The Celebration of the Light

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12 ESV

Life is not fully complete without Jesus. A life without Him is compared to a world of the blind and darkness, full of confusion and crisis. No matter who you are, or whatever you have accomplished, if you are void of salvation through Jesus Christ, there is no other name given to you than what Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5: 8 that “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” We are all created to crave the Creator, our Father, and only through a relationship with Jesus can the dark parts of our hearts and life brighten. Light is part of who Jesus is. The origin of phos describes how light makes manifest, evident, exposed or clear. Jesus said, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” -John 9:5 “There is no darkness so dense, so menacing, or so difficult that it cannot be overcome by light.” Being separate, ignorant, or unaware of the dark leaves us wanting for something we cannot produce on our own. We come to the end of ourselves in frustration, hopelessness, or an aloof sense of happiness and joy, when we traverse through life in darkness. . With Christ, we have the absolute fullness of life “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” -John 1:9-10 In the Gospel according to Matthew, the Maggie saw his light and followed it through to Bethlehem. These strangers could identify the light but Herod and his chiefs could not. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. 11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.” No wonder when Jesus was born, great light shown around the shepherd in the field and there was great carol from heaven As we celebrate Christmas: Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone's life. You may think your light is small, but it can make a huge difference in other people’s lives. As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way. Light is the symbol of truth Live by the light of life and your life will not be void of legitimate happiness. “No degree of worldly darkness can extinguish the glow of a soul’s inner light. Remain blessed in Jesus name.

GIVE HIM THANKS

Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

 

    God is able to handle any situation as Creator; He will reverse the irreversible and make the impossible possible and you will celebrate in Jesus name. The presence of God will never cease in your life in Jesus name.

  Introduction  

 Giving thanks to God is an aspect of worship and especially prayer.  Prayer is not just asking but appreciating the benefits God loaded us with. A thankful heart is a joyful heart. A joyful heart without thankful heart is a wasteful heart. Give thanks in all things and see how things turn around for better in your life.

 The topic of this message is taken from verse 4 of Psalm 100 which says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (NIV) As God's people, we should always focus our thoughts upon the goodness and sovereignty of God so as to offer our gratitude to Him for whom He is and for all He has done for us. Look beyond your difficulties and limitations. There is a God that is bigger and stronger than what you are facing. 

To make thanksgiving a way of life, you must understand these basic truths: 

1. Know That the Lord, He Is God! v3

2. It Is He Who Made Us v3

3. Know That God Is Good v5

Explanations

1. Know that the Lord is God. Acknowledging God’s supremacy over all things is first in getting our relationship right with Him. The way you worship Him, serve Him and praise Him has to do with your level of knowing God. In Jeremiah 19: 23,24 the Lord says, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let   not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich  man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am  the Lord...” Also Paul desires to know Him more. Philippians 3:10; 1 John 4:6-7; Jeremiah 31:33-34; Psalm 46:10. Giving thanks to the Lord is based on the depth of one’s knowledge of the Lord as God.

You can know Him by revelation. God appeared to the Patriarchs in the dreams, and visions. He still does today but in a clearer dimension through Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…” Hebrews 1: 1-3 (NIV) The more intimate with Christ the deeper your knowledge of God. Through the study of God’s word and meditation, the Holy Spirit reveals God and His mind to you. In knowing Him, your situations succumb to His Lordship. 

 2. It Is He Who Made Us. God deserves our heart of thanks because He is our Maker. As a Maker, he keeps and supplies our needs. We enjoy peace in our heart and mind because the God who can create an entire heaven and earth also knows and cares so much about every one of us. We are not alone. God promises His presence with us wherever we go. No wonder He says in Isaiah 43: 2, 3 that, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” (cf Genesis 28:20; Joshua 14:12; 2 Corinthians 13:11) God is able to handle any situation as Creator; He will reverse the irreversible and make the impossible possible and you will celebrate in Jesus name. The presence of God will never cease in your life in Jesus name. 

