BECOMING A DISCIPLE (FOLLOWER) OF CHRIST

BECOMING A DISCIPLE (FOLLOWER) OF CHRIST

Luke 9:23-25; Mark 8:34-37

Who is a disciple?

A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure; one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.

An ardent follower, protege or faithful devotee of someone in greater authority.

Discipline is a systematic instruction intended to train a person, sometimes literally called a disciple, in a craft, trade or other activity, or to follow a particular code of conduct or order.

Few things to note about disciples...

As Christ's disciples, we didn't choose Him, rather, He chose us (John 15:16). Jesus solely appointed His disciples (Matt. 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19).

A disciple is not greater than his/her Master (Matt. 10:24; John 15:20).

True and worthy disciples respond earnestly to the call to service, they step up their spiritual lives, in order to close ranks with Jesus.

Jesus went to the mountain top and His disciples followed Him (Matt. 5:1).

True followers of Christ (disciples) serve God with their bags packed, they are not bread and butter (comfort zone) Christians (Matt. 8:18-23).

Faithful disciples are mountain climbers. They know how to boldly approach the throne of grace in time of need...(Mark 9:2)

The demands of discipleship

1) Deny yourself

Self denial, self restraint, self abasement...

We must deny self of its appetite.

We must endure hardship and inconvenience for Christ's sake.

We must humble ourselves

2) Pick up your cross daily (embrace the way of the cross)

The way of the cross is not an easy way to tread, it's the seemingly 'old-fashoined', forsaken and lonely way. Few are they that find it...

These days, the message of the cross is stylishly avoided in the church, because it's an offence and a stumbling block to the wise men of the world. But unto those who believe, it is the power of God unto salvation...

There is no resurrection without the cross!

3) Follow Jesus

Jesus said 'follow me and I will make you...'

As you follow Jesus daily, He fashions out the pre-ordained glory of God in your life.

Following Jesus implies that we follow His footsteps; we live as He lived, we walk as He walked, we work as he worked, and we submit totally to the will of the Father, just as He did....

John 8:31

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

      Resident  Pastor

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THE SUPER EAGLE

TOPIC: THE SUPER EAGLE. 

LESSON TEXT: ISA. 40:31 

The eagle is a bird of love; eagles are noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight. Moreover, they can sight their prey from a very long distance, they have fore-sight. 

Why did God liken us, as His children to an eagle and not any other kind of bird?
Why not a chicken or vulture or an owl?

In order to know why God likens us to an eagle, we need to understand the characteristics of an eagle.

1. The eagle is a symbol of authority, used by many nations and kingdoms.

2. The eaglets, when they are born, their mouths are opened and they depend on their parents for sustenance; the eaglets knows that when they open their mouth, dad and mom eagle are going to fill it with good things. How does this pertain to us as Christians?

God is like an eagle parent while we are his eaglets. He tells His eaglets in Psalms 81:10, "I am the Lord thy God which brought you out of the land of bondage. Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it."

Just as mother and father eagle know what the eaglet needs to eat to grow, much more does God, Father eagle know what His eaglets needs to grow. Matthew 7:11 says this, "If ye then being evil know how to give good things to your children, how much more shall your Father in heaven give good things to them that ask Him."

3. The eagles’ nests are built up so high. They are kept in the nest and secure. They cannot be hurt by anything as long as they are in the nest. Psalm 91 should be our own watch word as eaglet of God.

4. Eagles are born to fly. They are not for the cage they always want to gain great height. 

Just as it is with earthly eagles, so it is with God’s spiritual eagles. We too are made to experience heavenly heights in the spirit. To spread our wings of faith and ride the heavenly winds of the Holy Ghost. It’s inherent in us.

Our new nature, as believers, demands it. It’s placed within us by our Father God. As eaglets of God, there is an inborn tendency in us to mount up and soar to spiritual levels we’ve never experienced before.

Colossians 3: 1-2, "If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above. Set your affection on things above."

Ephesians 2:6, "He hath made us sit (soar) together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

5. The mother eagle teaches the eaglet how to fly by destroying the nest and blowing away the loose feather on them. She takes them on her wing, flies with them and drops them to fly on their own. She will pick them again, and the process continues…. 

