RESURRECTION: THE CLIMAX OF CHRIST’S WORK – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-20

INTRODUCTION

GOOD FRIDAY and EASTER SUNDAY are the days of all days in human history. However, we must remember that we cannot have one without the other. Without resurrection, redemption is not needed and, without redemption, there’s no resurrection.

On Good Friday, we appreciated, celebrated, and gave thanks to Jesus Christ for His redemptive work on the cross of Calvary.

▪It emphasizes the work of divine exchange and substitution which Christ did, choosing to suffer and die in our place, in order to save us from sin and the penalty for sin (death).

Redemption refers to saving someone by paying a price or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment.

▪This is what Christ did, laying down His life as the price for the redemption of the whole world, not just the believers.

But what we are celebrating today is not just the work of our redemption but something beyond redemption.

▪If all what we needed was salvation from sin, there wouldn’t have been any need for Jesus to rise from the dead.

▪His death on the cross would have been enough because it paid for all our sins and serves as a complete propitiation (sacrificial object) to appease a God who was angry with man.

The big thing however, is what happened after redemption.

The plan of satan was to kill Jesus Christ and put a stop to having a new life. He never thought nor expected that Jesus would resurrect. But Jesus Christ resurrected to begin a new life, a glorious and eternal one for that matter.

WHAT IF THERE’S NO RESURRECTION? – 1Cor. 15:12-19

1.            It means Christ did not rise (Vs 12-13).

2.            Preaching the gospel would be useless (Vs 14).

▪It is no longer good news but bad news. No longer Good Friday but Black Friday.

3.            Faith in Christ and His finished work would be worthless and meaningless (Vs 14)

▪Faith in a corpse buried in a tomb will redeem, sanctify or justify no one.

4.            Every witness to the resurrection and all preachers of resurrection would be liars (Vs 15).

▪The Apostles and every gospel preacher would be peddling a myth (a false belief or idea).

▪Even Jesus Christ Himself would become a liar too because He said He is the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25).

5.            Christianity would become a fairly tale, a fabricated imaginary story for children (Vs 16).

▪There would be no life after death since Christ did not rise. Christianity is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

6.            All humanity would remain captive to sin (Vs 17).

▪The whole world would still remain enslaved to death (Rom. 6:23).

7.            Everyone who died would be in hell (Vs 18).

▪Every human being would face the full, wrath of God, dead and unable to rise to life.

8.            Christians would be the most foolish people on earth (Vs 19).

But praise be to God, Christ is risen from the dead and since He has come out of the grave, death is swallowed up in victory (1Cor. 15:54).

▪We can therefore boldly sing…

The strife is o’er the battle done…

IMPLICATIONS OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION FOR BELIEVERS

1.            It shows the immense power of the Almighty God over life and death (1Cor. 15:54-55).

▪Only He who created life can restore it after death. Even if there’s no life before, He can still create it.

▪Only He can remove the sting of death (sin) and the grave( power of death).

2.            It is the assurance of the resurrection of Christ’s faithfuls, which is the basic tenet of Christianity (Jn. 11:25-26).

▪Take note of the contrast in verse 20 of 1Cor. 15:20.

3.            It demonstrates that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf (Heb. 7:27).

4.            It is victory over death, which comforts us that we would see our loved ones who have died again (1Thes. 4:13-14).

5.            It is an assurance of our regeneration in Christ when we become born again (2Cor. 5:17).

▪It gives us a new life that overcomes the activities of the flesh and activates in us the fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

6.            It makes every believer and disciple of Christ a miracle carrier and a doer/worker of miracles (Mk. 16:17-18; Matt. 10:1).

▪It’s not a supernatural thing for a believer to cast out demons or perform miracles (Lk. 10:19-20).

7.            It is a testimony and hope that every good thing dead in the life of a believer in Christ would come back to life at the mention of the name of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:9-10).

CONCLUSION

Resurrection is the climax of Christ’s work of salvation.

A Christian is one who identifies with not only the death of Christ but with His resurrection as well, and subsequent confession of His Lordship (Rom. 10:9).

Let us therefore rejoice and continue to rejoice that Christ the Lord is risen and we have a new life, Hallelujah!

PRAYERS

1.            As the stone was rolled away from the tomb of Jesus Christ, every weight preventing me from rising, I command you to be rolled away now in Jesus’ name.

