The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • You can enjoy God’s support, Lagos Speaker

    You can enjoy God’s support, Lagos Speaker

    Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has enjoined Nigerians to lift others to enjoy divine lifting.

    Speaking at the 14th anniversary/end of the year thanksgiving service of the Assembly chapel last week with the theme: “Divine lifting,” Obasa emphasised that divine lifting would not come to those who do not assist others.

    According to him: “The only way to enjoy divine lifting is by helping others.

    “Help your co-workers, neighbours, colleagues and friends. It is when you lift others up that God would lift you up,” he said.

    The Speaker also urged Nigerians to appreciate God for keeping them alive.

    He promised that the House would continue to organise the thanksgiving service every year.

    The Speaker said the Assembly is not just a parliament but an institution.

    The matron of the chapel for the year and the Minority Whip of the House, Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara, said the service was a way of showing appreciation to God for His mercies upon all in the Assembly.

    The guest minister, who is also the General Overseer of Triumphant Christian Centre Ikeja, Lagos, Reverend Samuel Olubiyo, spoke on ‘Releasing grace for divine lifting.’

    Olubiyo said divine lifting means the hand of God lifts someone up and nobody could bring you down.

    He said that whoever is serving God should not have a better yesterday and that every year should bring an improvement.

    “God has ordained your continual lifting. David said God raises the poor out of the dust.

    “Except the Lord helps a man, he cannot be lifted up. God told me that no man can ever lift you up above himself but God can lift you to the highest.”

    He said Nigerians should be prayerful, which he said is a sign of dependency on God.

  • Have faith in God, Nigerians told

    The President of Western Nigeria Union Conference of Seventh-day Adeventist Church in Nigeria, Pastor (Dr) Oyeleke Owolabi, has urged Nigerians to have faith in God.

    He also asked them to be patient and prayerful, while remaining focused.

    Owolabi stressed that the current economic crisis will soon go away in a matter of time.

    This, he said, is because of the grace of God that is abundant upon the nation.

    He spoke during the inauguration of officers, directors and executive committee members elected during 2nd Quadrennial Constituency session of Lagos Mainland Conference of the Church recently.

    The elected officers were Pastor Ibraheem Jimoh, President of Lagos Mainland Conference, Pastor Umezurike Uchegbue, Executive Secretary and Adeyemi Adedokun, Treasurer Lagos Mainland Conference.

    Owolabi charged them to work together as a team, stewards and to also pray together as friends and brothers in the vineyard of the Lord.

    All of these, according to him, will enable them formulate policies that will impact the productivity, growth and development of the Lagos Mainland Conference.

    The officers pledged that they will carry out their duties diligently with the fear of the Lord.

    The newly elected president, Pastor Ibraheem Jimoh, said that his administration will ensure unity among leaders and the led in Lagos Mainland Conference.

    He also said evangelism will be given priority during his tenure.

    An evangelism summit that will involve all the members of the church in the conference will be organised, he noted.

  • Expect new things, Ademowo assures

    The Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. (Dr) Ephraim Adebola Ademowo, has hailed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

    The move, he said, is a great move to end system corrupt practices of contract inflation, mismanagement and non-implementation of policies in the public service.

    In his New Year message, Ademowo advised government to take further steps and ensure inclusive framework with extensive inputs from society to achieve development.

     In 2017, the Bishop challenged Nigerians to remain steadfast in anticipation of new things.

    He called on elected leaders to enact sound economic frameworks to cushion the effects of inflation and recession.

  • Adeboye charges Nigerians to change their attitude

    Adeboye charges Nigerians to change their attitude

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has tasked Nigerians to change their attitudes and align it to God’s word to enjoy his manifold blessings in the New Year.

    Adeboye said this last week at the ‘Let Go a Fishing’ organised by Region 1 of the church in Lagos.

    He said God has given us many precious promises to change our status in the New Year, but we need to act positively in our daily lives and pray in faith to God to claim them and launch in to the realms of the supernatural.

    He noted that people must understand and believe that with God all things are possible.

     “Nigeria is in recession today, but that is today; tomorrow the way God fixed the economy of Samaria, the same God will fix the economy of Nigeria. It won’t take more than 24 hours, so Nigerians should believe in God and have faith and hope in God that 2017 will be a better year,” he said.

    Adeboye, who spoke through the Provincial Pastor, Province 9, Pastor Samuel Olaniyan, opined that things may be difficult in the outgoing year, better days are ahead when people change our attitude to God, their families and neighbour.

    Adeboye, who is optimistic about 2017 budget, appealed to the federal government to invest more in agriculture and exploration of our mineral resources.

    Although he asserted that we cannot abandon oil as it is what we have today to survive, he said that we need to diversify away from oil.

     

  • How 2017 can be fruitful, by Bamgbola

    Chairman, Lagos chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, has felicitated with Nigerians on the occasion of the New Year.

    He called for collective fasting and prayer to take the nation to a new height in 2017.

    Bamgbola, in his New Year message, said: “I urge all to create more time for prayers and fasting in the New Year.”

    He said it is only through prayers that the nation can overcome its challenges.

