Sermons
“Because of your promise and as your own heart dictates, you have done all these astounding things to make your servant know and understand.”
– 2 Samuel 7:21 (AMP)
Purpose
-Interact about our common future
-Ignite passion in the people of God
-Invite participation in Kingdom advancement
Premise
Seeking souls, the world over, stand to benefit in unprecedented ways from astounding things God will do throughout 2024.
Promises
In the face of dangerous and difficult days ahead, God makes three bold promises to those of His people who will seek him.
1. To bring them into a spacious place where they will breathe freely.
2. To arm them with the needed strength to advance against any enemy.
3. To arm them with strategies to scale seemingly unscalable challenges.
Programmes
Three axes:
1. Build a Christocentric community
(the placing of Christ at the centre of one’s thoughts, actions, or beliefs)
2. Build a Koinonia saturated community
(the entering into a shared community that involves deep, close-knit participation among its people)
3. Build an Euangelion intense community
This is an attempt to address a threefold crisis:
a. A lack of gospel confidence
b. A lack of gospel clarity
c. A lack of gospel community)
Ps. 18:6; Acts 18:9, 10; Rom. 1:16, 17; Gal. 4:19; Matt. 22:37-39; 28:18-20
God wants to be known and to be made known.
Projects
Bring the mortgage significantly down
Build strategic bridges
2 Samuel 7:22a (MSG)
"People and places have staked their claim to greatness throughout history; however, none of their greatness comes close to that of the God of the Bible."
Four of the things which make the God of the Bible uniquely Great:
1. His position
Prominent
Preeminent
Genesis 14:18-20; Ps. 115:2, 3; Is. 40:25; Matt. 6:9, 10; Hebrews 6:13-16
2. His power
Inherent
Immutable
Unlimited
Genesis 18:14; 45:5-8; Is. 55:6-13; Lk. 1:34–37; Hebrews 1:3
3. His promises
Size
Scope
Genesis 12:1-3; Jos. 21:45; 2 Cor. 1:20; 1 Tim. 4:8; Hebrews 10:19–25
4. His performances
Grace
Mercy
Genesis 3:21; 2 Samuel 7:8, 9; 1 Cor. 15:9, 10, 58; Hebrews 4:14-16
HEBREWS 11:8-10 (NLT)
“How God worked with Abraham is how God works.”
1. Good initiates
- Calls by grace
- Gives great promises by grace
Joshua 24:1, 2; Genesis 20:8-12; Genesis 12:1-3, 6, 7; Genesis 18:10; Genesis 26:4 (NLT); 2 Kings 4:16; 2 Kings 7:1; 2 Corinthians 1:18-20 (NLT)
2. Abraham responds
- His Word
- His Will
3. God perpetuates
- Creating the infinite loop of goodness.
Genesis 45:7-8
1. Realizing that the God of power is always working behind the scenes to bring about His purposes.
- He responds
- He orchestrates
- He anticipates
- He instigates
Psalm 105:15-22 (NLT); Esther 3:1-3; 6:1-12; Acts 28:11-17a (NLT)
2. Realizing that the power of God is, by its very nature, a shared, creative, and redemptive ability.
- Dreamers
- Interpreters
- Implementers
(This is divinely arranged to avoid projection, rejection, and elevation).
Genesis 41:1, 5, 8, 15, 16, 33-31 (NIV); Exodus 25:1, 2, 8, 9; 31:1-6; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11, 14-22 (NLT)
3. Realising that any position of power is, in fact, a sacred responsibility to:
- Sanctify the name of the Lord
- Serve the purpose of God
- Save the people of God
Deuteronomy 8:2-4, 10-18 (NLT); Daniel 4:29-31 (NIV); 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 4:16 (NLT); Genesis 45:7; 50:19, 20 (NIV)
2 Samuel 7:1-3 (MSG)
Extraordinary moments of God’s manifested grace
1. Enemies defeated
2. Access to spacious places
3. Ability to breathe freely
Deut. 8:10-18; Jos. 10:8-11; Ps. 18:18, 19; 31:8; Pr. 10:22; 2 Cor. 2:14
Windows that provide an opportunity to:
1. Focus on God in a way never done previously.
- Serve Him sacrificially
- Solve for Him problems you observe
- Seek Him continuously
Deut. 32:9-20; Jos. 24:1-16; Ps. 106:19-22; Is. 17:10, 11; 1 Cor. 15:10, 58
2. Find ways to improve life for the people of God.
Help people:
- perceive the LORD
- procure divine perspective
- prioritize well
Deut. 6:4-15, 20, 21; Jos. 4:4-7; Pr. 3:5-10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Hebr. 6:10-12
Revelation 7:9-15 (MSG)
"We have heard it said that history informs the present and guarantees the future. However, in God’s economy the present can benefit significantly out of secrets from the future."