2.            Let the resurrection power of Christ come into operation in me and bring back to life everything that has been put to death by the enemy in my life in Jesus’ name.

3.            As Jesus came out of the grave, anything that belongs to me or any area of my life that has been buried in the grave, I command you to come out today in Jesus’ name.

4.            Every part of my body that has been put to death and is not functioning as God purposed it, receive life today and begin to function well in Jesus’ name.

5.            By the reason of a new life that emanated from the resurrection of Christ Jesus, I speak newness into every area of my life in Jesus’ name.

6.            The resurrection of Jesus marked a new beginning. Today, I receive a new beginning and a fresh start. It’s a new dawn for me in Jesus’ name.

THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST- A GRAND SOLUTION FOR HUMANITY

Introduction

  • Death is usually a painful experience and remains one of the dreadful realities humanities must face from time to time. (Eccl.3:1-2). It wasn’t a different case for disciples and the beloved of Christ. They experienced despair, hopelessness, confusion, and bewilderment (
  • Death is generally considered the end of human race in this world. Although for the children of God who remains in Christ, it is the beginning of transition to eternal glory ( 1 Cor. 15:54-57)
  • Scripture said every man is appointed to die once, nothing more (Hebrew 9:27).
  • Jesus also died once but resurrected and live not to die anymore- Halleluyah. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him-Romans 9:6
  • Acts 2:24But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches

The Characteristic of His Death and its implication for Believers

His death is unique and symbolic in many ways. It is the centre to redemption and salvation work that Christ gives every child of God.

There are stories of substitutionary death today being practice by wealthy people in some places around the world for monetary gains, cheat and cheat. But what Jesus when He died for humanities is for the gain for the whole world, His reason outweighed the worldly explanations

  • While we are yet sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8). Ordinarily, man, especially who like to die for a worthy course and cause: patriotism, heroism, defend of rights etc. but Jesus died for us when nothing in us is attractive.
  • What happen in the world today may sound scandalous and outrageous, but more than two thousand years ago, Jesus substituted Himself as propitiation for sin. He is the sacrifice for remission of sin. 1 John 2:2- In this beautiful passage, John says this about Jesus Christ, our Advocate: “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” John is pointing us to the person and work of Christ as the source of our strength and hope and ultimate victory over sin.
  • Jesus’ death for the whole world is an expression of deep and incomparable love God has for humanity- (John 3:16; John 15:13; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:10)
  • Jesus became our substitute and “suffered once for [our] sins, the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus didn’t just die for you, He died as you. He died in your place. He became like you so you could become like Him. He became your sin so you could be righteous. He was diseased so you would be well. He was punished so you could be free. He was rejected so you could be accepted.     Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. but He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.— Isaiah 53:4-5
  • As God’s sinless sacrifice, Christ suffered and died once and for all (Hebrews 10:10), for all who believe in Him.
  • He took the penalty for all our sins in His own body on the cross.
  • Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross provided “hope” for us as He freely, willingly gave His life for us (1 Peter 3:15, 18; John 10:15).
  • He did so to bridge the long gap between us and God. Only by the substitutionary death of Jesus can we (sinners in need) have a relationship with and complete spiritual access to our loving God.
  • Without death of Christ and His resurrection, no one can directly reach out to God. His death broke the long-range barrier that allow us to relate with God through the Spirit ( John 4:24).

Conclusion

Understanding the death of Jesus Christ on the cross has opened our eyes to how bless are we. Therefore, lets rejoice for we have a saviour who won all for us and we are free.

SECURING DIVINE COMFORT – PSALM 27:4-6

INTRODUCTION

Life is hard now but it has never bean easy. Perhaps, life in earlier days was different but definitely not without difficulty.

Comfort is a state of being relaxed. A feeling of freedom from worry, anxiety or disappointment.

David also faced fearful and turbulent times in different phases of his life:

▪As a Shepherd boy, he faced wild animals in the bush.

▪He became populer after killing the giant who was terrifying the people, king and the army of Israel (1Sam.17).

▪Saul became jealous of him and he had to run for his dear life (1Sam.18)

▪As king, he fought many battles, mostly against the Philistines.

▪His daughter, Tamar, was raped by his son, Amnnon (2Sam. 13).

