11
Jan '19
What Are You Doing For God?
11
Jan '19
Dear Friend & Family of God At Grace Life:
What are you doing for God? Are you actively involved in God’s work? Contrary to what most people think, the work of God is not some activity you are involved in within a church or ministry setting. Rather God’s work is what you are becoming as you are involved in any activity, whether or not it is in a church or ministry setting. In other words, it is not what you are doing for God that is God’s work. Instead, you yourself are the work of God. That is, what you are becoming over time, that is the work God. The bible says in Ephesians 2:10 that “we (not the things we do for God like preaching, singing, evangelism, prayer) are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. You are the work of God.
05
Jan '19
2019 – Our Year Refreshing
05
Jan '19
Happy New Year, friends and family of God at Grace Life Center.
Praise God we made it out of the old year into the new year. I am excited about the possibilities 2019 has to offer. I see growth and increase in every area of life for us. I see new homes, new families, new jobs, new businesses, new saints of God. This is the year of peace and calm that God’s people may be refreshed and increased. It reminds me of the early church in Acts. After a period of turbulence and new deacons were appoint so that the senior leadership of the church could focus on prayer and the teaching of the word, the bible says “And the Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith” (Acts 6:7). Several years later, after God ended a season of intense persecution through the dramatic conversion of Saul, the Church’s public enemy number one , the bible says “Things calmed down after that and the church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country-Judea, Samaria, Galilee-the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered wonderfully.” (Acts 9:31).
15
Oct '18
Why GLC?
15
Oct '18
So I was recently trying to practice the four I’s – Identify, Intercede, Invest and Invite. When I got to the Invite part, I kind of froze up. I said to myself, “this person has probably gotten several invitations to multiple churches. What makes my own invitation different? What is it about Grace Life that makes us different from thousands of other churches out there?” Also I was concerned about how to present my invitation so I don’t come across as manipulative and as a user, a concern friends have expressed about church people. This got me thinking and what I am about to share with you is how I have learnt to present Jesus or our church that has worked for me.
But before I share it with you, let me make one point clear: if you follow the 4 I’s you will find that this is more about you being used by God to touch a life and make a difference in someone’s life than it is about even converting them to Jesus or to attending your church. Please evangelism – spreading the good news – is not about adding members to our church. It is PRIMARILY about you being the church to someone – the body of Christ, his hands, feet, mouth, ears and eyes to someone else. Jesus said “freely you have received, freely give.” Read more…
08
Sep '18
The Power of Personal Invitation
08
Sep '18
Many times, as Christians, we look for a magic bullet for evangelism and for our church family to grow. We look for that elusive perfect pastor, guest minister, program, or youth director who is going to attract people in to our church. Yet, time and time again studies have shown that most people (85% typically), visit a church for the first time because of a personal invitation. Someone – a friend, a family member, a colleague – invited them to church. Yes, inviting people is the undisputed best method of reaching people for Jesus and increasing attendance in church, which is the first step toward building disciples for Jesus.
11
Apr '18
Growing In Grace Online Studies
11
Apr '18
Grace Life Center is founded on the Word of God’s Grace , the word that Paul states in Acts 20:32 is “able to build us up and give us an inheritance among the sanctified”. One way we summarized this “word of His grace” is this: because of the sin of ONE MAN, ALL MEN became rejected by God, no matter how good they may be. But, because of the righteousness of ONE MAN, ALL MEN became accepted by God, no matter how bad they may be (Romans 5:12 – 21). This is what makes Christianity different from all other faiths: while other religions is about what you must do to be saved, Christianity is about what God has done to save us. To help people better grasp this message, we have launched an online study series called “Your New Life In Christ”. You can access this bible study series here from our online study center at www.growingingrace.didacte.com.
