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1 Cor 1: 24, 30 .... Jesus Christ is our Wisdom, Power, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption

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Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0503

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A Mother’s Love

 

Bible Nugget 0503 [Exodus 2:1-10, KJV]

1And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

 2And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

 3And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.

 4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

 5And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

 6And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.

 7Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

 8And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.

 9And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it.

 10And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

 

In today’s message let us reflect on how a mother’s love protects a defenseless child in the face of great odds and danger. A mother’s love will want the best for the child right from infancy. When Moses was born he was a proper child. Our focus today is to look at how such a great potential as a child could have been destroyed by a senseless decree of a king. The mother saw him, loved him and wanted to protect him. She must have prayed how do I protect this beautiful child. She probably saw the hidden treasure of a great man of God hidden in this little child. God gave her wisdom to beat the enemy in his own game. He deposited a time bomb right in the palace itself. Pharaoh’s daughter became the mother of Moses by adoption. Through this Moses, learnt all the acts of Egypt. Thee seed of and thirst for the true God continued to germinate in his heart. At the fullness of time, he came to himself and refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter anymore. All these because of the love of a mother who had a vision for her child. As you ponder over you child or children from day to day, trust God put your faith in him. His word says his love is stronger than the love of a woman for a child.

 

Isaiah 49:15

15Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.   

 

Notice the bible uses the word woman instead of mother in this comparison. The love of a mother is even stronger for a child, than just a woman and a child. A woman has to be bonded to the child to be a mother. To the teenage woman or any woman wishing to have a child: are you ready to be a mother to a child if God blesses you with a child. Are you ready to love and protect that God given blessing against all the odd’s the child will face without your help? To the mother, continue to commit your children to God. and God will lift them up as you do this.

Hannah was another mother in the bible who compassionately cared for her child. Having been blessed with his birth because she was barren, she saw to it that the child did not live a wayward life. The child also became a firebrand man of God because of the dutiful, prayerful character of Hannah.

1 Sam 2:18-21

18But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

 19Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

 20And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

 21And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

  To the fathers, thank God for being a parent. You too have a responsibility to the proper upbringing of your child but we will hear a sermon on that another day.  

 

PRAYER POINTS

Pray the following prayers aggressively:

1.   O God, thank you for making me a parent. Thank you for my child(ren). Show them your mercy all the days of their lives in Jesus Name.

 2. Oh Lord, make my children treasures in your household. Let them be a blessing to their generation in Jesus Name.

3.  Lord, let your love surround me. Let my soul continue to search for you even as a weaned child in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nugget 0409

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WISDOM SERIES: WISDOM OF THE CROSS (I)

 

Excerpts from a sermon on “Wisdom of the Cross”

 

DATE: October 05 2008

Church: Champions Pariah, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Edmonton, AB Canada 

Minister: Joseph Agbi

 

 

Bible Nugget 0409 [2 Corinthians 5:19]

 

 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

 

Today we begin a very important series, the foundation on which this gospel outreach is based. It is called the wisdom of the cross. Something outstanding had to happen for God to turn rebellious man back to himself. One thing that can be compared in minuscule proportion to this glorious divine act is what is commonly called ‘miracle’. Jesus rebuking the Pharisees, and scorners who came to his meetings said except you see a miracle, you will not believe. So he performed one for them to see. Some believed, and some did not.

 

We will start from the basics and then build up the sermon.

 

What is Wisdom?

 

Wisdom is defined as knowledge guided by understanding.

 

Connection of Wisdom to Power and Authority

If you have power and authority and you are not wise, you can lose the power and authority in a moment of time. Examples are

•         Monarchical Power: A king who does not rule by wisdom soon loses the respect of his people. They begin to disobey him in their words or action.

•         Moral & Spiritual Power: For example, Men of God who fall into sin.

 

Wisdom and knowledge of God Described

•          The wisdom of God described in one sentence. 

It is deep, rich, unsearchable and past finding out.

 

Rom 11:33

 

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

 

The Fall of Man

 

•         God’s love for us never ends. He created us to have fellowship with him.

•         He values man as his most precious creation. Because man was created in the image of  God [Gen 1v26].

•         Man trespassed in the garden of Eden

•          Adam fell and lost the glory God asked Adam “where are you”.

God could not accept the sin of Adam for two reasons.

