The Holy Spirit

Speaker: Pastor Anthony Chinan
Bible Scriptures:
John 1:10 - He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

John 6:63 - The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life

John 7:37 - 39 - Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Notes: Say today "you will experience the life of abundance." The abundance of life came through the power of The Holy Ghost. Takes God word upon you and your life I’ll never be the same. You need to worship God, and search the word of God, so you shall have the power, and strength from God. When you believe right, you do right. God have come so that you may have life, and you will have abundance. If anyone thirst come to the Lord Jesus Christ, out of your heart flows rivers and waters. If you condemn your brothers, and sisters, then you don't have the flows of rivers an waters in our heart.

God is our father. Are you part of what he is doing?

Speaker: Pastor Frank Osayi

Bible Scripture:

Proverbs 4:20 - My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Philippians 2:3 - 4 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Galatians 5:16 - 17 - So I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Notes: Pay attention to what God says, he's the one who chose you to do his work. Always listen to your heavenly father; whatever he told you what to do, you do exactly what he told you. Let God be your first priority in life, & seek God's kingdom & his righteousness. Pride is looking at self-high, and having too much self-esteem. Let the Holy Spirit guide you, and lead you. Do not do anything in self ambition. When the Holy Spirit led you, he will lead you to joy, peace, & righteousness. Some people are looking for their own good, not for other people. You need to look at something that will benefit others like you wife or husband, family, coworkers, neighbors, and high authority. That is what was supposed to do, God is our father, and you need to be part of what he is doing.

The Heart 2

Speaker: Pastor Frank Osayi

Bible Scripture:

2nd Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

 Matthew 5:13 - 15 - You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Philippians 2:5 - 6 - In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

 Ephesians 2:8 - 9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.

 Notes: we are the light of the world. At night, what do you see: Darkness, and in the morning what do you see: Light. A Heart is like a bucket, or a container, that you put things inside. We are here in the physical world, but we cannot see the spiritual world. When someone is playing music and they just left it enters your mind, that if it’s a bad music then it’s the devil trying to enter your mind, when you’re a Christian you rebuke the music out of your mind, pray, and ask God for forgiveness.

When you are born again God enters/come to your life then every darkness will disappear. Good works is a product of salvation. Chris did not come just to take you to Heaven, be sweet and kind to people in your home, at work, at school, at your apartment complex, everywhere you need to be kind and generous. Our desire to please God increase. We must think and act like Christ. God want us to use the gift that he gave unto us good and use it for his glory. We were created not for evil work but for good works. When you switch on a light and there is still darkness then there’s something wrong, but if you switch on the light and it is on, then there is nothing wrong with you.

 What You Need To Change:

1. Your Priority

2. What You Crave After

3. Your Outlook, Your Outward Appearance, & Inward

The Heart

Speaker: Minister Anthony Chinan
Bible Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 7:21 - Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

Colossians 3:15 - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Proverbs 23:7 - for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

Philippians 4:8 - 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.

Notes: It’s easy to get offended, it's easy to know what’s going to happen next, and know a little bit of the future. The Holy guide you, he will lead you. Your heart, mind, and spirit will change, everything will change. People will say all things about you, you need to come to church for God to change you, heal you, and make you clean &good. You need to move the good thing, and know the truth, you will be healed, and by his strife you are healed. Jesus tells you to keep on coming, and receiver good news, keep on coming church, and you will receive a good heart. From today I want you to guard your heart. God is not after your mistakes, God is not going to hold you responsible for your mistakes you did, but you need to ask for forgiveness, confess, and ask for healing. Receive what is good, forget about the pass. We laugh, and we rejoice, because we got Jesus. Receive the word of truth. Don't receive what people talk about you, don't receive the enemy, and don’t receive your past that is bad. Tell the truth always because his truth shall set you free. Don't receive what the enemy is telling you; change your mind into a good thought. Meditate on the last two scriptures for 7 days, 10 minutes each day. God bless you, & have a wonderful day.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Speaker: Phil Morgan
Bible Scripture:
Luke 9:57-62 -
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Luke records for us in this passage an account of THREE (3) MEN whom Jesus met as He travelled along with His disciples. Two of these men declared that they wished to follow Jesus; to become His disciples. The other was one whom Jesus SUMMONED to follow Him. What immediately strikes me is the way in which Jesus handles these inquirers (and I think that this is Luke’s reason for recording the details of these meetings). MOST men with a cause are busy trying to recruit as MANY as they can. Most preachers are busy trying to get as many members for their church as they possibly can (and most have good intentions). I like seeing new members myself!It’s natural. It’s what we expect to see. But Jesus is radically different in His approach. He seems to spend a great deal of His time trying to DISSUADE men from following after Him - or at least that’s what it looks like.
A minister friend of mine was sharing with me recently some advice he was given by an aging preacher whom he greatly respected. The old man said to him, “Son, always endeavour to keep your church as SMALL as you can!” That’s strange talk isn’t it?! And that was coming from a man who himself had pastored quite a large congregation. But what he meant was, preach the truth of God’s salvation, and the demands of following Jesus, SO CLEARLY that ONLY those who have counted the cost and are ready to give up ALL for Christ will join themselves to you.
Friends, it’s my desire to see as many as possible come to Christ - I pray to see them come in their hundreds and even thousands - BUT I DON‘T JUST WANT TO GET A CROWD . . . that doesn’t interest me at all! I want to see men and women, young people, boys and girls turning to Christ with whole hearts; becoming TRUE sold out disciples of the Master. Hallelujah!
And so, it’s interesting to read of Jesus’ way of dealing with those who expressed a desire to follow Him; He seems to be trying to DISCOURAGE them. BUT NOT REALLY. In actual fact Jesus’ desire is that people WILL follow Him - but He wants them to think it through first . . . to count the cost involved . . . so that once they DO follow Him they’ll never turn back. Even as He spells out what is required in such clear, shocking terms, inside He is longing for them to accept it - He’s rooting for them - but the cost is the cost . . . it’s non-negotiable . . . and they MUST be prepared for it. Would you look with me tonight at these three men who Jesus confronted with His demands, and consider with me “THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS”.
We read of the first man in VERSES 57-58. And from Jesus’ conversation with him we learn that:
1. THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS HAS NO EARTHLY SECURITY
[READ vv57-58]
It’s quite a bold statement this one makes, isn’t it?! “I will follow you WHEREVER you go!” Can you say that without any idea of where this Jesus may be headed . . . what may be involved in the journey?! Perhaps you need some more information