▪He had a son with another man’s wife and killed her husband (2Sam. 11).

▪His son, Absalom, tried to take away his throne (2Sam. 15).

In Psalm 27:1-6, David presents 3 principles that enabled him to handle difficult times in his life and secure comfort for himself:

1. Our relationship with God (which is the foundatian)

2. Our confidence in God

3. Our worship of God.

God is eternal and the principles of His Word are also eternal.

David mentioned “Tabernacle” and “Temple”

Both are equivalent to our church today. They were the Sanctuary where God resided among His people.

Today,  God now lives in us as the Holy Spirit.

DAVID’S DESIRE (Ps. 27:4a)

To dwell in the house of the Lord.

▪Being in God’s presence.

▪Not only his desire but his priority (Matt. 6:33).

▪To be where God is.

▪To be in constant and continuous fellowship with God (intimacy).

To secure divine comfort in this difficult time, you must have desire, hunger and thirst for being with God and at a place where God is worshipped (Heb. 10:25; Ps.122:1).

REASONS BEHIND DAVID’S DESIRE (Ps. 27:4b)

1.To Behold The Beauty of The Lord.

▪God does not have physical form or physical beauty because He’s a Spirit (Jn.4:24).

▪It means to seek God’s face.

▪To admire God’s beauty is to be attracted to God.

▪God’s beauty doesn’t fade. With Him there are no imperfections.

▪God’s beauty speaks of the perfection of His love, power, mercy, favor, kindness, grace, goodness and glory.

▪The harmony of all His attributes is the beauty of His nature.

▪His beauty attracts us to love Him and through faith, we are led to worship Him (Jn. 4:24).

2.            To Enquire in His Temple (Ps. 27:4b).

▪To meditate in His word, be in constant communion with Him (Speaking to Him and hearing from Him), to recieve revelations and instructions from Him (Lk. 10:39,42).

▪To secure divine comfort in these difficult times, you must be ready to be attracted to seeking God’s face and engaging in constant communion with Him.

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS OF DAVID’S DESIRE (Ps. 27:5)

Safe and secure from all troubles (Ps. 91:1,2).

In the day of trouble:

▪I don’t have to start looking for Him.

▪I only have to trust Him as I call on Him, knowing He’s near (James 4:8).

▪The safety of believers is not in the walls of the Temple but rather in the God of the Temple, and their comfort in the communion with Him.

▪He would be lifted up (Ps.27:6a; 40:2).

The closer we are to God, the less we fear what life can bring against us (Rom. 8:31).

DAVID’S RESPONSE TO THE BENEFITS (Ps. 27.6b).

1.            He would offer sacrifices of joy.

▪Our being joyful in God’s presence is a sacrifice to Him.

▪Cheerful offerings (2Cor. 9:6-8). Giving is an act of worship (Deut. 16:16-17). It is the foundation of our redemption (Jn. 3:16).

2.            He would sing

▪Living in fellowship with God should result in joyful singing throughout the day.

3.            He would sing praises to God.

▪Whatever be the matter of our joy ought to be the matter of our praise.

▪When we worship God in His Temple, we ought to do it with joy and praise, for then we receive comfort, even in these difficult times. (Ps. 16:11).

CONCLUSION

In this difficult season that we find ourselves, what is your utmost desire? To seek God, dwell in His presence, praise and worship Him, and be in communion with Him? This is how to enjoy divine comfort in this season.

Let your song be…

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after Thee

You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength and shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship Thee.

What a fellowship,

What a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness,

What a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms

Leaning, Leaning,

Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, Leaning,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread,

What have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

I have blessed peace,

With my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, Leaning,

Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, Leaning,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

MY JESUS; THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD – John 8:12

Today, we are examining the word of Our Saviour and the Lord from John 8:12 so as to gain revelation and light from it.

“I AM”- THE REVELATION OF GOD

From the beginning; God called Himself “I am” ( Exodus 3:14). God’s name is more than just a way to identify Him. It’s also a revelation of His person and character. When Moses encountered Him in the burning bush, God identified Himself as “I am who I am” or the “I am” (Exodus 3:14). Bible scholars say the Hebrew can also be rendered as “I will be what I will be.” One of the amazing realities contained in this title is that God is beyond time. Even more, He’s completely unaffected by it—though in His mercy He chooses to work within time.( Psalm 102:13). This reality is reaffirmed in Revelation1 :8, where we read,_“I am the Alpha and the Omega . . . who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty”_ In the person of Jesus, our timeless God stepped into time to give us an eternity unbounded by time.

