Everlasting Magazine 13th Edition

EVERLASTING A Publication of RCCG Everlasting Father’s Assembly, Leeds July 2018

Vol 13

LIFE LESSONS Page 4

GOD IS NOT A MAN TO LIE Pages 6 - 7

KNOW YOUR MEDICAL SCORE Pages 8 - 9 CERVICAL PAP (SMEAR)

PHOTO SPREAD -

Pages 10,12, 13 & 21

THE PATH TO EVANGELISING THE ‘NATIVES’ Page 15

Jude 1:3

MAY GOD MULTIPLY HIS GRACE UPON YOU Pages 11

4 REASONS TO REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN YOUR YOUTH Pages 19

IMITATORS OF GOD Pages 24

PASTOR SAMUEL. & PASTOR (MRS) ANTHONIA OBAFAIYE Hosts

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August 2017 - Unhindered Advancement

July - December 2017

HE life we live is continuously changing. Nothing appears to be constant. The bible makes us to know that “To everything, there is a season, and a time to everything under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). Within those seasons and times, other variations still occur. Just like there is a time to be born and a time to die, within which other variations still happen.

Only God possesses the attribute of being constant and never changing (Mal. 3:6). He is the Ancient of days; Unchangeable God; the I am that I am, etc. As for us humans, our lives do change. There is the possibility of a life moving from bad to good; worse to good; good to worse; good to bad; good to better; better to best; etc.

Interestingly, Apostle Paul says that for a Christian who pays attention to Christ and His words, the life of such a believer will receive transformation unto the image of Christ, and if the believer still keeps his gaze on Christ Jesus, he/she will keep moving from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18).

The bible make us to know that Joshua was among the 12 spies who went to view Canaan, that alone was a level of glory and honour (Num. 13:1-16). Joshua was also an aide to Moses, which also conferred great recognition to him (Num. 27:18-23).

At the departure of Moses, Joshua entered into a higher level of glory and honour that he had never been before. No one was able to stand before him or fight him (Jos. 1:1-6).

To experience glorious living is sweet, to move up in levels of glory is even more so. In this month and beyond, God will increase us tremendously in glory and honour; He will put His fear upon us, so that no power will be able to mess about with us. May this be our portion in Jesus name. Amen!

monthly themes

July 2017 - Moving Higher In Glory

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DVANCEMENT can be defined as ‘a forward step; an improvement; a progress; a promotion or an act of moving forward’.

Unhindered on the other hand can be defined as ‘not slowed down; not blocked or not interfered with’. So that unhindered advancement could then be said to be a forward step that cannot be slowed down; an improvement that cannot be blocked; a promotion or a moving forward that cannot be interfered with.

The Divine mandate upon Apostle Paul was to take the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. Despite all the plans and attacks of the Enemy of the gospel (Satan), Paul was very successful in ministry. His ministry spread from Judea to the present day Middle East, Europe and parts of Asia.

In I Cor. 16:8-9, Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that he would tarry a bit in Ephesus City as there was a great opportunity for him to preach the gospel, though there were many opposition. As a result of his stay, a very thriving church was birthed in Ephesus that could not be hindered by all kinds of opposition (Rev. 2:1-7).

Also, God promised Paul that He would make him to stand before Caesar in Rome to preach Christ. So that somehow, the Jews convicted Paul and sentenced him to death for spreading a new religion, which made Paul appealed to Caesar. Paul was bound by chain and sent on a ship to Rome. Along the way, God sent a tempest that got rid of Paul’s shackles. Not too long after he arrived in Rome, someone who was supposed to be locked up in prison began to live in his own rented apartment and was able to preach Christ to everyone for over two years (Acts 28:30-31).

In this month of August and beyond, God has impressed it upon my spirit that as a church we will experience unhindered advancement: a forward step that cannot be stopped or slowed down; an improvement that cannot be blocked; and a promotion that cannot be interfered with. May we all experience these in Jesus name. Amen!

September 2017 - The Changes That Birth Progress

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ROGRESS is one thing that everyone desires. We all want to move forward. We want to advance. We want to forge ahead in life. No one in their right mind wants the opposite. The bible tells us in Psalm 75: 6-7 ‘For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another’.

The question however is, why will God put one down and set up another? Could the personal state of the two people in question warranted that judgement of God? Very likely. It is possible for one to show certain attitude, disposition and/or deeds that can dispel progress. While it is possible for another to show aattitude, disposition and/or deeds that can propel progress.

The story of the man in John 5:1-15 is a good example. His attitude, disposition and deeds have seemingly kept him in sickness for 38 years, and not because there is no one to help him. His focus had always been on not having a helper, rather on how he could have made changes to help himself.

For years, he had been lying down under any of the five porches around the pool, so that when an angel stirred the pool, someone very close to the pool would have entered before him. Since he could at least walk, I suppose he should be sensible to stay very close to the pool after few years of disappointment, but for 38 years, he didn’t! To the extent that when Jesus who could heal him without the stirring of the pool was asking him if he wanted to be healed, his state of mind shows that he was not still ready. If Jesus had not have special compassion on him, he would have died in that condition.

As we enter September, God has impressed it upon my mind, that some may not have experienced the progressive change they are expecting, not because ‘the pool hasn’t been stirred or the angel been sent’, but because their attitude, disposition and/or deeds are such that they are in a spiritual state that cannot propel the change to happen.

It is needful for me therefore, to charge us all to examine ourselves, and make necessary inward changes that can birth the sort of progress we desire from God. May the required willingness and grace come upon us in Jesus name.

October 2017 - The Uncommon Inheritance

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NHERITANCE can be defined as “the act of inheriting property; the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parents to offspring; the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations”. Uncommon on the other hand can be defined as “out of the ordinary; unusual; rare; extraordinary; unconventional; unfamiliar”; etc.

Inheritance is not a new concept. It has been in existence for many generations, it is very common. When people die, they bequeath their estates (houses, cars, investments, cash and other material possessions) to relatives, friends, helpers, charities and even pets. It’s nothing new or strange. However, there are few people in life who are privilege to be recipient of ‘uncommon inheritance’. Such inheritance can range from a good name (Sons of Rechab); notable feats done by a family member (House of David); evidential favour of God (The Levites); generational covenant of God (Abraham descendants); etc.

In Gen. 12:1-4, God told Abraham that in him will all the nation of the earth be blessed. Since Abraham was not to live on earth forever, it means that blessing must pass through his genealogy. Interestingly Abraham had no child at this stage. In Gen. 22:15-18, God again reiterated this blessing on Abraham, by this time, he already had two sons – Ishmael and Isaac.

Later on, Abraham had another wife and concubines who bore him more sons. But before Abraham died, he called all his sons to himself and share his estates to them as gifts, but unto Isaac, he gave his all – the blessing of the covenant, i.e. uncommon inheritance (Gen. 25:1-6, 11). No wonder, Jesus – the blessing to all Nations of the world had to come through the linage of Isaac and not through any of the other sons.

In this month of October and beyond, God’s word to our Assembly is that we shall enjoy uncommon inheritance inherent in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Blessings pertaining to dominion, multiplication, fruitfulness, abundance, supremacy, overflowing joy, sound health, victory, etc shall be ours in Jesus name

Pastor Samuel Obafaiye Editor-in-Chief

Morak Babajide-Alabi Executive Editor

Contributors: Pastor (Mrs) Anthonia Obafaiye Mrs Afolakemi Akin-OMISAKIN Dr. M. Odanye Dr. Oladare Adeyemi, Mr. Danny Morphy Miss Charity OHIA

Design Morak Babajide-Alabi 07869717613 Published by: Redeemed Christian Church of God, Everlasting Father’s Assembly, Leeds.

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Re-enacting The Faith Once Delivered Unto The Saints R

E-ENACT can be defined as "To act or perform again; to repeat the action (an earlier event or incident); to act out or recreate dramatically (a historic event, for example)".

Faith can be defined as "Belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust, confidence, reliance or devotion".

People demonstrate faith or hold belief in many things. These include: self, people, the dead, celestial entities, water goddess, Satan, etc. The belief in the Almighty God is however called "the faith".

Saints have been defined as people who are officially recognised (especially by canonisation) as being entitled to public veneration and capable of interceding for people on earth; extremely virtuous persons; persons who had died and gone to heaven; or God's chosen ones". The word "saint" is said to have come from the Greek word 'hagios', which means "Consecrated to God, holy, sacred and pious". It relates to a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom.

God did help to enact the belief in Him with the Old Testament saints. He introduced Himself to them, called them and gave them signs that would help them believe in Him, even though many of them did not see God in person, yet they believed in Him and exercised their faith in that regard.

Jesus Christ became the progenitor of the faith in the New Testament and delivered the life transforming faith unto His disciples who later spread the faith everywhere. Both the Old Testament and New Testament saints demonstrated immense faith that the society of today can emulate and re-enact.

The writer of the Book of Hebrew in Chapter 11 verse 1 described faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". That it was by such faith and belief that the saints of old were able to obtain good reports and Divine approval. He went further to mention people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtar, David, Samuel and prophets. These people in their time were able to subdue kingdoms; administer justice; obtain promised blessings; close the mouth of lions; extinguished the power of raging fire; escape the edge of the sword; made strong by God out of weakness; became mighty and undefeatable in battles; and put their enemy forces to flight.

Some through faith received their dead relations alive; other endured torture till death; others were chained, imprisoned and beaten; while others were stoned to death, sawn in two, killed by sword or died as destitutes. Yet they did not renounce their faith in God. The era in which we now live has continue to deteriorate into a godless state. People are taught to believe in themselves alone and not in the Divine Being. Such that our societies are becoming more and more secular and is now termed as post Christian Era. For a positive shift in the spiritual realm and a tangible shift in the belief of the people therefore; the need has arisen for believers who are keen to demonstrate or re-enact the kind of faith that was once delivered unto the saints.

