jesus’ light bearers and light givers. This is reflected in some of our old bulletins that show a hand holding a torch, with a caption at the top of the cover page that reads: “The LIGHT of the world is JESUS, Come to the LIGHT at IKOYI BAPTIST CHURCH.”
We, however, neither have a record of how they came about this revelation nor the particular scripture that can be referred to as their bearing. The recent past and present generation took this matter further by adopting a logo with light. It is now a standard practice that all IBC daughter churches bear names that have light as either a prefix or suffix.
While we celebrate the efforts, labors and the grace of God on our forefathers, necessity is however laid on the present generation of IBC Pastors and members to complete what they started. This include: knowing God’s mind as regards the scripture that conveys God’s purpose for our local church; re-writing or re-phrasing the present purpose statement; adopting a Membership Orientation Program Booklet/Covenant; re-shuffling and re-arranging the existing Purpose Driven Ministries’ portfolios for greater effectiveness; and any other thing that the Lord would lead us to do in this season.
The foregoing requires that we all be open to the Holy Spirit and make positive contributions to this process. It is my earnest prayer that the Lord would help us to get it right and thereby lay a solid foundation for a glorious future for our local church.
A. Read the following passages and mention what is common to them- Isa. 60:1-3; Matt. 5:14-15; Jn. 8:12; 12:35; Eph.5:8; 1 Jn. 1:5.
B. What do you observe from the following passages? - 1 Jn. 1:5; Jn.8:12; 9:5;
Matt. 5:14.
C. What do light and darkness symbolize in scripture?
D. What do you understand by the “image of God” from Gen. 1:26-27.
E. Mention the characteristics of light from the following passages? Matt. 5:14-
16; Jn. 1:5; 5:35; Eph.5:13; 2 Pet. 1:19; Isa. 60:3: 1 Jn. 1:5;
F. What is the immediate context to Matt.5:14-15?
G. What are we meant to be and to do from Matt. 5:14-15?
H. Evaluate the current IBC Purpose Statement in the light of Matt. 5:14-15. Do
you agree we need to redraft this Purpose Statement? Why?
I. Assignment: To see a group that will give us a Purpose Statement that is
Biblical, short and memorizable without compromising on the five purposes of
the church.
The desire to become a Purpose Driven Church is no doubt a laudable but challenging one. It requires diligence reading and study of God’s word, prayerful dependence, setting aside personal interests for the interest of Christ, collective understanding and ownership, and a high level of humility. May the Lord help us to pay the required price and fulfill God’s expectation over us as a local church.
The name Zerubbabel means shoot of Babylon. He was so named possibly because because he was born in Babylon during the exile...
One of the visions that our forefathers in IBC had from our church’s earliest beginning was a congregation that would be Jesus’ light bearers and light givers. This is reflected in some of our old bulletins that show a hand holding a torch, with a caption at the top of the cover page that reads: “The LIGHT of the world is JESUS, Come to the LIGHT at IKOYI BAPTIST CHURCH.”
We, however, neither have a record of how they came about this revelation nor the particular scripture that can be referred to as their bearing. The recent past and present generation took this matter further by adopting a logo with light. It is now a standard practice that all IBC daughter churches bear names that have light as either a prefix or suffix.
While we celebrate the efforts, labors and the grace of God on our forefathers, necessity is however laid on the present generation of IBC Pastors and members to complete what they started. This include: knowing God’s mind as regards the scripture that conveys God’s purpose for our local church; re-writing or re-phrasing the present purpose statement; adopting a Membership Orientation Program Booklet/Covenant; re-shuffling and re-arranging the existing Purpose Driven Ministries’ portfolios for greater effectiveness; and any other thing that the Lord would lead us to do in this season.
The foregoing requires that we all be open to the Holy Spirit and make positive contributions to this process. It is my earnest prayer that the Lord would help us to get it right and thereby lay a solid foundation for a glorious future for our local church.
A. Read the following passages and mention what is common to them- Isa. 60:1-3; Matt. 5:14-15; Jn. 8:12; 12:35; Eph.5:8; 1 Jn. 1:5.
B. What do you observe from the following passages? - 1 Jn. 1:5; Jn.8:12; 9:5;
Matt. 5:14.
C. What do light and darkness symbolize in scripture?
D. What do you understand by the “image of God” from Gen. 1:26-27.
E. Mention the characteristics of light from the following passages? Matt. 5:14-
16; Jn. 1:5; 5:35; Eph.5:13; 2 Pet. 1:19; Isa. 60:3: 1 Jn. 1:5;
F. What is the immediate context to Matt.5:14-15?
G. What are we meant to be and to do from Matt. 5:14-15?
H. Evaluate the current IBC Purpose Statement in the light of Matt. 5:14-15. Do
you agree we need to redraft this Purpose Statement? Why?
I. Assignment: To see a group that will give us a Purpose Statement that is
Biblical, short and memorizable without compromising on the five purposes of
the church.
The desire to become a Purpose Driven Church is no doubt a laudable but challenging one. It requires diligence reading and study of God’s word, prayerful dependence, setting aside personal interests for the interest of Christ, collective understanding and ownership, and a high level of humility. May the Lord help us to pay the required price and fulfill God’s expectation over us as a local church.
One of the visions that our forefathers in IBC had from our church’s earliest beginning was a congregation that would be Jesus’ light bearers and light givers. This is reflected in some of our old bulletins that show a hand holding a torch, with a caption at the top of the cover page that reads: “The LIGHT of the world is JESUS, Come to the LIGHT at IKOYI BAPTIST CHURCH.”
We, however, neither have a record of how they came about this revelation nor the particular scripture that can be referred to as their bearing. The recent past and present generation took this matter further by adopting a logo with light. It is now a standard practice that all IBC daughter churches bear names that have light as either a prefix or suffix.
While we celebrate the efforts, labors and the grace of God on our forefathers, necessity is however laid on the present generation of IBC Pastors and members to complete what they started. This include: knowing God’s mind as regards the scripture that conveys God’s purpose for our local church; re-writing or re-phrasing the present purpose statement; adopting a Membership Orientation Program Booklet/Covenant; re-shuffling and re-arranging the existing Purpose Driven Ministries’ portfolios for greater effectiveness; and any other thing that the Lord would lead us to do in this season.
The foregoing requires that we all be open to the Holy Spirit and make positive contributions to this process. It is my earnest prayer that the Lord would help us to get it right and thereby lay a solid foundation for a glorious future for our local church.
A. Read the following passages and mention what is common to them- Isa. 60:1-3; Matt. 5:14-15; Jn. 8:12; 12:35; Eph.5:8; 1 Jn. 1:5.
B. What do you observe from the following passages? - 1 Jn. 1:5; Jn.8:12; 9:5;
Matt. 5:14.
C. What do light and darkness symbolize in scripture?
D. What do you understand by the “image of God” from Gen. 1:26-27.
E. Mention the characteristics of light from the following passages? Matt. 5:14-
16; Jn. 1:5; 5:35; Eph.5:13; 2 Pet. 1:19; Isa. 60:3: 1 Jn. 1:5;
F. What is the immediate context to Matt.5:14-15?
G. What are we meant to be and to do from Matt. 5:14-15?
H. Evaluate the current IBC Purpose Statement in the light of Matt. 5:14-15. Do
you agree we need to redraft this Purpose Statement? Why?
I. Assignment: To see a group that will give us a Purpose Statement that is
Biblical, short and memorizable without compromising on the five purposes of
the church.
The desire to become a Purpose Driven Church is no doubt a laudable but challenging one. It requires diligence reading and study of God’s word, prayerful dependence, setting aside personal interests for the interest of Christ, collective understanding and ownership, and a high level of humility. May the Lord help us to pay the required price and fulfill God’s expectation over us as a local church.
W E L C O M E !
We’re so excited that you are here for the Purpose-Driven® Church Seminar.
You are about to join an alumni group of over 65,000 pastors and church leaders from all around the world who have taken this training. It is our prayer that God will use you to fulfill His purpose in your own congregation.
W E L C O M E !
We’re so excited that you are here for the Purpose-Driven® Church Seminar.
You are about to join an alumni group of over 65,000 pastors and church leaders from all around the world who have taken this training. It is our prayer that God will use you to fulfill His purpose in your own congregation.
W E L C O M E !
We’re so excited that you are here for the Purpose-Driven® Church Seminar.
You are about to join an alumni group of over 65,000 pastors and church leaders from all around the world who have taken this training. It is our prayer that God will use you to fulfill His purpose in your own congregation.
W E L C O M E !
We’re so excited that you are here for the Purpose-Driven® Church Seminar.
You are about to join an alumni group of over 65,000 pastors and church leaders from all around the world who have taken this training. It is our prayer that God will use you to fulfill His purpose in your own congregation.
There is no doubt that God loves Nigeria. Events over the years can attest to this truth. God has always showed up every time Nigeria gets to a critical junction as we are in this season of election. I do believe God that He will show up for us again this time around.
May the Lord rend the heavens and come down to Nigeria before, during and after the February and March elections. May the counsel of the Lord prevail again in our land. May we rejoice at the end of it all.
For us to experience divine intervention in our Nation, we need to pay attention to the following imperatives:
- We Must Return To God - Zech. 1:1-6; 2 Chr.7:14.
As a nation, we have wandered away from God.
The challenge of corruption, kidnapping, assassination, and all forms of decay in our land attests to this.
The way out is for us to return to the Lord.
Once we do this, God has promised that He would return to us - V.3.
May the Lord return to Nigeria.
May the Lord return to the church in Nigeria.
Interestingly, God is not waiting for the unbelievers to lead the way in our returning to Him. Rather, He has placed that responsibility on the church
- 2 Chr.7:13-14.
2. We Must Intercede For Our Land - Zech. 1: 12 –
13; Ezek. 22:30; 36:37.
Appropriate intercession is required for all God’s promises to become performance.
In other words, whenever God gives you a promise, you must engage in serious prayers for you to see the promise come to fruition.
Put differently, God’s promise in your life would not come to pass until you consistently pray for its fulfilment - 1 Kg. 18:1, 41-45; 1:18.
This is the time for us to earnestly pray for our Nation.
This is not the time to be partisan; neither is it a time to complaint and murmur but to avoid all untoward attitudes.
3. We Must Believe The Word Of The Lord - Zech. 1:14-17.
God’s word will never return without accomplishing the purpose to which God sent it. Once has God spoken and twice we have heard that power belongs to God.
It is not over yet for Nigeria. God has promised to return to Nigeria.
He promised to return to Nigeria with mercy and His house would be built - V.16.
He promised that His “towns will again overflow with prosperity, and He will again comfort Zion - Zech. 1:17.
4. We Must Trust The Lord To Deal With The Troublers Of Nigeria -
Zech. 1:18-21; 1 Thess. 1:6-7.
There is no doubt that apart from Satan, there are some powers that are troubling Nigeria - V.
Until these powers are dismantled and disabled, Nigeria may not move forward and enjoy all that God has freely given to her.
May the Lord terrify and throw down every horn troubling Nigeria in Jesus Name - V.18-21.
5. We Must Trust God To Help Us Choose The Right People -
Psa. 32:8; Zech. 1: 18-21b.
There are some powers troubling our Nation, and such powers are the ones terrorizing Nigeria and not allowing us lift up our heads - V21.
These powers are not just spiritual, they have their human channels through whom they carry out their evil work in the land.
It is my prayer that Nigerians would be wise and discerning as we go to the polls this Saturday and in subsequent elections.
May none of us vote for the “horns that scatter” Nigeria and that would not allow people to raise their heads - V.21.
We are all encouraged to go out and cast our votes this weekend.
We should all go out and vote peacefully and objectively.
Let us go and vote men
Discipleship Conference 2019
Day 1, Session 1
Recognizing What Matters and What does Not
The sermon "Engaging The Word of God to Experience Supernatural Power" was preached during Ikoyi Baptist Church worship service
The year has just begun but a lot has been achieved so far in His house. We thank the Lord for the opportunity to come before Him in repentance and for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s power during the week of fasting and prayer, along with the admonition to sustain the Holy Spirit’s fire, last Sunday. We pray that the Lord will continually grant us grace to sustain the fire.
While we are encouraged to continue to fan into flame the gift of God already released on us (2 Timothy 1:6), it is critical to note that supernatural power is an offshoot of divine revelation-Zechariah 1:7-17; 4:6-7.
DEFINITIONS
1. What is Revelation?
The making known of something that was previously secret or unknown.
It is a disclosure, declaration, utterance, announcement e.t.c
Greek: ‘Apokalupsis’, ‘Apocalypse’-unveiling, a disclosure of truth, manifestation,
to reveal the future e.t.c
- What is Divine Revelation?
A supernatural communication from God to man, either in oral or written forms-
Deut.29:29; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:1, 14.
SOME DECLARATIONS TO PONDER ON
“The Word of the LORD came”-Zechariah 1:1, 7
“This is the Word of the LORD”- Zechariah 4:6
“This is what the LORD Almighty says”-Zechariah 1:3, 4, 14, 16, 17
“The LORD spoke” (v.13)
A life that will enjoy supernatural power will not operate by human imagination but by divine revelation. God does everything by revelation-Amos 3:7
2019 is a year of “what the Lord says”. This year, we will not function by human opinion but by divine revelation. May the Lord help us to align with His revelation for our generation.
DIMENSIONS OF DIVINE REVELATION
1. It is Based on Divine Calendar- Zechariah 1:1, 7; Ezekiel 1:1-3; Luke 1:26
It is God that sets the date.
God created times and seasons.
His revelation can never come at the wrong time-Ecclesiastes 3:11
The day a divine revelation is caught is the day of His visitation.
God will be revealing Himself uniquely in certain meetings, in specific months this year.
We must be available on the day of His revelation
We must act promptly on divine revelation.
May the Lord help you this year to be at the right place at the right time.
May the Lord help you and may the Lord help me not to miss out of divine revelation for this season.
2. It is Highly Customised (Zechariah 1:1,7; 4:6; Jeremiah 1:1-2)
God does not speak empty words- Isaiah 55:11; John 6:63
God does not speak carelessly.
God speaks expressly and directly to either an individual or a community in order to achieve a divine purpose in a particular location.
There would be revelation for the entire house of IBC this year-Zechariah 1:3
There is already a prophecy customised for you in 2019.
As a child of God, there is a revelation that has your name tag on it.
What has the LORD spoken to you personally this year?
What is the LORD saying to you now?
What is the LORD saying to your family?
What is the LORD saying to Ikoyi Baptist Church this year?
3. It is Experiential- Zechariah 1:8-14
Divine revelation is engaging.
It is not theor
The Faithful God has done it again. He has helped us through another time of waiting on Him. To Him be all the glory.
The Lord has released on us as individuals, families and church so much this past week. It is my prayer that we shall all be able to sustain the various experiences, endowments, giftings, empowerment and encounters.
I pray that we will not quench the Spirit’s Fire in our lives, families and church - 1 Thess. 5:17
I pray that the Spirit of the Lord would remain on us as He did on Jesus, the early church and the Apostles - Jn.1:32-34; Acts 2:42-47.
For us to sustain the Spirit’s Fire, we all need to make the following commitments:
1. Commitment to Righteousness - Matt. 3:13-17
Righteousness has to do with right standing relationship with God.
It also has to do with doing the right thing at all times.
Righteousness is what made Jesus to be anointed above His fellows – Psa. 45:7
We also must love righteousness and hate wickedness for the Holy Spirit to remain on our lives.
2. Commitment to Holiness - Ecc. 9:8; Heb. 12:14
Our God is as pure as light.
He is impeccably Holy.
He has commanded us to be holy as He is holy.-1Peter 1:15-16
Holiness is not just a requirement to make heaven.
It is a requirement to live a good life.
It is a requirement for the Supernatural Power of God to be sustained in our lives.
King Saul lost the power due to bitterness – I Sam. 16:14; 18:8-11
Solomon and Samson lost it due to immorality – 1Kings 11:1-13; Judges 16:17-21
3. Commitment to the Word of God - Col. 3:16; Acts 2:42
The word of God is a divine fuel for the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Where there is no wood, the fire goes out - Prov. 26:20
Spend time daily in the word of God
Don’t forget the “reading the Bible Through” challenge.
You can still join. It is still possible if you are determined and disciplined.
- Commitment to Prayer – Col. 4:2-4; 1Thess. 5:17; Acts 2:42
Prayer is a vital requirement for the power of God to remain in your life.
This is why Jesus would not joke with His prayer life - Mk.1:35.
Apart from maintaining a regimented quiet time schedule, he also had time of personal retreats – Lk. 4:1-2, 42;9:28-36
These were period of being alone with God.
No man can sustain the Spirit’s Fire without a rich prayer life.
Can I challenge you to grow in your prayer life this year?
Can I remind you of the “One Hour” Prayer Challenge?
You can pray for one hour! IT IS POSSIBLE.
You can join the 12.00 - 1.00pm Daily Prayer Encounter.
It will strengthen your prayer life.
You can get a prayer partner to help your prayer life.
We must resolve to be a Praying church.
We refuse prayerlessness in this church.
Jesus said, My House Shall Be called the house of prayer of all nations”- Matt. 21:12-15
The early church was a praying church.
They prayed until the Pentecostal fire fell on their heads.
They developed a regimented prayer program to sustain the fire of God in their lives. They prayed at the third, sixth and ninth hour every day.
I trust God for a time when we shall increase in our prayer life as a church as the early church did.
May the Lord help us more and more in Jesus Name.
- Commitment to Fasting – Acts 13:1-3
Fasting is one way to deepen your prayer life.
The early church also had days of fasting -
It was their practice to fast every Wednesday
The year 2019 is no doubt going to be an exciting year for all of us. It is also very clear to me from the infallible word of God that the God of heaven will give us success this year; He will level every mountain before us; He will help us to complete both our old and new projects; He will cause us to overflow with prosperity and comfort us again - 1:17.
Yet, all these will happen how? Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.
There are however conditions to be fulfilled if the aforementioned blessings would be delivered to us. And it is my prayer that the Lord will help us to fulfill these conditions in Jesus’ Name.
Foremost of the instructions in the book of Zechariah that we must obey, is the instruction to return to God - V.3. This has to do with repentance.
WHY MUST WE RETURN TO GOD?
Some of the reasons why we all must return to the Lord include:
- It is a command from the Lord Himself - V.3; Mal. 3:6ff.
- To be free from God’s anger - V.2
- For the LORD to return to you - 3
- To avoid parental pitfall - V.4 - 6a
- To escape divine judgment - V.6b.
- The truth is that all men will repent but it will be too late for some - Rev.6:12 - 17.
- God’s word will overtake some like it did our forefathers.
- God is not interested in your downfall - Ezekiel 18:30 - 32.
- God is not interested in your death - Ezekiel 18:30 - 32.
- To enjying a time of refreshing from the Lord- Acts 3:19
HOW MUST WE REPENT?
The scripture is not silent on acceptable ways to repent of our sins. Notable scripture in this regard are: Joel 2:12 - 18; Hos. 14:1 - 5; cf. 1 Kg. 21:25 - 29; Jonah 3:6 - 10.
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First by acknowledging our sins and the sins of our forefathers - Psa. 51:
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With fasting, weeping and mourning - Joel 2:12.
- With a broken and contrite heart - Joel 2:13
- Etc
WHEN ARE WE TO REPENT?
The scripture also reveals the “when” of our repentance. It must be NOW.
In other words, you don’t postpone repentance. You don’t defer it. Now is the time to repent of every evil way and receive God’s mercies.
WHAT ARE WE TO REPENT OF?
Knowing the things to repent of is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the one to reveal our sins to us and convict us of the same. No man can do it better than the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit is already placing His finger on certain areas of our lives about which we need to bring repentance to the Lord. Amongst others, you and I need to bring repentance to God on the ff:
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We need to bring repentance for the sins of our forefathers - V.2
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We need to repent of being far away from God - V.3
- We need to repent of our sins against the “earlier prophets” that have proclaimed the word of God to us - V.4
- We need to repent of our own sins of stubbornness - V.4
- We need to repent of our negative attitude to the word of God - V.4
- We need to repent of our unfaithfulness in our giving - Mal. 3:6ff.
- Etc.
It is my prayer that the Lord will greatly help us to thoroughly deal with the issues He has raised and would be raising before us in the course of this week’s solemn assembly. May the Holy Spirit reveal to us every faulty foundation in our lives and help us to correct them in Jesus’ Name.
While Man remains God’s method for accomplishing His purpose on earth, the Word of God is the primary tool He gives to Man to fulfill the divine mandate. This is obvious in every generation both in the Bible time and in our contemporary days. Prior to the move of God in any place at any time, the consistent pattern that God has ever followed and still following is the revelation of His Word. For instance, the overwhelming revival that transformed the nation of Judah under King Josiah took place after the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35). Likewise, the revival that took place at the Water Gate under Ezra the Scribe would have been impossible except through the Word of God that was read distinctly and accurate explanation that was given to help the people understood what was read by Ezra and his associates (Nehemiah 8:8).
When the Word of God is revealed or discovered and is effectively delivered under the auction of the Holy Spirit, the resultant effects of its impact in the lives of men is always far reaching. These effects are what usually lead to revival. As you open your heart to encounter the eternal Word of God, I pray the Lord will help you to gladly receive His Word into your life with its transforming power in Jesus name.
Before we go on to consider the roles of God’s Word in revival, let’s quickly go over some helpful tips for reading the Word of God:
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Read the Bible prayerfully (Psalm 119:18)
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Read the Bible thoughtfully and applicably. Think about the meaning and implications of what you are reading.
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Read the Bible carefully. Take careful not only of the words that are used but also of how they relate to one another.
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Read the Bible repeatedly. Sometimes, to have a clear understanding, it may be of great help to read the same portion over and over and from different translations and versions of the Bible.
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Read the Bible extensively. Sometimes it is of great help to read large portion of the Bible at one sitting. But let it be when you are alert and not likely to be disturbed while reading.
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Read the Bible regularly. It is good you create a particular time to deliberately and habitually give yourself to the reading of the Word of God.
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Read the Bible faithfully. No doubt, there will be days when you will fail to read the Bible. Don’t be discouraged, take up your Bible and faithfully resume your practice of reading it.
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Read the Bible obediently. The Word will make no sense and will accomplish nothing in your life until you learn to develop courage to do exactly what it says to you.
THE EFFECTS OF GOD’S WORD THAT BRING LASTING REVIVAL.
