mid-week service

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:

1.             Read the Bible prayerfully (Psalm 119:18)

2.              Read the Bible thoughtfully and applicably. Think about the meaning and implications of what you are reading.

3.      Read the Bible carefully. Take careful not only of the words that are used but also of how they relate to one another.

4.      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.

5.      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.

6.      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.

7.      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.

8.      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.

1.      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.

2.      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).

3.      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

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Friday Bekee

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Friday Bekee

Anchor Scripture: Mark 6: 35

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.

2.          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

Anchor Scripture: Mark 16: 1 - 8

Anchor Scripture: Exodus 25: 1- 8

Day 1 Evening Session
Anchor Scripture: 1 Samuel 7: 1-13

Day 1 - Morning Session
Anchor Scripture: John 8:1-12

Anchor Scripture: Exodus 34: 1-35

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.