PASTOR'S REFLECTION

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

“For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7)
Nothing can be truer than this statement. Positive thinking leads to positive destination whereas negative thinking ends in negative destination. This simply implies that the depth of your thought-life will determine the height you will attain. Only quality thoughts will take you up faster in life whether in the ministry, career, business, marriage and academics.
Take a close look at Psalm 1:1-3; The man this passage describes here as blessed and as the tree by the rivers of water bringing forth fruits in season, and flourishing, is simply 'that man who takes quality time to do meditation on the law of God day and night'. Quality meditation here simply, is to do logical, rational and analytical think-through of the precepts of the scriptures (words of God) to get results (Isa. 28:10).
Do you know that quality thoughts and effective fervent prayers have equal access to the Father? (Eph. 3:20). Therefore, since your thought-life is as important as your word-life, be careful what you are thinking.
Beloved, what are you thinking? What is occupying your mind often? For whatsoever you thinketh in your heart, so shall it be for you. For instance, as a shepherd of a church, you will never see a big congregation, a magnificent auditorium, committed and prosperous workers until you start imagining it. You cannot be successful in life when what you think is contrary. There is nothing wrong in thinking big and prayerfully pursuing it until it becomes a reality.
Stop thinking sickness, poverty, lack, stagnation, failure, death and misfortunes, for they are not your heritage in Christ. From time to time, strange and contradictory thoughts and imaginations may creep in, you are expected to cast them down, standing on the truth in Christ (2 Cor 10:3-6)
What really constitutes positive thoughts? Apostle Paul provided us with the kind of thought we should think on – things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, full of virtue and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). From this moment, work on your thought-life and experience a revival in your life.

Pastor K. Nzeh.

HYMN FOR THE WEEK:  "I AM THINE O LORD"

1. I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

TOPIC:    THE RAPTURE
TEXT:    1 Cor. 15:51-55; 1 Thes 4:13-18
CENTRAL TRUTH:  Every true Christian must understand the signs of the end-time, must know and believe that the rapture is real and imminent, and must constantly purify him/herself to be rapture-ready at all time.
Memory Verse:    Luk 21:34-36; 22:34-36
LESSON OUTLINE
1. UNDERSTANDING GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN
2. SIGNS OF THE END-TIME BEFORE THE RAPTURE
3. TIPS FOR STAYING RAPTURE-READY

 

MORNING MANNER

THEME:     THE NINE WOES                 OF JESUS CHRIST

TOPIC:    Love and desire honor, greetings and praises of men.

TEXT:  Lk 11:43; Lk 11:7-11

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Next Sunday: Prophetic / Communion  Service.
2. Bible Study holds every Wednesday by 6pm
3. Our Month of Marathon Praise approaches again: November, 2015 - Be prepared to praise.
4. Our national convention is here again-Diamond Jubilee- 9th to 15th Nov. 2015 @ Ajebo. Be there!!!

PRAYER BULLETS

1. O Lord, I thank You for being all in all for me (Ps 18:1-2)
2. O Lord, let it please You to bless me this week, in Jesus name.(2 Sam 7:29)
3. In the blessing of God, I shall be blessed forever in the name of Jesus.(2 Sam 7:29)
4. Father, because I fear You, let Your angel encamp all around I and my household, and deliver us in Jesus name (Ps 34:7)
5. Teach and instruct me the way I should go this week O Lord, and guide me with Your eye(Ps 32:8)


 

FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH, OJODU

16/20, Oremeta Street, Ojodu, Ikeja, Lagos.

Bible Study                                                                                                                  21^st October, 2015.

Series:             The Epistle to the Hebrews

Topic:              The Study of Hebrews chapter Four

Text:                Hebrews 4:1 - 16

PROLOGUE:        The rest and blessings of the Lord we are seeing and enjoying now is but a little fragment compared to the packaged blessings and rest we shall see when we finish well to meet Him. (Hag 2:6/9; Job 42:12)

                                THE TEACHING

1.       Irrevocable Promise and Expectations (4:1-2)

a.       What is the promise?  (Acts 2:38/39; Gal 3:16; John 14:15/8)

b.      What are the expectations?   (Jer. 6:16)

                                    i.      Hope       -              Rom. 15:4; Rom 5:5; Rom 14:23

                                  ii.      Carefulness          -              Jam. 1:22; Heb 3:12; Jam 4:17

                                 iii.      Patience:               -              Heb 6:13/15

                                iv.      Warnings               -              Heb 12:25/26

2.       Anger backed by Oath  (4:3-6)

Why should God be angry and swear an oath?