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God’s Word Convicts: One of the great proofs that the Bible is truly God’s inspired Word (2 Timothy 3:16) is its inherent ability to convict men and women, lowly and mighty, small and great of their sins. Nehemiah 8:9; 9:1-2; 1 Samuel 12:7-14; 2 Chronicles 34:18-19; Acts 2:27, 41.
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God’s Word Exposes, Corrects Transforms Our Lives: Psalm 17:4; James 1:23-25; 2 Corinthians 3:18. The Word of God is both the divine mirror and God’s ultimate standard or principles for life and living. A consistent gaze at the Word of God produces in us the righteousness of God, makes us complete and fitting for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17).
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God’s Word Cleanses: Psalm 119:9; Malachi 3:1-4; John 17:17; Ephesians 5:25-27; Isaiah 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22. The Word of God cleanses the soul.
a. It cleanses us from wrong thoughts. Psalm 1:2; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8, 9
b. It
RESOLUTIONS THAT SUSTAINS REVIVAL
NEH. 9:38 - 10:1-39
It was mentioned last Sunday that revival is not a program; neither it an event, a crusade, nor a crowd pulling event. Amongst others, revival has to do with spiritual awakening, divine visitation and divine arrival on the scene of our lives.
It is important to emphasize that no mortal can predict the extent to which a revival would impact a people, group or nation when it comes. Most times, we only see its beginning but not its ending. The Water Gate revival had such a great impact on the people of Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah that they issued a communique. This communique save the details of detailed the resolutions they made in order to sustain God’s dealing through the revival.
I strongly believe that God would send revival to IBC as we intensify the ongoing prayer efforts in the church and as we consistently hunger for God and His word, God will visit us in Bible days. The revival that is coming will go beyond this church to the State, the entire nation and the whole world.
However, for us to see revival and sustain it, we need to make the Water Gate Revival resolutions our own resolutions as well. May the Lord help us to do this in Jesus Name.
What is a Resolution?
“A firm decision to do or not to do something.”
Some things to note about the Water Gate Revival resolution:
- It was a collective decision - 9:38.
- It was a binding agreement - 9:38; Amos 3:3.
- It was a written agreement - 9:38,meaning that-
- It was properly documented.
- It was sealed/signed by the leaders, Levites and Priests - 9:38.
Some of the resolutions they made include:
- Resolution to Follow the Law of the Lord and to Obey It - 10:28-29.
This is a very cardinal resolution.
It is interesting to note that the Water Gate Revival started with people crying out for the word of God. It is also interesting to note that the first resolution the people made to sustain the revival fire was also in regard to the word of God. How wonderful it would be if we will all also resolve to follow the Law of the Lord and obey it? No doubt, the blessings that will go with it would be great and beyond imagination. Josh. 1:8; Lk. 5:5; Jn. 2:5:
- Resolution not to intermarry with the unbelievers -V.30. This resolution borders on the Marriage and Family Life of the people. A revival that will last for generations must have deep roots in the marriage and family life of the people.
The people jointly resolved not to give their sons and daughters in marriage to “outsiders.”
The problem here was not with intertribal marriage.
The problem was giving out their children in marriage to unbelievers.
This was another serious resolution with great implication for the people of God. You may not know the weight of this resolution until you listen to the testimonies of those who violated it.
We all must also resolve not to intermarry with unbelievers. This is a timely warning to Parents and young people that are trusting God to enter into the marriage institution. Why Parents and Young People should heed this Resolution:
· It is a divine instruction (command and not an appeal - 2 Cor. 6:14
· It is for your own good- Amos 3:3; Psa. 133.
· It will spare you a life of unending and unimaginable grief - Gen. 26:34-35.
· It will save you from the likely and painful option of separation and divorce.
· God overlooks the time of ignorance - Acts
· There is no forgiveness for deliberate sin - Heb
A Message Prepared and Delivered By Rev. ‘Segun Adeleke, DMin., On December 2, 2018, During Her Sunday Service
The book of Job is one of the familiar books in the Bible. However, it is perhaps also one of the least understood books. Many people, including Christians, don’t like reading this book. There is an unconscious feeling that something tragic may happen by reading the book.
This book is however rich in inspiration. It is a book that helps us to strike a balance in our faith in God. This book helps us to understand that life is not a straight graph, but is characterized by seasons. There are moments in life when everything is great, smooth and straight; and there are also moments when life becomes filled with much drudgery and little pleasure, and you just don’t know what to do. The truth is that, no matter the seasons of life you find yourself in on life’s journey as a believer, God will always be there for you. The Lord was with Job through the various seasons of his life. He is with us also in our life’s journey, and will bless our latter end.
It is my prayer that as we go through the last month of the year 2018, God will bless you in a special way. May God turn every hopeless situation around for your good in Jesus' Name. May the Lord turn your fortunes around for good in Jesus' Name. May you recover all your lost grounds between now and the end of this year in Jesus' Name. Amen.
The story of Job’s life can be divided into three parts viz.
- The Early part - Job 1:1 - 12 cf. Job 29:1-25.
- The Middle part - Job 1:13 - 22; 2:1 - 13 - 41:1ff.
- The Latter part - Job 42:1 - 17.
The encouragement we all must go with from today’s message is that God will always have the final say in our lives. We should therefore learn from Job on how we should respond to trials, and allow God to turn the hopeless situations in our lives around.
From Job 42:1-17, there are some inspirations we can glean on how Job experienced God’s blessing in his latter end. These include the following
1. He exercised faith in God’s omnipotence - V.1
Job trusted God even when it didn’t make sense.
God is the Omnipotent God. His power is unlimited. He has the ultimate power.
Nobody can stand on His way.
Job believed in God’s Omnipotence
We see him severally confessing his faith in God’s omnipotence – Job 13:15; 19:23 – 27; 23:10.
- He came to an understanding of the plan of God - V.2
God has a wonderful plan for all His children. His thoughts towards us are not only profound but precious, very good and vast - Psa. 40:5; 139:17; Isa. 55:8 - 9; Jer. 29:11.
Until you have a basic understanding of God’s plan, the enemy will continue to taunt and torture you in your life's journey.
Job finally came to that understanding and thus declared “No plan of yours can be thwarted” - V.2.
The truth remains: No plan of God for your life can be thwarted!
Nothing and no one can upset the plans of God for your life.
3. It demands that we be careful with our utterances - V.3;
We all do say certain things that shouldn’t be said while going through valley moments.
Job said many negative things while going through the dark days – Job 3:1ff;
His 3 friends did the same. In fact they added “insult to injury.”
God was not happy with Job’s friends and instructed them to go and apologize to Job – V.7 – 9.
4. He acknowledged his sins and repented of them V. 3 -6
Both Job and his 3 friends sinned.
Job obscured God’s counsel without knowledge - V.3
Job spoke of things he did not understan
Annual Thanksgiving Service 2018
Appreciating the Lord for His Supernatural Help
Anchor Scripture: Psalm 116: 12- 19
The word of God is so deep and wide that we can never completely explore it. God has specific insight, instruction, and lesson from every chapter, from every character, every word, every statement, etc. in the scripture. The truth remains that not a jot in the word of God is there for decoration.
This is a challenge to all of us to change our attitude to the word of God. We need to prayerfully pay attention to every word we come across in scripture. Otherwise, we would miss the specifics that the Lord intend to reveal to us in His holy writ.
It is noteworthy the attention the scripture give to details in the Bible, especially in the book of Nehemiah. This is obvious in chapter three of the book of Nehemiah where the Bible records the names of the builders of the walls, their specific contributions, those who build and those who did nothing, etc. This chapter also list all the 10 gates of the city of Jerusalem. Apart from the importance of gates to a city, the twelve gates of Jerusalem is equally symbolic of the Christian life.
It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will send His help to you and I as we study about the 10 gates of Jerusalem tonight in Jesus Name.
Ø The Sheep Gate - Neh. 3:1; John 10:11
Ø The Fish Gate - Neh. 3:3; Matt. 4:19; Luke 13:9
Ø The Old (Jeshanah) Gate - Neh. 3:6; Rom. 6:1-23; Jer. 6:16; Gal. 5:19-21
Ø The Valley Gate - Neh. 3:13; 2 Cor. 1:3-5, 8-11; Ps. 23:4; Isa. 43:1-2; Psa. 23; Isa. 43
Ø The Dung Gate - Neh. 3:14; Gal. 5:19-21
Ø The Fountain Gate: Neh. 3:15; John 7:37-39
Ø The Water Gate: Neh. 3:26; Eph. 5:26; Ps. 119:9
Ø The Horse Gate: Neh. 3:28; Eph. 6:10-18; Rev. 19:11-16
Ø The East Gate: Neh. 3:29; Ezek. 44:1-3; Zech. 14:4; 2Tim. 4:8
Ø The Inspection (Miphkad Gate): Neh. 3:31; 1Cor. 3:9-15; 2Cor. 5:10
Ø The Gate of Ephraim - Neh. 8:16-18
Ø The Gate of the Guard - Neh. 12:39; 1Cor. 9:19-20
It is my prayer that the Lord will fill each of us with an unceasing and enduring hunger for the word of God. May God give us a fresh appetite for His word. More importantly, may the Lord help us to maximize the lessons presented by these gates.
Apostle Paul compares the believer to a building in 1 Cor 3:9; and also instructs all builders (church leaders/workers) to be careful how they build - 1 Cor 3:10.
Nehemiah, like Paul, was an expert builder; He demonstrated this expertise in the rebuilding of the broken wall of Jerusalem. Particularly, he meticulously ensured that no gap was left in the rebuilding of the walls.
Our local church has been in a building process for more than fifty years now. God through His servants, from inception, has been building this local church through His Spirit and the Word. The challenge staring us in the face at the moment is to close every gap within our walls. May God help us to identify the gaps in our lives as individuals, families and as a church. May there be no entry point for the enemy to intrude into any of our lives, families and church in Jesus' Name.
A What is a Gap?
B Read and share from these scriptures some of the dangers of not closing the gaps in the walls of our lives as individuals, families and church? 1 Sam 18:10-11; Ecc 10:8; Lk 8:2, 30; 11:24-26; Jhn 13:27, 30
C. Mention some of the things that constitute (or can constitute) a gap in the lives as individuals, families and a church? 1 Sam 18:1-12; Prov 1:10; 2:12-19; 31:1-6; 2 Cor 6:14-18; 7:1; Eph 4:20-32; 1 Jhn 2:15-17; 1 Tim 6:6-11; 2 Tim 1:7; 2Tim 2:22
D List some of the ways we can close the gaps and stop the enemy from invading our lives as individuals, families and a church? Prov 1:10; 2:12-19; 4:23; 31:1-7; Matt 15:19-20; 2 Cor 6:18; 20:14; 1 Tim 6:6-11; 1 Peter 5:5-9; James 4:4-10; Jhn 13:34-35; 1 Jhn 4:7-9; Matt 5:8
There is the need to constantly and consistently close the gaps that the enemy uses as springboards into our lives, families and church. Now is the time to close those gaps. We must be intentional about not giving Satan a foothold (Eph 4:27) in our lives, families and church. May the God of Heaven open our eyes to see every one of such gaps in our lives and close them in Jesus' Name.
Apostle Paul compares the believer to a building in 1 Cor 3:9; and also instructs all builders (church leaders/workers) to be careful how they build - 1 Cor 3:10.
Nehemiah, like Paul, was an expert builder; He demonstrated this expertise in the rebuilding of the broken wall of Jerusalem. Particularly, he meticulously ensured that no gap was left in the rebuilding of the walls.
Our local church has been in a building process for more than fifty years now. God through His servants, from inception, has been building this local church through His Spirit and the Word. The challenge staring us in the face at the moment is to close every gap within our walls. May God help us to identify the gaps in our lives as individuals, families and as a church. May there be no entry point for the enemy to intrude into any of our lives, families and church in Jesus' Name.
A What is a Gap?
B Read and share from these scriptures some of the dangers of not closing the gaps in the walls of our lives as individuals, families and church? 1 Sam 18:10-11; Ecc 10:8; Lk 8:2, 30; 11:24-26; Jhn 13:27, 30
C. Mention some of the things that constitute (or can constitute) a gap in the lives as individuals, families and a church? 1 Sam 18:1-12; Prov 1:10; 2:12-19; 31:1-6; 2 Cor 6:14-18; 7:1; Eph 4:20-32; 1 Jhn 2:15-17; 1 Tim 6:6-11; 2 Tim 1:7; 2Tim 2:22
D List some of the ways we can close the gaps and stop the enemy from invading our lives as individuals, families and a church? Prov 1:10; 2:12-19; 4:23; 31:1-7; Matt 15:19-20; 2 Cor 6:18; 20:14; 1 Tim 6:6-11; 1 Peter 5:5-9; James 4:4-10; Jhn 13:34-35; 1 Jhn 4:7-9; Matt 5:8
There is the need to constantly and consistently close the gaps that the enemy uses as springboards into our lives, families and church. Now is the time to close those gaps. We must be intentional about not giving Satan a foothold (Eph 4:27) in our lives, families and church. May the God of Heaven open our eyes to see every one of such gaps in our lives and close them in Jesus' Name.
Apostle Paul compares the believer to a building in 1 Cor 3:9; and also instructs all builders (church leaders/workers) to be careful how they build - 1 Cor 3:10.
Nehemiah, like Paul, was an expert builder; He demonstrated this expertise in the rebuilding of the broken wall of Jerusalem. Particularly, he meticulously ensured that no gap was left in the rebuilding of the walls.
Our local church has been in a building process for more than fifty years now. God through His servants, from inception, has been building this local church through His Spirit and the Word. The challenge staring us in the face at the moment is to close every gap within our walls. May God help us to identify the gaps in our lives as individuals, families and as a church. May there be no entry point for the enemy to intrude into any of our lives, families and church in Jesus' Name.
A What is a Gap?
B Read and share from these scriptures some of the dangers of not closing the gaps in the walls of our lives as individuals, families and church? 1 Sam 18:10-11; Ecc 10:8; Lk 8:2, 30; 11:24-26; Jhn 13:27, 30
C. Mention some of the things that constitute (or can constitute) a gap in the lives as individuals, families and a church? 1 Sam 18:1-12; Prov 1:10; 2:12-19; 31:1-6; 2 Cor 6:14-18; 7:1; Eph 4:20-32; 1 Jhn 2:15-17; 1 Tim 6:6-11; 2 Tim 1:7; 2Tim 2:22
D List some of the ways we can close the gaps and stop the enemy from invading our lives as individuals, families and a church? Prov 1:10; 2:12-19; 4:23; 31:1-7; Matt 15:19-20; 2 Cor 6:18; 20:14; 1 Tim 6:6-11; 1 Peter 5:5-9; James 4:4-10; Jhn 13:34-35; 1 Jhn 4:7-9; Matt 5:8
There is the need to constantly and consistently close the gaps that the enemy uses as springboards into our lives, families and church. Now is the time to close those gaps. We must be intentional about not giving Satan a foothold (Eph 4:27) in our lives, families and church. May the God of Heaven open our eyes to see every one of such gaps in our lives and close them in Jesus' Name.
Apostle Paul compares the believer to a building in 1 Cor 3:9; and also instructs all builders (church leaders/workers) to be careful how they build - 1 Cor 3:10.
Nehemiah, like Paul, was an expert builder; He demonstrated this expertise in the rebuilding of the broken wall of Jerusalem. Particularly, he meticulously ensured that no gap was left in the rebuilding of the walls.
Our local church has been in a building process for more than fifty years now. God through His servants, from inception, has been building this local church through His Spirit and the Word. The challenge staring us in the face at the moment is to close every gap within our walls. May God help us to identify the gaps in our lives as individuals, families and as a church. May there be no entry point for the enemy to intrude into any of our lives, families and church in Jesus' Name.
A What is a Gap?
B Read and share from these scriptures some of the dangers of not closing the gaps in the walls of our lives as individuals, families and church? 1 Sam 18:10-11; Ecc 10:8; Lk 8:2, 30; 11:24-26; Jhn 13:27, 30
C. Mention some of the things that constitute (or can constitute) a gap in the lives as individuals, families and a church? 1 Sam 18:1-12; Prov 1:10; 2:12-19; 31:1-6; 2 Cor 6:14-18; 7:1; Eph 4:20-32; 1 Jhn 2:15-17; 1 Tim 6:6-11; 2 Tim 1:7; 2Tim 2:22
D List some of the ways we can close the gaps and stop the enemy from invading our lives as individuals, families and a church? Prov 1:10; 2:12-19; 4:23; 31:1-7; Matt 15:19-20; 2 Cor 6:18; 20:14; 1 Tim 6:6-11; 1 Peter 5:5-9; James 4:4-10; Jhn 13:34-35; 1 Jhn 4:7-9; Matt 5:8
There is the need to constantly and consistently close the gaps that the enemy uses as springboards into our lives, families and church. Now is the time to close those gaps. We must be intentional about not giving Satan a foothold (Eph 4:27) in our lives, families and church. May the God of Heaven open our eyes to see every one of such gaps in our lives and close them in Jesus' Name.
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.Deuteronomy 31:6
Sermon Podcast for Wednesday Bible StudyDownload sermon outline @ http://bit.ly/BS-Sept5
IKOYI BAPTIST CHURCH5/7 Lateef Jakande Avenue, Ikoyi LagosNIGHT OF SUPERNATURAL HELP – AUGUST EDITIONTHE GRACE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT - NEH. 6:1-16.A Message Prepared and Delivered By Rev. 'Segun Adeleke, DMin., On August 31, 2018, During Her Night of Supernatural Help. It is not all who set out to pursue an objective in life that accomplish it.Some start very well, then something happens’ and they never finish what they set out to do.Some start school, but later drop out.Some start a business, but had to abandon it for some "good" reasons.Some get married, then had to run out of it.Some have had cause to abandon their children and family.It is not starting that really matters, but finishing what you start.This however, most times, requires the God factor.It takes the divine to consistently succeed and finish whatever in life you start.The special grace of the Almighty God is required.May the Lord release that grace on all of us in Jesus’ Name.In the light of the above, serious thought should be given to the following issues in order to experience divine accomplishment in whatever you start to do in life:1. Learn to always be in the will of God.This is the starting point to finishing whatever you begin.Being at the center of God's will is the first critical step to finishing your project in life.So, before you start that building; that business; that trip; that marriage; etc, make sure you are in the perfect will of God.Without this, you would struggle and suffer.Worse still, you may even bring shame to the Name of the Lord.A major reason for Nehemiah finishing on his mandate was because he was at the center of God's will.It was God who recruited and commissioned him for this work.And God was solidly behind him from the beginning to the end.May God help you and me to always be at the center of His will in Jesus’ Name.2. Watch out for Satan’s schemes - V.1-9.A great man of God once said: “For every new level, there are new devils.”For every new project in your life, there are new devils to be confronted.Ignorance of this on our part could result in one giving the devil a foothold that may eventually become a stronghold.To be ignorant of Satan's schemes implies planning to start a project without finishing it.It is therefore necessary to always prepare for the satanic dimension in every project you plan to implement.Nehemiah was not ignorant of the schemes of Satan through Samballat and Tobiah in the rebuilding process.He engaged them physically and spiritually through bold confrontation, physical confrontation and prayers.God gave him victory over them all and he was able to complete the project.May the Lord help you complete all that you have started in Jesus’ Name. 3. Resolve never to give up - V.3.I am yet to see a project that will not face one challenge or the other.As a student, you will face challenges with your studies viz. difficult teachers, difficult subjects, bullies, etcIn marriage you will face challenges;On your job there will be challenges;Even in the church, you will face challenges;However, no matter the challenges in life, you must be tenacious.You must never give up!Winners don't quit. It is quitters that don't win.Be like Nehemiah and refuse to give up on your dreams - 4. Learn to draw strength from God - V.9 cf. 1 Sam. 30:6.Another secret to divine accomplishment is the need to learn how to draw strength from God.Nehemiah practiced this principle in V.9 of our text.In the face of pressure from his foes and the threat to abandon the work, he prayed.Prayer is one of the means by which we draw strength from the Lord.Once Nehemiah prayed, the Lord baptized him with new strength and he was able to press on to the point of finishing his assignment. 5. Learn to be courageous - V.10-13.Courage is another requirement for accomplishing your goal in life.Courage is strength in the face
He has remembered His Loving Kindness and His Faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the Salvation of Our God. Psaim 98:3
Download Sermon outline at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PuDK5I9v5Pspu_O447zEShdvEOrvvbGA/view?usp=sharing
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Topic: Supernatural YouthGuest Preacher: Ministering: Rev Akanbi Gideon Olumide.Schedule Sunday June 3 @ 9amMonday, June 4 @ 6pmTuesday, June 5 @ 6pm
Topic: Supernatural YouthGuest Preacher: Ministering: Rev Akanbi Gideon Olumide.Schedule Sunday June 3 @ 9amMonday, June 4 @ 6pmTuesday, June 5 @ 6pm
Topic: Supernatural YouthGuest Preacher: Ministering: Rev Akanbi Gideon Olumide.Schedule Sunday June 3 @ 9amMonday, June 4 @ 6pmTuesday, June 5 @ 6pm
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Water Baptism is a principal ordinance in the New Testament Church.It is "a symbol of the beginning of the Christian life."It is not ordinary and must never be perceived as such.Baptism is not optional for a redeemed child of God.The proper form of baptism in the New Testament is immersion.Immersion is not just a Baptist distinctive, but a Biblical injunction.Baptism is translated from the Greek word "baptizo." It means "to plunge, dip, or immerse."Some scriptural evidence of immersion include: Matt. 3:16; Mk. 1:5; Acts 8:36, 39; Some of the reasons for Water Baptism Include:1. It is a command - Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38.Christ instructed His disciples to baptize every disciple they made in their course of fulfilling the Great Commission.Christ Himself had done this before the commencement of His ministry.His disciples were obedient to this instruction in their days.The present day church has also not deviated from that instruction.Baptism remains a command that every genuine follower of Christ should obey.Not to comply is tantamount to disobedience and this has grave implications.2. To become a part of Christ's body - 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27.Another reason for Baptism is that it makes you to be part of Christ’s body.Failure to be baptized implies that you are not part of His body.This also has serious implications.3. To make a Public Declaration of our faith in Jesus Christ - Acts 8:36-37; 9:18.Jesus denounced anyone who is ashamed of Him here on earth.He said He would be ashamed of such persons also in heaven.It is required after you have repented that you make a public declaration of that experience.4. To follow the example of Jesus Christ - V.13.This is the major reason why every believer should be Baptized.Christ had no reason to be baptized but he identified with us in our sins and submitted Himself for Baptism.Who then can be greater and higher than Jesus Christ as not to follow this example?The truth remains: If Jesus did it, you have no choice. 5.To do the Proper Thing - V.14-15.A major lesson we all must learn in life is the lesson of doing the proper thing.One way to show to God and the devil that you have repented is by doing the proper thing.So, if you are here and you claim to be born again and have not seen the need to be Baptized, you are not doing the proper thing.And it is not too late to do the proper thing. I encourage you under God to do the proper thing today.Submit yourself for Baptism.6. To Fulfill all Righteousness - V.15.Again, Christ did not need to be Baptized. Baptism is for sinners who have repented.Baptism is the outward expression of an inward experience with the King of glory.Christ was sinless and perfectly holy.There was no sin for Him to repent of, talk-less of being Baptised.Think of it, what could have made divinity submit to humanity in dirty Jordan river?It was the crucial commitment to righteousness.Righteousness has to do with justice.Righteousness has to do with justification.Our Lord Jesus Christ is so committed to righteousness such that He would not bend the rule for even Himself.If God did not bend the rule for the only Begotten Son, I can guarantee you that He won't do it for you.If Jesus Christ our Lord and Master did not jump the process but paid the necessary price, I can assure you that He won't give you exemption from this process.7. To Secure Supernatural Help - V.16-17.It became very clear to me as I studied our text that Christ submitted Himself to the ordinance of Baptism because of His need for Supernatural Help.Though Christ is perfectly God, He was also perfectly human.There was no way He would have been able to fulfil God's purpose on the earth without Supernatural Help.Jesus knew this and He did everything necessary to get it.He travelled many kilometres from Galilee to Jordan to be Baptized - V.13.He refused to be distr
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A Supernatural Woman is a woman who has redefined her person, her personality, her values and her lifestyle in line with God's design and expectation for her life
TOPIC: REBUILDING THE BROKEN WALL IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS TEXT: NEHEMIAH 3: 5The third chapter of the book of Nehemiah is very important because it gives a record of the builders of the wall and the roles played by each of them. Verse 5 stands out and it is worth paying attention to as it points out a group of people who refused to work. It is important for us to remember that God is keeping record of all we do or fail to do in His Vineyard. Everyone has a role to play in the house of God and one can afford to be idle.1.Who are the nobles either by Bible standard or today’s standard?2.What could possibly be the reasons for these nobles’ refusal to work?3.Why do some people shy away from getting involved in serving in the church?4.How can we encourage such people to join? 1 Thessalonians 5:11,14; Hebrews 10:24;5.What are the specific names you can call the problem in Nehemiah 3:5?6.What are the benefits of serving in the Lord’s vineyard? 1 Corinthian15:58, Proverbs 11:25;7.What should be our response to those who do not serve? 1 Samuel 14:6; Colossians 3:23, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Galatians 6:9Read the following passages- 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 12:11;Conclusion- In any group or organization, there are bound to be dissenting voices. No matter their status or level of influence, you should not allow them to discourage you from working for the lord. Remember, ‘’your labour in the Lord is not in vain.’’