If one considers the acts of the Apostles, it is easy to conclude that the possibility of reenacting such feats is impossible. Though it may seem far-fetched, but it is very possible. I am convinced that if a believer will commit time, energy and devotion to the word and prayer (Acts 6:1-5); together with fasting (Mt. 17:15-21); engage the use of Jesus name courageously (Acts 3:1-10); invoke the blood of Jesus at war (Rev. 12:11); actively testify of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mk. 16:15-16); live a holy life (Acts 19:11-20); and with the help of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8); it is certain that one will surely be able to re-enact such faith we read in the bible that was once delivered unto the saints.

It is my prayer that God will find such availability and passion in us in Jesus name.

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Note From The Pastor

IFE is not a rehearsal; the camera is always rolling. Do the most with what you have now. Prepare for opportunities which may never come than meet opportunities unprepared. Never allow those who were not at rehearsals to perform in your life show. Those who begin the race will always try to persevere till the end. Giving second chances does not mean making compromising choices. Never compromise on your beliefs. People with principles have self –control and self – control helps in making good life choices.

By Danny Morph

PERSPECTIVE

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Life Lessons

happened and those who let things happen. Winners will always try to participate rather than spectate from the auditorium. They want to ensure that things go according to plan and succeed beyond odds. Some persons do not want to react to conditions because they fear failure, so they will rather observe and never bother. These persons hold others back by ensuring they stay on the same field where others watch and do nothing.

Hard decisions are made by people equipped to be leaders.

Leadership is not a gift or an achievement but a burden to give relief and ease grief. Leaders strive to ensure people thrive. Good leaders understand that a belief system is a two way street: Believe in people as much as they believe in you; even in the depths of failure, hope is the strongest weapon a leader possesses. Those who lead must see it as an opportunity to create prosperous opportunities not to pursue opportunistic selfish goals.

Some people will prefer to ask questions; not for solving problems but to tell the tale or criticise decisions made by the first category of persons. They are the critics, the cynics, the great debaters and the gossips. Those who let things happen are like the second category except they do interfere but as the footstool of the winners. In everything there are losers and winners and the last category are the latter.

Success is incomplete without a legacy. Legacy involves successful succession to a success story. One may be successful but without a successor to succeed the predecessor, success has no succession. To be truly successful, a person must ensure others succeed him.

They do not try as hard as the first category and end up losing on all occasions. They practically do the same thing every time and expect a different result. We may need all these people to make the world unique with different kinds of people, but we must decide what kind of category we want to belong to.

There is no attribute greater than love. Love is a rare phenomenon with no precise definition or description but imbued with the desire to embrace everyone regardless of who they are or what they have done. Love is universally recognised as a means by which people of all climes can come together amidst ethnicity, race and religion and be united people. If we can learn to truly love one another, we can move beyond racism, ethnocentrism and social imbalance.

The difference between joy and happiness is for someone to be happy, there must be something occurring or happening. And moments are fleeting; one moment we are happy but the next we are sad because the moment passed. We need people to make us happy and when they do not we experience the contrary feeling, but joy is everlasting.

One problem in life has always been finding our purpose. What we are brought here to do in this world and what our life mission is meant to be. We follow several paths to ensure we make a claim and own a stake in the world, but the truth is most of us discover our life purpose very late in life because we did things people wanted us to do rather than what we should do which most times is what we are very good at dong and which brings joy to people’s lives.

It is what comes with morning dew, the breath of fresh air and when we find inner peace despite overwhelming sorrow. When we have joy we enjoy life irrespective of the moments which comes and goes; it is evergreen and a blessing to those who claim it.

SPECIAL PRAISE SERVICE WITH MIKE AREMU

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The moment we feel we know everything is the day we stop learning.

The moment we feel we can no longer learn is the day we start dying.

Ignorant people do not help anyone. They ignoble themselves with ignobility and refuse to learn new things. Learning something new is a When we discover this purpose, there really is no limit to what we can habit of winners and people who are willing to move beyond their achieve and how great we will make our social milieu, inadvertently levels. Never avoid a chance for a learning experience. There is no wasted knowledge in life. Every good thing we learn will have a leaving a great legacy. chance to make us better persons.

There are basically four kinds of people in life. Those who make things happen. Those who watch things happen. Those who ask how it Brother Danny Morph is a member of the Technical Department

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NCE again, on behalf of the Editorial Board, I welcome you to another edition of the EVERLASTING. The special magazine published annually to coincide with the parish’s anniversary. It has always been a pleasure and privilege to introduce the magazine to readers.

This year we are out again as we celebrate the 12th anniversary of RCCG Everlasting Father’s Assembly, Leeds.

As usual the anniversary is always an opportunity to gather and celebrate the Almighty Father who has kept watch over His church and the members.

At this time of the year we roll out the red carpets, bring out the drums, trumpets and sharpen “our voices” to thank God for His church. As a church the Lord has indeed been faithful to us.

And as individuals we cannot deny His favours and kindness on us and our families.

Looking back at where the Lord has brought His church from and to where we are now, we cannot but appreciate the fact He is with us.

He has shown Himself strong in everything that we do in the parish. It is traditional for us to celebrate the Almighty Father for how far we have come, His mercies and grace upon us.

Without sounding preposterous, I ask myself sometimes if we really have any reason NOT to celebrate in this parish. Every step of the way God’s grace is evident on the parish and we can see that the gates of hell against the church has never prevailed (and will not).

The testimonies of prayers answered, breakthroughs and the peace that we enjoy are divine. Because we do not discount all these in our lives, as individuals and as a church this is why celebrating the Everlasting Father comes naturally to us. We celebrate the goodness of God daily and it has become part of our being. The scriptures say in Psalm 21:13 - “Rise up, O Lord, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts”.

During the 11th anniversary, the servant of God, Pastor Samuel Obafaiye said “as we entered our eleventh year of glorious existence as a church, I hear God says, “Son, My glory upon you and the church shall step up. You will appreciate My glory. My glory and honour upon your lives shall increasingly be heightened”.

These were not words spoken lightly.

These were direct instructions from the Almighty Father. As we are all aware, He is not a man to lie or to deceive. We know that once He has said it, He is committed to making it come to pass.

We have continued to experience the hand of God in all areas. This year, it has been on a higher plain. We started confidently knowing that it is our year of Apostolic Power and Grace with a revelation that God’s “grace and power upon us shall increase from the levels of followers and disciples to the rating of apostles.” From January of this year, the Almighty Father has been showing His might among us, visiting many destinies, remaking, reshaping and remoulding where necessary.

God in His infinite mercies have made specific and crucial help available to us this year. We have been experiencing

help that can only be divine, to erect our lives; homes and the entire church. All these have been happening because we allowed our expectations to be high up. It is said, without expectation there is no manifestation.

This edition of the Everlasting is a special one for me. I always treasured the opportunity of editing the magazine in the past five years. But sometimes we just have to step aside so new and fresh ideals can be injected into a project. I personally think it is time young and vibrant individuals take over.

When I took over I had a dream of Everlasting becoming the authoritative Christian voice, not only for Leeds, or West Yorkshire but all over the United Kingdom. I had a dream of Everlasting becoming our tool of evangelising the society we live in. A medium so big that policy makers will seek us out for consultation when it comes to Christian policies.

It is a tall dream, but it is achievable if as Christians and as a group we all key into this. The selection of articles for the editions have always been painstakingly done so that when readers go through them, they appreciate the work of God. There has been the erroneous impression that the only means of evangelism that meets the standard is going about and preaching the word by mouth. Therefore we discount the other means that could alongside serve same purpose.

We live in a society where you have to be politically correct in everything you do. While it is considered absurd for us as Christians to talk about our religions at work with colleagues or friends, it is not out of place to share printed materials. When unbelievers read testimonies of miracles they are able to relate to Jesus Christ as the saviour. Printed materials are always subtle ways of reaching the unsaved that abound in our homes, offices, schools, streets etc.

How do we achieve this when believers are shy to put their testimonies in writing to glorify the Almighty Father. We think we have to verbalise our testimonies for them to be effective. Testimonies are not giving for us to feel good about ourselves but to praise the Almighty Father and make believers and nonbelievers know that He that did ours is capable of doing theirs.

Running after members for contributions for the magazine was, initially, fun, but when it becomes embarrassing is when you become pain on them. I commend all the contributors to this edition. May the Almighty Father reward you abundantly in Jesus name, I present this special edition to you. It is a collection packaged for your delight with educative articles on health, motivational and divine teachings. We had a very revealing interview with Deacon Tobi and he told us one or two things about his Christian journey.

These and many more, we are sure will make interesting readings for you.

Thank you.

Morak Babajide-Alabi Twitter - @AGEGE_Bread http://www.babajidealabi.com

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FROM THE EDITOR

We Love To Celebrate Him

By Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

TEACHING/SERMON

God Is Not A T

HIS is a word of re-assurance for somebody. God asked me to tell you that He is not a man and so He cannot lie. There is/are promises that you were sure that it was God that gave them to you at a point in time, but you are not sure anymore.

God asks me to tell you that He did not lie, and He couldn’t lie. That He meant what He said. That it shall come to pass.

Numbers 23:19 – God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? This was a prophetic statement Balaam said to Balaak when Balaak became perplexed that Balaam kept blessing the children of Israel rather than cursing them as he was invited to do.

The first answer that God made to Balaam regarding his request, never changed. Though Balaam was thinking that God might change His mind. He never did.

I have a message for someone reading this. You are operating under a particular curse but in the name of Jesus, that curse is hereby broken.

Numbers 22:12 – And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

None of the efforts of Balaak and that of Balaam was able to change the fact that Israel is blessed and cannot be cursed, There were three attempts to curse Israel, from three locations but nothing worked!

I assure you, as you are reading this that every plan of the enemy to thwart the plan of God for your life shall fail in Jesus name.

A similar statement was made by Prophet Samuel to King Saul of Israel as stated in1 Samuel 15:29 – And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

Saul disobeyed God with the assignment to Amalek. Samuel told him that as he refused to carry out the promise of God; God had also rejected him as the king of Israel.

Saul probably would have laughed this off and think it was a joke or mere words. He would have reassured himself no one could dethrone him. But Samuel made him to understand that the Strength of Israel cannot lie as He is not a man. Even when Saul conducted a show-off sacrifice, God did not change His mind.

