The Apostolic Church, Blackpool

13/09/2026

*RESTORATION TODAY- TACN PRODUCTION*

*SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026.*

*TOPIC: A HERE AND THERE BELIEVER*

_*“And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” 1st Kings 20:40.*_

*MESSAGE*
The background of this passage comes from the conflict between Israel and Syria during the reign of Ahab. God delivered Ben-Hadad, the Syrian king, into Ahab's hand, but instead of carrying out God's judgment, Ahab made a covenant with him and released him. To expose this disobedience, a prophet disguised himself as a wounded soldier and told Ahab a parable. In the story, a man was entrusted with guarding a prisoner, but while he was busy here and there, the prisoner escaped. This parable revealed Ahab's own failure: he lost what God had committed into his hands because his priorities were misplaced.

The phrase “here and there” speaks of divided attention, scattered focus, and careless busyness. The man in the story did not claim that he deliberately released the prisoner, but his distraction caused him to lose what had been entrusted to him. This is a powerful warning for believers today. God places responsibilities in our hands: faith, prayer, character, family, ministry, service, leadership, and the souls under our influence. Yet many lose precious things, not through open rebellion, but through distraction. A prayer life can be lost through busyness. Children can be spiritually neglected through material pursuit. A calling can be weakened through ambition, comparison, or the desire for recognition.

The danger of being a “here and there believer” is serious. The enemy does not always need to attack openly; sometimes distraction is enough to make a person abandon divine responsibility. Therefore, we must guard what God has committed into our hands. Leaders must watch over the flock. Parents must watch over their homes. Ministers must guard the gospel. Every believer must guard faith, holiness, prayer, and purpose. Refuse the scattered life. Cultivate spiritual discipline, clarity of purpose, and devotion to God. When you remain focused, you preserve what has been entrusted to you and fulfil the purpose for which God called you.

ACTION POINT
✍️ Examine your life today and identify any distraction causing you to neglect what God has entrusted to you.

*SCRIPTURES*
1st Kings 20:40;
Luke 16:10;
1st Corinthians 4:2; Hebrews 2:1;
Proverbs 4:23.

*PRAYER POINTS*

1. Lord, deliver me from every distraction that weakens my spiritual responsibility.

2. Father, help me to faithfully guard everything You have entrusted into my hands.

3. Lord, grant me the grace to remain focused on my divine calling and assignment.

*THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR*
1st Kings 6,
Jeremiah 13,
Ephesians 5:22-6:9.

12/09/2026

The Bible Calendar For 13th September, 2026.

1 Kings 6
Jeremiah 13
Ephesians 5: 22 - 6: 9

POINTS:
1. He Needs You
2. Don't Be Proud
3. Home As Church

1. HE NEEDS YOU
God cannot be bribed and whatever we do for Him cannot change His will for us, He knows what He wants. To human beings, God is supposed to appreciate building the temple, yet He told Solomon His desire: to keep the relationship with Him. He cherishes living in our hearts more than the physical building we are building, He wants our life more than anything given to Him, and that is why Paul says that we should give our hearts to Him as a living sacrifice. He told Solomon, "If you will keep my law and Judgement, I will dwell in your midst." This means that no matter what we do, if our mind is not aligned with His will, no sacrifice will be acceptable. He does not need to appreciate us because anything done comes from Him, whatever we use is given to us by Him; let us humble ourselves. Many will be bragging about the gifts they have but they forget that all things were given to them by God. Your gifts cannot be acceptable unless you live a holy life, your money is nothing to Him if you do not live your life in Him. He needs you, He wants you and He cherishes you more than the gifts given to Him; you are irreplaceable unless you deny God His right. Therefore, walk and be perfect in His presence He cannot negotiate His will with anyone.

2. DON'T BE PROUD
God accused the Israelites of being proud of Him, He called them but they did not yield, and He showed them through Jeremiah that after being buried they will decay and be good for nothing. This is what we should be thinking about anything we are doing because we can only do something when we are alive and when we die there is nothing we can do again only for our work to follow us. Remember your Creator now don't be proud or prove stubborn, He wants to embrace you and make you closer to Him, so give your heart to Him. Know that He has many people that He can use, therefore calling you to do something for Him, even if there are no resources in your ability to do what He asked you to do, just say I will, He gives strength to the weak and He will help you to do what He assigned you to do through you and you will still collect the reward here on earth and in the world to come. Pride is the destroyer of glory humble yourself before God.

