Blessed Hope Nig. SDA Church: Current News

Sermon Summary - Saturday, 17 October 2009

2009-10-28T00:00:00-05:00

Experiencing Great and Mighty Things

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)

(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: Jeremiah 33: 1 – 3 “1 While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time: 2 "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: 3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

As you look at this passage, you will notice that the Scripture says that Jeremiah, a mighty man of God was shut up in the prison away from the society. Sometimes we wonder why bad things happen to good people. You may feel like Jeremiah and probably recount lots of tough times this year; however even while still in the prison, the Word of God came to Jeremiah. Friend, even if your situation makes you feel shut up, nothing can stop you from receiving from God. God knows your address, He even knows the side of the bed you sleep on. He can reach you wherever you are and no matter how bad the situation is. He is saying to you today, “call to me and I will answer you…”

God is aware of our situations. When Job began to pray for his friends, his own breakthrough came, start to pray for the brethren. God showed Jeremiah that He is not called God for nothing; His name is a strong Tower and the righteous run into it and is saved. God is saying He has a record you can check. His Name is a guarantee of His greatness! He’s got the greatest testimonials. Ask Joseph if he does not know what it means to be in prison for years. However, one day his name was remembered. Ask Daniel how it feels to be thrown into the lion’s den and how those lions met the Lion of the tribe of Judah. You may feel you are in a mess you can’t get out, don’t be weary, just take all your cares to God in prayer. God loves challenges. He has committed Himself to answering our prayers, the Bible says He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. He said the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off. God is giving us an open invitation. In answer to your prayers, He’s promised that He will show you great and mighty things that you do not know of. This means that He will answer you better than He’s answered you in the past, He will beat your imaginations! Hallelujah!

Nothing in our imagination is equal to God. If you can think of it, God can do it! God can dry up the sea just for you. A lot of us today are feeding from crumbs that fall from the table because we have limited the Holy One of Israel. Our failure to have stems from our failure to ask, all other things being equal.

Friend, stop magnifying your mountain before God but magnify your God before your mountain. If you will pray, your sorrows will turn to joy. If you can pray, you will receive. A man is only as powerful as his prayers. Jesus said Men ought always to pray and not faint. It is the enemy that says don’t bother to pray. He who fails to pray becomes a prey. If we will pray we will be delivered. God loves making an impression, He is going to turn your situation around and show you great and mighty things that you’ve not experienced before.

Sermon Summary - Saturday, 24 October 2009

2009-10-28T00:00:00-05:00

An Evil under the Sun

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)

(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: Ecclesiastes 10: 5-7 “5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: 6 Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. 7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.”
Solomon says he has seen an evil under the sun, something totally unheard of. Everywhere one goes, there are obscene scenes like an 8yr old smoking on the street, this is the hand of the enemy. Fools are put in high positions, slaves are riding on horse back whilst princes are walking like slaves. As God’s children, we are supposed to be the rulers but everywhere we look, it seem like ‘slaves’ are ruling. God’s intension is that we live as priests and kings, to become like ‘Israel’ and to be the head and not the tail. Many Christians today believe that the reward of a Christian is only in heaven but it is God’s will that we like as kings and princes here and now, for the Scripture says that even now we sit in heavenly places with Christ. The passage in Ecclesiastes tells us what God has in mind when he created us to rule.

3 Strategies the enemy uses

1. Ignorant about our rights, privileges and calling in Christ Jesus - The devil covers the truth that would set us free. Choose not to be ignorant. Many are living as slaves today because they are ignorant.
2. Satanic manipulations - This is any form of direct satanic assault on a Christian, which might be in the form of casting a spell on someone or witchcraft activities or demonic bondage. For a child of God, we need to know that Isaiah says that even the lawful captive of the mighty can be delivered. There is deliverance in the blood of the Lamb.
3. Negative confessions: Many spend their lives thinking and confessing negatively. The Bible says that as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. Many are holding themselves in bondage today by the words of their own mouths. Remember the widow of Zarephath when she was on her way to the Prophet of God after the death of her son, when met by Gehazi on the way and asked, ‘is it well with you?’ she answered, ‘it is well’ even though her child lay dead at home.

6 Steps to Victorious Living

1. Be born again
2. Pray to discover who you really are in Christ Jesus
3. Pray for a vision/blueprint of where God is taking you
4. Disconnect yourself from negative people, do not be a companion of fools, think big, expand your tent.
5. Watch your tongue
6. Walk in Holiness, honesty and Integrity.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 13 June 2009

2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00

Escape to Glory

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text - Hebrews 2: 3

We normally say how do you do? Or typically here in UK, we say ‘how is the weather?’ These questions are so trivial but we use them to strike up conversations with people. However, there are some questions that are a matter of life and death. Reflecting back to the September 11 terrorist attack in New York, it strikes me that many of the victims would have greeted each other in the usual ways, read the papers as usual and asked the typical questions. As people sat at their desks, settling down, something entirely unexpected happened, airplanes loaded with fuel crashed into the building. Why are we recounting this tragic story, you may wonder. It is because at the time of the attack, every other questions that had been asked that morning became irrelevant and the only significant question became ‘how can we escape…?’ This is similar to the question asked in Hebrews 2: 3. How shall we escape? But some may be asking escape from what?

We all realise after 9/11 that life has changed. There are people who are ready to give their lives for what they believe in, confusion fills our world. Men want to be women and women want to be men, the fat want to be thin and the thin want to be fat, the whites want to be black and blacks want to be white. There is greed and terror everywhere. In all this, we must know that a time of judgement is coming, a time of reckoning, so the relevant question to ask then is ‘how can we escape from the coming judgement?’ The writer of Hebrews is reminding us about the need to escape. If you read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, you will see the need to escape and there are few points we need to note:

There is no other escape if we neglect this salvation. You cannot try to escape from God or hide from Him. God knows our thoughts as well as our deeds, there is no fooling Him. David said “you have searched me and you know me…where can I go from your Spirit?” No sinner will be able to escape from the wrath of God. This is why Jesus says ‘I am the way, the truth and the life… I am the door, by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved.”
What does it mean to neglect this salvation? Neglect means not paying attention. The writer did not say how you can escape if you ‘hate’ or ‘reject’ this salvation. What he is saying is, how shall we escape if we do not pay attention to the gospel. Many times we are careless about our Christianity. Some of us don’t bother to pray each morning or night; mainly because we don’t seriously believe what is in the Bible. John 3:16 talks about believing in the Son so that we do not perish. So, even there in the most well known passage in the Bible, we see that some will be saved whilst some will ‘perish’.
This is a great salvation first because of the greatness of the person who brought it to us – Jesus, the son of God. Some people when they need to commission a programme or building, would call an important dignitary such as governors, mayors or even royalty. God Himself became flesh and came to dwell with us. If an item is reckoned to be precious then it is brought with a great price. Jesus came to our world and bought us with His precious blood. When captured by the Romans, He could have called ten thousand angels to come to His rescue but He did nothing so as to pay the price for our sins. This salvation would still have been great if it saved just the Jews only, but actually this salvation is for every tribe and race. This salvation is great because it gives us the hope of eternal life.

Death is our arch enemy but it is also going to be defeated. The death of believers is described as ‘sleep’ because there will be a resurrection of the righteous dead, and death itself shall die one day when we shall escape to glory. The Apostle Paul said ‘comfort ye one another with this hope’ of Christ’s return. Some say we delude ourselves with the hope of heaven. Some even say it is positively wrong to tell others about Jesus and heaven, but the truth of heaven is real, it is the place God resides with the members of the Godhead.

Human language is inadequate to describe the place God is taking us. There shall be no more death or sorrow. There shall be no more parting there. A day in paradise is better than 90 years on earth. In this city of God, there shall be no night; there will be no need of light because of God’s presence. Paul says now we see dimly but we shall see Him then in His glory. You must decide that nothing must separate you from His glory. I want to challenge you to make sure you make it there. A story was once told about a lady who lamented to a man of God and says she’s had enough of Christianity. The man of God told her that heaven would still be beautiful without her. Friends, whether you take Christ serious or not, heaven will still be such a wonderful Place. I pray that we will be steadfast to the end. Remember the word of God that says it is only he who endures to the end that will be saved.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 13 June 2009

2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00

Escape from Bondage

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay PAstor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text - Isaiah 52: 1 - 7

Does it feel that you are imprisoned or ensnared with an addiction or traits that run in your family? Do you seem powerless against the forces that threaten your health, your joy, or your peace? Just like Isaiah declared there is deliverance in God. In Isaiah 51: 9, the Lord allowed the Assyrians to punish the Israelites. They thought God was asleep and cried out to God, ‘awake, awake!’ but in Psalms 121, the Psalmist assures us that God does not slumber nor sleep. God is on duty 24/7. He is still in control. The problem the Israelites faced was not that God was far away but that they have moved away from Him. God can still part the Red Sea in your life but you must draw near to Him. God says to Zion – don’t accept defeat, you have been too comfortable with the situations of your life. He says, ‘awake and put on your strength’. God was speaking to the Church. You need to understand that even Christians can be taken captive. God is saying don’t allow the enemy to get you down. God sees you as beautiful and precious. You have been held captive for far too long!

In verse 2, God is saying it is time to declare enough is enough. Shake off the dust of unbroken curses. The anointing is enough to oppress your oppressors and suppress your suppressors. In verse 3, Isaiah says that people have mocked you enough, you have been tormented and harassed by satanic powers enough, it is time that you are loosed. However, you have a part to play in your own deliverance; you must unlock your faith. You must be prepared to loose yourself.

Verse 3 and 4 says you have sold yourself cheaply to the enemy; the devil does not have to oppress you. You need to be redeemed by grace. God is going to deliver you with his love and his grace whether you are a lawful or unlawful captive. Many of God’s children are leaving the place of their destiny because of the recession, leaving Canaan to Egypt. If you leave the land of your promise for the land of captivity, it may seem well at first, just like it was for the Israelites when they first arrived at Egypt, but a Pharaoh that does not know God may soon arise and you may be ‘bought without any money’. The Israelites were taken without any battle. They were taken over but when the time of deliverance came, God rose on their behalf and fought on their behalf. God declared deliverance upon them.

Isaiah shows us that like the Israelites who were oppressed by the Assyrians, a nation they had previously conquered, many children of God are also suffering from a problem they had conquered before. And like Israel, you must check your stand with God. You need to acknowledge and confess your sins. In verse 5, God shows us that He is concerned about our problems - it blasphemes His name. God is not glorified when His children suffer perpetually without a remedy or deliverance. Has He not promised to come through for us and deliver us from all evil?

This passage (Chapter 52) of Isaiah shows us very clearly that you can be delivered from every form of bondage. Yes, you can find escape from bondage and God assures you that He can deliver you if you put your trust in Him. Should you desire to be set free from whatever affliction or problem you may have today, there is power in the blood of the Lamb for He has been anointed to set the captives free!

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 13 June 2009

2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00

Escape from Brokenness

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text - Psalms 31: 1-14

Our daily lives often reflect the children’s poem about humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King's horses, and all the King's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again!