  1. Man was made in the Image of God, and God gave him authority over his creation Gen 1:26

26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

 

  1. God’s eyes are pure, he does not behold iniquity. [Hab 1: 13]

 13Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

 

God’s Redemptive Plan Jump Started at Eden

 

•          God’s battle with the enemy of our souls is like a general who goes to war and will not accept defeat when the enemy comes for a raid and the enemy gains temporary victory. An example was when David’s camp was raided by the enemy.

 

1 Sam 30 v 1-3

 

 1And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

 2And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

 3So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

 

David’s love for his family and his soldiers families drove them to arise from distress, seek God’s face and take the battle to the gates of the enemy.

 Similarly, the world is the kingdom of the enemy and God is fighting through the death of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit to reclaim or reconcile us who are domiciled in the world back to himself. That is what our nugget scripture is making us to understand.

 

 

 

God jump started redemption right from the day man fell. Adam and eve covered themselves with fig leaves [the foolishness of man’s devised religion] but God said that is not enough to restore my glory. He covered man with animal skin, having shed the blood of animal because the without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. God has made provision for your salvation. Accept Jesus today if you have not done so.

 

 Prayer Points 0409

Prayer of Salvation: Oh Lord thank you for including me in your redemptive plan. I ask for your mercy. I accept I am a sinner. I ask for the blood of Jesus to wash my heart clean. Lord Jesus come into my heart. Holy Spirit dwell in my heart. I will not go back to my sins or allow the devil to be my master. I will walk with you Lord. Light my path daily and make me heavenly conscious all the days of my life in Jesus Name. Thank you for not allowing me to die in my sins. Thank you for reconciling me back to yourself in Jesus Name.

 

If you are already saved, thank God for your salvation and pray these two prayer points.

  1. Lord fill me inside with your wisdom. Make my heart to be intimate with your Holy Spirit. Lead me through all the battles I encounter in this world in the mighty name of Jesus.
  2. Oh Lord, let me carry your full image, spirit, soul and body. I will walk in your glory and your power you have covered me with in the mighty Name of Jesus.

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0313

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Adorned with Majesty Light

Bible Nugget 0313 [Psalm 93 v 1-2 NKJV]
1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
         The LORD is clothed,
         He has girded Himself with strength.
         Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
 2 Your throne is established from of old;
         You are from everlasting.

The beauty and splendour of God is majestic. Two characteristics of his majesty which God wants to pass to every person is his light and holiness. God is light and in him is not a shade of darkness (1 John 1:5). His light is both a purifier and destroyer. His light no man can break through.  However as we gaze at him in prayer, his light rubs on us and our inner man begin to radiate his glory and beauty, which invariably translates to holiness. This inner spiritual beauty should be the desire of everyone,  men and women  alike [ See  1 Timothy 2:8-9, 1 Peter 3:3-4.]

1 Tim 2: 8-9

 8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

 9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1 Peter 3:3-4

3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Imagine staying under the sun for a long time. You become thoroughly tanned and that is the good effect the sun leaves on you, and you carry that skin all around. So is the glory of God. Moses stayed long enough under the direct light of God, such that he himself began to reflect in minuscule lumens the glory of God (2 Corinthians 3:13), and had to veil his face to prevent people gazing at him and falling down dead.  If this was the case with Moses, that people approached him with great caution, the radiance of God’s light can only be imagined.

1 Timothy 6:16

16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Another lesson to learn from the above is that God is absolutely holy and nothing unholy can approach him except in repentance. Isaiah saw God in an open vision and was absolutely awed by the glory, power and majesty. The light of God exposed Isaiah’s unholy state and he had to be cleansed by an angel to continue to remain in God’s presence. 

Isaiah 6: 1, 5-7

1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

 5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

 6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

 7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

My desire is to be filled with his majestic presence on the inside and outside, so my walk with God will be in total holiness. What about you?

 

Prayer Nugget 0313

  1. Worship prayer: Lord I worship you in the beauty of your holiness. You are full of light and in you there is no darkness at all. Blessed be your holy name. Your throne is established forever. I bow down my knees in reverence of your holy name in Jesus name.
  2. Oh Lord, let your glorious light shine into my heart and overshadow every trace of darkness in Jesus Name.
  3. I envelope my self under your majestic light. Fill my heart with your spirit of holiness in Jesus name.
  4. Lord, adorn my heart with the spirit of meekness, quietness and holiness in Jesus name. Amen.