I want to point out several spiritual truths that are suggested to us by the flight training process of the eaglet. A spiritual truth is found in Mother Eagle spreading her wings and commanding her eaglets to step out on them and firmly grasp a feather in their beak. The two wings of the parent eagle can be likened to the Word of God; both the Old and the New Testaments. The feathers can be thought of as the individual promises found in the Word of God. Father eagle spreads His Word before us and commands us to step out on it; grasping firmly to the promises of God.

6. One of the greatest assets of an eagle is its vision; an eagle could see from a great distance. 

7. There is always a time in an eagle life when he has to shed his feather. Being alone with God is compulsory for a super Christian. 

Just as eaglets experience an unexpected shaking that causes them to lose hold on Mother Eagle’s feather, even so, God’s eaglets may experience a shaking of their faith life that can cause them to lose their hold on the promises of God they have been clinging to.

Don’t despair! Don’t get frustrated! Don’t throw up your hands and quit. This can happen when you’re in the process of training to be an Eagle believer.

Just as the parent eagle watches over her little ones to make sure they don’t fall to the ground when they lose their hold on the feathers while in training; even so Jehovah; Father eagle watches over His own to keep them from falling to the ground when they lose their hold on the promises of God while in training to be eagle believers. He lifts them up to try again. Deuteronomy 32:11, "Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions"

Just as the parent eagle continues to work with their eaglets until they are fully trained - even so God continues to work with His children. Philippians 1:6, "...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion..."(NIV) God doesn’t want us to settle for a barnyard walk. He’s determined that we’re going to mount up with wings as an eagle.

To be a super eagle you must depend on God and His word completely. He can never fail you. 

 DEACON YINKA ANIBABA

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THE SPIRIT OF GOD MADE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY BELIEVER

THE SPIRIT OF GOD MADE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY BELIEVER

1Cor. 2:11-13 

⁹But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.¹⁰But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. ¹¹For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.¹²Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. ¹³Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.¹⁴But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.¹⁵But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.¹⁶For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1) Every believer needs the spirit of God to be able to retain the thought of God. Act 18:25

As believers our spirit must constantly be in tune with the spirit of God

2) As believer, we must understand our environment i.e knowing things that work and the things that do not work.

    It is through the spirit of God that we can receive wisdom for our daily living Eph 1:17

3) A believer must know the power that is at work within him

WHAT KIND OF LIFESTYLE IS EXPECTED FROM EVERY BELIEVER

1) A life of awareness to the things of the spirit. (In Rom 8:6, the Bible says ‘……to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life……)

We need to be alert to thing of the spirit

We need know how to take action on spiritual matters Rev. 2:7

2) Awareness to the things around you.

What has God put in your care, what are the opportunities available, your strength, weakness and the things that stand as threat to your life either physically or spiritually?

3) A believer must live a kingdom oriented life

He must not be on equally yoked with unbelievers 2Cor 6:14

Friendship with the word is enmity against God. James 4:4, Rom 8:7-11.

4) A believer must live with his armour on at all times. Eph. 6:11-16

Must not be too complacent, or become over-confident. (…………..his truth and righteousness will be your guard…………..)

5) A believer must live a depository prayer life. Matt 26:41, Mark 13:33, 14:38, Luke 21:36

The spirit of God can help us pray prayers that will stand for us in time of trouble

6) A believer must live a victorious life

Must ensure that every challenges is an opportunity to get the name of God exalted

7) A believer must know how to stand in gap

Standing in gap for his family, the church of God, for brothers and sisters, for brethren, for friends, etc. John 21:15-17

  PASTOR LANRE AREOLA

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DIVINE STEWARDSHIP

DIVINE STEWARDSHIP

Gen. 24:1-9; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; Luke 12:42-48

In order to fully understand the concept of divine stewardship, we must first of all come to the full knowledge of the fact that God is the Owner of all things. He is the Creator of all things, and He has the full right of ownership over all things (Col. 1:16; John 1:3; Gen. 1:1).