Like Chinua Achebe also said in his book, ‘things fall apart, the centre cannot hold’, some may feel they are at the very end of the road wondering if they will ever bounce back. Today, we are talking about how to endure the life’s licking but yet keep on ticking like the classic Timex wrist watch. Some have broken marriages, broken hope, broken finances, broken hearts etc. and though we cannot do anything about the brokenness, we need to know that God is able to put our ‘Humpty Dumpty’ together again. Brokenness does not have to be blight, it can be a blessing! God always makes a way of escape from brokenness.

First we need to know the reality of brokenness - Many people around us may appear well dressed on the outside but deep inside, they are hurting deeply. David talked about his brokenness in the book of Psalms. In Psalms 31, David said ‘because of my enemy, I am the reproach of my neighbour’. You may have the bailiffs harassing you, threatening you so much that you are afraid of going out. Life might have dealt you a big blow; you sit at your phone hoping someone will come call you to cheer you up. David said ‘I have become a broken vessel’. Generally, when something is broken, it is deemed as useless unless repaired. Brokenness can affect us inwardly and outwardly:

Brokenness can cause people to become angry and bitter. Some dwell on situations that have happened years ago, reacting harshly because of the pains of their past.
Brokenness can cause people to become depressed. Some cannot afford to even smile again because deep down they are consumed by brokenness. Years back in Chicago, a man took his life because his 5 year old daughter died in a fire accident just about a year after his wife died. He didn’t know where or who to turn to.

However, brokenness also creates an upward problem. Many stop believing in God or to serve in Church when they go through their period of brokenness. They ask the question, ‘where was God when I was suffering?’

Reasons from Brokenness

In Romans 8: 28, Paul assures us that God is not a cruel God. There is some good in what you are going through! The trouble you are going through now is just a ‘light affliction’ compared to what the enemy has planned for you. Paul says it is also just for ‘a moment’. There is a pattern in the Bible that brokenness precedes greatness: before Abraham became a father of many nations he was childless for many years; before Joseph became Prime Minister in Egypt, he was first sold into slavery and imprisoned; Joshua could lead the Israelite into Canaan, he first had to defeat the giants that were in the land… the brokenness you are therefore going through now will precede a time of greatness in your life.

Remedy for Brokenness

To experience the remedy for brokenness, you need to realise that there are some prerequisites:

There must be a relationship - in Psalm 31:3 & 14, David was able to proclaim God as his Rock and Fortress. God is not just the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; He must be your God too. Do you have a relationship with Him?
There must be reliance – in verses 4, 5, 6, 14, 19 and 21, David solely trusted God. Who do you turn to when you have a problem? Do you turn to friends? Share your problems with God. You must rely on God and God alone. You cannot rely on your gift, skill, salary or strength.
There must be a realisation – you need to realise and be absolutely sure of the fact that God cares intimately about you. David declares that God is a righteous God. He will not allow you to perpetually go through your brokenness. David in verse 7 said he will be glad in God’s mercy. God knows the adversaries we face. He sees, He hears and He can come quickly to your rescue. God is in control of the affairs of your life. A mighty fortress is our God. God will be a Rock of offence to your enemies and a Rock of defence for you.

God is able to mend broken hearts, broken homes, and broken dreams. God heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. No matter how big your wounds, God can bind it up. God can fix it up again.

Sermon Summary - Friday, 12 June 2009

2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00

Escape from Yourself

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text - Romans 7: 18-25

So much of our life is about escaping from one thing or the other - pain, loneliness, financial hardship, stress, physical problems, worry, anxiety, self-loathing, marriage, job uncertainty, conflict in relationships and the list goes on and on. It also seems the more we try to escape, the more difficult it becomes. Some need an escape for their children or other things in life. We fight and lose ground, we achieve but have no satisfaction, and we work but no gain. We try to escape but it looks like there is no way. Recently, a family who lived a seemingly comfortable life drove over a cliff to their death along with their dead disabled child. In the passage in Romans 7, Paul cried ‘Hosanna’ when he noted there seemed to be a way of escape.

What does ‘hosanna’ mean? It is a word used to praise and give adoration. However, it also means ‘o save’. So when Paul cried ‘who will save me from this body of sin?’ He is in essence crying ‘hosanna’. We have also cried unto God to save us from our enemies. For some it is their circumstances or some persons pestering their lives. Many are crying out like the people on the first Palm Sunday as Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, ‘hosanna, hosanna!’ Many cry hosanna to different sorts of messiahs, all trying to find ways of escape through various means - from spiritualists to yoga and all sorts of religions, but Jesus is the only true Messiah. He alone can get you the help you need. He alone can save and deliver you. We all need an escape, an escape from oneself. Jesus wants to be a friend that sticks closer than a brother. If you do not know Jesus, you should cry out to Him and seek escape from your sins and yourself.

Some may ask, ‘why should a Christian be crying out for help like Paul did?’ Romans 7:18-25 shows that you must be sincere with yourself. Paul realised he needed God to rescue him to be able to now be empowered by God. Do you have a nasty habit or someone you can’t love or an attitude that you cannot change? Is there bitterness eating at your very soul, anger or selfish ambitions? Then you can identify with Paul. There is always conflict between what your sinful nature wants and what God wants us to do. Paul says you can become an overcomer and escape from yourself.

Romans 8: 1 – We are to live according to the Spirit; when we keep our minds on Jesus, despite what we go through, we will experience true joy/peace. Paul said he did not base his joy on circumstances.
Say to yourself there is no more condemnation because you are in Christ Jesus. You will have satisfaction that money cannot buy.
No trouble on earth should distract you from the joy that lay ahead. When you understand what is ahead, you will continue to shout ‘hosanna’ through your struggles. It might look like a fierce battle but Jesus is going to win!

You can find an escape from yourself, Jesus is going to win!

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 30 May 2009

2009-06-09T00:00:00-05:00

The Table of Grace

Speaker - Eld. Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text - Matthew 26: 26 - 29

From the passage above, Matthew gave us a description of the disciples seated at the table of grace – the Communion Table. However, Mark and Luke add more perspective to the story, they helped us to realise that soon after the Communion, the disciples queried why one person or another should be seated at the table. They also started to argue who was the greatest. In fact, Jesus also predicted then that Peter would deny Him. Now, all these show that the disciples are also human. Let’s look at the sequence, first there was the sitting at the table, second, there was the argument about who was the greatest, and third, they all forsook Jesus. Do we also have this sequence exhibited in our lives?

First – Sitting at the table: We all come to Church with our bibles opened, smiles on our faces, singing and raising up holy hands. We all feel blessed and experience a ‘mountain top’ experience but we do not allow the experience to last for soon after the service is over, we switch from sitting at Jesus’ feet to…

Second – the argument: Whilst in God’s house, we let our humanity come in and allow trivial matters to engage our thoughts just like the disciples argued about the greatest. Often after the strong message our conversations are anything but holy!

Thirdly - Forsaking Jesus: Just like the disciples forsook Jesus soon after their communion experience, we also forsake Him during the week despite our Sabbath ‘moutain-top’ experiences. We allow our weekly pursuit to distract our minds and many often forget that they are Christians until it is yet another Sabbath and they are in Church again. From Sunday to evening on Friday, many give no thought to the things of the kingdom; rather they allow the cares and troubles of this world to fill and engage their hearts. At this point, let’s learn a couple of lessons from the disciples.

This is the table of grace not of greatness: We often come to the Lord’s Table (communion table) with an attitude. We wonder why others should come to the table. Some refuse to wash the feet of specific brethren because they consider themselves better than them. We must never forget what Jesus said in Matt 7: 21, ‘Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven’. Some think they are ready to enter the kingdom on account of how many miracles or exploits they had done for God. They forget that being on the table is not by virtue of who we are but who we know - that is Jesus. Many look round the table and label others by their sins forgetting that at that first Communion, sinners like Peter who denied Jesus three times, were there. So also was Thomas the Doubter and even Judas, who betrayed the Lord. Yet Jesus did not condemn them and even washed their feet! O, what a Saviour?

Coming to Communion is an act of grace, not of greatness. Jesus knows our past and future. He knows how we let Him down last week and that we will let Him down again in the future. Think about all your words in the last few days, can you say they were all righteous and edifying? What about your thoughts? However, Communion is to let us know that we are sinners and in need of God’s grace. In Luke 22: 29, Jesus promised to bestow onto us the Kingdom. Why would Jesus give us the opportunity to wine and dine with Him on earth and then in heaven? The reason is because the language of heaven is Grace, Grace, God’s Grace!

Being in the presence of Jesus at the Table will transform us: We shouldn’t leave His presence the way we came in. Accepting Jesus’ broken body and shed blood provide us access to the table of grace. Have you thought about the act of God giving His son for our sins? It is an unfair exchange, an unfair bargain, yet God was ready to give so that we may be saved. If Jesus’ broken body and shed blood had been on ‘ebay’ for sale today, consider how much it would have been priced.

Contemplating the mercy and grace of God can transform our lives. As we come to the Communion Table, we need to realise that though He accepts us as we are, He loves us too much to leave us the way we are! How I long for the time when all the cares and troubles of this life will be no more; when we can sing in our long righteous robes. I hope with all my heart that you will appropriate this grace and be found as part of the saints on that day when the saints sing holy, holy, holy with the angels. May you be found covered by Jesus blood and made righteous by His grace. Amen.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 23 May 2009

2009-06-01T00:00:00-05:00

Entering Your Place of Abundance

Speaker - Eld. Ayodeji Adesina (Lay-Pastor, BHSDAC, UK)
(summarised by Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: Psalms 66: 8-12

Entering your place of Abundance – Psalm 66:8-12 by Lay Pastor Ayo Adesina

Looking at my own personal experience, many like me are going through a period of crisis; speaking to people at work, or while shopping at the superstore, reading a newspaper or watching TV, we see that we are all going through a crisis. Normal monthly bills are overstretched by extra costs so quickly. We are confronted with situations with no reasonable answers. Sometimes it seems we are wandering around in a maze. Some of us have crises that are not financial and unspeakable. Crisis is defined by the Webster dictionary as “an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending”; it is a change from one condition into another condition. God has promised us a blessing in our time of crisis and to protect and guide us.

You may ask, is it possible for an individual or Church to be in a crisis and yet be in God’s will? Yes! We even grow the most in the middle of our crisis. Our roads can pass through crises but God never leaves us. God is ready to take you from lack to abundance. God did not bring Israel out of Egypt to kill them. He brought them out for freedom; but before going to the promise land the Israelites had to pass through the wilderness. Let us look at 3 phases of the Israelites journey which is also similar to phases in the life of every child of God:

Egypt – This is a place of slavery and labour, it was a hard place for the Israelites. Similarly, some are in one form of prison or the other today – spiritual; health; marital; or social. You feel weak under the weight you carry. Egypt is a place of barrenness, a place of unfruitfulness. “You allowed men to ride over our heads” (Vs 10). You may be going through a tough time at work, feeling looked down upon; someone else seem to be getting the applause, or you may feel handicapped like the man at the pool of Bethesda, and it looks like others keep getting ahead of you. Sometimes, you may feel all choked up, almost crying out “Get me out of here!” You see letters arriving at your home signifying “Egypt”. You need to realise that God is not glorified when you continue to be in Egypt. I prophesy to someone in Egypt today that the chains of slavery will be broken in Jesus’ name!