30
Mar '18
Faith Comes…
30
Mar '18
Here is a fundamental truth people often miss about the Christian faith: Christianity is about believing a truth so deeply that it changes completely how you live your life. It is not about what you do. It is about what you believed that led you to do what you did. For example, in one of his not-too famous parables, Jesus told the story of two people who went to the temple to pray. One came to pray because he believed that God would answer him because he had been a good, religious person. He had given alms; he had paid his tithes; he had done is very best to live a godly life. The other person came to pray too. But this time he came to pray because he believed that God would answer him, not because he had been a faithful, religious person but because God was a faithful God. He believed that God was so full of grace, He would remain faithful even to his faithless servant. Jesus went on to say, one of these men would go home defeated in his life and faith and the other would go home justified and living a victorious life. Read more…
13
Jan '18
The Victory That Overcomes The World
13
Jan '18
In 1 John 5:1-5 we read “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. [2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. [4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. [5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? “
What does it mean to believe that Jesus is the Christ? How does this belief lead to victory over the world? Here are three ways to understand this passage:
18
Apr '17
Receiving & Growing In New Life
18
Apr '17
Following Jesus and living the life God has called us and desires for us to live as Christians is not difficult. It is IMPOSSIBLE! We need the power of the Holy Spirit to live this life! Many struggle because they try to achieve by natural means what can only be by supernatural means – by the power of God’s Spirit.
At Grace Life Center, we have recently launched our Life In The Spirit Seminars, a seven-week course that will introduce participants to a life lived under the grace and power of God available to all in the Holy Spirit. The seminar helps participants discover the power and passion God has made available so that we can live our life to the fullest.
31
Mar '17
How Little People Bring Divine Solutions To Big Human Problems
31
Mar '17
“Don’t fear, little flock. Your Father wants to share his kingdom with you” (Luke 12:32, ERV)
Contrary to what many people think, Jesus did not come to solve the world’s problems. Rather He came to make it possible for God, through Jesus, to live in us and through us, solve the problems of the world around us. Jesus came so we could be a people who, in partnership with Him, are bringing divine solutions to human problems. In Colossians 1:27, Paul did not say that Christ is the HOPE of Glory; rather he said “Christ IN US is the hope of glory”. Our opening text confirms this truth and shows us how God works in and through His people to bring divine solutions to big human problems:
22
Mar '15
3 Ways God’s Grace Will Transform Your Life
22
Mar '15
Grace is what God has done for us, to us and in us to bless and favor us, without any contribution from us. And here is the AMAZING thing – the bible says everything we receive from God we receive by grace! We are saved by grace, we are healed by grace, we prosper by grace, and we are blessed by grace! It is All of God and NONE of us
! Every time I think of this, my heart just wants to shout! Who am I that God would love me so? What have I done to deserve such a love? Nothing. As God says in Deuteronomy 7:7 – “He loves me because…He loves me!” So this morning, let me share with you 3 ways this truths have completely transformed the way I live:
1. I now have the right reason to live right: without God’s grace, without knowing and appreciating all that God has done for me, in me and to me, without any contribution from me – I was bound to seek to please God out of fear or pride. Either I was trying to do right because I was afraid of punishment or because I felt that my actions would earn me some rewards. But now, because of grace – knowing God has done ALL for me ALREADY – I can finally now seek to live right for one reason only – love. Read more…
22
Mar '15
4 Important Ways Receiving God’s Kingdom’s Will Change You
22
Mar '15
On Sunday March 22, 2015 we celebrated our Friends & Family Day. Dr. Adeola Ilechukwu was our guest speaker and she shared a message that was a real blessing to me and others in attendance. The thrust of her message was simply this: at the heart of the prayer “Thy Kingdom Come” is a request or change in our lives. The Kingdom of God cannot come into your life without triggering a process that brings about radical transformation in your life.
She went on to share four area of our lives we can expect change in our lives if we have received God’s kingdom:
1. Change in your mindset: the way you view life, and the world will change radically when you receive the kingdom. Receiving Jesus does not turn bad people into good people; it makes dead people alive! That means a completely new life; a completely new way of looking at the world.
21
Mar '15
Hope Can Find You This Easter
21
Mar '15
Jesus of Nazareth shares many wonderful attributes with other great leaders of faith. Where Jesus is clearly unique from all others is in the claim that after he died He rose again from the dead and was seen ALIVE by over 500 witnesses over a 40 day period! I always used to wonder why this claim was such a big deal. Until one day about a year ago it struck me.
