ADVENT OF JESUS CHRIST: A CALL TO WORSHIP – December NewsLetter

DECEMBER 2021, Newsletter

Topic: ADVENT OF JESUS CHRIST: A CALL TO WORSHIP

Text: ISAIAH 40:9-11, Luke 2:1-20

Isaiah, 40:9-11
9. Zion, herald of good news,
go up on a high mountain.
Jerusalem, herald of good news,
raise your voice loudly.
Raise it, do not be afraid!
Say to the cities of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10. See, the Lord God comes with strength, and His power establishes His rule.
His reward is with Him, and His gifts accompany Him.
11. He protects His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in the fold of His garment.
He gently leads those that are nursing.

INRODUCTION:
The advent season is the preparation for the memorable celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It begins on the last Sunday of November until the Sunday that precedes Christmas.

Advent (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ (www.Britannica.com).

The alteration of the garden of Eden by Satan caused man to lose fellowship, communion, and a good relationship with God.

As God sought to restore man to His glory, He fulfilled a promise in Jesus Christ.
There were many prophets sent to make the world aware of God’s intentions, with Isaiah included.

The verse from Isaiah 40 above was not sent just to the Israelites, but to the entire world as a whole as well.

The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ’s birth in the world as it is today. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds what the true meaning of Jesus’ birth is (www.outlittleroses.org., Dec. 13:2019).

This season is a time to reflect on the promises made to Israel and to the church through Jesus Christ; He has come and will come again.

This is the essence of the Advent season.

Ultimately, we are created to worship God. In worship, we invoke the presence of God, and when done with all your energy, the glory of God will be reflected.

When the wise men saw the Angels, they sensed the glory of God.

In this writing, we shall focus on:
• Glory To A Born King:
A remarkable aspect of Jesus Christ’s birth that has caused rulers and religious leaders to be furious is the fact that no king could be enthroned while a ruling king was still at the seat with his staff.

In the event that the wise men had submitted themselves to worship the Lord, God reflected His glory through the angels and empowered them to break the hard news.

Luke 2: 8-14
8. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.
9. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
11. Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
12. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
13. Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!

You need to bring up whom you are before God in order that God’s glory can be reflected in your worship, just as wise men did.
Although they were busy people, they created time to let God speak to men through them and to use them as a vessel for communicating the message of heaven.

Let this be a great challenge for you.

• O Come, Let Us Adore Him: ‘Come’ means to call attention to something or to call for someone’s attention. As for this context, it is a call to embrace the one who deserves your paise and services.

Luke 2: 15-16
15. When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16. They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

A group of angels flew to this group of men, and informed them of the divine love being released from Heaven. The wise men didn’t hesitate and they immediately began worshipping God.

What is distracting or keeping you from worshiping your God? Can you please put everything aside so you can worship the King of kings and Lord of lords?

• Worship Christ The Lord:
Matthew 2:11
“Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

A remarkable act of the wise men was that they found time to locate where Jesus Christ was laid to worship Him. Then they offered  Him worship materials as a sign to commemorate His Lordship as the one to reign forever. No one commands them to do so, but they see it as the right thing to do.

If Jesus Christ is so important to you, nobody would compel you to worship Him with all your heart.

Conclusion:
The birth of Jesus Christ has raised controversy around the world. However, the truth is that you can’t worship Him as Lord if you do not believe in His birth and set your heart up for His second coming.

A big worship gathering will take place in Heaven when He returns.

Finally, as a family and as individuals, make time to sing Christmas carols you know and hymns which echo the message of the season to worship Jesus Christ.

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY SEASON!!!

John Aderogba for ROPMI.

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SONGS OF HARVEST – NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

Text: Psalms 147: 7-8
7. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; play the lyre to our God,
8. who covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, and causes grass to grow on the hills…

INTRODUCTION
A song of harvest is an expression of gratitude to God for a good season to plant; He waters and we have a good harvest. Farmers or people in the agricultural sector are not the only ones affected by this. It applies to everyone.

Every year, God opens up the year for people to set goals, visions, and aspirations, then equips them with ability and capacity to work and make money throughout the year. As enumerated in the anchor scripture, God gives us rain, sun, dew and wind without charge for our good. The strength, power, wisdom, knowledge, connection and ability you exhibit in your everyday life are all by the grace of God.

This article will primarily discuss a few areas in which you can prepare and sing your songs of harvest.

1. PONDER ON GOD’S ACTS TOWARDS YOU
To raise a song of harvest, one needs to ponder. Pondering means thinking deeply and reflecting on the care and love of God in one’s life.

You were protected by Him when the storm raged, when mountains fell, when the tick dark cloud suddenly covered you and He saved you, or when an accident happened on your way and you were not hurt.

When you submitted a business proposal and God followed it up for you. When you went for a job interview and God chose you out of thousands of candidates.

“Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.”

“Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done…”

Every aspect of your life has been blessed by God, and He deserves your harvest songs.

2. OFFER GOD A BEFITTING SACRIFICE
A sacrifice is an act of presenting something precious, meaningful, and tangible unto a deity. In other words, it is an act of showing your love and devotion to someone close to you. As a result of your sacrifice to God, your harvest song will flow.

Alternatively, you can make your sacrifice by singing deep songs of praise to God, or you can dance like David did.

Sharing gifts with people, donating to orphanage homes and giving to the less privileged are all ways to express your harvest thanksgiving sacrifice.

Psalms 50: 7-15.
7. “Listen, My people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel. I am God, your God.
8. I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or for your burnt offerings, which are continually before Me.
9. I will not accept a bull from your household or male goats from your pens,
10. for every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
11. I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.
12. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is Mine.
13. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14. Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.”

