THEME: ”WALK FAITHFULLY IN THE SPIRIT”

TEXT- 2 KINGS 2:1-6, GAL. 5:1,13-25, LUKE 9:51-62.

PREACHER: REV. J.F.K. MENSAH

The attitude to the theme is one of two extremes. In one, people believe that the Spirit behaves so erratically while in the other some Christians want the Spirit to tell them everything before thinking and would die before they think they are being led in the Spirit.

First of all a faithful person is a reliable and trustworthy person.

There are three important things we need to know in connection with the theme.

1. What do we mean by walking in the Spirit?

2. Why is it important to walk in the Spirit?

3. How do we walk in the Spirit?

What do we mean by walking in the Spirit?

Looking at Galatians 5:16, we would not satisfy or gratify the desires of life. If you are not born in the Spirit you cannot walk in it. (John 3:16, Romans 8:9, Ephesians 5:18) In order to be born in the Spirit, you must feel it. The Spirit gives guidance, control and leadership.

The church of the New Testament had a rich experience with the Holy Spirit unlike churches of today; we see instances of how Paul was directed by the Spirit. In Acts 8:26-29 the Spirit made Phillip join the chariot of the Ethiopian Eunuch. We learn from Acts 20:28 of how every office of the church was planted by the Holy Spirit and how he chaired the council.

Why is it important to walk in the Spirit?

The Old Testament had little to reveal about the Spirit in Deuteronomy 34:9, Joel 2:32 etc. If Jesus is even led by the Spirit, how about us. John 14:16,17 assures us of another Comforter and he would guide us in all truth. Jesus is sending the Spirit to represent him in all these scriptures.

Faithfulness in our ways consists of

1. Giving ourselves to Christ.

2. Being filled with the Spirit.(Ephesians 8:17,Acts 19:1-7) this is a separate experience from just giving ourselves to Christ.

3. Being controlled in the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit means

i. Walking according to the fruits of love, patience etc.

ii. It includes working with the gifts of the Spirit.

The Lord does not forgive sins against the Spirit and such sins are

a) Lying (Acts 5:3-4)

b) tempting the Spirit

c) insulting the Spirit(Hebrews 10:29)

d) Grieving the Spirit (Ephesians 4:13)

e) quenching the Spirit (Thessalonians 19:21)

f) resisting the Spirit (Acts 7:51) and

g) Blaspheming the Spirit (Mathew 12:31-32).

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:13)

JUNE 20, 2010 TEXT- ISAIAH 65: 1-9, GAL. 3:23-29, LUKE 8:26-39. THEME:”CHRIST SHALL SET YOU FREE”

PREACHER: REV. PAUL ADU

There are christians who are members of  Lodges and Secret societies. We even find churches that do not allow members to put on footwear, eat certain foods on certain days etc but in doing these we allow all sorts of demons to possess us.

When we walk with all kinds of people, we are affected by their ways in one way or the other like the bible says “iron sharpeneth iron”, behind all these things are demons.                                        In the bible the demon recognised Jesus and called him son of God elevating his divinity. In the storm the disciples asked the people what kind of man he was. Greater is he that is in us the world.

A girl was sick and her mother decided to take her to a priestess. When the preacher was invited by the woman to pray for her daughters supposed illness the girl told the team that her mother had taken her to a shrine and was found out to have possessed a demon in the process. The prayer team prayed for her and it took two weeks for the spirit toleave her paralysed. This sister had a walk with christ in life so despite this fact that she was possessed by a spirit,  the spirit could not operate in her life.

Whenever we have problems we should realise that jesus is the only one who can set us free. The power Jesus used to heal is in us. (John 14:16)  Psalm 92:10 tells us that we need fresh annointing for everyday and prayer increases the annointing. When the demons come and see us annointed they run away. John 8:36  says if the son shall set you free you would be free indeed, we would have to depend on him daily.