20
Mar '15
3 Ways To Live In Order To Grow In Grace
20
Mar '15
In 1 Peter 3:18, Peter specifically instructs all who have put their faith in Jesus to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of (who they are in) the Lord Jesus Christ“. In recent times, the Lord has helped me understand God’s Grace as “that which God has done in me, to me and for me in Jesus in order to bless me, without any contribution for me“. In other words, growing in God’s literally means growing in who I really am in Jesus; growing into that person who God has made me to be in Jesus. No wonder Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 that “I am who I am, by his grace”! Alleluia! As a result, I would like to share with you, 3 ways I have now determined to live my life in other to grow in grace – in order to become more and more who I am in Jesus, not because of what I have done, but because of all God has done:
1. I have determined to live like someone who no longer has a sin problem: because in Jesus, God has dealt with all of my sins – past, present and future – yes even the sin I will commit tomorrow! I know it can be hard to comprehend that even my future sins have been forgiven. But the question we need to ask is this: when exactly did God forgive us our sins. Was it the day we accepted Jesus and put our faith in Him? Is it whenever we ask Him for forgiveness that He forgives us? The answer is no! Paul says in Ephesians 1:3 – 6 that God ordained and commanded all our sins forgiven in Christ before the foundation of the world. And that 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ showed up as the Lamb of God to physically die on the cross to execute the Divine command. All of this happened before I was even born, with all my sins still yet to be committed, including the sin I will commit tomorrow! All I am really doing now – the day I put my faith in Jesus and anytime after that whenever I sin – is to come to him and confess i.e. agree with God about my sin (1 John 1:9). And what do I agree with God? That my sin, though, many and as red as scarlet, have all been paid for and that I am now as white as snow. I come to receive the forgiveness that has been offered. Therefore, I no longer have a sin problem! All my sins have been paid for and done away with! I do not have to ever fear or worry if I may or may not be forgiven. God has not only forgiven all my past sins; He has in the past forgiven all my sins! So how do I grow in grace – change my mind about sin and learn to live like someone who no longer has a sin problem.
09
Mar '15
3 Truths To Remember When You Don’t Have Much
09
Mar '15
What do you do when you pray and pray and yet it seems like you just can’t have a breakthrough? How can you cope with afflictions or difficult situations that just seem to constantly overwhelm you? This Sunday in church, I shared three truths you must remember in the midst of difficult times to give you victory through the hard times. These are three truths that will give you the right attitude so you can soar above every hardship and come out on the other side victorious. These 3 truths are:
1. Remember that when you do not have what you really WANT, that’s when you discover that God is all you really NEED: The enemy’s ultimate goal is to keep you away from your God. Whatever will keep you from serving God – the enemy will bring your way. So we must never ever allow our hardships keep us from serving God. Because the truth is that in life, God is all we really need. When we remember this truth, then that affliction will make us better and not bitter. If we can remember this, that mess you are in will turn into a message. If we can remember this truth, that test you are going through now, will become a testimony. Then shall be fulfilled in your life the promise in Psalms 34:19 – “many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all“.
04
Mar '15
Seven Reasons To Show Someone An Act of Goodness Today
04
Mar '15
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus gave his followers a fascinating instruction. He said “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven”. Because this verse is at the heart of who we are as a church at Grace Life Center, I would like to share with you 7 reasons why I believe that it is extremely important that daily, we go out of our way to bless someone with practical acts of goodness:
1. Because your acts of goodness could produce genuine repentance: when I do good to someone, especially to someone who does not seem to deserve that good, I am saying to the person “I want you to know that I love you and have accepted you because, no matter what, I think you are better than what you are now“. My act of goodness will touch a part in all humans, that yearns to live up to expectation. This is what will, together with the work of the Holy Spirit, produce a conviction that will produce change from within that is genuine and permanent. That’s why the Bible says that “it is the kindness and goodness of God – not his anger and punishment – that leads men to have a genuine change of heart and life”
(Romans 2:4).