Wilderness – Maybe you have left Egypt and you are no longer in lack per se; just like when the Israelites needed food, God provided but enough for one day at a time. When they needed water, God provided water from the rock too. The wilderness is a place of basic needs (Vs 8 and 9). God ensures you have your daily needs “you keep our feet from sliding”. This is a place of preservation, a place where you are tested to see whether you will stay with Him when you are brought to abundance. Some of us become so proud when God blesses us with little more than before, at this point, some stop giving tithes and offering this is why a lot of Christians remain in the wilderness till death because God deems it better for them to stay there to be able to make heaven. The wilderness is the place of refinement. Is your situation looking like it’s the end of the road? Even though the Israelites were standing at the verge of Canaan land, looking at the promise land yet did not make it in. So also, many Christians are giving up on their life experiences just when it’s almost over. In Numbers 14, the Bible says the Israelites were ready to turn their backs on Canaan and head back to Egypt. On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb also passed through the same crisis but they never took their eyes off the focus. As you stand at the verge of Canaan, you should say “If the Lord is pleased with me, I will make it to the other side”, say “As long as the Lord lives, I will not tolerate any form of insufficiency in my life.” Crisis is something inevitable and irreversible. It is said that tough times never last but tough people do. God desires to move you from insufficiency to more than enough. God’s intention is that the wilderness is just a passing phase; not a permanent experience.

Canaan: In verse 12, we read, “you brought us to a place of abundance…” The desire of God is not just for you to make it but to make it big. A place of abundance is your Canaan land. Deut 11:10-12. The first noteworthy thing about this place is that it is a land to be possessed. There are many blessings opened to Israel but these have to be possessed. There are great possibilities when you get over your crisis; however it is possible to pass through your crisis without gaining the great possibilities. Let us look at how we can ensure we gain from the opportunities.

Possession must start with a desire to possess. Pray that God will awaken your desire.
You must understand the great principle of possessing. It doesn’t come by our pious deeds or self effort. You need to know that it is ‘faith’ that lays hold of what we have in Christ. So study the great principle of faith. No one gets anything from God without faith.
You must apply all these principles in the ‘present’ moment. Many of us know the principles of victories but never experience it because we don’t apply it for the present moment. If we don’t live in the present tense, we will end up living in the past tense or future tense.

The breakthroughs coming your way are not like last year’s Moses says in Deut 8:7; in the land where you are going there are hills and valleys but even in the valley there is water, this is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Canaan is a land of divine concern…which shows the Lord your God cares. Far beyond and beneath all other precious truths is that God is truly concerned, and truly cares about you. Even in this crisis, the eyes of the Lord are upon you. When you appreciate the fact that God’s eyes are on you, your attitude will be different. Praise the name of God in the midst of your crises because the Lord is taking you to a place of abundance.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 16 May 2009

2009-05-22T00:00:00-05:00

The Power of Belief

Speaker - Elder 'Dayo Dare (Head Elder, BHSDAC, London)
(summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: Philippians 4: 13

‘If it is to be, it is up to me’

The scripture for this message is taken from Phillipians 4: 13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

During the 1960s, a football team named Green bay parkers from the state of Wisconsin were known for their success, particularly their toughness, discipline and ability to rise above adversity. This earned them the right to play annually at the super bowl content and for a long time they were the envy of other teams. However, they were not always a great team, at a point; they began to loose their games and not long became known as losers. Vince Lombardi was charged with the duty of bringing them back on track. He came to challenge their thinking and there was a transformation they changed from chumps to champs.

Please note that their sudden transformation was not because they played better nor was it because Lombardi injected a new dose of talent and ability, what made a difference was their new way of thinking. The team experienced outstanding result when they exchanged a negative belief system conditioned by failure for a positive belief system which was threatening their expectation and possibility. Brethren, in the final analysis, whether in a football field or in the arena of life, we cannot subscribe to a defeated mindset and expect to experience a life of victory. You see, Victorious living demands victorious thinking. As long as you lock yourself in a defeated mindset, victory will always be far.

There is power in what we believe. Brethren, when we take the inventory of our lives, one of the tragedies we sometimes experience is to see narrowness and weakness far too often.

Our lives are meagre when they could have been magnificent

Our lives are poultry when they could have been plentiful

Our lives are feeble when they could have been full

Our lives are sorry when they could have been significant

Our lives are little when they could have been luxuriant

And when we think of the vast resources of God and the rich endowment that God has lavishly bestowed upon us, this is all the more sad.

Now in the passage for consideration today, we find the Apostle Paul locked up in jail. He was writing to the Philippian church, yet even though Paul is in prison, joy permits this prison letter and optimism abounds. You see Paul may be in prison but he knows that Christ is still on the throne. Yes Paul may be locked up, but Paul is not locked inn. Paul may be in a cell but Paul refuses to be contained, He is sitting with Christ in heavenly places. Now in 1 Corinthians 3: 21- 23, Paul says all things are yours, all are yours and ye are of Christ and Christ is of God. All things are yours.

In 2 Corinthians 5:18, all this is from God. Now he writes to the Philippian believers. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and he is still in prison, he is in jail. Is this nonsense or is it madness? Is this foolishness or vain self- sufficiency? Oh no Brethren, this is the humble yet triumphant boast of a man who knows that God does not fail. Having been born in Tarsus, home to Stoic philosophy, Paul was aware that the stoics maintain that man is a fragment of the universal soul. And that man had resident in him and an intrinsic force which can resist and overcome all outward powers. But Paul knew that this philosophy was problematic. He knew otherwise, so we ought to know why he says, In other words, it is not I but Christ. We also know that the phrase “in Christ” is very Pauline. Elsewhere he says, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. I am crucified with Christ not I but Christ who lives within me. It is Christ who strengthens me. It is Christ who sustains me. It is Christ who empowers. More literally, it is Christ who infuses me with strength. Now the word STRENGTHENETH in the original is a present participle of the present tense and denotes a present and continuing action. Thus Paul is saying I can do all things through Christ who is strengthening me and thus continually strengthens me. It is by His constant strength and renewed strength that I am enabled to act in everything. I totally depend on Him for all my spiritual power.

Paul admonishes us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might; Paul reminds us that his strength is perfect in our weakness. I read that during the Second World War, a French soldier said ‘impossible’ is not a French word. Napoleon Bonaparte also said ‘impossible’ is not in his dictionary. So also the word ‘impossible’ is not in the Christian dictionary. We have strength equal to our days, as your day so shall your strength be. We have strength equal to our tasks, He never places upon us more than we can bear and we have strength equal to our reliance on Christ, without me you can do nothing. And how do we get this strength of His power? We seek His strength in prayer; we seek His strength in His word. We seek His strength in moral examples and influence. Church that Holy kind of boldness, that Omnipotence needs to inspire us in every sphere or arena of life.

I am witness that we can do all things through Christ. Don’t be intimidated by the system, for too long we have been degraded and our self esteem trampled on, but we can do all things through Christ. Ours is a legacy of excellence, our forefathers have raised the standard which we must seek to raise even higher.

Dr. Martin Luther King (Jnr.) it was that said we are challenged on every hand to work untiringly to achieve excellence. If a man is called a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michael Angelo painted or Beethoven composed Music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep street so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say there lived a great sweet street sweeper who did his job well. This is what Douglas Marlow meant when he wrote “if you can’t be a pie on the top of a hill, be a scrub in the valley, be the best little scrub by the side of the road, be a bush if you can’t be a tree, if you can’t be a highway, be a trail, if you can’t be the sun just be a star. It isn’t by size that you will not fail, be the best of whatever you are.

We must know that it all begins in our thinking. If we think we can then we will, if we think we can’t, then we won’t. A story was once told of a farmer who found a strange egg in his farm and in time, the egg hatched to a strange bird but the farmer decided to raise it as one of his chickens. The bird began to act like a chicken, when a bird expert visited the farm some times later, he questioned what an eagle was doing with chickens, the expert tried to get the eagle to fly, the expert told it “you are an eagle, created to rule the skies and soar”, as he put him up to fly, the eagle tried flying but swooped right down when he saw the farmer sprinkle some chicken feed below.

The second day, the expert took it again to a cliff and encouraged it but the bird dived down again to eat chicken feed. As a last chance, next morning while it was still dark, with the sun just coming up, with tears in his eyes, he encouraged the bird saying “Every part of you was designed for aero dynamic excellence”! He said to the bird “this is your last chance” and held it out over the cliff for the last trial. Suddenly, the bird’s heart began to pulsate and beat louder, the bird flapped its wings and he made up his mind to soar without looking down, he spread his wings and began to soar as he was designed to and he didn’t look down again.

We must live our lives as champions and not in mediocrity. Remember the words of the song by R. Kelly:

“I believe I can fly

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away

I believe I can soar, see me running through the open door

I believe I can fly”.

When Robert Folkenberg was president of the general conference, he quoted an amazing article which talks about determination and flying, written by an African church leader. Here is an excerpt from it.

“I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past has been redeemed, my future makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colourless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarf goals. I no longer need prominence, prosperity, positions, promotions, products or popularity. I do not need to be pampered, pumped up, picked up or pepped up. Neither do I need to be cuddled, cradled, catered too, Okayed for. I don’t have to be first, props, recognised, praised, regarded or rewarded. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, laid away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I cannot have my feelings badly enough to turn me around. Be discouraged enough to turn me aside or loose enough to cause me to quit. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice; hesitate in the presence of the enemy. Ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the face of mediocrity. I won’t sell out, be talked out, pushed out or get out. I won’t give up, shut up, laid up until, I have stayed up, stood up, prayed up, preached up. Devils cannot defeat me, people cannot disillusion me. The weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot hold me, stop me. Battles cannot defeat me and hell cannot handle me, no stone can stop me, no graves can keep me, no devil can claim me, no temptation can conquer me, no rules can depress me, no sin can enslave me, no lion can devour me and nobody can hurt me. I am more than a conqueror; I am a disciple of Jesus. I am committed, I will win. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. I am marching to Zion. I am claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I will not go till Christ comes. I will give till I drop. Preach till all know and work until He stops me and when He comes for me, He will have no problem recognising me because my banner will be clear”.

