Pastor Corner

The Family Centered God

Our God is a family centered God. He started the first family that ever existed in Genesis 2. So much is he interested in the family system that he introduced himself to us through Jesus in the new testament as our father when we look at how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Close to that is the way the interaction between the trinity is in the family format. Jesus is described as the son of God the father. 

We also will further see apostle Paul described God in Ephesians 3:14 as the father from who the whole family in heaven and on earth is named. Notice he used family as singular meaning that Wether in heaven or on earth, it’s one big family. That’s why we welcome new believers into God’s family. 

Even the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, the father in the story is representative of God the father himself. The character of the father typifies how God loves us so much that his hands always remain open every time we return to him. Jesus said he who comes to me I will not cast him out. Except we see God as a family centered God, we will not derive the maximum benefit of our being in Christ. 

God’s desire to dwell amongst his people, his children is seen all over the scriptures right before Jesus was sent to redeem us back to him, he always wanted a close intimate relationship with his children. From Adam, when he came in the cool of the day even till when Israelites were in the wilderness and was with them in both the pillar of cloud and fire in the day and night. 

I believe personally that one of the most critical revelation we must have of God is that he is our Father. No wonder, there’s so much attack on the family system and even on the male gender so that the enemy can establish a distortion in peoples mind about the family system. The psalmist said in Psalms 68:6 that God answer for the solitary is to set them in families because no one is meant to be unconnected in God’s diary. 

Even Jesus had to be born through and into a family system and his genealogy in the book of Luke can be traced all the way to God. Luke 3:23-38. Don’t mind the fables or lies of someone descending from nowhere to come and be with us here on earth. The legal entry to this world is through family system otherwise, it will only be a machine or robot not God’s creation. 

The following are the implications of knowing God as family centered: 

• you will know that you are not alone and walk in the consciousness of God as your father who is responsible for you. When you walk in this light, worry, anxiety and fear pales into oblivion in your life. 
• secondly, you won’t want to enjoy the family alone. You will want more people to be part of your spiritual family knowing that the bigger the family, the more we can do as God’s representatives here on earth. 
• thirdly, the salvation of your earthly family will become premium in your heart because you want to ensure that they also enlist in the heavenly family because of the life after our time here on earth. The regret of not having your loved ones here on earth be with you in heaven is agonizing especially when you had a chance to do something about it. 
• lastly, knowing Him as family centered will cause your love walk to abound more and more. Philippians 1:9. The truth is that what God wants to see in our spiritual and natural family is that we walk in love with one another. The reality is that when we accept the fact that we are loved children of the love God, we won’t find it difficult to give same to other members of the family. Envy, bitterness, unforgiveness and other works of the flesh will not have any place in our lives. 

Finally, in the month of February, make up your mind to reflect the DNA of the family you belong to. God is love, let people experience God’s love through you in your words and actions. God is light, be the illumination that someone needs in the season by preaching the gospel to them. God is life, be a life giver not taker as  you go about your business. Speak life and not death. When you step into a death situation, be the Jesus that will raise the dead Lazarus by his words. 

You belong to a great family, Reflect it!

I call you blessed!

 

Children’s Corner

The God-Kind of Love

Hello, children, how are you feeling this beautiful Sunday, are you excited about what lies ahead? This Sunday, we want you to open your Bible and turn to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Have you found it? Great! So what does it say?

This Bible verses teaches us the importance of kindness and forgiveness. God wants us to treat others with love and care, just like he shows us. Even when someone hurts us, we are called to forgive, just as Jesus forgives us. Remember, being kind means helping others and being gentle in how we treat them. Now it’s time for a role play, we will need three volunteers to act it out. 

Scene: The Junior Church Classroom

Amaka: Guys, today’s lesson on love really got me thinking. What exactly is “the God-kind of love”? It seems so different from how people love these days.

Esther: I know, right? Most people love only if you’re nice to them or if they can get something in return. But God’s love feels… deeper.

Demilade: That’s because God’s love is unconditional! Remember John 3:16? It says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” God didn’t wait for us to be perfect; He loved us while we were still sinners.