01
Mar '15
4 Ways To Turn Life’s Bad Spot Into Blessings
01
Mar '15
So King Joram and the kings of Judah and Edom set out. After marching seven days, they ran out of water, and there was none left for the men or the pack animals…King Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there a prophet here through whom we can consult the LORD?” An officer of King Joram’s forces answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He was Elijah’s assistant.” …Elisha said to the king of Israel. “Go… get me a musician.” As the musician played his harp, the power of the LORD came on Elisha, and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig ditches all over this dry stream bed. Even though you will not see any rain or wind, this stream bed will be filled with water, and you, your livestock, and your pack animals will have plenty to drink.’ …The next morning, at the time of the regular morning sacrifice, water came flowing from the direction of Edom and covered the ground – 2Ki 3:9-20
We all have bad spots. I have often wondered how it is that we are either in a bad spot, getting out of a bad spot or about to enter a bad spot. Bad spot just seem to be a part of being alive; as if someone says “here is life, and oh, by the way, here are all the bad times that come along with it!” But in church today, Pastor Emmanuel Moses preached a word that encouraged me so much about handling bad spots in life. Here are the four things I learned from that message about how to turn my season of bad spots to a season of blessing:
1. I can turn bad spots into a blessing if I would allow them to drive me to God: like these 3 kings in the passage, but for the fact that they ran out of water, they may never have ever enquired about God! So I learnt today that my bad spots could actually be a good thing if I spend more time with God as a result. Perhaps, if I spent more time with God anyway, I would be even better prepared for bad spot.
27
Feb '15
Three Great Invitations From Jesus
27
Feb '15
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. (19) And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. – Mat 4:18-19
I love to be invited. I am sure you do too. An invitation makes us feel special, thats why we take invitations seriously. An invitation – to go out on a date or attend a friends-only event or even to simply just come over for coffee or dinner – makes one feel recognized, loved and accepted.
And yet, as special as all invitations are, they are even more special depending on who is extended the invitation. Imagine then receiving an invitation from none other than the Lord Jesus himself. In Matthew 4, I see three great invitations Jesus – the King of all kings – is extending to us:
1. Jesus invites us to follow Him: he is inviting you and I to let him be the our master, the boss over our lives! Why? Because truly no one else deserves to lead us – not even ourselves. I know how bad a leader I can be at work, in my family and even in my church. I feel like Jesus is saying to me: I know you could be such a bad leader; I know you are a potential basket case, and a complete mess. But I can lead you; I want to you lead; will you let me lead you? And you do remember how Jesus leads, right? He is the leader – perhaps the only one I know of – who would pick a bucket of water and a towel to wash the feet of those whom he is leading! That is who is asking me to follow Him? The one who will, and has, laid his neck to take the blow from the ax-man that I deserved. Have you accepted that invitation? What is keeping you from making this decision – to follow Jesus? Right now, you are following something or someone? Is it Jesus? Or are you following your emotions, what makes sense to you, what your culture says or what your friends say? Jesus is inviting you to follow him – will you say yes? How do you know if you have accepted his invitation? If you constantly ask this question: “Lord Jesus, what do you want me to do about (fill in the blank)?
27
Feb '15
Three Things You Can Do Now To Live On Earth As If In Heaven
27
Feb '15
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1 – 2)
This year, I believe God wants you to contend for something more than normal. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6, he said “ask the Father for His Kingdom to come; ask that the Father’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Ever wondered why Jesus asked us to make this our daily request to the Father? I believe that it is because He knew that NOTHING here on earth can actually satisfy the deep longings our hearts desire.
The pleasures your heart is craving for cannot be found in any of the treasures found here on earth. It is futile to seek for satisfaction in the things that men pursue here on earth: sex, money, fun, wealth, fame, power etc. They may seem to satisfy for a while, but sooner than later, we discover that that they are all fools gold. Like Shakespeare said, these things are like the “tale told by a fool – full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” Sadly, many sacrifice their lives, their family, their health on the altar of the pursuit of these things only to discover too late that there pleasures their heart craved for cannot be found in them.