Presbyterian Church Nsimeyong

26/04/2026

*TODAY’S MESSAGE*
*THEME: “The Shepherd’s heart.”*
Text : Jn.16:16-23a

World systems of leadership has developed complexes over time. Both the ones leading and the ones being lead face challenges. The church is having its own share of all of this. How can we lead people in the best possible way? What strategy can we develop to lead the people under our care?

Peter was a fisherman who in our text is called to be a shepherd. The skills used for catching fish is not the same as those used to take care of sheep. This is a man who is called upon from taking care of material things to taking care of humans with love. Two times Jesus will be consistent in His question of “do you love me?” Three times Peter will be consistent. “Lord, you know I love you….”
Very interesting; hear Jesus “ Simōn Joanou, agapāis me? (2×)
Jesus switches “Simōn Joanou Phileis me?

Then, the appeal and at the same time the command, “take care of my sheep” was given. Taking care of the sheep is an aspect of love and love comes from the heart. Reason why we are talking of the shepherd's heart.

The sheep is an animal that is not very clever. It needs a guide. A sheep left on its own will fall into a cliff, will wander and get missing. It will be attacked by wolves. So, the charge given to Peter is a great task, a risky task and a skilled task.

The work tool of the shepherd is the staff…. not to be used to beat the sheep but to lead them in the right direction, away from danger. A shepherd who becomes used to his sheep will not even use a staff. He will use his VOICE. The sheep is born with ears, the horns develop only later if necessary in some species of sheep…If you talk early enough and clearly, and specific enough, you will not need the staff. [Acha - sheep and shepherd..use of voice and drum]

When Jesus says my sheep know my voice and I know the voices of my sheep, this is what it implies. It is a matter of the heart, a relationship. If you don’t have the shepherd's heart, you will maltreat the sheep, you will abandon the sheep. You will exploit the sheep. You will manipulate them.
Let us remember, dear brothers and sisters that the Shepherd is not the owner of the sheep. He is a care taker.

My father had goats, he will even say, Kimbi that is your own goat, Ngwayi that is your own goat. You will actually know that the goat is not your own the day they are selling it. “Go tie goat, go loosen goat”. Have you ever gone to untie a goat on a stormy day….

The heart of the shepherd is a heart of forgiveness, a heart of love, it is a heart of tolerance, it’s a heart of accountability.
Leadership goes with huge responsibility and sacrifice.

Heart issues are serious issues. I challenge each one of us to reflect on how we deal with others. Are you brutal? You can do the opposite. Are you arrogant? You can be sobber. Do you neglect or abandon those in your care? It is never too late. You can still do something.

Dear Bethel Choir members, how do you respond to your leaders? What relationship have you built over time. Is it of the heart or transactional. Many wars would be stopped, many conflicts resolved, many misunderstandings ironed out if we use the heart more. Yes, because what comes out of the heart is love.

AMEN.

26/04/2026

20/04/2026

TODAY’S MESSAGE

THEME: “LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD”
Text : Jn.10:11-16

The concept of shepherd and shepherding is not new to us and it can be traced as far back as in the Old Testament. The word shepherd in Greek is ‘poimen’ which refers to herdsmen who tend sheep and goats. Figuratively, in the New Testament context, shepherds are spiritual leaders who guide, feed, and protect the flocks. Being in any leadership position whether in church or in the society makes one a shepherd with given responsibilities for the welfare of the people. For the work of the shepherd to be effective, there must be a mutual relationship between the sheep and shepherd grounded in love.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus Christ, in our text, declares himself as the good shepherd and as such, he expects the sheep to listen to him and follow his instructions. He listed out two things that made him outstanding as a good shepherd; he laid down his life for the sheep through his ministry and by his death and resurrection. Jesus’ second reason was to bring all men into one sheep fold so that they may be one under the great shepherd. His mission as a shepherd was beyond the Jews, but was to include Gentiles, men from every tribe and tongue and nation. Jesus remains the greatest shepherd among all the others shepherds and he has entrusted his mission of shepherding the flock into our hands. The early disciples started to accomplish this mission in Acts 2 and we are also part of it now. This therefore means that you and I are shepherds in one way or the other. *How effective are you as a shepherd? Do you listen and get instructions from Jesus before communicating them to the people?* Does the sheep know your voice and take to your instruction? *The reason why the sheep does not listen to us is because as shepherds, we are looking for our profits and we care less about the wellbeing of the sheep just like the hired laborers.*

