Sunday Service (16th September 2108)

As we kicked off the last part of our 2018 Prayer and Fasting session today, which runs till the end of the month, God’s Word came to us through the Church Pastor, Rev. Kayode Oke, on the topic;

Lord,  Why are we unable to…?

TEXT:  MARK 9: 25 – 29

Mark 9:25-29 (NKJV)
²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"
²⁶ Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."
²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
²⁸ And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"
²⁹ So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

INTRODUCTION

Today’s Topic is based on the question asked by the disciples from the Lord Jesus in Verse 28 of the passage read. The question is so very related to questions many of us ask today, particularly when we see great manifestations of God’s power and glory on other lives and such looks missing in our own lives. It is like, Lord, why am I not able to.... Haven’t you asked such from the Lord before?   ....... Note Jesus’ answer in verse 9:29 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) says
²⁹ And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer [and fasting].”

PLEASE NOTE the phrase “This Kind…” This means that demons are in ‘kinds’, Challenges are in ‘kinds’’ problems are in ‘kinds’….this means that there are kinds that we can face with toothpicks in our mouths and one small prayer and the will disappear, but there are other kinds that will not bulge except with serious prayer and fasting. I don’t know the level you are and the level you want to be……wouldn’t you rather team up with us these 14 days to fast and pray?     

For those who may not know, we do observe 30 days fasting and prayer program in NSBC in September. This year, the programme is split into 3 parts – we had 7 days in February, and 8 days in May. The remaining 15 days run from today, 16^th and end on the 30^th of this month when we shall round it all off with a PRAYER SERVICE.   It is a time to wait on the Lord, to seek His face and to review the year so far and begin to commit the coming one into His hands

WHAT IS FASTING?

Fasting is the laying aside of food for a period of time when the believer is seeking to know God in a deeper experience.   Fasting is an inner discipline that clears the mind and keeps the spirit alert.  It is to be done as an act before God with the object of seeking to know God’s will over a matter and/or to experience His power in a situation.  Examples -  Moses in Exod. 34:28; (receiving the Ten commandments) All Israel in 1 Sam. 7:6 (for repentance and to gain victory over the Philistines) and the people of God in Ezra 8:23(on their way back from captivity)

In the early church also, the people often fasted in seeking God’s will for leadership in the local church (Acts 13:2). When the early church wanted to know the mind of God, there was a time of prayer and fasting.

WH Y FAST?

-          Jesus Fasted. Luke 4: 1-2

-          Paul Fasted Acts 9:8-9

-          Fasting Humbles Us

-          It Teaches Us

-          It makes us more receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit

-          It is a Mark of Our Christian Life

TYPES OF FASTS

ü  Normal Fast No Food. (Luke 4:2)

ü  Absolute Fast. No Food No Water. (Acts 9:9, Ezra 10:6, Est. 4:16)

ü  Partial Fast. Diet Restriction. (Daniel 10:3)

DURATION OF FAST

-          Consider your state of health and decide

WHAT IS THIS FAST FOR?

-          TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS MERCIES ON US THUS FAR

-          TO SEEK GOD’S FACE IN PRAYER FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF 2018

-          For your life.-  Adjustments needed. Directions to follow etc

-          For your family.

-          For the Church of God. NSBC.

-          For others in dire straights

CONCLUSION

Imagine a man whose all time ambition is to leave his little village and get to Lagos. He fasted and prayed over a period of time and by a miracle, he got to Lagos. Two things this man needed to do urgently

-          Thank God for answered prayers that brought him to Lagos.

-          Pray to God again to ask – where do I go from here.

Locate yourself in that man and decide appropriately. 

 Remember, Jesus was no less God before he fasted in Luke 4 or was he more God after he fasted.  But he did it to teach us a lesson.

PASTOR'S CORNER

A praying Christian is a powerful Christian; for the strength of a Christian is proportionate to the depth of his/her prayer life. Determine to manifest God's power, be fervent in the place of prayer.

Prayer Focus for the Week

Pray against the spirit of confusion in everyone of the Churches in Bethel Baptist Association.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION

Serving in the Children’s department next week is Mrs Olujoke Olutunde.

Mrs Funmi Akanji will lead the workers’ Prayer next week.

The final part of our 2018 Fasting and Prayer Sessions starts today Sunday 16th and runs till Saturday 29th September 2018. Wednesday 19th and 26th will be special Revival Hours.

The program will be rounded off with a Prayer Service on Sunday 30th September. Make up your mind to be part of this enriching time.

Members are reminded of a monthly contribution of #20/person per month missions' 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

Materials Needed for the New Church Building

3 Tanker loads of water

@ ₦7,000/load,

- 60 bags of cement @ ₦2,450/bag,

- 3 tons of 12mm iron rods

@ ₦200,000/ton and

- 1 ton of 10mm Iron rods

@ ₦200,000/ton

BUILDING PROJECT ACCOUNT

NEW SPRING BAPTIST CHURCH

No: 0697011767

ACCESS BANK

You can pay your tithes into the

CHURCH ACCOUNT

NEW SPRING BAPTIST CHURCH

No: 2023699560

FIRST BANK

Sunbeam Band Having their Presentation

CELEBRANT FOR THE WEEK

Alamu Bose         08053941104        20th