“I am” Speaks of the highest degree of assurance, the totality of God and His manifestation. I AM is the ultimate statement of self-sufficiency and self-existence of Jesus. His existence is not contingent upon anyone or anything else. His plans are not contingent upon any circumstances. He promises that He will be what He will be; that is, He will be the eternally constant God. He stands, ever-present and unchangeable, completely sufficient in Himself to do what He wills to do and to accomplish what He wills to accomplish.”

It is also about immutability of God in all situation( Malachi 3: 6); the personal testimony of Jesus that cannot be queried, it is consistent and  incontestable ( John 8:14;17). This assured our heart and mind and give us confidence in what the light of the world can do

THE MAGNITUDE, THE IMPACT AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE LIGHT

The light of the world speaks volume of the capacity of Jesus. He got the whole earth in His hand ( John 1:3-4) being the light of the world. Nothing in this world is beyond Him and He is in full control of them( Col.1:15-17). Whatever goes on globally, the light of God can manifest Himself there. It is not just the light of Ilorin, Kwara State or Nigeria but the light of whole wild wide world- Halleluyah.

The light of Jesus is great and huge:  it cannot be overcome or overpowered. It is creative, superlative in performance and assertive in order.( Gen.1:2-3; Eph.120-22;).

He illuminates whatever He comes across, He brings out new order of things and cause transformative changes of every situation and life He penetrates.( John 9:5-6; Gen.2:7; Psalm 146:8; Acts 26:18

Jesus is the Light for all who are His– Eph. 5:13-14

In this same Jesus, the light, we found life for all mankind( John 1:4), He is also the fountain/source of light through which all His children see and continue to see ( Psalm 36:9; 118:27; Isaiah 9:2). The divine demand for us as His  children is to follow the light. You are to individually follow the light of God, He knows the way so He beckoned on all to come to the life ( John 3:16; John 14:6).

JESUS CALLED US THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

”You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden….. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”- Matt.5:16

What a blessing and unique priviledge. Being called by the name of Jesus. The implication is that we carry influence, glory and impact in this world. Your life is positioned to bring glory to the name of the Lord.( Isaiah 60:1).

None of us shall fail in Jesus ‘name.

Dear Lord, my God, I come to You in awe of who You are. You are the “I am” in my life, and there is no other. May your name be exalted and praised today and forever

Dear Father, prove yourself as “I am” over my life again and again in the name of Jesus

You do not change and You have got time and season in your hand, let this season speak good things for me and my household in Jesus’name

My God and my Father, You are the light of the world from beginning, I command your light to be at work in my world now-
Gen.1:2-3; John 1:2-3

Father in the name of Jesus I declare today ” Let there be light in and all around me”. – Gen.1:3

Father of heavenly lights, the doer of good things visit me with your light so as to bring forth good testimonies in the name of Jesus- James 1:17

It’s my turn to arise and shine for the glory of God is upon me to shun darkness and looseness. My time to shine as light is now in the name of Jesus- Isaiah 60:1-3

GLORIFYING THE GOD OF TRANSFORMATION – Luke 17:15-16

Preamble

  • To “glorify” God means to give glory to Him.
  • God means to acknowledge His greatness and give Him honor by praising and worshiping Him, primarily because He, and He alone, deserves to be praised, honored and worshiped. 

Who is this God ( of Transformation) to be Glorified? -Luke 17: 11-14

  1. God that do good at all times- 1 Chron 16:34
  2. God who moves around doing good and kind things-Psalm 107:8-9; Acts 10:38
  3. God of everyone who come to Him- Matt 11:28; John 6:37; Gal 3:28
  4. God that hears everyone who called or cried unto Him vs 13; Psalms 145:18-19
  5. God of encounter, positive change and lasting testimonies vs 14; Eccl.3: 13-14; Acts 3:6-8; Mark 10:52; Luke 17: 17