I welcome you in the Name that is above all names - the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ into this special worship experience. I welcome you into a new season of life!It is a new season of Supernatural Success in every area of your life.From today you will know consistent, continuous good success in every area of your life in Jesus Name.You will experience success in every thing you lay your hands on in Jesus Name.We decree an eternal separation between you and failure from today in Jesus Name.You will succeed every time and everywhere in Jesus Name.You will succeed in Lagos; you will succeed in Nigeria; you will succeed abroad; you will succeed everywhere you find yourself in Jesus Name.You will succeed maritally; succeed academically; succeed financially; succeed on your job and business in Jesus’ NameFrom today your name is SUCCESS.Farewell to failure in our lives and families in Jesus’ Name.The God of heaven will give us success in Jesus Name.Supernatural Success Demands The Following: 1. Relationship With The God Of Heaven - V.20.There are different type of success viz. Natural, Preternatural and Supernatural success.Only those who are born again are entitled to Supernatural success.This was the kind of success Nehemiah experienced. Despite stiff opposition, he succeeded big time!He was able to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem in 52 days after over 150 years of dilapidation.May the Lord give us this kind of success this month and this year in Jesus name.2. Faith In The God Of Heaven - V.20.Nehemiah did not just have a relationship with the God of heaven.He also demonstrated faith in the God of heaven.His confidence was not in the arm of the flesh; nor was it in his connection with the king or his ability.It is interesting to note how many times Nehemiah made reference to the God of heaven in this book.He was always turning to the God of heaven for Supernatural Help.And God always responded to him positively.3. Focus On The God Of Heaven - V. 20."There is nothing quite as potent as a focused life...The men and women who have made the greatest difference in history were very focused.For instance, Apostle Paul almost single-handedly spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.One of his secrets was a focused life. See what he said in Phil. 3:13(NLT).If you want a life of impact, focus it!" Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2002, 32.Nehemiah also had his focus on the God of heaven.He had his focus on the fulfillment of His kingdom purpose.He refused to be distracted.This greatly helped him in accomplishing his set target faster than imagined.May the Lord help you and I to keep our focus on the God of heaven.May we daily focus on the Author and Finisher of our faith in Jesus’ Name.4. A Good And Strong Network - V.20.Another reason for Nehemiah's success was that he had a good and strong network.Network is a combination of two words viz. net and work.A little string will do no good. But when tied together many strings would form a good and strong net that can be used to catch many fish.According to Dr. Adrian Rogers, former Senior Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis Tennessee "a net is a lot of little strings tied together. Unless you have the tying of those strings together, you won't have a net.You can't catch much with one little string, but you can catch a lot with a net.We as a local church are a lot of little strings tied together.And this is what makes the net work.James Davis of the Billion Souls Network said "the essence of networking is the tying of relationships for a greater cause.Without knowing how to tie relationships together and cultivate them, you will not be able to make a net work in your life.The fact is, if we are ever going to fulfill the Great Commission and reach the whole world for Christ, tempora
The rebuilding of the broken walls of Jerusalem was a daunting task. There was no way Nehemiah could have succeeded in the rebuilding process without the support of the builder listed in the Chapter Three of the book of Nehemiah. God is searching for men and women that He can use to build His house in our generation. May the Lord make you and I kingdom builders and use us for His presence and glory in Jesus Name1.Who is a Kingdom Builder?2.What are some of the inspirations and lessons that we can learn from Nehemiah 3: 1- 32?•God will always provide for Himself men and women He would use to accomplish His work – Nehemiah 3:1•The challenge of record keeping and attention to details – Nehemiah 3:1, 5, 13•The challenge of exemplary leadership – Nehemiah 3:1•The lesson on cooperation and team work – Nehemiah 3: 2-5•Most kingdom builders are often not popular. How many of the names mentioned in this chapter were known before this point in the scripture?•That every input we make into the work of God is recorded by God- Nehemiah 3:5, 19, 21, 24, etc.•“Another section”.•Etc.3.What other inspirations and lessons have you gained from Nehemiah 3?The body of Christ, as well as our local church is in urgent need of kingdom builders. Such are the ones that God would use to build His house before Christ’s Second Advent. May the Lord count on you and I in this regard. The Lord is inviting you to be a kingdom builder. Will you accept this invitation? May you make yourself available for His use today and the rest of your life in Jesus Name. Amen
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(Wednesday Mid-Week Service)Topic: Lessons Relating to the WorkAnchor Scripture: Nehemiah 2:10Preacher: Rev. Mrs Bosun Adegboyega
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TOPIC: From a cup-bearer to a City Builder: Fulfilling the Purpose for Your ExistenceTEXT: Nehemiah 2: 1-9Nehemiah accepted the challenge to go and rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Unlike Jonah, Nehemiahobeyed the Lord’s prompting and pursued the purpose of God for His life. He left the “juicy” office of acupbearer to become a city builder. May the Lord help each of us to positively and promptly respond toGod’s invitation to fulfil His purpose for our lives. Amen.1. From verse 1-3, what do you think is responsible for Nehemiah’s sadness of heart?2. What is a burden?3. Mention some of the ways God-giving burdens are received? Exodus 2:11-13; 3:4-10, Nehemiah 1:2,4:4-8, Acts 164. What is the vision God gave to Nehemiah? Nehemiah 2:5a. How did Nehemiah receive that vision? Nehemiah 2:!2b. How large was Nehemiah’s vision in Nehemiah 2:55. What do you understand from Nehemiah 2:4a6. Mention some of the provisions Nehemiah received in fulfilling his God-giving vision. Nehemiah 2:5-97. What encouragements can we derive from Nehemiah 2:5-9 as we pursue our God-givenassignments?8. From a cupbearer to a city builder, mention at least two factors you consider to be the secretebehind Nehemiah’s elevation.Permit me to remind you that you have a destiny to fulfil. When you leave your “palace” to begin tofulfil the purpose of God for your life? Your fulfilment, blessing, promotion, etc. are all tied to yourfulfilling God’s purpose. May none of our lives be waste in Jesus name.
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The Bible is replete with anthropomorphic expressions. While God is a Spirit, He is described many times in scripture as having human characteristics.Nehemiah and several other Bible Characters alluded to the hand of God as the secret of their success – Ezra 7:9; Neh. 2:8, 18; Ezek. 1:37:1-2. There is no doubt that the unimaginable, the miraculous, the supernatural begin to occur whenever God places His hand on a man or thing.As we seek God for His Supernatural Help tonight, we need to know that the secret to that experience is the gracious hand of God. Once the gracious hand of God comes on your life, testimonies will begin to come forth. The unimaginable, the unusual, the miraculous, the extraordinary and the supernatural will begin to happen in and through your life.May the gracious hand of the Lord come your life and my life tonight in Jesus Name.May the gracious hand of the Lord come upon your family, business, career and project tonight in Jesus Name.May the gracious hand of the Lord come upon IBC tonight like never before in Jesus Name.Many positive and outstanding things happen when the hand of the LORD comes on a man’s life, family, business, career, church, etc. Amongst these are the ff;1. You will experience Supernatural Favor - Neh. 2:7-9, 18;2. You will experience Supernatural Acceleration - 1 Kg. 18:46.3. You will experience Supernatural Empowerment - 1 Kg. 18:464. You will experience Supernatural Victories - Psa. 44:1ff5. You will enjoy Supernatural Provisions - Psa. 104:28.6. You will enjoy Supernatural Revelations - Ezek. 1:1ff7. You will experience Supernatural Multiplication - 6:1-13.8. You will experience Supernatural Security - Jn. 10:27-31; 1 Chr. 4:9-10; Psa. 37:249. You will experience Supernatural Conversions - Acts 11:19-2110. You will execute Supernatural Judgment on your enemies - Acts 13:9-12Miracles happen in the hands of Jesus.Five loaves and two fishes in the hand of the little boy were ordinary but in the hand of Jesus it is enough to feed the multitude - Jn. 6:5-13.The rod in the hand of Moses was a mere ordinary rod but in the hand of God it was powerful enough to part the Red Sea - Exod. 14:16.The raw jaw bone in the hand of Samson was ordinary but in the hand of God it was powerful enough to be used to kill a thousand Philistines – Judges 15:13-16.The stone in the hand of David was a mere ordinary stone but in the hand of God it was powerful enough to bring down Goliath - 1 Sam. 17:49.Your life will remain ordinary until the gracious hand of God comes upon your life.I encourage you to cry to God for His gracious hand tonight.I believe something good will happen to you tonight.SOMETHING POSITIVE AND ETERNAL WILL HAPPEN TO YOU TONIGHT.SOMETHING POSITIVE AND ETERNAL WILL HAPPEN TO IBC TONIGHT.Dearly beloved, all that we need is the gracious Hand of God on our lives.The difference is always clear when the gracious hand of God is on a thing, a life, a business, a church, etc.The gracious hand of God is the secret of Supernatural help. May none of us leave this place tonight without the gracious hand of God coming strongly on our lives in Jesus Name.
Our Lord and Saviour revealed that His Father’s House is a house of prayer of all nations. Our goal and prayer in the next few meetings is to rediscover this eternal purpose of God for His church and be committed to it. My earnest prayer is that at the end of this series of teachings, each of us would have grown in our prayer lives. Particularly, that every IBC member would be able to pray for at least one hour every day. It is possible - Phil. 4:13.
A Message Prepared and Delivered By Rev. Dr. 'Segun Adeleke, D.Min., on February 18, 2018, During Her Worship Service.Thank God for another opportunity we have to press on in our understanding of ‘’my Father's house.’’ We were pre-occupied for most part of the last weekend with discipleship in my Father's house. The essence is to remind us of what should be the priority in our Father's house.Never forget that all that God wants from you and I is to be conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to grow daily to become like Jesus Christ.Our concern today is on your responsibilities in our Father's house. May the Lord by His Holy Spirit show you why you are in this church and not somewhere else. May He open your eyes to see what you should be doing for Him in Ikoyi Baptist Church.My Responsibilities in My Father's House include:1. To Pray for my Father's House - Matt. 21:13Prayer is the life-wire of a local church.Prayer is the strength and power of a local church.A prayer-less church is a powerless church.A prayer-less church is a dangerous church.A prayer-less church is a safe haven for robbers.All kinds of atrocities happen in a prayer-less church.IBC will not be a prayer-less church IJN.You will not be a prayer-less Christian IJN.2. To Ensure the of my Father's House - Isa. 52:11; Num. 5:1-5; Deut. 23:9-14.Another responsibility we all have to our Father's House is to ensure her purity.Sin and all kinds of impurity drive away the presence of the Almighty God.Holiness is what God adorn His house with - Psa.93:5.Holiness is still the standard of God for our generation.Be Ye holy as I am holy says the great Apostle Peter in 1 Pet. 1:15.Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord - Heb. 12:14.The church is not a place to do evil.God will not spare you for defiling His house.Be careful how you behave in the church.Don't litter the house of God - use the bin that is placed around the church.3. To pursue the interests of my Father's House – Jn. 2:13-17.How passionate are you about your Father's house?Our Lord Jesus Christ displayed unparalleled passion for His Father's house."Zeal for my Father's House has consumed me" – Jn. 2:17He whipped evil men out of His Father's house. He passionately talked about His Father's house - Jn. 14:1. When last did you talk about this house to your friends?4. To the Reputation of my Father's House – Isa. 62:1-4Nothing kills an organization faster than bad reputation.Please don't give this church a bad reputation.And if you are suffering from a bad reputation may the Lord grant you deliverance IJN.5. To in the Work in my Father's House – Neh. 2:17; 1 Cor. 15:57.There is so much work to do in my Father's House.All hands should therefore be on deck.What are you doing in your Father's house?Which work are you doing in this church?You can do something; I mean something positive.You are talented! You are gifted! You are very resourceful!Participate in the work in your Father's house!Forget about past discouragements from the Samballats’ and the Tobiahs’This is your Father's house! Insist on participating.We are ready to create new ministries, if need be, to take care of diverse giftings and talents the Lord has blessed us with as a church. E.g. Life Leadership Academy (an Equipping Ministry of Emerging Leaders); Gold Leadership Institute (a Training Arm of the Church) etc.6. To for the work in my Father's House – Mal. 3:10; 1 Chr. 29:2-5. The needs in my Father's house are enormous.We need much money to carry out the ministries of this church.We need money to: pay salaries of staff and pastors at home and on the field; buy diesel; fuel our vehicles; handle welfare matters, missions, publications, maintenance, honorariums, etc.The
Marriage is the first institution that made in the scripture. God did not just institute marriage, He also conducted thefirst wedding between the first man and the first woman.The first marriage was going well until there was satanic intrusion. Unfortunately, everything got scattered from thispoint until Christ came to restore all things. Our concern tonight is to gain divine wisdom to help make our marriage asuccessMay the Holy Spirit grant us good understanding in this regard.1. What is your understanding of marriage from these passages?a) Gen: 2:18, 21-25b) Malachi 2: 13-14c) Matthew 19: 3-6, Malachi 2: 16, Rom 7:2-3, 1Cor. 7: 39d) Hebrews 14: 4e) 2Cor 6: 14, 1 Kings 11: 1-4f) Rom 1:26-272. Read Gen 2:18-24, and point out some of the Biblical reasons and principles for a successful marriage?a)b)c)d)e)f)g)3. What do you need to do now to make your marriage tomorrow a success story (for those yet to be married)?4. What do you need to do to make your marriage better than it is at the moment?There is no doubt that an area in which we need Supernatural help is our marriage and family lives.We must make conscious effort to return to the Bible regularly to rediscover God’s purpose and principles ofmarriage.May the Lord help and guide all our young people as they choose their life partners.May the great hand of God bring healing and timely intervention to every family going through challenges.May all our families be strong and healthy, bringing glory to His name.
There is no doubt that prayer remains an indispensable tool for personal, family, congregational and national transformation. A notable feature in the lives of all that God has used to bring about transformation is prayer. If IBC will experience an enduring transformation, all of us – Pastors and members, should make prayer our priority.In other words, we should all become the House of Prayer. We should resist all forms of prayerlessness, and begin to make conscious effort to grow in our prayer lives. We should take advantage of every opportunity to pray. May the Lord pour on each of us the Spirit of prayer –Zach. 12:10.What is prayer?Why do you think prayer is considered indispensable fortransformation? V.3What are the four elements of effective prayer?How many of these can be seen in Nehemiah's prayer in Verse 5-11?How many of these do you practice?Beloved, the Lord is inviting you to a life of consistent communion with Him in the place of prayer. The best way to learn/grow in your prayer life is by praying. There is no better time to pray than now. Let us confront the decay of our lives, family, church and nation with the weapon of prayer – 2 Chron. 7:14. The Lord has committed Himself to answering our prayers. Let us go back to our Bethel. May the God of heaven send us help from His sanctuary.