1. All people are precious to God
- The great commandment
- The great commission
Genesis 15:5; John 3:16; Mark 12:28-31; Mark 16:14-16; 1Timothy 2:1-4
2. All people are products of God’s grace
- Ascribe praise to Him
- Ascribe glory to Him
- Ascribe wisdom to Him
- Ascribe thanks to Him
- Ascribe honour to Him
- Ascribe power to Him
- Ascribe strength to Him
3. All people are potential servants of God
- Never give in to the lies of satan
- Never give up on people
Genesis 32:26-28; 35:9-11; John 1:46; Acts 9:15; Acts 10:15; Philemon 1:10-12
LUKE 12 :1, 12-22
“It is foolish to store up material possessions with no regard for God. Since possessions without an eternal perspective are prone to corrupt attitudes, priorities and motives.”
1. Problem with possessions
a. Possessions tend to possess their possessor.
Self-absorption
Self-indulgence
Self-deception
b. Possessions tend to overvalue themselves
“God does not want you to lose your possessions, but to change their place.” Augustine Hippo
“If we focus on becoming better, our customers will demand we become bigger.” Truett Cathy
“The movement of your money expresses the movement of your heart.” John Piper
Job 14:1; Psalm 14:1; Ecclesiastes 2:18,19; Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; James 1:9-11; 4:13-16
2. Purpose of Possessions
“Possessions should be used to express, in its manyfold aspects, our love for God.”
My worth is in who I am, not in what I have.
My wealth is both a divine blessing and a God-given responsibility.
My wisdom is demonstrated in the pursuit of worthy causes.
1 Chronicles 29:14; Proverbs 3:9,10; 11:25; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15: 1 Timothy 6:17-19
THE BLESSING OF THE LORD
Genesis 32:24-32 (MSG)
“God acts in history and gradually empowers His people to bring life to the world threatened by death and destruction. In this cycle, Jacob is called to be an instrument of God and mediator of the blessings of God so that all may have life and live in abundance.”
1. Reveal the nature and the purposes of God
Immanent in everything He has made
Invites people to cooperate with him in his creative purposes for the world
Intends for every created thing to grow and develop
Psalm 46:1 (NIV); Matthew 28:20 (NIV); John 10:10 (NIV); Genesis 30:30 (NIV)
2. Reveal the importance of categories of relationship, presence and community of solidarity
Inclusion is a mark of blessing
Identification with God and his people is also a mark of blessing
Genesis 5:22-24 (NLT); 2Chronicles 15:1, 2 (NLT); Psalm 73:25-28 (NLT); Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NLT); Hebrews 10:19-25 (NLT)
2. Reveal the culmination of the relationship between God and Man
Worship is its highest expression.
Worship is its surest substance
Worship is its finality
Hebrews 11:21 (MSG); Psalm 78:3-7 (MSG); Revelation 7:13-17 (MSG)
Acts 21:27-32 (NIV)
“No one in their right mind throws the baby out with the bath water.”
1. No church moves significantly forward without the presence of people who genuinely care about the welfare of God’s people.
Nehemiah 2:10; Matthew 25:35-40; Acts 9:1-5, 26-28; 11:24-26; Phil. 2:1-4 (NLT)
2. No church moves significantly forward God’s work without God’s word.
Leviticus 26:3-12 (NLT); Joshua 1:6-8 (NLT); 2 Chronicles 15:3, 5-7; Acts 12:24
3. No church moves in significant power without a meeting place
2 Chronicles 6:7-10, 17-33; Luke 7:1-5; Acts 2:1-4, 42-47; 16:12-15
PSALM 144:1 (NLT)
“Times of divine training should be viewed as an indispensable inconvenience.
These times enable us to both handle the weight of glory and discharge our God-given responsibility with distinction.”
Four Bible characters
1. Joseph
God place him in places of affliction to prepare him for a position of privilege.
Psalm 105:17-25, Genesis 41:1,9-14; Genesis 45:4-8; Genesis 50:20
2. Moses
God led him in the middle of nowhere to teach him that a nobody with God will achieve more than a somebody without God.
Exodus 4:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:5-7; 2 Corinthians 3:13; Hebrews 11:24-26
3. David
God exposed him to real danger to build him the necessary courage and zeal to protect those under him.
1 Samuel 17:32-40; 2 Samuel 7:8; 2 Samuel 4,5
4. Jesus Chris
God taught him obedience through the things he suffered to make him a source of eternal salvation for all humanity.
