MICROMANAGING YOUR MINISTRY
A cursory look at the landscape of Christendom today will reveal lots of churches and ministries that are suffering and have suffered the after effect of micromanagement. Churches and ministries that start with one person or group of some people and remains like that even after stupendous growth. Unfortunately, micromanaging have killed off the potentials and impact of such churches and ministries. This was the mistake of Moses and it is still the mistakes of many leaders today. A. What is Micromanaging? Exodus 18:13-18. It is personalizing the church and work; Doing it all alone and being emotionally attached to the work. It is disallowing others from contributing to the work; bearing the heavy burden of the work alone and structuring the organization around yourself alone. - This was the style of Moses before Father Jethro came. - He heard from God alone - He counsels the people alone - He bears the heavy burden alone - His family suffers because he refuse to delegate - He fails to discover the gifts and potentials of the people. It was only when Father Jethro came that Moses saw the futility of micromanaging his ministry. He discovers that he can actually achieve more by macromanaging. B. When Can We Term a Church/Ministry as Being Micromanaged? 1. When the management capacity is lower to the ministry / church growth capacity 2. When provision is more than vision 3. When there are manpower that are not put in to maximum utilization. 4. When the seating capacity of the church is far greater than the sending capacity. 5. When 80% of the ministry assignment is being handled by 5% of the working force of the Church 6. When the administrative capacity of the church is far lower to the gifting capacity 7. When the management policies and programmed of the church disallow the ministry / church from moving to the next level in the divine agenda. 8. When tradition and belief of the church leadership hinder the new wave of God moves in the church. The Apostles were micro managing the early church until a vision to reach the gentiles nation was given to Apostle Peter in Acts 10:9-22. C. Why Leaders Micromanage There are several reasons and factors that makes leaders to micromanage their works. The one man business’ concept has gained so much around due to these factors: Ø Ignorance of leadership demands Ø Prejudice against people Ø Insecurity and inferiority complex Ø Inability to work with and through others Ø Poor relational and leadership skills Ø Suspicion and reading meanings to others intentions Ø Handling the ministry as a personal estate. Ø Inability to let go of non-essentials Ø Fear of delegation and lack of trust in people Ø Relying on past experiences to do today’s ministry. Ø Failure to teach, train, develop and empower the people. Micromanaging tactics by many ministry leaders have led to many avoidable problems and crisis in churches. Genuine and sincere leaders need to address these factors severely in their leadership. D. Dangers and Adverse Effect of Micromanaging Big, small, growing and struggling churches and ministries today are suffering the adverse effect of micromanaging, which are exemplified by the followings:- § Crisis, chaos and breakaways § Murmuring, complaining and bickerings § Stagnation, struggling and downward spiral § Loss of potentials, impact and future expansion § Injustices and abuses in handling issues § Bogged down by ineptitude and incompetency § Unfulfilled potentials and loss of hope § Burnout, personal failings and family break up § Scandals and mismanagement of funds § Jeopardising the future and greater impact of the work. § Premature death and downward spiral of the work in eventualities. I have known churches that closed down literally due to the sudden death of the founder. I have known leaders that got burnout due to taking too much responsibility upon themselves. Am aware of churches with great potentials, but who are struggling to keep their doors open today due to family and ethnic micromanaging. I sincerely hope that leaders will learn a good lesson as Moses did and start macromanaging their ministries from today like never before. ——————————————————————————————-Dr. Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
Under LEADERS
WISDOM FOR WOMENWISDOM FOR WOMEN Proverbs 14:1; 9:1-3, 12; 2:1-15 It is imperative that every woman that seeks honour must pursue knowledge and wisdom. More than anyone else, women – young and old, still need wisdom in their daily lives. Many women have behaved foolishly and they have brought ruin upon themselves and their future. Women that lack godly wisdom will always suffer and be in trouble. Too many women only rely on carnal and devilish wisdom to wade through life (James 3: 14-16). The more reason they suffer from jealousy, envy, hatred, and ungodly experiences. But the wisdom we are advocating here is the one from above (James 3:17-18) which will produce fruits of godliness to everyone.