– May God not repent of any of His good promises to you and may He de-throne every power aiming negatively at your destiny in Jesus name.

WHAT IS A LIE? A false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive. God cannot make a false statement either deliberately or non-

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES

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deliberately with the intent to deceive. He simply cannot do so.

WHY DO MEN LIE? 1. Not to be punished. (Peter at the arrest of Jesus).

2. To get whatever they want. (Jacob) 3. To create a false impression of themselves. (Ananias & Saphira) WHY DO MEN REPENT / CHANGE THEIR WORD/MIND? 1. They never thought it through in the first instance. Do me a favour…

2. They no longer have the ability.

3. They are not willing any longer.

4. To make a mockery of another fellow.

WHY WON’T GOD LIE? 1. Because of His holiness (Psalm 89:35) 2. Because He is ever faithful (Heb. 10:23).

3. Because He doesn’t need to be afraid of anyone. All powerful. Jer. 32:17).

4. He doesn’t need to manipulate anyone to have His way. All sovereign. (Rom. 9:19-22).

5. He doesn’t need to impress anyone. Only wise God. (Isaiah 55:8-9) 6. Nothing takes Him by surprise. (Isaiah 46:10) The word “Yes” is very powerful to the life of man. It is an answer that is highly desired in life. When applying for job or school, when commencing a relationship, when in sickness. We all hope to hear the word “Yes”. However, it is not always so.

Politicians, affianced, Employers, Medical Consultants, Spouses, Parents, Children, Friends, etc., do let us down by not saying Yes, or

having said Yes before, they can change to No.

TEACHING/SERMON

Man To Lie

‘Yes’ is a Greek word and ‘Amen’ is a Hebrew word. Which means God’s promises are for anyone who believes.

Jews or Gentiles alike. Paul the apostle had to draw the ears of the Corinthians church not to treat God as a man and by so doing lose out on the promises of God for them.

2 Corinthians 1:15-20 – And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea. When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Paul was scheduled to pay a visit to the

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RACE can be defined as an unmerited Divine assistance given unto man for sanctification or regeneration. It is a spontaneous (generous, free, totally unexpected and undeserved) gift from God, which takes the form of Divine favour, love, clemency, and a share in the Divine life of God. Peace can be defined as freedom from disturbance, a state or period in which there is no war or in which war has ended. Both grace and peace are virtues and blessings that come from God. Jehovah is the Giver of all grace (I Peter 5:10); and He is also the Giver of true and lasting peace (Heb. 13:10).

God told Moses that it was His prerogative to decide who He wants to be gracious unto or to show mercy. It happened that God showed Moses special grace and granted him

peace in the course of his life and ministry (Exodus 33:12-2). Moses led over two million people through the desert, in difficult terrains for forty years, whenever he was faced with difficulty, God always showed up for him.

Despite the kind of grace and peace Moses enjoyed, Joshua received a multiplied version, nothing and no one was able to withstand Joshua in his lifetime (Joshua 1:5; 24:31). Again, David was able to enjoy the grace and peace of God, despite the wars and persecution he faced. He was still gathered peacefully to his ancestors in death. However, Solomon was privilege to enjoy grace and peace multiplied, despite the way he was born (I Chro. 22:9).

God has granted us special grace and peace from the inception of this year; He is however saying that for the remaining days of this year, His grace and peace will be made multiplied unto us. May these be our portion in Jesus name. Amen!

December 2017 - Timely Delivery

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IMELY can be defined as “Coming early or at the right time; appropriate or adapted to the times or the occasion. It can also mean something occurring at a suitable or opportune time”.

Delivery, on the other hand, can mean “The act of conveying or delivering; something delivered as a shipment or package; the act of transferring to another; the act of giving birth; the act or manner of speaking or singing; or the act of releasing or rescuing”.

In 2 Kings 4:8-17, it was brought to the attention of Prophet Elisha that the Shunemite woman who had shown him great honour and care was barren; so Elisha prophesied that the woman would have a son before a year’s time. Even though the woman did not believe or put her mind to the saying; the bible says the saying of Elisha came to pass within the stipulated time.

It is good enough that what the woman had been expecting and have lost hope actually happened, but better so is that the fact that the saying happened at the stipulated time or appropriate time. In this month of December, God is assuring us that His prophecies, promises and words for our lives in the current year shall be timely delivered and occur at a suitable and opportune time. That no jot of His words concerning us shall be late nor fail to happen.

May we all enjoy this timely transfer or delivery in Jesus name

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People who said No to the Father’s promise 1. The 10 spies and the congregation of Israel – Num. 14:1-4 2. The sons of Eli – I Sam. 2:12.

November 2017 - Grace And Peace Multiplied NOV - DEC 2017

1. Abraham – Gen. 12:1-3; 21:1-3.

2. Moses – Ex. 4:20.

3. Joshua – Joshua 1: 1-2.

4. Gideon – Judges 6: 11-14.

5. Jeremiah – Jer. 1: 4-10.

6. Paul & Barnabas – Acts 13: 1-3.

MONTHLY THEMES

brethren in Corinth, but something happened that he could not embark on that trip. He later gathered that the people Some people do not believe in God’s promises any longer because were not happy, and were contemplating that he was not a they have experienced broken promises from menfolk again and serious-minded person, or he was someone who does not keep again. But God is not a man, that He should lie. It is said that there promises. are 7,457 promises of God in the Bible. They are all Yes in Christ. God is, however, looking for people who are expectant of those promises So that the people will not begin to suspect the gospel message and will say Amen. and eventually be sceptical about Jesus Christ as a Saviour; Paul had to write them a letter to say that he is not that kind The nature of the Father’s promise of a person. That as a man, it is possible that one may want to 1. It cannot return to Him void – Isaiah 55:11 do something and later couldn’t, due to unforeseen circumstance. But 2. It cannot be broken – John 10:35 God is not like that, as He is not a man. He said the promises of God, once 3. It is very sure – 2 Peter 1:19 spoken as Yes, it cannot change to No. It will be Yes permanently.

4. Some promises are conditional – 2 Cor 7:1 5. Some are unconditional – Gen. 8:22 What has/have God promised you? He is not a man. He cannot lie. If you 6. Some are for this life – Lk. 18:28 believe Him and walk upright before Him, it shall come to pass.

7. Some are for the life to come – John 14:1-2; Titus 1:2.

8. We must demonstrate faith in order to receive the promises – Mt. Prayer - Father, more than ever before, please demonstrate to me and 17:20 to the whole world that You are my God. 9. Patience is needed on our part to receive these promises – Heb. 10:36.

The sermon was delivered on April 15, 2018. For more divinely inspired sermons, visit our website - http://www.rccgleeds.org.uk People who said Amen to the Father’s promise

By Dr O. ADEYEMI

HEALTH TIPS

Know Your Medical Score!

By Dr Oludare ADEYEMI Most of the problems identified below can be counteracted by lifestyle changes such as: healthy diet with reduced salt and caffeine intake; eat veggies, fruits and wholegrain cereals; reduce alcohol 4. CHOLESTROL LEVEL intake, don’t smoking; lose weight, exercise regularly and, at least six Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid and is vital for the hours of sleep a night. normal functioning of the body. It's mainly made by the liver, but can also be found in some foods.

Cholesterol is carried in your blood by proteins. When the two 1. BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) combine, they're called lipoproteins.

The body mass index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy.

The two main types of lipoprotein are: If your BMI is: • high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – carries cholesterol away from the • < 18.5 – underweight cells and back to the liver, where it's either broken down; for this • 18.5 - 24.9 – healthy reason, HDL is referred to as "good cholesterol • 25 - 29.9 – overweight • low-density lipoprotein (LDL) – • 30 - 39.9 – obese carries cholesterol to the cells that need it, it can build up in the Dear Friend, I pray To work out your BMI: artery walls, leading to disease of • Body weight (kg) divided by height (metre) that you may enjoy the arteries; for this reason, LDL is • then divide the answer by your height again good health and known as "bad cholesterol" Health problems linked to being overweight include: that all may go well • high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some As a general guide, total types of cancer, osteoarthritis, back pain with you even as cholesterol levels should be <5mmol/L ; LDL levels should be your soul is getting 2. BLOOD PRESSURE <3mmol/L and HDL > 1mmol/L. along well.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely has noticeable A lower level of HDL can increase symptoms.

3 John 1:2 (NIV) your risk of heart disease.

As a general guide: • high = >140/90mmHg • ideal = 90/60mmHg - 120/80mmHg • low = <90/60mmHg Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of: heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, aortic aneurysms, kidney disease, vascular dementia, eye disease.

Your ratio of total cholesterol divided by HDL may also be calculated. Generally, this ratio should be below four, as a higher ratio increases your risk of heart disease.

Rule of thumb, stay away from eating anything that have mummy!

5. MAMMOGRAM

About 1 in 8 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked during their lifetime. If it's detected early, treatment is more successful and there's a good chance of recovery. Breast screening at least every five years. aims to find breast cancers early.

3. SUGAR LEVEL

8 | EVERLASTING

Your blood sugar level is in constant flux, depending on what you've eaten, when you ate it, and what you did afterwards.

In people with diabetes, the blood glucose levels are raised both before and after a meal.

In healthy people, blood glucose = 4.0-5.5 mmol/l before a meal <8.0 mmol/l two hours after a meal.

HbA1c < 42 mmol/mol.

Diabetes is diagnosed fasting glucose > 7.0 mmol/l, random glucose > 11.1 mmol/l, or HbA1c > 48 mmol/mol.

High glucose levels can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys, nerves and legs (peripheral vascular disease and gangrene). It can cause a heart attack or stroke.

It uses an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they're too small to see or feel.

As the likelihood of getting breast cancer increases with age, all women aged 50 to 70 and registered with a GP are automatically invited for breast cancer screening every 3 years.

In the meantime, if you're worried about breast cancer symptoms, such as a lump or area of thickened tissue in a breast, or you notice that your breasts look or feel different from what's normal for you, don't wait to be offered screening – see your GP. Dr Oludare Adeyemi is a medical doctor and a member of the Eternal Worshippers and Men’s Fellowship.