Matthew 2:19-23; John 1:46; Luke 4:1,2,14-33; Hebrews 5:7-10
Three Timeless Lessons
- It takes adequate preparation to handle purpose properly.
- It takes adequate preparation to handle power properly.
- It takes adequate preparation to handle people properly.
HEBREWS 6:13-15 (NIV); Genesis 22:15-18
“God keeps His word and blesses those who patiently and perseveringly wait on Him, like Abraham.”
1. God have His word
- Many descendants
- Mighty descendants
- Major redemption
- Great commandment
- Great commission
Pr. 14:28 (ESV); Zech. 12:8-11; Rom. 4:16; Gal. 3:16; Matt. 22:34-40; 28:18-20
2. Abraham waited on God
a. Abraham knew that God was both sovereign and honest.
b. Abraham knew that it pays to wait patiently and perseveringly on God
Patience: high level of staying power in the face of life’s tests, trials, and tribulations (Makrothumia: Insight, love, people).
1 Sam. 1:1-7; Job 2:7-10; Psalm 115:1-3 (NLT); Eccl. 7:8; 1 Cor. 13:4; Gal. 6:8, 9
Perseverance: commitment to one’s goal regardless of the length of time and the vicissitudes of the journey (Hupomone: Foresight, hope, circumstances).
Proverbs 4:25-27; Romans 12:12; 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT); Hebrews 12:1, 2 (NLT)
3. God kept His word
“Many promises are fruitless, fragile, and frustrating.” – Phillip Paschal
- He is not erratic
- He is not a liar
- He is not unjust
Proverbs 29:4; Hosea 6:4; Num. 23:19 (NLT); Hebrews 6:10; 2 Cor. 1:19, 20 (NLT)
Acts 20:13-16 (NIV)
“Paul understood that the only way to successfully maintain his spiritual balance and stability was to remain rooted in the old centre while reaching out into new territories.”
1. Paul reached out into new territories
- Teaching
- Preaching
- Evangelizing
Acts 1:8; 9:10-15; 16:12-15
2. Paul remained rooted in the old centre
- Convocation
- Commemoration
- Communion
Leviticus 23:37-39; Acts 2:1, 5, 42; Colossians 2:6, 7; Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:12-15
Genesis 3:1-6
“There is some psychological significance to the midway point of the year as a logical opportunity to take stock.”
- The Guardian
“The devil is not exceptional at getting us, he is persistent, and we are complacent.”
- Pastor Olivier Tshala
The Devil has not changed his methods, his only play is to convince us that:
- God is not, in fact, good or
- that God does not keep his promises.
Once he has done this, we start a process of self-sabotage.
1. God is Good
Genesis 1:28 (ESV)
Matthew 7:11 (ESV)
2. God is Consistent
Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)
Malachi 3:6 (ESV)
David’s Promise
1 Samuel 16:13 – Anointed
2 Samuel 5:3 – Becoming King
13 years between his anointing (The promise) and becoming King (Its fulfilment).
1. Conditional Promises
Romans 8:28
2. Unconditional Promises
Genesis 9:11
Proverbs 10:11
God uses the gap between the promise and its fulfilment to prepare us to handle the lived experience of the promise.
Genesis 12:7-8; 13:18; 22:7-8
“Abraham was not a perfect man, but the overall orientation of his life was towards God rather than some earthly prosperity.”
1. Abraham’s motives to building Altars
- God made a promise to Abraham
- God moved Abraham to a new place
- God requested a sacrifice from Abraham
Deuteronomy 27:4-6; Isaiah 65:3
2. Requirement of building an Altar
- Requires preparation
- Requires God
- Requires effort
Hebrews 13:9-10
3. Abraham perennial worship
- Through hopelessness
- Through uncertainty
- Through instability
A true worshipper of God does so because of who God is, not what he has or hasn’t done. Worship is a physical expression of our internal disposition towards God.
John4:23
Abraham through his imperfections, perennially worshipped, obeyed & believed God. He never held on to anything so closely that God could not have it and as a result God gave him all he needed and more because he was a worshipper that when blessed would be a blessing.
Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)
“The presence of God in the lives of his people opens the possibility for strange blessings.”
1. Requirement
- A blessing based on the Favour of God (Receive & respond)
- A blessing by the Salvation of God (Deliverance, rescue, victory, wonders)
- A blessing through the Power of God
Hebrews 12:15a (NLT); 1 Corinthians 15:10a; Genesis 50:19, 20; Exodus 14:13, 14; Zechariah 4:6
2. Response
- Humble trust
- Obedient service
Romans 4:17-24; Hebrews 11:11, 12; 1 Corinthians 15:10b
Psalm 85:1-13
- Meaning of Revival
“Making alive again those who have been alive but have fallen into what is call a cold or dead state.” LAIN MURRAY
- An outpouring of the Holy Spirit
- Face-to-face with God
The revival will be a result of what was not working.