A. Definition and Bible Basis – Provo 14:1; 9:1-3, 12; 2:1-15 Wisdom is different from knowledge. One may have knowledge and not be wise. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge aright. Wisdom is the ability to discern when to talk, how to talk, how not to talk, how not to behave and act in any given situation. It is the ability to behave wisely and unblameably in every situation. Due to the nature and situations of women, they surely need godly wisdom more than anyone else. B. Outcome of Foolishness - Provo 9:12 Ignorance, simplicity and foolishness surely do have grave consequences. * Terrible mistakes * Heartache and tears * Broken homes and divorce * Suffering and calamities * Punishment and deprivation * Being taken advantage of * Battles on every side * Defeat, sorrow and weeping C. Needed Areas of Wisdom * You need wisdom of life to live peacefully and well. * You need wisdom to live with your parents * You need wisdom to relate with men * You need wisdom to handle your body * You need wisdom to open your mouth * You need wisdom to relate with friends * You need wisdom to marry aright. * You need wisdom to remain married. * You need wisdom to relate with your husband * You need wisdom to relate with your in-laws * You need wisdom to relate with your young children * You need wisdom to relate with your teenage children * You need wisdom to relate with your pastors * You need wisdom to relate with your foes and enemies * You need wisdom to fulfill your call and vision * You need wisdom when you are poor and when you are rich. * You need wisdom to handle situations and various editions of people. D. Practical Wisdom for Women
* How you use your body now will tell later. * Doing good is not foolishness, it is the wisest way to live. * Sowing good seeds and deeds will always attract a harvest. * Patience, perseverance will always triumph. * Time is the only discoverer of truth. . * Worry, anxiety and doubt will get you nowhere. * Hurry and hurry always end up in “had I know”. * Humility, hard work and submissiveness will always payoff. * Stubbornness, troublesomeness and trickishness will catch up with you later on. * You will always reap more than what you sow. * Prayer, obedience and trust in God never fails * Investing in your siblings will pay eternal dividends. * Cultivating your home regularly will keep intruders at bay * Hot-tempered, quick-tempered and characterless women don’t always have peace of mind and a stable home. * Envy, jealousy and nagging habits will get you nowhere but trouble zones. * Being nice, kind, helpful are not signs of weakness but of strength. * Every man is a baby, if you know how to pamper him.
E. Cultivating Godly wisdom
- Repent of past misdeeds - Seek and desire it from God - Pray and ask in faith - Move with people of godly wisdom - Determine to act wisely always.
Under MINISTRY AND MARRIAGE
BUILDING A BIBLICALLY LITERATE CHURCH
Jesus has stated categorically that he is coming for a glorious church. Eph.5:27. He doesn’t want any rift-raft church, but the one that is glorious in all ramifications. And one of the sure marks of a glorious church is grounded in the word of truth and sound doctrine. The people that is called church, bride of Christ and saints of God must be those that are growing in the word and knowledge of the Lord. They must be deeply saturated with the word of God. They must be biblically literate. “As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” – I Pet.2:2. The Berean Church Example It is vitally important that the people of God be scripturally literate. Mental, financial and physical literacy are nothing, compared to biblical literacy. “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light unto my path”. The brethren in Berean were classic example of biblical literacy. Acts 17:11-12 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few” They have more spiritual nobility than others simply because they not only receive the word of God, they also search and study it consistently. Their faith became strong and they were a blessing to others. The church grew and many more people were added unto the Lord. It is always the growth of the word that will result in the growth of the church. It is when the word of God grows in people that it can truly be said that the church is growing. “And the word of God increased: and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly…” Acts 6:7; “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). Biblical Illiteracy As I have noted in the other article, I’m alarmed that church leaders are building biblically illiterate churches today. The word of God is no longer of prime importance in many so-called churches we have used dancing, singing, ceremonies, videos and meetings to shut out the true and balanced word of God from the church. We only use the bible to spice some of our motivational and success talks. The indepth study, reading, searching and teaching of the undiluted word of God has been relegated to the background. So many churches of today have no tenets of faith. You don’t know their doctrinal stand in the word. The preaching are shallow and they dwell much on success, health, business, finance and travellings. So sad that many professing Christians are biblically ignorant of God’s mind concerning marriage, work, relationships, government and personal responsibilities. The more reason there are more ‘church goers’ than true and godly Christians today. Purpose of God The Lord want a church that is biblically literate-grounded and rooted in the things of God. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and stabilized in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Col.2:6-7). How else can people be rooted and built up in Christ without being properly taught in the word of God? The goal of God for His people is that they are truly discipled and soldiers of the cross wherever they go. And that can only be realized if they are deeply taught in the things of God. If you want to build a church that will be pleasing to the Lord, then build your people to be biblically literate about sin, godly living, marriage, family, prayer, giving, money, work and free from their blood “wherefore I take you to record today that I am pure from the blood of all men” For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27). You cannot be free from the blood of your people if you fail to preach, teach and declare unto them all the counsel of God. Not just some part of it, but all the cousel of God. Allow me to enumerate steps that will help you to do that! – 1. You Must Be Biblically Literate Yourself You can only give what you have. If your bible knowledge as a leader is shallow, then your people will suffer it. If you have to go to b ible school, leadership school to learn the bible afresh, please do. What you have gained out of your personal study is what you will give to your people. You must study, research and continue to grow in your biblical knowledge. 