Dearly beloved in Christ, the hired laborers are bad shepherds and are compared with the Pharisees who were against the shepherding method of Jesus. Jesus’ concern is all about the salvation of the sheep but the bad shepherd can be described as a thieve who robes the flocks, wolves that destroy them and were concerned about their own gains. This was the attitude of the shepherds of the Israelites that caused God to take over the shepherding of the people in Ezekiel 34: 11-16. For this is what the sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them…I will search for the lost and bring the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak…I will shepherd the flock with justice. Many shepherds today are like wolves which are the most dangerous animals that attack the sheep. They use all methods to squeeze from the people leaving them with nothing to sustain their lives. *The hired laborer and the bad shepherd have the same mindset. They will escape and abandon the sheep to be devoured in order to save their own lives.* They can do this because they have no personal loss if the sheep are killed. This is in contrast with the good shepherd who is ready to protect the sheep by risking his own life. Pastors sometimes suffer from ‘burn out’ because they want to satisfy the needs of the Christians. But there are some Christians who have fallen prey in the hands of wolves because they failed to listen to the instructions giving by their pastors. The false shepherds have no concern to protect the sheep but are interested in the money they get. Those who follow the false shepherd get into many troubles. Listen to the voice of the good shepherd and obey his instruction and it shall be well with you.

Dear Christians. Jesus is the good shepherd and wants us to follow his footsteps in our different areas of shepherding. He is a shepherd who is both effective and gracious towards the sheep. He knows the need and nature of each sheep in the sheep pen and they all recognize him as their shepherd. *Jesus knows the desires of everyone and is capable to address their different needs by leading them to pastures of green grass.* King David gives us a picture of a profound and an intimate relationship between the shepherd and sheep in *Psalm 23: 1-6 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.* If we listen and follow the instruction of the shepherd, there is nothing to be worried about. The relationship between Jesus and the Father should be like that between the sheep and the shepherd. Jesus succeeded in his life and ministry because he always listened to the Father and obeyed every instruction. He said in verse 14, ‘I am the good shepherd; I know the sheep and my sheep known me just as the Father knows me. And verse 16 says: I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
In shepherding, there should be a mutual relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. How many of us listen to the pastors without disobeying their instruction? Some people even think that they know more than their spiritual leaders. We must come to terms that the pastors get instructions from Jesus the great shepherd and communicate to us. Any pastor who does not follow Jesus’ example in shepherding will end up exploiting the flocks for their own gain. We are now in our mid-year fundraising season and every Christian is expected to give based on the way the LORD has blessed them. It will be disobedience if we refuse to give or discourage others to do so. God loves a cheerful giver and will always replenish our sources a hundredfold.

Beloved in the LORD, the voice of the shepherd could be the voice of your father, mother, teacher, boss, mentor, group leader and so on. We should be discerning when God is speaking to us through someone to lead us on the right path. Let us be careful with the many voices that are out there in the society with selfish desires and aims. Do not undermine the pastors God send to lead you. They are his representatives and voice. Listen to them and they will lead you to fields of green pasture where you have abundant supply in all areas of your life.
AMEN.

05/04/2026

*TODAY'S MESSAGE*
*Theme: ""Deliverance from the clothes of pain and shame"*

Text: John 20:1-10

Beloved in the Lord, our text this Easter Sunday narrates the happenings as recorded by John after the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, and particularly at the tomb where Jesus was laid. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away from the entrance, and she informed the apostles. When they got there, they noticed something unusual had happened: the clothes used to wrap the body of Jesus Christ in the tomb were lying around the place where they had laid Jesus` lifeless body. They were left behind in the tomb, carefully set aside, as a clear sign that He had risen and was no longer held by the grip of death. In rising, Jesus stepped out completely free, leaving behind every cloth that once defined His suffering and death.

