Wednesday, 6 August 2014

WHAT IS THIS THING BEING A CHRISTIAN?




JAMES 1.2

From the outset allow me to declare that your best day is still forward
Though you have enjoyed or not enjoyed your life in Christ I am here to prophecy that God is about something in your life.
This calls for expectancy, which necessitates preparation.
Expectant women are expectant because they can fill something moving in their wombs.
You have to connect yourself with the Spirit of God to expect from God
Only women who have had intimate times with their husbands have reason to be expectant.
This cannot happen to a virgin who is still in her father’s house
You have to connect with God
What is this thing Christianity?
Many a times we have been given wrong perception:-
-come to Jesus and you will be healed
-come to Jesus and all your problems will be gone
-come to Jesus and you will have peace
Christianity is a unique way of life punctuated with lack, suffering, denial, persecution and even death!
Tests are the order of the day
That is why James the brother to Jesus the Christ gives us first hand information on what to expect as a true Christian.
Let’s read James 1.1-4
Then who is a Christian?
Christians were first called so by people who encountered them
These people saw them follow Jesus Christ
At first they were disciples of Jesus called and chosen and mentored by Jesus himself
Who then is a disciple?
Mathew 7.21-24
           -A disciple is literally a leader
-One who follows another teaching, Luke 6.40
-a disciple is not only a learner, he is also an adherent
-they are imitators of their teachers
Things that distinguish who a Christian is
1.     Does the will of God
2.     Obeys the commands of Jesus Christ
3.     Does not practice lawlessness (sin, rebellion against the truth)
4.     Bond servant, not his own but owned
Children of God we are not saved by our choice
Neither is it a result of attempted righteousness
It is not you who decided to get saved
God did save you
I did not deserve but he counted me worthy
I was lost he found me
I was a no body, he made me into somebody
And above all I have been given the right to be called the CHILD of God.
What is a Christian?
-Is a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religious based on the teachings of Jesus
The name Christian is used 3 times in the New Testament
Acts11.26, 26.28 and 1Peter 4.16
They were called Christians out of:-
i)                   Behavior
ii)                Activity and
iii)              Speech
They were like Jesus in all they transacted
A Christian is one who belongs to the part of Christ or a follower of Christ
People consider themselves to be Christians simply because:-
i)                   They go to church
ii)                Live in a Christian home/nation
iii)              Their parents gave them Christian names
iv)              They were baptized and confirmed
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian
It is like going to the garage that doe not make you a motor vehicle
Titus 3.5
“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
To be a Christian is:-
i)                   Put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including his death on the cross as payment for sins and his resurrection on the 3rd day.
John 1.12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed on his name, he gave the right to become the children of God”
ii)                A TRUE Christian is a child of God, a part of God’s true family
iii)              One who has given new life in Jesus Christ

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIANITY
1.     Suffering, Moses, Job, David, Daniel, Jesus, Paul
2.     Challenges
3.     Perseverance
4.     Maturity
5.     Completeness
Maturity is a product of a process of consistent natural growth.
It is a result of good nutrition, hygiene and exercise
Qualities of a mature Christian
i)                   Christ like character 1Timonthy 1.3-6
ii)                Identification and confirmation 2Peter 1.12-15
iii)              Be an example and offer pattern to follow, Philippians 3.12-16
Could you have been trying to live the Christian life by your own means and terms?
May be you have no reason to call yourself Christian because after all no one measures up
May be you are tired of watching theatrics on T.V and have even concluded there is no need to go to church
I am here to introduce you to true Christianity
This involves you surrendering to Jesus
It is a matter of one self and the heart
By the way what does your heart condition look like?
Do you have a forgive life i.e. you do not live in the past
Are you sure when this world folds up you have a better tomorrow or you are not sure of tomorrow at all
Truly speaking can you courageously stand up and say I believe in Jesus without looking over your shoulder for fear of being termed a pretender?
This is the time for connection
It is time for the spirit of Jehovah to work in our souls
Allow him to show you all areas of your life
May you be made into a child of God!
Allow God to touch the area of your behavior, character and also your attitude
May he transform your world view to conform to His!
Spirit of the Great God no take pre-eminence!
Broad over this room!
Convict, convert, transform save and heal in Jesus’ name!
May new lives be realized and meaning brought into them!
May a new purpose be birthed forth with in Jesus’ name!

