A pastor friend and connection on LinkedIn sent this to me, and I asked his permission to share it here ~ Thank you so much for your ministry Bishop Frank Ogagba ~   Presiding Bishop Of Ever-increasing Faith Family Churches, SOUTH AFRICA.

The 23rd Psalm

 This is an eye opener; some probably never thought nor looked at this Psalm in this way, even though they say it over and over again.

•  The Lord is my Shepherd - That's Relationship!
•  I shall not want - That's Supply!
•  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That's Rest!
•  He leadeth me beside the still waters - That's Refreshment!
•  He restoreth my soul - That's Healing!
•  He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That's Guidance!
•  For His name sake - That's Purpose!
•  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That's Testing!
•  I will fear no evil - That's Protection!
•  For Thou art with me - That's Faithfulness!
•  Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That's Discipline!
•  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That's Hope!
•  Thou annointest my head with oil - That's Consecration!
•  My cup runneth over - That's Abundance!
•  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That's Blessing!
•  And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - That's Security!
•  Forever - That's Eternity!
•  Face it, the Lord is crazy about you!

New Years Challenge

If I was preaching this coming Sunday, this would be God’s message through me!

Hebrew 12: 1- 2

New Year’s challenge: Running the Race to WIN in 2014!

         I.            I Must Realize that people are watching me:

·        According to this scripture folks in heaven are watching.

·        Your family

·        Your co-workers

·        Your neighbors

·        Your church family

Question: Are they impressed by what they see? Or better yet is Jesus Christ impressed by what he sees?

       II.            We should always Run (Live) to WIN

·        There are two types of Winning.

1)   Over all victory against the opposing individual or team

2)  Victory over your personal previous or best accomplishment

·        We should always be setting Goals and working at achieving them

·        We should be Praying and seeking God’s goals and achieving them

Question: What goals have you set and are working toward in your relationship and service to Jesus Christ?

      III.            Repeat HIS message daily

·        The scripture tells us in

1) Luke 14:23: Then the master (Jesus) said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (New King James)

2) Acts 5:42: And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (New King James)

·        I love the Shepherds in the book of Luke, they saw and met the Baby Jesus and they had to tell someone.

·        Andrew (the Apostle) met Jesus and the first thing he did was tell his brother Peter.

Question: Who are you telling?

    IV.            Receive HIS blessing and Reap HIS rewards:

·        First and foremost we receive the blessing of Salvation by simply asking for it!

·        Receiving the Crown from Christ

1)       CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS— LOVED THE LORD'S APPEARING - 2 Tim 4:8

2)       INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN— DISCIPLINED BODIES / SELF-CONTROL - 1 Cor 9:25-27

3)       CROWN OF LIFE— ENDURED PATIENTLY THRU TRIALS - James 1:12, Rev 2:10

4)       CROWN OF GLORY— GODLY LEADERS WHO WERE EXAMPLES TO FLOCK - 1 Pet 5:2-4

5)        CROWN OF REJOICING— SOUL WINNERS CROWN - 1 Thess 2:19, Dan 12:36 –

·        Receiving Heaven and avoiding Hell …

o   By believing and excepting the FREE Gift of Jesus Christ …

The following message was preached November 3, 2013 @ Good Shepherd  Church in Lancaster, Ohio with our good friend Pastor James Dexter.

 

Two types of people in the world …

In God’s eyes they are NOT:

·        Rich or poor

·        Male or female

·        Young or old

·        Democrat or republican

·        Black or white

·        Fat or thin

·        Good looking or ugly

·        Smart or stupid

·        Not even Michigan or Ohio (whatever that school is around here) fans

They are found in Acts 8: 26 – 39

Introduction:

God has begun to move the Christian community from their comfort zone, the persecution of the church had already begun. Men and women of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit began to move throughout the known world, sharing their faith. One such encounter was:

The story of the Ethiopian and a Deacon named … Philip!

        I.            Those that need a relationship with Christ

·  Some don’t know they need a relationship

·  Some are searching for something, but not sure what yet.

·  Some know they need to know Him (Christ), but not ready!

·  Some are actively seeking HIM (Christ)

 

a.      This eunuch needed a personal relationship with Christ.

 

b.      He was searching for a relationship with Christ

 

c.      He was asking questions about a relationship with Christ

 

     II.            Those that need to share their relationship with Christ

a.      Philip had a Personal relationship with Christ.

·  He has walked with him

·  He has talked with him in prayer

·  He has been empowered with the Holy Spirit.

·  He has been called to serve HIM

·  He has heard his still small voice

·  He has been challenged go minister to him (the eunuch)

 

b.      God directed him to share what he knew about Christ

·  He shared the facts:

o   Jesus died on the cross for our sins (Calvary)

o   Jesus conquered death, and defeated the devil (Resurrection)

o   Jesus alone is victorious in providing for our Salvation!

c.      God used him to bring the eunuch to faith in Christ.

·  He meet Jesus that day on the side of the road

·  He prayed a simple pray

·  He believed in his heart

·  He confessed him Lord

·  He went to tell others.

      III.            However, there ANOTHER PERSON INVOLVED in this conversation:

a.      That is correct … THE CHRIST HIMSELF!!!!

·  The very word (logos) … John 1:1

·  The Light of the World

·  The Bread of life

·  The Living water

·  The Central theme of Scripture!

·  The Love letter that was willing to die for us

·  The Foundation of our Salvation

·   The Very fact for why we have enteral life.

 The question today is simple …

·       Do you need to know HIM (have a personal relationship with Christ)?

·       Or if you already know HIM who are sharing HIM with so they will have a personal relationship?