Celebration Church Int'l

Culture - Discipling Nations
Preacher: Pastor Laju Iren
Acts 19:10
The impact of the early church was evident and it is something to emulate, replicate and admire. The days of impact of the Gospel have not passed. There was an impact in medicine and because people were getting healed. There was also an economic impact (Acts 19:20).
There was also impact on leadership.
Acts 12:21-24
8 things that the early church did that culture could not ignore
1. It was a listening church. One of the first things the writer of Acts records is an instruction. Acts 1:4. Sometimes we are called to a time of consecration, and this involves moving with God’s timetable and not ours. The early church listened to God and His word. Acts 2:42 tells us that they devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles.
2. It was a united church. Acts 2:44. They always met everyday. John 13:35. Hebrews 10:25.
3. It was a powerful church. Doing ministry without the power of God is a big mistake. Don’t do ministry in your own power. Otherwise, you make yourself a target. We were never meant to execute the plan of God in our own might.

4. It was a supplying church. There was a participation from the entire church. It wasn’t one star doing all the praying and exercising the gifts. It was the church. Ephesians 4:11-12. We must discern our place in the church and play our role.
5. It was a resilient church. It was not without its imperfections. They even fought and scattered the church over food. They had their weaknesses, struggles and persecutions. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.
6. It was a moving and a spreading church. Not only must there be a church that sinners can come to, there must be a church that goes to where the sinners are. Contact without contamination is the goal.
7. It was a loud church. Acts 2:1-3. They were loud in prayer, praise and boldness. In Acts 4:19-20, Paul and John who were imprisoned and beaten refused to stop speaking the Gospel in exchange for their release.
8. It was a purposeful church
Our purpose is Christ - to know Him and to make Him known.

TACTICS: HOW TO CATCH MEN ❤️‍🔥
He emphasized that where the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. We were also made to understand that God's priority is SOUL WINNING.
Here are a few things we learnt:
📌 God's priority is salvation, Romans 10:1. There is a difference between what God can do and what God prioritises. God gives bread, but He is bread.
📌 Everyone considered a great man was someone who did something for God. Genesis 12:1-2. When God wants to use you, don't shy away. Consider it a blessing! Heb 11:33. Always think of what God can do through you.
📌 When you turn someone to righteousness, God calls you a star! Daniel 12:3. Your small input into a soul can go a long way in winning such soul. Never underestimate your impact.
📌 One of the reasons why church growth is not as progressive is because only a small percentage of members engage in soul winning. Be active in soul winning and play a part in church growth!
📌 Soul winning takes time. Fast and pray for that soul, invest in that soul. Remember, there is a party in heaven when a soul is won.

📌 4 THINGS TO DO
1. Learn to pray for souls: When you pray for souls, divine encounters take place. Evangelism is warfare.
2. Disciple your children: The first place of calling is in the home. Proverbs 22:6
3. Invite people to church: Have at least 5 people you follow up constantly to come to church.
4. Keep at it: Soul winning takes tenacity and consistency. Don't assume that people aren't listening. Luke 15:7.

How to Pray During a Retreat.
Here are some key points:
📌Luke 11:1. The will of God isn’t always good versus bad it’s always good versus God.
📌The best way to pray is to “Pray for the will of God to be done”.
📌Psalm 106:15. The permissive will of God is a dangerous place to be.

We received the powerful ministry of our apostle, Apostle Emmanuel Iren in the morning session🔥🔥
We learned that there has to be more to our devotion than the regular. We must set aside time to recalibrate in a retreat.
4 things you must do in a retreat:
📌 Cast your cares upon Him. Matthew 13:1-14. You must leave the place of prayer lighter than you came. Know that as long as you’re alive, there is hope for you in God. Romans 8:37.
📌 You must forgive. There are a few things that corrupt the human spirit, like unforgiveness.
2Corinthians 2:10-11. Matthew 6:14 . Every time you refuse to forgive, you give the enemy an advantage.

‘Evangelism’ 🔥🔥
We learnt that the core of evangelism is sharing something we are passionate about, and just like how we talk about things that excites us, even more, we should be eager to share the good news.
📌 Here are some notable points from this sermon;
- To be an evangelist is to be zealous about any course.
- ⁠There is a sense to which everyone of us are passionate about something, so if you do not actively tell people about Jesus, that’s a passion problem.
- Evangelism is not just a treaty but a delight.
- ⁠⁠It’s a sin to give God the barest minimum.
- ⁠One of the ways to radically change your walk with God, is when you realize you are an envoy.