A Message Prepared and Delivered By 'Segun Adeleke, D.Min., On Feb. 4th, 2018, at Ikoyi Baptist Church During Her Sunday Worship Service.A lot is going on in “My Father's House” around the world that is good.Some other things are however going on that are very worrisome.Just as Nehemiah was concerned about the ruins of the city of Jerusalem, all genuine children of God should be concerned about the state of the present day church.There is a clarion call to all God's children to arise and do all we can to save our Father's house from total collapse. The process of doing this demands that we return to a Biblical understanding of what our Father’s House is all about. Some of the things we need to know about “My Father's house”:1. It is a House of Prayer - V.13.It is commonly said that "when purpose is not known abuse is imminent."It is quite unfortunate that many Christians, including Church leaders are fast losing the understanding of the purpose of the church. This is the reason for most of the abuse and sacrilegious things we see happening in the church of our day.Jesus in our text redefined and with passion engaged in the recovery of the purpose of the church.This is also the task before every genuine child of God today.Only bastards will fold their hands, looking on while their father’s house is overgrown with weeds and fast becoming a den of robbers.This is a challenge not to keep quiet when we see things going on contrary to God's purpose in this church and every local church we attend.You shall give account, especially when you see things going wrong in your Father's house and you keep mute.You will give account of every idleness in your Father's house.You will give account of every prayerlessness in your Father's house.This means that prayer must be on the front burner in every local church.Prayer should saturate all that we do in each local church.Every local church should be a house of prayer and anything short of this is unacceptable to God.It is very sad today that not much prayer is going on in the church of our day.Prayer is not being given the priority it deserves.Prayer is no longer on the front burner of the church as it was in the Acts of the Apostle.Oh that God would visit us again and pour the Spirit of prayer on us.Oh that God would set His church ablaze in the place of prayer.Oh that genuine kingdom praying will return to the church.Father please teach us to pray in IBC.Please drive prayerlessness out of my life; out of my family and out of this church today.Help the Men, the Women, the Youth, the Teenagers, the children to be given to a life of prayer.2. It is a House of Miracles- V.14.“My Father's house” is a House of Miracles.Immediately our Lord purged the temple, He restored her to fulfilling purpose and miracles began to take place effortlessly.When IBC as a local church is committed to a life of holiness and prayer, miracles would begin to happen effortlessly in our camp.“My Father's house” is a house of healing.You are actually that house.I am that house. We are the temple of the living God.He said we shall lay hands on the sick and they will recover.Alleluia. There is healing in the house of IBC this morning.The Healer Himself is in the house.Let every disease and affliction disappear. Let every disease and affliction be cursed and uprooted by the power in the name of Jesus.Let fibroid melt now by the fire of the Holy Spirit.Let every sickness and infirmity be destroyed right now by the power of the Holy Spirit.Note: Isa. 33:24; Jer. 30:16.3. It is a House of Praise - V.15-16.“My Father's house” is also a house of praise.There should never be a dull moment in my Father's house.The kings of this world copied this principle from the holy writ.This is why in every proper Oba’s palace you will have praise singers and their drummers.Oh my God, let praise return to your house today.Raise genuin
Our studies in the Book of Nehemiah so far reveals the depth in the word of God.We are about stepping out of chapter one and yet there is so much to be discovered in this chapter.Tonight, we shall be peeping into the first and longest prayer of Nehemiah.We shall be doing this to know more about the God of Supernatural Help.My prayer is that tonight's study would prepare you for the new month and the rest of your life's journey.A. Who is the God of Supernatural Help?1. He is the LORD - V.5The LORD as used in this verse and most Old Testament scriptures, is the covenant name of God. The Jews hardly mention this name because of the sacredness they attached to it.The name in Hebrew is YHWH translated as Yahweh. Some other Bible translators used the contraction Jehovah to avoid sacrilege.The other 'Lord' that we are familiar with is "Adonai" and it is often translated as "sir, master, owner, a mighty or strong one, etc.Cf. Ex. 5:1-2; 6:1-8.2. He is the God of Heaven - V.53. He is Great and Awesome - V. 5.It is unfortunate that many who do not understand the depth of the power of the above have commonised the foregoing.For every little thing you hear them using the word "awesome."4. He is a Covenant Keeping God - V. 5; Ps. 89:27-29, 34; Is.54:10.Our God respects and keeps covenants. He is not a covenant breaker like most men.5. He is a Prayer Hearing and Prayer Answering God - V.6.How many of us can testify to the truth that God hears and answers prayers?6. He is a Forgiving God - V.6-7; Micah 7:18-20.Our God forgives and forgets!7. He is a God that Remembers - V.8.What does it mean for God to "remember" a man? Does it mean that God can forget his people? Psa. 115:12-13.Are there examples of people that God remembers in scripture? Gen. 8:1; 19:29; 1 Sam. 1:19.8. He is the Miracle Working God - V.9; Jer. 32:17-22.Our God has been a Miracle worker from Genesis till date.His miracle working power is still available.You can trust Him for your own miracle tonight!9. He is the God of Redemption - V.10.Redemption has to do with "losing."Sin made every man a slave.Christ however came to redeem us with His precious blood - Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14.10. He is the God of Success - V.11.Read this verse from other translations and discover other meaning of Success? Do you know that you can enjoy success in every area of your endeavor? Josh. 1:8; Gen.39:1-5, 19 - 23; 1 Sam. 18:5, 12-16; 2 Sam. 8:5-6, 14.By the power in the word of God and in the name of the LORD, I decree that our covenant with failure is eternally broken from tonight.Remember that success is not the same as happiness, fame, wealth, etc.To be successful is to have made a discovery of your destiny and fulfill it.The Lord shall give us success in the month of February.It is our month of success - all round success
Amongst many things that God has called our attention to, last Sunday’s message confronted us with the truth that the man whom God will use must guard his walls and gates with passion and purpose, and also, build enduring consecrations. The journey to supernatural help is neither accidental nor coincidental. We cannot afford to be passive and illusive about our spiritual deterioration and of those around us and expect God to rise in our defence. Nehemiah took responsibility by acknowledging his sin and that of his people and was decisive in rebuilding the broken walls and the burnt gates. The Lord surely provided supernatural help in achieving this mission.There is no doubt that the Lord is consistently willing to rescue His people from their helpless estate, gather them from their despondent locations and bring them to Himself. However, certain conditions must be met to experience supernatural help, about which the Scriptures have never left us in doubt. For every promise of God, man has a crucial part to play. Consider these:“IF you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19).“IF My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).“IF anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).“SEEK first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).Supernatural help is not based on wishful thinking or just positive confession. God’s terms and conditions apply.NEHEMIAH’S PERSPECTIVE (Nehemiah 1:7-8)Nehemiah did not view the colossal loss that his people suffered, which ‘climaxed’ with the broken wall and burnt gate, as happening due to the military might of their surrounding enemies. But rather, as God’s judgement on the Jews for their sinfulness. It was a spiritual problem! It was a sin problem! Nehemiah confronted the reality.Nehemiah in his prayer recalled what God promised Moses (Deuteronomy 30:1-5), but this prayer, as reiterated by Nehemiah, reveals why God’s chosen people found themselves in exile. The people of God were guilty of the sin of unfaithfulness (which according to dictionary meaning is ‘not being true to a promise or vow’). This is confirmed in 1 Chronicles 9:1.The sin of unfaithfulness is still prevalent in the church today. Many are unfaithful to God. Anyone who is unfaithful to God is capable of any form of evil. Unfaithfulness to God manifests in:Unfaithfulness to His Word (1 Chronicles 10:13)Unfaithfulness in giving (Malachi 3:8-12)Unfaithfulness in our stewardship (Proverbs 11:6)Unfaithfulness to our vows (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)Unfaithfulness to the great commission (Matthew 28:19)Because of this sin of unfaithfulness, the Lord scattered them and gave them into the hand of their enemies (Ezekiel 39:23). It is a very devastating experience to be scattered by God, because, when God scatters an individual or a people, they remain shattered and battered, no one else under the sun can gather them. The only remedy for a sinful lifestyle is genuine repentance (Proverbs 28:13). If you don’t deal with your sin, your sin will deal with you (Numbers 32:23).CONDITIONS FOR SUPERNATURAL HELP (Nehemiah 1:9)‘But’, ‘if’ are conditional words that show there is still hope. After we have dealt with the sin issue, God expects us to take certain steps to show our readiness for supernatural help. We must:1) Return to the Lord.God is calling us to return to Him. Return to daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He is calling us to return to commitment, service and ministry.2) Keep His Commandments (1 John 5:3).God is calling us to give careful attention to His instruction.3) Do them.God is calling us to act on His
Just like Nehemiah, Isaiah also experienced Supernatural Help.Isaiah is reported to be the son of Amoz. His name means "the Lord Saves" or "Salvation of Jehovah."Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of four kings in Judah viz. Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.The book of Isaiah is one of the deep prophetic books in the Bible.Perhaps the reason for this depth is because of the Supernatural Help Isaiah experienced in this chapter.Isaiah's life and ministry would have been short lived if not for God's help that he received in this chapter.May God also come to our help tonight.May God do for us this night beyond our prayers and imagination.May the Lord send us His help to us personally and collectively this night. Timely Revelation of the Ever living and Everlasting Helper - V. 1-4; Isa. 40:28ff God is the Ever living and Everlasting One.Unlike great kings like Uzziah who are subject to dying.He is the One that created all things - including death.He holds death and hell in His hands –It was as if it was over for Isaiah when Uzziah died.But in the midst of grief and uncertainty, God in His mercy revealed Himself to Isaiah.This divine revelation marked a turning point in his life and ministry.He never remained the same again!A closer look at V.1-4 reveals some of the things Isaiah saw that day. Appropriate Response to God's Revelation - V.5-6a.A major problem with most men, including believers is that we are often careless with Divine moments.Many of us have had several God given moments that would have turned our lives around positively.Unfortunately we have not maximized such moments due to carnality, carelessness and being myopia.Isaiah maximized the God moment God gave to him.He did not allow pride and Mr Self to debar Him from missing Supernatural Help.He acknowledged His sinful state and things turn around. A Personal Experience of God's Help - V.6-7Once Isaiah responded appropriately to God.The next thing God did was to give Him His Supernatural HelpGod sent one of the Seraphs to deal with the hindrance that would have rendered Isaiah useless for life - V.6-7; Zech. 3:1ff.You can't go far in God and with God with sin in your life.Until you deal with the issue of guilt occasioned by certain sins in your life, you cannot prosper - Prov. 28:13.Look at all Isaiah could do before God sent help to Him - Chapter 1-5But immediately Supernatural Help came on His life, everything changedHis perspective changed.His ministry changed.May things begin to change for you and I for good from tonight. Opportunity for Divine Reinstatement & Fresh Commissioning - V.8-9ffI pray none of us would be replaced by God.I pray that the Lord would not declare your seat/position vacant while you are still aliveSin and its guilt would have destroyed Isaiah's destiny except for God's interventionIt was only after God has removed the problem of sin in his life that he was able to hear that his position was already been advertised - V.8.He quickly reapplied and God reinstated him.He will reinstate some people here tonight and commission them for a fresh and enduring ministry.Beloved, it is a night of Supernatural Help. Are you going to receive God's help for your life?Will you be willing to maximize this God given moment? Or do you want to waste this opportunity again?May the Holy Spirit help you to respond appropriately to the Lord tonight.May the Lord send His angel in your direction tonight.May the Holy Spirit help our infirmities tonight.May we all have a personal testimony of God's help.
Last Sunday, God continued His transformation agenda with us as He reminded us through His servant that ‘He is speaking’. Today, the Lord will be drawing our attention to the subject of the one He can use. God in all His rebuilding process is always looking for men. Men He can trust! He is in constant search for holy, trusted, dependable, separated and consecrated men. More urgently, in the face of the devastating attack on the Christian faith and the worrisome Lukewarmness that is breathing down on some believers, God is in dire need of men that He can use- ‘A boy’ who can give up his five loaves of bread and 2 fishes so that men will not faint for hunger (John 6:1-13), ‘fisherman’ who will surrender his boat for the work of missions and evangelism (Luke 5:1-3), ‘simon’ who will bear the cross of Christ to Golgotha (Matthew 27:32) and ‘Isaiah’ of our days who will say ‘here am I, send me’ (Isaiah 6:8). These men are people like you and I.Never in history has God being in dearth of someone to use. This does not mean that some have not disappointed neither is it to say that all men at all times have been available for God to use. The truth of the matter is, God can replace men (even if it is with a stone) to accomplish His purpose.INQUIRY v2Whenever God sets out to use a man, He begins by stirring in the man a holy passion, unquenchable thirst for transformation, genuine hunger for change and unquantifiable drive for sanity and sanctity. That is evidenced in verse 2 of our text.Nehemiah asked of the J________ and inquired about J__________________.Nehemiah was absolutely in no mood for felicitation and exchange of pleasantries. His heart was on fire, God was not allowing him rest, and he wanted to know the state of affairs of his people and the city of God. He was deeply concerned about the condition of the Jews who had survived the devastation and dastardly attack of the enemies. He passionately wanted to know what has become of them after the captivity. Did they survive the aftermath of the captivity? Was the trauma too much for them to bear? What about the holy city, Jerusalem? What is the condition of the city?INFORMATION v3aThe man that God will use will stay with Lord, pant after God until deep insight, dire information, definite instruction and direct inspiration are released.Nehemiah asked to know and it was said to him; the R_____________ who A_____ left are in great A___________ & R____________.The inquiry into the condition of Jerusalem and the Jews opened up a myriad of issues. Oh, it was thought that the people had escaped and were free. Maybe it would have been safe for Nehemiah to have concluded that the people have moved on and life has gradually become better. Their worst days were over, they have probably started finding a new course for their lives, but that was not to be. They have been plunged into a devastation that has refused to leave them. It is sad to know that even after the escape, God’s people still were trapped in a web of affliction and reproach.ISSUE v3bThe man that God will use must guide his walls and gates with passion and purpose and build enduring consecrations.The WallThe wall of Jerusalem is B____________ down and the gates B_____________ with fire.The eye-catching wall of Jerusalem has broken down. That historic and iconic wall of about 4,018meters in length, with an average height of 12meters (39.37ft) and an average thickness of 2.5meters (8.2ft). A wall that chariots ride on! How did it happen? Who could have orchestrated such a devastation on a wall, considered impregnable?Oh, how the mighty have fallen (2 Samuel 1:25-27)? Who could have imagined that such a monumental wall can be broken? The same way so many of us have fallen from our very lofty position. Men who we never thought will ever commit sin, have started romancing sin.These walls are the strong consecrations that we have created over time to keep us
The task of transformation is not a plaything. Whether at personal, family, church or national level, transformation could be very challenging.It therefore requires help beyond the natural most of the time.We have all been called to be agents of transformation, and would therefore need to trust God to face the challenge of this calling. May the God of heaven help us to fulfill this call of God on our lives.1. Who are the exiles referred to in V.4? 2 Kg. 25:1-12.2. Read 2 Chr. 36:15-21; Neh. 1:7; and explain the cause of the exile? 3. How does the Bible describe the situation of "those who survived the exile"? V.4; Neh. 2:17-18.4. What do "walls" and "gates" symbolize?5. Mention some of the "walls" and "gates" that need to be rebuilt in our lives, families and church?6. Do you think there is any hope for the rebuilding of these walls? Jer. 32:26- 27; Ezek. 37:1-3; Lk. 1:37.There is no doubt that our calling into the work of transformation is challenging.
The Bible says in Psalm 62:11 “Once God has spoken, twice have I heard, that power belongs to God.” In Hebrews 1:1, the Bible records it that “in the past, God spoke to our forefathers...” In this year 2018, God is speaking to us through His Holy Spirit, through His prophets and through the scripture. If you have been attending the Bible study and listening to the messages on Sundays, you will agree with me that the Lord has been actively speaking to us. As a reminder, God has spoken to us expressly this year in this assembly that this is “Our Year of Supernatural Help.” Many respectable men and women of God have said many things to their members about what the year has in store for them but for us as a congregation, the word of God through His servant is that help will also come to us. The messages and Bible studies from the book of Nehemiah have opened us to the wonders of God’s deeds through the man called Nehemiah who might not have been heard except for God’s hand and help which he enjoyed. This morning, the Lord is speaking to us from the meaning of the names of the two people mentioned in verse 1 of our text. The names are Hacaliah and Nehemiah. The name “Hacaliah” means “wait for Jehovah.” In the semantic culture, names have significance and are suggestive of many things such as Events surrounding the conception and birth of the person in question, The experiences of the parents, The expectation of the parents of the child God’s direct instructions to the parents of the child.It is possible that the parents of Hacaliah waited before they had him or they gave him that name as an instruction for him to always wait on God. One thing is clear from that name and that is, it pays to wait on God. The message to someone this morning is to wait on God. Whatever waiting on God means to you, wait for God. In Isaiah 40:31, the Bible assures us that “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength....” That is the only way you can be supernaturally helped.The second name is “Nehemiah” which has been our focus in recent times. The name Nehemiah means “Jehovah Comforts” or “God will comfort.” Simply put, God is the only one that has the ultimate power to bring comfort and succour. The name Nehemiah is suggestive of many things-Hacaliah (the one who waits on Jehovah) and his wife may have gone through some unpleasant experience or experiences. So after waiting on the Lord, He, God, intervened and they declared “Jehovah comforts.” In Yoruba it means Oluwatumininu. Hausa, Ibo, Efik, Idoma etc can also interpret the name in their respective languages.When Jehovah God intervenes, He brings comfort. His move always brings comfort, so are His help and acts. That situation you are going through is a platform for you to experience supernatural help and comfort in your life. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 sheds more light on some reasons why you are going through that situation at the moment.1.God is saying what you are going through is a platform for you to experience His comfort- verse 42.God is saying that, that present experience in your life is a platform for you to learn how to comfort others. In other words, to learn how to minister comfort to others-v.4b. Nehemiah was in exile, yet he showed concern to others. Be a minister of comfort and learn to put a smile on people’s face. 3.God is saying that through that situation, you must trust in Christ for only in Him can comfort overflow- v.54.God is saying that what you are going through is a platform for you to develop the virtues of patience and perseverance- v.65.God is saying that in this year of Supernatural Help, you do not rely on yourself, but on Him-v.96.God is saying that you should trust Him to deliver and help you-v107.God is saying it is a platform to pray and experience mutual intercession-v11a.8.God is saying that the experience you are going through is to prepare you for corporate praise and celebration.v.11bWho
The scripture is filled with accounts of individuals, families, groups, communities/ nations who received Supernatural Help. One notable example is Nehemiah. We shall be studying the book penned after his name all through the year 2018. May the Lord keep us alive as we do so. Don't miss any Midweek or Sunday service. If you cannot be in church for one reason or the other, follow us online to catch up. Nobody should be left behind. A. _________________to the Book of Nehemiah The book of Ezra and Nehemiah is reported to appear as one book in the Hebrew manuscript. Authorship: Initially said to be written together with the book of Ezra. However, a good part of the work is considered to be "an autobiography of Nehemiah’s” call to rebuild the wall. Possible Date of Writing is 430BC It is the last historical book in the Old Testament Nehemiah's name means “the Lord Comforts.” Nehemiah was the king's cupbearer in Susa the palace. That was a very sensitive job that is given to only trusted individuals. His job was to taste the wine before offering it to the king. He was a younger contemporary of Ezra. While Ezra was a priest and Bible teacher, Nehemiah was a politician and builder. Ezra's goal was the purification of the people of Jerusalem. Nehemiah's goal was the protection of the people of Jerusalem. Both Ezra and Nehemiah were shown kindness by Artaxerxes the grandson of Xerxes who is reported to be the step son of Esther. B. Notable Verses in the Book of __________________ Neh. 1:3; 2:17-20; 4:6, 20; 5:19; 6:9, 16; 7:64; 8:10; 10:39c; 13:31. C. Nehemiah and ________________ Help It is amazing how God works in and through us when we allow Him. Nehemiah sensed the call of God to go and rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem and fix its gates. The Lord gave him the necessary backing. He was able to rebuild and finish this great project within 52 days. This is a miracle considering that the walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed and left in ruins for over a hundred and fifty years. This was SUPERNATURAL HELP! Even the enemies of God's people attested to it that the completion of that project could only have been by the help of God - Neh. 6:16. D. Don't Settle For _______Less Than Supernatural Help In 2018. Natural help won't be sufficient - Psa. 60:11-12 Vain is the help of man. Cursed is he that puts his trust in man Jer. 17:5-8 Preternatural help would land you in greater trouble - 1 Sam. 1 28: 4 - 9. Supernatural help is the deal - Isa. 41:10-14; Neh.6:16; Ps.121.
Sermon PodcastTopic: Getting The Best of The Coming YearAnchor Scripture: Isaiah 43: 18-19
Just as we have destiny helpers, there are also destiny killers. Destiny helpers are those that God has assigned and ordained to help you fulfill your destiny. On the other hand, destiny killers are those assigned and ordained by Satan from the pit of hell to intimidate, oppose, distract, disturb, and sometimes kill in order to stop people from fulfilling their destiny.The truth of the scripture is that God is eternally committed to helping us fulfill our destiny no matter the gang up of spiritual darkness – Prov. 21:30. Our God is greater and stronger than the gates of hell. With God on our side we are sure of total victory over Satan and all his destiny killers.From our text, Herod a type of the devil was furious when he heard about the birth of the destiny child born to save the entire world. Consequently he instructed that all boys two years and under within Bethlehem and its vicinity should be killed – V.16. The result was communal weeping and mourning for all in Bethlehem.Miraculously, the baby Jesus was however protected and preserved. Though a baby, God gave him victory over his destiny killers. That same God has done it for you before and will continue to do it for you till you fulfill God’s purpose for your existence.Victory Over Destiny Killers Demands the following;1. Angelic Intervention – V.13, 19-20.The Bible refers to angels as ministering spirits sent to minister to the heirs of salvation (believers). They are therefore not meant to be worshipped by man. Angels are powerful spiritual beings – Isa. 38:36. They are divine commandoes that do the biddings of the Almighty God. Before wicked Herod could conceive and carry out his wicked plan against the baby Jesus, God intervened by sending one of His angels to alert Joseph in a dream. Thank God Joseph promptly obeyed the instruction from the angel and baby Jesus was delivered from untimely death and was thus able to fulfill His destiny.May the Almighty God continue to send His angels to deliver us from every destiny killer. May none of us die before his or her time.2.Maximizing the gift of God – V. 13, 19.Dream is one of God’s gifts to man. A dream offers man the opportunity to see into the realm of the Spirit. We all must maximize the opportunity that this gift presents as Joseph did. Do not joke with your dream experiences. Reject every negative dream and pray into being every positive dream. You need help if you don’t dream at all or you hardly remember when you dream.3.Prompt obedience – V.14, 21.Joseph was prompt in his obedience to the instructions from the angel. He did not waste time ruminating or discussing with Mary. Thank God that her obedience paid off. Many of us here have suffered terribly because we disobeyed God’s instruction through dreams. Some of us are suffering the consequences of delayed obedience to God-given dreams. May the Lord have mercy on us. Please, learn to be prompt in your obedience to divine instruction from today and it will go well with you.4.Great patience – V.14 – 15.We were not told how long Joseph and Mary stayed with baby Jesus in Egypt. A close analysis suggests that it wasn’t less than two years. This suggests patience on the part of Joseph and Mary. They waited until God gave them another instruction through the angel. I encourage you to wait patiently for the Lord and you can be sure that God will grant you victory over all your destiny killers – Psa. 40:1-3.5.Faith in the word of God – V.15.No matter how long it takes, the word of God will be fulfilled – V.14b, 17. Joseph and Mary demonstrated faith in the word of God. This action helped baby Jesus escape destruction from the hand of wicked Herod. Don’t ever give up on the word of God. It will surely come to pass. The Lord by His mercies has kept us alive despite the gang – up of destiny killers. He will continue to keep us for his glory and praise. The God who delivered David from the hand of King Saul his destiny killer w
POWER TO FULFILL YOUR PROPHETIC DESTINY LK. 1:26-46A Message Prepared and Delivered By Rev. 'Segun Adeleke, DMin., During the Church Worship Service On Dec. 24 at Ikoyi Baptist Church.So many people pass through this world without conceiving and giving birth to their destiny.I pray that you will not be one of them in Jesus name.It has been said that the cemetery is the richest place on earth. Why?Because so many potentials and giftings that were not used by majority of people lies buried there.I pray for you this morning that you will not die without giving birth to your destiny.I pray you will die ‘’empty’’ but very fulfilled.Mary the mother of our Lord was a human being like us.Don't mind that some people have made her into a deity.The only reason why God send Mary into this world was just to give birth to the Savior of the World.And thank God Mary lived to fulfill the purpose for which God sent her to this world. Dearly beloved, you are not born into this world to do so many things on earth.I pray that the Lord will help you to discover your God-given purpose.More importantly, I pray that the Lord will help you as He helped Mary to give birth to your purpose as well.May the Lord help you to give birth to that reason for which you were born.TO GIVE BIRTH TO YOUR DESTINY – You need the ff:1.The Power of Purity- V.25 - 27.Virginity in our passage stands for purity.While other girls of Mary's age may have become something else in town, Mary kept herself pure.While other men may have been secretly sleeping with their fiancées, Mary kept herself pure.She wouldn't allow few moments of earthly and carnal pleasure rub her of fulfilling destiny.She maintained her consecration.If you will fulfill your destiny, be committed to a life of purity.I charge young men and women; boys and girls; even older men and women under the sound of my voice, to a life of purity.If you want to fulfill your destiny, RUN AWAY FROM SIN.Avoid all types of sexual immorality - it will destroy your life and destiny.Fornication and adultery will cut your destiny shut - Judges 16:21-22.Avoid all kinds of sinful associations.Flee from alcohol and all kinds of things that will defile your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.STOP TOUCHING UNCLEAN THINGS - Isa.52:11.If you have gotten yourself into any type of sexual immorality, you should repent of it now and God will abundantly pardon you - Isa. 1:182.The Power of God's Favor - V.28 - 33You need the favor of God to fulfill your destiny.God's favor will open unimaginable doors to you.One favor from God will deliver you from a lifetime of tremendous laborThe Psalmist informs us that our fathers possessed the Promised Land not by their strength – Psa. 44:1ff. Mary enjoyed an uncommon level of favor.Even the Angel Gabriel attested to this when he said: Greetings – Hail!Gabriel the archangel had to salute herWe also need a higher level of God's favor to be able to fulfill our destinies.The kind of favor that will attract Angelic visitationsThe kind of favor that will mobilize resources to help you to accomplish your life purpose without struggling.Many of us are used to a life of struggle.You must not struggle for everything in life.You have never known what it means to enjoy God's favour.May the Lord release on you today the oil of God's favor in the mighty name of Jesus.May the Lord give us a fresh dosage of His favor as a Christmas gift in the mighty name of Jesus.3.The Power of the Holy Spirit - V.34Fulfilling your destiny is a God-sized assignment.It is not what you can accomplish by your human strength and connection.You need the power of the Holy Spirit.Mary wondered how it would be that she would be able to fulfill God's purpose for her life without going through the natural process of childbi
Every believer is called to live a high impact life. We are to be the "salt of the earth and the light of the world". Christ's followers have a huge potential to positively impact the world. A major reason why the world is suffering today is because the followers of Christ have failed to live up to divine expectation. We are not just being a disappointment to God, but to the waiting world. May the Lord by His mercy visit the church again and cause our light to shine brightly - Proverbs 13: 9Who are the people Christ called the “salt of the earth and the light of the world “?How do you think the disciples felt on hearing that they are the “salt of the earth and the light of the world?”Can you remind us of what we said was the scope of the disciples’ influence?What is the main implication of the scope of our assignment?Mention some examples from the Bible of people who lived a high impact lifeWhat are some specific ways you think you can impact your world?What are some specific ways Ikoyi Baptist Church can impact our world?It is a great privilege God has given us to be His image bearers. We must daily appreciate God for this and at the same time live to fulfil the purpose for which He has made us His image bearers. Our world is wallowing in gross darkness. We need to arise and shine and positively impact our waiting world for our Lord and Christ.
