Song – Jesus the Son of God; I believe in You, I believe in You

Prayer – Father, more than ever before, please demonstrate to me and to the whole world that You are my God.

Today’s message 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.

– Someone here, you are operating under a particular curse. 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: three attempts to curse Israel; three locations to curse them from, nothing worked!

– 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.

1 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 had rejected to carry out the promise of God; God also had been rejected by him as the king of Israel.

Saul would have thought it was a joke or mere words, who 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 in Jesus name.

May God 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-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 later changed to No.

Such that some people do not bother to believe in God’s promises because they have experienced broken promises from menfolk again and again. But God is not a man, that He should lie.

It is said that there 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 and will say Amen.

 

The nature of the Father’s promise

1. It cannot return to Him void – Isaiah 55:11
2. It cannot be broken – John 10:35
3. It is very sure – 2 Peter 1:19
4. Some promises are conditional – 2 Cor 7:1
5. Some are unconditional – Gen. 8:22
6. Some are for this life – Lk. 18:28
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. 17:20
9. Patience is needed on our part to receive these promises – Heb. 10:36.

 

People who said Amen to the Father’s promise

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.

 

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

‘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 brethren in Corinth, but something happened that he could not embark on that trip. He later gathered that the people were not happy, and were contemplating that he was not a serious-minded person, or he was someone who does not keep promises.

So that the people will not begin to suspect the gospel message 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 of a person. That as a man, it is possible that one may want to do something and later couldn’t, due to unforeseen circumstance. But God is not like that, as He is not a man.

He said the promises of God, once spoken as Yes, it cannot change to No. It will be Yes permanently.

What has/have God promised you? He is not a man. He cannot lie. If you believe Him and walk upright before Him, it shall come to pass.

 

Prayers

Father, remove every doubt and unbelief regarding Your promises from me.

Father, increase my faith.

Father, help me to believe You.

Father, let the blood of Jesus deal with anything that might want to jeopardise Your promises upon my life.

The sermon, God Is Not A Man That He Should Lie, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was delivered on April 15, 2018.

 

John 11:19-26 – And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him:but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Jesus Christ has many names. One of His spectacular names is “The resurrection and the life”. Many people are today called Jesus, Emmanuel, Christos, etc. No one can, however, be called “The resurrection and the life”.

I can even say that among the Trinity Almighty; it is only Jesus can can bear that name, though God the Father and God the Holy Ghost played a great part in Jesus actualisation of that name. No wonder the bible says “God has given Him a name that is higher than every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord”.

This is because God cannot die. For Jesus to earn that name; He had to first become a man to die and rose again by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is only in Christ Jesus also that one can have life; as all men are born dead in sin.

Based on what Jesus answered Martha, Jesus did not even need to pray to the Father to effect resurrection. He could just command it.

John 11:41-42

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always:but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus does not need to wait for a distant time in the future to do what He can do today. Those who need a resurrection from Jesus today must believe they can receive.

Why is Jesus the resurrection and not a resurrection?

1. Jesus is the only One that resurrected and never died again.

Revelation 1:18

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Romans 6:9

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Romans 14:9

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Revelation 2:8

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

There are many founders of religion who are worshipped as gods. They all died and never rose again. Some tried to fake their resurrection, but were not seen physically afterwards.

1. Bab, Babism was buried at Mt. Carmel in Haifa, Israel (31 yrs).

2. Bahaullah, Baha’i Faith was buried in Acre, Israel (74 yrs).

3. Buddha, Buddhism was cremated in Kushinaga, India (80 yrs).

4. May Baker Eddy, Christian Science, buried in Mt. Auburn, Massachusetts (89 year).

5. Confucius, Confucianism buried in Qufu, China (70 years).

6. Mohammed, Islam buried at Mosque of the prophet in Medina, Saudi Arabia (62 years).

7. Mirza Ahmad, Ahmadiyya buried in Qadian, Punjab in India (73 years).

8. Moses, Judaism was buried by God in Mt. Nebo, Jordan (120 years).

9. Joseph Smith, Mormonism was buried in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA (38 years).

10. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology cremated and ashes scattered in Pacific Ocean (74 years).

11. Guru Nanak, Sikhism ‘departed’ Katapur, Pakistan. (70 years).

12. Jesus Christ, Christianity was buried in Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem but rose again on 3rd day, witnessed by more than 500 people. (33 years).