So child of God, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 9th May 2009

2009-05-20T00:00:00-05:00

Reaching Out

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: Psalms 126: 5 & 6

The purpose of this message is to challenge us that the Church is not a club but a Movement to tell others about Jesus. A man once prayed, “Lord bless me and my wife, my son and his wife, us four and no more!” Another preacher read a will to an anticipating audience, and they were all disappointed when the will read “Being of sound mind, I spent all my money on myself.” How many more selfish concepts plague our society today? Most of us are only concerned about our needs, wants and desires even over that of God and we have become very selfish and self-centered in our doings. We have few good days when we think of others but generally we are very self-centered. However, Jesus’ whole life was spent ministering to people around him. He had come so that captives can be set free. Matt 20: 28. Today, let us think about others and minister to them. The greatest gift that we can give to others is the gift of eternal life. Day after day, we look at people around us who are dying in their sin and not born again, and yet we act as if we do not care! Psalm 126 talks about:

The going of the servant
The flowing of the tears
The sowing of the seed
The mowing of harvest

The going of the servant: Passages like Matthew 28: 19, Mark 16:15 and Luke 19: 10 show us that the ‘seeking’ has to happen before the ‘sowing’. Often, we complain that people are not getting saved but are we seeking? Do we remember to pray for people we know who are not born again daily? John Wesley said “the Church must go to the lost or go to oblivion”. The Church that is not growing is a dying Church! Any Church that is satisfied with holding their own is on its way to the cemetery! We’ve got to go if we want to grow. This is a serious matter; having a burden for those who are lost. God has placed us here so that through us others may see and experience the glory of God. Going could involve making phone calls to encourage others, forming friendships, writing encouraging letters, distributing tracts, holding Bible studies, ministering in different ways, or preaching to someone, etc. But there has to be a ‘going’!

An old man of 75 years once visited a Church and requested for bible study, to his amazement, he was visited by the Church Pastor and an Elder, and as a result got baptized. After the second visit, the old man was in tears because he had lived for over 45 years just 8 buildings away from the Church but nobody had ever reached out to him or visited him. Are we going to be satisfied just keeping the number of our congregation, or are we going to go out and preach to folks waiting to be told the good news? Sinners have not been commanded to go to Church on Sabbath but the Church have been commanded to go to the sinners!

The flowing of the tears: A woman once wept over a story in a soap she was watching, and her husband then asked why she would cry over a thing that is as unreal as that, the woman answered that she cries for the same reason that makes him excited and shout and jump when a football player scores a goal. Most of us have cried over somebody or something whether real or unreal. We have cried over the loss of money, friends etc. but have we cried over a lost soul? Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Many of us are not compassionate, we do not care whether sinners die in their sins or not. We possess piety without pity and passion without compassion. Jesus had compassion over the hurting and offered to help them.

When you look at people what do you feel? We need to start getting really serious about winning souls for Jesus. Have you wept over any lost soul lately, or ever? On Dec 10, 1982 at 9pm, a mother called her son and said Dad was dying of a heart attack, but the son didn’t leave that night because he lived about 200 miles away. Around 5am the next morning, the phone rang, him mother called again and all she said was ‘dad’s gone’. During the funeral service, the son wept loud and long and more than any other person there because he realised that his dad died without accepting Jesus as his Lord and Saviour and he never preached to him! We always make excuses, “I’m too shy”, “can’t talk to people”, but if you knew a car was coming to crush someone, would you keep quiet and not shout out?

The sowing of the seed: - A farmer who does not sow any seed will not get any harvest. Matt 10: 7 and Acts 8:4 show us that everywhere the disciples went, they sowed the gospel seed - on the golf course, in the supermarkets, at swimming pools, at work etc. When was the last time you shared a Christian tract or literature? (Romans 10: 17) We cannot blame others who don’t know Christ if we don’t tell them about the love of Jesus. Pray to God to give you an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. God will surely answer that prayer.

A man once invited his friend for golf but his friend said he had to go to Church that Sunday and will not be able to go for the game. His golf friend said to him, “keep your Church to yourself after all I have invited you for golf a dozen times but you have never for once invited me to Church” Even in today’s society, many people are just waiting for someone compassionate enough to share the gospel with them. Romans 1: 16 – are you ashamed of the gospel of Christ?

The mowing of the harvest: - If we have gone to sow with compassionate hearts, then there will be a harvest of souls! As a Church, if we fail to tell people about Christ, then we have failed in all. Jesus Himself said the harvest is plentiful, so wherever you are on earth the harvest is plentiful but the workers quite few. How many of us are willing to do our best for the Master? There are many people around us who don’t have a ray of hope, people deep in sorrow, tired with life etc. would you be a ray of hope to them? When we love others, we will go, shed the tears, sow the seed and then mow the harvest. Many times our harvest might not be immediate but surely there will be harvest. The harvest might take a season but it will surely happen.

Sermon Summary, Sabbath 2nd May 2009

2009-05-08T00:00:00-05:00

A Good Man is Hard to Find (Men's Day Message)

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text - Jeremiah 5: 1

A Good man is hard to find – by Lay Pastor Ayo Adesina

Jeremiah 5: 1

The subject of this message is probably a buzz phrase for most women no matter her race or background. Whether educated or not, cultured, sophisticated, gangster, activist or liberal, many women agree that “A good man is hard to find”. One may feel this kind of phrase would probably only come from women who have been hurt by some men and to some extent this may be true. You see, you cannot expect to find a good man hanging out on the street corner at night, or whilst you sit with your female friends, drinking and lambasting men. Some have ideas of finding good men only in the church and those who think that way may not be too far from the truth; however you may be disappointed if all you are looking for is a man that attends Church regularly and not one that is born again and Holy Ghost filled.

Truly in our Societies today, we can no longer trust even those in leadership roles to be examples of good men. There have been many instances where preachers have let down their congregation in diverse ways, many politicians have let down their constituents having lied to many, even many of the law enforcement agents have had their share of corruption and lawlessness. Do you know that statistics have shown that black African, Caribbean, Pakistani, Chinese men have the highest rate of unemployment in the UK? What is wrong with the world today? Christians don’t pray like before, men want to be women, women want to be men, the short want to be tall and the tall want to be short, the blacks want to be white and whites want to be black.

To be a man, one must agree that childish ways must be put away, in Jesus you can find how to become a real man, you can walk and think like a man, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Ellen G White rightly opined that the world is not so much in need of great minds but of great men who would impact their families positively. This brings to mind the children of Israel, God had blessed them mightily both spiritually and materially, but along the way, they began to worship other gods, they stopped loving one another. In our history also, black folks survived slavery, humiliation and stereotypes, we have been brought from being the tail to headship. However, we also have stopped loving God. There is so much iniquity and injustice seem to rule everywhere. God told Jeremiah in our key text if He can find one just man, then He would spare the city. Let’s look at four traits that show a real man:

A real man rejects passivity – Boys have a natural tendency to initiate action and achieve. It is natural for boys to be constantly active, teaching their younger sisters to run, jump and play football. Boys would toughen their younger brothers and encourage active play. Boys do not have to be taught this sort of play, they have an innate behaviour of aggression, and this remains a part of them even to adulthood. However today, a lot of men are passive. Let us check out what happened to our first parents: Adam and Eve. Satan pacified Eve that if she ate the forbidden fruit she would be liberated. But as naturally aggressive as men are, when it time for Adam to come to the rescue of his wife and stop her from falling into sin, Adam became passive! In Gen 3: 6, the Bible shows us that Adam was right by Eve when she was being propositioned to eat the forbidden fruit. He stood there and watched his wife contemplate spiritual suicide. He became passive and instead of initiating an action against Eve’s suggestion, he didn’t. This pattern of passivity could grow wilder than expected. Today, families are crying out for Dads who would provide moral guidance, protection and models of responsibilities. A natural man does not want to change nappies, or cook, he just wants to laze around and be passive. However, Jesus, the second Adam, rejected passivity by driving out the traders in the Temple; He rebuked the scribes and Pharisees and even spoke up when his parents tried to detract him from His mission. Today, we need men who would call sin by its name and reject it. Studies have shown that children who had involved fathers are better able to have higher grades, confidence, and are more sociable than those whose fathers are passive.
A real man accepts responsibility - when they had eaten the forbidden fruit, God asked Adam and he blamed it on the woman and then on God (Genesis 3: 11) as if there was nothing he could have done. There is a blaming culture today as well, statements like “it’s not my fault”… Jesus like the first Adam, was also given specific duties, He had the church to love and the law of God to obey. Jesus accepted these with enthusiasm. It is the father’s responsibility as the priest in their homes to ensure the children are interested in the things of God. Children whose fathers are active in the Church have been shown as more active than those whose fathers are not. As fathers, when last did you lay hands on your children to bless them? Because there is power in a father’s blessing. Fathers must take responsibility in their homes. They must show their children how to love by modelling it. Children need to hear their fathers pray? They need to see their fathers in God’s House every Sabbath? They need to see their fathers reading the Bible? Fathers must teach them how to worship and serve God. It is the fathers’ responsibility to discipline and disciple their children. Both boys and girls need a dad to be a role model. Boys need a dad to teach them how to be a man; girls need a dad who would be their first hero.
A real man leads courageously – In 1 Kings 18: 21, Baal worship had become common in Israel, and Baal was believed to be the god of rain but Elijah had declared that there would be no rain and there was no rain for three years. Then Elijah went before the people and challenged them to take a stand to worship and serve Baal if it truly is God, or if it is the Lord Almighty. No one was ready to stand by Elijah but he stood courageously against the 850 false prophets of Baal and Ashorah. At the end of the contest, Elijah overcame the false prophets and all Israel saw that there is no god like the Almighty God. The world has seen a lot of fake Christians who do all sort of things from Sunday to Friday but on Sabbath, shout ‘hallelujah’! This is why many teenagers fall away from the Church as they reach the age when they can no longer be fooled. God showed Himself strong through Elijah. Joshua also led courageously and declared in Joshua 1: 4, ‘As for me and my house, we would serve the Lord’. We all should make this our theme.
A real man expects the greater reward from the Lord - For hours, the prophets of Baal prayed and even cut their flesh. However Elijah prayed a 63-word-prayer asking that God be glorified. Elijah wanted the people to know that God is the Almighty. God caused fire to come down and His glory was truly seen. Real manhood was never intended to be burdensome. Jesus came to model what it should be. The Bible says that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. Jesus, though torn apart in the flesh, endured the cross. A lot of men fail in their duties to their wives and children because they seek cheap glory. A real man looks beyond the present and look at the joys ahead. If the only reward you strive to achieve is your paycheck at the end of the week or month then it is a pitiable plight. There is more to life than a paycheck but this is why many men are absent at home. There are lots more rewards more satisfying and gratifying than a paycheck, like making a difference not only on earth but also in eternity.

In conclusion, looking into the Bible to find out if there is a real man who can save us from our plight, we discover that the first man, Adam, was created perfect but when it came to the point of making a difference, he stood by passively. Then there was Noah who found grace in God’s eye, but he loved to drink, even to the point of being naked, he became the forerunner of today’s drunkards. Then there was Abraham, God’s friend, but he too had a problem with telling lies. Isaac his son was no better, repeating the same lies told by his father years before him. Isaac also preferred one child above the other, and showed it. Then there was Joseph, the dreamer, who came from a dysfunctional family and was abused greatly. Surely a real man is hard to find.

Then there was Moses, the meekest man, but he had stuttering problems. Then Gideon who was afraid to take a leadership role. Then Samson who despite his bulging biceps and power was a womaniser. Then there was David, a mighty king and warrior but also a murderer and conspirator and you just couldn’t trust your sister with him. Truly, a real man is hard to find.