Consequently, whatever you have or want to offer to God is not yours, it is of God. Therefore, your sacrifice will be your heart of thanksgiving to God.

3. SING LOUD YOUR SONGS
Psalms 66: 8-9
8. Praise our God, you peoples;
let the sound of His praise be heard.
9. He keeps us alive and does not allow our feet to slip.

Harvest song should not be a silent song. It should be sung loud and clearly to entice all people to want to know why the song is sung.
While singing your songs, you need to raise your voice in order to affirm your victory over the evil plan of the enemy. The Scripture verses above explain why you should raise your voice as you sing.The devil would not want you to do that, he would want to distract or discourage you because of your bad voice.

Developing a habit of singing loud with a grateful heart doesn’t require any singing skills or membership in a choral group.

Lastly, the source of songs of harvest is the Lord Jesus Christ. His righteousness will give you a heart that is filled with gratitude that will lead you in songs of harvest. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior. He is the Lord of harvest.

Conclusion
Read Psamls 66, 100, 117, 118 and 136. Pick out the reasons why you need to praise your God. This season shall favor you in every areas of your life. It’s well with you.

John Aderogba for ROPMI.

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GOD DID NOT SAY THAT – Feb 2021

FEBRUARY 2021 NEWSLETER

Topic: GOD DID NOT SAY THAT

TEXT: Genesis 1:28, Jeremiah 29:11.

Genesis 1:28, NIV: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

INTRODUCTION
Our Lord God, the Master of the universe is perfect in all His arrangement plans for mankind. He created everything including man in dynamism, that is why there is uniqueness in the look and function of each of the creations.

Men as the image of God are fearfully and wonderfully made. Every man has his peculiarities with great potentials, wisdom and knowledge to display the glory of God on earth. But the sad story is when devil grew wings and wanted to equate himself With God, he was impeached and cast down to the earth, then, he decided to put abnormalities into the original work and plans of God for man. The devil has assigned its agents to spread the abnormalities across the world.
The good news is the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made on the cross of Calvary.

1 John 3:8 NIV
“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

We shall by the leading of the Holy Spirit cut across what God didn’t say and the enemies are trying to bring to you as if they were in the original plan of God for you.

HE DIDN’T SAY YOU SHALL LABOUR IN VAIN.
If you look at the background scripture, Genesis 1: 28, the last statement God pronounced on man was to… dominate… subdue… to be fruitful. That is, every kind of work you wish or choose to do, which is in accordance with the arrangement of God for you, you shall prosper in it. It’s not by your strength, knowledge or wisdom, it is by God’s knowledge, strength and wisdom where His blessings lie.

Finally on that, Isaiah 65:21 reads thus: “They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.”

HE DIDN’T SAY YOU SHALL BE BARREN.
Barreness means, unproductiveness, unfruitfulness, desolate, empty, stagnancy, etc.
Barreness could be in child bearing, career, business, inability to fulfilling your vision and dreams, ill-luck, disappointment, etc.
Whatever the experience of barrenness you may be going through right now, that is not the original plan of God for your life.
“…Be fruitful and increase in number…” is the pronouncement of God for your life when He created you and there is no imperfection in His plans for you. He confirmed this in the book of Exodus 23:26
“…And none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”

The only barren woman in the Bible was Michal, the daughter of King Saul who was the first wife of king David. She became barren because she mocked David when he was giving his dance offering to God.

For you to enjoy the benefit of fruitfulness, you must give your life to Jesus.

HE DID NOT SAY YOU ARE UNFORTUNATE
Text: 1 Chronicles: 4:9-10 (NkJV)

9. Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in a pain.” 10. And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

Many have been victims of circumstances that gave them names that was not originally attached to their destiny. Devil is trying to paint the picture to them as if it is from the Lord. The plan of God for you is the plan of good, not of evil. Whatever anybody said concerning you is not the final say; it is left for you to accept or reject it because it’s a suggestion.

Jabez stood in prayers to nullify his mother’s pronouncement that had affected the original plan of God for his life and he was totally restored. His story changed from a man that was vulnerable to a man that was indeed honorable.

I don’t know what anyone might have said that is affecting you right now and that has put your life in bondage, can you just align yourself with the Destiny Changer (Jesus Christ), the One who has the key of your life in His hands? He will deliver you.

CONCLUSION:
This is the mind of Jesus to you:
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKV)
28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus loves you. He didn’t say that your present situation is your final bus stop. You shall be lifted.

Let’s pray:
Please, pray the following prayers very seriously. A miracle is knocking at your door.

1. God, I thank You for Your grace on me.
2. Father, have mercy on me.
3. Oh Lord, let every chain of retrogression holding me down be broken today.
4. Everything You didn’t arrange for me but the enemies have packaged for me be totally separated from me today.
5. Every attachment of barrenness on me be separated today in the name of Jesus.
6. Every work done in the coven to make me unproductive and unfruitful is totally nullified today.
7. By the power in the blood of Jesus Christ, every yoke of barrenness in my life is broken now!
8. I avert and erase every evil pronouncements against my destiny by the blood of Jesus Christ.
9. Every monitoring agent that wants me to get stucked at the peak of my success, recieve the sword of fire.
10. I shall go beyond every human limitation and embargo set for me In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

John Aderogba for ROPMI
2021.

References:
Holy Bible; New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible; New King James Version ( NKJV)
Holy Bible; Good News Bible Version (GNB).

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