The subject of taking territories is as interesting as it is involving. Interesting because it connotes new acquisitions, expansions, new opportunities, privileges, etc., and involving because it requires determination, perseverance, doggedness, mental and physical exertions, sacrifices, risks to lives and properties, etc.

It also involves serious plans on how to secure and retain the territories after taking them.

Our topic today; Passion for Souls, under our theme, means acquiring territories for Christ by winning souls back into the Kingdom of God and establishing these souls in Christ to continue the Kingdom work until the Lord Jesus returns.

Thank God that you have been born. You are definitely born for a purpose.

Difficulties or perceived hurdles are NOT enough to stop you from fulfilling your purpose.

Joshua despite all challenges led the Israelites to the promised land.

You are saved so that others can be saved through you. This is your major purpose in life. Ensure this is achieved.

We are grateful to God for this month of October. This month in our Movement is usually dedicated to Missions and Evangelism.

The theme for this month across the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria is “TAKING TERRITORIES” and the theme text is Joshua 1:1-2.

Our topic for this morning’s message is “PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO SPREADING THE GOSPEL.”

The Great Commission is a command and obligation, yet only a fraction of believers is committed to obeying the command or honouring their obligation to the Commission.

As I look at our Church, I wonder how many of us are truly committed to spreading the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The banking sector is already saturated, but opportunities exist within the sector, especially in Fintechs.

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Nigeria remained underserved in payment, lending, insurance and other financial service Tech focused areas.

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Business with strong digital offerings and strategic business diversifications are positioned to thrive

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The anticipated macroeconomic recovery will improve consumer spending, allow Consumer goods companies to increase production volumes and lines.

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Global commodity prices will decline in 2023, thus input cost will be lower. This is expected to be a positive implication for margins.

Source: GMB Research

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Nigeriagenerates62,000,000tonsofwasteannuallyoutofwhichonly20%-30%arecollectedandthisisduetothedifficultyofeffectivelycollectingwastefromhouseholds,hospitalsandevencommercialcentres

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Recyclingbusinesssuchasbatteryrecycling,plasticRecycling,paperrecycling,aluminiumandCanrecycling,wastesharingmobileappcanthriveinNigeriaifpropermethodsarebeenputintowastecollectionprocedures

RECYCLING

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AFDB special agro-industrial processing zones will reduce transaction costs and drive productivity for investors and enterprise.

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Nigeria is one of the largest producers of various high-demand cash crops, however it has imported food and agricultural products worth $537 million from the US alone over the past 5 years.

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There are various opportunities to produce value-add agricultural products like intermediate food products (vegetable oils and animal fats), consumer-oriented products (processed vegetables, wine, dairy products etc), and fish products, biopharma and cosmetics plants

As Nigeria grapples with persistent high inflation, it is crucial for investors to arm themselves with knowledge and strategies to safeguard and grow their wealth.

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Inflation can have both detrimental and beneficial effects on an economy, depending on its severity and the government's ability to manage it effectively

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High inflation erodes the purchasing power of money, so it's essential to adapt investment approach in times as this.

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This presentation is aimed at achieving two things:

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Understanding Inflation and its Impact.

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Providing valuable insights and actionable tactics for investors navigating a high inflationary environment, drawing from real-world examples from around the globe, across Africa, and within Nigeria.

Our stewardship as believers covers a wide spectrum (range). Across that spectrum we are expected to be good and faithful stewards.

Across this range, the stewardship of money and possessions stand out as important and hit at the very crux of our Christianity.

The bible says so much on money and possessions than most other subjects.

It’s time for us to reconsider and return to faithfulness in our relationships, especially with God; Jesus was in essence telling the Ephesians in Revelations 2:1-7 that they have not been faithful even though they served Him diligently, were discerning, and agile against false apostles and doctrines because they left their first love. In 1 Word from the NKJV: What did they do? (v.4) How did He see them? (v.5) What did He ask them to do? (v.5) Who did He promise to reward? (v.7)

Giving in all its forms is generally encouraged in the scriptures. Recognising God’s ownership over our lives could imply your time, money, property, intellect self and many more.

Is tithing confined to the Old Testament or is it an Old Testament practice of the law? What is the purpose of tithing?

The subject of stewardship is so important to both God and man that its significance can NEVER be overemphasized.

We shall, therefore, start today’s Bible Study by refreshing our minds on what we understand by a steward and try to answer the question of whether everyone is, or should be a steward.

A steward, in the ancient world, was a person who was given the responsibility and authority to rule over the affairs of the household. For example, the Patriarch, Joseph, became a steward in Potiphar’s household; he managed everything in the household and was given the authority to rule over the house. (Genesis 39:1-69)

A steward can be described as a person given the responsibility to manage resources – both human and material, and to account to a boss or a master. We can therefore infer that a steward is a servant, albeit a servant with authority and responsibility, reporting to a boss or a master.

In modern language those who work in government establishments are referred to as civil servants. Thus, the president and state governors are referred to as public servants.

In summary, therefore, we can rightly infer that in our context, a steward could be referred to as a servant, manager, administrator, or resource controller with the authority to manage and control resources to the satisfaction of the person or body of persons that elected or appointed him/her. In other words, there is a responsibility on the side of the steward to meet certain expectations. He/she is accountable and ought to present a good report card.