JUNE 13, 2010 TEXT- 2 SAMUEL 12: 13-15, GAL. 2:15-21, LUKE 7:36-50. THEME:”THE LORD FORGIVES”

PREACHER: REV. SETH KISSI

One of the marks of nature comes to us in the theme. To heir is human but to forgive is divine. We realise the divine nature of forgiveness when we can feel anger for acts against us. Forgiveness does not appeal to us especially when we want to pay back and do have fellow Christians urging us on. This is why it is said not to be human but divine.

Jesus demonstrated forgiveness at the table when a woman came straight to him holding his leg and weeping. After which she uses her hair to clean the feet of Christ and kissing his feet. The Pharisees asked how Jesus could feel for such a sinful person. It was an act that would destroy the image of a teacher. Or could it be that he had a past relationship with her under the ministry of John the Baptist but was still not evident.

Christ demonstrated an attitude that no one of that calibre or religious teacher did. Simon the prophet described him as a man of God. The teacher never tolerated woman in those times how much more a woman perceived sinful. In the face of this perception he forgave her in the face of all of us. This attitude towards the woman made her break down. She never saw such a person. He treated her as one that was worthy; this act obviously broke her defences.

It is very difficult to apply what Jesus did. He shows us the forgiveness that described the sinner as useless to someone who begins to enjoy the peace and well being that Jesus has. He turns us from enemies of God to people who have enjoyed the best of situations. The early church used this to advice people in the church like Simon. In these last days people equalled nothing before God.

It was used to defend the openness of the church to sinners. Jesus owns openness was the reason that could also be changed. This passage attests to the grace of God to the sinners. This is what Jesus did as he said go in peace. In the book of Samuel, God through the prophet Nathan forgave David for adultery. David went on to become one of the best kings and the rod for our measure. The messiah was called his son because of God’s forgiveness in spite of his previous sins.

The second reading we find the people describe the act as lawlessness and Christ an agent of sin. Paul then jumped to his defence and argues in Galatians 5 that all this does not lead to one becoming lawless/ Godless. What we are to make of this is that it is the nature iof God to forgive and there is no sin too big for him. Gods forgiveness makes the unrighteous become righteous and a notorious sinner, a saint in his eyes.

Our responses:

1.      We need to come before God in repentance. No matter how big your label as a sinner he invites us to come. God is ready to forgive us, no sin is too great for him.

2.      We must forgive. It is divine nature. Instead of vengeance at represent from hatred. The hand that forgives is what we need. When we forgive we break the cycle of anger, vengeance. When we forgive we are able to make society rest and heal our people from bitterness.

Very difficult people are not changed by punishment. Anything that would break their hearts and make them better people. God with us.

JUNE 6, 2010 TEXT- 1 KINGS 17:17-24, GAL. 1:11-24, LUKE 7:11-17. THEME:”GOD HAS COME TO HELP HIS PEOPLE”

PREACHER: REV. ISAAC ETUAH-JACKSON

Today is the second Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday after trinity it is a season of growth, till advent in November. It has assured as that our God has manifested us in three ways. He is with us to help us as we travel. We believe that our God worships and would always be with us. Elijah was sent to the northern kingdom of Israel in the first half of 17B.C to give the knowledge of God to the kings who had turned to Pagan gods. 1 kings 17 taught us about his ministry. He warned that there was not going to be rain for a number of days.

Elijah went to the widow of Zarapheth who lost her son. In those days it was common that the presence of a prophet means God is around. “Have you come to remind me of my sins and to kill my son”, Elijah laid his hands over the boy and prayed for him the boy regained consciousness. God was not doing any such thing he only wanted to strengthen her faith and resolution. The woman knew now that he was a man of God. When God comes to speak to your faith. She was convinced that Elijah was a true man of God. There are false Prophets in the church today using people for their own personal gains.

Jesus raised the son of widow from Nain in Luke 7. He was in compassion and spoke to the young man who was son of the woman. The boy rose instantly, Fear tripped those who were there that a prophet had risen among them. Jesus became a man in other to feel our pain, sin and undergo trials. He stood amidst this and conquered the world hence he is without fault and is able to intercede for us. The storms and trials of this earthly world.