                                I.            Disobedience    -              Amos 4:2/5; Lam 1:12 & 18; 1 Sam 15:22

                              II.            Ungodliness       -              Amos 5:7; Rom 1:18/19

                            III.            Negligence of the word                -              Jer. 6:10/12

3.       Automatic Salvation and Guaranteed Rest  (4:7-11)

a.       Why emphasizing ‘Today’?          John 9:4; 2 Cor 6:1/2; Phil 2:!2; Rev 3:20; Acts 26:28/29

b.      Why was Joshua’s rest incomplete?        Acts 3:22/24; 1 Cor. 13:10; John 6:49/51

c.       Which ‘REST’ is remaining?

                                       i.      Total rest             -              Matt. 25:23; Matt. 25:34

                                     ii.      Those who enter             -              Luke 13:24; Matt 7:21/23

                                    iii.      God rested         -              John 4:34; John 17:4; 2 Tim 4:7

                                   iv.      Must enter         -              Luke 13:24

4.       The Word of Life      (4:12-13)

a.       Living and active  (John 6:63)

b.      Sharper to divide soul and spirit (Acts 26:18)

c.       Judges the heart (Rom 2:16; Acts 17:31)

d.      Sees secrets  (Jer. 23:24; Dan 2:22)

e.      Accountable to Him (Rev 20:12; Ezek 33:20)

5.       Jesus Our Role Model (4:14-16)

a.       Why High Priest?              -              Acts 13:36/39; Isa. 53:12

b.      Passionate          -              (Rom 5:8; Rom 8:32)

c.       Sinless  -              (Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet 2:22)

d.      Rely on Him        -              1 Pet 2:6; Isa 43:1/4

CONCLUSION:   Brethren, the promises of God can be received here on earth and also in heaven (Luke 18:29/30), therefore, hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown (Rev 3:11) because the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day (Matt 12:8), to fulfill His irrevocable promises for you (Num 23:19).

FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH, OJODU

16/20, Oremeta Street, Ojodu, Ikeja, Lagos.

Bible Study                                                                                                                  14^th October, 2015.

Series:             The Epistle to the Hebrews

Topic:              The Study of Hebrews chapter Three

Text:                Hebrews 3:1 - 19

INTRODUCTION:              The section of this epistle appears to be written to believers (Israel of those days), comparing and considering what happened to the early people of Israel on their journey to the promise land, to what may happen now if we aren’t careful. Now, the Israel, we are; journey of the wilderness – Christian race; promise land – the glory ahead / eternal rest.

THE LESSON PROPER

1.       The House and Its Owner/Builder (3:1b-6)

a.       Consideration (3:1b):     That is, to take a good look at something – who? Jesus – what confession?

b.      Jesus vs Moses:

                                                               i.      Both were faithful (3:2)

                                                             ii.      Jesus is greater being the creator of Moses (3:3)

                                                            iii.      Jesus is a Son, Moses is but a servant (3:5-6)

                                                           iv.      Moses brought physical salvation; Jesus – all round salvation

c.       Moses was the old testament forerunner of Christ, to prepare the nation for the coming of the original Saviour.

2.       The Reminder (3:7-11)

a.       The voice of the Holy Spirit: There are two issues here to take deep look at:

                                                               i.      TODAY: not yesterday or tomorrow

                                                             ii.      HIS VOICE (Rev 2:29): “if you will hear…” – a conditional statement.

b.      Attitude of a Rebellious Heart

                                                               i.      Hardened heart (Prov 12:1)

                                                             ii.      Testing God (Lk 4:10-12; Ex 17:2)

                                                            iii.      Always going astray (Ps 119:176)

                                                           iv.      Lack of the knowledge of the ways of God (Ps 103:7; 1 Sam 2:12; Isa 55:8-9; Ps 143:8; Ps 5:8)

c.       The Result of Rebellion

                                                               i.      Getting God angry (Ex 32:7-10; Ex 4:14)

                                                             ii.      Bringing down the wrath of God (Ps 119:67a; Rm 1:18; 1 Sam 2:34; Lev 10:1-2)

