Reflection of Sermon by Rev Chris Ogungbemi on the Occasion of Wedding Ceremony of Mr & Mrs Obafemi Brooks Balogun

Topic: Biblical Principles for the Christian Home

Text: Genesis 2:18-25

A. The Power of Corruption

Biblical standards for marriage is going down and corrupted, being replaced by worldly culture and norms.

The Lord spoke to the speaker if he knew the power of corruption. The power of corruption is not that it eliminates the truth but suppresses it so that although it is there, it is not glowing and radiating in it's glory nor reflect it's full intensity or capacity.

B. Misrepresentation of Biblical Principles of Marriage

1. It is beyond wearing of uniform by couple

2. It is beyond bathing or eating together as often recommended.

3. It is beyond providing for the family

These things though they are good and important but must not be misrepresented to mean the basis of Biblical principles for a Christian home.

C. Biblical principles for Christian home

There are seven Biblical principles for a Christian home:

1. Principle of companionship and fellowship. It is a problem to be in marriage yet still be alone.

2. Principle of reception. How did you receive your spouse? Self made or God made!

3. Principle of care. God handed the woman to the man to care and nurture as a trust.

4. Principle of singularity. God made one man and a woman. Polygamy is a curse.

5. Principle of cleaving. The man must cleave to his wife because they are now one flesh.

6. Principle of transparency. This is a very necessary ingredient in Christian marriage especially as regards finance.

7. Principle of permanence. God hates divorce and He views it as violence Mal. 2:15-16.

© Purpose Media Publications, 2020

Reflection on Sermon by Rev C. O. Ogungbemi on the Occasion of Burial Service of Rev J. K. Balogun

Rev C. O. Ogungbemi shared the testimony about the deceased and the good that he and his family has received from the deceased.
Lesson: We will all be remembered by what we have done either alive or dead. What memories are we going to leave behind in the hearts ❤️ of others?
He further shared how he would have fallen into great trouble if not for the deceased intervention (details withheld).
Lesson: One might think when passing through a challenge that his or hers is the toughest but at such low times, it is not time to mourn and grief alone. If one hears that of others, the reality would be that his/hers is just a tip of the iceberg of what others had gone through. This Scripture comes alive that no temptation befalls us which is not common to man. Having a shoulder to lean on would lessen the hurt and free one from bitterness and heaviness of heart while loneliness at low times can build resentment and frustration especially when hurt by those who ought to love and be trusted.
The text was from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Salvation is a free gift of God through Christ Jesus but there is also a warning that there has to be carefulness how one builds. There are those who build with gold, silver or precious stones. Some others also build with wood, straw and hay. He stressed:
1. God would never accept any service less than qualitative. God has a standard and He never fall short of His standard. He doesn’t delight in service that is coerced.
2. Any qualitative service that is done with unbiblical practices cannot be accepted.
He affirmed that among many other things, one thing that deprives a believer of his/her reward, that makes the service in vain is an unforgiving spirit or attitude. He demonstrated with a sachet of pure water and asked that it be punctured a little. The sachet was taken outside to leak out as a demonstration of how one can lose the reward if a leakage is permitted in one’s life through unforgiving disposition.
He illustrated with the story of Joseph the depth of forgiveness. The brothers of Joseph were angry with him for these reasons:
1. He brought evil report of their deeds in the wilderness to their father.
2. He was loved by his father above his brethren.
3. He shared his dreams with his brethren.
In all of these Joseph was innocent but his brothers moved and provoked by envy decided to hurt him.
Nevertheless, his reaction was beyond the ordinary in Gen. 45 and 50. He completely forgave his brethren.
A notable quote given by Rev C. O. Ogungbemi was that we can hold on to an unforgiving heart as an earthly right but makes one to lose hold or grip of the heavenly right. Jesus taught that if we are to bring our offering to the altar but there remember that we have an offence against someone, we should drop the offering and make peace first before offering our gift.
It is a fact that one is hurt but the greater iniquity is to respond by being unforgiving. He also said that those who bear with an unforgiving attitude are at risk of labouring in vain and missing out. They are like the leaking sachet of water. In less than 20 minutes of the sermon, when he ordered that the water be brought, it was almost empty. He raised a call to rededication and…
Then we prayed…