3. Know That God Is Good. Do you doubt God’s goodness? The Bible confirms that whatever you may be passing through, know that God is good. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone” James 1: 13; The Bible says, "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you." - Psalm 31:19 (NIV).   Give Him thanks because He is God. Give Him thanks because He is our Maker. Give Him thanks because He is good. Therefore, He will not withhold any good thing from you.  The Bible says, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalm 84:11 

Conclusion

 I charge you to rise up and put your past in the past. Focus your attention on the immensity of God and His goodness. Give Him thanks for how you overcame in the past; give Him thanks for the present experience that has not consumed you. Bless His name for in Him your future is secured. He is able to handle what no man can handle. Halleluyah!

Breaking All Limits

 Whoever wants to break limits must prepare for war. The forces that placed them on our ways are aiming at pulling us down

Rev'd G. S. Adeyemo

 Text:- Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;  I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. Isaiah 45: 1-3

Introduction 

Our environment, background, forces of evil constitutes limits on us preventing us from becoming what God has designed for us. This is why many accept their limitations as their cross. However, it is the will of God for all His children to beak limits on their journey of life so they can enjoy supernatural progress. The Bible says, “For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.” Isaiah 54: 3

Do Not Settle For Little! We are products of limitations. One of the consequences of adamic nature in us is limitations. We could not see nor understand many things. As a result, we are full of anxieties, worries and fears. But he who fears being conquered is sure of defeat. God’s original purpose for your life has not changed. When a Christian is dealing with struggles in life it’s not to defeat us, but make us stronger.  He wants you to have dominion over all creatures. When you fall down you should rise up again and don’t give up. Do not settle for little, God has greater things to do in your life. John 16:33; Judges 7:19-22; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10; Psalm 34:19; Hebrews 10:35-36; Psalm 34:18

Prepare for War! Whoever wants to break limits must prepare for war. The forces that placed them on our ways are aiming at pulling us down and will do everything they can to resist or discourage us from progressing to the next level. 

Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack” Joel 3: 9

 This is not a religious or physical battle. Christians don’t fight with physical weapons in the spiritual war. The Bible says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” 2 Corinthians 10: 4. 

In Christ, we have the capability to pull down men's high-minded rumblings and attacks against our destiny. We can lay waste the imagination of man, and put to naught everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of the truth. The weapons are listed in Ephesians 6: 10-16

They are 

 the belt of truth 

 the breastplate of righteousness 

 the gospel of peace

 shield of faith

 helmet of salvation 

 the sword of the Spirit 

 As you put on these armours, rise in the strength of the Lord and breakthrough all limits in Jesus name

 

Don't Give Up!

 
If you will not outrun God because of the severity of your problems, you will surely overcome and enjoy the blessings of God.

 

Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

 

God told Isaac not to go down to Egypt because of the famine; however, he should stay in Gerar. God promised to bless him even in the land of the Philistines and amidst famine.  Isaac obeyed God and stayed in that land. 

“And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:” Genesis 26:2-6. 

Isaac obeyed and God fulfilled His promise concerning him. If you will not outrun God because of the severity of your problems, you will surely overcome and enjoy the blessings of God. 

Gerar means rolling city. It is a place of incessant attack on God’s given vision and progress of the family of Isaac. As a matter of fact, difficulties abound in Gerar; but the reality is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Your recurrent trouble will end in outstanding testimonies. When God is leading and directing your move, no matter how many are your afflictions, they will bow and you will lift up your eyes and declare, “NOW THE LORD HATH MADE ROOM FOR US” Genesis 26: 22b. The Lord is able to turnaround the hardest experience into perpetual breakthroughs for generations to come. In Exodus 15 verses 26 and 27 the Bible says, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Before Isaac entered into his Rehoboth, he got adequate leading from God. He determined to press on in the face of oppositions and intimidation. Another important thing Isaac did which I will encourage everyone reading this message to  do is SOWING. To an ordinary mind, there are several reasons for Isaac not to sow in the land of Gerar. First there was famine all over the land. There was scarcity of rainfall and there was hostility from the host city. Even with that Isaac sowed in that land and in that year. He reaped in the same year in same place. This was so because; every seed sowed is backed by a covenant. It was ordained by God not just because you are spiritual. Jesus said, “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5: 45 

Whenever you have the opportunity to sow, don’t give up, you must be glad that God is giving you a Rehoboth. A place of enlargement and comfort. Therefore, 

 Sow in faith
 Sow quality seed
 Sow sacrificially

As you do so, the Lord God of the harvest will prosper your ways and home in Jesus name. 