Then there was also Elijah, who despite the great ways God had used him was suicidal, always moaning and groaning and asking for pity. Then Isaiah who went around preaching naked, representing some of today’s bible bashers. Then there was Job who always feared the unknown, then John the Baptist who ate bugs and won’t take a bath. Then along came Peter, Jesus closest friend, who denied the man he loved, just like many of us are ashamed to be recognised as Christians among our friends. Truly a real man is hard to find.

Looking high and low, there seemed to be no real men, not even in the Church and as I began to pray and look to heaven, the voice of God said ‘My grace is sufficient for thee’. When there seemed to be no hope, God provided from above, this man called Emmanuel – Jesus, the Rose of Sharon, the Prince of peace, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, coming down from 42 generations to identify Himself with our sins. He was born of a virgin birth, He was named Jesus – because he will save the people from their sins. He raised the dead, healed the sick, and lived a perfect and sinless life. Jesus is the authentic man, the real man. After the long search, I found Jesus who took our burdens upon Himself and through whom all men can become real and authentic me!

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 18th April 2009

2009-04-24T00:00:00-05:00

A New Thing

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text – Isaiah 43: 18 & 19

Isaiah’s writings came to

Israel at a time the nation faced a bleak time. They were in exile and were home sick. In our country today, many also face a bleak time; in this time of recession many have lost everything they worked for and many are looking at going to other places to seek better lives. Others have experienced devastation, ruin, desolation, decay, waste and all that can be said to be a desert experience.

We are surrounded by cries of God’s people in desolation, billions of people in some parts of the world have no access to medical facilities, many are hooked on drugs… Each one of us have our own desert experience. Jesus who came to show us the way also experienced his desert. It seemed like all was lost, that death had overcome, but there was a declaration of life though Christ. God is doing a new thing and neither death nor devastation can take our Jesus from us. Many of us are standing in our desert. For some it may be persons whose lives are ruined by past sins and for that we have thrown them out of our lives; some experience sickness as their desert and we write them off in our minds; for some, their desert is financial and they cannot see anything in their future but poverty; for some, it is hopelessness in a love relationship that has gone sour. However, despite all these, if you look with the eyes of faith, you will note a transformation is about to take place. God is going to make your wilderness a delight.

Do you want a new thing in your life? Do you believe you are still ‘work in progress’? Let us look at steps towards embracing a new thing:

Change your focus – Quit looking behind, start looking ahead: in verse 18, God is saying ‘forget the former things’, some people may be comfortable to think about their good past, the children of Israel also had past victories, but their old victories was not enough to deliver them from their present predicament. They needed a new faith, new vision, and new victories to get them out of their current situation. Some folks today have similarly been comfortable with doing the same things, going to Church twice a week, giving 5 minutes of quiet time to God, a tenth of their wages etc. Smith Wigglesworth said, ‘to remain on the same spiritual level for two consecutive days is backsliding’. Many of us are not moving forward and we cannot depend on past victories to sustain us, we need new miracles, fresh faith and fresh anointing. Some others have a memory of a bad past but we should not allow a bad past to hunt us. The attitude of the children of

Israel to God’s commandment was lackadaisical, they sinned against God but God loved them and earnestly wanted them to change. They could do nothing to change the past but God gave them the opportunity to start all over again. Isaiah 55: 7 says God will have mercy and abundantly pardon. God is saying to you today, ‘my grace is sufficient not only for the past and present but also for the future’.

The 2nd step to embracing the new thing what God wants to do in your life is to:

Clarify your Focus -- discover what God wants for you: What do you see when you look at your life? Do you see possibilities or problems? Is your cup half filled or half empty? Notice what God said in our key text: “I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”. The children of Israel had a choice. They could view their past and the problems of their present, or they could focus upon what God wanted to do in their lives. Fanny Cosby, famous poet and songwriter, was 8 years old when she wrote her first poem. The poem expressed how contented and happy she was and that she did not expect anyone to sigh or complain because she is blind. You must see yourself as God sees you and you must see your possibilities as God see them. You must believe that you can do all things through God. You are not a failure because you know that when God is for you, no one can be against you. No one should harass you, take charge and declare that no one will harass you in Jesus’ name. Shut the mouth of the devil in Jesus name. God hears your prayer even when it is whispered. When you realise how great God is, you will know that your potential is not limited by your colour, race, qualifications etc.

The 3rd step to embracing the new thing what God wants to do in your life is to:

Commit yourself to God’s hands - God has already set in motion the activity and the people that will take the children of Israel out of captivity but the choice to accept it was in their hands. Similarly, God has already set in motion the events and the people that will bring you your miracle and your deliverance but are you need to cooperate with God? God is ready to change the affairs of your life and when God is ready to do new things, no prince of Persia can stop or delay it. However, can you pay the price of the new thing God is about to do in your life? Meditate seriously on Isaiah 43: 22 - 26. God asked the children of Israel if they were willing to pay the price for this new thing!

a)     Are you willing to pay the price of earnest prayers? Read Psalm 69: 3, many of us want big answers but are not ready to pray.

b)     Are you willing to pay the price of a burnt offering? What God is asking is not too much but are we willing to make financial sacrifices? Are you willing to sow seeds of faith in order to reap abundant harvests? How much of your income have you invested in God. We cannot invest nothing and expect abundant blessings. You must learn how to give in order to receive. Give and it shall be given unto you. Give with both hands and you will receive in full measure, pressed down and running over.

c)     Are you willing to pay price of repentance? Are you spiritually proud? Thinking you deserve everything? Or will you turn to God in humble penitence asking humbly to be blessed.

If you are willing to pay the price, then God is ready to make springs burst forth in your life. God is ready to do a new thing. Rejoice and learn the lesson of praise. Learn from sport fans, when a goal is scored, there is spontaneous praise. You can shout barefooted, or when cladded in designer footwears, what is important is the praise.

The blind searching for light need to know God is able, the alcoholic searching for quenching, the homeless looking for shelter, the crack addict seeking unspeakable joy and hope for a life all need to recognise that God is able. When your situation seems hopeless, when your back is up against the wall, God is saying He is able. If God did place the stars in the exact order around the sun, if He was able to create man in His own image, if He was able to walk on water, and know the number of hair on your head, then He is able and He is about to do a new thing. Do you perceive it? Can you see God’s hands in your situation? God is able, claim it and you will receive it.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 11th April 2009

2009-04-17T00:00:00-05:00

The 'Empty' Promises of Easter

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: I Corinthians 15: 55 - 57

The society today is full of empty promises which make people very wary of each other. Adverts tell us that we can be beautiful, healthy or strong if we use certain products but soon it is realised that the promises are only empty. This message may very well be the most unusual Easter message you have ever heard, it brings you chronicles of death and the promises of Easter. Let me share with you three ‘empty’ promises of Easter - the empty Cross; the empty Tomb; and empty burial clothes, all of which could not hold my Jesus down. They all are empty but full of God’s promises.

The empty Cross – because the Cross is empty we have the promise of forgiven sins. Let’s use our sanctified imagination to picture the first Easter morning. It was Sunday morning, the previous day being a Sabbath Day – Saturday, thus the women could not go to the tomb then. Therefore, first thing on Sunday morning, they made their way to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. The women were sad and hardly spoke a word as they hurried to the tomb of Jesus, however they suddenly stopped in their tracks, why? They saw the three empty Crosses but focussed on the middle one and it all came back to their minds as fresh as it happened the previous Friday - the horror of seeing Jesus being nailed, the pain and agony, the blood… He had managed to say ‘it is finished’ and He had died but now the Cross was empty, full though of God’s promises. Jesus had paid the penalty for our sins. Sin? A word that we hardly hear nowadays, some say it is politically incorrect but the truth is that we have all sinned and come short of God’s glory and according to God’s word, the soul that sin will die. The wages of sin is death but the empty Cross tells us that the penalty of our sins has been paid. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. No other one has declared our penalty paid by dying for us but Jesus Christ. No longer do we have the excuse to live in sin but because of the empty Cross we can hold on to God’s promise of our sins being forgiven.
The empty Tomb - going back to the ladies on the way to the tomb, one of them wondered aloud, who will move the stone in front of the tomb? In those days, the stones used to seal the tombs used to be massive, heavy stones so that no one can gain access to the body laid therein. As they walked and wondered, suddenly the earth moved under their feet, they were surprised and stopped, but soon they got going again. On getting nearer the tomb, they saw that the soldiers guarding the tomb had fallen unconscious! As they gasped in wonder, they saw an angel illuminated with bright light who spoke to them and informed them that Jesus had risen from the dead. They peered into the tomb and yes it was empty but full of God’s promises. The empty tomb is the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has shown us that death has been put to shame as he could not hold down my Jesus. Oh, death where is thy sting?

Allow me to quickly share with you Death’s biography. For you to understand this, you need to view death as though it were a person:

Death was conceived from Adam and Eve’s temptation. The parent of death is sin and the grandparent is the devil. Before death’s birth, there were no pains, travails, labour, sorrow etc. The human body was designed to last forever but when death was born, he became active and the first person to be struck down was Abel. Death then became the strongest predator on earth. Seen by day and night lurking in shadows, he was the terror of the night, he had no favourite - black or white, red or yellow, young or old alike. Death pushed David to slaughter Bathsheba’s husband, he pushed the three Hebrew boys into the fire, but he then saw a fourth man standing with them in the fire. This fourth man was the same one who had conquered him ages ago! Death said to Himself that he would be patient for soon he intends to conquer this fourth Man in the fire.

At the mention of death’s name, men would tremble. Only two men had ever escaped his grasp - Enoch and Elijah. Death was sure he would conquer the Son of God. Thus, death was there in the garden as Jesus was mobbed by the murderous crowd but Jesus looks him in the eye without any fear. Death flinched, wondering if he had truly encountered his Master, but he refused to accept the fact. So, he goes to Pilate whispering ‘kill him’, he goes to the crowd and made them to cry out to Pilate, ‘kill him and let his blood be upon us and our children’. Death was desperate, thinking that if he can destroy Jesus at the hands of the people, then Jesus would not make it to the Cross and God’s Plan of Salvation would hence be thwarted. With every lash of the whip, death lunged at the body of Jesus, hoping that Jesus would not get to the old rugged Cross but once again he failed. The Roman soldiers drilled the nails in the hands and feet of Jesus, tearing the flesh apart and cracking His bones. Yet, in the midst of this agony, Christ asked for forgiveness for them and then declared, ‘it is finished’, then he bowed His head and died.

That day, the sun refused to shine, the birds hushed their songs. There was demonic celebration on that Friday. The next day, it was Sabbath and quiet but on Sunday, death thought to himself, ‘I AM DEATH AND CANNOT BE CONQUERED’! But the stone covering the tomb was rolled away at the touch of an angel. And up from the grave Jesus arose! Death was defeated, Christ arose. Rev 1: 8 says, “I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA”. Jesus made a open show of death and asked Death. ‘where is your sting?’ On Easter Sunday, God showed death He was still in control. Death no longer has to terrorise your life. Christ triumphed that first Easter morning. That was the day death died.