Oladele, Sola

© Purpose Media Publications, 2020

Holiness

 Holiness

It must not be forgotten that God alone is holy, He is "separated, distinct and high above" all of His creation. We on the other hand are sinful, full of filth, rotten, polluted and depraved. It is as we come to Christ in faith that we become holy, because we now partake of His holy nature by impartation. We are holy because He "ekklesia" called, separated and set us apart for His own purpose and to the praise of His glory. We are holy, and accepted in the beloved because we are in Him (Christ), we bear the image of Christ and when He sees and beholds us, He sees the righteousness imputed by Christ in us and He is pleased. We are not holy and acceptable before Him by works, it is by faith alone in the living Son of God. Joshua the High Priest standing before the presence of God and Satan was there to accuse him. That is exactly our state before Christ, dressed in filthy garments. Isaiah says even the best of our moral righteousness is just like a filthy rag before Him. Although Satan was there to accuse, it was the Lord Himself who rebuked Satan on behalf of Joshua for Joshua had no moral right or obligation to do so. It was the Lord that also commanded that the filthy garments be removed and replaced with clean garments, the garments of righteousness, of His holy nature. Joshua never had to do anything, it was a product of grace. This is the story of salvation.

When we are positionally placed as holy in the presence of God and His holy angels, this consciousness begins to guide our thoughts and actions. Now, knowing who we are in Christ Jesus, it reflects in our character, relationships and moral dispositions. It makes us to want to live our lives daily in sanctification. Sanctification means to hallow, honour someone with something. We honour God with our lives and bodies. This is referred to our practical holiness. Romans 12:1 says we should present our bodies unto God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, for this is our reasonable service. When we present or offer something, it is actively doing something, nevertheless, on the other hand, it is actively passive, for what is the labour in being offered than to be yielded. It is not we offering our bodies to God, it is Christ offering our bodies. We cannot be the offerer and the offering at the same time. It was only Christ who offered His body and was also the offering. Practically it means our bodies must be offered, like a burnt sacrifice by whom? By Christ through His Spirit that dwells in us. What Romans 12:1 then implies is that we should live our lives always acknowledging that our bodies now belong to God and we do not have possession of it any longer. In the light of that, whatever needs to be done with the body needs to be those things that does glorify and bring praise to God. It is a response to what God has made us in Christ Jesus. This is our holiness, it comes by our association and affiliation with and to Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. Any holiness that doesn't emanate from this is just a moralistic fanatism.

Oladele Sola

Purpose Media Publications, 2020

Another Letter to My Pastor

Reflection from ECWA Egbe DCC Men Fellowship

Another Letter to My Pastor 3

My dear pastor,

Good day to you my beloved pastor. I bring you greetings in the name of the Lord. How is the work of the ministry going. I believe God is helping you surmount and overcome the challenges of the ministry. This is the third time I am writing to you concerning my reflections from ECWA Egbe DCC Men Fellowship sermon by Rev. Chris Ogungbemi on the 18th July, 2020.

In this letter, I will be writing to you on the three declarations made to Zerubbabel and the challenge that the message has for the church.

1. This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, "Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord."

2. Who art thou, o great mountain before Zerubbabel? You shall become a plain.

3. The hand of Zerubbabel has begun the work and he shall complete it.

The Spirit of the Lord empowers us for service to build the temple, the people of God, the church of the living God. This cannot be done by human might or ability because Christ alone is capable of building His church 

There has always been great opposition and persecution to the work of rebuilding the temple. It has to be done amidst stiff opposition and persecution. Zerubbabel also experienced this, therefore you are not alone in this. However, Jesus has promised that on this rock He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The gospel since it's inception in the Apostolic age had suffered stiff persecution, nevertheless, the more that persecution arises against the gospel, the more it spread. We are in the Perilious times. There is opposition both within and without. Opposition arises from false religion and false teachings or gospel. Yes, you can face stiff opposition from members of your church and those outside. That is because Satan will sponsor all his arsenals, that is very true but he is a defeated foe. Irrespective of whatever challenges you may face at your duty post, you are to be assured that you are on the victor's side.

When you are also afraid if you will finish strong, you can lean on the promises of God that He who started the good work in you will complete or perfect it. Temptations are every where that wants you to fall. Temptations will arise from various corners and dimensions, from the opposite sex, with money, fame, power and position. Nevertheless, be so confident that God never gives up on you. He watches you closely and would never let you fall. When He sends, He supports. When He says go, it is because the job is completed. Know that you are not alone. He is with you and no one can be against you. Since He is there with you, you are bound to finish strong and well. You are precious in His sight, that was why He elected you as His minister.

Finally, in this charge, Rev Ogungbemi gave pointers on recognizing a church that is void of the Spirit of God and run by the might of man.

