THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AND ITS IMPLICATIONS [Isaiah 9:1-7]

 

PASSAGE: Isaiah 9:1-7

1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And c afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. 5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 

Sunday December 25, 2016

 

“THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AND ITS IMPLICATIONS”

Pastor Enoch Hanokh

1.     The rise of a glorious light from the darkness-vv. 1-2

1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And c afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.

§  The cutting off of  Israel-v. 1; 2 Kings 10:32

Because they refused to speak according to the testimony Isaiah 8:20; 2 Chr. 15:3,5; Isaiah 8:22

§  There was no prophetic voice in the land-v. 2, Ps. 74:9

§  Prophecy fulfilled-vv. 1-2, Matt. 4:13-16

 

2.     Glorious multiplication and increase of the nation-v. 3

3 You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

§  God has the nations under His control; Job 12:23

§  With the gospel comes joy; Ps. 67:4; 96:11;

§  Christ our example; Lk. 10:21; 2Cor. 6:10; Acts :8-12, 39

 

3.     Glorious liberty and increase-vv. 4-5

4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. 5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

§  The unblown fire shall consume; Isaiah 10:16; Ps. 83:9; Job 20:26, Isaiah 4:4; Matt. 3:11

 

 

Based on today’s message, let us consider the following questions in sharing with one another the understanding and insight we have received from the Word of God. We are also encouraged to share with others how we want to apply the meaning of today’s message in our personal Christian life.

1. What are some of the spiritual principle that we have learned from today's message?
2. How can you apply these principles in your spiritual journey with God?

2016 Christmas

 

PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN IN CHRIST! [Colossians 3:8-11]

 

Looking unto Christ! [Colossians 3:1-7]

THE PASSAGE: COLOSSIAN 3:1-7

1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3dFor you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

 

Sunday December 11, 2016

 

“LOOKING UNTO CHRIST!”

Pastor Enoch Hanokh

Scripture: Col. 3:1-7

 

1.     Raised in Christ-vv. 1-2;  Rom. 14

1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

§  Seeking those things which above-v. 1

§  Setting our minds on things above-v. 2

2.     What is our hope?-vv.4-5

4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

§  When Christ shall appear-v. 4 

§  Mortifying the members of our bodies-v.5

3. The wrath of God-vv. 5-6

6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

§  Sons of disobedience-v. 5

§  Considering where we were-v. 6

 

 

 

Based on today’s message, let us consider the following questions in sharing with one another the understanding and insight we have received from the Word of God. We are also encouraged to share with others how we want to apply the meaning of today’s message in our personal Christian life.

1. What are some of the spiritual principle that we have learned from today's message?
2. How can you apply these principles in your spiritual journey with God? 

 

The substance is of Christ [Colossians 2:16-23]

 

THE PASSAGE: COLOSSIAN 2:16-23

16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. 20Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21“ Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and 14neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Sunday December 4, 2016

 

“THE SUBSTANCE IS OF CHRIST!”

Pastor Enoch Hanokh

Scripture: Col. 2:16-23

 

1.     The substance is of Christ-v. 16-17;  Rom. 14

§  Do we have a kind of Judaizers in the Church today?-v. 16; Rom. 14

§  Shadows of Christ and gospel-v. 17

 

2.      Holding fast to the Head-vv.18-19. 3:13

§  Disregarding thinks of the fleshly mind-v. 18

§  Holding fast to the Head-v.19

§  A growing body-v.19

§  Not under regulations-v.20

 

3.     Not walking in false humility-vv. 18; 20-23;

§  Pride is the root of false humility-v.18

§  Walking by the doctrine of God-v.22

§  How is flesh is overcome?-v.23

 

 

Based on today’s message, let us consider the following questions in sharing with one another the understanding and insight we have received from the Word of God. We are also encouraged to share with others how we want to apply the meaning of today’s message in our personal Christian life.

1. What are some of the spiritual principle that we have learned from today's message?
2. How can you apply these principles in your spiritual journey with God?

Triumphing in Chirst [Colossians 2:13-15]

 

Toward maturity in Christ [Colossians 2:6-12]

 

To do you good in the end [Deuteronomy 8:6-20]

 

WASTED LIFE [Phil. 3:1-11]

 

Sunday October 30, 2016

 

“WASTED LIFE!”

Pastor Enoch Hanokh

Scripture: Phil. 3:1-11

Introduction:

It is not a nice experience to have your family name stripped off you, to be called names and to be regarded as no more being worthy to be identified with. It is not easy to see everything that the world offers slip through your fingers, especially, when you have once received them as your treasures in life. And yet, it all would be worth it losing everything for the surpassing greatness of Christ.

 

1) Risking it all for the sake of Christ-vv. 5-6

▪ Giving up that which is fleshly-vv. 5-6

▪ Treasuring Christ above all this world could offer.