Amaka: That’s true! But how do we show that kind of love? I find it hard to love people who are mean to me.

Esther: Same here, but remember what 1 Corinthians 13:4 (TPT) says? “Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else…”  It’s not easy, but with God’s help, we can show love to everyone, even those who hurt us.

Demilade: Exactly! God’s love in us helps us forgive and be kind. It’s not about feelings; it’s about action. Jesus loved even when people nailed Him to the cross.

Amaka: Wow, so loving like God means loving unselfishly and forgiving? That’s hard but beautiful.

Esther: Let’s pray for God to help us love like .

Demilade: Great idea! After all, the world needs to see God’s love through us.

(They hold hands and pray together.)

Take-Home Lesson:

The God-kind of love is unconditional, patient, kind, and forgiving. It is a love that doesn’t seek its own benefit but is shown through actions, just as God loved us by sending Jesus. We are called to love others in this way, even those who hurt us, so that the world can see God’s love through us.

Assignment:

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and write down five ways you can practice the God-kind of love in your daily life.

Show love to someone this week by doing a kind act or forgiving someone who has wronged you.

 

Development Corner

Vision Boards

It’s said, “A good plan is half the work done”. Without a plan, it’s impossible to achieve your goals. You might have written your goals for the year (if you haven’t, now is the time to do so) if so, I want you to do something else – create a vision board.

 

Wikipedia defined a vision board as a “collage of images, pictures and affirmation of one’s dreams and desires, designed to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation”. What you imagine is what you create and what you see often would push you to do better till you’ve achieved those things.

 

You might think Why vision boards?. Below are some reasons.

1. It builds confidence in your ability to execute actions necessary to attain your desired outcome effectively
2. It helps you to create a clearer and improved goal-setting plan.

 

Now that you’ve learned how effective vision boards are, here’s how to create yours;

• Clarify your vision
• ⁠Gather your materials (you would need images and words that align with your vision)
• ⁠Arrange them on a poster board or get a manifestation journal (most of them have sections for vision board)
• Placement: Your vision board should be easily accessible. It’s not something you create and then abandon. You need to see it to fuel your determination to get it.

Sudoku

 

Instructions: The objective is to insert the numbers one to nine into a grid consisting of nine squares subdivided into a further nine smaller squares (sub-grid) in such a way that every number appears once in each horizontal line, vertical line, and sub-grid.

 

4					9		1
3							9	5
		9	3		7		4
5				9	6			7
2	7						6
9	6			3	1	2
		4	6			9	2
6	9	5						8
	1		9		3	5

 

Biblical poetry

Obedience in the dark

Obedience, based on faith

Can you do it?

Can you obey when there is no supporting evidence

Nothing physical to reassure you that your actions will yield results

When your motivation is believing that you have been directed by God

Can you be obedient when it doesn’t make sense?

When what is being proposed by God, seems supernatural

Can you do it?

 

I tell Him I have lost my job

He told me to rejoice, rejoice.

I have no idea how I am going to pay my house rent and you want me to rejoice

But I rejoice, whilst updating my CV

I rejoice whilst sending out job applications

 

He tells me to relocate, to book my flight 

I ask him how am I going to take care of myself

He responds with ‘silence’’

So I book the flight, understand that this is a test of faith

And as I draw closer to my travel date, 

I get offers that I didn’t think were possible

Whilst I applied for external positions,

he was working on the internal opportunities 

 

Obedience, is shifting my dependence from myself onto Him

Obedience is letting go of control and surrendering to his will

Obedience is doing the hard work, without any reward in sight

Obedience is asking him for guidance before taking action

Obedience is aligning with God’s timeline

Obedience is putting aside your pride

Learning obedience, is easier when you know Gods word,

follow his direction, recognise his voice and seek counsel 

from those ordained to bring you closer to Him

 

Health Corner

 

Caring for Your Heart

Your heart is an amazing gift—it keeps you alive, thriving, and connected. But caring for your heart isn’t just about physical health; it’s also about nurturing your emotional and spiritual well-being. Here’s how you can take simple, meaningful steps to care for your heart:

1. Eat for Your Heart

Your diet has a huge impact on your heart health, but eating well doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with these heart-friendly foods; Leafy greens like spinach and kale, whole grains such as oats and brown rice, healthy fats from avocados, nuts, and seeds, choosing water or herbal teas over sugary sodas.
These small changes can go a long way in keeping your heart happy.