📌 Two things God is not;
1.) God is not a drug - There is more to Him than the healing He gives.
2.) God is not a wallet - There is more to Him than the money you seek.
In 2 Corinthians 5:14-19, Paul emphasizes the responsibility that Christ’s death bestows on us. We are now envoys, carrying the message of reconciliation.
📌 Four simple ways you can evangelize;
1.) Invite people to Church.
2.) Share materials - Sermons, books.
3.) Share personal testimonies.
4.) Direct communication - Just tell them about Jesus.
As we journey through this month and beyond, we should endeavor to share the message of the gospel to everyone around us.✨

ENVOY: TAKING TERRITORIES

📌 Make sure money doesn’t keep you away from evangelism or take you away from purpose. Romans 12:16
📌God prospers people. Psalms 104:14
📌Even the most diligent farmers rely on the resources God has created. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
📌 God can prosper a man through labor, gifts, relationships, divine healing, or favour
📌The role of prayer is to then activate all of the above!

CURRENCY - THE ZEAL OF THE LORD
We learnt how the key things in the Bible are often emphasized to draw your attention and how God’s plan is sovereign.
Here are some key points to take note of:
📌 For many that received him, to them he gave the power to be called the sons of God. John 1:12
📌 This tells you there’s nothing special about you or intrinsic that makes you entitled to God’s plan and promises.
📌 Your relevance is in alignment to God’s sovereign plan. It’s aligning yourself to God’s purpose that makes you relevant.
📌 God is God-centered and committed to His own plan. Everyone who aligns with him will find their relevance in him, not the other way round.
📌 Greatness is not always in proportion to how much you pray. It’s for those who are the CALLED. Romans 8:28
📌 Understand that your purpose is not unique. Purpose is universal. What is unique to you is your assignment. Discover what God wants to do and align with it.

Other key points to take notes of:
📌 What we call coincidence is the Providence of God.
📌 You can never take from a man what he got from a place of consecration. If you understand this, competition will die.
📌 Don’t compete when you should be collaborating.
Let this guide you as you step into this new week. Make a conscious effort to live a purposeful life - understanding what God will have you do and take action 🤗

Envoy: A life of Ambition'.🔥🔥
We learned fundamentally about two important questions that must be answered if we are to understand purpose.
1. What is worth living for?
2. ⁠What is worth dying for?
And in answering these questions, we learned that whatever is worth living for, is also worth dying for, which births purpose.
For us as Christians, we should believe the radical idea that death is gain. Philippians 1:21

Here are some more notable points from this sermon;
📌 Living a life of purpose is not easy, and you'll need to step out of your comfort zone to follow God fully.
📌 When you excel at what God created you to do, you're glorifying Him.
📌 Purpose will require grit, ambition, and audacity from you.
📌You must be brave at what God has called you to do and stop being obsessed with self-preservation.
As we step into this week, let us take practical steps to live for Christ, being ambitious for a selfless cause with the talents and gifts God has given us.🤗🤗

Purpose 101.
He explained that purpose refers to the reason why we were created.

He went on to give us four principles of purpose from the book of Genesis Chapter 1:
📍 There is a sun before the sun: God wants us to understand that purpose comes first. Purpose takes preeminence over everything else. (Genesis 1:5)
📍 God is man's source: When God wanted to create man, He spoke to Himself, signifying that God is the root of our existence. If you live without God, you live life like the living dead. (Genesis 1:26)
📍 Man's first day is the Sabbath: God wants us to work from a place of rest. (Ephesians 2:8)
📍 Man is the image of God: Being called the image of God does not necessarily have anything to do with physical appearance but more with our function because God is spirit. This tells us that as believers, we are ambassadors of Christ, and everything we do, we do on His behalf. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

He concluded by mentioning some signs that show we are walking in purpose:
✍🏾 The commitment of God to what you are doing.
✍🏾 Nobody can take from you what you obtained by consecration and sustained by altars because he whom God has blessed, no man can curse.
✍🏾 When consecration makes you, you are made, and no one can unmake you.

Envoy: An Exceptional Life.”🔥🔥
He emphasized that purpose is a double-edged sword, providing clarity and direction while also setting boundaries. Matthew 15:24
Here are some key points from the sermon;
📌Purpose tells you what you must do and what you must not.
📌Purpose determines your boundaries. John 6:35
📌 Even when you know your purpose, waiting is essential. It’s important to wait for the right time, and discipline is required.
📌 Not every passion deserves your attention.
📌 Avoid pushing yourself prematurely into your future.
📌 Purpose defines and establishes boundaries.
📌 The church must protect its purpose and avoid straying from its primary calling Galatians 3:28, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23