Sermon PodcastTopic: FULFILLING YOUR PROPHETIC DESTINY 3Anchor Scripture: Matthew 5: 13-16
The Church that Christ came to establish with His blood was not intended to be weak and beggarly. Rather, she is established to take the battle to the enemies' gate and defeat them. The church is the most powerful institution on the earth. She is endowed and endued with sufficient grace and power to impact the world positively. It is important that every local church and her leaders possess this kind of understanding. It is one right step to becoming what God has ordained
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: Fulfilling Your Prophetic Destiny (Part 2)Anchor Scripture: There is no doubt that Ikoyi Baptist Preacher: Rev Dr. Olusegun AdelekeChurch was established to fulfill a prophetic destiny. It can be deduced from her motto and logo that IBC is ordained...
Sermon PodcastTopic: Fulfilling Your Prophetic DestinyAnchor Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16
Sermon Podcast(Wednesday Mid-Week Service)Bible Study Topic: The Ministry of The Holy Spirit in The Life of The ChurchAnchor Scripture: Acts 1: 1-11
Death and life are two realities. Satan’s juicy offer is a sure way to eternal death. While God’s great love through Jesus Christ guarantees eternal life. Satan may try by all means to torture and keep believers in captivity, but he does not have the final say because he has lost the battle. Those who embrace God’s love have been made alive together with Christ, regardless of Satan’s intrigues. The choice is now yours. “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Surviving till this day is no mean feat. It would not have been possible without the help of God. This day is very important because it has been set apart for us to reflect on all the Lord has done for us as individuals and as a congregation. So much has happened in our lives, so much has happened in our nation, so much has happened in our families; some were pleasant while others were not too pleasant, yet the Lord has brought us thus far. Today, the Lord is calling you to give Him praise for all that He has done in your life, family and Church. Do not hesitate to sing and dance to the Lord and also make sure you bring Him a worthy offering in appreciation of all that He has done. May your thanksgiving be acceptable in His sight this day and always in Jesus name. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Annual Revival Topic: Jubilee by The Holy SpiritAnchor Scripture: Luke 4: 14 - 21Preacher: Rev. Dr Rotimi Taiwo
Annual RevivalTopic: Jubilee and Command For Our Restoration Anchor Scripture: Leviticus 25: 8-14Preacher: Rev. Dr. Rotimi Taiwo
Annual RevivalTopic: Jubilee and RestAnchor Scripture: Leviticus 25: 8-12Preacher: Rev Dr. Rotimi Taiwo
Annual Revival 2017Topic: JUBILEE AND RELEASEAnchor Scripture: Leviticus 25: 1-10Preacher: Rev. Dr. Rotimi Taiwo
Praise to God for another season of revival. It is a week we have prayed for and looked forward to. As we prepare to hear God through His servant this week, each of us must do all that is necessary in order to be blessed and to have tangible testimonies before and after this week of revival. You must:-Prayerfully prepare to see God-Open your heart to receive from Him no matter how simple or hard the messages come.-Be ready to make every necessary amend.-Produce fruits that befit repentance- Matthew 3:8.God is faithful and has promised to be with His people when they come with expectations as they gather in His name (Jeremiah 29:13). Do not let this week go without receiving something specific from the Lord. It is your season, it is your time, so arise and be blessed.
Annual Revival Program - Day 1Topic: Jubilee and RepentanceAnchor Scripture: Leviticus 25: 8-17
Most organizations have standards and core values by which they want to be known and related with. Anyone who does not meet with these standards cannot have a deal with such organizations. The God we serve also has expectations from us His children anytime we gather to worship Him or offer our service to Him. We must renew our understanding of God and follow His requirements for us so that our worship can be acceptable in His sight. He wants us to worship Him with clean hands and pure hearts, that way, our worship will be meaningful and acceptable. Today, God is calling each of us to examine ourselves in the light of His Word and see if we really are offering acceptable worship to Him or not. He is offering you an opportunity to make amends wherever you have failed and make yourself pleasing to Him. May the Lord bless and accept your worship and service in His vineyard in Jesus name.
FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLEFACTS ABOUT THE BIBLEDeuteronomy the bible is pure an infallible Joshua 1 vs. 8-9The word of God is flawless, proverbs 30vs 5The word of God is a complete edition Revelation 22 vs. 184.There is authority in the bible psalm 119 vs. 89 5. The word of God is sufficient for our needs, 2 Timothy 3 vs. 16-17The word of God will always work Isaiah 55vs 11WHY IS IT THAT CHRISTIANS DO NOT READ THE BIBLE?LazinessLack of disciplineLack of understandingThe work of the devilREASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE BIBLEYou will know the word of God 2Timothy 2vs 14-15The bible will save you from fake doctrines and you will not be deceived Ephesian 4vs 12-14It will make u wise psalm 119vs97-104, John 17v s17The word of God renews our mind Romans 12vs 12The word of God is a powerful weapon to confront the devil, Hebrews 4vs 12The bible is our source of life Deuteronomy 32vs 46The secret to success and prosperity Joshua 1vs 8WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THE WORD OF GOD ?Read itHave it always in your mouth proverbs 18 vs. 20 and 21Meditate on it. psalm 119 vs. 9 - 11Obey him James 1vs 22How to develop interest in the word of GodAsk the Holy Spirit to help you translate the word of GodSet time to study the wordDevelop a bible reading planMemorize the wordEnrol in discipleship, Ephesian 4vs 12-14
At such a time like this, many people are more conscious of the dangers around them than they are of the security they enjoy. This is because it seems there is danger everywhere, even in the so called advanced countries and despite advancement in technological gadgets. We are in the ember months and some have labeled the months of October to December as months that bring with them some evil occurrences. As a child of God, you need to understand the God you serve and the assurances you have in His word. You need to know how great He is and how committed He is to your security and well being. God is all that you need to stay safe and as long as you obey His words, know that all will be well.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceSermon PodcastBible Study Topic: Understanding The Way of Peace (Making the Most of Your Time)Anchor Scripture: Luke 19: 41-44
Sermon PodcastTopic: Preparing for A New ShepherdAnchor SCripture: Jeremiah 3:15, Hebrews 13: 15Preacher: Rev. Mrs Bosun Adegboyega
Highlights1. God is sovereign2. God is Omniscient3. God is Holy4. God is eternal 5. God is OmnipotentScriptural References Psalm 135: 6 Isaiah 43: 3 Job 42: 2 1 Chronicles 29: 11 Daniel 2: 9-10, 28 Jon 34: 21 - 23 Jeremiah 1: 5 Luke 12: 7Psalm 147: 5 Deut. 29: 29 Isaiah 6: 1-3 Psalm 24: 3-4 Psalm 99: 9 2Cor. 5: 21 Revelations 4: 8 Romans 4: 22- 24 Genesis 15: 13-14 Exodus 12: 40-41 Psalm 119: 89 Hebrews 11: 11 Luke 1: 37 Jude 1: 25 Psalm 33: 9 Isaiah 44: 24 Matthew 10: 28 Jeremiah 32: 27
Topic: Preparing For A new ShepherdAnchor Scripture: Jeremiah 3:15; Ephesians 4:11-12Preacher: Rev. Mrs Bosun AdegboyegaWhat the church must do as we expect theA church after God's heart must be open-heartedIt is a church that is unitedWe must be loyal to the new pastor and his staffWe must be FAT (Faithful, Available and Teachable)
Sermon PodcastWednesday MidWeek ServiceBible Study Topic: FACING AND OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AND TRIALSAnchor Scripture: Matthew 14: 22-32
It is not your location or circumstances around you that determines your sense of peace, security and fulfillment in life but your personal knowledge and relationship with God. As long as your focus is on Jesus, His majesty and His love for you, and as long as you can trust Him absolutely with your life and future, what is happening in or around you does not really matter. Once you can view your situation from God's perspective, your heart will definitely be saturated with His peace like a river and the consciousness of His presence will produce in you the inner strength to stand strong in every situation and courage to press on in life.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: Experiencing The Glory Of GodAnchor Scripture: Exodus 33: 1- 23Preacher: Rev Olufemi Babalola
Your willingness to follow Jesus and do the will of God demands for a radical change and complete departure from your past. Until you have been completely weaned from your Old Self with all its practices you cannot enter into the fullness of life and receive your inheritance in Christ Jesus. Partial obedience or selective obedience is no obedience at all. John Sammis, the Hymn Writer says:But we never can prove the delights of his loveUntil all on the altar we lay;For the favor He shows, and the joy He bestows,Are for them who will trust and obey.Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,Or we will walk by His side in the way;What He says we will do, where He sends we will go,Never fear, only trust and obey.Until you have done exactly what He tells you, exactly the way He commanded you to do it, you cannot see the wonders of His Word.
It is a fashionable thing to be a Christian today. Several people profess to be Christ followers and every street in our major towns and cities are saturated with Churches of different types and sizes. Yet, new forms of evil and sins abound everywhere. What account for this contradiction is the lifestyle of many who only claim to be Christians but are very much unlike Christ. They appear saintly on Sundays but week days they manifest their true inward being full of corruption, greed and all forms of uncleaness. The obvious incongruity is due to lack of biblical understanding of what it means to be a Christian. The true and authentic Christians are those who have crucified their Old Self with Jesus and have become new creation. Though, they still live in the world but they are dead to the flesh and its passions, dead to sin and its consequences, dead to the world and its attractions and dead to death itself. Life for them now is only an opportunity for Christ who lives in them to manifest Himself in them and through them.
Wednesday Bible StudyTopic: The Incorruptible CrownAnchor Scripture: 1Corinthinas 9: 24-27For more podcasts/sermons, please visit podcast.ikoyibaptistchurch.org
SERVANTS OF GODWe are confronted daily with the realities of our commitment to Kingdom matters. As we look closely at the demand that heavily falls on us, we are constantly reminded that we are Servants of God, and as Servants of God certain spiritual expectations are required of us. God is always looking for men He can call servants – Men of God who understands the place of the God of men. Men that are called out of the gathering of men in order to equip them for the Salvation of men. Can God count on you?
UNDERSTAND YOUR CALLINGYour calling as Christ's follower supersede your vocation. All Christians, regardless of our chosen careers have been called from the rest of the world to serve as Priests unto our God. This special service comes with the rare privilege of direct access to God's most holy presence. Therefore, wherever God places you by virtue of your vocation, field of study, job or any office you occupy per time, you are there to represent God to the people and intercede before God on their behalf. Beware of self-centered preoccupations of life. Serve according to your calling and impact eternity.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: IDOLATRYAnchor Scripture: Exodus 20: 1-12, Corinthians 10: 1-12,14
WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?The pursuit of wisdom, knowledge, success, accomplishments, wealth and every other plan apart from God is futile quest and adventure that leads to meaningless existence. Every other person or thing except the living God is as uncertain and unreliable as the shadow or spider’s web. Leaning on them only leads to shame, humiliations, frustrations, disappointments and defeat in life.The greatest goal to pursue in life is to know Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, and the greatest achievement in life is to do the will of God. Knowing Jesus intimately and experiencing Him personally is a treasure that is far greater than any human achievement and it is the key to happiness, fulfilment and lasting peace both in the present life and the one to come. Therefore, seek to live each day for the purposes and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ while you are still alive in the present world.
Sermon PodcastTopic: End Time Lessons From The Ten VirginsAnchor Scripture: Matthew 25: 1- 13
GOD IS IN CONTROLI have a plaque in my office that reads thus – “God is in control.” Some of us have better wall decorations that read better than what I have to reassure us that God is with us; therefore, we should not be afraid. Yet we fear. I want to encourage you to take the bull by the horn and never allow fear to rob you of your joy and great achievements for this year and beyond. Let me start by saying that most of what you fear or worry about is unnecessary. Most of us worry unnecessarily about too many things. Some of us ever search for what to worry about. The trouble is that much of what we worry about is baseless and simply not there. A scientific statistic was published about worry and the finding will make one wonder how we let the devil in to torment us. It is said that 40% of all things we worry about never come to pass. 30% of all our worries involve past decisions that cannot be changed. We worry about how we just prayed publicly whether we did well or not; how we answered question during our Sunday Bible Study; how the sermon we preached was perceived by the congregation etc. 12% of our worries focus on criticism from others who spoke about us (because they felt inferior). 10% are related to our health which gets worse when we worry. Only 8% of our worries could be described as “legitimate” causes for concern. In other words, fewer that one problem in every ten that we worry about is a real concern. All the others are things that we can learn to see differently or eliminate.As Christians, to worry even on one problem out of ten is considered too many. We have Jesus who is the answer to all our problems. Remember the song “What a friend we have in Jesus.” All the stanzas are deep with messages but see the third stanza that says:Are we weak and heavy laden,Cumbered with a load of care?Precious Saviour, still our refugeTake it to the Lord in PrayerDo your friends despise, forsake thee?Take it to the Lord in prayer In His arms He‘ll take and shield theeThou wilt find a solace there.
1.Stay away from Anger, it hurts only You.2.If you are right, then there is no need to get angry.3.If you are wrong, then you don’t have any right to get angry.4.Patience with family is LOVE.5.Patience with others is RESPECT.6.Patience with self is CONFIDENCE.7.Patience with GOD is FAITH.8.Never think hard about the Past, it brings Tears.9.Don’t think more about the Future, it brings Fear.10.Live this Moment with a Smile, it brings cheer.11.Every test in our life makes us bitter or better.12.Every problem comes to Make us or Break us.13.The choice is ours whether we become victims or victors.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: The Power of The CROSSAnchor Scripture: 1 Cor 1: 17-24
BE PROFITABLEDo you know that today, Sunday July 2, 2017 is exactly the beginning of the 2nd half of the year 2017? What can you pinpoint as your achievements from January till now? Can you call it time of usefulness and fulfillment or you just merely existed marking the time? Perhaps you achieved a lot personally for yourself but the question is what did you achieve for the Lord?I got this tip and I felt encouraged by it as to how to avoid distractions that will not make you hit your goals in 2017.1)Stop spending time with people who do not add value to your life. Same can be said for attending meetings that add no value to your life.2)Stop making excuses for not wanting to press on in tackling what you think is impossible.3)Try to write down your goals for each day and evaluate yourself after the day is over.4)Spend less time on social media when you should be getting work done.5)Believe that God is taking you somewhere. When the thought of “I CAN’T” comes in, say “I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me.” You will then see that affirmative words like “I am worthy,” “I am capable,” “I deserve a better life,” “I have what it takes to make it happen,” will occupy your mind.At the end of the year, I pray that you will testify that “I made it, I am better than I was when I started.”July to December will be profitable months for you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God is altogether righteous and will not condone unrighteousness from any of His creations. God, therefore, hates anything that is described as despicable or abominable. Through the Bible, we see that God hates idolatry, sexual Immorality, injustice, hypocrisy, deceit, pride and evil thoughts (Proverbs 6:16-19). In general, God hates wicked people. Psalm 11:5 is very blunt about God’s hatred for wicked people. “The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” He hates wicked people from the depth of His being. Proverbs 15 is a good passage to read to learn more about God’s hatred for the wicked.God hates the wicked because their act of wickedness is a rebellion against Him. Hatred towards other human beings by any man is hatred towards God (Matt. 25:31ff). The golden rule says “Do unto others what you will like them do unto you” (Luke 6:31). God is the defender of the powerless. God will not overlook the atrocity anyone may do against His elect- the church. As wicked people turn their fury against God’s people by mocking them, denying them their right and putting them to death. God’s hatred will be rekindled against them and will manifest in His time.God’s hatred of wicked people does not negate any of His character as a sinless and righteous God.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: Self EsteemAnchor Scripture: Psalm 8: 1-9, Romans 9:20-21Bible References: Psalm 8:1-9, Romans 9:20-21, Romans 12:3, Galatians 6:3-4, Ephesians 2:10 Psalm 139:13-16, Exodus 4: 10-11, John 1:42, Romans 1: 18-32
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: Judgement DayAnchor Scripture: Matthew 25: 31-34Excerpts:Judgement means to separate, to make a distinction between, to estimate, to call to account, to bring under question, to bring to trial, to sentenceWhy we need to teach Judgement The day of wrath will come we need to live in the fear of God To stir up affection for the lost So that we might present the gospel as it isBasis for which people will be judged By the level of light they have By their conscience By the Word of God Standard of divine impartiality By the measure of light or truth revealed to us By their treatment of children of God By the law By the gospel
1.To walk with God can mean that a person has subdued the prevailing power of hate in his heart by allowing the Holy Spirit to take control.2.It can mean that the person has been reconciled to God by living a life of obedience to God. 3.It can mean that the person has a continuous communion and fellowship with God through the Holy Spirit indwelling us.4.It can imply our making progress in our spiritual life.Generally, walking with God requires a progressive motion. We can make it happen with our daily determination and allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control through-a)Studying God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:16)b)Having Personal Prayer (Matthew 26:41)c)Meditating on God’s Word and God’s goodness (Phil. 4:8)d)Always being aware of God’s providential care (Matt. 10:29)e)Living a life of obedience (Luke 1:6)f)Making a godly association (Psalm 1)FOOD FOR THOUGHTMore important than starting well in our walkwith God is to finish well
Wednesday Bible StudyAnchor Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16: 23- 31 | John 4: 21 - 26"Quote: Worship is an expression of praise from the depth of our hearts towards a GOD who is understood through His WORD"
Topic: SOARING LIKE EAGLES FOR GREAT EXPLOITSAnchor Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31Preacher: Rev. Dr. Ademola Ishola
Topic: Principles of AdvancementAnchor Scripture: Matthew 11:16; 11:12Preacher: Rev Olusegun Omotosho
PROGRAM FOCUS:• To articulate the Role of the Church in Remaking A Great Nation• To sensitize the Church on Nation Building Requirement as a Tool for Evangelism
PROGRAM FOCUS: • To articulate the Role of the Church in Remaking A Great Nation • To sensitize the Church on Nation Building Requirement as a Tool for Evangelism
PROGRAM FOCUS: • To articulate the Role of the Church in Remaking A Great Nation • To sensitize the Church on Nation Building Requirement as a Tool for Evangelism
PROGRAM FOCUS:• To articulate the Role of the Church in Remaking A Great Nation• To sensitize the Church on Nation Building Requirement as a Tool for Evangelism
JUBILEE PRAYER POINTS:1.Pray that God will free you of all encumbrances so that you will participate fully in the jubilee celebration.2.Pray for safe trips for all our invited guests and ourselves to each program.3.Pray for a meaningful, soul-enriching activity every day.4.Pray that we will not experience any tragedy among our membership.5.Pray for a fair weather throughout the week of celebration.6.Thank God for His provision for our Jubilee Celebration.7.Pray that God will be honored throughout the activities of the week.8.Pray that God will give us His vision for the next fifty years to come.9.Pray that the power of darkness will not penetrate IBC at any moment.10.Pray for God’s love to cover us and for love to be the binding force as we unite to do God’s work.
BE THANKFUL TO MOTHERMany of us know that mothers are special present from God. On this Mother’s Day, let us show our love, care, affection, respect and appreciation as we commemorate one of the important days in their lives. At least once in a year, make your mother feel loved and well appreciated. Think deeply about it, when was the last time you said “thank you” to your mother for everything she has done? When was the last time you told her that you love her?Let us admit it, we seldom appreciate the efforts and deeds of our mother. We seldom see the value of our mother even though she is always around for us, in good times and bad times. On this Mother’s Day, although we will not be able to repay all her kindness, let us make this day extra special for her. Let your mother know how thankful and grateful you are having her around.Happy Mother’s Day
On May 28, 2017. Ikoyi Baptist Church will celebrate its Godden Jubilee. In preparation for the celebrations which will commence on Sunday, May 21, we shall need your utmost cooperation to support the Church in cash and in kind. The Jubilee Committee is working hard and we plead with you to cooperate with them if they come to solicit for your assistance.It is our earnest prayer that Ikoyi Baptist Church will continue to be obedient to the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ as we continue to exist. May the light of Jesus shine brighter from this corner of Lateef Jakande Avenue in Ikoyi to the uttermost part of the earth. Amen.
The trials came with sorrows and woe.I felt like asking, "Where did God go?"For days, my skies were weary and gray,But I cast my cares upon God one day.I welcomed Jesus to shine in my life.He took away my heartaches and strife.His light dispelled darkness and fearAnd replaced it with joy and cheer.To God, I must take my burdens and care,Casting them down and leaving them there.God drives the shadows and sadness away.He fills my heart with peace each day.My friend, when trials come your way,Get on your knees and earnestly pray.Cast your cares on God, the strong towerAnd trust in His holy, infinite power.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Studdy Topic: LOYALTYAnchor Scripture: Genesis 22: 1 - 14
Those two words are warning words for us to listen to and follow. It is more than just paying attention. It connotes acting on the instruction. The tornado warning sounded in a city and people started taking cover in protected places except an elderly man who said that he would dare the tornado since noting happened many times the warning sounded. He sat at his porch to watch the tornado go by. By this time, the tornado destroyed all the houses on its path including the elderly man’s house and his lifeless body was discovered several yards away from where he sat.So, take heed that you are not mere listener of God’s word, deceiving yourselves but be doers of the word. God Bless us all as we heed to the warning.