We need to know that the resurrection power of God is not only about life after death: it is about being released from.what once bound you. It is the power that breaks chains you thought would never be broken, lifts the burden you have carried for too long, and rewrites stories that seemed permanently marked by pain. Resurrection power means that what held you captive, fear, guilt, sin. disappointment, rejection, even the weight of your past, does not have the final say over your life. It is the power that calls you out of darkness into light, out of limitation into freedom, and out of despair into hope. Just as the grave could not hold Jesus, know that the things that seem challenging around vou and in vour life cannot be a barrier to the manifestation of God's power

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, some of us are struggling with clothes of nain and shame that seem too heavy to remove. For some, it is the cloth of marital challenges, filled with misunderstandings, delays, or disappointments. For others. it is the cost of raising children, the stress, the worry, the burden of trying to provide for and guide hem in difficult situations. Some are wrapped in the cloth of false accusations: we carry wounds from words and iudgments that are not true. Others are covered by poverty and hardship, where every day feels like a battle to survive and every effort seems fruitless and frustrating. There are also those dealing with internal challenges, silent struggles, anxiety, fear. and battles of the mind that no one else sees Some are weighed down by health issues, moving from one pain to another, seeking relief. Others experience spiritua. oppression, including frightening dreams and disturbances that steal their peace at
night.

These clothes can feel tight, suffocating, and unending, as though there is no way out, Know that the same God Almighty who opened the tomb and took away the grave clothes from Jesus is still powerful today. HIe is not limited by time or situation. What God did yesterday, He can do today and now, Every cloth that has wrapped your life. visible or invisible, will be removed by His power God can lose you to set you free and place you in a place of liberty, peace, and restoration. Your situation is not beyond Him. Just as the tomb could not hold Jesus, those cloths will not hold ou forever. God will surely manifest His power in your life and bring you into a testimony of freedom Beloved in the Lord,

Some of us are living testimonies of what God has done in our lives. We look back and see clearly how God removed the old cloth of shame and pain that once covered us. Where we were rapped in the cloth shame of poverty and hardship, God brought providence that has washed away the past condition of our lives. Like the case of Jesus Christ, God did not just take away the old; He replaced it with something new. To some of us who used to be wrapped in the cloth of sickness, God has clothed us with the cloth of healing, the cloth of marriage where there was loneliness, the cloth of childrer where there was barrenness, and the cloth of victory where there was defeat. He has covered honour instead of shame, with dignity instead of us with disgrace, and with upliftment instead of despair. Our ives now speak of transformation, showing that when God steps in, He does not leave you as you were; He lifts you, restores you, and gives you a new identity for His glory

Dear God's People, what are the clothes of shame and pain wrapped around your life today? Identify them. whether they are wounds from the past, struggles of the present or fears about the future. Do not hold on to them. Bring them before God in prayer. Ask Him to manifest His resurrection power in your life, to remove cvery eloth that holds you captive, and to set you free completely. Pray for divine liberation, that chain be broken, every burden lifted, and every every covering of shame taken away, so that you may walk in the fullness of the new life He has prepared for you for the Glorification of the name of His Son. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, whose resurrection we celebrate this day.
AMEN.

29/03/2026

TODAY'S MESSAGE
THEME: “BE MODEST”
Text: Mt.21:1-11

Dear Christians, our text this morning is an account of Jesus’ Triumphant entry into Jerusalem, as recorded in Matthew 21:1–11. The biblical narrative presents a powerful picture of true greatness, expressed through humility by Jesus Christ. In preparation for his entering into Jerusalem, Jesus deliberately chooses a donkey, a simple, lowly animal, instead of a majestic horse, revealing that His kingship is not marked by pride, power, or display, but by gentleness and modesty.
*True authority is not displayed through grandeur but through humility and purpose.*

