March 3rd, 2013

Good morning, all! We hope you had a blessed, relaxing weekend. Welcome to another uplifting time in God's presence, this beautiful Sunday morning, a Communion Service.

The second service, which begins at 9:30 a.m., started with opening prayers led by Joseph. After that, it was time for praise and Maryann led this part of the service with the song "Bless thy name," another Maryann took over with "What a mighty God we serve," and Ufuoma rounded up with "Victory is ours," Direction took over with a sound closer to home, "ABASIM," which means God in an Akwa Ibom language. The song says that when we look over the surface of the earth, there is no one that looks like God. The worship session was led by Ada with "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord," and “Great are you, Lord.”

Announcements came next. 'Buchi made them and he started by mentioning that at the end of the second service, there will be a benevolence/outreach trip to Okwe General Hospital, and all members; newcomers included were encouraged to join in the trip. The week long prayer and fasting programme continues tomorrow from 10 pm till midnight. Today is CITH (Church in the Home), it starts at 5 p.m., Kingdom Partnership Group members were encouraged to keep up with their committments, the position for a church driver was announced, the previous driver was a corps member who passed out in February. Lastly, the congregation was informed of a new media/PR campaign launched by the church on Facebook and Blogspot; where live feeds, updates, and pictures are posted during the course of every service and shortly after.

Next, it was time for “De Masterpiece” to minister to us, and they did with the song “More than we can bear,” led by Direction and Anita.

Pastor Chikelu, an associate pastor, came up next to warmly welcome the newcomers in our midst. After they were welcomed, he informed them of the mission and services of the church, the two Sunday services, 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., and the Wednesday Bible Study, 5 p.m.

It was finally time for the word to come to us through His servant, the host pastor of HOTR Asaba, Cosfinney N. Udoka. He was introduced to the congregation by Pastor Chikelu, with "De Masterpiece" singing "This is the air I breathe."

Before Pastor Udoka started the message, he appreciated "De Masterpiece," and reminded the women of the (career) empowerment programme organized by "Woman2Woman," the Women's Ministry of the church. He enjoined them to be a part of it. He also reminded the congregation of the week-long prayer program that will end on Thursday.

He then led everyone in the declaration "This is my Bible, I am what it says I am, I can do what it says I can do, I can become what it says I can become, I can enter where it says I can enter. So help me God."

Message Title: "Seed Principle"

Matthew 13 vs 24 -30: The parable of the sower and his seeds.

God is not a magician. Before He does anything for us, He gives them to us in the form of seeds, He operates with the (seed) principle. When we have our seeds, we should locate our field (s). It will not be wise or profitable to sow our seeds in someone else's field. Seeds grow, but tares appear. Even though the wheat and tares grow together, the good seed will always triumph, especially at the time of harvest.

Man is a seed, and every seed is productive. Some call this seed talent, some call it a gift. It doesn't matter where you come from, or what your background is. The seed in you is good because everything the Lord made is good. When God made us, He made us kings and gave us the right to rule in our rightful domains and territories. That is why we can not sow our seed in another man's field.  Do not let anyone talk you down because of his field, because when he comes into your field, he will be a novice. When you locate your field, start working on your seed, and as you do, it will produce for you. The fact that your field hasn't been called upon doesn't mean it doesn't exist, very soon life will call for it's manifestation.

The part of Eden where God placed Adam (and Eve) is Havilah, the land of gold. God knows where the gold is and he places us there so we can enjoy the gold. The Kingdom of God is a collective system and as long as you're in the kingdom, something is happening in you and around you, even if it is not evident and it seems you are moving backwards. In the Kingdom, individual progress is not counted, collective progress is. As long as you are in the Kingdom, you are making progress.

Matthew 13 vs 25: "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."

We need rest, it is vital to us. If you must win, you need rest. Since the Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers, it is an abomination for us to keep awake and take God's place. The more we worry about issues, the more stressed we become. Worrying about issues is not productive, it does not change them or make them better. God knows about our burdens because He has permitted them; they get to Him before they get to us. He is working on our behalf, we need to have that assurance in our spirit, no matter what. What God desires for us is bigger than what we desire for ourselves.

The enemy knows what kind of seeds we have; that is why he comes when we are resting. He is a coward, and he sows the tares at the time we are resting because he knows the harm we can cause to him if he comes when we are awake. He attacks when we least expect it, when our guards are down at the moment of rest.

That notwithstanding, there are some things God can not do when we are awake. Some of the greatest miracles happened when the people where asleep, remember Adam and Abraham? God visited them (with a life partner and a child) when they were asleep. Rest. Do not struggle the way other people are struggling, your Father is in charge. He is at the steering.

Wheat and Tares are similar. The word "Tares" comes from a Hebrew word, "Zizania," which means "Bastard Seed." A way to look at it is that they have the same mother (the church), but different fathers (God). They take instructions from a different god, they operate like us but get directions from a source different from our Heavenly Father. They are tares, we should be careful of them.

The sower in the Bible passage knew that it was better to allow both the wheat and tares to grow together because if you pull the tares, you will kill the wheat as their roots are intertwined. In the same way, God know that the wheat and tares have to grow side by side, the tares can not be pulled out yet. The wheat will always outlive the tares, irrespective of how long they live together.  Don't touch the frustration because you will destroy the fruitfulness. His grace is more than enough for us, despite the tares growing.The wheat has the ability to reproduce regardless of any hardship or trouble. We are good seeds and He will seperate the wheat from the tares on the day of harvest.

After the  prayer, the communion was shared among the congregation, while "De Masterpiece" sang "Oh, the blood of Jesus."

The communion was taken by the church only after the last person had received the bread and wine, newcomers were welcome, and the closing prayers and benediction were said.