1. Man worship will be the other of the day rather than sincere and genuine worship of God.

2. The church celebrates falsehood to truth. It means falsehood and false teachings will thrive in such an environment.

3. Money will take a centre stage in decision making and policies of the church rather than the Spirit of God.

4. The church will lack spiritual strength and vigor. There will be noise and activities, success according to world standards may even be recorded but there will be no true substance of spirituality.

Thank you and God bless you.

Your friend,

Oladele Sola

Another Letter to My Pastor

Reflection from ECWA Egbe DCC Men Fellowship

Another Letter to My Pastor

Dear pastor,

In my last letter I began to write to you about my reflections on the sermon preached by Rev. Chris Ogungbemi on the topic: Not by Might, nor by Power but by My Spirit, wherein I had just began with the introduction.

The sermon reflects that the prophetic words that came to Zerubbabel through the mouth of Zechariah was both comfort and constraint, an encouragement and also a warning to take heed. He had an assignment before him and that was to build the temple of the Lord. He needs to know that flesh and blood could not achieve that so he could rest and hope in God through His Spirit to accomplish the task.

The Lord will never rely or accept human effort or might in the building of His temple nor will He certify, attest and glorify whatever is done or accomplished through human effort/ might. We cannot build the church in our own strength and expect God to endorse or glorify it. 

Man definitely has might and through his might  he can accomplish and get lots of things done. Man can have financial, physical, economic, political, spiritual, psychological and charismatic might or strength at his disposal. Man can use the might to build empires, castles and palaces but definitely not the church. As regards the church, Jesus says, "On this rock, I (Jesus) will build My church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18. It is Jesus and He alone that has the capacity and ability to build His church because it is His. I believe that the members of your congregation are fully aware that the building is not the church but those who have been saved, redeemed and elected unto eternal life by the blood of Jesus and by putting their faith in His finished work on the cross by obedience to the gospel. 

The work of building the church is the work of regeneration and conversion that turns sinners into saints. This is not in the ability of anyone. God can appoint men to be co labourers with Him as Zerubbabel was to be a co labourers with God in the building of the temple. He has also chosen us to be co labourers with Him in the building of His church 1 Cor. 3:9, but we have to understand that we are not building in our might but empowered by the Spirit of God. 

God gave Moses the pattern of the Tabernacle on the mountain and informed him that He has appointed Bezaleel and Aholiab for the craftsmanship of the temple. Why? He has anointed them with His Spirit for that purpose. Bezaleel and Aholiab could not and would not work on any item of the Tabernacle if they had not been anointed and set apart by the Spirit for that purpose.

Ephesians 4:11-12 talks about Jesus giving gifts for the edification or building up of His church. He is the one that gives as gifts men He has empowered and anointed with His Spirit. 🙂 I'm happy to tell you that He has called and anointed you as a gift to His church. When you are at the stage of despair and your heart is weighed down, look yourself in the mirror and smile, say I'm privileged to be God's gift to the church. It's so comforting and heart warming to know that although we are not worthy, He called us to that noble privilege to be His voice and representatives to the church.

It has been stressed before that human might and ability cannot build the church, whatever is built in the arm of the flesh is not the church or kingdom but a social gathering, empire but definitely not the church. Do not also be deceived, the fact that it is built with human might does not mean it would not succeed as far as human estimate or evaluation is concerned. There can be "successful" ministries or empires built which in actual sense will have no spiritual significance. Those are works that Apostle Paul makes clear would be burnt on the day of judgment. The success of the ministry is not measured in earthly things: cathedrals, musical equipments, vehicles and other material evaluation but in the activity of the Holy Spirit in transforming sinners to saints. This, no matter how much money acquired cannot be purchased with money.

The Spirit of God works through the instrumentality of the gospel, the word of God. This is the "word of God" to Zerubbabel, not by power, not by might but by My Spirit says the Lord. Where the word of God is, the Spirit of God is present. It means a man who would be a co labourer with God in building the church of God must be thoroughly equipped by the word of God. Why, the word is the work of the Spirit. He breathed and inspired it. It is the tool of the Spirit. 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

Finally as I desire to close this epistle, believing I would still have the opportunity to write to you soon, my dear friend and pastor, especially on the examination of the three declarations to Zerubbabel and the challenge of the sermon, I want you to know that God's grace abound for you through His word to be a co labourer with God in the vineyard. Eph. 5:18-20; Col. 3:16. I always pray for you.