You must first be made alive by the Spirit of God before revival happens.
2. Requirements of great revival
- Sincere repentance
Psalm 85:1-3 (MSG)
- Submitting life to God’s Authority.
Psalm 85:4-8(NLT)
- Significant action
Psalm 85:10-13 (NLT)
Genesis 23 (MSG)
“When we strive to live a godly life, people will notice.”
Abraham’s 3D life
1. The existence of God
- His position
- His promises
Abraham demonstrated by his words, works, and way of thinking that he has encountered the Holy One.
2. The existence of Circumstances
- Pain
- Providence
“The folly of profiting at other’s expense must be shunned at all cost.”
3. The existence of others
- People
- Problems
GENESIS 49:25, 26 (NLT)
“God blesses us beyond … so that our lives can accomplish a greater good.”
1. The Cause of such blessing
“When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable”- Myles Munroe
2 Samuel 7:8-20; Luke 1:24-38, 46-49
Three facets of a greater good:
a. To love God more fully
Deut. 6:4, 5; 10:12; Mark 12:28-30; Joshua 1:8; 2 Corinthians 10:1-6; Philippians 4:8
b. To live as people loved by God fully
Romans 8:31-39 (NLT); 1 Corinthians 15:58
c. To let our light shine so that people will know that God loves them fully
Psalm 67; Matthew 5:11-16 (NLT); Acts 11:25, 26
Acts 9:10-20
The story of the risen Saviour, the rising star, and the reluctant servant, teaches us that we need to be open to reaching out to anyone the Lord directs us to regardless of how they might seem “beyond reach”
1. THE RISEN SAVIOUR
- Project
- Plan
- Power
“Knowing that God knows better makes obedience easy to practice.”
Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 16:18, 19; 2Corinthians 4:7; Acts 1:8; Mark 16:19, 20; Isaiah 46:9-10
2. THE RISING STAR
- Paradox (Persecution & Purity)
“Elitism as a religious posture can easily lead to misguided zeal.”
- Potential (Chosen instrument)
1Timothy 1:12, 13; 1Corinthians 15:9-11; Philippians 3:4-9
3. RELUCTANT SERVANT
- Perception(attentiveness, readiness, responsiveness)
- Prejudice(social differences, social identity, stereotypes)
- Perspective (Grace of God, Greatness of God’s work)
“Answering to divine calls we get really matters.”
Job 33:14; Isaiah 30:21; Isaiah 6:8; Acts 10:34, 35
Genesis 15:1-6
“When God finds a man who believes, He can do wonders!”
Romans 4:3, 18-24 (NLT)
1. Foundational Aspects of Believing in God
- Trust God’s capability.
Daniel 3:17
- Trust God’s faithfulness
Hebrews 10:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:24
2. Practical Aspects of Sustaining the Belief
Romans 4:19
- Acknowledge reality
Believing God doesn’t mean denying the facts, it means elevating the truth above facts.
Matthew 15:27
- Develop a steadfast resolve
When we believe in God, we learn to believe in God!
- Build on Each Belief
As we witness God's faithfulness in certain areas of our lives, our capacity to believe Him for bigger things grows. Every act of faith expands our horizon of belief.
2 Samuel 7:1-3
“God’s wonderful works and thoughts toward us are too many to count. The right thing to do is not to let His grace go to waste. To be fair to Him, our attitude and action must be right.”
1. God’s gift of rest to David
a. Reflect the greatness of the giver, not the receiver.
b. Encompass peace and prosperity.
Samuel 7:8, 9; Exodus 34:6; 2 Deuteronomy 12:9-11; John 1:16, 17; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:9, 10
2. David’s response to God’s gift
a. Reveals the movement of his heart (Gratitude, concern & fairness).
b. Establishes a timeless Kingdom principle (reciprocity).
2 Samuel 7:2; Psalm 116:12-14 (MSG); 1 Chronicles 13:1-3; Psalm 132:4, 5; 1 Chronicles 29:10-14; Exodus 25:8, 9; Daniel 4:29, 30; Luke 12:16-21 (MSG)
3. God’s remarkable promises to David
Offers a bigger and richer loop (Promotion, presence, protection & permanence)
2 Samuel 7:1, 9-11; 23:5, 6; Genesis 27:30; 32:26; Luke 17:12-19