Stewardship is synonymous with service. A steward is a custodian, a caretaker, a manager or an administrator. He/she can also be referred to as a servant.

Stewardship implies that something has been placed in your care, for which you will give an account.

Accountability is one of the major components of stewardship.

Spirit of ownership contradicts the principle of divine stewardship...

We must see ourselves as custodians, unto whom God has bestowed resources (human, material and spiritual resources, etc).

Some of the lessons we can learn from the life of Abraham's servant:

1. Under a tough situation or circumstance, he swore an oath of allegiance to Abraham (Gen. 24:9)
2. Strategic positioning; leading his team in the right direction, at the right time (Gen. 24:10-11)
3. He cultivated a lifestyle of prayer; he had a working relationship with the God of Abraham; he was a true worshiper of God (Gen. 24:12-14; 26-27)
4. He refused to eat until he had completed his master's assignment. He believed that the master's interest superseded his own personal interest. He was solely interested in completing the master's job (Gen. 24: 33-49; Matt. 6:33) 
5. His life portrayed the faith, integrity, affluence and dignity of his master (Gen. 24:53-56; Isaiah 43:21; 1 Peter 2:9)

How to be a faithful steward: 

1. The fear of God (Gen. 39:7-9; Phil. 2:12)
2. The Spirit of God (Romans 8:14; 1 Cor. 2:9-12; Eph. 4:30). The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth...
3. The Word of God (Phil. 2:16). The Word of God is the mirror through which we see ourselves truly as we are before God.
4. Use your gifts, abilities and resources to serve God (1 Peter 4:10)

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

      Resident  Pastor

for more details on pictures and proceedures of the service: check our posts on www.facebook.com/gacikeja and our tweets on www.twitter.com/gacikeja.

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REVELATION BY THE WORD

REVELATION BY THE WORD

Romans 10:13-17

Faith comes by hearing (revelation) and hearing (revelation) comes by the Word of God.

Revelation (reveal) - to unfold, to unveil, to manifest, to disclose......

Show me your way oh Lord.....He revealed His ways to Moses, His works to the Israelites. (Psalm 103:7)

Not every way is the right way. There is a way that seems right...

Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life...(Matt. 7:13-14)

An entrance unto eternal life will be ministered unto you, through the entrance of His Word into your heart...

The entrance of your Word gives Light (revelation, illumination...), it gives understanding unto the simple (Psalm 119:130)

The WORD -----> Divine Revelation ----> Faith

Some of the people that encountered revelation by the Word of God in the Bible:

1) 1 Samuel 3:4-10 While the Word of the Lord hadn't been revealed unto Samuel, he could not receive from the Lord. Until he said, 'Speak, Lord! For Thy servant heareth...'

In verse 21, the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel again in Shiloh, by the Word of the Lord...

2) In Acts 16:13-14, while Apostle Paul and his colleagues were ministering, the Lord opened Lydia's hears and she heard...

Unto you it is given...

Revelation is given on the platform of the Word.

If there is no Word, there is no revelation...

The Word of God ensures total quality assurance unto doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness...(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Word births divine revelation in the hearts of those who have been appointed unto salvation, and this in turn, invokes living faith in their hearts...

It is time for the true sons of God to arise! Why sit we 'here' till we die? Arise! Shine! For your light has come...the Light of the Word has risen upon you, though there is gross darkness in the world, you are an agent of light...Manifest as light!

Let the world see Jesus shining as the light in you!

Jesus is the true Light, yet He called us the Light of the world..

It is what we receive from Him that we give to the world.

Remember, if there is no word, there is no revelation, if there is no revelation, there is no impartation, and if there is no impartation, there is no manifestation!

The earnest expectation of the creature awaits the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19)

The Word shines, it burns, it breaks, it cleanses, it purifies, it sanctifies, it quickens.....

The Word and the Spirit are inseparable....they go hand in hand

Henceforth, the Word will be made flesh unto you...John 1:14

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

      Resident  Pastor

for more details on pictures and proceedures of the service: check our posts on www.facebook.com/gacikeja and our tweets on www.twitter.com/gacikeja.

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