Life That Glorifies God- Luke 17:15-16

  1. Life that is purposeful about it- Psalms 9:1-2; Psalm 86:12-13; Exodus 15:11; 1 Peter 4:16
  2. Life that sees what God has done and… is doing. The one who acknowledges and realises how much God has done for him. Life that meditates on the works of God- Exodus 15:2-3,11-13; Job 42:1-2,5
  3. Life that will always return to give testimonies – Psalm 111:1; Acts 3:8-9
  4. Life that declares the goodness of the Lord with enthusiasm, joy and outstanding happiness- Psalm 150:6; Psalm 59:17; 1 Cor.14:15; Luke 18:43
  5. Life that focus on God and not reactions of men-Luke 17:17-18. They ignore the negative perspective of men but genuinely personally thank God Psalm 92:5

Conclusion

No one can out praise God, so keep Glorifying Him.

CONTINUE TO LIVE IN CHRIST – Colossians 2:6-7& I Thess. 4:1

Introduction:

The journey of “Living for Christ”, which we started 4weeks ago will be rounded off this morning after considering

Living for Him (Christ); Living to please Him; Life of Holiness and Consecration; Life of Dedication. But God is not giving up on us in the journey of Glorious Transformations. He desires that we keep encountering Him.

A. Understanding the Call to continuously live in Christ:

  • One way that guarantees sustained encounter with Jesus is to strive to continue to live in Christ.This is a call for deep close walk with God (Psalm 42:7; 1-2)

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?Psalms 42:1-2 NKJV

1Bí ọkàn àgbọ̀nrín tií máa fà sí odò tí omi rẹ̀ tutù, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni ọkàn mi ń fà sí ọ, Ọlọrun.2Òùngbẹ Ọlọrun ń gbẹ ọkàn mi,àní, òùngbẹ Ọlọrun alààyè.Nígbà wo ni n óo lọ, tí n óo tún bá Ọlọrun pàdé?

  • To Continue to live in Christ implies that your walk with God has no ending and is for as long as you live
  • It speaks of consistency in your walk  with God
  • Unrelenting efforts to keep loving God even in the face of many challenges of life

B. Living in the Pattern of Christ You Received: Col.2:6; Gal.1:12

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him

  • The questions to understand here are : How did you come to know the Lord ? How did you received Him?

Is it as the Lord? The Saviour? Or as Saviour and the Lord?

  • The manner in which you come to know Him will inform your pattern of life- John 11:26-27; Acts 10:13-15 NLT
  • The Colossians received Him as Christ Jesus, but also as “the Lord.” “Lord” refers to His deity. In the Old Testament it is the personal covenant name of God. It focuses on His absolute sovereignty as the Creator of the universe, the ruler over all that exists.
  • It means that what He commands we must obey. He made us and knows everything about us. His commands are not burdensome, to plague us. Rather, they are perfect, right, and for our good (Ps. 19:7-11; Rom. 7:12; 1 John 5:3)

C. How do you continue to live in Christ? Col.2 vs 6

  1. Life rooted in Christ
  2. Life being built up in Christ daily
  3. Life anchored on faith in Christ
  • Life teachable in Christ
  • Life of Thanksgiving and Praise
  1. Life Rooted in Christ
  2. This pictures a tree, how it usually firmly rooted so that it gets the water and nutrients from the soil to grow and be healthy- Psalm 92:12
  3. The root prepares the tree to withstand the storms that blow against it and to endure times of drought-Matt.7:24-28
  4. The roots are hidden from view, but they are absolutely essential. It signifies connectivity( John 15:5-7), through which manifestations of life of Christ comes. Life that seek Him in His words and Prayer

2. Life Being built up in Christ

  • This is a call to grow up in Christ,  a growing into maturity- Growing in grace( II Peter 3:18)
  • Feeding fat in God’s word and adequate spiritual meals-Proper nourishment
  • We need a regular diet of God’s Word. Our souls must be “nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Pet 2:2; Isa.55:2; Heb.5:12-14)
  • We need to pray regularly. In reading the Bible, God speaks to us; in prayer, we speak to Him. Prayer helps us realign our lives to the Lord’s timing and

direction. David wrote, “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).

