HOLD CLOSER TO GOD

A lot of people do not understand why God does not answer their prayers.

You will even say there is no power in prayer and therefore will not pray anymore.

The solution is to hold closer to God and He will hear, care and protect you.

Jeremiah 33:3 says: call upon me and I will answer thee………………….

Click on the link to read the main text: Psalm 25:1 – 10

http://firefighters.org/kjv/bible/index.cfm?Chapter=25&Book=19

And Jeremiah 29:12 – 14:

http://firefighters.org/kjv/bible/index.cfm?Chapter=29&Book=24

Do not give up because your miracle is on the way.

According Luke 18:8, Jesus gave a parable to admourish us to pray frequently. You are close to your miracle don’t give my Brother, my Sister, my Mother, and my Father.

It is not all prayers that God answer’s, but sometimes compensates and encourages you.

You need to pray frequently don’t give up. Use perseverance; keep on praying without ceasing, press on. For if you call the Lord in truth and in prayer, He will answers you.

Those who enjoy God most are those who humble themselves.

If you get closer to a person, you would notice that you develop certain characters of the person; and enjoy his/her blessing or suffer his/her curses.

The same is what you have to be with God. Be close to Him.

If you’ve gotten Jesus, hold him well; serve him well and it shall be well with you now and forever, AMEN!!!

CHILDREN AND PARENTS

24^th of July being the Children’s service for Christian Growth Church featured a lot of inspired children of God. The Intercession was taken by Lydia Odoom; one of the Sunday school children. Song Ministration by the Future Singers of the Sunday school was so blessing, inspiring, exciting and joyful. Lydia Odoom led the first song entitled “Ewurade sore” – Wake up God, the second by Ishmaelina Mensah entitled “Osoro ne mefie” – Heaven is my Home and the third from Bridget Barcher entitled “Yesu Kristo asore” – Jesus is Risen. Solo was Ministered by a three – year old girl Alice Okai and backed by Kevin Odoom entitled “nti mepaa menie” – So this is me.

A play was made and entitled “Train up a child in the way he should go” which made us aware of the consequences of training your children in the service of the Lord and going to church without your children or sending your children to church without you going.

It is a habit that when they grow up, they would do likewise and therefore the good part is to train up your children in the service of the Lord and go to church regularly with them.

Bible Readings were taken from Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Psalm 103:17-18 and III John 1:4 by the Sunday school children.

In all, it was summed by Rev. Frank Ato Odoom the Head Pastor with a message entitled “CHILDREN AND PARENTS” with main text taken from the book of Ephesians 6:1 which says: Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

A story told about an honest Girl called Katherine. She was very obedient and holy. One day she offended her parents. In punishing her, her parents prevented her from watching her favourite programme on the television by turning her back against the television whiles her food was served. In her prayer, she said “Thou preparest a table in the presence of my enemies” is it fair for a child to say this? Having punished for disobedience, you turned your beloved parents into enemies; that the Lord have prepared a table in the presence of your enemies.

It is your responsibility as a child to respect, obey and honour your parents in the Lord.

Isaiah 30:1 talks about the punishment of disobedient children.

According to Deuteronomy 6:6-7, parents are to teach their children the commands and the Word of God and stop them from showing rebellious characters. Parents are to quote Bible text which talks about liars, thieves, etc to their children. The eyes and anger of the Lord are on such people according to Proverbs 30:17.

Let us train up our children so that when they grow they would not depart from the training but will be great personnel and people of importance and God will bless and nourish us in Christ Jesus. Let us train them with love, seriousness and lead example for them to follow. This is the word of God, AMEN!!!

Read: I Samuel 2:12-36. To read the message on the web. Go to

SUNDAY I…3^RD JULY

LIFE IS NOTHING WITHOUT GOD

Eccl.1:2…Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity / Meaningless. Psalm 90:1-2, John 1:1-3 and Rom. 11:30-31 are supporting text.

Will you agree with King Solomon that it is vanity or meaningless to live without God?

Life is meaningless / vanity without God.

If you see anyone naked on the street, he / she is wearing his / her birthday / best cloth. Why? Because that was how the person was when he / she was born.

Life is nothing without God, so do not waste your time on things that does not matter.

Being born, attending school to the highest level, being employed, rich, married with children, grown old and dies are all details of life.

But life really is knowing God and doing His will.

When you pass out, what next? Are you going to present your children or wealth on the judgment day? All wealth and riches without God is vanity or meaningless.

It’s a waste of time; said King Solomon.

Anything can happen anytime. Life is not fair without God.

Whatever you are doing, remember “Observers are watching” and will be your witness before God. You have to be what God wants you to be and where you have to be.

You have to do the work; but the result and reward will only come from God.

Let God be the major thing in your life and you will make it and see the meaning of life; AMEN.

BREAKING NEW GROUNDS IN EVANGELISM IN CHURCH GROWTH

From Pastor Kenneth Ansah of Voice Of Victory Church, the sermon entitled above was delivered. Joshua 13:1 – 2a was the main text. Click on this link to read it. http://firefighters.org/kjv/bible/index.cfm?Chapter=13&Book=6

To break new grounds, you must first break through spiritually, physically, financially and psychologically.

­     I had been a Muslim for about two decades (20 years). But for the purpose of my being on earth by God, I had to break through Muslim to Christianity. Many challenges came my way to the extent of hunting to kill me, just because of fulfilling the words and prophecy of the almighty God.

There are many blessings in the kingdom of God that we need to inherit. Possessing your possession in the kingdom of God is not agedness but smartness. There are so many vacancies and blessings in the presence of God that we need to possess and inherit.

The WORLD is MULTIPLYING while CHRISTIANS are ADDING.

We do not break through because we are not serious in serving the almighty and praying.

We need to break through. Why are we not breaking through?

Psalm 78:9…The children of Ephraim being armed turned back on the day of battle…

Many of us have turned back therefore have been possessed by our enemies.

Anything pertaining spiritually, physically, financially and psychologically to church growth, we need to break through.

THREE AREAS OF CHURCH GROWTH

I)  INDIVIDUAL GROWTH: under this growth, we have five categories that every believer must grow.

1.      Every believer must grow in Faith: Rom 8:10 / Heb 11:6

2.      Every believer must grow in Love: I Cor. 13 and Rom 5:8 talks about love.

3.      Every believer must grow in Gift: Mk 16:15; Jesus gave gift to some to be prophets etc.

4.      Every believer must grow in Word: Learn to preach to others, teach others, etc.

5.      Every believer must grow in Giving: Luke 6:38… blessed is a cheerful giver. Give and it shall be given unto you a good measure running over….

II)  EXPANSION GROWTH:   This is whereby the church expand to building its own auditorium if the     current worship centre is not your own building.

III)  EXTENSION GROWTH: This is whereby the church began to build and plant churches, i.e.

                                                   Branches. In all these, we need people to accomplish the task. That is why the Bible tells you to break through and give to support the Kingdom and work of the almighty God so that you may also prosper and inherit the riches and wealth the Lord has reserved for you, AMEN!!!