Gospel Ramah Church Sermon of the Week

Theme for 2018 - PUSH which stands for "receive Power and Unleash it for the Salvation of Humanity". Our mandate is to "Worship God. Win our generation for him". Efforts in 2018: 1) Soul Winning - love and flexibility. 2) Service and 3) Salvation Benefits. 2018 will be a "Glorious year; year of laughter".

"We are all driven by a noble desire; a desire of Fulfillment and Fruitfulness or satisfaction and significance. But the way to get what you want is to reach out first to what you need." Reach out first to what you need - 1) The invitation: a) Universal b) Conditional c) Inclusive and d) Limitless. 2) The offer: a) New relationship with God. b) New reality of life. 3) The response: a) Indifferent b)Self content c) World content and d) DESIRE DRIVEN.

Our behavior betrays our belief in the promise. If we know that God is working for our good and that all things work out for our good then we should not worry. The promise gives us access but we also have a responsibility and have to apply effort to get hold of the promise. There is an eligibility clause we need to fulfill before we can access the promise - love of God. The love of God is different from expressions of love. The love of God is not meeting his needs, loving his gifts or the things he prompts us to do. But the love of God is an internal intangible disposition of heart.

How does a blessed person look like? On what basis is someone blessed? A blessed man does not: 1) Walk with the wicked. 2) Stand with mockers. 3) Sit in the seat of mockers. A blessed man: 1) Delights in the law of the Lord. 2) Meditates on the law of the Lord day and night. Then he will be fruitful and productive in all seasons.

We have been given all authority to GO and make disciples of all nations. The baton has been passed onto us: 1) Respond to the call to make disciples of all nations - invading territories with the Gospel. 2) Go with the intention of making

disciples of all nations. Share what we have learnt with others and connect with people - first we have to connect to Jesus Christ. 3) Know that Jesus Christ is with you. People matter to God so should they matter to us.

Every child of God should be ready to unashamedly proclaim the gospel to all; as a person who possesses and can share what can impart life, I am indebted to the people of my generation. I owe it to my God; I owe it to my Lord Jesus Christ; I owe it to the people of my generation; I owe it to the intrinsic power of the gospel

Seemingly impossible crises can be turned around through prayer and hard-work when people are determined to trust and obey God, and when they put His interest first. A nation in crisis is a result of: i) A discourage leader. ii) A demoralised army. iii) A devastated population. To turn everything around, we need a Partnership of trust with God.

To partner with God, we need to have: 1) Courage of conviction. 2) Careful selection - for some people are - i) Hold-backs ii) Sell-outs iii) Hide-outs iv) Sold-outs. 3) Confident approach - i) Strategic and ii) Decisive. We have great needs, but even a greater God. God uses the bold actions and fighting spirit of His people.

Some of the most amazing success stories have often come out of incredible crises.

Every crisis is an opportunity in disguise to learn, to adjust, to change, to improve, to grow, etc..., or even to refocus on what truly matters to the individual or the organization

Therefore don’t react to it, rather respond appropriately

The best way to embrace the future is to prepare for it. This statement can help you re-phrase the most important question as far as your future is concerned. It can also lead to you to adopt a strategic mindset. Do not say, “What does the future holds for me?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. Rather ask, “How should I embrace the future?” 1. Focus on God 2. Faith in God 3. Faithful to God

The enemy’s attempt is to bring out the worst in us through the perils of deception but God’s act of love, new life in Christ, brings out the best in us.

The enemy deceives us in these ways:

a)World’s philosophy

b)Satan’s schemes

c)Man’s fallen nature

However, God is all powerful and He rescues us and restores us by giving us

a) New perspective

b) New hope

c) New speech

d) New stewardship

e) New relationship

Verses: Matthew 24 v 24, James 1:16-18