  • When you walk with the Lord, sometimes there are obvious changes that others can easily see. More often, the Lord is steadily at work on areas that aren’t as dramatic, but are just as necessary.
  • We learn to trust and obey Him on little, daily matters. We judge our grumbling spirit. We put to death the lusts of the flesh. We speak kindly to others, even when they are mean towards us. We’re gradually being built up in Him.
  • This pictures a building under construction with steady progress toward completion

3. Life anchored on faith in Christ

  • This is another virtue that children of God must exhibit in all our journey with Christ
  • It takes faith to continue to live in Him and to please Him- Heb.11:6; II Cor.5:7
  • Faith give us directions to go with God and it upholds us in Him

4. Life teachable in Christ

  • Part of what guarantees and sustain our walk with God is being submissive to the teaching of Holy Spirit. I John 2:27( 24-27).
  • You cannot grow more Him or else you die off

5. Life of Thanksgiving and Praise

  • Emphasis here is about life of thankfulness. As we saw (Col. 1:12), we should be “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saint in Light.” (See, also, Col. 1:3; 3:15, 16; 4:2).
  • All that we have in Christ is a privilege that demands thanksgiving

Conclusion

Are you going on with Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way you received Him? Don’t lose your first love for the wonderful, exalted Savior who loves you and gave Himself for you! If your love for Him.

MY GOD, MY LIGHT AND SALVATION. PS 27

As God’s children, going forward this year with assurances that speak to us in a way that resonates with our desires and needs are comforting and empowering to say the least.

Our theme for the month points out the following.

1.We can enter into a relationship with God. Exo 6:6-7

2.We are in a relationship with God. John 20:17b

3. We can benefit from this relationship.. Eze 37:24-28, Jer 30:22

A. How do we enter into this relationship

Entering into a relationship with god calls for the following

Prayer and God’s word, fellowship and service, avoiding a life of sin, listen to the voice of God (Ps 119:11, Mk 1:35, Heb 10:25, Jh 10:27a, John 9:4)

B. Since we are in relationships with God. What are we to do

1. Guard this relationship. Matt 24:4

2. Love the Lord Matt 22:37

3. Not take God for granted Prov1:24

C. The benefits include the following

1.  eternal life (Jh 10:27b)

2. Privilege of the light

# The word light was first mentioned in Genesis 1:3 and it brought about a separation between the day and the night. (This light mentioned was not the sun neither was it the moon etc. vs 14-18)

Let’s note these passages and their implications

1 John 1:5-7 God is light, another affirmation of our anchor text. It also tells us that this light is pure i.e it is one with no iota of darkness in it. It is an attractive light that brings others into HIS radiance, meaning that which God is, he wants us to be.

John 9:5 the light has a voice. To direct, guide, affirm, instruct

James 1:17. The light gives good gifts and perfect gifts that abide   

#It also showed the contrast between the redeemed and the cursed Exo 10:23. Light also can be seen as that which exposes Eph 5:13. The light also is that which shields  

We are to do the work of him that sent us while it is day, because the night cometh when no one Cn work

Ps 18:28 makes it clear that

-it is God that gives light to our lamps

-our lives are characterized with darkness therefore we need God to give light

My God speaks of relationship.

Time of danger

When in doubt, not sure what to do

When in ourselves we see no help, way or certainty

When imagination fails

LIVING TO PLEASE GOD  – Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1

Preamble:

  • Our focus for discussion this morning is “Living to please God” under the broad theme for the month which is “Living for Christ”.
  • Today, we shall be satisfying our quest to understanding the theme better and deeper through God’s word- The Word of God is spirit and life (John 6:63); it is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and, when quickened by the Holy Spirit, has dynamic power to impart spiritual life to us.

A Call for concern in this scriptural text is to define what it means for children of God to live for God, then understand how to please Him in our daily living. How has God empowered us to live for His pleasure and what are the implications for our lives?