Wednesday Mid-Week Service Bible Study Topic: CONTENDING FOR THE FAITHAnchor Scripture: Jude 1: 1-4
JESUS ROSE TO LIFEIf Jesus be dead, in the grip of a tombThere’d be nothing for us but fear and doomLife would be sad, with no way to copeDeath would reign all, without any hopeIf Jesus be dead, in the grip of a tombWe’ll have no future, only dark and gloomNo life after death, no eternity in sight,No hope, no joy, no Saviour, no light.But…. (And aren’t we thankful there is a “but”)But thanks be to God, Jesus rose to life.The debt all paid, though sin was rifeHis body lay in the tomb three daysThen up from the grave his life was raised.Yes, thanks be to God, Jesus rose to life.He conquered death, all sin and strife.To those who believe, from death set freeWith hope, with joy, their Saviour to see by John R. Cross.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: HateAnchor Scriptures: Matthew 5: 21- 26. 1John 2: 8-11, 1 John 4: 19-21
Palm Sunday is a Christian celebration that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The Feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in the four canonical gospels.On that day, the King of Kings came as a lowly servant on a donkey, not as conquering King in royal robes but on the clothes of the poor and humble. Jesus has not come to force His kingdom on us as earthly kings would but by love, grace and mercy, and His own sacrifice for His people. His kingdom is not of armies and splendor but of lowliness and servant hood. He conquers not nations but hearts and minds of men which brings to anyone who follows Him a lasting peace with God.Let Jesus ride in your heart to reign in peace and love. By this you too will exhibit the same qualities of peace and love to show forth Jesus in your world.
Romans 11:33 exclaims, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgment, and his paths beyond tracing out.”Few of the attributes of God are:God is Omniscient – He knows all things (Isaiah 40:28; Job 37:16; Psalm 147:5; I John 3:20; Rom. 11:33).God is Omnipotent – He has no limitations (Job 42:2; Gen. 18:14).God is Omnipresent - He is present in all places at all times. Heaven is His throne and the earth His foot-stool (Prov. 15:3; Jer. 23:23-24; Psalm 139:7-12).God is Immutable – God is unchanging (Psalm 90:2; Malachi 3:6).God is Holy – No evil found in Him (Psalm 99:9; Habakkuk 1:13).God is Love – This sums up His mercy, grace and loving kindness (I John 4; John 3:16; Rom 5:8).Our God is unlike the gods of other religions who are unpredictable. Though we can predict God yet he is incomprehensible. What an awesome God we serve.
Ikoyi Baptist Church Tehila Night 2017At the centre of Jubilee is deliberate Praise, Thanksgiving and Celebration... Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. (Psalm 67: 3)
Ikoyi Baptist Church Tehila Night 2017At the centre of Jubilee is deliberate Praise, Thanksgiving and Celebration... Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. (Psalm 67: 3)
Every Christian is expected to be an evangelist. If we are not making any effort to witness for Christ, we need to check our relationship with God. You cannot love God as you are supposed to and still be ashamed to proclaim His love to other people. In Matt. 28:19, every believer is commanded to go make more disciples.Interestingly, many of us Baptists believe in the “Priesthood of all believers” but we only claim to be when it is convenient. However, you do not have to be a preacher by profession in order to be a “reacher” of others who are lost in sin. Just open up to the Holy Spirit to direct you to someone He has prepared to hear the gospel message. Rather than sit down and be judgmental about the non-Christians going to hell fire, do all you can to save yourself from blood guilt (Ezekiel 3:18; 33:8). Whoever wants any human being to go to hell is worse than the Pharisees and Jesus said “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:20).Be obedient to your Lord so as not to get disqualified before Him on the judgment day (Luke 9:26).
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: Understanding Eternity and Pursuing it with Utmost Priority (2)Anchor Scripture: Matthew 18: 1- 9
FIGHT AND RUN TO WINChristian walk is likened unto a warfare. We war against principalities and powers of darkness. Satan and his angels are always in opposition with God and those who are for God to live a holy life. We are warned in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that Satan is the god of this world preventing the glory of Christ who is the image of God to shine in this world. Eph. 6:12 tells us that we are at warfare, wrestling against Satan. I Tim. 6:12 says we should fight the good fight of faith and 2 Cor. 10:4 tells us that the weapons we fight with are not of this world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.Christian walk is likened to running a race. In I Cor. 9:24, we are challenged not to just run but to run to win. Obstacles may be on the way but we are to persevere by looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith. Paul declared that there is a victory crown from the King of heaven for all Christians who will run to finish well. So like Paul, let us run our earthly race to win and to please our King.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: Understanding Eternity and Pursuing it With Utmost PriorityAnchor Scripture: Matthew 18:1-10
Salvation is by faith in Christ Jesus alone. That is God’s provision for mankind.1.You must accept it (Acts 4:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:7).2.You must confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9).3.You are not perfect but forgiven (Romans 8:1).4.You are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).5.Eternal life is yours (John 3:16).6.You must keep living for Christ (Col. 1:23).7.You need to go to church regularly (Heb. 10:25).8.You need to pray daily (I Thess. 5:17).9.You need to read (study) the Bible daily (Ps. 119:105).10.You need to be baptized in water (Acts 2:38).11.You need to live a holy life (Col. 1:10; 2 Cor. 7:1).12.You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).13.You need to tell others about Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:32-33).
PRAYER POINTS FOR THE SPECIAL WEEK OF PRAYERi.Pray that the Pastoral Search Committee will have the mind of Christ and agree.ii.Pray for wisdom to choose the right person.iii.Pray for discipline as a Search Committee and as individuals.iv.Pray that the pastor that will love God and love the church will be found as the church searches.v.Pray that the church will pray without ceasing.vi.Pray for patience that will commit to waiting for God’s timing.vii.Pray against any satanic influence in the selection of the church pastor.viii.Pray that God will help the church to accept His choice.ix.Pray that nothing will be done by the Committee and the church to incur the wrath of God.x.Pray that all things will go well from the beginning to the end to the glory of God
Wednesday Bible StudyTopic: Understanding AdoptionAnchor Scripture: Romans 8: 1-15Preacher: Rev. Ikechukwu Onyegbu
A LETTER TO THE CONGREGATION OF GOD’S PEOPLEDear People of God,We give thanks to God for keeping His church alive and well for the past 50years. The church has never lacked anything good these many years of our existence. In this year of our Golden Jubilee, we are operating on the highest budget ever, yet there are so many needs of the church that our budget cannot provide for.We believe that we face these needs because God knows that we can meet all of them by trusting in Him, by looking only inwardly and never to go out to solicit.Part of the list of things we are trusting God for, to do this year 2017 are:1.Expenditure for the Church’s 50years Anniversary Celebration.2.Purchase of land for Maitama Baptist Church (N40m is donated already)3.Purchase of CCTV4.Decking of the old sanctuary.5.Purchase of a Coaster Bus.6.Improvement of our acoustics in the new sanctuary.7.Repairs of leakage in the new sanctuary.Any money spent for God’s kingdom will not go unrewarded. As your Pastor, I appeal to you to open up your resources and give generously for this noble cause.God bless you dearly.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: Judging OthersAnchor Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5, James 4:11,12
A disciple is defined as a learner, a pupil, one who comes to be taught. A disciple listens to the lecturer with attention and intention and the intention is to apply what has been learned.The requirements of a Disciple are to:Love God more than anyone else (Luke 14:26). Your love for God should be so strong that your love for others is like hatred by comparison.Deny self and take up the cross daily (Luke 9:23). The greatest barrier to discovering all that God has for us is our preoccupation with self. We have become self-obsessed human beings due to sin. Bearing our cross means dying to oneself.Forsake all that you have (Luke 14:33). To forsake means to surrender your claim to; to say goodbye to. Like Peter, Andrew, James and John, we must abandon our boat full of fish to become fishers of men (Luke 5:10).Count the cost (Luke 14:28). This point is illustrated in Luke 9:57-58. Salvation is free but discipleship costs everything we possess.Benefits:Matthew 6:33 sums it all up – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.”
CHANGE IS INEVITABLEChange is difficult for many people to accept even though we all say that the only constant thing in life is change. In order to accept change in our life experiences, we need to deal with it positively. Here are few tips that will help us deal with change:1.Do not be hypocritical about your feelings but express it in a polite way.2.Understand that change is an inevitable part of life and it can bring new opportunities for better development.3.Do not let change take negative control of your emotions. Try to have a positive perspective of what is happening.4.Recognize your strength and ability to adapt. Instead of resisting change, try to look on the bright side because God knows what is going on.What we set out to do in the area of Evangelism and Missions will change the ways we do things in our Men’s Missionary Union and Women’s Missionary Union. I pray that oppositions will not come because “we are going to deviate from the Baptist Convention system”. Ikoyi Baptist Church is a Bible believing church so let the Bible guide us and not the traditions of men.God bless you all
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible StudyTopic: Keeping Peace In Bad SituationsAnchor Scripture: Phil 4: 4-94 reasons why we suffer troublewe suffer from trouble because of our sins (e.g., King Saul, Judas)Because of other peoples' sins (e.g. Jesus)The Sin of Adam and Eve which we inheritedTemptation from Satan (e.g. Job)
MISSIONSToday, we take some time to focus on something that I believe is at the very core, or heartbeat of God, and it is Missions. Without any doubt in my mind, I believe that Missions is something God loves, and His stamp of approval is all over it! You see, I believe that before we can ever give our prayerful and financial support to something, we must first believe in it’s importance and value, and in the church, we must believe in it’s Biblical importance and value. As Christians, we have the mandate to propagate the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We see the Mandate clearly spelt out by Jesus Christ Himself, just after His Resurrection, and a few days before He ascended to Heaven in Matthew 28:18-20.For Missions to ever become important to us, we must ask the Holy Spirit to somehow open our eyes and heart to the immediacy of the need! The Bible says in John 4:35 “Do you not say, ’Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” The need is NOW!Jesus never asked us to “keep His good news to ourselves”, but to do our best until the whole world has heard the Good News that a Savior has come to bring not only life for the now, but also life for the hereafter! May God help us all in Jesus name. Amen.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: Laying Aside Every Weight & SinAnchor Scripture: Hebrews 12: 1-4Preacher: Rev. Adekunle Oyeniyi
LABOURING TO ENTER GOD’S RESTEveryone was born with a purpose. We all were created to answer a question! Whether we live our life to fulfill that purpose or not is subject to the various decisions we make in life. We have our opportunities and as such, we must labour! While it is day we will continue to labour, for the night cometh when men shall enter their rest. So, all that our hand finds to do, let's do them so that we will not be adjudged to have fallen short like some fell. How faithful we are at our duty posts will determine how we enter into our rest. God has reserved for us all a day of rest, while we are here we celebrate our 'Jubilee Rest' but we must never forget the 'Promised Rest' that God has assured us all.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceBible Study Topic: The Salt & Light of the WorldAnchor Scripture: Matthew 5: 1-16
BIBLICAL EVIDENCE OF GOD’S FAVOUR1.Joseph- God’s favour brought him supernatural protection and promotion2.The Hebrew Children- God gave them REST- “The Restoration of Everything Satan Took as they left Egypt for the Promised Land.3.David, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego: i) God honoured them in the meals of their adversariesii) God caused rules and regulations, laws and policies to be changed to their advantage even in foreign land.4.Esther: God gave her power for prominence and preferential treatment before a foreign king to save His people.5.Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat: God won battles for them without their lifting a finger in war against mighty opponents.6.David- God gave him recognition though he was the least among his brethren to become king.7.Paul- God called him, who was “the chief of sinners” to suffer for His cause among the Jews and Gentiles.Who can be favored? Read Psalm 5:12, Psalm 37:23-26; 2Cor. 5:21-22.
THAT YOU MAY KNOWMany of us may be knowing for the first time that Ikoyi Baptist Church was started under the leadership of our beloved father, Rev. J. A. Sholeye, who was sent by First Baptist Church, Broad Street, Lagos to begin an English speaking Baptist Church in Ikoyi. The first service was held on May 28, 1967 at Aunty Ayo Primary School, Ikoyi. This year, we shall celebrate 50 years of our existence and thus we have our theme for this year “Our Year of Jubilee”Jubilee connotes many good things. The Lord instructed the Jews to celebrate Jubilee every 50 years. 49 years they shall work and then on the 50th year, they shall sound the trumpet to mark the beginning of Jubilee for the whole year. During the year of Jubilee, all slaves and prisoners must be set free. All lands taken from their owners as surety for loans must be returned to their original owners. Families would be reunited. Lands will be left fallow-nothing must be planted and nothing must be harvested from it that year. The people are to rest from their labours for the whole year and Jubilee should be a year of celebration or rejoicing.We too, by God’s grace, will celebrate God’s mercy this year as a church. That is why we sing:This is my year of JubileeI shall return to my possessionI proclaim liberty in all my ways‘Tis my year of Jubilee.Happy celebration church!
We are breaking out a new calendar and it is also a time of new beginning for services onto our King of kings and Lord of lords as we ask for grace for a renewal of strength and purpose from our God through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am not asking or suggesting for members to make resolutions to serve the Lord because resolutions can be a wishful thinking that may soon be forgotten. What I plead for is a renewal of our minds to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us to the level of being a vessel unto honour to our God and King.Let our fresh start be a commitment to attend worship services regularly. Do not be malnourished spiritually this year when God has prepared a table of feasting before you in your church. Rise up and count for God in your attendance of Mid-week service, Sunday service with Sunday school and services of prayer and fasting. Also have a fresh start in Evangelism Outreach of the Church and personal outreach in your area of work and residence. We must herald the good news of Jesus more than ever before.As we celebrate our year of jubilee, we prophecy the rest of Christ upon our lives. God will restore everything satan took from us and deliver us from the snares of the fowler in Jesus’ name. None of us shall be in want of anything good in the mighty name of Jesus.I must pass a caution to all members that the fear of God should rule us in all our endeavours that we may be blessed anywhere and everywhere we go. May 2017 be a jubilee for you in all ramifications. Amen.
WHAT EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST POSSESSThere is a misconception about who a Christian is in our world today. Some believe that they were born a Christian because their parents are Christians. Some claim that they are Christians because they have been baptized and are partaking in the Lord’s Supper in any church they go for worship. Some even think that the moment they stepped foot in a church building, they automatically become Christians.The label “Christian” was first used in Antioch when the unbelievers saw the followers of Christ living a different life-style that was worth emulation. The meaning of “Christian” is “little Christ” or “one who lives a noble, good and Christ-like life.” It will be rightly used to describe a believer in Christ who is truly living a life patterned after Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.There are 3 essential virtues that Christ has called us to possess if we are truly determined to be like Him. These are:1.A life of sacrifice: Luke 9:232.A life of humility: Matthew 11:28-303.A life of obedience: Philippians 2:8As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, let us bear in mind that our celebration can only have meaning and be blessed by God only if we are determined to be His true ambassadors in the world (2 Corinthians 5:20).
WHEN JESUS CAMEOver 2000 years ago, the Saviour of the world was born. At His birth, the world was asleep only some shepherds, according to the Bible, were awake keeping their flock by night. While heaven came down to celebrate the birth of the King of heaven and earth, the people He came to save were snoring.Jesus Christ was born of a virgin of no popularity. He was from little town of no significance; Nazareth. He was given birth to in a dirty and smelly place; a manger. Trained by a Carpenter who did not care to send Him to school (which He did not need anyway). Became a grown man who had no where to lay His head. Went about doing good and yet was hated for it. Died the death of a criminal on the rugged cross. Buried in a borrowed tomb (He only had need of it for few hours). No wonder the Bible says He did it all for me. He became poor that I might be rich. He emptied Himself of all but love that I might gain everything with Him in glory. What a Saviour! What a Lord! My Jesus I love You!
Wednesday Mid-Week Service Topic: Knowing The Holy Spirit Anchor Scripture: John 16: 5 - 16
GOD CARES ABOUT YOUGod is our maker. He knows our beginning and our end too. He knows when a baby is formed in the womb of his mother. He has a purpose for each one of us before our birth. If we walk with Him, His purpose for our lives will be easily fulfilled. More so, God knows what we are going through. He is aware of our struggles even the ones not known to us. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God’s thoughts and plans for us are of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope. God does not do evil because He is a good God all the time. Another important matter to bear in mind is that God does not only know our struggles, He wants to do something about it if we will only let Him. I Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you.” Remember, everything that we have is given by God. The Bible says that “if God did not spare His only begotten Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things” (Rom. 8:32). Look unto Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of your faith and it shall be well with you both in life and in death.
OUR MANDATEThe church is God’s relief to a sick and hurting world both physically and spiritually. All through the Bible, we see that God is deeply concerned with the poor, widows and the orphans. He is the God who always rescues the needy. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ came to the world and was highly compassionate with the sick and needy. Jesus was mindful to meet the greatest need of mankind which is the spiritual depravity of man.As Jesus did while in this world so He sent His church to do. The preaching of the Word is very important but the task of helping the poor and needy must not be neglected. Obviously the church cannot adequately do this task alone. We must, however, be found doing the will of God no matter how little we are capable. We must live out “pure religion”. We must be involved in this task because God commanded it, Jesus exemplified it and we need to be connected to it. The world is watching to see who truly loves others enough to take action. God is counting on His church and we must not disappoint Him. James 1:27 says “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”Ikoyi Baptist Church members, let us rise to this challenge because people are hurting in Nigeria today.
KEY THINGS TO NOTE IN TAKING THE LORD’S SUPPERBefore a person takes the Lord’s Supper, he/she should be baptized as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord made plain the order of these two ordinances in the Great Commission. 1)We are to make disciples2)Baptize them 3)Teach them to observe all that He has commanded us to do (Matthew 28:19-20).The first ordinance, which is baptism, is a one-time event while the second ordinance, which is the Lord’s Supper, is a repeated event throughout our Christian walk. This order was followed by the early church as those who believed in the preaching of the apostles were baptized and then continued steadfastly in the breaking of the bread (Acts 2:41-42).How often should we take the Lord’s Supper?There is no limit set by Jesus Christ. In 1 Cor. 11:26. Paul expressed that “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” The number of times should be determined by the local assembly and it must be done with all seriousness of purpose.
BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD1.It is right to give thanks to God.2.Thanksgiving will change our view of life from being selfish to being generous to others.3.Thanksgiving will magnify the blessings of the Lord in our lives.4.Thanksgiving is a unique way of witnessing to those around us that our God is dependable.5.It instills in us the truth of God’s indescribable love and mercy.6.It gives us a sense of contentment so that we think less of what we do not have.AVOID THE FOLLOWING WHEN GIVING THANKS TO GOD:Don’t disregard God’s worth in the scheme of things.Don’t give to God without your heart being in it.Don’t give hastily, put some thought into it.Don’t give out of necessity or grudgingly, give cheerfully.Don’t give out of competition with others, give out of love and appreciation.Don’t forget that you will get a harvest of what you sow be it good or bad.
Annual Revival Program Day 5Topic: God's Provision For Continuous LibertySermon: Ezekiel 36: 24-28
Annual Revival Program Day 4Topic: Experiencing Total Liberty In ChristScripture Reading: Jeremiah 50: 33,34 | Luke 4: 18,19
Annual Revival ProgramDay 3Topic: Acceptable Service:An Antidote to a life of captivityAnchor Scripture: Exodus 4: 22-23 | Deuteronomy 28: 47-48
Annual Revival Program Day 2Topic: Obedience - A Covenant Obligation for The Enjoyment of Total LibertyAnchor Scripture: Leviticus : 25: 18-19
Annual Revival ProgramTopic: God's Provision in Christ For Total LibertyAnchor Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6
The merciful God we serve has His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). God can use the most “unlikely people” as far as man’s judgment is concerned. It will be amazing for you to know that despite your being rejected by the people around you, God can still single you out for His purpose. Many of us pastors have stories of woes and rebellions to tell before God called us into His vineyard. A case in hand is that of Evangelist Franklin Graham who did everything possible to run away from God. His rebellion began in childhood and his parents, the great evangelist and wife, Billy Graham and Ruth, never sat Franklin down to lecture him about sin. Franklin smoked cigarettes, went on high-speed chase with the police that almost sent him to jail, got drunk of liquor, in short, Franklin did almost anything to have his own identity from being a Graham.At 22, Franklin was sick and tired of making a mess out of his life. It was in a hotel room in Jerusalem that Franklin underwent his conversion while he was reading the Bible and got to I Cor. 10:13. He went on mission trip to Korea, Indonesia, India, Singapore and Nepal and Franklin found his calling on that trip. At age 40, a prodigal has totally returned home working for the Lord.Your case maybe worse than Franklin’s but if you will only surrender to Him, He will cleanse you and use you mightily for His glory too.
True freedom is found only in Jesus and the freedom offered by Jesus is spiritual. His freedom supersedes political revolution. Your circumstance does not influence the freedom Jesus can offer you. Saul was on his way to Damascus when he met his freedom in Jesus. The prodigal son was in a pig pen. The Samaritan woman met her freedom at the well. A thief was on the cross of execution when Jesus set him free. The first hindrance to consider is IGNORANCE: whoever lacks the knowledge of Jesus Christ is “living in darkness” and Jesus came to give us light. Those in Christ shall not stumble because the light shines for them. The second is ARROGANCE: In John 8:33, the Pharisees showed their arrogance by saying to Jesus that they have never been slaves to anyone. As at the time they spoke, they were under the Roman slavery apart from the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians. By this they rejected Jesus’ offer of freedom.Another hindrance is RELUCTANCE: Some believe in the teachings of Jesus but are not willing to respond to His truth. Unwillingness to accept Jesus will debar anyone of God’s kingdom.The last hindrance we shall consider is COMPLACENY: Many Christians are content with “mercy drops” freedom when “showers of blessings” are available. Let us stop dragging our feet but run to embrace what Christ has to offer. He alone can give us abundant freedom. Amen.