What does the bible say about tattoo and piercing?

A lot of people been asking me what does the bible say about tattoos & piercing? So her you go!

Old Testament

The only Scripture specifically mentioning “tattoos” is found in the Old Testament: “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:28. Tattoos were used extensively by the other nations for pagan worship, decoration, and to mark a slave. Based on Leviticus 19:28, tattoos are still forbidden among Jews today (by both Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed Judaism). There is even one rabbinic text prohibiting the burial of bodies with tattoos. (However this prohibition is very rarely enforced – although some traditional Jewish mortuaries and cemeteries will not officiate at a funeral of one who is tattooed.)

The only Scripture that I know of on decorative “piercing” (as opposed to piercing by a sword or nails) is Exodus 21:6. This is a passage on piercing the ear lobe of a person to mark him as a slave. In the Jewish nation, slaves and pagans were the only ones with pierced ears. When Jacob’s family wanted to set themselves apart to the Lord, earrings are specifically mentioned as items that they put off (Genesis 35:4). Apparently any disfigurement or cutting  of the body was not allowed for His “holy people” (see Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1-2; 1 Kings 18:28). The only exception to this was circumcision (Genesis 17:11-13). In modern day Judaism, it has become permissible for women in the West to pierce their ears because it is a common practice among the majority non-Jewish population. Jewish men, however, still may not pierce their ears.

In the Jewish writings on this subject, the rabbis refer to two concepts: (1) We were “made in the image of God.” Even though God is spirit, somehow our bodies reflect God’s glory. (2) Our bodies are a good gift from God – complete as is. As one Jewish rabbi put it, “No matter how well considered, a tattoo is the result of a short-term decision to decorate the body forever. What hubris to imagine that any of us, as individuals, can improve artistically on the original design of the Lord.”

New Testament

So if you were a Jew living in the Old Testament (or today), it would be clear that God forbids tattoos and piercings. However, Christians don’t obey all the Old Testament laws. As a matter of fact, some of them are specifically set aside by Jesus and the apostles. Are tattoos and piercings still forbidden or are they now acceptable for a Christian?

For more on the subject of taking Old Testament commandments and relating them to the present day, I recommend that you read How to Apply the Old Testament to Today. But let’s ask, “Do the Old Testament verses line up with any basic principle found in the New Testament?” The answer is “yes.” There is the New Testament concept that our bodies are not our own. This teaching is found specifically in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20:

“The body is meant for the Lord” 1 Corinthians 6:13.
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
“Honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20.
The key principle here seems to be that our bodies belong to God, not ourselves, and that we are to use them in ways that honor and reflect God’s glory.

Conclusion

Now let’s use deduction to arrive at a conclusion. Based upon these facts (the Old Testament commands against tattoos and piercings AND the New Testament principle that my body is not my own) I would reason that God would rather I leave my body free from self-inflicted marks and cuts. We were made in “the image of God.” Apparently He thinks no further pictorial adornment is needed.

Could I be wrong about this? Sure, it’s a deduction, rather than a specific New Testament command. But I think the key point that is clear in the New Testament is that our bodies aren’t really ours to decorate as we see fit. Therefore, I tell people to ask God whether He wants His body tattooed or pierced. If you get a “yes” answer, then I won’t condemn you. Just make sure it is God speaking to you and not you speaking to yourself in the name of God.

A Final Word

Nothing in what I’ve said is meant to imply any disapproval against those who come to Christ with tattoos, cuttings, or piercings. We come to Jesus just as we are – with all our imperfections in spirit and body. There are many people in our church who have tattoos and scars from their previous life before Christ. Some of these tattoos are even pagan or demonic. Some of the cuttings are from suicide attempts. No one looks down on these brothers or sisters or judges them. We are all flawed sinners. That is why we need Jesus. Some of us bear our markings outwardly. Some of us bear them more inwardly.

Christmas Special: Jesus is Like a Vine

Speaker: Pastor Frank Osayi
Bible Scriptures:
John 15:1 - 6 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 3:16 - For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believe in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

1st John 3:8 - The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.


Notes: Unto us a son is given, a child is born, a gift was given to us. Jesus came into this world so we may have life. Jesus has come to give you life, if you want  peaceful life, a joyful life, a blessed life, come to Jesus. The work of the devil was to destroy your life, and to steal, to kill, and destroy. The work of the Lord was to destroy the devil and his work. All Gods children must be attached to his vine, were the branch and he is the vine (we must be with God, and never leave his sight). Stay connected o Jesus, don't run away, a branch cannot survive when they are apart from the vine.