  1. To Live for God:
  2. To live for God is to have your root in God- John 3:3-5; Colossians 1:13. This is the starting point, a life outside Christ has not started with Him, so he cannot live for Him. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.-John 3:6
  3. To live for God is to keep growing in Him.-Col.2:6-7 II Pet.3:18; I Pet.2:2-3; Col.1:9-10
  •  When we become Christians, we enter into a relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that will cause us to grow.
  • With the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to become more like Jesus and to become more holy. It is this spiritual growth that becomes a birthmark of our faith!As we grow physically so God expects us to grow spiritually ( I Sam.2:26; Luke 1:80)
  • To live for Him is to have my entire life in God-Acts 17:27- 28; Job 12:10; Deut.30:20; Psalm 36:9

2. To Please God

  • “Please” is cause to feel happy and satisfied.
  • To please God is to be agreeable; acceptable; delightful e.t.c
  • To please God is Living worthy of God’s call upon your life-Eph.4:1; promoting the business of  God’s kingdom and conducting yourself in manner worthy of gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27-29)
  • To please God is Pursuing the goal of  satisfying God wherever you are and under whatever conditions you find yourself- II Corinthians 5:9
  • To please God is Demonstrating utmost love for God-Matt.6:33: John 21:27
  • It is allowing God to occupy 1st position in my priority for life. How much are you doing thi?
  • Loving God is demonstrating my utmost for the highest -John 21:27;
  • When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us.
  • The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was..
  • Expressing the love of God permit you and I to live to satisfy God’s agenda “feed my sheep”- This is talking about mission/ spreading the gospel.

“The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”-John 21:27

3. How are We Empower to Live to please God?

Through the help of Holy Spirit

  • God has given you His Spirit to enable you to live in a way that pleases Him.
  • If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”- Gal.5:25
  • “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”- Philippians 2:13 KJV

4 .Conclusion:  Implication of Living to please Him

God wants us to understand that every where you are as His children,  you are:

  • We are Christ’s ambassador [ (2Cor.5.20);We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.] So we must be His representative wherever we go; church, market, in the car, offices e.t.c

Chrorus: Any where I go I will be doing good, I will be like Jesus who cares for me, when the needy see, they will see Jesus,  anywhere I go o yes, I will be doing good”.

  • Jesus must be prevailing and revealing in our lives; Wherever we sit, stand ,chat discuss, ( your spoken and unspoken expression).- Ps.1.1

Psalm 1:1; Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. (AMP)

  • We are the shining light for Christ, a light that must not go hidden at any time and pointing others to Christ- Matt.5:14, 16- Matt.5.14 – “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Matt.5.16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

ATTAINING NEW LEAPS TOGETHER – Genesis 11:1-6

Introduction

Understanding God’s Mind

  • God is interested in our lives individually and collectively as a Church. Our present and future is of concern to Him- Jer. 29:11.
  • He desired that we experience new leaps so that we can ride upon our High places of the earth- Isaiah 58:14- Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
  • When He speaks to one He speaks to all- Ezekiel 12:25
  • Ezekiel 12:25-For I the Lord will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’”

Approach to Attaining New Leaps Together- Team Spirit

  • Our task here is to consider how to attain God’s desired heights or leaps for us a Church
  • In the last lesson,  God was asking us to RELAUNCH (i.e Review, Restrategise,  Refocus, Report at Jesus’s feet , Reconnect)
  • Today, our focus is on team Spirit: (Together Everyone Attain Much-more)

Together

Everyone

Attain

Much-more

  • Building the tower of Babel was an ancient story of community efforts.  They set to attain a particular height ( enviable, unprecedented) , so that they leap for joy in their new achievement.
  • How did they do it?
  • They speak common language and speak in unison: Genesis 11 vs 1,6 -vs 1. Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.
  • Things move on well when parties involved understand each other languages. Communication is enhanced and passing across instructions make easy- I Corinthians 14:9-12; Acts 2:8
  • Acts 2:8: And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?

2. They move and walk together – vs 2: And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.  

  • Stagnancy is antidote to advancement. Movement brings about progression, no-one stay in the same place and expect getting his goal. Life is about movement.
  • Purposeful movement helped them- as they journeyed from the east,…..Genesis 13:17: Arise, walk about the land through

its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.”