By Dr M. Odanye

Cervical (Pap)

HEALTH TIPS

Smear

“

By Dr M. Odanye

Abnormalities of the cervix – structural and cellular occur infrequently and may lead to downstream effects. This article focuses only on screening for cervical cancer (a cellular abnormality of the cervix).

come across women saying they don’t need screening as they are in monogamous relationships, or have only had sex a few times in their lives. These are not valid reasons not to get screened because whilst HPV is almost always sexually transmitted, it is asymptomatic – so you won’t know whether you have it or not.

Furthermore, it is not the ONLY reason cervical cancer develops, therefore to the woman who’s abstinent or has never had sex before, cervical screening is still advised.

WHAT exactly do I need my cervix for anyway?” a friend asked as she berated me for postponing yet another appointment to have a cervical smear test.

In the UK, cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer among women, it accounts for 2% of all new cancers in women and is mostly seen among women aged 25-29*. The incidence of cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing, with more than 75,000 new cases per year**. Worldwide, it’s the fourth most common cancer in women***.

We know that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – which can be transmitted sexually – is responsible for over 99% of cervical cancers, and therefore vaccination programmes against the common causative strains (16 & 18 ) have been available since 2007. Other factors that increase the risk for developing cervical cancer include smoking, long term use of oral contraceptive pill, birthing multiple children.

As with most cancers, early detection is key. The earlier cancer is detected, the higher the chances of successful treatment. Cervical cancer often takes some time to develop, often with no symptoms.

Cells that show abnormalities that may later develop into cancer cells (pre- cancerous cells) can be treated with high success rates if detected early. This is the reason underlying regular screening – the cervical (or pap ) smear, so named because the sample taken from the cervix is sent to the laboratory, smeared onto an appropriate surface and examined under the microscope.

In Britain, since cervical screening began, rates of cervical cancers have almost halved and approximately 60% – 80% reduction in risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer five years following the test*.

Although not all tests are 100% foolproof, the benefits of screening outweigh the risks of falsely reporting a test to be positive, or falsely reporting a test to be negative when it is in fact positive, considering that at least 2,000 deaths from cervical cancer are prevented annually in the UK owing to cervical screening*.

I cannot over emphasise the benefits of regular cervical screening.

The figures support its efficacy and benefits. In practice I’ve often

On a final note, whilst most pre-cancerous cervical cells and cervical cancer as a whole happen often without symptoms, there are some symptoms to be aware of – if you experience any of these, please see your GP or gynaecologist.

Bleeding between your periods Bleeding after sex Abdominal or pelvic pain during or after sex Abnormal or unpleasant vaginal discharge These symptoms are indicators that the cervix is not healthy and needs looking at – they are not indicative of cervical cancers alone as they could be caused by a myriad of other conditions, therefore it is important to get them checked out as soon as possible.

I eventually did convince my friend that she did in fact need her cervix and booked in to have my smear test done.

Dr M. Odanye is a medical doctor and a member of the Ushering Department. You can read more from her by following her blog at http://www.theonlinedoctor.net MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CERVICAL SCREENING

For more information, the NHS Cervical Screening Programme has guides about: Cervical screening: an easy read guide (PDF, 1.6Mb) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl oads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433757/eas y-guide-cervical-screening.pdf Cervical screening: an audio guide https://audioboom.com/posts/5880793-cervicalscreening-helping-you-decide The GOV.UK website also has cervical screening leaflets in other languages.

9 | EVERLASTING

The cervix, only approximately 4cm long, is the ‘neck’ that connects the lower end of the uterus (the womb) to the upper end of the vagina – a passage way; a canal, between the womb and the vagina. Its function is manifold, including, contraception, conception, maintenance of pregnancy, child birth and more.

10 | EVERLASTING

PREMIER BANQUETING, LEEDS

WORKERS APPRECIATION BANQUET - 17 NOV, 2017

* Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, (middle) Dr Abiye Hector-Goma (chairman Board of Trustees) right Minister Osas Iduoze, chairman, Events Planning Committee. Below, Deacon Tobi Akintokun, Brother Aimah Adeleye, Minister Daniel Makwa and Pastor (Mrs) Anthonia Obafaiye

sermon

May God Multiply His Grace Upon You T

Spirit.

HE month of November 2017 has been declared a month of Grace and Peace multiplied by God Almighty through The Angel of His Church as inspired by the Holy

By Pastor (Mrs) Anthonia Obafaiye

Grace (Chen in Hebrew and Charis in Greek) as used in the Scriptures, literally means ‘favour’ to bend or stoop in kindness to another as a superior to an inferior.

God’s grace has been termed ‘unmerited favour’ but it is more than an attitude of favour or mercy, that’s why the Bible makes us to understand in Ephesians 2:7-9 ‘For by grace are we saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, lest any man should boast’.

King David was a very good example of someone that enjoyed the grace of God abundantly. Of the goodness and faithfulness of God over his life, the scenario that stands out for me was when Prophet Samuel was sent to his Father’s (Jesse) house to anoint a New King over Israel in 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, and the remaining 4 Sons were rejected) The meaning of the word Peace: The Hebrew word for peace is shalom which means soundness in health & well-being. Absence of war, (peace from enemies) peace is not the absence of challenges, that’s why the Bible says in Philippians 4:7 ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’.

Isaiah 26:3 ‘You will keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee’. The Psalmist said in Psalm 16:8 ‘I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved’.

The word multiply means ‘To increase or cause to increase greatly in number or quantity’. Brethren in this month of November and beyond God want to increase us in His grace and peace, Isn’t it just what we need right now, a bath in God’s grace and peace?

He wants for us to begin to walk in another realm of his Glory as touching His grace and peace, and so shall it be in Jesus name.

God’s grace and peace is available to you and me. The more we know God, the more familiar we are with His promises, the more our thinking is shaped and saturated by the words of our Lord Jesus, and the more grace and peace will be multiplied to us.

The word of God contains the source of the grace and peace we need.

Jesus intends for his words to abide in us, because they are words of life (spirit and life).

Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:2 said ‘Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord’. The verb behind ‘be multiplied’ is used twelve times in the New Testament and always means ‘increase’ move from lesser to greater. There are at least seven important implications in these words (prayer) of Apostle Peter for our lives: 1) God is the only source of Grace and peace and it is to be experienced: If we stand in the unshakeable grace of God (Romans 5:2) and if we are reconciled to God in unchangeable peace (Romans 5:1) then what is multiplied to us is an increased and deepened experience of grace and peace.

2) Grace and peace vary in measure in our lives: Grace and peace are

not static; they go up and down in our lives. Hour by hour, day by day, our enjoyment of grace and peace changes. It ebbs and flows. We need to own it and seek continually to receive, new measures for new moments.

3) There is always more grace and peace to be enjoyed: We always need more grace, more peace. Every day, we need new measures of grace and peace for new moments. In this life we will never be able to say, ‘I have arrived’ I have all the grace and peace I can use. The Christian life is not static. It is a life of movement, of moving forward not drawing back. Day by day we are growing in grace and peace in Jesus name.

4) Grace and peace are multiplied by God: Grace and peace does not just happen, it comes from God. God gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5::22).

5) Grace and Peace are multiplied by God through human means: God responds to humility with more grace. Humility is a condition of receiving this grace. Of course, humility itself is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). But the fact that ‘God is at work in you and I to do His good pleasure’ (Philippians 2:13) does not lessen our responsibility to ‘to work out our own salvation’ (Philippians 2:12).

6) Grace and peace can be multiplied through prayer The unique thing about a spoken blessing is that is bi-directional. It is addressed to both Man and God. When we say, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you’ (Numbers 6:24), we are asking the Lord to bless you (prayer is a 2 way traffic: we talk to God and we pause to listen to what He has to say to us). So it is with Peter’s words, ‘May Grace and peace be multiplied (by God) to you. God is being addressed and the church is also being addressed (blessed).

These words are not spoken in vain, Peter speaks them because he believes they matter, and he believes God answers prayers and we believe that He will multiply His Grace and peace over us in Jesus Mighty name.

Continued on Page 18

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A very good example of someone who enjoyed the peace and rest of God was King Solomon the son of King David. King David his Father was a man of war, but King Solomon did not fight a single war during his reign over Israel, he enjoyed the peace and rest of God. No wonder he was the one God chose to build a temple for Him. God did not allow his Father to build His temple because he said his hands were soiled with blood.

12 | EVERLASTING

PREMIER BANQUETING, LEEDS

COUPLES DINNER MONTHLY THEMES16 DECEMBER, 2017

* Pastor Samuel Obafaiye and Pastor (Mrs) Anthonia Obafaiye, Hosts

213| |EVERLASTING EVERLASTING

1 Corinthians 10:13 – There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Judges 6:11-14 – The children of Israel sinned against God by worshipping other gods, so God allowed the Midianites to torment them. They laboured to plant all kinds of crops; but the Midianites would then invade the land during their season of harvest and take away their crop produce.

God sent a prophet to them to make them understand why they were suffering; so the people repented and cried to God for help. It was for this reason that Gideon was threshing his wheat harvest in their winepress. So the enemy would not locate where his grains were kept.

“

Gideon had read books and heard from men the testimony of what God had done before. He could not fathom how that same God would have been with them, and they would still be suffering from the Midianites. Sometimes it does appear to us that God was more active in the ancient times more than now. The Bible, however, told us that is not the case.

14 | EVERLASTING

by day, clothes that never worn out or became undersized, the parting of river Jordan and the smashing of the Walls of Jericho, brought them into Canaan land already occupied and drove away the inhabitants of Canaan and help them to fight their enemies Gideon was of the opinion that if it is the same God that the angel said was with them; the Midianites should not be able to molest them.

We are men and women of faith. One attribute of faith is that it does grow. Mostly by going through trials and listening to other people’s testimonies. There can be no testimony without a test. The just shall live by faith, but that faith has to be tried and tested, to continue as being just.

