In this sermon Apostle Allison Smith Conliff offers spiritual encouragement from a popular biblical teaching. The discourse emphasizes the importance of living righteously and maintaining unwavering trust in God during times of hardship. By recounting the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, Apostle Allison illustrates how divine intervention can provide a way forward when escape seems impossible. The narrative serves as a metaphor for overcoming modern struggles, urging the congregation to remain humble and obedient to God's instructions. Ultimately, the message reinforces the belief that God is an invincible protector who fights on behalf of those who remain faithful to Him.

Living a righteous life empowers believers by establishing a profound connection to divine strength and protection, allowing them to navigate significant worldly difficulties with a confidence that transcends human capability.

Living righteously provides a spiritual refuge during times of trouble. The Bible describes God as a "strong tower" that the righteous can run into for safety. Furthermore, God promises to strengthen and uphold those who live righteously with His "right hand of righteousness," ensuring they are not discouraged or dismayed by their circumstances.

A significant aspect of this empowerment is the assurance that the believer does not fight worldly battles alone. When a person lives a righteous life, their battles become God’s battles.

• Divine Intervention: When others "pick a fight with the righteous," they are effectively picking a fight with God Himself.
• Victory Over Enemies: Just as God fought for the Israelites against the Egyptians, He is described as a "mighty warrior" who fights for His people today. This empowerment allows believers to see their "enemies", whether they be physical, spiritual, or situational, as defeated through divine power rather than their own artillery.

Righteousness empowers believers to "keep pressing" even when faced with specific worldly hardships such as:

• Health issues and physical afflictions.
• Financial distress, including low funds and mounting bills.
• Family and relational struggles, such as concerns for children or spouses.

When a believer feels "locked in" by circumstances, they are not "locked out" of heaven's influence; a righteous life keeps the "heavens open" in their direction, preventing them from being held hostage by any earthly "prison".

Empowerment also comes from an internal shift in identity. Living loyally to God means that "Christ lives in you," and the life of the believer is no longer driven by their own limitations but by faith in the Son of God. This internal presence acts as a source of power:

• The Holy Spirit as Fuel: Believers are described as vessels or lamps; for their light to shine and overcome the darkness of the world, they must be "filled up with Jesus and activated by the Holy Ghost".
• Humility as a Tool: Maintaining humility, as Jesus did, is identified as a "key" to navigating worldly life without being affected by its labels or status.

Finally, that the "significant victory" often follows exact obedience to God’s instructions. By living a "set apart life" and following divine guidance, like Moses stretching his hand over the sea, believers can see obstacles that appear impassable (like the Red Sea) transformed into "dry ground".

To clarify this relationship between the believer and divine power, consider the analogy of a kerosene lamp: a believer is the vessel (the lamp), but without the "oil" of the Holy Ghost and the "wick" of a right connection to God, they cannot produce the flame necessary to light up the darkness around them. Without that internal fuel, the vessel remains empty and unable to perform its purpose.

Guest Minister, Apostle Dale Des Vignes, delivers an enthusiastic sermon delivered during the "Week of Glory" celebrations at Lighthouse Empowerment Sanctuary. "Week of Glory/ Glory Fest" is a packed week of celebratory services in the first week of December which commemorates the anniversary of our church. The year this sermon was recorded, 2022, we celebrated 15 Years as a Ministry.

The Minister urges the congregation to count their blessings instead of their curses. The message is structured around a central parable of gratitude, illustrating that as long as one has the gift of life, there is a reason to offer praise to God. The speaker identifies three specific pillars for thanksgiving: the preservation of physical health, the value of family and friends, and the necessity of honoring spiritual leadership. Ultimately, the text serves as a rhythmic, interactive call to action, urging believers to utilize praise as a spiritual weapon and to maintain a personal, constant posture of gratitude regardless of their current struggles.