If we believe in God’s Son, Jesus, death does not have power over us. The promise of the empty tomb is that Jesus is alive and death no longer is a foe to be feared. The death that we go through now is what the Bible calls ‘sleep’. The eternal death that we deserved was what Christ experienced for us.

Empty burial clothes – after the angel had spoken to the women, they went to the rest of the disciples to share the good news. Then came Peter and John rushing to the tomb to see for themselves what they had been told, and whilst John tarried outside the tomb, Peter ran inside and saw the empty clothes for real! Peter rationalised that if someone had stolen the body they wouldn’t have left the burial clothes behind. It meant truly Jesus had resurrected!! Beloved, Jesus left his ‘dead man’ clothes and is now clothed in His priestly garment, a robe of righteousness. The tomb could not contain Him nor could the Cross, nor the burial clothes. Jesus now lives to have communion with you. He wants to be your friend and your Lord. The promise of the empty burial clothes is that you have a living Saviour who wants to have a relationship with you.

At Easter, more than any other time of the year, God has given us the promise of forgiven sin, eternal life and a personal relationship with Him. Would you take Jesus at His words? Jesus is waiting for you and wants you to be part of God’s family. Easter tells us that the promises of God are real and made for us. And so, you can boldly say, ‘because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone…’

Hallelujah!

(If you will like to obtain a DVD of the full message, please call ++447748 807550 or ++447853 121918, or email bhsdacpastors@aol.com. Within UK, the price is £3 but if you enquire, we may even be able to send you a free copy)

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 4th April 2009

2009-04-14T00:00:00-05:00

Overturning Satanic Letters

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: 2 Kings 19:14-19

Many people are going through traumatic experiences and this shows that we live in times that call for prayers as the devil is out with a vengeance. The enemy has subjected many to constant struggles and pain. Many have worked hard to acquire certificates but the devil has made the certificates worthless, some have businesses that the devil has rendered unprofitable. Others are being discriminated against at work or denied promotion. What do you do when the devil threatens with evil reports and satanic letters? Do you break down and cry and give in to the wimps of the enemy? Be assured that when the Church of God prays, there will be an outstanding breakthrough, your glory will be restored and the Lord will cause a remembrance of your name. However, you need to pray with an enough-is-enough attitude!

Hezekiah came to the history of Israel in a significant way. In the book of 2 Kings chapters 17, 18 and 19, the king of Assyria had laid siege against Israel for 3 years (2 Kings 17: 5 - 6). The Assyrians had already captured the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Threatened by the Assyrians, Hezekiah became faithless and practically accepted what the King of Assyria was ready to demand from him. The king of Assyria made demands from Hezekiah and he, Hezekiah, was willing to pay. Today, the devil is making demands of Christians and many Christians are willingly giving him. We must know that the devil is aiming to take everything from us.

The King of the Assyria threatened the children of Judah and in verse 28, he sent delegates to the Israelites. In fact, the delegates spoke the Jews language. The enemy can speak your language, he knows what to use to tempt you, he is aware of your weaknesses and what can cause you to despair. As a result of various threats, some of us have turned over even our tithes and offering to the enemy, some spend the Lord’s Day worshiping their employers. Many are going out to make agreements with the enemy just like Hezekiah made with the King of Assyria. Have you thought about the different ways you could have made alliances with the devil just to ‘belong’ or to have it all?

In chapter 19, when Hezekiah received the evil report, he rent his clothes and went to the house of the Lord. Where do you go and who do you seek when you receive evil reports? Hezekiah also sent a word to the Prophet Isaiah. We must learn to send words to the throne of God. For some of us, we are at the verge of getting to our Canaan land but there seems to be no strength to go forth. Like a woman getting to birth a child but with no strength to go on. We must travail in the place of prayer. How many of us are forming prayer chains? The enemy is out to make sure we fall because we are rediscovering God’s purpose for us.

After the evil report, Hezekiah also received a satanic letter – chapter 19, verses 10 – 13. When you look at the content of the letter, the devil was questioning the power of God. The enemy may not write you a physical letter, he may write a spiritual letter questioning your faith, saying God has forsaken you, mocking you and asking how you think you will make it in life? He may laugh at us saying ‘show me how you will get over this’. The enemy is already bringing remembrances of situations that did not go well, perhaps the enemy is offering you a deal, proposing crooked means to you. The satanic letter might be a dismissing notice, divorce suit, medical report, laboratory test, repossession letter, bank statements etc.

In situations like these, what do you do? Hezekiah spread the letter before the Lord, he also sent word to the prophet. Note that when he received the evil report, he called on the Lord’s prophet, but when he received the satanic letter, he spread it before the Lord, he did not rely just on the prophet. Similarly, there are times you need to tell God yourself what the enemy has brought before you, bring all the threats to God: threats that says you will not succeed or that you will die young, or that a particular illness that runs in your family will afflict you; threats that may put you in captivity and bondage. You can overturn all evil reports through prayer. Prayer is not child’s play, note what happened when Hezekiah prayed:

He mentioned the power of God, the omnipotence of God. (vs 15)
Hezekiah mentioned the problem but made it clear that the problem is nothing before God. (vs 17)
Hezekiah mentioned his position also - that for him all hope is lost unless God comes to his rescue.
Hezekiah mentioned God’s purpose – for Him to be glorified in the situation. When you ask God to glorify Himself, He will show up for you.

God answered him that all his prayers are heard. God declared that He will defend the city for His own sake (Vs 34). For every plan of the enemy, the Lord will defend you. God sent His angels to smite the army of the Assyrians. Note that only one angel smote all the soldiers of the Assyrians. God’s power is immeasurable, and His ability to conquer the battle is unquestionable.

The only reason why the enemy can continue to harass you is when you play with sin. However, if you confess your sins and give your life to God, God will defend you and protect you.

God can overturn the plans of the enemy concerning your life. So, give the battle to the Lord and you will see God’s power.

Shalom!

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 28th March 2009

2009-04-03T00:00:00-05:00

Rivers of Pleasure (Part 2)

Speaker - Eld. Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: Psalm 16:11

According to the American heritage dictionary, Pleasure is a source of amusement and delight. The Collins dictionary also defines pleasure as being pleased or gratified. The world may seek pleasure in a sinful way. What does the Bible say about this? Prov 21: 17, Eccl 2: 1, Isaiah 2: 4. Solomon concluded that worldly pleasure is nothing but vanity. Isaiah says that after all the time of worldly pleasure, it ends in shame, guilt and fear of justice. The following are 3 principles that guard us from worldly pleasure

Anything that refreshes or amuses you without distracting you from your final goal is a legitimate pleasure.
Any pleasure that jeopardises the rights or comforts of others is not legitimate e.g. happy slapping brought pleasure to the doers but discomfort and fear to the victims.
Any pleasure not kept in balance with reality of your spiritual life, becomes imbalanced for example watching TV for four hours but engaging in prayer for only 5 minutes. This imbalance has made the pleasure illegitimate.

However, we need to know that not all pleasures are bad. God loves pleasure. Some would dispute that God could have pleasure, but God can be pleased and amused. So you may ask, what gives God pleasure? Many think of God as the man up there waiting to strike us dead, but is God like that?

God takes pleasure in his Son – Fivetimes in the New Testament, God spoke saying He is pleased with His son. When you understand this; when you know it is Jesus who presents your case to God, it will change your outlook (Matt 3: 17, 17: 5, Mark 1: 11).
God takes pleasure in His House - (Haggai 1: 8) When you realise that God takes pleasure in His House, you will be ready to give to the cause of building a House of Worship. We must remember though that this project will require making effort, making sacrifices. David said he will not take what costs him nothing to give unto God. In our days, it is difficult for people to bring wood and physical materials for the building of the House of God. However, we must be ready to give of our means for this worthy purpose. God takes pleasure in His House, this should change your attitude when coming to Church every Sabbath. When you realise that you are coming to meet with God in His House, which He takes pleasure in, this truth should put a spring in your footstep.
God takes pleasure in His people - Psalm 149: 4. You were created to worship and praise God. Did you make God happy this week with the way you dealt with people at work or at home? Psalm 147: 10 - 11. God is not amused by the number of degrees or houses or cars or inheritances we have, He is pleased with those who fear him and hope in His mercy. Are you a pleasure to God? Forget the facades we put up and know that God wants to be pleased with you. He loves you so much and gets excited when you go on your knees ready to call on His name. Story is told of a little girl who lost her mum. While in a boat on a lake with her father, the little girl asked her Dad, “does God love us as much as mummy did?” The father initially did not know what to say but looking across the horizon above the water surface, he said, “God’s love is farther than you can see, it is deeper than the ocean floor and higher than the sky”. The girl nodded and then remarked, “and think about it dad, we are right in the middle of it all”. Friends, we need to know that God’s love is greater than we can ever think or imagine.

Pulling these three truths together, imagine what happens every Sabbath when God’s people who He takes pleasure in, meet together in His House, which He takes pleasure in and call on the name of His Son, Jesus, in whom He takes pleasure. What an explosive encounter that ought to be each week as Saints meet for worship!

What are the results of drinking from God’s river of pleasure?

Psalm 149: 4 – God assures us that He will give salvation.
When you tap into God’s pleasure, you receive the Kingdom. Luke 12: 32
When you spend time in worship you’ll also have prosperity, that’s why the Psalmist urges us to drink of the river of pleasure. Psalm 35: 27, Job 36: 11, Psalm 36: 7 - 8.

Why do young people engage in sex, violence and gun crime? It is because they are looking for something that will satisfy their souls. Unfortunately often times Christians fail to radiate the joy and the influence that God desires of us. We must allow the presence of God to fill us with joy and it will bring people to the Kingdom.

The story of the prodigal son reveals some truths in regards to God having pleasure in us as His children. The second son wanted his inheritance immediately and wasted it all on worldly pleasure. When he finally came to his wits end, he realised the wine, women and wealth could not give Godly pleasure. He then arose and went back home, and to his Father. The Bible says when he was still a great way off, the father saw him, wrapped his robes around him and ran to meet his son because he had compassion on him. Oh, what a God we serve.

It doesn’t matter how much you have messed up, God still has compassion on us. The father asked his servants to put the best robes on his son, and a ring on his finger. God is saying that He no longer sees you as filthy but will clothe you with His robe of righteousness and a ring of authority showing that all power on earth He gives to His children. God also gives the sandal of affluence, giving us all the luxury of His home. The fattest calf was killed and merriment began and the son realised that genuine pleasure was at Home. Parents should make Christianity pleasurable for their children, young people need to know that they can experience pleasure in God’s presence.

However, the Bible tells us that when the other son came around and he heard the music and the sound of a party, he was angry. Many Christians also behave this way. Indeed, the older son cannot understand the feeling of a father who has just seen his lost son.