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0310

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NOT HIDE AND SEEK

Bible Nugget 0310 [Isaiah 55 v 6 & 7 New American Standard]

6Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon Him while He is near.7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

 

Children love hide and seek game in which they tag their playmate, one of them runs and hide while the other child seek the hiding. When the person who is seeking finds out the hiding, there is a lot of excitement and they hug each other and the play resumes again.

Unlike, the children’s game, God is not deliberately hiding from man. What drives man from the presence of God is sin. This has been the case since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Sin is in man’s nature, an adamic nature programmed into every cell by the fall of Adam and Eve. A child inherits it from the womb,and in due course after birth becomes evident.  It falls the high and mighty, and the common man. King David after the sin with Uriah’s wife acknowledged the power of sin in repentance to God and said in Psalm 51:1-5

1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

The great apostle Paul, gave a great discuss on sin in Rom 7:1-25 (please read the whole chapter at your convenience). Paul, chiding about sin spoke of its captivating power during the darkest moments in his life at conversion. [Many bible scholars agree that  it was during the 3 days he was blind after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9]. In his treatise, Paul speaking in Rom 7:18-19 revealed the adamic nature of every person still struggling with sin:

18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do

 

The master of sin is the devil. Jesus speaking said the mission of the devil is to steal to kill and to destroy (John 10:10). Contrary to the devil’s mission, Jesus came so you can receive salvation, healing deliverance and so he can use you to the glory of God. Sin, no matter it’s gravity can be remedied. The remedy of sin is the blood of Jesus.

God loves you but hates your sin. Our nugget in Isaiah 55 says he will have compassion and will abundantly pardon. He is full of grace. When sin is abounding, the grace of God much more abounds (Rom 5:20). Thank God the wheel of God grinds slowly. He gives every man an opportunity to repent. You cannot take the grace of God for granted and continue in your sin (Rom 6:1). There is a penalty which continued living in sin brings which you need to avoid (Rom 6:23).

 

23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Why not accept the gift of God today? Repent of you sin and come back to the open arms of God. God is not lost, you are. Come to the loving care of God, like the prodigal son did to his rich  father and you will be amazed at the peace that will  fill your heart concerning your reconciliation with your maker.

  

Prayer Nugget 0310

 

Pray the following Prayer of Repentance:

  1. Oh Lord forgive me of all my sins.  Let your mercy overshadow every act of wickedness and unrighteousness in my life in Jesus Name.
  2. Blood of Jesus, wash me thoroughly. Wash my innermost heart from every sin and remove the guilt of past sins from my heart in Jesus Name.
  3. I challenge every power of darkness with the blood of Jesus. Every act of wickedness peddled against me in the kingdom of darkness be exposed by the blood of Jesus.
  4. Let your loving kindness to me be renewed everyday of my life. I stand on your righteousness alone in Jesus Name. Amen.
  5. My name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life. I am fully reconciled to God. Power of Sin be broken from my life forever in Jesus Name.
  6. I release myself from the grip of addicting power of sin. Every demon seeking my downfall receive the stones of fire in Jesus Name.
  7. Begin to thank God for your salvation. Ask God to send the Holy Spirit to fill every vacuum in your heart with his presence and power in Jesus Name.

 

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0309

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Divine Authority to carry out the Great Commission

 

Bible Nuggets 0309 [Luke 10 v 17-20 KJV]

17And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

 18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

 19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Every product is tested by the manufacturer before sale with a small sample. For example, vehicles are test-run to ensure they withstand the ruggedness of roads and mountains, very cold winter months or heat as required. 

Similarly, the products of Jesus are believers and Jesus has delegated to all believers his authority, against all challenges they would face as individuals or as a group aexternal forces, that is, the manifestations of the powers of darkness. Whether in your life or the lives of your loved ones and those whom you come in contact with, you have the authority of Jesus to send the enemy packing.  In his earthly ministry, Jesus test-run this assignment with his 12 disciples (core group, whom today could be compared to pastors and preachers) and also with a group of 70 other persons whom we can compare to today’s every other believer. Luke 10:1

1After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Their mission was simple, preach the word; heal the sick and do not be distracted. Having received the mantle of authority form Jesus, these 70 believers obeyed and wrought wonders in the name of Jesus. It was no surprise to Jesus that their mission would work because Jesus, I believe was praying of them and held satan bound so the devil could not disturb their mission.