2. Systematic Teaching Don’t only preach, but teach the word in a systematic and balanced way. Start from the know to the unknown. Teach on life-situational and relevant issues. Teach on topics, bible books and issues that pertain to life and godliness. Do serial teaching and don’t be afraid to repeat what you have taught before. Let them also see that you are living what you are teaching. That will be a powerful tool to make them obey your teachings. 3. Anointed Word The teachings and preachings must not be liveless, powerless and mere words. Rather they must be spirit-filled and anointed. They must not be ordinary letters of the word but Spirit and power parked. And that can only be so when the word has been saturated with prayers – before, during and after the teachings. It is prayer – intensive prayers that will bring the power of God into the word. And the word can truly function as the sword of the Spirit to touch, pierce the heart of the people until they have no choice than to obey the word of God and live transformed lives. 4. Church As Training Centre Let your church be a training centre, not only a celebration centre. Let it be a place that people are trained, taught, discipled and resourced as true Christians and soldiers of the cross. Yes, celebration, winning and dining are not bad, yet people must be trained to fight the battles of life that will inevitably come their ways. And you can only do that by having functional Sunday school classes, new converts classes, workers and leaders classes. Let nobody become anything or do anything in the church without first being taught. 5. Provide Resources You can only build a biblically and spiritually literate church when you provide resources for people. You must resource people with bibles, study outlines, books, materials and booklets. Tapes of your sermons are not enough. You must give out sermon outlines of your bible study, Sunday school, workers seminars and specialized teachings. People should have them and they can study them at their own leisure. Not giving study and sermon outlines to people is one way of leaving them spiritually malnourished. Not many people will listen to a tape but the study outlines will stay with them. I still have the study outlines I received when I was a new Christian in our church then and those teachings are still with me till today. But the tapes have got spoilt. 6. Encourage Reading and Study From the pulpit, encourage your people to read the bible regularly and do personal study of it. Encourage them to read other Christian books and study materials. Refuse to build an illiterate church. Work on them in a systematic way. Provide daily bible reading plan. Institute bible quiz, Sunday school competition and whatever will make them to be a true lover of God’s word. In summary, it is only when people read, obey and live by His word that they can have true peace with Him, with themselves and with others. “Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them” Psalm 119:165. Start to build a biblically literate church today. It is then you can have real peace in ministry and with your people. ——————————————————————————————-Dr. Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
Under LEADERS
WHAT KIND OF CHURCH ARE YOU BUILDING?
Our Lord Jesus uses the Over the centuries, Jesus has used various people to build His church. The right emphasis have always been on the people as the church and the church has survived various persecutions and deprivations because she was rightly built for the Lord. However, it has been observed and noted that today’s leaders have been building the church, largely in an unbiblical way. How leaders are building the church today - Various church leaders have risen up today, claiming authority from Christ and they are build the church in ways that have left much to be desired. Permit me to pinpoint some of the major ways the church is being built today. 1. Architectural Cathedral Many mainline, Pentecostal and charismatic leaders are now expending all their energy, effort and finance in constructing the best building in the world as a church. It has become a competition to have a structural edifice and state of the art building as church, while the people are left unbuilt for the Lord. In the believe that the building is the church, we have wrongly focused on having a good, modern and digital church building, while the real people that are the true church are left spiritually destitute, beggarly and shallow in the things of the Lord. However, we need to realize that Jesus did not die to save cathedrals but people. And He is not coming to rapture our fine buildings, but people that are truly His. 2. Biblically Illiterate Today, there are small, middle-size and large churches that are biblically illiterate. The people are scripturally ignorant because they were not taught. The church is built upon preaching, motivation and ideas of men, spiced only with scriptural passages here and there. People now go to church without a bible and you can go through weeks of services in a church without the bible being open once! Christians of today no longer use the term, ‘the bible says,’ when discussing spiritual issues, rather the common refrain is, ‘my pastor says’, our bishop says’ ‘papa says’ Why? Because they are biblically illiterate. So-called Christians are ignorant of what the bible says about dressing, work, marriage and living. The more reason we are no longer good examples to our neighbours. 