3. HOME AS CHURCH
If everyone can behave at home as in the church God would be happy with us. Meanwhile, the home is the symbol of the church: the husband as Jesus, the wife like the church, the children as the church members, and servants as the workers. Many husbands or fathers are gentle in the church but wicked at home, and many wives kneel to their pastor and greet ministers with respect but their husbands are nobody to them. Apostle Paul said the wife should submit, the husband should love, the children should obey with honour, the father should not make the children angry, and servants should listen to their masters with fear. All these are demonstrated in the church: submission, love, respect, and obedience are well kept in the church, especially in the time of service. Why can't we observe them one to another in our homes since we call our home the house of God? Jesus said If you don't love the person you see, how can you love the person you did not see? The husband is the physical Jesus at home, he is the pastor, shepherd, and teacher of the family and anyone who is disobedient to Him has contravened God's Law and his wife should be kept jealously in Love to make sure she is presentable to Christ. All the members of our household shall be accounted for, especially regarding their salvation when Christ comes. This is also to tell the ministers that they will give an account of their homes even before accounting for their church members, those who are good pastors on the pulpit and wolves at home should repent now. If the pastors should take care of their home as they care for the church members, they would have more peace of mind than they have. Let's keep ourselves well-equipped for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Treat your home as you treat the church.
Pastor M. O. Shodipe.
For questions: 08056044717, 08080620849.

12/09/2026

*LESSON 33 ~ 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2026*

*TOPIC: MEANS AND EVIDENCE OF REGENERATION*

*TEXTS:* 1 John 5:4-5,18; 1 Peter 1:22-25; Gal. 5:22-23

*MEMORY VERSE:* 1 Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

*LESSON OBJECTIVES:* At the end of this lesson, participants should be able to:
1. Describe how to be regenerated.
2. State the evidence of regeneration.

*INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:* The Holy Bible, Sunday School manual, and pictures showing two human hearts: one black (representing sinful state) and one white (representing a new state of righteousness).

*INTRODUCTION*
As we have learnt in our previous lessons, regeneration is a spiritual rebirth by which a believer in Christ is born as a new person into God's family. Man's sinful nature separates him from God. He lives as a rebel subject to the wrath of his creator. In order for him to regain fellowship with God and escape eternal doom awaiting him- Rev. 21:8, he must of necessity repent from his sinful lifestyles, turn to God and regenerated- Rom. 2:5-9; Matt. 3:2; John 1:12. The life of a regenerated believer is totally transformed after God in righteousness and holiness- Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Peter 3:3. Regeneration is a criterion for entering God's kingdom- John 3:3; Heb. 12:14.

*SUBJECT MATTER*
*How to Be Regenerated*
Regeneration can occur through the following means:
1. *The Word of God:* When the heart of man receives the Gospel of Christ as a viable seed, it germinates by faith and transforms him by producing in him a new nature after Christ Jesus- James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Cor. 4:15.
2. *The Holy Spirit:* This is the active agent of the New Birth! He convicts the sinner through the word of God, leads the sinner to conversion from sin and regeneration- John 3:5-8; 16:8; Titus 3:5-6.
3. *Abiding in Christ:* By constant fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, and obedience to His words, the believer becomes regenerated, partakes of the divine nature and begins to bear fruits unto righteousness- John 15:1-5; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:22.
4. *The Will of God:* Regeneration is not according to human will but an act of divine will- James 1:18; John 1:13; Acts 13:48

*Evidence of Regeneration*
The following behaviours are observed in the life of a regenerated person:
1. *Love for the Lord Jesus Christ and fellow believers as members of the same family*- 1 John 5:1; 4:7; Luke 10:27.
2. *A life of holiness and righteousness:* Regeneration promotes the zeal for holiness and righteous living in accordance with the new nature- 1 John 2:29, 5:18; 3:9; 1 Peter 1:15,16.
3. *A life that manifests the fruits of the Holy Spirit*- Gal. 5:22-23; John 15:5,8.
4. *Hatred of the world and its sinful system:* The regenerated believer hates the evil passions, lusts, fashions and sinful system of this present world- 1 John 2:15-17; II Cor. 6:14-18.
5. *Living an overcoming life:* The regenerated person overcomes sin and the world- 1 John 3:9; 5:4.
6. *Possessing a Christ-like life of humility and meekness* -Matt. 5:5; 11:29; Phil. 2:7-8.
7. *Passion for evangelism:* He has a great desire to preach the gospel to lost souls and win them to Christ- Acts 9:15-20.

*APPLICATION*
Man's old nature is utterly depraved. His old sinful nature received from Adam separates him from God, the source of eternal life. For him to be saved, a spiritual rebirth or regeneration is required to impute unto him a new godly nature. List your old sinful behaviours. List the new godly behaviours you have experienced since you were born again. Compare the fruit of these two natures. However, if you have not experienced any new life, it means that you are not born again. You can now pray to God for this new experience.