    The professor of leadership challenged all to embrace love, appreciating and forgiving one another.

    He commended Lagos governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and called on God to enable him discharge more responsibilities to the state.

  • Glitz at RCCG teens’ fashion show

    There was an impressive array of talented clothes on display at the Genesis Fashion Show organised by the Next Generation-Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) City of David Teen.

    The designs were top-range, showing designers’ immense talents that allowed them to create such beautiful clothes and accessories while juggling school and their other activities.

    The show, which was basically for teens, also marked the rebirth of the best of afro-centric focus in most of the designs.

    The designers, as young as 10 years, displayed love and pride in Africa and Nigeria.

    To complement them, more established designers also showcased their fashion lines.

  • Okonkwo urges Nigerians to be steadfast

    Okonkwo urges Nigerians to be steadfast

    The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Ministry, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, has urged Nigerians to be steadfast and courageous in this season of economic recession.

    Okonkwo, in his message at the 7th Graduation Ceremony and Entrepreneurship Seminar of Empowerment for the Less Privileged Foundation, – a non-governmental organisation that is committed to alleviating the plight of the less-privileged in the society – said that Nigerians should be positively spirited in this present situation.

    ”Irrespective of the economy challenge, Nigerians can always surmount any economy challenge if they don’t lose hope in the development of the country and refuse to be dictated by the economy challenge.”

    Okonkwo who is also the founder of the foundation said that there is no obstacle that is not surmountable.

    ”I believe God for them that no matter the economy challenge, they should be positive in life and they will overcome it.”

    The foundation that has trained over 3,500 youths in various entrepreneurial skills such as bead making, catering, computer training, fashion designing, hair barbing, hair dressing, hat making, metal works and soap making graduated another 256 students and offered 51 scholarships to brilliant students in the society, and over 2,500 students have received free tutorials from various centres spread across Lagos State with over 2,500 people benefitting from the foundation’s free medical outreach programmes.

    Also speaking at the ceremony, the wife of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, said that education is not a bearer, but a good complement to live a successful and fulfilling life.

    Represented by Mrs Sade Odunlami,  Ambode congratulated the beneficiaries, graduands, and strongly urged them to take possession of the abundant opportunities awaiting them through the efficient deployment of the vocational skills that they have acquired in the course of their training.

     ”I advise you to make the best of the opportunities to become self-reliant and job creators,” she said.

    One of the parents of the participants, Gabriel Ogunwole from Agege, thanked the Bishop for establishing ELP to help many to gain skills that will make their lives meaningful.

  • CHRISTMAS! CHRISTMAS! CHRISTMAS!

    CHRISTMAS! CHRISTMAS! CHRISTMAS!

    The day Jesus was born in Bethlehem Judea; His parents laid Him in a manger (an open box for feeding animals) because there was no room for them in the village inn. People occupied all the rooms, not knowing that THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD has been born in the same place where they stayed.

    I often ask, “how come no one in the inn was spiritually sensitive enough to vacate a room for them knowing that an extra-ordinary child was to be born?’’, even after he was born, they were still so passive; not knowing that a great child has been born. They were all busy, too occupied with their own lives. The evidences were there; the wise men from a faraway country saw the special star in the sky and they followed it to Jesus, shepherds in the field received the good news and went to see Jesus, yet the people staying in the same place where He was born didn’t know what was happening or they chose to ignore the child and His poor parents.

    The star was there for all to see, but only those who were wise, watching, waiting; those who truly love God could see and they followed. Just as the people at the inn ignored and despised Jesus, so also the people in our days have continually ignored, despised, rejected Jesus and His teachings, although some claim to know and celebrate Him.

    If Jesus wanted His birthday celebrated, would He like the way some people celebrate Him? Some commit all kinds of atrocities in order to make money to celebrate Christmas. Christ was born to set us free from sin, how then can someone be celebrating Christ in sin; living lifestyles that are not pleasing to Him.

    The CHRIST in Christmas has been replaced with ‘X’ written now as Xmas; a deliberate act by the inventors to take the focus away from JESUS CHRIST, giving allowance to all kinds of interpretation and meaning to the seasonal celebration.

    The reason Jesus was born and He gave Himself to death on the cross is to give us a new life, a life delivered from the bondage and power of Satan; He died to set us free from the power of sin and to bring us into a close fellowship with God with no barriers anymore, so we can show forth the glory of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous Light and to inherit God’s kingdom in heaven- what a privilege! To them that believe.

    No one still living in sin or celebrating Christmas in sin is wise. Take this opportunity to reflect on your life and call on Jesus to give you a new life. Make room for Him in your heart so you can begin to celebrate your deliverance from darkness to Light.

    Let Jesus deliver you from the works of darkness: FORNICATION, ADULTERY, IMPURE THOUGHTS, HATRED, FIGHTING, JEALOUSY, ANGER, SELFISH AMBITIONS, PREJUDICE, ENVY, MURDER, DRUNKENESS, WILD PARTIES, DISHONESTY, CHEATING, STEALING, LYING, IDOLATORY, SPIRITISM  and the like.

    Let Him live that New life of His spirit through you, making you live in: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL.

    This should be the whole essence and focus on CHRISTMAS.