Beloved in the Lord, In Jesus’ time, kings and conquerors often used horses as a sign of power, dominance, and prestige. Yet Jesus went out of the contextual expectation by choosing the simple and ordinary, a donkey commonly used by the simple, modest, humble and low-income people. This teaches us that true authority is not displayed through grandeur but through humility and purpose, presenting modesty not as a weakness but as strength under control, and the ability to carry greatness without the need for outward display. This is a call for Christians to reject the temptation of self-exaltation and instead cultivate a life that values modesty, simplicity, service, and quiet obedience to God.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The temptation of praise did not move Jesus Christ to change from his peaceful mission of spiritual salvation to the political liberation of the Jews who were under Roman captivity. The crowd responded by spreading cloaks and shouting “Hosanna” (deliver us), highlighting a contrast between human expectations and divine intention. While the people anticipated a political Messiah who would manifest dominance, Jesus exercised a different mission rooted in peace and salvation. Even amid public praise, He remained focused and undeterred by applause or recognition.
*Modesty involves staying grounded in one’s calling regardless of external validation.*

Dear God’s people, The modesty demonstrated by Jesus Christ can be relevant in our social and financial lives. We need to be modest in how we spend in both our public and private lives. We need to adopt a God-conscious approach to resource use, where spending is guided not by impulse, pride, or the desire to impress others, but by wisdom, stewardship, and contentment, because *true worth is not measured by outward display or material abundance*. We need to live within our means and resist societal pressures that equate value in life with luxury living and unnecessary expenditure.

Some people seem wealthy and successful to everyone around them. They carry themselves with confidence, wear expensive clothes, drive flashy cars, and post glamorous lives on social media. To outsiders, they seem wealthy. Yet their reality is a contrast to their show. Their families may be struggling to eat, pay school fees, or meet basic needs, and some have huge, unreasonable debts from borrowing and spending to maintain the image of success. Let us let go of the pressure to prove ourselves great and successful to others.

*Jesus’ choice to ride a donkey rather than a horse into Jerusalem is a powerful and relevant lesson in modesty.*

Beloved in the Lord, Many young people today are caught in the trap of living beyond their means, striving to project an image of success that far exceeds their reality. They scramble to own the latest expensive phones, wear the trendiest clothes, and appear very rich and successful on social media, all in a bid to “show up” and gain approval. Yet behind the carefully curated posts and polished selfies, the truth is often stark; they struggle to meet basic needs, sometimes not even having enough to eat. This contrast highlights the danger of valuing appearance over substance. True worth is not measured by what is seen online because some things are not the reality.

Dear Christians, In human relationships, whether with the poor or the rich, modesty fosters equality, compassion, and genuine respect, rejecting discrimination and class status gaps. In professional life, a lack of modesty can quietly become a source of tension and conflict.

In our daily lives, whether as young people, professionals, or leaders, the temptation to “ride on horses” of pride, competition, and social pressure is strong. Today, we are called to choose the “donkey”: a life of humility, integrity, and authenticity. We need to understand that who we are is more important than what we display. Just as Jesus fulfilled His mission not through showiness but through humility, we too can move forward in life with quiet confidence, knowing that God exalts those who walk humbly. AMEN.

22/03/2026

TODAY’S MESSAGE

THEME: “MAY GOD GLORIFY HIS NAME IN YOUR LIFE”*
Text: : Jn.12:27-36

Beloved in the LORD, we are grateful to God for another encounter with his life transforming word. There is always an experience of God’s glory each time his children gather for worship. In the presence of the glory of God, many things can change in our lives. Jesus Christ, in his earthly life and ministry, focused on bringing glory to God. We too can bring glory to God in all we do and the manifestation of God’s glory can mean different things to us. Moses experienced the glory of God during his call and his stay on Mount Sinai for forty days. God revealed his glory to Jesus during the transfiguration and he was strengthened and empowered to accomplish his mission.