*EVALUATION*
1. Mention two ways by which a person can be regenerated.
2. State four evidence of regeneration.

*CONCLUSION*
Regeneration is necessary for our entrance into God's kingdom. It ensures the departure from our depraved nature into a new nature in Christ- 2 Cor. 5:17. The unregenerated are hypocrites who will suffer eternal doom in the lake of fire- Rom. 2:5-9; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 23:13-33. Without regeneration, we cannot bear the fruits of the Spirit and hence risk being cut off from Christ, the true vine- John 15:1-8. Believers, therefore, must be truly born again to obtain eternal life as well as an imperishable inheritance in heaven- 1 Peter 1:3-4.

12/09/2026

Happy weekend from TAC Blackpool Assembly UK

12/09/2026

*RESTORATION TODAY - TACN PRODUCTION*

*SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026.*

*TOPIC: DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD*

_*“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1st John 2:15*_

*MESSAGE*
To love the world is to become devoted to the fallen system of values that opposes God. This includes pride, lust, materialism, ungodly pleasure, and every attitude that competes with devotion to Christ. Apostle John warns believers not to attach themselves to the thinking and desires of the world, because such attachment can draw the heart from the things above. Christians must not be directed by the evil values and morals of a world system deceived by Satan. We are in the world, but we must not belong to the world.

It is impossible to love God with the devotion He requires and at the same time live in compromise with the values of the world. No one can serve two masters equally; one will eventually be preferred above the other. John summarises worldly attitudes under three expressions: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These are the channels through which worldliness often enters the heart. The lust of the flesh seeks sinful pleasure, the lust of the eyes feeds greedy desire, and the pride of life exalts self above God.

Whatever is ungodly in the world must not be found ruling the life of the believer. Our attitudes, character, behaviour, relationships, ambitions, and desires must reflect Christ, not the spirit of the age. Paul also admonishes believers not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. It is a pity that worldly behaviours and characters are sometimes found even among church people, but each believer can still choose to be different. Determine today to abstain from worldliness, walk in holiness, and set your affection on things above.

*ACTION POINT*
✍️ Determine today, as a Christian, to abstain from worldliness and live wholly for God.

*SCRIPTURES*
2nd Corinthians 6:14–18; Galatians 5:19–21;
1st John 2:15–16; Colossians 3:1–2; Romans 12:2.

*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Lord, give me the grace not to love the world or the things that are in the world.

2. Father, uphold me in this wayward generation and keep my heart faithful to You.

3. Father, give me the grace not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

*THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR*
1st Kings 4-5,
Jeremiah 12,
Ephesians 5:1-21.

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

*RESTORATION TODAY - TACN PRODUCTION*

*FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026.*

*TOPIC: HAS EGYPT LEFT YOU?*

_*“And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?” Exodus 14:11.*_

*MESSAGE*
Israel experienced a mighty deliverance from Egypt. God brought them out with a strong hand, parted the Red Sea, defeated their enemies, and openly displayed His power before them. Yet when danger appeared again, fear resurfaced in their hearts. Though they had left Egypt physically, Egypt had not fully left their thinking. Their bodies were on the road to freedom, but their minds still carried the fear, limitation, and survival mentality of bo***ge. This teaches us that divine intervention must be followed by inner transformation.

Egypt represents bo***ge, fear, limitation, and a slave mentality. Even after witnessing miracles, the Israelites often returned in their thoughts to panic, complaint, and doubt. Many believers today experience salvation and deliverance, yet still think like slaves. When pressure comes, they expect defeat. When opportunities arise, they shrink back. When God opens a new door, they remember old pain more than divine promise. The body may have moved forward, but the mindset remains behind. This is why the renewal of the mind is necessary for the enjoyment of true freedom.

The critical question is not only whether God has brought you out; He has. The deeper question is whether you have allowed Him to renew your thinking. Freedom must move beyond location into mentality. The Lord has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Therefore, surrender every fear-driven thought to God. Replace bo***ge mentality with faith-filled confidence. Refuse to interpret your future through the pain of your past. If God has brought you out of Egypt, then let Egypt leave your heart, your language, your choices, and your expectations.

*ACTION POINT*
✍️ Ask yourself honestly what fear still influences your decisions, and surrender it deliberately to God today.

*SCRIPTURES*
Exodus 14:10–12; Numbers 14:1–4; Isaiah 43:18–19;
2nd Timothy 1:7; Romans 12:2.

*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Father, deliver me from every residue of fear in my thinking.