3.       Warning to be Watchful (3:12-15)

a.       Watchout / stand against the manifestation of unbelief in your heart (Prov 4:23; 1 Cor 1:18)

b.      Daily exhortation – to prevent deceit (Col 3:16)

c.       Steadfastness till the end (Matt 24:12-13)

4.       Central Truth (3:16-18)

a.       Rebellion can only be done by Christians (Lk 9:62; 2 Pt 2:20-21)

b.      God’s anger is only against the sinner (Ps 7:11; Ps 34:16)

c.       No one with any form of disobedience will enter into the rest of God

SUMMARY (3:19)

To belief in God is to have faith in Him which simply declares and reveals that you please Him. Unbelief does not have to do with whether you’re still in the world or in the church, but it is a personal determination of one’s standing. The only way of securing your place in His rest is just by believing in Him (2 Chro 20:20)- to be established i.e having gain ground.

FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH, OJODU

16/20, Oremeta Street, Ojodu, Ikeja, Lagos.

Bible Study                                                                                                                  7^th October, 2015.

Series:             The Epistle to the Hebrews

Topic:              The Study of Hebrews chapter Two

Text:                Hebrews 2:1 - 18

INTRODUCTION: (Luk 9:62) It is every important to be steadfast in whatever we do – like a popular saying: “it is not he that starts a building, but he that finishes it is worthy of honor”. I want to say that ‘knowledge destroys a person faster than ignorance’ (Num 15:26-27,30)– how? By neglecting it – bringing in non-challant attitude as a result of familiarity.

THE LESSON PROPER

1.       Warning Against Neglecting Salvation (2:1-4)

a.       One major cause of rebellion-the source- is DISTRACTION which springs out unbelief that leads to disobedience (2 Tim 4:10a; 1 Kg 11:1-3). That’s why Jesus deeply convinced us in (Matt 6:25-34). He wants us to live as if there’s no tomorrow. How can we overcome this source of rebellion? (Col 3:2)

b.      If the words from angel’s mouth can be reliable, how much more the words that proceed out of the mouth of the Lord (Isa 55:11)

c.       If transgression / disobedience brings a reward (punishment), how much more if a man neglects salvation?

d.      Salvation was first declared by the Lord (Matt 4:17)-being the owner-(Ps 51:12; Rev 19:1), and is being passed unto us by those who heard from Him (Matt 10:6-7; 1 Cor 11:23a)

e.      God confirms those carrying the message of salvation with signs and wonders (Mrk 16:20) and by gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 12:11)

2.       Jesus, the Authority over all (2:5-9)

a.       Angels are not to govern the world to come – the new heaven and earth – even our present world is not meant to be governed by them.

b.      The authority man has (:6-8)- This authority, God gave man when He created him (Gen 1:28) but man could not fully exercise this authority. That led to his fall (Gen 3:1,6)-God gave them authority over all the beast, how could they allow the snake to exercise authority over them?

c.       Authority can only be seen in Jesus (:8b - 9) – As a result of what happened of what happened in the beginning, the authority was no longer visible in man, having lost it. But Jesus fulfilled that word(:7-8) by coming in form of man, received and retrieved for us the authority through suffering of death. (Dan 7:13-14; Matt 28:18)

3.       We are one Family with Christ(2:10-13)

a.       Jesus, the Founder of salvation (2 Cor 5:21; Isa 53:10) – God saw a big chance in achieving two awesome goals with a strike:

                           i.      To draw us to Himself (Jhn 3:16)

                         ii.      To make our Role Model a perfect One to look up to and emulate (Heb 5:8-9)

b.      Standard of assurance of being a relative of Jesus (:11) – This was only possible through sanctification brought by His death (Heb 10:10,14). And now, one of the ways we prove it is through Holy Communion (1 Cor 11:24-26)

4.       Our Assured Victory(2:14-18)

a.       (Phil 2:9-11) – Jesus coming in the likeness of man was the only way to present Himself to death, retrieving from the devil, the authority man lost to him, and delivering us from any bondage of death.

b.      Jesus stands as the Abraham of our generation (Gen 18:23-33) – pleading to God on our behalf, day by day.

c.       Jesus, our help in time of trial –(Heb 12:2-4)

CONCLUSION:   The only way to succeed in this race, exercising the optimum authority God gave to man (us) right in the beginning of the world, is to abide in the One who is now in possession of the authority. (Jhn 15:4)