2. Move Your Body

Staying active is one of the best things you can do for your heart. The good news? You don’t need a gym membership! Here are some fun and simple ways to stay active: Take a 30-minute walk around your neighbourhood or a nearby park, dance to your favourite songs—it’s not just exercise, it’s pure joy, use the stairs whenever you can—it’s great for your heart and legs, stretch and do light exercises during work breaks, especially if you have a desk job.

3. Unplug and Destress

Stress can weigh heavily on your heart, physically and emotionally. Take time to pause and recharge.

4. Sleep and Rest Well

Rest isn’t laziness; it’s a vital part of your well-being. Even God rested after creating the world (Genesis 2:2-3). Make rest a priority to renew your body and mind. Remember, a well-rested heart is a healthier heart!

A Reminder from Scripture

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This verse reminds us that caring for our hearts goes beyond the physical. Protect your heart by embracing peace, joy, and God’s wisdom over worry or negativity.

A Prayer for Your Heart

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the precious gift of life and the strength of my heart. Help me honour You by caring for my body, mind, and spirit. Teach me to make wise choices in what I eat, how I move, and the thoughts I allow into my heart. Fill me with Your peace and remind me that my health reflects Your goodness. I entrust my heart to You, Lord, knowing You are my ultimate source of healing and strength. Amen.

Take care of your heart—it’s the wellspring of your life! ❤️

 

Fun Facts

 

Conclusion:

As Christians, we are called to live a life of greatness, not just an ordinary existence. However, greatness does not happen by chance; it requires intentional positioning. Greatness is not just about achieving success or accomplishing grand tasks. It is about living a life that honours God and reflects His character.

How to Position for Greatness?

1. Seek God’s Presence: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8 ESV). Spending time with God is essential for greatness.
2. Cultivate a Heart of Humility: “Humility comes before honour” (Proverbs 15:33 ESV). A humble heart is essential for receiving God’s guidance and empowerment.
3. Develop a Growth Mindset: “Let us press on to maturity” (Hebrews 6:1 CEB). Embracing challenges and learning from failures is crucial for growth and greatness.
4. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV). The people we surround ourselves with can either inspire or hinder our pursuit of greatness.
5. Take Bold Action: “For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV). Stepping out of our comfort zones and taking bold action is necessary for achieving greatness.

As we journey in the month to possess our possessions, let us bear in mind that positioning ourselves for greatness requires intentional effort, dedication, and a willingness to surrender to God’s plan. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

We now have Missional Communities in 15 locations and would like to encourage you to find one near you or start one in your local area. 

 

Opic; Isheri, River View Estate	Oworo, Olorunfunmi Street.	Surulere, Iponri Estate.
Lambe, Korede Balogun	Unilag, Akoka	Federal College of Education, Akoka
Lekki Phase 1	Igbo-Efon, Silicon Valley Estate	Ikoyi, Awolowo Road
Victoria Island, Oniru	Victoria Island, Chicken Republic, Oniru	Abijo, Destiny Homes Estate
Ogunfayo, Off Palace way	Victoria Island, Kofo Abayomi	Victoria Island, Ligali Ayorinde

 

Upcoming Events §

January and February 2025

Activities outside of the regular Mid-week and Sunday services

 

February 

• 1-3rd: Three Days of Glory
• 8th: Evangelism, led by UP family
• 22nd: Hour of Grace & Evangelism
• 28 Feb – 2 Mar: Winning Ladies Conference (Maryland)

 

March

• 1-3rd: Three Days of Glory
• 8th: Evangelism, led by IN family
• 29th: Hour of Grace & Evangelism