3. Prophetic and Power Dependent Church leaders of today are also building the church on prophecy, power and miracles only. People are being prophesied upon in meetings, miracles are being sought and power demonstration are emphasized even though the people are not free from sin, evil and ungodly living. The people are now prophecy and power dependent. They seek for prophecy everywhere, even from devils. Dreams, visions, revelations and prophetic manipulations are thriving in the church and people cannot do anything without prophecies received. With peoples faith built on such, then they become a prey to false prophets and charlatans. They also use ungodly and occultic means to better their lot in life and ministry, so long it is prophesied. People that are prophecy and power dependent cannot be truly stable in the faith. 4. Seeking God’s Hand, not His Person Ministers of today are largely building churches that seeks God’s hand for blessing, but not His person. Such people pretend to worship God, but in truth are only looking for what He can do for them. Most modern day churches are built as ‘give me, give me church’ The emphasis is on what God can do for you and almost nothing on what is your responsibility to God. Most of the prayers, fastings and programmes are based on ‘enemies’, victories and breakthroughs, and nothing on holiness, righteousness and being obedient to the Lord in all things. In such places, people are ready to call ‘Holy Ghost fire’ upon any perceived enemies, even though their attitudes and characters are quite unchrist-like! 5. Worldly Success but spiritually bankrupt It is also a reality that too many leaders are building the church along the line of financial, material and physical success. Your worth and wealth are used to determine your spiritual success. Success in physical and material terms are harped upon to the detriment of people’s spiritual life. Churches that are built on worldly success are noted for carnal, ungodly and bankrupt living. Corruption, immorality, lukewarmness and spiritual aparthy reigns in such churches. People do all kinds of ungodly work in order to appear successful to others and the church kept mute. Such churches usually become backsliding churches with lots of spiritually dead people. Nominal and religious people but physically okay and materially wealthy. 6. One sided and line of truth It is an incontestable fact that churches are also built on one line of truth and tragically imbalanced today. They are started as power, deliverance, prayer, faith and worship centers and unfortunately are built only along that line. Churches in this scenario usually experience numerical growth for some time until people will start looking elsewhere for the balance. Imbalance churches builds spiritually imbalanced people and that injures and ruin the lives of many. These above mentioned churches have been true caricature of the church Jesus had in mind. They are largely our churches, not His own church. They are churches built after the wisdom of men, not the true representative of Christ in the world. Because these are the churches that are prevailing in the land, the more reason the world has not been won to Christ. In spite of the widespread of churches, little or no impact is made upon our societies. To really build the church Jesus had in mind, church leaders need to start with themselves. They have to build themselves as true disciples of the Lord first, then they should build their churches purposefully, intentionally, deliberately and scripturally. It is only when the church is being built in a purposeful and scripturally way that we can impact the world for Christ. ——————————————————————————————-Pastor Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
Under LEADERS
THE KEY TO GOD’S FAVOUR
(a) Obedience is the key to God’s great power and special dealings: Isa. 48: 18, 1, 9, Ps. 119: 165. Peace and tranquility is only possible when we determine to live our lives in obedience to God’s word. Exo. 19:5, 6, Deut. 5:29, James 1:25, Rev. 22:14. (b) Secret of God’s favour on men of old: Gen. 22:2-3, 6:22, Joshua 1:8, Acts 26:19, Heb. 5:8. Check up the life of such people as Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Paul and even Christ obedience was the key to their great blessing by God. Christ – obedience was the key to their great blessing by God. Christ obeyed unto death. Phil. 12:5-8 (c) Cross check your obedience: Job 36:6-12, Judges 6:11-13 why are tears fresh and full, sorrow and sights, everywhere, Satan ruling and reigning in many lives and it seems as if god is dead, it is because of disobedience. Why are prayers. unanswered and trouble abide still – it may be you are not obeying enough – not walking according to the light you have. a. Obedience to husband, . b. Obedience to parents, c. Obedience to leadership, d. Obedience to God’s words. (d) Test of our love to God: John 14:23, Obedience is the test that we belong to God and love Him. The love He loved us should be reciprocated by obedience. Our obedience should be: i. Complete. Isa. 1:18-19 ii. Total iii. Willingly.
Disobedience is the source of many troubles heady, strong willed men often perish. Rom. 5: 19, Adam lost Eden, Angels lost heaven, Saul lost his crown and Judas Iscariot lost his soul because of disobedience: Deut. 28: 15, Eph. 5:6. ——————————————————————————————-Pastor Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
Under CHURCH
OUR WALK IN THE LORD
(a) New life: Rom. 6:4, II Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15, Eph. 4:22, we are to walk, live as new creatures, put off all vestiges of former old sinful living. Be a new creature. Sinful, worldly and carnal nature will not inherit the kingdom of God. John 3:3-5, only born again people will get to heaven. (b) Spirit of Love: GaI. 5:16, Rom. 8:1, Eph. 5:2, John 13:34-35, I John 1:7, we are to grow in the Lord, be spiritual, don’t give room to the flesh or carnal things. Love others. Love is the supreme law of God Col. 3:12-14, Rom. 13:8-10. Let your manner of life be that of love, sacrificial love for others. We are not to be selfish, self-seeking, self-centered and self-willed but love all. I Cor. 13: 1-8. (c) Consistently and steadfastly: Eph. 4: 1, Gal. 5: 1, Col. 1: 1 0, Rev. 2:25, 3: 11, walking consistently and steadfastly requires walking and standing in the truth. 3 John 3:4, Ps. 86: 11. It is by being steadfast that we can really be blessed by God.