God uses the trials we face to promote us. First in the spiritual realm and then in the physical. He also uses it to glorify His name; to shut the mouth of the accuser of the brethren and also as a faith booster for others that will later pass through the same thing.

Note that asking God while one is go i n g t h ro u g h a p a r t i c u l a r situation with a sincere heart is not a sin. What is a sin is when we murmur against Him; or when we argue and rebel against His will.

Hearing the words of the angel, Gideon express his doubt of how that could be the case. How could God have been with him or with them? It did not seem so, considering what they were passing through. And if truly God was with him, where were all the wonders that God performed during their father’s time, when He demonstrated His presence among them.

There are times we read certain stories in the bible that sounds like fiction. Yet they were true. One may be tempted to ask the question “where is the God of that time”?

Gideon found himself in this situation. He was asking the angel if God was truly with them they should also experience the types of miracles God performed when their fathers were led out of Egypt For example: the parting of the Red Sea, the rain of manna from heaven, the sending of quails, the water from the rock, the pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud as a shield

Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

L

ET me start by saying “our fathers” in this context doesn’t mean our ancestors. Rather, it means our fathers in faith, starting from Abel till date. The headline is not a statement of someone looking around for a missing God. This is, however, a statement of someone calling on God to do something. A statement of someone who needs concrete evidence and proof that God is for them and that He is without any doubt working on their behalf.

sermon

Where Is The Lord God Of Our Fathers?

feelings.

”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – One of the greatest weapons the enemy uses against us is our feelings. What we feel and how we feel. Though feelings are natural and therefore real; there is, however, another aspect of our lives that is more real than the natural; it is the realm of the spirit. This aspect is controlled by our faith and not by our

To effect the desired changes in what we feel or in our natural world, we have to first address those things in the supernatural and then we can see their manifestation in the physical. Even God commences something first in the spiritual before making it happen in the physical.

God has promised us His children through His word that He will never leave nor forsake us. Circumstances may not look so, but the truth is God is always with His children - Isaiah 43:1-2.

The two sentences the angel made to Gideon did not make sense to him – The Lord is with thee and though a mighty man of valour.

Just like at times we too ask God why? Gideon was asking the angel why they were going through difficult stuff. God had however searched through all Israel and found out that on this occasion, He would use Gideon as the instrument of deliverance.

Note that asking God while one is going through a particular situation with a sincere heart is not a sin. What is a sin is when we murmur against

Continued on Page 19

perspective

The Path To

Evangelising

The ‘Natives’

By Morak Babajide-Alabi

B

When white colleagues volunteer to follow you to church, you have to stand them at alert that you attend a “black church.” This is a natural defence mechanism so they don’t get disappointed when they get to the church and it is a sea of black heads.

What is the hue and cry about black church? The reason has been that the black church, in a fast changing UK society, has refused to diversify. While all sections of the society are moving away from segmentation, either by race, colour or ethnicity, the black church has simply refused to flow along.

At the turn of the millineum, churches such as KICC, RCCG, Winners Chapel, Christ Chapel etc strategically went into massive church planting bringing the “black church” directly to the front doors of the British. Majority of the natives could not come to terms with this new wave of Pentecostalism exported from Africa, and now visible in every corner of UK cities.

The church, as represented by Jesus Christ, is supposed to be colour blind, preach same gospel with the message of repentance, salvation, and eternity. As a result the bible is universal, with the same story understood by everyone in all parts of the globe; no matter the language it is written. In Mark 16:15, we read: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”.

But is this the reality? Many immigrants have worshipped in whiteonly churches before and the reception was not as welcoming as you would expect in a Christian setting. Apart from the questioning looks, they also had to contend with enquiries about their faith. No matter how hard they tried, they could not blend in.

Surprisingly, the black church of today is not different from the white church of the 90s. A look at the membership of the RCCG and others across the UK will tell you same story. When an odd white face strolls into any of the parishes, it does not take long before he goes missing, not to be seen again.

Has the “black church” been so carried away and failed to realise it might not be as inclusive as Jesus would want? Why have the churches not been able to break into the local communities their parishes operate in? Are these churches unconsciously alienating themselves? We keep telling ourselves that there has been reverse evangelism and Africans have brought Christianity back to where it originated. But can we really say we have done this?

When the missionaries came to Africa, they took Christianity to all corners of the cities they visited. They did not establish churches where only people of like colours or “linguistic” semblance worship together. The opposite is the case for us now. The fact is, we have

succeeded in finding a similar “home” for members who sojourn abroad.

Many of the our churches have succeeded in replicating home parishes in UK cities. We sing same set of songs. We do everything the same way it is done in the “home countries”. While it is convenient and suitable (or familiar) for a Nigerian or Ghanaian settled or just arrived in the UK to find a home in any RCCG parish, it is a big task for the locals, in whose societies we operate.

We give the impression that our churches are meeting places for people of same ethnicity and colour. Therefore making it hard for people who are not of the same ethnicity to fit into the system. Only a few of these black churches in the UK are making any headway in the localities they operate from.

There are numerous unchurched people living around our churches that are not touched by the message we preach in the black churches. While they probably may be interested in their salvation, they have not been afforded the opportunity. We have managed to convince ourselves that these locals should walk in by themselves and be saved. Therefore no effort is made to engage them to be part of the church or be integrated.

As a first step, we have to engage the local community, by taking the “message” to them. It will take a bit of effort, but, we are told, with God, nothing is impossible. We cannot continue to wait for only members of our ethnic groups to walk in and blend with brothers and sisters. Until this practice stops the black church will continue to cater only to the black community and population. The black church in the UK has to grow with the society they operate in. They have to become cross cultural ambassadors for Christ’s sake.

Read more of Morak’s views on his blog - www. babajidealabi.com

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES SUNDAYS WORKERS MEETING - 9:15AM ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL::- 10:15AM CELEBRATION SERVICE: 11:00AM - 1:00PM HOUSE FELLOWSHIP: BTW 5:30PM - 7:30pm

WEDNESDAYS DIGGING DEEP: 6:30PM - 8:30PM

SATURDAYS EVANGELISM (4th Saturday) - 3:00PM DRAMA MEETING: 5:00PM CHOIR MEETING;- 5:00PM SINGLES MEETING:- (3rd Sat) - 3PM

15 | EVERLASTING

LACK church is widely accepted in the United Kingdom, as definition of churches, led and mainly populated by black people. It is part of the lexicon in this country, and the funny aspect of this is that we blacks describe our churches as such. I am also guilty of this as I freely use the term in conversations with friends, colleagues or family members.

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

It Is Evident, When Discussing with Deacon Oluwatobilola AKINTOKUN is always a delight.

At every opportunity of an audience with this remarkably impressive man, I always get blown away by his calm approach to issues. You cannot fault his clear headedness and tenacity to service.

Choosing Deacon Tobi (as he is fondly called) is an easy decision to make.

When I discussed this with him, he humbly accepted, despite his tight schedule and last minute preparations for the journey ahead of him.

Deacon Tobi is a pioneer member of the Everlasting Father’s Assembly.

As he prepares to move to new frontiers, he gives us insight into his life, his Christian journey, motivations and future aspirations.

Enjoy!

C

AN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR VALUES AD THE JOURNEY SO FAR?

I came to Leeds in 2005 as a young student. I studied Biochemistry and Pharmacology at the University of Leeds. I have been a member of the church since 2006. I serve in church in the Technical unit, Adults Sunday school and the Teenagers church. On some occasions I have been involved with the choir, protocol, security, transport departments. I am married and I work in recruitment for the Health and Social care sector. It has been a great journey being part of the EFA family.

TAKE US THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY OF BECOMING A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN AND WHAT THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN. I heard the gospel as a child and I understood that the decision to receive the gift of salvation was different from the usual “just going to church”. At that time and by the grace of God a lot of our extended family became born again Christians around the same time. As we were already a Christian family, the transition was probably easier for me if I can use the term easier.

The experience can be summarised by saying; with God nothing is impossible and this is one of the many things that give us confidence when we call on God. This has gradually grown into better understanding of what the finished work of Christ means in the life of a believer and how unconditionally God loves us and has demonstrated this through Jesus.

We joined RCCG I think in 1993/1994. To the glory of God, I am growing to continue to trust and depend fully on God for all things. .

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WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU EXPERIENCED AS A CHRISTIAN, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR UNIVERSITY DAYS? One of the biggest challenges was not feeling adequate to communicate with God. Especially after various student outings, exams parties, house get togethers etc. With better understanding, I grew to understand that whether we are up or down, the only person that we can go back to is our Father in Heaven.

He loves us and this love is unconditional.

In terms of my time at the church during University days, I was blessed that I was already active in the church in Manchester as a teenager; so when I arrived in Leeds it

was just a great to get an opportunity to continue to serve.

There was (and still is) always an opportunity to serve in the church. A lot of my friends knew that Sunday was church so there was less socialising on Sunday in comparison to other days. University time is a great opportunity to serve and be active in various departments and getting a grounding in the church.

AS A YOUNG PERSON, YOU MUST HAVE SOME MENTORS WHO HAD HELPED YOU IN YOUR CHRISTIAN JOURNEY. HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCED YOU? I thank God for my parents and how God has used them in my life as a positive influence. I have been a part of six RCCG parishes to date and I have had the opportunity to learn from various leaders over the time.

However one of the biggest impact will be here; I have learnt a lot from Pastor Samuel Obafaiye especially about consistency in service, humility, love, patience and long suffering. I was 21 when I joined the church and I am 33 now. I have also learnt that it is not by how loud you are; if God is with you, it is evident.

HOW CAN WE EVANGELISE THE YOUNG MEMBERS OF A SOCIETY WHERE CHRISTIANITY IS GRADUALLY BECOMING SECOND RATED AS A RELIGION? I think we should not be discouraged, however, we need to be aware that there is a big and growing local church movement in the UK who continue to grow with predominantly young and native UK congregation.

The positive efforts of these churches should be recognised and emulated. They have been successful in striping out tradition and cultural practices from worship; and what this creates is a church environment that every or any believer can identify with; regardless of their background.