The word glory from which glorify, glorious, glorification is gotten comes from the Hebrew word ‘Kavod’. It means God’s magnificence worth, the beauty of his Spirit that emanates from his character, and the grandeur of his perfection and presence. (cf Ex 13:21-22). In Greek, the word glory is ‘doxa’ and has to do with the splendor, radiance, majesty and honor of God. The glory of God is also the weight of His presence. When a person is experiencing the glory of God, there is a profound sense of peace, strength, guidance, protection and a deep connection of something greater than oneself. His glory brings wholeness, purpose and the assurance of His love that overcomes fear and our human limitations. Jesus understood this and always remained in the glory of the Father and finally fulfilled his purpose on the earth. May God glorify his name in our lives by bestowing honor and elevating us to positions higher above our expectations in the name of Jesus Christ.

Our text is Apostles John’s account of Jesus’ prayer before the hour of his suffering and death and the reaction of the crowd when God spoke from heaven. It is worthy to note that Jesus being fully human was afraid of the suffering and pain of death on the cross. He said, ‘Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name (John 12:27-28). Jesus’ life had a divine timetable and his human ministry had to face the hour of his passion. With a troubled spirit, he pondered whether he should pray for the salvation from the hour but he came for the same purpose to die for the salvation of the world. Surrendering himself to the divine will table, Jesus prayed, Father, glorify your name. He turned his attention from physical pain to bringing glory to the Father. Have you ever been given a task that was difficult but you had no other choice than to do it for God’s glory? At the juncture of frustration and fear, the assuring voice of God came from heaven. Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again. The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him, verses 28-29. The Father was pleased with the prayer of the Son and praised him. God had glorified himself through the many miracles wroth through Jesus Christ, for instance raising Lazarus to life. The statement I will glorify it again and John’s emphasis of the word glorification describes the triumphant outcome of the mission of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection. Jesus’ life was at a very crucial hour and he had back up from a divine voice. God committed himself and directed events in the life of the Son in such a way that his will was glorified

Dear Christians, the voice that spoke from heaven had three different reactions from the crowd that surrounded Jesus. They did not understand the relationship between Jesus and the Father as well as his mission. They saw Jesus as the Messiah who shall live for ever, be their king to free them from their enemies. The first group of people merely heard a voice from heaven like that of thunder and were not positioned to receive any revelation from it. This is how some Christians are. They listen to the word of God but receive no deep revelation that can change their lives. The second group of people distinguished the voice to be like that of an angel. They recognized some kind of supernatural communication but did not understand anything. We need to pay close attention when God speaks to us in different ways. Jesus on the third position said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Jesus recognized that it was the voice of the Father and explained to the people that the voice spoke for their benefit and for the glorification of God.

Dear friends in the LORD, Jesus went further to explain that his Father was not only going to glorify his name in his life but he was also to bring glory to God by his judgment and defeat of the prince of this world, Satan. After his death and resurrection, he draws all men to himself, frees them from the power of sin and gives them dominion over the prince of this world. If Jesus does all of these for our salvation, then, there is nothing he cannot do for us. What is that condition that has troubled your life? What has been the pattern of our prayers to God? Let us pray for God to manifest his glory in our lives. May God glorify his name by performing that miracle that will change our story of pain to laughter and celebration. I know that we have different areas of our lives where we have experienced his glory. He is assuring us that he will glorify his name again in our lives. Through the power of his glory we were healed, delivered from that accident, that conspiracy and attack from the enemies. Whatever is that giant or stubborn challenge in your life and family let the glory and power of the God take control.

Beloved Christians of Nsimeyong, we still need the glory of God for transformation, direction, empowerment, and so on. No one can encounter the glory of God and remain the same. The evidence of God’s glory shall always be seen in our lives if we endeavour to do that which is pleasing to him. God always glorified his name in the life of Jesus because he was ready to lay down his life for humanity. To experience the glory of God requires our own effort. The things we ask God in prayers should bring glory back to him and not for self- aggrandizement and fame. Jesus desired the glory of God in his life and prayed for it. Let us also pray that on a daily basis the name of God should be glorified in our lives.
AMEN.