(d) Christ Likeness: I John 2:6, Col. 2:6, 2 Cor. 3:21, this is the goal of God for our lives. He wants us to be fashioned according to the image of His son. This should be our life.
(e) Prayer and Faith: 2 Cor. 5:7, Heb. 11:6, James 5:16-18, 2 Cor. 10:4-5, Prayer and faith will not allow anxiety. Pray and pray then add faith for results. To get maximum blessings from God, prayer, faith and patience will never fail.
(f) As wise men: Eph. 5:15-17, Col. 4:5, wise men still seek Jesus, they could see the signs of the time and therefore know that the end is near. ——————————————————————————————-Pastor Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
Under GROWTH
SIN – EVERY ONES PROBLEMINTRODUCTION This topic is very serious. If sin is not evil and very dangerous God would not have sent His only begotten son to die. It is possible to forget that all the shame, sickness, suffering disease and death in the world today are brought by sin. The Bible is the history of sin and divine intervention of God in judgement. A careful reader of the Bible will discover that when anyone or group of people sins, judgement always follows. Adam and Eve joked with sin and the consequences are still with us. Noah’s day, Sodom and Gomorrah and many more reap the reward of sin. God is angry against sin, will be and shall forever be. Ps. 5:4, 7:11, Provo 6:16 (1) What Is Sin? The Greek word hamartano – harmatiology means to miss the mark. Matt. 27:4, Lk. 15:18, 21, I John 5:17, Rom. 3:23, trespass, deviate from the truth, Matt. 6:14, 15, offence, fault, fall, transgress, Matt. 15:3, Acts 1:25, Ps. 51:1, lawlessness I John _:4. Sin is rebellion against God. Sin is like a terrible, ugly, poisonous snake. (2) Universality of Sin: Gen. 6:5, Ps. 53:3, Isa. 53:6, Rom. 3:23, I John 1:8 whoever is a human being have this sinful problem. Man is not a sinner and sinful because he sins. He sins because he is a sinner and sinful. It is a power that works in him, his nature. Sin started with Satan in heaven and God did not spare the rebellion of Satan. Man is a peculiar being, an image of God, intelligent and endowed with capabilities and authorities beyond our present comprehension. But sin ruin all these. (3) Consequences of Sin: Sin is very destructive and deceptive. Whoever loves his soul should never play or joke with sin – the greater fool is the one who is laughing and joking with something that will determine his destination. Sin pays wages, it pays instalmentally, it pays in full, it insists on paying. It will deceive you. Titus 3:3, Heb. 13:3 but penalty will surely come Eccl. 8: 11. Adam and Eve joke with sin and reap a harvest of whirlwind. Sin has present and eternal consequences. a. Sin will turn God to be our enemy. Isa. 63: 1 0, Joshua 24:20, Deut. 28:63, Pro. 1:24-27. God would become our enemy and He will fight against us when we are in sin. Think of God fighting against you! b. Sin will withhold the good things from us. Isa. 59: 1-3, Jer. 5:253:3, you may have money, wife, children and property but with sin you will lack good things like peace, joy, happiness, success and assurance of God’s love. c. It will give way to the enemy in our life. Hos. 8:2-3, John 5: 14, Ps. 34:21. The enemy will have a free way, they will rule, maim, oppress, curse will work freely in the life of a sinner. d. It will bring present and eternal death. Isa. 3:9, Hos. 13:9, Ezek. 18:4, Rom. 6:23, James 1:15, Gen. 2:17. Sin will cut short our lives here and the eternal death it will bring us separation from God forever. e. It will ultimately lead to hell. Ps. 9: 17, Rev. 21 :8, Isa. 5: 14, this is a place of eternal punishment, sorrow, darkness, hatred and regret, no water, no rest and no peace in hell- it is only’ eternal punishment for sin.