We also need to appreciate that we are in a very digital age and this is

God Is With You only going to continue so we should be bold about change and embrace the digital age more. The digital space is where our young people “live” now and we need to positively affect that space. I think churches can work more collaboratively in engaging with young people. The message of the gospel is one message and change of approach does not mean change of message. When Jesus communicated and engaged people, He used a style that they could understand, relate to and engage with.

Finally, I believe every church has its own unique assignment in the bigger picture; it is important we are fulling our purpose, that's the most important thing.

The Joy Of Being Faithful

By Afolakemi Akin-OMISAKIN It is a journey … a lonely road … with thorns and persecutions …not many thread this path (2 Thess. 3:2-3) Stephen (Acts 6&7), Daniel (Daniel 5&6), Elijah (1King 19:2-4), and Abraham (Gen. 22:1) can testify of this.

It is a virtue, … it humbles you … it can only be achieved by spiritual power, for many will struggle to journey (1King 19; Num. 12:7, Daniel 3:16-28; Luke 1:20) … it requires prayer (Jude 1:20) It is a learning curve, … you have to be patient … the results are not necessarily spontaneous Abraham had to wait for his change and Hannah had to pray earnestly (Gen 18, 1 Samuel 1).

Daniel had to summon the courage to go in the Lion’s den; Elijah had to trust in the power of God even when the Queen of the land threatened.

Also, Shedrach, Meschach and Abednego learnt that God never leaves us not even in our time of distress (1Kings 19, Daniel 6, Daniel 3:16-28) The joy of being faithful…

It lies in the experience acquired; … they form the story we tell … the lesson we teach It lies in the testimony; … it glorifies God … it encourages another It lies in the increased faith; … it helps to increase tenacity … to believe in the God in you …you learn to hear Him and believe His word for you.

The joy of being faithful is to understand the breadth, length, depth and width of God’s love. It is all encompassing (Eph. 3:17-19).

The joy of being faithful is to be fulfilled (2Tim.4:6-8). It is worth the journey (Heb. 11:5; Gen 5:24).

TAKE IT AND BECOME… (Matt. 11:29-30) Sister Afolakemi is a member of the Women Fellowship

Parents should not underestimate what their young people know and can do. We need to use their energy in the right way before other agendas get hold of our young people. We need to get feedback from them and involve them in as many aspects of the church as possible.

WHAT WILL BE YOUR NUMBER ONE ADVICE TO A YOUNG CHRISTIAN? Focus on Jesus as the only standard. Read and get solid understanding of the word of God and pray. Fellowship and serve. Understand that you are dealing with fellow human beings and we all have areas of development so don't give any room for offense; it stifles growth.

YOU ARE A PIONEER MEMBER OF THE RCCG EFA LEEDS. CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH THE EARLY YEARS AND WHAT HAS KEPT YOU GROUNDED IN THE PARISH? There is always an opportunity to serve in the house of God. I can remember us being 6 adults 4 children if not less and as a church over the years God has always demonstrated to us that He is with us. I strongly believe that there much more great things that God will use EFA to do in the land of Leeds.

We have strong and wonderful Pastors in Pastor Sam and Pastor Anthonia and I really thank God that as a young person new in Leeds this was my church. The grace of God keeps us all grounded. When you know why you are in church everything else rearranges itself.

WHAT ARE YOUR DRIVES IN LIFE? WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? Adding value to people and things. To know that you leave things better than you met it; be it people, work, whatever.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE READING AND WHY ?

I believe that it is very important to keep growing and I like personal development books and audios. I prefer audio books; I read topics that I don't know enough about especially when I really need or want to know. I tend to not read any fiction or novels; I guess I prefer movies they get to the point quicker.

WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? WE KNOW YOU ARE STARTING A NEW CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE. Yes, we are relocating or by the time of publication we would have relocated. We have been praying that we settle in the church that God has prepared for us. We pray we will have an opportunity to continue to serve.

I want to use this opportunity to encourage everyone to continue the great work and to continue to grow. We also want to thank the leadership of the church and the whole church for the love that we have been shown. We love you and we will see you soon.

We like to seize this opportunity to wish Deacon Oluwatobiloba AKINTOKUN all the best in his future endeavours.

Interview conducted by Morak Babajide-Alabi

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YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE TEEN’S MINISTRY FOR A WHILE. HOW DO YOU THINK THEY CAN BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE CHURCH? By the grace of God we are getting better, we have some amazing teachers in the dept and I would encourage anyone with a teenager at home to actively help them become a part of the group. The teens can reach parts of the community the church cannot naturally reach.

The 2018 RCCG EFA Leeds Marriage Enhancement Workshop was held on Saturday, December 16th, 2017.

It featured discussions on Building A Loving + Lasting Marriage, Infusing Love & Romance in Marriage, Sex Enjoyment in Marriage, Maximising The Changing Seasons of Marriage and Heart To Heart Questions & Answers.

Speakers: Pastor Eddie and Bola Iduoze, Senior Pastors, Gateway Chapel, London.

The 2018 RCCG EFA LEEDS SPORTS DAY

May God Multiply His Grace Upon You Continued from Page 11 7) Another means of multiplied Grace and peace is through our study of the word of God It is interesting that Paul begins every letter with some form of ‘Grace be to you’ and ends every letter with some form of ‘Grace be with you. To you at the beginning and with you at the end.

My understanding of this statement is that, at the beginning of reading and studying the word of God, the Grace and peace of God will come to us and at the end we see ourselves leaving having had an encounter with the Living word of God, we become hearers and doers of the word of God and as we relate with people around us we are able to add value to their lives by impacting unto them what we have learnt in the place of studying to show ourselves approved to God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

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Conclusion: God always has more Grace and more peace for us to experience. He has appointed that we experience it, ‘in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ’.

He has inspired Scriptures to bring us this multiplied Grace and peace.

The 2018 RCCG EFA Leeds Sports Day was held on June 9, 2018 at Thomas Danby Sports Ground, Leeds

Therefore, to experience these overflowing increases of Grace and peace in our lives, we need to give ourselves to the Law of Liberty which is spirit and life and as we listen and obey God’s word, let us also give ourselves to prayer, for prayer is the Master key that can open doors of solutions to challenges of life and Divine opportunities to us The sermon was delivered on November 12, 2017

TEENS

4 Reasons to Remember Your Creator in Your Youth O

UR enemy says, “Youth for pleasure, middle age for business, old age for religion.” The Bible says, “Youth, middle age, and old age for your Creator.”

But as it’s especially in our youth that we are most inclined (determined?) to forget our Creator, it’s especially in these years that we must work to remember our Creator (Ecc.12:1).

Remember that He made you, that He provides for you, that He cares for you, that He watches you, that He controls you; and remember that He can save you too. That’s a lot to remember, but it’s much easier to start memorizing when we are young!

1. ENERGETIC YEARS However, that’s not the only reason why God commands us to remember our Creator in our young years. It’s also because these are our most energetic years.

Why wait until we are pegging out, until we are running down, until our gas is almost empty, before serving our Creator? The God who made us deserves our most active and healthy years: our bodies are strong and muscular (well kind of), our minds are sharp and clear, our senses are receptive and keen and sensitive, our enthusiasm is bright and bushy, our wills are steely and determined. Remember Him in your energetic years.

2. SENSITIVE YEARS Why do far more of us become Christians in our youth than in our middle or old age? It’s because youthful years are sensitive years.

Without giving up our belief in “Total Depravity” we can say that it’s “easier” to believe and repent when we are younger. It’s never easy, but it’s easier. And it’s easier because as we get older our heart is hardened thicker, our conscience is seared number, our sins root deeper, our deadness becomes deader.

Let’s use our youthful sensitivity and receptivity to remember our Creator before the evil days of callous indifference set in.

3. TEACHABLE YEARS We learn more in our youth than in any other period of life. That’s

By David Murray

true in all subjects, but especially true in religious instruction. All the Christians I’ve met who were converted to Christ late in life have expressed huge regrets about how little they know and how little they can now learn. I encourage them to value and use whatever time the Lord gives them, but they often feel they have to study twice as hard to learn half as well.

4. DANGEROUS YEARS Young years are minefield years: hormones, peer pressure, alcohol, drugs, pornography, immorality, testosterone, etc. Few navigate these years without blowing up here and there. Dangers abound on every side – and on the inside. How many “first” temptations become “last” temptations! How much we need our Creator to keep us and carry us through this battlefield.

Remember to remember Let me then give you some helps to remember your Creator during these best of years (and “worst” of years): Be persuaded that you have a Creator: Get well grounded in a literal understanding of Genesis 1-2 and shun all evolutionary influences.

Get to know your Creator: Study His Word using sermons, commentaries, and good books. But also study His World using microscopes and telescopes and any other instruments He gives.

Join with your Creator’s friends: Build friendships with other creatures that love to remember and respect their Creator.

Follow your Creator’s order: He set and gave the pattern of six days work followed by one day of rest for contemplation of His Works.

Ask for your Creator’s salvation: Even if your rejection of your Creator has broken you in pieces, He’s willing to re-create you in His image.

And while we’re on the subject of salvation, I don’t want elderly readers to be discouraged. Compared to the aeons of eternity, you are still in your “youth.”

It’s not too late to remember Him, before these evil days come even nearer.

Culled from Ligonier Ministries h t t p s : / / w w w. l i g o n i e r. o rg / b l o g / 4 reasons-remember-your-creator-youryouth/

Where Is The Lord God Of Our Fathers?

Him; or when we argue and rebel against His will. When Jesus was on the cross, He asked His Father why He was forsaken. His Father would have told Him, He could not behold iniquity.

So it’s okay to ask God the father, the why, where, what and when, as long as it is from a sincere heart and made in a humble manner. While many times we are asking God why and what; God is already counting on us to save the day. Gideon had been prepared. God was about to showcase Gideon as an extraordinary being in history, meanwhile, he was still seeing himself as a deprived, poor and insignificant fellow in Israel.

what God saw in him, and asked him to proceed with.

– The mighty man of valour. He was just a farmer… – Proceed with this thy might. In what sense?

