Unhindered Advancement, by Brother Tobilola Akintokun

Unhindered Advancement, by Brother Tobilola Akintokun

Our theme for the month of August 2017 is Unhindered Advancement. It is unhindered advancement… because it is unhindered….
Hosea 4 vs 1 and vs 6 – Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, For the Lord has a [legal] case with the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness [no steadfast love, no dependability] or loyalty or kindness Or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
This afternoon, by the grace of God, we want to explore our perspective of what Jesus did for us…what we believe as believers…
Heb 13 vs 8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Jesus does not need extra power to sort anything out…everything that needs sorted was sorted.
John 1 vs 16-17 16 For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favour, and gift heaped upon gift]. 17 For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favour of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 8 vs 32
32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
John 8 vs 36 36 So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.
I want to encourage us….don’t waste time, don’t waste church; Know the truth.

Truth 1…. for Group 1 (Why be born again?)
“God loves you and has a great plan for your life.” John 3:16-18 – 16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Saviour] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Saviour and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Saviour and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because [b]he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].

Why did Jesus come to the world? John 10:10 gives us the reason that Jesus came to the world; –10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
God created us to have fellowship with Him. However, Man brought sin into the world, and as a result is separated from God.
God introduced the Law and this introduction made humanity aware of what sin is…i.e. God created a standard. This standard was more of God than criteria for Man… The law demonstrated how far we are to God in holiness and righteousness!
As we are contaminated by sin and we are therefore separated from God, it means we can’t fellowship with God. No Fellowship with God means no clarity of life purpose…..

If you don’t believe in Jesus, you cannot know God’s great plan for your life….i.e. you will struggle to have clarity about your life (here and after life on earth) ” Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 adds, “The wages of sin is death.”
“Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. Through Jesus Christ, we can have our sins forgiven and restore a right relationship with God.” Romans 5:8 shares, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 Corinthians 15 vs 3-4
For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], 4 and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],
(John 14:6). 6 Jesus said to him, “[a]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
“We must place our faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour to receive the gift of salvation and know God’s wonderful plan for our lives.”
In John 1:12 we read, 12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—
What do I need to be saved…? Acts 16:31 teaches, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Salvation comes through grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). 8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favour drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
Are you willing to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and receive this free gift of eternal life? If so, do it now.
Only Jesus can save you. Only Jesus can save you. “Almighty God, I realize I am a sinner separated from you. I can never reach heaven by my own good deeds. But you have made provision for my sin. Right now, I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son who died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

Group 2 Assurance of Salvation
You are either a believer or you are not a believer…. (FACT) unfortunately, there is usually a 3rd category the “unsure” most of the time this is a result of what you hear ….
Yes, faith without works is dead. It is very important for you to know this… Works does not justify you, it does not make you righteous but it is an evidence of what and who you…Believe
John 10 vs 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Jesus saved you and Satan took you back? The word of God says this is not possible.
Romans 8 1-3 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh…
John 10 vs 27- 29 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand
Hebrews 2:14 – Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
Hebrews 2:17 – So He had to be made like His brothers in every way, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
Please know this……All angles were covered for your salvation!! God planned it without leaving room for doubt.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 10 vs 5-10 – 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it. 6 But the righteousness based on faith [which produces a right relationship with Him] says the following: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into Heaven?’ that is, to bring Christ down; 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we had to be saved by our own efforts, doing the impossible].” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— 9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Saviour] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.
If you are not sure of your salvation and have been having doubts I pray today that from today Jesus remove you from the “unsure” camp to the camp of the saints in Jesus name!!!

Group 3 – Believers
Now in this Knowledge …. You should know that you have an unhindered advancement because your advancement is unhindered….
… Your advancement is unhindered …go, go, go.
My advancement is unhindered …. say it….and keep confessing it and I pray, that ability comes alive in you today in Jesus name!!
Again please think about this, If something can’t hinder Jesus, how can it hinder you?
Yes, you are not Jesus but….
If you are in Jesus you absolutely need to know the truth about being in Jesus … you need to know the truth about everything that comes in the package as well as eternal life… so that the life here is full/ abundant/ effective. Fruit bearing…… and you also have your name written in the book of life.
Remember, if challenges of life cannot drown Jesus it cannot drown you…
John 8 vs 36 – So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.
John 1 vs 15-17 15 John testified [repeatedly] about Him and [e]has cried out [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me [f]has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’” 16 For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favour upon favour, and gift heaped upon gift]. 17 For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favour of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Salvation plus – an all-inclusive package
…. The same faith that you received salvation by is the same faith that unlocks the truth….
Being saved is a bigger miracle than raising the dead because Salvation leads to eternal life and is salvation from eternal death.
So, …. The same faith that you received salvation by is the same faith that unlocks the truth about anything else you are facing that seems to want to pretend that they are bigger than they actually are….
Do you believe that you are in Jesus, do you believe in Jesus as Lord and saviour?
Don’t let this year go without knowing the truth about all that Jesus has already offered you at the same time he died for your sin(s).
Remember, If I am in Jesus I need to know the truth about being in Jesus …
If challenges of life cannot drown Jesus it cannot drown me…
It is impossible for circumstances to overcome Jesus, so if I am in Jesus my life reflects the finished work of Christ which makes it impossible for circumstances to overcome me.
As a believer, you should be sharing this truth too….Hebrews 5:12Amplified Bible (AMP)
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food.
An example of what is in the package is unhindered advancement…
1 john 5 vs 13-15 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.
Don’t want us to waste time, don’t want us to waste church; Know the truth.
Philippians 2 vs 12-13 12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] [c]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.
Philippians 3 vs 8-12 – 8 But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequalled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers],
and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; 11 [d]so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on [e]so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.

Prayer: is in Ephesians 1 vs 17 and 18 because we need it, when we have it, everything else will be in perspective….
17 and asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
18 I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,

The sermon, Unhindered Advancement, by Brother Tobilola Akintokun, was delivered on August 20, 2017.