15/03/2026

TODAY’S MESSAGE
THEME: “DENY YOURSELF AND FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST”
Text: John 12:20-26

Beloved in Christ, we have come to another Sunday in Lent when we follow our Lord through His 40 days of suffering to the cross. In today’s passage, Jesus exposes the essence of his mission and the requirements of discipleship: self-denial. The text offers a turning point in Jesus’ ministry where He reveals the nature of His mission and the cost associated with discipleship. The event is situated in the context of the Passover, where worshippers from various regions, including the Greeks, have come to Jerusalem. There are some key elements I would like us to highlight in the text: the pursuit of Jesus, the paradox of life and death, and the call to service. All these centres on the aspect of having a sacrificial relationship with Jesus Christ. In the pursuit of Jesus, the Greeks approached Philip, asking to see Jesus. Their desire to see Jesus illustrates the growing universal longing for connection with the divine. Like the Greeks, there are moments in our lives that we need clarity and purpose. Jesus’ response to the Greeks underscores the paradox of life and death, the necessity of his death, and the cost of following him. He presents a powerful metaphor of the seed to illustrate the principle of self-sacrifice. If the seed does not die, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. This is the pathway to deny oneself by killing certain aspects of life and bearing good fruits.

Dear God’s People, Philip and Andrew's interaction with those who seek Jesus illustrates an important principle in evangelism and missions. They connected those who seek Jesus with the opportunity to know Him. This demonstrates the work of a true disciple and fervent follower. The call to service. Jesus underscores that true discipleship is not passive; it requires action, commitment, and sacrifices. It requires that we forgo our life pleasures and have a radical reorientation of our values by embracing the path of self-sacrifice. Jesus by articulating that “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, and whoever hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. John 12:25 calls us to evaluate what we prioritise. Do we live for our own interests, or are we aligning ourselves with God's purposes? Living in a time filled with earthly distractions, social media, work, and personal struggles, Christ invites us to follow Him and love Him more than our own lives. It is an invitation for us to deny ourselves and embrace humility and service. Apostle Paul urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. It’s not just about a physical death but a surrender of our will, pride, and desires. He assures us in 2Cor. 4:11 that “All of this is for our benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God”.

Dearly Beloved, in a world that often encourages self-promotion and personal gain, a world of self-gratification and personal pride, Jesus challenges us to turn our perspectives upside down. To deny ourselves and the world for His service. To deny ourselves beloved means to surrender our aspirations, desires, anxieties, bitterness and those things that overwhelm us. Self-denial is not about self-hatred or neglecting our needs; rather, it is about prioritising our relationship with Jesus above all else. In our journey of self-denial, we first must understand who we are in Christ. We should be conscious that, in Christ, we are no longer defined by our failures, successes, or social status; our identity is rooted in the love and grace of Jesus. And so, when we understand this, it becomes easier to let go of our selfish ambitions because we realise that our worth is not in what we do, but in who we are in Christ.

Yes, I am aware that denial of self can seem very difficult and countercultural, especially in a society obsessed with instant gratification and personal achievement. The world tells us to elevate our personal desires. Yet, Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. To take up the cross is to deny ourselves and embrace pain and sacrifice, bearing in mind that there is a reward for all who deny themselves for the sake of Christ. Remember, Jesus says, “My Father will honour the one who serves me,” reassuring us that if we lose our lives for Christ’s sake, we will find it. This is a paradox that can be misleading, but it means that true fulfilment is found not in our pursuits but in surrendering to Jesus. May we be inspired by Christ's example, who, for the joy of humanity, set himself to endure the cross. Let us lay down our lives, take up our cross, and follow Him, bearing fruit that lasts for eternity.

Dear people of God, as we follow Jesus, our lives must be marked by service. Serving others reflects our commitment to Christ. To serve is to deny yourself first for the sake of others, and when we serve, we do more than fulfil a duty; we become channels of Christ's love. Mahatma Gandhi says, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” In other words, to deny yourself is the best way to serve. Therefore, as we embrace this call to deny ourselves for the service of Christ, let us remember that we do not do so alone. The Holy Spirit is there to empower us, and in Christ, we will find our true selves. May our lives shine brightly as a testament to Christ’s love and grace. May the transforming work of the Holy Spirit allow us to grow in love, patience, goodness and kindness; qualities that reflect Christ's character. So let us focus on the cross of the Master.

AMEN.