2. One the hardest thing for a religious leader to do is a funeral service. Jesus never had to attend or conduct one. The ones He was invited to became resurrection service (Lazarus; Jairus daughter).

3. Jesus is the source of all resurrections, or He is the Person that permitted it, for reasons best known to Him. But whenever He withdraws life; nothing anyone can do.

What can Jesus resurrect?

Dead body (Lazarus, widow of Nain son, Jairus daughter).

Heath (Woman of the issue of blood).

Sight/vision (Man born blind).

Joy (wedding at Cana in Galilee).

Callings (devil sought to sift Peter, but prayed for)

What is dead in your life that needs resurrecting? For Mary & Martha it was Lazarus. Yours will come alive in Jesus name.

No hope is lost when you have Jesus. His presence guarantees everything.

I read about an incident that happened on 28/05/1914.

A ship known as Express of Ireland hit another ship and it began to sink.

There was not enough life jackets on board.

130 Salvation Army Christians were on board. 109 of them drowned.

Many of them removed their life jackets and gave it to those who were not born again.

“I can die better than you”. They had hope in Whom is called “The resurrection and life”. Do you?

Why is Jesus the life?

– He is the Author and Giver of life (Natural, Spiritual and Eternal).

Jesus is more than a Giver of life, He Himself is life.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:3

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

– To Him, death is mere sleeping.

– No expiry date with Him: He was and is and is to come. Always be.

Revelation 1:4

John to the seven churches which are in Asia:Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Revelation 1:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 4:8

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within:and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

What can Jesus give life to?

The soul of man – dead in sin (John 3:16)

Calling/destiny – apostles

Hope and aspirations –

Relationships

Martha believed that Jesus can give life to Lazarus, but in a distant future. The day of the resurrection of the dead.

Mary, on the other hand, was put off that Jesus decided not to come to their rescue when they needed Him the most. She became withdrawn and was questioning Jesus motive.

Do you believe Jesus can be of help to you now? Or you have given up.

Do you fall into the category of those who are questioning Jesus motive?

What you need to believe is that He can do all things.

May the resurrection and the life demonstrate His name in you in Jesus name.

Altar call

Prayers

Father, let every precious gift you have given me that had died resurrect again.

Father, make my destiny to enjoy the power of Your resurrection.

Father grant me a newness of life daily.

Father, let the evidence of Your new life be seen in me.

The sermon, The Resurrection And Life, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was delivered on Easter Sunday April 1, 2018.

Help can mean “To give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or to satisfy a need”. If one considers this, one may come to the conclusion that anyhow help should come.

But as I begin to write this message; it dawned on me that not all help is good and helpful. Help that comes too early may be abused; help that is unwarranted may make one become lazy, and help that comes too late may be useless. Help that is crucial and desirable is the help that is given in time of need.

The children of Israel wanted a king like other nations around them, what they didn’t know was that the person God had in mind was still in the making. But because the Israelites were adamant; God allowed Saul for them. He was a help that came too early. Out of the 40 years, he reigned, he had the backing of God for just the first two years.

How much suffering did Saul experience? No communication nor directive from God for 38 years. He lost his sons; he lost the throne. He later had to be seeking witches to help him.

– May help come to you at the time of need in Jesus name.

Gehazi messed up his life, his destiny and that of his generation because he couldn’t respond to help that came too early in his ministerial assignment. Supposing he was a bit patient, he would have swam in such help, as Elisha’s rebuke to him was “Is it time to receive….?”

– May you not be tempted by a help offered to you too early in Jesus name.

There is someone here, God has put your feet on a glorious path; you think it’s too slow and you are seeking a faster route. I will advise you to be patient.

The owners of this property offered it unto us for £475,000 plus VAT. We were very delightedly when they waived the VAT, especially as Vue Cinema we were using was becoming hostile.  We jumped at the offer.

It was, however, a help that came too early, as God systematically reduced the figure to £335,000, though it took a bit longer, which was at the time very difficult to bear, but eventually worked in our favour. The extra £140,000 may have taken us another 5 years or more to pay back.

– There is someone here, the help you are asking and looking for will come timely for you and not too early in Jesus name.

It is possible also that help can come to someone, but too late. It is often said that when there is life, there is hope. But when life is gone, hope is lost too.

As I was writing this message, my mind flashed back to a sad incident that happened during my undergraduate days.

Even though help came, it was such a help I pray I never received again. It was a help that came too late.

