Sunday Service (23d December, 2018)
A MESSAGE FROM JOSEPH AT CHRISTMAS
TEXT: MATTHEW 1: 18 - 25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
There is something about Jesus, the Christ of
Christmas that is simply glorious. Something so wonderful that it is beyond the
understanding of mere men. It can only be understood by the fact that this same
Jesus of Christmas is the Son of God.
The glorious
thing is the fact that anyone connected to Jesus have a story of glory to tell.
No life can be genuinely connected to Him and have nothing good to show for it.
If however someone should check his/her life and there is no story of glory,
such should not wander too far, just check the connection.
Joseph, the
subject of study today is no exception, and there are wonderful lessons to
learn from his life, and from there we can place our own lives beside it to see
how well we fare since we also claim to be connected to Jesus.
LESSON
1. JOSEPH WAS RIGHTEOUS. (Vs 18 – 24)
In this story, a
lady was pledged to be married to a guy, and before the guy could say ‘Thank
you Jesus’ Ka to s’eju pe, ani ka to wi
ka to fo, the lady was found to be pregnant and the guy was in no way
responsible. What a ‘peculiar mess’
As a natural man, how
should Joseph have responded….
DRAMA SKETCH 1.
(Natural Man’s response)
BUT, the Bible says in Vs 19. Because Joseph… was a righteous man (The righteous are those
who participate in and preserve a covenant relationship with God or other
persons.) and did not want to expose her to
public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
DRAMA SKETCH 2.
(Joseph’s Response)
LESSON 1 Despite the fact that Joseph’s ego was badly bruised,
he was still mindful of the life of his beloved. So we must…
-
Love sincerely
-
Care genuinely
-
Stop giving excuses for your human nature. Remember,
God is Spirit and He made you in His image, redeemed you in His image – a
spirit – if you are properly born, stop excusing your ‘house’.
In addition to
this, when God spoke to Joseph in a dream, he believed and did as instructed. He
was indeed a righteous man for he reverenced the unchanging, immortal God.
LESSON 2. God does not have to do my bidding. He is the Lord
and he does what pleases Him. It is for us to key into His will – whether it is
palatable to us or not. So, fear God and love Him enough to always do His will
2. JOSEPH HAD SELF CONTROL (Vs 25)
25 But he had no union with her until
she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Though
Joseph was a normal human being, he submitted his will and desires to God so
much so that he had so much respect
for God that his own needs came a distant second. Even though God asked
Joseph to take Mary home as his wife (Vs 20) and he did just that (Vs 24)
but Vs 25 says ‘he had no union with her until…’
LESSONS
-
Joseph
forsook his right for the glory of God.
Can you?
-
Joseph
forsook pleasure for the sake of God. Can you?
CONCLUSION
As we celebrate the birthday of our Lord in some few
days time, it will be proper to place your life beside that of Joseph and ask,
(1) Am I righteous? Am I among “those who participate in and preserve a
covenant relationship with God or other persons.)” (2) Am I self controlled? Can I forsake my rights for the glory of God?
(3) Since I
claim connection with Jesus, What is my
story of glory?.... if none, re-check the connection NOW.
PRAYER POINTS
1. FATHER
THANK YOU FOR MY LIFE SO FAR
2. LORD,
IF MY CONNECTION WITH YOU IS FAULTY PLEASE REPAIR IT TODAY
3. LORD,
AS YOU HAVE BLESSED ME FOR BEING YOUR CHILD, PLEASE HELP ME TO BE A BLESSING TO
OTHERS.
4. FATHER
PLEASE BLESS ME WITH PLEASANT SURPRISES EVEN THESE LAST FEW DAYS OF THE YEAR
2018
Upcoming Events/ Information
1.
Next week, Mr.
& Mrs. Stephen Tanimola will serve in the Children department
2.
Mr. Akin
Ogunlowo will lead the Workers’ Prayer next week
3.
Parents are advised to pay for their Children 2019
Activity book at the rate of #300 per copy.
4.
Members who have interest in checking
their blood pressure for free can do so after our Wednesday Service.
5.
All members of the church are encouraged to come
around on Wednesday 26th December for sensitization of the community
towards the coming HEAVEN’S LINK PRAISE CONCERT. TIME 5pm.
6.
HLPC SEASON 2 comes up Friday 28th
December. Time is 4.30pm. let us come together to round off this glorious year
with a quality time of praise. Come but do not come alone.
7.
The church will be focusing more on DISCIPLESHIP in
the coming year. every Sunday evening will be dedicated to discipleship
training. Determine to be part of it and grow in your Christian life.
8.
Christmas Day Service will hold on Tuesday 25th
December in the Church Auditorium. Time: 10am
9.
NSBC Coss-Over Service will take place in the Church
Auditorium by 9pm. Any member with presentations should register with the
Church Secretary
10. There will be
POSSESSING THE GATES OF THE NEW YEAR 2019 on Thursday 27th December.
Let us come together to possess the new year 2019.
Mission Commitment
Members
are reminded of a monthly contribution of #20/person per month Mission’s
contribution under the auspices of Ogbomoso Baptist Conference and #500/person
per month CAN Trust Fund. You can make your payment to Mrs. Bose Ayinde.
Birthday/ Wedding
Anniversary for the Month
We
should not forget to felicitate with people celebrating their Birthday and
Wedding Anniversary in the month of December.
Materials Needed
for the New Auditorium
-
120 Tons of Granite @ #5000/ Ton
-
250 Bags of Cement @ #2350/ Bag
-
20 Loads of Sharp Sand @ #7000/ Load
-
2 Tons of 12mm Iron Rods @ #190,000/Ton
-
3 Tons of 10mm Iron Rods @ #200,000/ Ton
-
4 Tons of 16mm Iron Rods @ #190000/ Ton
Building Project
Account Church Account
Access
Bank
First Bank
New
Spring Baptist Church
New Spring Baptist Church
0697011767 2023699560
Benevolence
This
Church genuinely cares for her members and is committed to seeing to their
welfare. So, if any member is in a serious need and requires help, please do
not hesitate to meet with the Church Pastor or the Benevolence Chairperson,
Mrs. Nia Olupona.
Pastor’s Corner
Anyone genuinely connected to Christ
has a story to tell. For you cannot come to the Lord of life and remain dead in
sin, neither can you have the Prince of peace living in you and still be
overwhelmed by the world’s turbulence. If your case seems different, please
check the connection.
Prayer
Focus for the Week
Pray that the remaining one week in
the year shall be full of pleasant surprises in our lives in Jesus name.
Weekly Activities
Monday:
Intercessors Meeting-5:00pm
Tuesday:
WMS & Sunbeam-5:00pm
Wednesday:
Bible Study & Prayer
Meeting-5:00pm
Thursday:
Visitation Committee-5:00pm
Drama Group - 5:00pm
Friday:
Choir Rehearsal-4:00pm
Saturday:
Royal Ambassadors, Lydia -3:00pm,
Girls Auxiliary-3:30pm
Choir Rehearsal-4:00pm
Sunday School Preparatory
Class-5:00pm
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