It teaches us that trials are a very important part of our lives. No proper Christian can say his life is without trials. God has come to help us through challenges.

We need Christ and cannot do without him. God would open our eyes for us to see the things he’s doing in our lives. In all our trials and temptations that you are free and has us in our lives.

MAY 30, 2010 TEXT- ACTS 2:1-21, ROM 8:14-17, JOHN 14:25-27. THEME:”THE RELEVANCE OF GOD THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT”

PREACHER: REV. DR. CYRIL FAYOSE

There are three (3) persons in the Godhead and this remains a mystery. We have God the father (creator and sustainer of the universe), the Son (the redeemer) and the Holy Spirit (the counsellor and advocate). Jesus Christ said,”i have a lot to tell you but when the spirit of truth comes he would guide you with all truth”.

Long life still remains a mystery and everyone is still looking for longevity. This is one of the three themes known as deluge. The hyperborean theme is one that believes that there are people in Asia, the Caribbean and some other parts of the world live long.

 Fountain/ rejuvenation theme is the third which says that there is a substance that when you lay your hands on you would live forever. It pertained for a long time before us. An explorer travelled the world in search of this substance.

Today the third person of the trinity says that he would give us into all truth and the life. This spirit is like a harbour master he opens the door for entry to users. The Holy Spirit does this in four ways:

i. He counsels or advocates us in times when we are perplexed and confused by telling the truth. One of the most important things in counselling is telling the truth. Most people are perplexed or confused because people keep on lying to them. When someone has a smelly mouth he avoids people but no one gathers the courage to tell him/her. By telling the truth our problem is half solved. The Holy Spirit tells us who we are and what we have to do in such situations.

ii. Comfort; Jesus knew there were times they would be in sorrow, grief and would need the third person to comfort us. When anything happens to unbelievers they run looking for shrines e.tc but for us Christians the spirit comforts us because this is temporal and there is something ahead of us.

iii. He is our companion; he is with us till the very end. At the time Steven was stoned he asked for forgiveness.

Iv. He also sends us as Christians to convict, comfort and be a companion to friends.

May the Lord help us to go out and be a brother to people.

MAY 23, 2010 CHILDREN’S DAY TEXT- ACTS 2:1-21, ROM 8:14-17, JOHN 14:25-27. THEME:”SEND FORTH YOUR SPIRIT”

PREACHER: BRO. ANDY SAM

Joel prophesied that on the day of the Lord the spirit would be poured on all my people. On the day of Pentecost God gave us all gifts to fulfil this prophesy. Today’s theme suggests that someone was making a command, our first leaving a question on our minds to answer; who made the command and to whom was it directed to.

This request was being made by the disciples of God to God our father and Christ the saviour. Secondly, God needed to send us someone and on this day of Pentecost we find this spirit come on God’s people leaving the third person with us.

The Holy Spirit is the founder of the church. He guides the people of the universal church, transforms and leaves us with his fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. He gives us a new life (john 3 & Romans 10), comforts us internally, prevails and glorifies Christ, chief witness of Christ, convicts us of our sins and intercedes on our behalf. (Acts 2:11) but the greatest of all is that he gives us all salvation. How fortunate we are!

The fruits of the spirit produced are;

Love which is about strength being devoted to the well being of someone.

 Joy about a brothers success and not envy or hatred.

Peace, harmony, order amidst turmoil, strive and temptation.

Patience

Kindness described by the Greek word pestotis. It means to be soft spoken, ill-tempered, cultured and reflects in character and conduct.

Goodness kind, generous, virtuous and benevolent.

Faithfulness in Greek means kistess means living whole heartedly, being confident, assurance trust and rely in God all he does.

Gentleness means to be even balanced, kind and gentle.

Self control suggests we are moderate in indulgence of sin

Beloved take this message and  remember to be good.