And now may power, honour and all glory go back to the King!
Halleluyah to the lamb!
 Lord we thank you
We say thank you
Our Lord Redeemer
We say thank you

Thank you papa ×4

Thank you Daddy ×4

Thank you Father ×4

Pastor Geoffrey Douglas Otuko
31st August 2013
10.30am



WHAT IS THIS THING BEING A CHRISTIAN?
JAMES 1.2
From the outset allow me to declare that your best day is still forward
Though you have enjoyed or not enjoyed your life in Christ I am here to prophecy that God is about something in your life.
This calls for expectancy, which necessitates preparation.
Expectant women are expectant because they can fill something moving in their wombs.
You have to connect yourself with the Spirit of God to expect from God
Only women who have had intimate times with their husbands have reason to be expectant.
This cannot happen to a virgin who is still in her father’s house
You have to connect with God
What is this thing Christianity?
Many a times we have been given wrong perception:-
-come to Jesus and you will be healed
-come to Jesus and all your problems will be gone
-come to Jesus and you will have peace
Christianity is a unique way of life punctuated with lack, suffering, denial, persecution and even death!
Tests are the order of the day
That is why James the brother to Jesus the Christ gives us first hand information on what to expect as a true Christian.
Let’s read James 1.1-4
Then who is a Christian?
Christians were first called so by people who encountered them
These people saw them follow Jesus Christ
At first they were disciples of Jesus called and chosen and mentored by Jesus himself
Who then is a disciple?
Mathew 7.21-24
           -A disciple is literally a leader
-One who follows another teaching, Luke 6.40
-a disciple is not only a learner, he is also an adherent
-they are imitators of their teachers
Things that distinguish who a Christian is
1.     Does the will of God
2.     Obeys the commands of Jesus Christ
3.     Does not practice lawlessness (sin, rebellion against the truth)
4.     Bond servant, not his own but owned
Children of God we are not saved by our choice
Neither is it a result of attempted righteousness
It is not you who decided to get saved
God did save you
I did not deserve but he counted me worthy
I was lost he found me
I was a no body, he made me into somebody
And above all I have been given the right to be called the CHILD of God.
What is a Christian?
-Is a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religious based on the teachings of Jesus
The name Christian is used 3 times in the New Testament
Acts11.26, 26.28 and 1Peter 4.16
They were called Christians out of:-
i)                   Behavior
ii)                Activity and
iii)              Speech
They were like Jesus in all they transacted
A Christian is one who belongs to the part of Christ or a follower of Christ
People consider themselves to be Christians simply because:-
i)                   They go to church
ii)                Live in a Christian home/nation
iii)              Their parents gave them Christian names
iv)              They were baptized and confirmed
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian
It is like going to the garage that doe not make you a motor vehicle
Titus 3.5
“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
To be a Christian is:-
i)                   Put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including his death on the cross as payment for sins and his resurrection on the 3rd day.
John 1.12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed on his name, he gave the right to become the children of God”
ii)                A TRUE Christian is a child of God, a part of God’s true family
iii)              One who has given new life in Jesus Christ

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIANITY
1.     Suffering, Moses, Job, David, Daniel, Jesus, Paul
2.     Challenges
3.     Perseverance
4.     Maturity
5.     Completeness
Maturity is a product of a process of consistent natural growth.
It is a result of good nutrition, hygiene and exercise
Qualities of a mature Christian
i)                   Christ like character 1Timonthy 1.3-6
ii)                Identification and confirmation 2Peter 1.12-15
iii)              Be an example and offer pattern to follow, Philippians 3.12-16
Could you have been trying to live the Christian life by your own means and terms?
May be you have no reason to call yourself Christian because after all no one measures up
May be you are tired of watching theatrics on T.V and have even concluded there is no need to go to church
I am here to introduce you to true Christianity
This involves you surrendering to Jesus
It is a matter of one self and the heart
By the way what does your heart condition look like?
Do you have a forgive life i.e. you do not live in the past
Are you sure when this world folds up you have a better tomorrow or you are not sure of tomorrow at all
Truly speaking can you courageously stand up and say I believe in Jesus without looking over your shoulder for fear of being termed a pretender?
This is the time for connection
It is time for the spirit of Jehovah to work in our souls
Allow him to show you all areas of your life
May you be made into a child of God!
Allow God to touch the area of your behavior, character and also your attitude
May he transform your world view to conform to His!
Spirit of the Great God no take pre-eminence!
Broad over this room!
Convict, convert, transform save and heal in Jesus’ name!
May new lives be realized and meaning brought into them!
May a new purpose be birthed forth with in Jesus’ name!

And now may power, honour and all glory go back to the King!
Halleluyah to the lamb!
 Lord we thank you
We say thank you
Our Lord Redeemer
We say thank you

Thank you papa ×4

Thank you Daddy ×4

Thank you Father ×4

Pastor Geoffrey Douglas Otuko
31st August 2013
10.30am

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