Your friend,

Oladele, Sola

Another Letter to My Pastor

Reflection from ECWA Egbe DCC Men Fellowship

Another Letter  to My Pastor

Dear pastor,

I am so glad to write to you again the second time. I was in a devotion with my Lord as we fellowshipped together in the ECWA Egbe DCC Men Fellowship seminar on the 18th of July, 2020 at 4th ECWA, Egbe. 

The Lord ministered to us through His servant, Rev. Chris Ogungbemi. He spoke on the topic: 

Not by Might nor by Power but by My Spirit and the text was taken from Zechariah 4:6-10. Although the devotion was communal, it was also personal. While the word was coming forth for the communal edification, it was a time of deep personal devotion as light flooded my heart on the subject matter as I have never had before now. I must confess that I have preached on the subject matter and have listened to sermons about it, but the light welled up so strongly that from it's abundance, I desire to share with you.

This is to tell that as a pastor, you must always be ready to learn, never to grow beyond being able to sit down and learn from others. This is a really great temptation for pastors. It is possible for us to even be in a program while our minds are absent or just analyzing for the pitfall. It has even grown so bad now that some would even be on their phones whenever they are not the ones on the pulpit.

God gave the Israelites the law of the Sabbath, that is, to free debtors in the seventh year, free slaves and leave the land to fallow. However, the land did not observe Sabbath for 490 years. That was why the land was in captivity for seventy years. After the captivity, God raised Cyrus to free the captives and commissioned them to build the temple. They returned about 50,000 men under the leadership of Zerubbabel, a descendant of David. They began rebuilding the temple with much zeal and obtained favour with God. They rebuilt the altars for daily sacrifices and soon commenced the foundation of the temple.

After the foundation of the temple was laid, opposition arose from the Samaritans that dwelt in the land. They were so vehement in their opposition using both internal and external means to oppose the work. From that point, the work began to dwindle and finally stopped for more than a century. God had to raise Prophet Haggai and Zechariah to encourage, comfort, strengthen and warn the people to rebuild the temple of the Lord. In the course of Zechariah's prophesy to strengthen Zerubbabel in the work of rebuilding, he told him it was not by might nor by power but by His Spirit says the Lord.

I will have to stop here so as not to bore you with an overtly long letter, but I hope to write another letter to you with my own hands.

Your dear friend

Oladele, Sola

Trust in God

Reflections from ECWA Chapel of Blessing Men Fellowship Meeting

Topic: Trust in God

Text: Prov. 3:5-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path Prov. 3:5.

Trust was defined as a firm believe in the reliability, truth and ability of someone or something.

For Christians, we know that the object of our believe and trust is God. He is the invisible God  but has made His acts known in creation and redemption. When we trust God, we depend on Him and put our confidence in Him for what He has achieved or accomplished on our behalf through redemption in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the centre of attraction of the believer's trust Psalm 18:10; Acts 4:12.

A firm or confident belief or believe is both absolute and consistent. It is absolute in the fact that it is complete and total. When we claim to trust in God, it is either complete, total, absolute or else nothing. Trust in God is all-sufficient. It takes one entire allegiance to God to do His will and live for Him. Moreso, when it is firm, it is consistent. It is not trusting God today, and tomorrow something else. It is all of life, all day long, every moment and every hour.

Trust is said to hinge on three things: 1. Reliability, 2. Truth and, 3. Ability

The reliability of God is revealed in His attributes and nature. Trusting God is an affirmation of His reliability, that is, that He is who He says He is. That is why there can be no trust in God outside the word of God because it is in His word He reveals His attribute, character and nature. When we trust God we affirm that He is who He is. Trust is taking the word of God at phase value without compromising it.

Trust is also to believe that whatever God has said is true. The word of God is truth John 17:17. Trust in God is also to affirm that God is true. Infact, God Himself is the truth, that is why Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life... He is the spring of all truth. Whatever does not spring or emanate from God can never be true, it is falsehood 

Trust is finally to believe in the ability of God, that He can and will do what He has promised. It is one thing to know that God can but another to know that God will. The leper who met with Jesus on the way probably had heard of Jesus'miraculous power. When he saw Jesus, he said, "If you are willing, You can make me whole." He didn't have to say if you can make me whole, he already knows Jesus has that ability. But as a despised and unclean person in the society, his plea was if you are willing, heal me. Jesus responded and said, "I am willing, be made whole" and he was whole.

Though you see yourself a sinner and unworthy, Jesus alone can save. He is not just able to save, He is willing to save and save to the uttermost. The reason He came was to save us. He says, For whomsoever shall call (in trust and confidence) on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Oladele, Sola

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