I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.John 10.9. He opens my mind and heart to LISTEN and LEARN; to receive eternal and full life that only exists in Christ Jesus!Stott presents the concept of mindless Christianity, that is a result of the church emphasizing its practices in 3 distinct areas:the RITUAL, in which religious ceremony is an end in itselfSOCIAL ACTIVISM, in which the only concern are matters connected to hunger and violence; and…EXPERIENCE, in which the metaphysical experience tramplesThis outlook is ideal for mindless Christianity to flourish. Because they cannot understand biblical truth and Christian thought, they lack the character and mind of Christ.The church must be committed to “LISTENING AND LEARNING” the Christian message.“When you create a culture to deal with these painful issues of trust openly, with sincerity and honesty, you begin to see two things. First, you will hear more and more stories of wounds like this that once remained hidden and festering. But you'll also hear increasing numbers of stories of God's healing work as people are brought into the light.” John Burke - No Perfect People Allowed
Topic: Christians Attitude in WorshipText: John 4:23-24IntroductionIt is often said that “Our attitude determines our altitude”. It doesn’t matter how talented, skilful, educated a man is, if he has wrong attitude, he cannot go far. A definition says, ATTITUDE is a manner of showing one’s inward thoughts and feelings.“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Attitude is our action. It is how we respond to our environment.Cain & AbelGenesis 4:3-5, shows us that our attitude cannot be separated from our person, “And the Lord respected Abel and his offering” (v.5).Attitude of JesusYour attitude should be the same as that of Jesus…. (Philippians 2:5-8). When we have the wrong attitude towards worship, our worship becomes unacceptable to God.From the passage we read (John 4:24);God has expectations as far as worship is concerned (v.23)His expectations must be strictly adhered to (v.24) if our worship will be acceptableWhat is Worship?Looking at the etymology of the word “Worship”, it comes from two old English words “Weorth”, which means “worth” and “scipe” or “ship,” which means shape or quality. Friendship- quality of being a friend, Kingship- quality of being a king. So, Worth-ship is the quality of having worth or of being worthy.Worship means to declare worth or attribute worth.What is Christian Worship?Some Misconceptions Worship is the same as musicWorship is a moodWorship is confined to a placeWorship is a Response (Genesis 22:1-5)Christian Worship is our total response to who God has revealed Himself to be. •God initiates worship•Worship demands obedience•Worship is a journeyWorship is a Lifestyle (Romans 12:1)Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (NIV)So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him (Message)•Worship should not be a Sunday, Sunday experience but Sunday to Sunday experience.Worship is Active (1 Peter 2:9)But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.•In both Hebrew and Greek, worship is a verb—involves actions: barak (bow, to knee), hala (to shout, praise), proskuneo (fall down to kiss the ground), latreo (render service)In worship, we declare the praise (worth) of God through singing, clapping, shouting, kneeling, silence…..•Worship is both a personal (private) and Community (Congregational) experience.Attitudes of True Worshippers1.PREPARATIONa)Spiritual preparationPsalm 24:3-4Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?Or who may stand in His holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,Nor sworn deceitfully.b)Physical preparation2.REVERENCE Ecclesiastes 5:1-2Be careful about going to the Temple. It is better to go there to learn than to offer sacrifices like foolish people who don't know right from wrong. 2 Think before you speak, and don't make any rash promises to God. He is in heaven and you are on earth, so don't say any more than you have to (GNT)3.THANKFULNESSPsalm 100:4Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him. Worship Him (Message)4.FAITHHebrew 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (NKJV)5.HUMILITYGod presence d
A fatal form of recession that can happen to any nation or individual is not economic recession but spiritual recession. God does not measure our present spiritual state by our past spiritual activities or what we have accomplished for Him. A believer’s relationship with the Lord is not a function of ‘past tense’ but a matter of ‘present continuous tense’. The question now is, have you made any significant progress in your spiritual life so far this year? Or you have diminuendo—on spiritual recession? What specific testimony do you have about the Lord’s work in your life, pertaining to your PSG (Personal Spiritual Growth) in the last six months? With the help of God, you can still end this year on a note of victory, if you will surrender to Him.
“The Lord is my shepherd” as we often recite is a confession of our complete trust in the Lord by expressing our complete dependence in His abilities to take care of us. As a matter of fact, it is an indication of our total commitment to His leadership, guidance, providence and direction. The sheep is open to attack unless it is secured by the guidance of a shepherd. The shepherd knows what is good for the sheep, all that is required of the sheep is just to follow.
God is always looking out for people He can depend on and find trust worthy to entrust the riches of His grace into their care. He is in constant search of ready men (not ready made men) that He can equip and use. For everyone that will come into God’s service there are specific demands that are necessary and fundamental for us to function in the King’s Court. There is a user’s manual that must be strictly adhered to if the machine will last, so if we must last in God’s hand then we must master His plan for our lives. Our challenge this morning is that as God’s workman we must deliberate pay attention to the demands placed on us as His servants, so that we can be qualified to continually offer to Him acceptable services in His vine yard.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: Hold Fast to Your ConfessionAnchor Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25
Marriage was not man’s idea, but God’s idea and it is the oldest institution on earth. In our world today, marital values are being eroded and many families are filled with tension. Everything that is happening today is a reflection of what has gone wrong in families.As Christians, we cannot pretend as if everything is alright. God is calling us to go back to the basics and seek His face so that He can lead us towards a peaceful Christian home. Jesus in any home makes a whole lot of difference, without Him leading and taking control, man’s efforts will amount to nothing
Flag off to the IBC Business & Career Fair 2016...Earlier this morning one of our ambassadors, Career Coach, Oyejoke Coker facilitated a very practical and insightful Workshop Session with IBC Youths on the topic "Employ-ability Skills". (podcast available soon)To participate in any of the upcoming workshop Sessions , please visit: http://www.ikoyibaptistchurch.org/bcfair2016/workshops/
Wednesday Bible StudyTopic: Fighting and Winning the Battles of LifeAnchor Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20
In life, self examination is needed so that one can check himself and make amends where necessary before people around us are given any chance to criticize us. If you were given the opportunity to give an account of your work for the Lord this year 2016 which is our “year of deliberate witnessing,” how well have you done? Let us bear in mind that the Bible enjoins us that each one of us will stand before the judgment throne to give account of our stewardship as to what we have done with our lives. (Romans 14:12). The Book of Ecclesiastes 12:14 even goes further that “God will bring every work into judgment including every secret thing, whether good or evil"
The Lord has laid upon us a vital ministry till He comes back to take us home. In John 21:15ff, Jesus entrusted the task of feeding His lambs, tending His sheep and feeding His sheep to us. We cannot do anything less if we are to show our obedience to our Lord and Saviour. Also in Matthew 28:18-20, the great commission makes us to realize that we must make disciples for Christ in all the world and His presence is promised us till the end of the age. Acts 1:8 likewise promised us the power needed for this great task and the Spirit of God is still with His church. We are to preach till Jesus comes back to take us or calls us home because of the following reasons:1.Many people are still without Christ in our world. We must continue to persuade them until the rapture takes place just like Noah did until the flood came and repentance was too late.2.Some are in the church but they are not truly saved. These are the lambs that must be fed to maturity. We must continue to disciple them.3.We are all human and have the tendency to forget simple instructions. We need to be reminded often and encouraged to follow on because it is those who are faithful to the end that will be saved.4.The life that we are given is not for pleasure but for God’s purpose to be fulfilled. So, remember that our lives are gifts from God and how we serve God with that life is our gift to God.Keep on preaching the word my brethren.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: SINAnchor Scripture: Romans 3: 23, Romans 6:23, Isaiah 59:1&2,
GIVING GOD WHAT IS RIGHT NOT WHAT IS LEFTIt is good we remind ourselves of God’s standard as we relate with Him especially during these hard times of austerity measures. God is still our provider and He always gives His children the good and perfect gifts (James 1:17). There is no gift that can be better than that which God has offered to the world when we did not deserve it in the person of Jesus, His only begotten son.In the Old Testament, the Psalmist expressed the wonderful gift of God to us (Ps 84:11) – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” But the greatest was given to mankind in the New Testament and Paul expressed it in Romans 8:32. “He who did not withhold or spare (even) His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all (other) things?”(Amplified version).It, therefore, behooves us to give God our best not our left over because He deserves nothing short of our best in whatever we want to render to Him.Scriptural passages that can help us are:Romans 12:1, Malachi 1:8, Matthew 22:37, John 14:21, Ecclesiastes 9:10, 2 Timothy 2:15, Galatians 6:9, Roman 12:11 and Ephesians 2:10.With man, the will to do this is tough. But Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Amen.
Wednesday Bible StudyTopic: Principles on Dressing as ChristiansAnchor Scripture: Deuteronomy 22: 5
The foremost responsibility of parents to their children is to be there for them and teach them basic godly values. Parents should not depend on the church, school or the community to do this for their children. Charity, they say, begins at home. It is not enough for parents to send their children to top ranking schools to become doctors, lawyers, engineers and even pastors. The formative years of every child must be taken responsibly by parents to lead the children into the way of their God. What are the important godly values parents should teach their children?1.Teach them FAITH. While children should learn how to trust their parents, parents should go beyond having their children have trust in them and should point them to the Lord Almighty who cannot fail and who is the provider of all good and perfect gifts and the sustainer of those who trust in Him.2.Teach them how to PRAY. “A Family that prays together stays together”. So teach your children to follow your example in leading a life of prayer and devotion. Having a family devotion and praying before meals will go a long way.3.Teach them COMPASSION. Beyond reaching our children justice and discipline, let us teach them how to forgive and how to care for the less privileged people by forgiving them and involving them in compassion projects as feeding the poor.Other values that are equally important are teaching them how to HUNGER FOR GOD’S WORD, INTEGRITY, HUMILITY, DILIGENCE, and RESPECT.May God help us to play our roles well as parents so that God may reward us mightily too.
There is a popular saying that prior preparation prevents poor performance. Another saying goes thus, ‘failure to plan is planning to fail’. I have seen the preparation people put in when they have an occasion to attend, I have observed the energy exerted to float a business and to the passion with which an idea is introduced in the market place. The preparation put into it all these are often so demanding because no one wants to fail and the average man wants to prevent poor performance. My challenge to us this morning is how are we preparing to meet our God? No matter how long we spend on this other side of eternity, some day we shall stand before the righteous judge to render to him the account of our activities here on earth. Are you prepared? What will your score card read? Would it guarantee you entrance into God’s kingdom? We must not live like people who do not have eternity in view. When God visits His church, prepare to meet Him!
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: This Grace In Which We StandAnchor Scripture: Romans 5: 1- 5
The most important interest of God is the saving of souls that are lost. It is disheartening to say the truth that many churches have neglected this concern of God to win souls. We run now after money and things that should be tools for the most important task. But after getting these tools, we forget about the main task and gloat in the machinery and not in the obedience of the word of the Master, Jesus.Matthew 28: 18-20 reads, ‘‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things what so ever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you even to the end of the age’’. This is the last word and testimony of the Chief Commander of the Church.Ikoyi Baptist Church must be more committed in Evangelizing our Jerusalem (our Catchment areas) and go beyond to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth. I know we cannot do this without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit leading IBC? I believe He is. What then is stopping us in ‘Power Evangelism’? Why are we timid in reaching out to our new neighbours living in the high rise buildings? People of God, I challenge you to uphold the commands of our Lord in obedience to this main task. We shall experience the ever presence of Jesus who is a covenant keeping God.Let us not only give and pray. We must go out too. Jesus Christ said, wait and receive the promised anointing of the Holy Spirit. But after the receiving, Jesus said ‘GO.’ Waiting will be dangerous because it is not in compliance with the agenda of the Holy Spirit. Let the Spirit move you in His direction. You will not only feel safe, but greatly fulfilled also. Let us GO, therefore, and make the kingdom of this earth the Kingdom of our GOD. Amen.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: JoyAnchor Scripture: Gal 5:22, 1Thess 5: 16, Nehemiah 8:10
The most important interest of God is the saving of souls that are lost. It is disheartening to say the truth that many churches have neglected this concern of God to win souls. We run now after money and things that should be tools for the most important task. But after getting these tools, we forget about the main task and gloat in the machinery and not in the obedience of the word of the Master, Jesus.Matthew 28: 18-20 reads, ‘‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things what so ever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you even to the end of the age’’. This is the last word and testimony of the Chief Commander of the Church.Ikoyi Baptist Church must be more committed in Evangelizing our Jerusalem (our Catchment areas) and go beyond to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth. I know we cannot do this without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit leading IBC? I believe He is. What then is stopping us in ‘Power Evangelism’? Why are we timid in reaching out to our new neighbours living in the high rise buildings? People of God, I challenge you to uphold the commands of our Lord in obedience to this main task. We shall experience the ever presence of Jesus who is a covenant keeping God.Let us not only give and pray. We must go out too. Jesus Christ said, wait and receive the promised anointing of the Holy Spirit. But after the receiving, Jesus said ‘GO.’ Waiting will be dangerous because it is not in compliance with the agenda of the Holy Spirit. Let the Spirit move you in His direction. You will not only feel safe, but greatly fulfilled also. Let us GO, therefore, and make the kingdom of this earth the Kingdom of our GOD. Amen.
Wednesday Bible StudyTopic: GRACE Anchor Scriptures: Rom. 1: 1- 6, Rom 4 15 - 17, 2Cor 12: 8- 9
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: The Christian and The Law of The LandAnchor Scripture: Romans 13: 1-7
Step 1: Do not depend on Yourself. Dependence on self will limit us because we are limited in everything – our strength, our wisdom, our finances, our lives. But God is limitless. Romans 11:33 tells us that God’s wisdom and knowledge are unsearchable and His judgment and paths are beyond tracing out. Step 2: Call Unto God Always. Many times we have not because we ask not. The Psalmist says in 55:17, “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress and He hears my voice.” God promised to give us when we ask from Him.Step 3: Put God First in Your Life. Verses 9-10 tell us to honor God with our wealth, with the first fruits of all our crops. The promise He gave is that our barns will be filled to overflowing and our vats will brim over with new wine.Step 4: Trust God because He Loves You. His love compels us to have confidence in Him. Know that though our earthly father and mother may forget and reject us, the Lord will not abandon us but He will receive us (Psalm 27:10).By the help of the Holy Spirit we can do these things if we can just surrender to His leading. Praise the Lord!
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: The Importance Of Good FoundationAnchor Scriptures: 1Cor 3:10-15, Luke 46:46 -49, 1Peter 2:5
When we consider God’s love towards us, we should stand amazed to ask why God should look at us and love us at all. Definitely, we do not deserve to be loved due to our rebellion and disobedience to God in countless ways and occasions. To sum up our state of heart, Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart of men is deceitful and desperately wicked. Who can understand it?” Sin has corrupted our lives to the point that only God in His mercy can forgive us.If God is just a loving God, we would have frustrated His lovingkindness. But God is love. Such love cannot be tainted or frustrated. Love is God and all that God does, He does out of love.God’s love is personal. Of the seven billion plus people in the world, God knows us individually and loves us personally. To know this profound love of God calls for reverence and absolute obedience to God. This aspect of God’s attribute distinguishes Christianity from other world religions because we claim John 3:16 as God’s purpose of sending His only begotten Son to die for us.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: The Christian's Attitude to the WorldAnchor Scripture: Matthew 5: 13-16 , John 17: 11-19
What Is A Dad?A dad is someone whowants to catch you before you fallbut instead picks you up,brushes you off,and let you try again.A dad is someone whowants to keep you from making mistakesbut instead let you find your own way,even though his heart breaks in silencewhen you get hurt.A dad is someone whoholds you when you cry,scolds you when you break the rulesshines with pride when you succeed,and has faith in you even when you fail. Author unknown
Topic: Relationship Between Servant & MasterAnchor Scripture: Ephesians 6: 5 - 91pet 2: 18- 21
When God calls to give us a task for the ministry, many, if not all, of us feel like running because we feel inadequate, unworthy and all together unqualified for the task. We are not alone. Even the Old Testament prophets felt so inadequate too. Each of us has good reason to feel unqualified because we all have our mistakes. However, our inadequacy is more than compensated by His adequacy.See Moses, when God called him from the fiery bush, Moses was eighty years old yet he felt very unqualified and inadequate. Moses gave so many excuses. In Exodus 3:11, Moses said “Who am I that I should go?” In Exodus 4:1 Moses said “But they won’t listen to me and they won’t believe me.” In Exodus 4:10, he said again “But I don’t speak good.”Despite the feeling of inadequacy that Moses felt, in the end God used Moses mightily. Through obedience to the call upon his life, he became one of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament. When God calls He knows what He sees in you and all your excuses are not adequate enough to justify our wanting to run away.Jeremiah expressed his inadequacy by telling God that he couldn’t speak well and that he was too young (Jer. 1:6), yet God persuaded him to answer His call. The truth is, your limitations and inadequacies cannot compare to the all sufficiency and ultra-adequacy of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, what is your calling? Where does God want you to serve? Obey to do His will and He will lead you.
The time of one’s youth can be frustrating and challenging too. In Genesis 8:21, God said, “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” and Paul in 2 Timothy 2:22 warned Timothy to “flee youthful lusts.”Youngsters are however, endowed with much energy and are very daring with heart filled with visions of the future. Such a period is the most valuable period to serve the Lord. Solomon in all his wisdom admonished the youth to “remember now your creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccl. 12:1).Examples of biblical youths to study are. Joseph who forgave those who wronged him said that his brothers meant what they did to him for evil but God used it for good and to preserve life. David was a man after God’s own heart. As a youth he exercises faith enough to kill Goliath. Josiah was a child when he became king and when he became a youth, he initiated a campaign to purge Judah of idolatry (2 Chronicles 34:1-3). Timothy was youth when he became Paul’s companion in his missionary work. At his tender age, Paul made him to be the leader of the church in Philippi. Youth can accomplish great and mighty things for Christ and His church. They should be entreated with serious responsibilities because they are valuable materials in the hands of Jesus.Let God use you mightily this week and beyond. Happy Youth Week!
Wednesday Bible StudyTopic: Relationship in The Family (Part 2)Anchor Scripture: Ephesians 6: 18- 21
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He had interaction with children. He treated the children with love and kindness and blessed them too. The most popular account of Jesus’ interaction with children is found in Mark 10, Luke 18 and Matthew 19. There, people brought little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but His disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw what was happening, Jesus was very angry with His disciples and He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” He then took them into His arms and placed His hands on them and blessed them.On some occasions, Jesus often presented children before His listening audience as an example of the type of faith adults are to have to enter into heaven. Jesus wants each of us to possess a childlike faith; that is, a pure, unassuming and humble faith is void of pretention or hypocrisy.Let us value our children as Jesus did. Let us serve them by evangelizing them, by educating them, by encouraging them and by showing them good examples by the way we live our lives.Happy Children’s Day!
All Night PrayerMay 27, 2016Topic: Soul Winning, A Charge To KeepAnchor Scripture: Mark 16: 15-16, Matthew 28:18-20
GIRD YOUR WORDA careless word may kindle strifeA cruel word may wreck a lifeA bitter word may hate instillA brutal word may smite and killA gracious word may smooth the wayA joyous word may light the dayA timely word may lesson stressA living word may heal and bless.-Author Unknown
Wednesday Bible StudyTopic: The Type of Relationship That Should Exist Among Us in ChurchAnchor Scripture: Romans 12: 9-21 | Eph 4: 13- 16
LET US DO THE RIGHT THINGIn order to understand the facts of this passage (Judges 20), we must read Chapter 19. Chapter 20 is a distortion of Chapter 19 because the Levite involved in this incident aroused the emotion of the people and made them give a jungle justice which brought about the bloodiest civil war between two brothers – the Israelites and the Benjamites. By manipulating the Israelites to avenge the injustice on his behalf, the Levite was able to unite them. But sadly, they were united for a cause that was based on lies and deception.We can learn a great deal of lessons from the passage. On the surface, we see deceit and deception at work. How dark is the heart of man seeking revenge? Judges Chapter 20 tells of a cruel and heartless man who manipulated his countrymen into taking revenge against his enemies for an act of violence which he has indirectly caused. The Levite also deceived himself of all responsibility for the death of his concubine. He hid the truth of him throwing his concubine out to the “perverse men of the city” (19:22, 25). Instead, the Levites blamed the “noblemen of Gibeah” entirely for her death.Children of God, it is easy to fall into the trap of deceit when our emotions are stirred. Tell a tale of injustice, mix it with a spice of lies and soon you will have a potent concoction for disaster. Sometimes in our pursuit for revenge, truth is compromised. Sometimes we struggle hard between what we believe in our hearts to be right and what we see as truth before our eyes. Sometimes knowing the truth hurts but it is always better than any distorted lies. As Christians we must be a community of truth seekers because we are followers of Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).
Anchor Scripture: HEBREWS 6:1-8INTRODUCTION-In this passage, the writer of the book of Hebrews tried to separate the boys from the men and the immature from the matured.He was trying to separate the elementary teaching from the teachings that the matured receive.You are a product of what you feed on, If you feed on milk, your strength will be limited but if you feed on meat your strength will increase.In the Church of God today, there are so many baby Christians, there are maturing Christians and also the matured Christians. THE COURSE OUTLINE OF ELEMENTRY TEACHINGS1.Repentance- Though some have been in Church for so long but they still need to be preached to like they have never heard the message about salvation. This is because their behaviour sometimes shows that sin is nothing to them. It does not matter how long you have been in Church or the number of discipleship programmes you have taken, there are some things you should not be found doing. But if you continue in this sin, it shows you are still a baby Christian. Teaching on repentance is for people living in sin and worldliness. QUESTION- What are the acts that lead to death? – Sin. The Bible says “the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23 Spiritual death often precedes physical death. 2.Faiths in God- Teaching about faith in God, believing God for miracles, trusting in Him for our needs are elementary teachings. A new couple will try to win the trust of one another in their early years of marriage. But if after 10 years they are still dealing with the issue of trust then they are babes in marriage. So also is our walk with the Lord; we must move on to the point where our faith and trust in God has grown and we have no alternative to God. 3.Cleansing Rite- The doctrine of holiness and sanctification. The books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are about the cleansing rites the children of Israel had to observe. In the New Testament, it is the teaching on holiness and sanctification. Some of us are still struggling with this. 4.The Laying on of Hands- Empowerment and consecration which are the things that many Christians are being carried away by. Some ministers go to any length to get power because that is what elementary Christians look for. 5.The resurrection of the dead- How, why, where are we going to spend our eternity. The question is have you settled your account with God and pass these courses. 6.Eternal Judgment- Babes in Christ still need to be convinced and taught about this when they are supposed to have grown into maturity and are familiar with these teachings. We need to reach them about Hebrews 9:27- “It is appointed unto man once to die and after death judgment. Revelation 20:12-14 says “Books will be opened...THE MATURE CHRISTIAN- verses 4-51.The enlightened- John 8:32-36- Those who have been set free from sin. (Spiritual maturity has nothing to do with age). They are those who have spiritual convictions; spiritual understanding and functional knowledge of the things of God. READ HEBREWS 5:11-14 note verse 14b “who by constant USE” not constant hearing. The word of God informs their decisions, interactions and everything they do. -May be a discipleship student, preacher etc and not use the word of God constantly.-We must know that we shall be judged by the word.-The enlightened are those who know what they believe, why they are in the church and in the denomination. -It is lack of spiritual enlightenment that some people become politicians in the church.-That is why many do acts of favouritism and eye service in the church. -The enlightened have been convicted about their sins. No one needs to tell them what to do and what not to do. -To some the church is a social club, a place where their needs are met. 2.They have tasted the heavenly gift. They who have operated and benefitted from the power of the Holy Spirit.-You experienced the power of prayer-HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERI
THANK GOD FOR OUR MOTHERS If life were without water, where would we be?If life were without mothers, there would be no you or me.We all need to take hold, of how precious life really is,and not to take for granted the gift of love and the ability to give.Thank you to God for creating us all.For giving us our mothers so we can stand proud and tallHumans are no accident, no mistake or errorWe sometimes live our lives in fear of this even to the point of terrorBut when the truth is told and recognized by all, God does not create rubbish.He knew what He was doing when He created me and youBut the best gift of all, is giving us loving, caring mothers who love us unconditionally through and throughNone of us are perfect, that includes ourselves and familyHold unto how precious we are and thank God for our mothers.