(4) Remedy to Sin: John 1:29, Heb. 9:22 a. Confess and repent of it. I John 1:9, Pro. 28: 13, I Tim. 5:24. b. Believe on the Lord Jesus. John 1:29, Rom. 5:8, John 3: 16. c. Forsake sin totally. Job 11:14, Isa. 55:7. d. Shun it, don’t touch it. John 8:11, Rom. 6:12 . ——————————————————————————————-Pastor Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
Under Uncategorized
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
——————————————————————————————-Pastor Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
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SAVING FAITH- Hebrew 10:38-39, 11:7
1. All have sinned. Rom. 3:23, Isa. 64:6, I John 1:8 2. Divine judgment on sin. Ezek. 18:4, Rom. 6:23, Rev. 21:8 3. Divine love shown. John 3:16, Rom. 5:8, Isa. 53:4-8 4. Salvation not of works. Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 3:20, Titus 3:4-5 God loves a pure, holy and righteous life but He hates sin. He has not failed to tell of the penalty for sin. He has punished some people like Aaron, Saul, Achan, Jezebel, Ananians and Sapphira and some others for their sins. Conversely, He has saved men like Noah, Abraham, David and many saints who rely on saving faith and not on the works of the law or self righteousness. B. Implication of Saving Faith 1. It is not a “Mental Assent”. John 3:3, Rom.10:9-10 2. Not based on feeling. Rom. 5:1, Eph. 2:8 3. A transformed life. II Cor. 5: 17, Matt. 18:3 4. Separation from things of darkness. I John 1:6, II Cor. 6:14-18 Some people hope to be saved in the future but for a person who exercises a living faith, the salvation of his soul is now. “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8). In fact God Himself said, “Now is the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2). The experience of salvation or being born again leads to a new life in Christ and separation from the works of darkness. C. Obtaining a Saving Faith 1. Need for faith in God. Heb. 11:6, Rom. 10:17 2. Need for genuine repentance from sin. II Cor. 7:11, Ps. 34:18 3. Confession and prayer of faith necessary. Provo 28:13, I John 1:9, Mk. 11:24 4. Certainty of obtaining. II Cor. 1:20, Matt. 7:8, Acts 10: 13 Faith in God never fails to receive from Him. When an individual truly repents whole-heartedly, confesses his sins and prays in faith, it will surely result in his obtaining salvation of his soul. God cannot and will not deny anyone who prays in faith D. Effect of Saving Faith 1. No condemnation plus freedom from sin. Rom. 8: 1, John 8:36 2. Love of God and His word. I John 4:19, I Peter 1:8, Ps. 119:140, 162-163 3. Declaration of new faith. Acts 9: 17-22, I Thess. 1:8-9, Phil. 6 4. Fellowshipping with believers. Acts 2:41-42, Heb. 10:25 No more condemnation or “guilty conscience” for a saved soul for he had been forgiven. Then the peace of God is imparted into the heart with the Spirit of God. By this experience he should also receive the love of God by which he can love God, His word and fellow men. With the love of God reigning in the heart, such an individual will witness for Christ and fellowship with believers. ——————————————————————————————-Pastor Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
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TIME FOR SALVATION
The time we are living in is a dangerous and perilous time. Many who are claiming to be saved, that they know God are not. Witches, wizards, familiar spirits, dupers, fornicators, adulterers who remain in their sins are all claiming to be saved quoting Romans 5:1 to their own destruction. This is the time that people claim salvation because:- (a) They are physically blessed (b) Church membership (c) Giving (d) Baptised (e) Born in the church (f) Workers in church (g) Morally good. All these are false hopes and foundations of salvation. A. The Meaning of Salvation Salvation means to effect successfully the fully delivery of someone or something from impending danger. That someone or something needs to be saved. 1. Only a sick person needs a doctor – man is desperately ill and diseased. Isa. 1:6, Matt. 9:12. 2. Only an accused person needs a lawyer – man stand condemned in God’s court of law. Romans 3: 10-19 3. Only a drowning person needs a lifeguard – man find himself flooded by the waters of sin. Psalm 69:1- . B. Importance of Salvation Salvation is very important and a must to all for the following reasons: (1) Man is lost. The lostness of man is glaring in these aspects:- man is lost in respect of sin Rom. 3:23, 3:9, 5: 12, sin is “missing the mark” sin is lack of conformity to the moral law of God, either in act, disposition, or state, sin may be defined ultimately as any act which is contrary to the holy character of God. Romans 1:21-32, Mk. 7:20-23, I John 3:4. Sin is evil; it pays wages, pays instalmentally, in full and insisted on paying. (2) Man is lost because of their relationship to Satan. Matt. 4:8,9, John 8:42-44, II Cor. 4:4, I John 3:8-10. Sin bind men to Satan and they obey him. (3) Man is lost because of their relationship to the world. Eph. 2:2, James 4:4, I John 2:15–17. A friend of the world is an enemy of God. A world controlled by the devil. (4) They are lost because of their relationship to God. Eph. 2:12, 4:18, 2:1. Sin put a wedge between God and man. The above mentioned points are the reasons why man needs to be saved and without salvation is lost forever. C. Description of Salvation There are various ways that the Bible describes the experience of salvation. 