The central message of the this teaching at Glory Fest 2022 was centered on the theme: "Count your blessings and not your curses". The following points summarize the key lessons taught:

• The Power of Gratitude: Regardless of life's challenges, there is always something to celebrate and give thanks for. Instead of complaining about what is missing, believers are encouraged to be faithful and grateful for what they have, as faithfulness in "little" leads to being blessed with "much".
• Thankfulness for Life: Life is a gift that should never be taken for granted. The Minister emphasized that many look for material things like cars or money to celebrate, but the mere fact of being alive and numbered among the living is the greatest blessing.
• Gratitude for Health: Believers were urged to value their health and care for themselves, noting that good health is more valuable than money, land, or cars. Even when facing illness, one should find reasons to praise God for the physical abilities they still possess.
• Appreciating Family and Friends: The teaching highlighted the importance of appreciating people while they are still alive, rather than waiting until it is too late. This includes showing love to spouses, children, and fellow believers.
• Honoring Spiritual Leadership: A specific call was made to honor and appreciate spiritual leaders. The congregation was encouraged to support those who pray for them, visit them in sickness, and guide them spiritually.
• Praise as a Personal Responsibility and Weapon: Christianity is described as a personal relationship; therefore, gratitude and worship should not depend on the actions of others. Furthermore, praise is a weapon that is contagious and invites the presence of God, who inhabits the praises of His people.
• God’s Sovereignty and Greatness: The Minister clarified that God is not just "the greatest" which implies a comparison to other gods, but is simply Great, existing as the Alpha and Omega with no equal. Because God is "the same in the valley as He is on the mountain," believers should praise Him in both good and bad times.

Counting your blessings is like looking through a telescope at the stars rather than a microscope at the dust; it shifts your perspective from the small, messy details of your problems to the vast, brilliant reality of God's goodness.

Rec. Date: 8th Dec, 2022

Guest Minister, Apostle Jemma Duncan, delivers a moving sermon on the 1st Night of our "Glory Fest" celebrations at Lighthouse Empowerment Sanctuary, it's a week of services commemorating the Ministry's anniversary, this was in second week of December 2022 and Lighthouse was celebrating 15 Years as a church.

The speaker centers her message on the theme of being Triumphant in God’s presence and by His Power, which was the Lighthouse's mantra for that upcoming year, 2023, contrasting the worldly pride of Roman generals with the humility and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. She uses the imagery of a mother swan and her young to illustrate how believers should mentor and disciple others into the faith. Throughout the address, she emphasizes that true spiritual victory requires surrendering one's will, maintaining integrity at home, and practicing compassionate service to the community. Ultimately, Apostle Jemma challenges the congregation to move beyond mere sanctuary worship to live out a lifestyle of witness that brings others to God.

The speaker notes that God often bypasses those who appear qualified by human standards to choose the unlikely. This is illustrated by Samuel’s visit to Jesse’s house, where all the "qualified" sons were present, yet God chose David, the one who was not even invited to the gathering. This example suggests that true leadership is based on divine selection rather than external status or social consideration.

The Symbolism of the Donkey vs. The Chariot.

A central theme in the speaker's redefinition of leadership is the contrast between a Roman general and Jesus during a triumphant procession.

• Humility over Pride: While a Roman general rode a four-horse chariot to display glory, Jesus, the King of Kings, chose to ride a donkey. This teaches that regardless of one’s accomplishments or societal rank, a leader must remain humble.

• Peace over War: The speaker explains that a leader on a horse symbolizes a coming war, whereas a leader on a donkey signifies they come in peace. Leadership is thus redefined as being a peacemaker rather than a source of contention.

• Mentorship and Protocol: Referencing Matthew’s account of the donkey and her colt, the speaker suggests the mother donkey acted as a mentor, teaching the younger animal the correct behavior and protocol for carrying the King. This highlights the leader's role in discipling others.

Leadership as Service and SacrificeThe speaker argues that the motto of leadership should be "empowered to rule yet willing to serve". This is supported by several biblical and practical examples:

• The Example of Foot Washing: Jesus demonstrated the height of leadership not through command, but by washing His disciples' feet.

• Sacrificial Living: Jesus’ leadership involved "condescending" from His divinity to become flesh and sacrifice Himself for others. The speaker posits that triumph is not found in "dancing up and down," but in how much a leader is willing to sacrifice for the kingdom.

• Burden Bearing: Drawing from the image of the donkey in the triumphal entry and the command in Galatians 6:2, the speaker defines leaders as burden bearers who use their position to help those in need rather than to gossip about them.

• Surrender of Will: The experience in Gethsemane is presented as the ultimate test of leadership, where Jesus moved beyond the celebration of the procession to the painful surrender of His own will to the Father. To illustrate this redefined leadership, consider the mother swan; she leads her "signets" by swimming ahead of them, not just to show the way, but to protect and shelter them under her wings until they are strong enough to navigate the waters on their own.

Rec. Date: 6th Dec, 2022