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceTopic: Being A Disciple Of ChristAnchor Scripture: Luke 14: 26- 35, Matthew 10: 16 - 39
Faith Healing ServiceTopic:Experiencing Faith Healing Anchor Scripture: Luke 4:14-22, 31-41
Wednesday Mid Week ServiceTopic: Being a Disciple of ChristAnchor Scripture: John 8: 31-32
WHY EVIL TRIUMPHS Going by the statement of the creator of heaven and earth, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that “the devil has come only to steal, to kill and to destroy”, one can say affirmatively that evil is inherently weak because evil does not produce. Evil only takes advantage of good men and women if it is to succeed.Evil by its nature is wasteful and destructive. It breaks, kills and destroys but it does not produce and invent. Evil survives by manipulating the good into doing its will. Most evil is done through people who never make up their minds to be good or evil. That goes to say that “when you cannot stand for something, you will fall for something.”Most of the decent men and women who fall into the sin of obedience to evil try not to make waves for resistance. They adopt the perspectives of their overlords and in the end they take up the minds of their overlords and do their will.Therefore, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men and women to obey evil overlords. It is proper to end this write-up by quoting the creator again who says “you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Wednesday Mid Week ServiceBible Study SessionMessage: PrayerAnchor Scripture: Hebrews 9
THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS Jesus Christ is the most unique man in all of history. No man has ever been written about as an individual like Jesus. He was penniless yet rich in all things. He did not go to school but He was God’s wisdom. Remember, at age 12 the great teachers of the Jewish synagogues were amazed at His teachings. He was not a political official yet more popular than the kings and emperors of His day. He had no house He could call His own yet at least 12 people (His disciples) were sheltered by Him for more than 3 years and were not tired of Him.Miracles had been wrought by prophets of old before Him but none could compare with that of Jesus. At the mention of His name, Satan and the demons tremble and decaying dead are raised to life again.We can talk about His unique birth. We can talk about His sinless life. We can talk about His unique compassion. We can talk about His unique death. We must not forget about His unique resurrection from the dead. Uniquely He ascended to heaven. Of all the prophets that had lived, He alone will come back again to judge humanity. He alone rose from the dead and never to die again. He alone is to be worshipped and God the Father is pleased with that.No life has ever influenced the universe as the life of Jesus. Above all there is no salvation anywhere except through JESUS. What a unique man. No, not just a man but God who became flesh.
FORGIVENESS The teaching on forgiveness is so hard to swallow by many people who say they are believers in Christ. Yet it is one basic truth taught by Jesus Christ Himself and found in many passages of the Bible. How easy for us to claim that the Bible is the final authority to all Christian practice and to the church.The truth is, without forgiveness, there is no freedom; without forgiveness, there is no recovery and without forgiveness, there is no healing. Nursing offence can enslave both the offender and the offended. Offence can strain relationship and reconciliation maybe denied for years. In like manner, the pain and wound that offence can cause may never be healed if care is not taken.I found these interesting quotes in a book titled “Forgive and Love Again” by John Nieder and Thomas Thompson and decided to extract the ones that fascinated me.“To forgive is to turn the key, open the cell door, and let the prisoner walk free.”“To forgive is to write in large letters across a debt, ‘NOTHING OWED’.”“To forgive is to shoot an arrow so high and so farthat it can never be found again.” “To forgive is to grant a full pardon to a condemnedcriminal.”“To forgive is to smash a clay pot into a thousand pieces so it can never be pieced together again.”“To forgive is to bundle all the garbage and trash anddispose of it, leaving the house clean and fresh.”
Wednesday Mid-Week ServiceMarch 30, 2016Topic: Brokenness And Having A Servant HeartAnchor Scripture: 1 Cor 1: 27-29, 2 Cor 12:9-10
THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST The resurrection of Christ is so important for several reasons. First it attests to the unequaled power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God created the world out of nothing and He is in control of the entire universe, He must have power over death also. If death will bring an end to His creation then He is not worthy of our worship and trust.Second reason of Jesus’ resurrection is a testimony to the resurrection of human beings which is a basic tenet of the Christian faith. Christianity alone possesses a founder who transcends death and who promises His followers of life after death. As Christians, we believe in a Saviour who became man, died for our sins and was raised to life the third day. The grave could not hold its maker. He is the one who lived, died and lives forever having killed death by His resurrection.The Bible guarantees the believer’s resurrection at the coming of Jesus Christ. Such hope and assurance brings about the song of victory in I Corinthians 15:55, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer; this Jesus won for us by His resurrection. When He comes again, the dead in Christ will be raised up, and those who remain and are alive at His coming will be changed and receive new, glorious bodies (I Thess. 4:13-18).Christ’s resurrection testifies to the fact that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf for our salvation. It proves that God has the power to raise us from the dead. It guarantees eternal life for those who believe in Christ. Without the resurrection the believers in Christ would have been like every other religion worshipping Christ in vain.Hallelujah! Christ arose.
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY JESUS INTO JERUSALEMThe four canonical gospels narrated the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This event marked the beginning of Jesus’ Passion.John’s gospel says it happened after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The crowd that believed in Jesus after the miracle gathered the next day for the Feast in Jerusalem to welcome Jesus as He enters Jerusalem. The Synoptic gospel gave the account that as Jesus was descending from the Mount of Olive towards Jerusalem the crowds lay their clothes on the ground to welcome Jesus as He triumphantly enters Jerusalem.The triumphal entry was predicted in the Old Testament (Zechariah 9:9) and the three gospels agreed with the account in Zechariah that Jesus was coming from Mount Olive (Zechariah 14:1-5).Another significant point is that Jesus was not riding on a horse but on a donkey. He is not for war but for peace (Zech. 9:9). He is the Prince of Peace and peace He brought to our world.As we remember Jesus’ example as the King of Peace, let us be agents of peace in our own little corners too.
THINGS THAT FAITH CAN DO FOR YOU1.The greatest thing that faith can do for you is to help save you from eternal damnation. Ephesians 2:8 says “For by grace are you saved though faith.”2.Faith will defend you. Ephesians 6:16 says “Taking up the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Faith in God through Jesus will do this not faith in carnal weapons of men.3.Faith will help provide for you. Psalm 9:10 says “And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee, for Thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.”4.Faith will cement your destiny. 2Chronicles 20:20 says “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established.” Your hope should be built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. 5.Faith will solidify your prayer. 1John 5:14 says “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Lack of faith brings no answer to our prayer.6.Faith will heal your family. Proverbs 14:11 says “The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.”7.Faith will move mountains and kill giants. Matthew 7:20 Says “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you.”Exercise that faith in God today. God sees and knows you. You can also cry out to God “Lord I believe, help me overcome my unbelief (Mark 9:24).
ADVANTAGES IN GIVING Many times we look at some Christian injunctions and feel that only the mature Christians are meant to do them. When it comes to giving, we say within ourselves, “that is meant for the rich and not for us who are struggling to make ends meet.” I have good news for us today that we do not have to be rich to give and we do not have to be poor to be stingy too.Paul wrote in Acts 20:35 quoting Jesus by saying “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Let us quickly examine some reasons why ALL Christians should imbibe this noble practice.1.Giving obeys God’s command (Luke 6:38).2.Giving submits to God’s Lordship. Our submission is really tested in the areas where our own nature and situation make obedience more difficult. Money is one of those areas.3.Giving exhibits God’s heart (James 1:17). Be like God who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. 4.Giving illustrate God’s salvation (2 Cor. 2:9). Jesus became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich.5.Giving makes us to trust God’s provision. Many Christians have discovered the joy of casting their bread upon the waters and multiple loaves returning after many days (Eccle. 11:1). Experience the joy of seeing God fulfill His promise of provision when we obey Him.6.We make God happy when we give. The Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 2:7).7.Giving promotes God’s kingdom. If money is the vehicle for missions then we should give.8.Giving shows our appreciation to God who has given us all things. Psalm 116:12 says “what shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me?” Verse 14 says “I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people.” So remember, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
UNITY IN CHURCHUnity in the church is a priority in the mind of Jesus Christ. If we cannot be united as a local church, then it will be impossible for us to talk about unity in Christendom.In John 17:21, the Prayer of Jesus for His followers is “That they all may be one, as you, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” Oneness can only be achieved where love is found. Amos the prophet asked “Can two work together unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3).I Corinthians 1:10, Paul pleaded with the church in Corinth by saying “Now, I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no division among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Church, we are not competitors but a team. Everybody must join hands to contribute their quota. Nobody should cause division because such divisions are not of Christ and those who try it must be avoided by the church (Rom. 16:17).True followers must endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). As mentioned earlier, love is the only way to achieve this bond. “Hatred will stir up quarrels but love covers all sin” (Prov. 10:12). A strong warning is written for our good in Leviticus 19:17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbour and not bear sin because of him.” Hate cripples the one who hates not necessarily the one hated.Let there be unity in the church. But remember charity begins at home. God help us all. Amen.
In Psalm 103:13 the Bible declares the character of God as one who cares – “As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” Please always remember that God cares about everything in your life, compassionately for that matter.In today’s text (Mark 4:25-41), the disciples of Jesus were sore afraid of the storm and they had to wake Jesus up from sleep and then asked the question “Lord, don’t you care that we perish?”Many of us have asked this question in different circumstances. “God, did you not see the doctor’s report?” God are you not aware of what a mess my marriage is?” “Don’t you see the little money I have left and yet the bills are mounting?” “Do you see how my children are struggling in school?! “Lord don’t you care?”The truth is, God cares. See what God wants us to do in I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.”If only you knew and felt how your heavenly Father care so compassionately and constantly about you, you would have to love Him back. God is so near you that He hears your sighing. Your understanding this truth as a Christian will be your first step to realizing inner peace.
SHORT STORY OF VALENTINE’S DAYValentine is now celebrated with flowers, candy, red hearts and romance. The original story of what started this celebration was not romantic at all rather it was a story that ended with death and sorrow. St. Valentine was a Roman Catholic Priest at a time when Claudias was an Emperor who persecuted the church without mercy. During Claudias’ time an edict that prohibited the marriage of young people was passed. Claudias was of the belief that unmarried soldiers would serve in battle than married ones since they had no care hanging on them. St. Valentine secretly went against Claudias’ verdict by marrying young people. Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned and tortured for breaking the Emperor’s edict. One of the judges by name Asterius had become a Christian because Valentine healed the daughter of her blindness. Valentine was admired by many young people who believed that he died for what he believed. But what gave birth to Valentine’s Day celebration was the style St. Valentine would sign his letters especially to Asterius’ daughter by simply saying “From your Valentine.” Valentine then became the patron saint of love.
WE CELEBRATE OUR OFFICE STAFFGoing down the memory lane, we must never forget to give God the glory for how He has led us to this point. In the ‘90s, we had only six workers and one pastor. Today, we have metamorphosed to 17 Full-Time staff, 14 Part-Time staff and 5 Pastoral staff. We also have 2 Pastors in our daughter churches in Lagos, one in Abuja and 23 Pastors and teachers in Niger Kebbi Mission Field. God is moving His church to higher grounds and we are grateful for making us part of His expansion. We thank God for opening our eyes to do something historical this year when we can, as a church, purse to appreciate what we have. We celebrate our staff today for their contributions to the progress of the church. It is our prayers that God will continue to use them mightily to His glory.We thank all our members and regular worshippers for your support financially, morally and spiritually. Without you allowing God to use you all our achievements would not have been possible. God bless you all abundantly. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBERWhen was the last time that you participated in taking the Lord’s Supper? How do you go about preparing yourself to participate in the Lord’s Supper? Do you know the importance of this ordinance in the believer’s life? Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour instituted this ordinance of the church for us to remember what He has done for us. Later, Paul tells us that we are to be serious, sober and reexamine ourselves as we set to participate in eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ who readily gave Himself for us to redeem us. We are not to be casual or flippant in our preparation. Our participation should be with reverence, humility and sincerity. Participation in the Lord’s Supper is a time of remembering the love that God has for us and should call for a serious self-assessment and repentance. Whenever you have the privilege of participating in the observation of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, please do not belittle it and I pray that you will not idolize the practice instead of Christ that it represents.Christ said that as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we must do it in remembrance of Him. Perhaps we are never more the church, the bride of Christ, the body of Christ, than when we gather at the table to worship by remembering Him. May we never forget who Christ is to us that we may deliberately proclaim Him as the Lord of life to our world. Amen.
As we work together in IBC for greater achievement in 2016, let us admonish ourselves with these Bible passages to help us do God’s will to please Him who has called us to His work:I Thessalonians 5:14 and following say “And we urge you, brothers admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”Likewise, in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, the word of God says “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”Let us work together to achieve more!
SOME NAMES OF SATAN IN THE BIBLE1.Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12). The name before the fall means “star of the morning” and “shining one”.2.Satan (Matthew 4:15) meaning adversary3.The devil (Matthew 4:1-11) meaning slanderer4.The god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4)5.The king of death (Hebrews 2:14)6.The ruler of darkness (Ephesians 6:12)7.The dragon (Revelation 12:7)8.The deceiver (Revelation 20:10)9.Beelzebub (Matthew 12:14) meaning the Lord of dung10.Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15) personification of all that is evil11.The wicked one (Matthew 13:38)12.The tempter (I Thessalonians 3:5)13.The accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10)14.A liar (John 8:14)15.A thief (John 10:10)
The end of one year and the beginning of another is usually an opportunity to look back to what has been and to look forward to what can be. As much as we try not to remember our mistakes and failures and be soaked with guilts and fears, such can help us positively if we can learn a lesson or two that will make us avoid such mistakes.The beginning of another year can bring us new hope as well as new apprehensions. We must, therefore, hold on to the teachings of the Bible that say “Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find and Knock and the door shall be opened unto you” (Matt 7:7).A proud man never asks for anything but the humble man will ask (not as a begger) as one who shows that no man is self-sufficient. To Seek will demand time as well as strength and energy. The best thing to Seek to do in 2016 is to please the LORD. Brethren, life is never totally peaceful, it is an ongoing process. We shall encounter changes in many areas of our lives. But God is constant. Let us yield to God completely. Trusting Him in every situation of our existence.Our theme for 2016 is “My Year of Deliberate Witnessing.” Try all you can to key in so that it will not just be a slogan. I pray that we all will Seek God’s Kingdom first and His righteousness that we may reign with Christ at the end.
HOW DO YOU GOOD?1.Do you see God as an authoritative God who is highly judgmental and very engaged in the world, policing offenders in order to pounce on them when they do something wrong?2.Do you see God as a “critical God” who is totally removed from daily events but will render judgment in the afterlife? This might have come from the passage “it is appointed for man once to die after this judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).3.Do you see God as relating to man on a personal relationship, like a friendship, like a companionship who is always there for you when no one else is? You characterize the Almighty God as a “benevolent God” who is thoroughly involved in your life but is loving not stern?4.Do you see God as a “distant God” who set the Universe in a motion but then disengaged?The way you view God will surely affect your behaviour morally, spiritually and politically. If you believe that God is policing people around, then you want to act as God’s agent of ridding the world of evildoers. If your God is critical, then natural disasters are viewed as God’s punishment. If your God is distant then God does not care one bit about what you are going through. If God is loving and benevolent, then it does not matter if you work or not He will surely supply all your needs.God is more than each view expressed above because His ways are unsearchable (Isaiah 55:9; Romans 11:33).
IBC REVIVAL WEEK, 2015Topic: In Christ Alone, We Are FulfilledAnchor Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11Gadgets, Clothing, Education, Getting Married, Cars, Choice Properties does not give fulfillment. As Christians, we must strive to know the Power, Purpose and Person of Christ.When we seek fulfillment only in Christ, these things will happen to us:1.) (Satisfaction): Philippians 1: 21-For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.2.) (Sufficiency): Philippians 4;13:I- can do all this through him who gives me strength.3.) (Security): 2 Timothy 1:12- For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.Where do you seek fulfillment from? Change your focus and rely solely on Jesus.The Lord bless you
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF CHURCH REVIVALIt is a good assumption to say that every Church member wants to be revived or renewed. But some of us do not prepare ourselves for God’s movement in His Church. As we begin our revival meetings today, here are few tips on how to get the most out of our Church revival:1.Be Broken: No one can truly draw closer to God unless one is truly broken inside. Brokenness simply means that you should accept the fact that you have flaws or weaknesses in your life and you need the Lord to strengthen you. A proud person cannot receive anything good from the Lord because God distastes the proud. But a person with a contrite heart and broken spirit God will not ignore.2.Clear Your Schedule Of Other Commitments: Revivals often start in the evening and may end late into the night. Shut the world off and concentrate on the service. Devote the time of revival to God and cancel any prior or new appointments for that period of revival.3.Rebuke The Spirit Of Sleep And Wandering Mind: Rest well and do not be overactive during the day at work or in your business. What you give in to the revival is what you will get. Do not give the devil the chance to continue to struggle to stay awake rather than hear the message.4.Stop Pointing At Others: This is true concerning all messages the Lord may send to you even outside a revival meeting. Do not think about what applies to others in the Church but how the message applies to your life. Until you focus on growing closer to God and stop worrying about other people’s flaws, you would not get much from the messages.5.Be There: The revival is for you all nights. The common practice is for people to show up the first meeting and wait until about the last night to show up again. You can never predict God. Remember the story of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. God’s power can come when you are not there. Do not miss it. Make a commitment to attend every night of the event.6.List Issues To Work On: Make a list of issues you feel you need to work on prior to the revival, such as jealousy, unforgiving attitude, anger, impatience etc. Ask a trusted accountability person to pray along with you and check if you are experiencing desired changes in your life. 7.Making Altar Call: Do not go to the altar simply because everyone else is going. Only go up if you truly feel the Spirit is urging you to go or you need prayer. God knows your heart. Do not worry about what people think of you. The Lord of revival will bless you as you come prepared and expectant in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The saying is true that in the world nothing is free even in Freedom. While mankind will do something good for another human with string attached, only Jesus can offer us the ultimate gift of salvation without price. Salvation is free in Jesus for we can only be saved by grace and not of works lest any man should boast.In Luke 9:23, Jesus gave a conditional sentence when He said “If anyone comes after me, let him deny himself ….” The free salvation must be accepted by the individual in order to be actualized or appropriated. Christ will not force anyone to follow Him. He has everything good to offer but each one has to decide to accept or reject the offer.Since none can save himself from the consequence of sin but must cling to the finished work of salvation of Christ, we can show our appreciation by loving Him more than ourselves. Nothing must come before Christ in our affection, our devotion and our commitment. Only Jesus can save. Come to Jesus today and you will be the one to benefit everything Jesus will offer you.
THE TIME IS NEAR! ARE YOU READY?Were you able to say "Yes!" with confidence? Or, did you honestly have to answer "No" along with a sense of fear or uneasiness in your heart? Or, do you ask yourself, “What is salvation?” Salvation is the deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin. It is granted to those who accept, by faith, God's conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. Accepting Christ is the most important decision you can ever make in life. That decision assures eternal joy as opposed to eternal damnation. This decision outweighs your wedding, birth of a child, job promotion, etc. Do you want eternal joy, love and peace? When Jesus returns, do you want to go to heaven with Him and live forever with Him in the eternal Holy City?If you are not saved, meaning that you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we hope that you will make the decision right now to accept Him as your Savior and follow Him. If you are already saved, but you know someone personally who is not, reach out to the person and witness Jesus to the person. We do not believe that it is just coincidence that you are in church today. You either know someone who is not saved or you are not saved. Please don't wait.
Three facts about doors:1.A door can be a point of entry: opportunities before us. You will2.A door can be a point of exit.3.A door opens and closesThree major doors God is bringing you out of:1.The door of captivity2.The door of stagnation3.The door of shame and ridiculeTo come out of these kinds of doors, you need three things1.Light 2.A special voice. Is 30:213.You need a friendSomeone represents all these three things. He is Jesus. When you taste Jesus, you'll have life, hope and testimonies
NOTE FROM THE PASTOR’S CORNER:Life is full of many uncertainties. God never promised us a lifefree from Challenges, but a victorious life. A victorious life isone that has encountered challenges- ranging from delays,disappointments, discouragements and dangers but overcomesall. God is never late, He transcends time and eternity andmakes all things beautiful in His time. He knows the best for us,He knows how to do them and He arrives just in time to makethem happen
Our lives are filled with challenges. The entire world is full of chaos, insecurity, economic meltdown, disappointments, frustrations, sicknesses and diseases. Situation presents itself as if there is no solution. In all these, the heart is weighed down, bombarded with lots of questions begging for answers. But the scripture says in Psalm 46:4-5 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day.” There is hope for you, there is hope for Nigeria, no matter the situation we find ourselves God is able to make a way
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTIONThat Jesus Christ was raised from dead should cause no debate. It is an undeniable fact and whoever tries to contest it will be speaking from pure ignorance.Resurrection confirms that Jesus is who He claimed to be. He is truly the “I AM” who is the Son of God the Father. The resurrection from the dead proved that Jesus Christ was divine. Christ’s death on the cross was important but resurrection made salvation complete. By rising from the dead Jesus proved His authority and power to break the bonds of sin and gives the assurance for forgiveness and eternal life to all who accept His gift of salvation.Resurrection revealed Christ’s power over death. Romans 6:9 says “Christ rose from the dead and will never die again, Death no longer has any power over Him.” Now, the power that raised Jesus from the dead will also raise all believers from the grave into glory along with Christ (Eph. 2:6).The resurrection of Christ brought the final and decisive defeat over Satan who has always rebelled against God’s Kingdom. Truly, if Christ had not risen our faith in Him would have been in vain and we would have been of all men most miserable (1Cor. 15:17).Now we can sing “I serve a risen Saviour He’s in the world today. I know that He is living whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy I hear His voice of cheer; and just the time I need Him, He’s always near He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart. Hallelujah Jesus is the Resurrection and the life.