Gideon would have looked around and asked. Who is that? Which might are we talking about? When the angel said “Thou mighty man of valour”, the likes of Joshua and Caleb would have come to Gideon’s mind. But he didn’t see himself as one. He didn’t think he had the zeal, courage and strength to deliver Israel. But God saw that it in him.

You may think that God is not aware of your situation, but He does. He already has a plan worked out for you. While Gideon was still thinking of how they would escape from the host of Midian; God already knew that it would be 300 unarmed men that would do the deliverance job.

Some of the factors that can aid God’s supernatural intervention are - living in right standing with God. The Israelites had to repent, willingness to obey His instructions regardless of the prevailing circumstances, be humble, by not relying on one’s strength. Ack your inadequacies before God. We must also seek to become intimate with Him.

It must be shocking to Gideon that what he thought he did not have is

The sermon was delivered on April 29, 2018.

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Continued from Page 14

I

By Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

TRIED to use simpler tenses to drive home the point rather than using the original version of "though it tarries, wait for it, it will not tarry.â&#x20AC;?

There is one popular proverb that says "there is no time one sews a dress and won't find an occasion to wear it to". This proverb is usually used when one is getting anxious about having something before a particular occasion. The proverb says that one's priority is to be patient and have the particular thing first; and once you have it, there will certainly be more occasions to use it. (Eccl 3:1 ).

For every occurrence under heaven, God has put their seasons in place. They run according to a set pattern, so that their cycle and timings cannot fail (Earth rotation, earth revolution, gestation periods, etc).

For every purpose of God under heaven, there is also a stipulated time. This is what we call appointed time, set time or fullness of time.

For example, in Gen 3:15, God declared that the war of supremacy between the Serpent (Devil) and Man was not over. That while the Serpent will bruise the heel of the Seed of the Woman; the Seed of the Woman will in turn crush the Serpent's head.

Genesis 3:15 - And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The set time for that prophecy was to be about 4,000 years later.

Galatians 4:4 - But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Likewise, also the purpose(s) of God upon the life of an individual has set times, or appointed times in which they must occur.

I have come to understand that in the life of human beings, there are three types of time- they are Desired Time; Appointed Time & Occurrence Time. The destiny of Moses is an example. God already told Abram that his descendant would serve a foreign nation for 400 years, after which He would bring them out with great riches (Gen. 15:13-14).

Moses was born 50 years to the end of the 400 years of servitude.

When He was 40 years, his Desired Time to free Israel came (possibly because he felt he has come of age, as that was the age of the spies he later sent to view Canaan). But alas, it was short of 10 years of the set time. Moses ran away for the next 40 years, pushing the Occurrence Time 30 years beyond the original Set Time (Ex. 7:7; 12:40-41).

These three times may collide and happen at once. At this point one may say "I said it or I knew it". However, it is not because you said it, or knew it, it is because God allowed it. Sometimes the desired time and the appointed time conflict. One has to exercise patience at such times, as excessive Desired Time can nullify the appointed time; so that there may not be an occurrence time (e.g. Gehazi; Achan; Judas).

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Eccles 8:6 - Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. Because there is an appointed time by God, and Man has his own desired time; frustration and anxiety may set in when desired time has elapsed or about to elapse; whereas the appointed time has not come.

Our God is however merciful, He can still overlook our errors.

If we make amends He can bring another opportunity for a further appointed time (Abraham for Isaac, after mistake of having Ishmeal).

Habakkuk 2:2-3 - And the Lord answered me, and said, Write

the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

teaching

Though It Takes Time, Wait For It This is an answer God gave Habakuk as he questions God's judgement as touching good and evil. His complaint was in chapter 1:1-4. He became frustrated the more as God even kept quiet regarding his complain and murmuring.

Habakkuk 1:1-4 - The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

It was when he became sober and exercised patience in Chapter 2:1, that God began to explain to him. Habakkuk 2:1 - I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

God told him that there is an appointed time for everything. Because a wicked man prospers does not mean he is upright. Judgement may tarry, we must wait for it, as it will surely come, it will not be late. But the just shall live by their faith.

We need to understand that there is an appointed time for that vision. For the vision to speak and not lie, you must wait for it. It may delay, but please wait. It will surely come to pass.

The bible makes us to understand that God loved Naaman the Syrian, an appointed method and time was set to heal him of his leprosy. He finally made it to Elisha's house and was asked to go and dip himself in Jordan River seven times and his healing would occur.

Unfortunately, that was not the desired method that Naaman had in mind. He thought Elisha would come out, lay hands on him and the leprosy would disappear. Even though this is what God can do, but that was not the specified appointed format from heaven for him.

Thank God for his servants who kept urging him to comply, so that he was able to complete his requirements for his appointed time to occur.

One of the most painful things to bear for man is waiting time. We don't want to wait long. Our God hates impatience. Neither does He want us to be impatient; because He Himself is a patient Being, Continued on Page 23

WORKERS APPRECIATION MOTHER’S DAY 2018

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FATHER’S DAY 2018

January 2018 - The Remaking of Destinies

monthly themes - Jan - april

D

D

ESTINY can be defined as “The events that will necessarily happen to a particular thing in the future; the force which is outside human control that determines what happens in the future; the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible course of events. Most people believe in the concept of destiny; that whatever happened to a man in life (especially having done their best possible), must be their destiny.

In John 9:1-7, while Jesus and His disciples were passing, they saw a man that was born blind; the disciples were interested to know whether it was the sin of the man’s parents that caused his predicament, or the man himself had sinned from his mother’s womb!

Jesus told them neither was the case, but for the works of God to be made manifest in the life of the man; in other words, it was his destiny.

Jesus went ahead to re-make what has been created before, such that man’s life was re-made into an amazing destiny.

Even though, destinies are said to be inevitable; our God specialises in the remaking of destinies; He can turn what has been programmed to be bad into good; He can also improve upon what is already good to become better.

Peter and Andrew; James and John were born into the fishing industry. They have been working with their fathers (Jonah and Zebedde) for years. They were family businesses which they needed to pass on to their own descendants. They ought to die as fishermen. However, when Jesus met them, their destinies were re-made from fishers of fishes to fishers of men (Mt. 4:18-22).

In this month of January, which is the beginning of this year, I have a witness in my spirit that God will visit many destinies in our midst. He will re-make, re-shape and re-mould certain destinies. The course of events for such destinies will change sharply, and it shall be for better in Jesus name. Amen!

February 2018 - Prepare For The Great Draught

RAUGHT can be defined as the drawing in of a fishing net; the fish taken at one drawing; a catch. It can also be an act of moving a load by drawing or pulling. Great on the other hand can be defined as something that is unusually or comparatively large in size or dimension; large in number or numerous. Great draught, therefore, is the pulling in of a large catch.

It is very tasking to move load by pulling or drawing, especially if the load is great or large. Necessary preparation for such object moving is needful.

It may be that one will need to train their muscles; acquire necessary skills or knowledge on moving and handling; purchase durable apparatus for such task; form partnership and cooperation with those who will be helpful; or obtain endurance training.

In Luke 5: 1-11, Peter experienced a great draught in his profession as a fisherman. Though he had toiled the night before and caught nothing; Jesus asked him to launch into the deep for a draught and he obeyed. What he caught was a huge load of fishes that was too much for him and his brother to draw.

Their net could not withstand the draught; their boat too small for the load; their muscle too weak to pull; their skill and knowledge inadequate.

They could not endure the pressure anymore, they had to shout to nearby fishermen for help.

God says a great draught is coming our way this year. He is, therefore, giving us an alert to get prepared, increase our capacity, and obtain necessary skills and tools that will be helpful before the draught is at our doorstep. May God enables us in Jesus name. Amen!

March 2018 - Divine Help Made Available

H

ELP can be defined as “To give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; render assistance to; cooperate effectively with; aid; assist. It can also mean “To save; rescue or succour”. When these come from God, it is termed as Divine help. I have come to accept the fact that all humans need help in one way or another in life. Also, those people who usually say, “I don’t need the help of any of anybody”, are usually those who need help the most.

The race of life in which we are is very challenging; the fact that no one is sincerely certain of their tomorrow makes the race even more daunting.

While it is good and necessary to be hardworking, diligent, studious, etc., the truth is, human efforts are limited. It is only God that is limitless in power, reach, knowledge, etc. He has also promised that He will always help His children and that He will never leave nor forsake us.

In Neh. 1:1-11, news came to Nehemiah about the bad state of Jerusalem and the agony of those living in the city. He was so sad and troubled, but he was at the same time helpless. All he could do was to mourn, fast and pray, that God would grant him favour before King Artaxerxes. God made help available to him as per his request: God arrested the attention of the king; melt his heart towards Nehemiah; grant Nehemiah the permission to leave his duty post in the palace; allowed him to travel to Jerusalem; command that security and material provision be made available to him for the project; and also kept his position in the palace intact for him at his return (Neh. 2:1-11).

HOUSE FELLOWSHIP CENTRES

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April 2018 - Expectations of The Father’s Promises

E

XPECTANT can be defined as “Expecting; anticipating or hopeful”. It can also mean “Having expectations especially of possession of something or prosperity”. Promise, on the other hand, can be defined as “A declaration that one will or refrain from doing something specified”. It can also mean “Something that is promised”.

In this day and age where life is so complex and people are so unpredictable; it is very difficult to hold unto most promises. Anyone can give their word today, and tomorrow renege on what they have said. I would think that one the strongest expectation of promise is that which exists between a child and his/her parent. Every child believes that whatever his/her parent says; they will do it. Most parent will strive to provide whatever they have promised their child, no matter what it takes. We, however, have Someone who can do beyond all that we can ask or imagine (Ephes. 3: 20). He is called “The Everlasting Father”.

As Jesus was rounding up His assignment on Earth; He charged and later reminded His apostles to wait for the Father’s promise before they commence their own assignment (Lk. 24: 49; Acts 1: 4-5). What was this promise? The Father had promised long before that a time would come when His Spirit will not just come upon man temporarily; but will permanently reside in man (Joel 2: 28-29); and that as a result of this, man will be able to do amazing things.