STEPPING INTO YOUR REHOBOTH

 Those who can move and that in the right direction secure the future destined for them by God.

Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

 
Introduction

As I was preparing for this message I stumbled on these words of encouragement by Lee Grady which I found so sweet. He says, "We must keep walking by faith, even when we feel trapped in Philistine territory. We must keep trudging ahead. We must go over the next hill. We must turn the next corner. There is a Rehoboth nearby!”  There are three Ms that are very significant in our journey of life. These are: Move, Mix and Miss. God want us to always be on the move not just physically but in all endeavours. When a man refuses to move God confuses him. If you don’t move you will mix with the world around you and miss out in the scheme supernatural progress. The Bible says, “So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” Gen. 11: 8, 9 

This is an age of moving and moving fast. Those who can move and that in the right direction secure the future destined for them by God. Those who cannot move will have to mix up and be subjected to the whims and caprices of the forces around them. Their destiny is managed and manipulated by the environmental influence. 

Do not be static because of what you feel or see or hear that has filled your mind with great fear. That threat will fade away and you will step into your Rehoboth in Jesus name. Those who allow themselves to mix may miss out of the joyful end. 

Isaac kept moving until he got to his Rehoboth. There were series of oppositions, persecutions, temptations and afflictions. He never allowed those things hold him down. The word of God says, “Isaac moved on from there and dug another well. But no one argued about that one. So he named it Rehoboth. He said, “Now the LORD has given us room. Now we will be successful in the land.” Genesis 26: 22; Gen. 11: 8; Exo 14: 15

Life is a race; no stopping, no standing, no waiting but you must move on. Put off those things that can hold you down. The Bible says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” Hebrews 12: 1 

Preparing To Step Into Your Rehoboth

The keyword here is ‘prepare’. Jesus said, "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Luke 14: 31; To consider means think carefully about something you want to do, get all you need, make up your mind and step into action. In order to step into your Rehoboth, equip yourself.

First, get adequate Information through: 

• revelation

• experienced people

• study

Second, have a great Determination through:

• purposeful planning

• definite actions

• invaluable sacrifices

Conclusion: Everyone is on the race from the womb and will end it in the tomb. However, only the winners will be crowned. The capacity to step into your Rehoboth is in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will fill you with His Spirit and wisdom for you to move on and you will possess your possessions in Jesus name. 

Finishing the Race with Joy

The opportunity to represent God as His mouthpiece or in any capacity is a responsibility that must be carried out with all sense of commitment, honesty and integrity. 

Our theme this year is Moving Forward: Finishing the Race with Joy. The text is taken from Acts 20: 24 which says, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the  Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” The favour we all enjoy is the choice God made in calling people to salvation and service. He chose the weak and feeble men and women to show forth His power through them. Jesus declared,  “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” 1 Corinthians 1: 26-27. The opportunity to represent God as His mouthpiece or in any capacity is a responsibility that must be carried out with all sense of commitment, honesty and integrity. This is because God will only bless your faithfulness and not your activities. You are not called to convenience but consecration that demands absolute sacrifice. I am confident that God honours sincere services and will not deprive you of the blessings attached to obedience to instructions.  

Your Calling And Position Is An Opportunity: You are given the rare privilege to be a co-labourer with the Most High God. Do not abuse such opportunity or handle it with levity. Gal. 5: 13; Col. 3: 23; Eccl 9:10, Jer 48:10; Luk 10: 27; Matt. 22: 37; Deut. 6:4-7, Matt 22:37-40, Mk 12:30-31.

Determine to Finish Well: No stopping, no parking no loitering are short warnings we use to see by the roadside at very strategic places. The race set before us can only terminate at death. That’s why we are challenged to press forward and run to the end. Phil 3: 4-7. It calls for: 

• Concentration Heb. 12: 1;
• Availability and Activeness Rom. 12: 1
• Obedience Joh 8: 47
• Discipline Luk 9: 23
• Prayer  1 Thess 5: 22
• Spirit-filled life Gal. 5: 22-26

May you finish the race with joy  as you do so in Jesus name.