Also, the story of David dancing with gladness, as the Ark of Covenant was returning to Israel, also reveals some truths. 2 Sam 6: 1-16. David took the ark with gladness and worship and sacrifice. David danced before the Lord with all his might wearing a linen ephod. There was shouting and the sound of trumpet. Micah, David’s wife (Saul’s daughter), looked at him and despised him because he worshiped God with his whole heart and for this reason, the Bible says God closed her womb because she despised David for bringing pleasure to Him. Many people unknowingly bring untold curses upon themselves for despising those who worship God with all their heart in their own way.

Let us live our lives to bring pleasure to God. Zephaniah 3: 17 says God Himself rejoices over us with singing and joy. What a God we serve.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 21st March 2009

2009-03-26T00:00:00-05:00

Braving the Storm

Speaker - Pastor Maduka ogbuonye
(Summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: Isaiah 43: 1 - 4

Braving the Storm – Isaiah 43 1-4

By Pastor Maduka Ogbounye

Friend, do you know that whatever your situation, God has committed Himself to taking care of you? There is an interesting story in Matt 14: 22 - 33, the same story is in Mark 6: 45 - 52 and John 6: 15 - 21. The story took place after Jesus fed the 5000.

Peter tried to walk on the sea like Jesus but when he saw the storm, he was scared and took his focus off Jesus. Immediately, he began to sink. In our daily lives, we will constantly meet with ‘storms’ but how do we deal with them? Peter would have sunk deep down had Jesus not come to lift him up. There are different kinds of storm e.g. physical storms such as Hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis and volcanoes. These are very serious situations that claim thousands of lives. There are also social and economic storms such as gangsterism, knife and gun crimes, racism, credit crunch etc. A careful analysis of our own society reveals social storms constantly destroying peoples’ lives.

There are also spiritual storms ranging from religious confrontations to proliferation of false prophets. Now that it has been established that there are so many different kinds of storms and they are real, how does one negotiate through these storms of life? Knowing the root cause is very important, for example, physical storms may be caused through imbalance in pressure, temperature etc. Also, imbalance in our compliance with the Word of God initiates spiritual storms. John’s account of the feeding of the 5000 revealed they wanted to make Jesus king, their minds shifted away from Jesus as Saviour, but Jesus dispersed the crowd and asked the disciples to go to the other side. The disciples left Jesus with a dissatisfied heart, their thoughts did not align with Jesus’. This imbalance led to the storm.

In the book of 1 Kings, the story was told of the Prophet from Judah who was sent to warn Jeroboam about his bad ways, God had instructed him not to eat or drink after delivering his message but another Prophet who meant harm, lied to him that God had sent him to ask him to eat. He disobeyed the instruction that God gave to him and was devoured by a lion afterwards. We cause imbalance and storms by not obeying God’s words or doing our own things. God expects much from us when He has given us much, so your knowledge and status in God must deter you from being disobedient.

Deuteronomy 28 - if you hearken to do God’s commandment, you will be blessed in all your ways. This means no storm will overpower you. God does not like us when we shift from obedience. God does not like the attitude of complaining, murmuring or disobedience. God wants us to hold onto HIM whatever the situation. He will keep His covenant when you call on His name.

Going back to the story of Peter, the disciples were on the sea during the 4^th watch (about 3 - 6am) and the sea should have been calm at that time. Jesus had dispersed them by evening but because they delayed and complained before obeying the words of Jesus, they created an opportunity for a storm. However, Jesus came at the right time to save them from their struggles. As He was coming to them walking on the water, the disciples thought it must be a ghost, their fear increased and the storm increased. Jesus called out to them, “be not afraid, it is I…” to which Peter replied, “if it is you bid me to come to you”. He must have been gripped with so much fear that he needed to verify that it was Jesus. Today, Jesus is also calling to you in the midst of your storm, “come onto me all you are heavy laden and I will give you rest”. Jesus spoke to Peter, he believed and started walking towards Him until he lost his focus when he started to look at the waves. The waves came between him and Jesus, he became afraid, distracted by the waves and started to sink. What happened to Peter can happen to anyone of us, there are so many distractions that cause us to shift in position, away from Christ. We will not be distracted when we make our standard God’s standard. Distractions give the storm the opportunity. When we compromise we lose control.

As the other disciples continued to battle with the storm, and Peter began to sink, Jesus stepped in. Jesus is able to step in at the right time in your life. Our God will fight our war. We must believe that our God is able. He has even promised that He will give men in exchange for you; God will sacrifice what it takes to save our homes, our jobs, our souls, as long as our focus is stayed on Him. As we brave the storms of life, let us remember that we must remain focused. However strong the storm, stay focused and you will experience the Saviour calming the storms of your life.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 14th March 2009

2009-03-20T00:00:00-05:00

What will you do to sell the Son?

Speaker - Elder Dayo Atejioye (Treasurer, BHSDAC, London)
(Summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Texts: 2 Corinthians 9: 6 - 8 and Malachi 3: 8 - 12

You may be wondering what this sermon is about. Well, this sermon is about Stewardship. May be you ask why exactly do we pay tithes? We do because it is a commandment. Therefore, it is sacred and reserved by God to Himself. We must recognise that the tithe is used to further the work of God and provide for God’s household. In the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the tithe is not used at the local Church but remitted to the Conference for further use to support the Pastoral ministries such as funding trainings for Pastors and paying their salaries.

God also wants us to pay offerings. In fact, withholding offering is also categorised as robbery! God expects us to give out of whatever He has blessed us with, be it big or small. The SDA Church also practices liberal giving used towards mission work, there are also special offerings for various use within and outside the Church.

Have you heard of the story of the unemployed graduate who woke up with only $10? He decided to buy some food, eat it and wait for death but then came along an old man with two children who were lean and malnourished, they begged him for food and he looked at them with compassion and decided they would need the food more than him. He handed over the food and the old man gave him a coin and prayed for him. After they left, he sat under a bridge, opened an old news paper and saw an advert, not for a vacancy but for old coins. He walked all the way there hoping to get something in return for the old coin given to him by the old man. Well, he got $3million in return, as the old coin was some sort of classic treasure. He rushed back to the place where he left the old man and found a note thanking him for giving his all. The note was signed by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! This story might be fictitious but its message is about giving our all to God.

Giving to God is a unique investment that brings great returns. The return is not only financial but also the winning of souls for the Kingdom of God. Soul winning is like an enterprise. A successful enterprise requires investment. It is the investments that prompt returns. As a seasoned marketer, major principles used within the industry are Planning and Preparation. Marketers realise that no planning amounts to absolute failure. Marketers know their products in and out, and they plan carefully how to sell them. They project on who the customers are and how to catch their attention. Many organisations are successful because of their marketing skills. As a Church, what is our product? Do you know your product? Do you have adequate knowledge of your product and do you know who can benefit from your product and how you can get it to them?

Another principle in marketing is ‘timing’. This makes a significant difference to marketers. What sort of time do you approach your customers? How would you approach them? With what attitude will you approach them? How much time and resources would you dedicate to sell your product to get the right returns? Do you know you cannot win people to God if your life does not minister to them? Unless you invest your time and resources to God you will not win them.

Are you going to keep the Son (Jesus Christ) to yourself and go to Heaven alone or will you share Him with others and take them along? You were saved to serve. You can serve Him with your life, your time, your treasure (money), your talents, your body Temple. Give your means to God and He will bless you beyond all measure.

Shalom!

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 7th March 2009

2009-03-12T00:00:00-05:00

Fulness of Joy and Rivers of Pleasure (Part 1)

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: PSALM 16:11 – “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever”

Child of God, did you wake up happy like the psalmist declaring how happy you are that it’s another Sabbath: a Day of rest and gladness? Or did you feel like ‘oh no! its another Sabbath day’, grumbling about having to go church? Many miss the presence of JOY in their lives and many are not experiencing the ‘extras’ that God has promised us. In Gal. 4: 15, Paul asked ‘what happened to your joy?’ Many would insist they have joy but that it’s an inner joy, but you need to know that joy is not real if it doesn’t radiate on the outside.

Many don’t have this joy because of the troubles of life… bills, demands from family, work, and unemployment etc. However, you can still be joyful no matter what you are going through. Think about it, did you go to Church in a car or a taxi/bus? Do you know it could have been walking all the way, or worse still, it could have been on a wheel chair with paralysed legs. What if you were not even alive? We allow many things to worry us and steal our joy despite the fact that the same worrying issue may not have been there five years ago. You may not have been married then or have a house of your own, or a car, but today even with these blessings, you wake up each day and go to bed worn out without joy, from the stress of life.

Do you know the word ‘Joy’ is mentioned in the bible more than 650 times? God is telling us we can be joyful in spite of our situations. Psalm 5: 11 says, ‘shout’ for joy. In Psalm 43: 44, the Psalmist calls God his ‘exceeding Joy’, and even Joy is mentioned about five times in the book of Job which is filled with stories of extreme trials.

Many Christians have forgotten how to laugh but have cultivated a fake, cheeky smile that disappears no sooner than its starts. Laughter does the soul a lot of good, the Bible says it’s like medicine. Statistics have even shown that when you laugh at work, your productivity increases.

Look at the mention of joy in these passages Isaiah 9: 3 – ‘increased joy’… Isaiah 12: 3 – ‘joy – wells of salvation’. Some Christians deliberately go about with long faces just to show how much they have been crucified in Christ, but Matthew 25: 21 talks about sharing our Master’s joy as our reward for faithfulness. In Luke 2: 10, the birth of Jesus is heralded as ‘glad tidings of great joy’, In Acts 13: 52, Romans 14: 17 and Gal 5: 22, joy is also linked with the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian.

You cannot fake the joy of the Holy Spirit. Many try to fake it but give themselves away when obviously irritated at the slightest provocation at home, school, work or Church. God wants you to be joyful. Joy is not the deep down feeling that stays in the inside of you, the original words used in the Bible to describe joy give implies leaping and dancing. Some may say but leaping and dancing is not dignifying, well, this is God’s idea of Joy. It shows!

Some also have the idea that pleasure is sin but God is not a ‘spoil sport’. Some think they can’t do anything fun but Jesus is not talking about counterfeit pleasure of sin, He is talking about real joy and the pleasure of God. So don’t put up an attitude of piety, thinking it’s the same as holiness. Yes, the Bible talks about times of sorrow and sadness but here is the Bible’s position on sorrow – “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning”! God does not want us to be sad all our lives.

You need to also realise that joy is different from happiness. Happiness is based on present circumstances e.g. ‘I just got a new job and I’m happy’ but when you lose the job, happiness turns to sadness. However, joy comes from the Spirit of God and does not depend on our circumstances. No matter what happens on the outside, joy from the inside keeps radiating to the outside. How do we get this joy and remain joyful? (Psalms 16: 11)

1. Pick the pathway of life. John 10: 10 - the enemy of our souls is out to steal the joy in every aspect of our lives but we must pick the pathway of life. Deut 30: 15 – 19 says God has set before us life and death. To choose life is to live a life of obedience to the Word of God. God gives us a blueprint/manual for life. We must live in accordance to the will of God. The devil tries to steal our joy by inducing us to sin. David lost his joy in Psalm 32: 5 because of unconfessed sins. As we struggle with sin, we must make our way back to God. The devil also steals our joy through unresolved conflicts. Hebrews 12: 14 - 15. When we choose to hold on to our hurts and grudges, we drive joy far away.