When the apostles did what Christ had said; to their amazement, the Father’s promise was delivered to them and they became extraordinary vessels in God’s hands (Acts 2: 1-4).

In this month of April, I am persuaded by the Spirit of God that certain promises the Everlasting Father Himself has made to us as a group and as individuals will be delivered. I, therefore, charge us to allow our expectation regarding such promises to be very high; and also be very hopeful and eager to receive them. Our expectation shall not be cut off nor denied in Jesus name. Amen!

I

By Danny Morph

ONCE met a righteous man who had a great plan He said I can be righteous if I obeyed the 10 commandments. I believed in the statement and made a conscious commitment, To walk and follow in his footsteps But Step by step I took a back-step; Back to ways I had decided to leave behind Because it felt like I could not understand How a man can make so many sacrifices to remain upright.

And it seemed like I was right Because even the righteous man Tried so hard and did not achieve this great plan.

He tried to abstain from sin and take a great stand But still did not enter the promise land.

I read of another righteous man who was strong and kind.

A great king, good poet, lover of God and loved by humankind.

He enunciated in the first chapter of his psalms The criteria of a good man who can outlive sinful times.

As I grew older and changed climes, I realised the lines between the scornful and faithful were blurring Because I chose to seek pleasures and avoid long-suffering.

To do business with the scornful; Yet remain faithful and truthful But the scales kept tilting because I could not serve God and Mormon And even the righteous man could not fathom How to serve God beyond the pressure of bodily pleasures; How to avoid the sinful desires his flesh treasures He was a good man and never lost a battle But guilty pleasures lost him the chance to build God’s temple I have often asked myself if I am a good man and pondered whether Does going to church and paying my tithes make me better?

Does creating a balance between telling the truth and being politically correct, While the world fades into oblivion of substantial immorality with a plethora of social defects, Make me a blessing or a curse to this world?

Or does reading the scriptures, learning all the quotations in the Word, Preaching and speaking them; yet hardly practicing what I teach Because I intend to create more outreaches and extend my fortuitous reach; Does that not make me a hypocrite or a symbiotic believer like a blood leech?

Tracing the lives of Moses and David who left great legacies But still fell short of being the best references Of what a righteous person should be, I began a journey to seek another who could help me.

Thus, I found a righteous man who was the greatest being I had ever met.

Whose love for us sealed His kismet, On the cross to preserve our souls’ tenderness And make us aware that the narrow street to righteousness Is by loving people selflessly; Abolish selfish desires and try to do what is right earnestly And remember that He chose us to be the light when darkness looms To set the true standard of purity when sin roams; Ensure we preserve hope when fear blooms And to first seek and love God because other good things are inevitable.

We may never be perfect or ineffably unscrupulous But we can try to be righteous with God’s love guiding us And if we can truly shed our sinful nature by the grace of Jesus We are one step towards fulfilling the plan Of being righteous humans.

Continued from Page 20 though He has the power to do and undo anything at any given time. Ezekiel 18:23, 2 Peter 3:9. Matthew 13:2430.

God made a statement that is hard to swallow about a set of twin brothers. Esau have I hated, Jacob have I loved, even when they were yet to be born! This was borne out of the fact that Esau was a profane person (he treated a sacred opportunity with abuse and disdain), this was due to his impatient character. He thought he would die before his meal would be ready. What a loss he suffered!

One of the ways whereby God tests our faith is through patience in waiting. Temptations test our obedience; trials of patience test our faith and trust in God. Such that we cannot claim we are just, if our faith collapse through impatience.

Joseph was shown by God that he would be a leader in the future. He was tempted by Potiphar's wife; he had to wait 13 years for his appointed time, though it tarried, it wasn't late.

David was anointed as a replacement king for Saul over Israel. He was tempted to kill Saul; he had to wait 13 years to reign over Judah and another 7 years to reign over the whole of Israel. It took time, but it wasn't late.

Abraham was chosen by God to start a godly race. He travelled thousands of miles through the desert to live as a sojourner in tents in a land that he was promised to inherit. He was tempted by his wife; he had to wait 25 years for the promised child. The promise tarried, yet it came to pass.

Moses was born to be a deliverer of the children of Israel; he was tempted by his passion and he had to wait 40 years for his appointed time to come again. It was a long wait, the promise came to pass.

If waiting time is not handled properly, it can lead to something bad. It can degenerate to - Anxiety/Worry the Israelites at Red Sea, if Moses did not say "Wait & see..." They would have drown.

- Doubt/Unbelief - Abram, almost derailed the plan of God for his life twice, with Abimelech king of Gerar and Hagar the housemaid.

- Fear - Saul making sacrifice, Elijah escaping from Jezebel.

As humans, we are very time conscious, even though we can't make everything happen the time we want them.

God however is not just timely but also timeless.

He does things on time; yet He is not bound by time. What we can only do is written in Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

As this year advances; is there anything God has promised you that is yet to happen? Write the vision down. Make it plain in bold letters. Run with it. Though it delays, wait for it, it shall surely come to pass, it will not be late.

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FOCUS

A Righteous Man

Though It Takes Time, Wait For It

Imitators of God

By Sister Charity OHIA

T

O imitate someone means to have someone as a role model. It also is synonymous with mimicking someone. As children of God, He expects us to mimic Him in all His ways.

It may seem impossible to mimic a being as perfect as God, so He sent His son Jesus to lead us on the path to follow. Jesus is the ultimate example of how God expects our lives to be. Hebrews 4:15-16 tells that we do not have a high priest who does not sympathise with our weakness but was at all points tempted yet He did not sin. God knows that we are humans and mimicking Him isn’t something that can be in human power.

The bible also encourages us in Philippians 3:3-4, that we (believers) are the true circumcision. Firstly, the word circumcision has to do with the cutting away of flesh.

We cannot be true imitators of God when we walk in the flesh because God is a spirit and the flesh and the spirit are in enmity according to the bible. Secondly, Phil 3:3-4 also encourages us not to any confidence in the flesh. This is because the flesh will always fail. The Bible says woe to the man who puts his trust in another man. As imitators of God, we must only focus on God and Jesus. We do not come to church for any man, therefore, do not let any man distract you from your worship to God.

The ultimate goal of imitating God is to be like Him because He is our father and we have been adopted in His royal family and we must strive to live in a way that will please and uphold His family name. we are also the light of the world so must let our lights shine that all men will our good works and give glory to our father in the heaven One example of imitating Christ is learning to forgive those who offend us just as God has forgiven us our sins.

Jesus, while on earth, studied and knew the word for himself. We cannot imitate a God that we do not know and there is no other way to know God except through His word. The bible says that we must study to show ourselves approved. We have to search the scriptures and get to know the mind of God as individuals. Jesus defeated the devil with the word of God. We need the word of God to be overcomers on earth.

Jesus was humble did not have a defeated mindset. The bible says ‘LET this mind which was in Christ Jesus be in you’. Jesus did not judge anyone and so we must not.

A sermon delivered on May 20, 2018, on the occasion of the Special Youth Service. Sister Charity is a member of the Eternal Worshippers.

May 2018 - The Signs For The Father’s Promises

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sign can be described as an object, quality or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. It can also be said to be a gesture or action used to convey information or instruction. The promises of God are sure and His words abide forever. Whatever He says must surely come to pass. God, however, understands that when He makes promises to us His children, being mortals as we are, we tend to seek signs from Him in order to authenticate those promises and also to receive the conviction that they will happen (I Cor. 1:22).

Such that throughout the scripture, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see how God gave signs to His children, indicating that the promises He had made to them will certainly come to pass (John 3:14-15).

In I Kings 18:1, God asked Prophet Elijah to go and show himself to King Ahab and that afterwards He will send rain upon the earth. The word of God had gone into the supernatural to effect what He has said, and it could not have returned to Him unaccomplished. But after Elijah had shown himself to Ahab, it did not appear yet that rain would fall. So Elijah began to inquire from the Almighty again. For Elijah to be convinced that the promised rain was about to begin, God had to show him a sign (I Kings 18:44).

MAY - JUNE 2018

MONTHLY THEMES

2 Corinthians 3:18 also informs that being an imitator of God is a

continuous process because we are transformed (to God’s image) from glory to glory. So as Christians we should strive for more in Christ. We never get comfortable in our current level with God. Truth is, in God, there is always the next level.

God had impressed it upon my spirit that there are some promises He had made to us that are still pending; He says these are still in the making and that He has not forgotten. But for us to be convinced that those promises are definitely going to happen; He will give us certain signs we will be able to relate to. It is my prayer that we will be more expectant; be able to recognise such signs; and that we will be eventual partaker of those promises in Jesus name. Amen!

June 2018 - Tarry Until Endued With Power From Above

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ARRY could mean “Remain or stay as in a place; sojourn. To wait for or await”. Endue could mean to invest or endow with some gifts, quality or faculty. To put on; assume; to clothe. Power can be defined as “Ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something”. Above can be defined as “On high; in heaven; heavenward”.

Therefore, to tarry until one is endued with power from above would mean “To remain or stay as in one place and delay any action, as well as avoid all distractions until one is endowed with necessary ability from heaven to carry out their supposed assignment or intended exercise”.

In Luke 10:1-20, Jesus appointed 72 disciples and gave them the power to perform great signs and wonders and afterwards sent them out in twos.

The bible says the 72 returned with joy as demons were subject to them. Jesus further testified that He saw Satan fell from the sky as lightning as the 72 carried out their assignment.

Later, when Jesus was departing the Earth physically; He enjoined His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from above (Luke 24:49-51). Even though Jesus had empowered them before; He promised them this power from the Holy Spirit because of greater assignments awaiting them. The disciples did as Jesus has said, and in ten days after Jesus departure, the promised power came.

God has bestowed certain powers on us before which has helped us in life and ministry thus far; I hear that greater assignments now awaits us in the future, and so we must tarry clothed and fully equipped with power from Him. It is my prayer that the required power will be bestowed on us and that we will eventually be joyful as our assignments will be adequately executed. May the Lord God commends our deeds and testifies to our success in Jesus name. Amen!