1. Born-again. John 3:3-7 2. Conversion. Acts 3:19, Ps. 51:12. Conversion involves turning from sin to Godliness. Repentance is not remorse or regret but it is a voluntary and sincere change in the mind of the sinner, causing him to turn from his sin. Ps. 119:59-60 3. Substitution. I Peter 3:18, John 1:19, Isa. 53:5: Christ became our substitution on the cross what He was not – sin, that we might become what we are not – righteous. The son of God became the son of man that the sons of men might become the sons of God. 4. Reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:19 A previous animosity once existed; the offended parties now view things differently. Chronology In Eden God and man faced each other in fellowship; after the fall, God and man turned from each other. At Calvary God turned his face toward man. At conversion (through repentance and faith, man turns his face toward God). . . 5. Propitiation: I John 2:2, 4:10, Eph. 2:13, propitiation is necessary because of God’s wrath. John 3:36 D. Effects and Blessing of Salvation (a) A radical transformation of character and life. 2 Cor. 5: 17 (b) New life and joy within. Alive unto God. (c) Joy unlimited, peace unspeakable, thankful spirit. (d) Freedom from guilt, condemnation, fear. (e) Victory over sin, Satan and night -mares. (f) New love for God and spiritual things. (g) Desire to communicate with God. (h) Zeal to reach out unto others. (i) Open door and check to God’s storehouse. j) Longing to serve Him forever becomes a band-servant. Exo. 21:1-6 You will love to put your master first. Concern for his goals and will had come to out weigh concern for your own goals and desires. In the midst of all possible freedoms you have available, you will forfeit them out of love to him. You will love to follow the better way of “I love my master I will not go free”. E. How to Experience Salvation (a) Acknowledge your sinfulness. I John 1:8 (b) Repent of yours in. Luke 13:3 (c) Confess them to God. I John 1:9 (d) Forsake all known sins. Isa. 55:7 (e) Believe that God is true to his promise to forgive and cleanse you. (f) Receive Jesus into your heart. Rev. 3:20, John 1: 12 ——————————————————————————————-Pastor Francis Bola Akin- John is a church growth expert and the president of International Church Growth Ministries. His vision is to empower leaders to grow healthy churches and ministries. His ministry equally provide research findings to heads of churches, ministry executive and emerging future leaders, with unequalled high quality and tangible resources in form of books, handouts, DVC, CD, VCD and tapes. He also has the teaching arm of the ministry, the ‘International Centre For Church Health’ for pastors and church leaders.
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BUILDING A BIBLICALLY LITERATE CHURCH
analogy of building when He first talk about the church “I will build my church…” – Matt. 6:18. Building takes planning, systematic approach and time. It cannot be done once, rather, it must be done systematically, one block after the other. Sometimes, it takes a lifetime to build a very good house. And the durability of any physical building is largely determined by the foundation. The scripture refers to the church as the spiritual house of the Lord (I Pet.2:5). It goes to show that the church is people, not just the building. People are the church and they must be built for the Lord. The Lord wants to dwell in people, not in material or physical buildings. So, building the church means building the people up for the Lord and in the Lord.
Many are looking for the special favour, mercy, goodness, provision and defense of the great and mighty God. They would want God to show His great and unmerited favour and answers their prayers and show them His favourable countenance all the time. They want to call and receive answer. But many are not experiencing these and the reason is that they do not know the secret key to obtain all these favour of God.
Our God is the Omniscience God. He knows and is aware of everything. We cannot hide anything from His all-knowing eyes. He sees all (Heb. 4:13, John 2:23-25). He knows the heart of all men and cannot be deceived whatsoever. In the light of this, we need to be careful to live up to what God expect and demand of us if we are truly to know His manifold blessings. Our walk – speaks of our behaviours and manner of life before God (Gen. 17:1) we are to walk in these ways:
Christianity is not a creed, or set of doctrines but a way of life. To be a Christian is to have the life of God within. A Christian is one who have been forgiven and pardoned by God. Christian is not name of religious appellations but forgiven of sins and the Christ life radiating, Eph. 3:17, Col. 1:27, Gal. 4: 19. The disciples were first called “Christian in Antioch (Acts 11:26) because their life shows Christ likeness and godliness. Christians is Christ – Lan -Ian nothing -little Christs. Not middle point, is either you are one or you are or you are not. Acts 26:28,29. To be a Christian is to have experienced a change by God receive forgiveness of sin and a transformed life. Romans 2:2.A Christian is one that is led by God’s spirit- Rom. 8:14-16. In the following we look at what Christian life means. 1. The Christian life is a life free from carnality and sin. Rom. 8:6-8, II Cor. 5:17, I John 3:8, Rom. 7:14-20, Col. 3:5-10, Eph. 4:24-31, 5:3-8. All these goes to show that the Christian life is a life, through the grace of God should be free from carnality and sin and every form of wicked and evil works. 2. The Christian life is a life of spiritual fruit bearing Matt. 3:8, John 15: 1-15, Ps. 92:13, 14, Gal. 5:22-24, Eph. 5:9, James 3:12 -15. We are to bear godly and righteous fruits as Christians. Our lives should show forth that we are connected to God and our life should be God-glorifying. 3. The Christian life is a life of non-conformity with the world. Rom. 12: 1-3, Col. 3: 1-3, I Cor. 7:31, Gal. 6:14, I Tim. 2:4, Heb.11:24-25, I John 2:15-17, Eph. 5:11. We are to be separated distinctly from this world system II Cor. 6: 14-17. Christ came to deliver us from this present evil world. Gal. 1:3. We are not to live and walk like the world. We are to be heavenly minded and separate unto the Lord. 4. The Christian life is to be a life of worship, service and thanksgiving and praises. John 4:23-24, Ps. 29:2, 96:9, Ps. 95:1, Eph 5:19, Ps. 9:11, 33:2, 67:3, Heb. 13:15,11 Cor. 20:22, Acts 2:47, Ps. 100:4, I Thess. 5:18,Acts 16:23-28. We are to worship the Lord, serve Him, praise and thank Him in our lives. Instead of complaining we are to show thanksgiving and praise to His holy name. . 5. The Christian life is a life of total, complete, perfect, prompt and unquestionable obedience to God and His word. Joshua 1:8, 1 Sam. 15:22, Exo. 19:5, Deut. 5:29, I Kings 3:14, I Sam. 1:25, Rev. 22:14, Acts 5:29, Matt. 7:21, John 14:23, Eccl. 12:13-14, I Sam. 1: 18-20. Obedience to God is the prove that we belong to Him and the secret of His blessings upon our lives. When God first bless us, then He commands us to obey in order to receive more blessing. Disobedience brings cause, sorrow and trouble Job 36:7,12, I Sam. 12:15, Eph. 5:6, 2 Thess. 1:8, Deut. 28:15, Provo 1:24-32, Heb. 2:2-3. By disobedience angels lost heaven, man lost Eden, Saul lost his crown and Judas Iscariot lost his soul. 6. The Christian life is a life of non-conformity with the world because we are called out by God -I Peter 2:9, I Cor. 1:9, Gal. 1:6, 15:8. II Thess. 2:14. We are called out of sin and the world. Col. 1:13-14, Gal. 1:4, Titus 2:11, called to be holy and unworldly- I Peter 1:14-16, II Tim. 1:9. In view of this great and grand calling by God we are to be obedient and loving to Him. A friend of the world is an enemy of God. James 4:4. The world represents all that is evil and ungodly and crooked and enemy to God. Therefore, He calls us to be separate and distinct from the world. 7. The Christian life is a life that conforms to God’s will and heavenly manner Titus 2:11-14, II Tim. 2: 19, II Cor. 7:1, Heb. 12:14, 2 Peter 4:2-3, Col. 3:5-9, Eph. 5:1-5,4: 22-25, 28,31. Christian Conduct: Gal. 5:22-23 (a) Love – I Cor. 13:4 – A strong, tender and compassionate devotion to the well-being of someone. (b) Joy – Delight over blessings receive or expected for self and others. (c) Peace, harmony, order and security in the midst of turmoil. (d) Longsuffering – To bear long with the offenses, injuries and harsh treatments of others without murmuring and resentment I Cor. 13:4-7, I Tim. 1:16, II Tim. 3:10, 4:2 (e) Gentleness – Natural tendency to be gentle, soft-spoken, kind even-tempered, cultured and refined in character and conduct – 2 Tim. 2:24-26, James 3: 17. (f) Goodness – Benevolence generous and God-like in life and conduct. Exo.33:19, Matt. 5:44-48, Rom. 2:4, Eph. 5:9 (g) Meekness – Simplicity and unboastful lifestyle. (h) Faith – Strong believe in God’s word and promise. (i) Temperance- Romans 13:1-3, I Thess. 5:6-8, Titus 2:2-3, 2 Peter 1:5-10. 8. The Christian life is life of living with eternity in view. Living in the light of eternity is living for tomorrow and not for today. a. Living for today. b. Living for tomorrow, living for God. 8. Christianity is living the Christ life at conversion. Rev. 3:20, Eph. 3:17, Col. 1:27 Then, we begin to live, Christ living through us. Gal. 2:20, I John 4:4, 5:4. Christ that is living in us will enable us to live a holy, pure, loving and victorious life. Acts 16:26, Col. 2:6-7, I John 2:6, 1:7. God’s goal is that we should belief his son therefore, we are to live as Christ would live in this world-in love, humility, obedience John 13:1, Phil. 2:5-8. To be like Christ should be the Christian life goal.
A. Necessity of Saving Faith
This teaching is timely and very important to each and every one of us. Every other blessing of God hinged so much on this topic. We all, young, old and new members, workers, and minister need to pause, listen and consider this message in relation to our lives critically. Ask yourself, am I saved? It is the fundamental requirements to get to heaven.