2. Pursuing the presence of God – fullness of joy is only found in the presence of the Lord. Psalm 22: 3. The way to God’s presence is by praise and worship. As we worship God, we walk into His presence. Many are weak and defeated because they are not in God’s presence and are therefore not experiencing fullness of joy. Nehemiah 8: 10 says we must seek to be in God’s presence always. God has promised us His presence and there are few things you need to internalise about His presence:

a. God’s presence brings peace (Isaiah 40: 41)

b. God’s presence brings prosperity - God blessed Potiphar’s household because of Joseph even in the land of bondage

c. God’s presence brings promotion – God said His eyes will be on Joshua.

d. God’s presence brings power (Isaiah 8: 9 - 10) it doesn’t matter how many enemies/problems.

e. God’s presence brings protection. God says He will not leave you but you must stay in His presence. 2 Tim 4: 17

f. God’s presence brings restoration. Imagine if God removes His protection!

God’s presence is also assured by past fulfilment. Exodus 3: 12, Joshua 1: 15. Ellen White says it’s only when we forget what God has done in the past that we will fear for the future. Begin to experience the fullness of God’s joy, this is your heritage as a child of God.

Shalom!

Watch out for the second part of this sermon – Rivers of pleasure. God desires that we have fullness of joy and rivers of pleasure.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 28th February 2009

2009-03-06T00:00:00-05:00

Daylight Robbery

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay-Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: John 10: 7 - 10

Things get stolen everyday; infact statistics show the nation is facing a crisis in the terrible business of daylight robbery. The devil is also busy stealing, however his interest is in stealing spiritual things – his aim is to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus said He has come to give us abundant lives. The Bible calls the devil a thief, not a robber. What is the difference between a thief and a robber? A thief steals secretly; but a robber takes your property right before your eyes.

Many work hard, day in day out, and after 75 years they die, Jesus is saying there is more to life than that. There is more to look forward to than 75 years of rigour. Look at the progression of the devil’s purpose in John 10: 10 – to steal, then kill and then to destroy, but Jesus has promised abundant life, a life of excellence, a ‘superior in quality’ life. Is this what you are living or is the thief stealing your possessions or your purpose?

The thief wants to bring to nought everything in our lives. Many times the thief keeps telling us the grass is greener in the next career, the next marriage etc. but Jesus has come to give you a life of purpose. One thing the devil is doing is stealing the purpose in the lives of people and then many turn to drugs, prostitution, gangs, crimes etc. mainly to fill the void they feel. We claim to live in a Christian country but many don’t even know the meaning of their Christian names. In Hosea 4: 6 God is saying my people don’t understand there is a thief secretly plotting to sabotage our marriages, interfere with our finances… but God is saying if only we understand that there is a thief out there who brings death and destruction all around us, then our actions might be different.

God wants us to understand that through ignorance, Satan can control lives. God wants us to see there is a power/principality working towards our destruction. So stop slapping your head when there is a problem, stop shouting at your children. When Peter messed up Jesus said ‘get thee behind me Satan’, Jesus knew the root cause of the mess and he addressed that. Now you may ask what is the devil stealing?

1. What about ‘our first love’? We used to be on fire for Christ but now we are no more than mere church goers. Satan is stealing our zeal for the things of God. There is no end to the power God wants to exhibit in our lives. God can keep us sharp and articulate for him but the devil is ripping us off and stealing our love for God.

2. What about ‘our joy’? The spring in our step is gone, our smiles have turned to frowns, but according to Jeremiah, the joy of the Lord is our strength. When the thief convinces you that there is nothing to life, he’s stolen the joy of the Lord in your life. In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy.

3. What about ‘our unique calling’? Those talents and dreams that God has blessed you with. Your gift was stirred up a few years ago but you may have felt that you are not appreciated, you then felt weak and vulnerable, note the devil is determined to take away what gives you a sense of purpose, your dream and your gifts to minister as a missionary, to sing, to bless others in various other ways etc. Don’t be ignorant that the devil roars around like a lion looking for whom to devour. Don’t bury your gift. Don’t be ripped off.

4. What about ‘your Godly influence’? The devil exposes you while you wallow in sin and he pounces on you rendering your testimonies unbelievable. Many gossip, for some, it’s their temperament being uncontrollable. Many are afraid to share prayer requests within the Church because no one can trust the other.

5. What about ‘our marriages’? Someone opined that there is no more difference between the number of divorces in the Church and outside the Church, Satan is so intent on breaking families and Churches because they reflect the glory of God. Satan has ripped many off and many homes are breaking down left and right. This is daylight robbery!

6. What about ‘your faith’? The Bible says the faith of many will wax cold. The Bible also speaks of lying spirits even from the pulpits, many speak blasphemously. Are you still in the faith? Do you still believe in miracles?

So, what can we do? We need to believe that God recovers stolen properties, so if there is something you once possessed but no longer have, turn to God, God wants to return our joy, our faith, our Godly influence. Jesus wants to bless us. We must no longer tolerate this daylight robbery. Many of us are enslaved in the progression of stealing, killing and destruction.

In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men wept aloud in verse 5 , their families had been captured, in fact David’s two wives had been captured, his family was gone and he was greatly distressed, but David found strength in the Lord. The time of weeping was over, he stopped lamenting and he enquired of the LORD. In verse 8, David asked ‘should I go after them?’ God said go! God is saying to you today, ‘go after your possessions’. Stop weeping, take back what is yours.

God promised David he would get all of his possessions, and in verses 16 - 20, he got everything back. In verse 17, David and his men rushed in and slaughtered their enemies. Don’t be slow about the promises of God, notice David rushed in. Go and pray some serious prayers, then rush in and take back what the devil has stolen from you. In verse 18, David rescued his two wives, children and everything God said he would take back. We must fight for our joy and our peace. We must seek after justice, morality and other things God wants us to seek after.

Do you believe God can recover your stolen properties? If you believe, then you shall receive. Go and fight for it, and it shall be so for you. Say ‘no’ to daylight robbery. Don’t be ripped off. Jesus has come so we might have life, and not just any life but abundant life.

Sermon Summary - Sabbath, 21st February 2009

2009-02-26T00:00:00-05:00

The King is Dead

Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)
(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)

Key Text: Isaiah 6: 1 - 8

In 1952, a sad word went around in England, King George VI had died in his sleep. He had done great things but one day his heart gave up. People flooded the churches for comfort. The same happened in 1963 when J F Kennedy was cut down by an assassin’s bullet. About 700 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem, the same message was broadcasted in Judah, ‘the King is dead’ – King Uzziah was the 11^th king of Judah, crowned at the age of 16, he came to the throne at a difficult time but he loved God and followed the ways of his father – Josiah. He fought many battles, built towers and protected his country. In his time, he built cities and generally they flourished. However his ways changed towards the end of his 52-yr reign and he was struck with leprosy; after which he died as a consequence of his actions.

Some of us have been bruised and battered by life, hurt feelings, rejected and betrayed by those who should love and be close to us. Life has dealt hard with some and many Christians are left depressed and even suicidal. Many are planning how to walk out of Christianity. The King indeed is dead! Isaiah’s heart was broken at the death of King Uzziah because he was not only his king, he was also his friend. Isaiah was discouraged. Friend, how many times have you felt betrayed by people you have invested in, only to find them going the opposite way? The devil loves nothing more than to get us discouraged. We must not stop serving God and investing our energy in serving God when things like these happens, we ought to be found in the house of the Lord especially when we face difficult situations.

Isaiah went to worship at the Sanctuary looking for something to soothe his heart. God visited him. He saw the Lord surrounded by seraphim and cherubim and this sight changed his life forever. He worshipped God. Some of us have given up on God arriving in power and we come to Church when we feel like, some even arrive late and go early, some would refuse to sing hymns/spiritual songs with others, some use worship time to mentally do their shopping list… When you catch a glimpse of God, your life will not be the same. On the other hand, some Churches whip up a lot of emotions and drama, screaming hallelujah and continuous ‘amen’, trying to add some juice and thinking by such acts they can invoke the presence of God. These too show lack of belief that God will truly show up with His power. God wants to give us a driving energy that no cares of the world will take away. The bible says Isaiah truly worshipped God. You ought to come to the place of worship with an expectation. If your week has been good, come with a testimony, if it has been bad; come to the throne of mercy knowing you can find grace to bear your situation. Never come before God without an expectation! Isaiah had lost his king but when he caught a glimpse of the King of kings, his life was permanently changed.

There are some lessons God wants us to learn from this passage:

1. God is still in control - God wants us to realise that He is still on the throne. Look at vs. 1, God was seated on His throne and His train filled the temple. God is always showing that He is still in control - the Israelites thought it was over when they saw a small boy with a sling and stones! They must have thought their final end had come, but God showed them He was still in control. Know that God is fighting your cause. What about Daniel thrown into the lions’ den? He must have been committing his life into God’s hands but that day, the lions met the Lion of the tribe of Judah and became toothless! Hallelujah! Know that God cannot be dethroned. God is saying relax, He is still in control. Remember the words of the hymn writers, ‘Mighty Rock in a weary land, Cooling Shade on the burning sand, Faithful guide for the pilgrim’s band, yes, He’s a Shelter in the time of storm’.

2. God is still in the world – The Psalmist said, “where will I hide from your spirit?” It does not matter where we run to. God is saying no matter where you feel you are, you may feel all alone thinking there’s no one in your stom, God is saying nowhere is too far for Him to reach you. God is saying ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you’. You need to realise that God is still in your world and can influence your situation.

3. God is stilling calling imperfect people - Some believe they can’t be used because they have messed up so much. Isaiah said, ‘woe is me! For I am a man of unclean lips…’ Moses said he had a speech defect but God still used him. Jeremiah claimed he was too young but God was still able to use him. If you are waiting for the time you will figure it all out before serving God, you probably never will. God never calls the perfect. He specialises in using imperfect people.

4. God is still forgiving sinners - Some feel they have so messed up and God won’t accept them again. Don’t you think David must have felt very unclean after sleeping with Bathsheba but God cleansed him and forgave him. Don’t let past mistakes dicate the things of today. God is still in the business of forgiving sinners.

5. God is still using willing people - You don’t have to be popular or educated before God can use you. What matters is a vessel willing to be used of God.

In conclusion, you may feel discouraged but God wants you to know that He is still with you, He forgives, and He is willing to use the willing. Earthly kings come and go but the King of Kings is ever here. The king may be dead but the King of Kings is still alive and He will not let you down. The throne in Judah became vacant but God surpasses them all. God is still on His throne. God is deeper than your valley, He is broader than your horizon, He is greater than your problems. Jesus is everything! The Lion of Judah, the Rose of Sharon, the Prince of peace, the King of Kings, Unfathomable, Unmovable, Unbending, and Unending. He is everything even when the king is dead. Know that the king may be dead but THE KING is alive!

Shalom!