– Your help will not be late.

May all that is needed to be in place for your help to be timely be personally arranged by God.

In Gen. 27:30, Esau was just a few minutes late to catch his brother Jacob been blessed by their father. That sealed his destiny and his descendants forever. If only he got the bushmeat a bit quicker. If only he walked faster. He might just have met them. But it was too late for him.

– You will not be too late for your help and helper. Your help and helper will not be too late for you in Jesus name.

The widow of Zarephath was a good example of help in time of need. Even Jesus Christ mentioned her story as someone that enjoyed timely help from God. There were many widows in Israel that must have died from the famine; but this widow who was a Zidonian received help just about she was going to eat her last meal!

– There is someone here, you used to have savings, but something unexpected happened such that you are now running low on subsistence.

Help will come for you.

Your supply will not run out.

The new provision will meet your old provision.

You will not experience an empty state.

The bible record the first miracle of Jesus Christ in John 2:1-11. As the merriment continues, word got to Jesus that the wine had finished. They were blessed to have Jesus at the wedding; He didn’t only gave them more drink, but better drink than what they had previously and huge supplies.

– There is someone here, there is something regarding you that is about to run out which could bring shame to you. May God multiply whatever it is in Jesus name.

Your joy will not run out. Your strength will not run out. Your love will not run out. Your time will not run out. Your resources will not run out.

Instead of you to be put to shame; God will turn you into an amazement. Life will progressively get better for you in Jesus name.

In Dan 2:1-49; King Nebuchadnezzar dreamt and could not remember. He asked all his wise men, sorcerers, astrologers, magicians, etc to tell him the dream and the interpretation, or else they will be cut in pieces and their house turned into dunghill.

Daniel and his three friends were grouped amongst these people. Shockingly, the execution was to start from them, even though they were already some in the palace (vs 12-13).

But guess what? It was a Divine drama to elevate Daniel and to bring glory to God. Daniel was able to negotiate time with a king who was already furious and had issued a decree. Such that the king accepted.

There is someone here, there is a challenging circumstance confronting you now, I am asked to tell you that it’s only a drama. It will not only go away; it will elevate you and also bring glory to God.

Dan 2: 46-49

– There is someone here, God says I will take you to a level where even kings will revere you.

Moses was born at a very difficult time in history for boys. His parents miraculously hid him for three months after his birth; but it got to a time that only timely help from God could save him.

As Miriam put Moses basket in the River Nile, it was either crocodiles and snakes would eat him or an Egyptian would take him to be slain. The only house that could guarantee Moses continuos existence was Pharaoh’s palace.

So God arranged Pharaoh’s daughter to see Moses first. Moses intended killers preserved his life.

– May your life and those of your loved ones be preserved in a timely manner.

There is someone here, you were born or raised in a disadvantaged situation and that has majorly defined your identity. I hear that the embargo of that disadvantage is now lifted.

You will become a great deliverer.

You will not go like others. Your case will be special.

After 31/2 years of ministry, Jesus was going to be killed soon, he decided to travel to Jerusalem through Jericho. It was a trip that brought help in time of need to a man called Bartimeus. He would have died as a blind beggar (Mk. 10:46-52).

– Help is coming your way. Help that will overhaul your destiny is coming. You will not look into the hands to man to survive. You will be known as a proven follower of Christ.

Anointing

As the compass responds to the magnetic north, so your life shall magnetise timely help from Me. This anointing will not allow you to be late for help. It will make you a ready candidate to be located by Divine help. Your life shall magnetise Divine help.

Prayers

Psalms 20:1-3

1. We pray that we don’t suffer from trouble. But for every man, there is a day of trouble. Solomon was a man of peace. But a day of trouble came in his life, only a timely help from God saved him. God inspired Prophet Nathan to help him.

Father, in any day of my life that trouble shows up, please send help to me.

2. Life has been said to be many things. One of such is battle. You are either fighting one, about to start one, or just come out of one.

3 types of attackers: weaker, equal, stronger.

Father, in all the battles I fight in life, please defend me.

3. Help is good. But there are levels of help. Small, medium and large.

Daniel was praying and help was sent through Gabriel. But Lucifer blocked him. Michael had to come to the rescue. If Michael had come first, 21 days would not have been wasted.

Father, send me help from your sanctuary. Send me help from Zion.

The sermon, Help In Time Of Need, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was delivered on March 25, 2018 on tehAnointing Sunday.