  • Walking worthy of God’s call in our lives  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called-Ephesians 4:1

3. They reason and think together vs 3: Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks….Ephesians 2:9;Prov.27:17: Amos 3:3. Acts 4:32

  • Only agreed people can walk and work together- Amos 3:3.
  • Walking together make working together easier and less burdensome

Eccl.4:9- Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil

Prov.27:17: Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Prov.27.17 – As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

4. They believe in common vision and work through it vs 4: And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens;

  • Those who will achieve together must share their vision
  • They have defined goal or target
  • They must believe in themselves
  • Everyone is important to the course they were pursuing

5. They believe in quality and gave their best vs 4- Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.

  • Thoroughbred personality go far to achieve their heights
  • Let’s give quality to God whenever it is about us
  • Uptodate and season compliant fellows achieve better

6. Avoid vain glory and selfish ambitions vs 4b let us make a name for ourselves,

  • Pursuit of vain glory kill vision of attaining new leaps and enviable heights- Phil.2:3;
  • Selfish motives attract the wrath of God- Acts

Conclusion

There is no limit to what our God can do in our lives as a Church if we cooperate with Him.

RELAUNCH TO LEAP FORWARD – Psalms 18:29; Luke 5:4-8

Introduction

  • Psalm 18:29 established the fact of what we can do in our lives as children of God with God on our sides
  • Life is full of aspirations and challenges. Proverbs 10:28; Isa.32:8a
  • The aspirations of good people end in celebration; the ambitions of bad people crash MSG.
  • Challenges of life are of varying magnitude and complexities set to debar one from achieving desire heights or feats in life-Psalms 34:19
  • Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all -Psalms 34:19 NKJV
  • Approaches to overcome the challenges vary and include strong determination, doggedness, dynamism and dutiful attitude. Whoever quit, quiet or quiescent about his or goal will achieve nothing-Psalms 56:9.
  • The approach that God is bringing your way today is to RELAUNCH so as to gather enough momentum LEAP to FORWARD  to God’s desire place for your life.
  • When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”Luke 5:4.
  • God is talking to a Simon today to relaunch (retry,

retake, reapply, reattempt)

Relaunch is

  • to launch (something) again or to be launched again
  • a new(to make) attempt to sell a product or service, often by advertising it in a different way or making it available in a different form
  • to go into or put (something) into operation or motion again. To start or get going
  1. What Does RELAUNCH Entail?

To relaunch implies the following:

  • Review your present state: To review is to do a formal assessment of something with the intention of instituting change if necessary. To do a critical( genuine & sincere appraisal.
  • But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing;. No need for pretence, like Simon, learn to review where you are and make a truth assessment of yourself
  • Restrategise your approach: nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
  • God is whispering to somebody,  go this way. Change your approach, attitude and action to get new desired results
  • To form a new strategy- Matt.12:29- Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
  • Refocus your goalAnd when they had done this…..vs 6a
  • You cannot continue the usual way and expect different results
  • Ensure you are reposition to reach your goal
  • to focus again; to change the emphasis or direction
  • Simon’s goal was to catch fish, so he changed focus to new approach to get results.
  • Report at the feet of Jesus– John 15:5- When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying.
  • And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish-John 21:6
  • No other sources could  help out side coming to God
  • Draw strength from God daily-1Sam.2:9
  • With Jesus lie the specific divine instructions for new leaps- John 21:6; Isaiah 30:21 .Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left-Isaiah 30:21
  • Reconnect when necessary vs 7- So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats…
  • You need people network, seek support , synergise when necessary. Who Are your partners and friends?
  • Imagine having no one to connect with, would they

have succeeded? John 5:6-7   “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”John 5:6-7

2. How to RELAUNCH:

Approach to relaunch include 3 ingredients/virtues in your life as a childof God:

Relaunch through Faith in God

Relaunch through Hope in God

Relaunch through Trust in God

  • Relaunch through faith in God- Heb.11:6; Luke.5.5 Heb.11:32-34
  • Without faith you cannot approach God for help
  • nevertheless at Your word Luke 5:5
  • Faith in God guarantees new leap in all your life
  • Relaunch through hope in God. Hope in Christ secures new leaps. Nothing else is assuring than hope in God- Psalm 23:1-6
  • For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.”-1 Cor.3:11

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. 

Ref:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

  All other ground is sinking sand.

  • Relaunch through trust in God:I will let down the net.” vs 5c; Prov 3:5-6;
  • Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. (Psalm 37:5, ESV)
  • Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8, NIV)
  • Trust in God not in things- Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7, NIV)

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

Conclusion:

You may not understand the difficult or uncertain situation you find yourself in, but God does. His track record in your life and in the Bible is one of faithfulness. If you give your life to Him, you can rest assured that He will keep up His end of the bargain. You will begin to Leap Forward in Jesus’ name.