     

    PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you were born and you died to give me a new life that will please God always. Please give me this new life, and live your life through me. Help me keep my focus on You always- Amen.

     

    If you are already saved then pray like this: My Lord, I thank you for saving me from sin and giving me a new life. Help me in this season and at all times to keep my focus on you and to be a good example of a Christian in this world in Jesus name-Amen.

    HAVE JOY FILLED CHRISTMAS.

     

  • Christmas is beyond merriment

    Christmas is beyond merriment

    As we world celebrates Christmas today, there are different activities organised to make the day memorable. Some pastors bear their minds on the essence of the celebration and what we need to learn from the life of Jesus, the symbol of Christmas. Adeola Ogunlade reports.

    Christmas is about love. It is the celebration of the incredible and overwhelming act of love.

    John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

    Christmas is the story of God’s love for humanity who became a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ and redeemed us from all our sins. Jesus is actually God, in human flesh, who came to this earth because mankind had been separated from Him by their sin. Jesus became a man so that He could reunite mankind with God.

    Christmas is a time of deep reflection upon the love of the trinity (God the Father, Son & the Holy Spirit). He came in human form and experienced all sorts of things because of me & you. This is beyond just to merry. The purpose of His coming should be paramount in our hearts.

    We must love each other deeply and with all our hearts as people of one nation.

    Ready to forgive each other and let our physical achievement and other national challenges be a thing of the past and be willing to pay the price that will make this nation great again.

    It is a season for exchange of gifts and love. During Christmas, a lot of gifts exchange hands – all is to show and reproduce that kind of love Jesus showed to mankind.

     Why do we celebrate Christmas each year?  Out of gratitude for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshipping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate.

    Another lesson from the birth of Jesus Christ is humility. He was born in a manger and that shows God can bring a man from dunghill to come and sit with princes.

    The fact that Christ was born as a human baby and lived as a human being, tells us that God views our human body as His good creation. He became a man, not to change the nature of our bodies from physical to spiritual because He found a flaw in His original creation, but to redeem and one day restore our bodies to their original perfection.

    As a nation and Church, this is a most crucial hour that shepherds need to protect the flock from all threats, especially economy situation in the country and the different strange doctrine all over the place.

    Government should see to the wellbeing and productivity of the people and likewise to come up with a sustainable social and economic development programme for the nation. Government at all level should use this season to foster better relationship and build the spirit of oneness.

    As we all celebrate this year’s Christmas, everyone should know that our tomorrow as a nation is greater and more important than any individual, then more resources should be geared towards infrastructures, housing, Human Capital Development, as we enter into the New Year. And remember that your nation and people will have to remember you for something; what will it be?

    Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart. Then you will have the true joy and peace that Christmas brings and all your need be met.

  • Godliness: God’s condition for greatness (4)

    Merry Christmas to you and your family in the name of Jesus Christ! We give glory to God for the privilege of seeing another Christmas; it shall be a day of rejoicing, laughter and blessings for every one of us in the name of Jesus Christ!

    Since we began this four-part teaching, we have established that scriptural greatness has its root in holiness that is powered by the Holy Ghost. We also discover that our greatest battles in life are against the spirit of the world, which includes: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Furthermore, we discover that without the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we cannot overcome these spiritual forces.

    But, how does the Holy Spirit do this?

    It is written: But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3:2-5).

    • As the Refiner’s Fire: He burns away every chaff of sin in us. This is because His job is to purify and refine us to be fit for God’s use. The Holy Spirit is available to all that truly desire and demand His empowerment. Therefore, it is time to hunger and thirst after Him in order to live holy lives (Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 11:13).
    • As God’s fuller Soap: He is the highest quality soap that is able to remove any stain of sin from our lives.

    Blessings of the Overcomer

    When we have constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we become overcomers in the fight against the forces of darkness, and the following are the blessings that accrue to us:

    • Prosperity (Psalms 112:1-3).
    • Answers to prayers (Job 42:8).
    • Divine health (John 5:14).
    • Protection (Psalms 91:1-2; Psalms 15:1-4).
    • We enjoy a heaven on earth lifestyle (Revelation 2:7; Romans 10:6-10).
    • Only overcomers will make heaven and receive the crowns of life (Revelation 2:11; 3:5, 21).
    • God empowers us for dominion over nations on earth (Revelation 2:26).
    • God sets us as pillars in His house (Revelation 3:12; Galatians 2:9).

    Everything about our destiny both in this time and eternity has to do with our sanctification. It is not enough to be sanctified, we must stay sanctified. As we all know, once sanctified is not always sanctified (1 Corinthians 10:12).

    Some time ago, God gave me this Word for His people: “Strive to please Me and I will take you to the next level in your business and career. Purge yourself and I will change your level. Stay clean and you won’t stop flying.” As we obey this instruction, God will break protocol for us and change our level from glory to glory in the name of Jesus Christ! You are blessed!

    Are you born again? If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Walking in the Newness of Life, Overcoming the Forces of Wickedness, Walking in Dominion, Conquering Controlling Powers, Winning Invisible Battles and Force of Freedom.

    I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

    I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org