Before final departure back to heaven, that is, before Jesus’ ascension, he proclaimed the great commission in which he told every believer to preach the  word of God  to every creature ( Mark 16:15-18).

15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, praying for every believer. Every believer has the authority to preach the gospel with signs and wonders in his name. Sickness and disease cannot dominate or control you because the Holy Ghost lives on the inside of you. No matter how powerful Satan’s forces are, at the name of Jesus they must bow. You have the authority of Jesus. Go forth and use it in Jesus Name. Amen.

  Prayer Nugget 0309

Pray the following prayer’s fervently.

  1. Oh Lord, thank you because I am a product of Jesus. I pray I become like Jesus in words and deeds in Jesus Name.
  2. Thank you Lord for the divine authority granted to me as a believers over the powers of darkness. I exercise rule over them with your rod of iron according to your word in Jesus Name.
  3. Let your power be evident in destroying the yoke of bondages that have held me bound in the past. I release myself from every grip and oppression of the enemy in Jesus name.
  4. Oh Lord thank you for writing my name in the lamb’s book of Life in Jesus Name.Amen.

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0308

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Guaranteed Unending Returns

Bible Nugget 0308 [Luke 18 V 28 – 30, KJV]

28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

 29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,

 30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

God is a giver; he does not owe any man or woman. He gave his very best, His only begotten Son.  The desire of God is for us to give back to him. First of ourselves and then our substance. Returns in the investment of anything good into the kingdom of God are very rewarding. Investments are guaranteed because God’s storehouses are inexhaustible. Psalm 50: 9-12 reads:

9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

 10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

 11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

 12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

From v12, it is clear that that, the world is an entire estate owned by God. So the challenge thrown to Peter and to every person by Jesus is; if you invest in God’s estate of reconciling the lost world back to God, you get manifold returns. It is a totally risk-free investment, with only one requirement; faith.

Peter’s question in v28 was a result of the discuss Jesus ha with a rich, young ruler. The story is told in Luke 18:18-24 but lets look at the same record in Mark 10: 17

17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

 v21 says Jesus loved this man. He saw the great potential the man had. He looked at him and saw in him a Matthew, who wrote the first book in the New Testament. Matthew was also very rich, but had acquired his wealth by illegal tax collection. Matthew left all to follow Jesus. The constraint the young rich ruler had was the inability to part with his possessions. The rich young ruler was unaware that both himself and possessions belong to God (psalm 50 v12).  Today, we have many philanthropic persons and organizations promoting one good course or the other. My prayer is that God will continue to bless them in Jesus Name.

The returns in the life hereafter is even more rewarding: Eternal life. The perks include living forever, having eaten of the tree of life (Rev 22: 1-5); seeing God face to face (which no person can do now because of the nature of sin); a mansion in heaven (John 14:1-3); seating with Christ in the heaven lies and ruling over principalities and powers and over all those who died in their sins (all who will be in hell); and living in absolute bliss. No more sin, no more sorrow. The whole world would then be reconciled to God after the creation of a new heaven and a new earth during the millennial reign of Christ and the Saints. A wolf will lie down side by side with a lamb (Isaiah 65:17-25). Would you not prefer this unquantifiable returns?

 
 
 
 

 

Prayer Nugget 0308

1.        Pray a prayer of consecration. “Lord, I give my self to you. I consecrate my heart, soul body, mind and intellect to you. Let me be a faithful servant who is only interested in his master’s business in Jesus name. You first Jesus. I will not abandon my responsibility to my family in Jesus Name. Lord give me the wisdom to discern, please you and engage in the work of your kingdom at all times in Jesus Name.”

2.        Lord fill my heart with the glories of heaven. I become more and more heavenly minded in Jesus Name.

3.        Lord let my dreams be dreams of your kingdom. Let me have open visions of heaven in Jesus  name.

4.     Lord help me to be fisher of men. Use me as a vessel to lead others to Christ and promote the work of the gospel. Let me be  a channel of blessing to people; the rich and the poor, the saint and the sinner and use me to reconcile the world back to you, Almighty God in Jesus Name. Amen.