▪ Everything is worth the loss for the sake of Christ-v. 7

 

2) The surpassing greatness of knowing Christ-v. 8

▪ Suffering the loss of all things-v. 8

▪ Counting everything as dung-v. 8

▪ Gaining Christ-v. 8

 

3) Attaining the resurrection of the dead-vv. 9:11

▪ To be found in Him in His righteousness.

▪ Knowing Him

i.                 The power of His resurrection 

ii.               The fellowship of His sufferings

iii.             Conforming to His death

 

Conclusion:

             All things that we struggle to defend in this life; things this world has offered in competition with what God had made us in Christ are nothing but one BIG DUNG!

May we be willing to risk everything for the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ that we may attain the resurrection of the dead in Christ Jesus; who Himself is our example in all things. I encourage each one of us today to at least visit someone this week who no one would want identify with. It may be in the hospital, prison, on the street, old people’s home or in an orphanage. Let us count it a privilege to risk it all for Christ!

Based on today’s message, let us consider the following questions in sharing with one another the understanding and insight we have received from the Word of God. We are also encouraged to share with others how we want to apply the meaning of today’s message in our personal Christian life.

1. Name some of the treasures that the world offers, think and share with one other what they truly mean to you as a Christian.
2. How did Paul want to attain the resurrection of the dead?
3. How would you apply the truth you learned from today’s message to your Christian walk with God?

2016 Pictures

 

Let The Lord alone be your fear and your hope [Isaiah 40:1-31]

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 40:1-31

People Are Comforted (cf. Luke 3: 4– 6)

 1“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. 2“ Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins.” 3The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 6The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

 

 9O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

10Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. 11He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.

 12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance? 13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him? 14With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding?

15Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. 16And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. 17All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. 18To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

19The workman molds an image, The goldsmith overspreads it with gold, And the silversmith casts silver chains. 20Whoever is too impoverished for such 9 contribution Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks for himself a skillful workman To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

21Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.

25“ To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

27Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

   

Sunday October 16, 2016

 

“LET THE LORD ALONE BE YOUR FEAR AND YOUR HOPE!”

Pastor Enoch Hanokh

                                         

1) You are backed by the limitless power-v. 12

▪ His reach is unimaginable-v. 12;

▪ His strength is unmatched-v. 12

 

2) You are instructed and guide by unsearchable wisdom-vv. 13-14

▪ The Spirit of the LORD is the Spirit of counsel-vv. 13

 

3) You are backed by the power that powers cannot oppose or compete against-vv. 16-17

▪ He does not need anyone’s service-v. 16

                                          SMALL GROUP STUDIES

Based on today’s message, let us consider the following questions in sharing with one another the understanding and insight we have received from the Word of God. We are also encouraged to share with others how we want to apply the meaning of today’s message in our personal Christian life.

1.     What are some of the spiritual principle that we have learned from today's message?

 

2.      How can you apply these principles in your spiritual journey with God?

 

 

In HIs Revealed Glory You are comforted [Isaiah 40:1-31]

 

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 40:1-31

People Are Comforted (cf. Luke 3: 4– 6)

 1“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. 2“ Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins.” 3The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 6The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

 

 9O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

10Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. 11He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.

 12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance? 13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him? 14With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding?

15Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. 16And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. 17All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. 18To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

19The workman molds an image, The goldsmith overspreads it with gold, And the silversmith casts silver chains. 20Whoever is too impoverished for such 9 contribution Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks for himself a skillful workman To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

21Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.

25“ To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

27Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

                                                                               

Sunday October 9, 2016

 

“IN HIS REVEALED GLORY, YOU ARE COMFORTED”

Pastor Enoch Hanokh

                                         

1) Behold your God-v. 9

▪ Lift up your voice with strength-v. 9; "Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon." (Zech. 2:7 NKJ)

▪ It is God working through His people-v. 9-“Behold your God!”; Isaiah 25:9- “…This our God whom we waited for...”

▪ Raise an altar to the LORD (Prepare your heart)-v. 9; Ez.3:2-4

 

2) Your God shall come to you-vv. 10

▪ The LORD shall rule in the midst of oppositions-v. 10-“…His strong arm shall rule for Him…”

▪He shall reward everyone accordingly-v.10; a Righteous Judge!

▪He shall accomplish His purse-v. 10; “…His work is before Him…”

 

3) He is the Good Shepherd-v.11; Ps. 80:1; Jn.10:11;

▪ He takes care of His flock-v. 11

▪ He takes special care of the weak-v. 11

i.                 He will gather them in the power of His arm; 2 Cor. 12;9; “…His strength is made perfect in their weakness…”

ii.               When they wonder away, He shall draw back; Jn.10:28

iii.             He will carry them in the bosom of His love

iv.             He will gently lead them

                                           SMALL GROUP STUDIES

Based on today’s message, let us consider the following questions in sharing with one another the understanding and insight we have received from the Word of God. We are also encouraged to share with others how we want to apply the meaning of today’s message in our personal Christian life.

1.    1. What are some of the spiritual principle that we have learned from today's message?

 

2.    2. How can you apply these principles in your spiritual journey with God?