2. Lord, remove every trace of bo***ge mentality from my life.

3. Help me to walk boldly in the freedom You have already given me.

*THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR*
1st Kings 3,
Jeremiah 11,
Ephesians 4:17-32

10/09/2026

The Bible Calendar For 11th September 2026.

1 Kings 3
Jeremiah 11
Ephesians 4:17- 32

POINTS:
1. Gazing to His Presence
2. Violation of God's Covenant
3. New Life in Christ

1. GAZING TO HIS PRESENCE
It is suitable for the people of God especially the leaders of the people desiring to be in the presence of God, where many things can be settled, where achievements can be made, where we can take from the sources of the rulers of the heavens and earth. Anything done physically had been settled spiritually beforehand, but many don't cherish the presence of God, many can't differentiate the presence of God from the presence of man, even in the place of prayer some get there to joke or to while away time for formality's sake, but Solomon utilised the opportunity for finding himself in the presence of the Lord unconsciously. He asked for what could be useful to his government. It is sure that this man might have desired this while conscious, it would have been that he had pondered on the need to rule the people, surely it cannot be while sleeping, the passion would have been there, and he might have studied his father's mistakes and the people around him, which might have given him the impetus to ask. According to the passage, he had been making sacrifices on mountains until he got to the greatest mountain in Gibeon and made thousands of burnt offerings before God, and in his dream, God said he should ask for what he wanted. Many people desire the top but they have nothing to offer, many that are placed at the top are following the pace of the time for they have no idea of the requirements, meanwhile, no one is greater than his mind, the place where to get greater is the presence of God. When we are placed in a position, we still need to go to the Lord for His leading, or else we follow our will and that of people who may not be God's will. Every time needs the presence of God, yesterday's directive may still be valid but daily living in the presence of God enhances greater achievement. Solomon asked for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, these three principal blessings are attached to many blessings. For instance, wisdom makes rich, safe, and many other goodness on earth, while knowledge is the power and ability to create wealth, and understanding helps one to live long and healthy and to be relevant with all situations. All that we need is in the presence of God, let's desire to be there and our leadership and blessings shall come from the throne of God.

2. VIOLATION OF GOD'S COVENANT
Christians' calling is a covenant that is sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ and this is openly confessed at the baptism with renunciation of the Devil, sin, world, and flesh to accept Jesus as personal Saviour. This is likened to the covenant of God with the Israelites sealed by law on Mount Sinai to make them the people of God, but they violated the covenant of God and they forsook the law of God which made Him look for them through different prophets yet they refused to follow their God. It got to the extent in this passage that God told Jeremiah not to pray or weep for these people because He would not hear. The New Covenant is sealed with the Blood of Jesus Christ, with the supervision of the Holy Spirit to sustain us till the end. We must not violate this new covenant because there is no more salvation in any other place. The Devil, sin, world, and flesh will continue to bombard us so that we may come back to them. We should learn from Israel and Judah as they were left in their pride and brought salvation to the Gentiles. We should not allow our salvation to get lost. Let us hold on to the covenant that we made with Him. May His grace sustain us till His second coming in Jesus' name.

3. NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Humanity goes with us into the new life. After accepting Jesus as our Saviour, we become a new nature with new character, where we allow the Spirit of God to possess us and replace our stony heart with a Christ-like behaviour, with which we will be saying the truth, not keeping malice but forgiving all offenders; stealing, careless talk, bitterness, anger and many other things will no longer be found within us but living a life worthy of emulation. Many Christians speak in tongues, they prophesy, they preach yet the old nature still dominates their life. Many Christian husbands and wives are still found in domestic violence, and some are keeping malice even in their homes and the church. We are called to be holy people, living sacrifices, we are to bless people and show the love of God to the world, to anyone that doing the work of the flesh, to those who are yet to know Christ and to those who are babies in Christ. When our character is the same as the people in the world, what is the benefit will attract unbelievers to come to the Lord Jesus? Many children are not born again because their parents who profess to have been born again are worse than unbelievers. Heaven has no two rules, it is only those who live a Christ-like life who will enter into heaven. We still have this chance today to amend our life by the Gospel and live a new life in Christ Jesus. When the Lord comes we will be caught up ready in Jesus' name.
Pastor M. O. Shodipe.
For questions: 08056044717, 08080620849.

10/09/2026

Dear Brethren,

Whatever we have learnt, received, heard, and seen in Christ should not remain mere information. It must become a lifestyle.

Knowing the Word is good, but living the Word is what makes the difference. We must not only be hearers of the Word; we must be doers.

Let our faith be seen in our character.
Let our love be seen in our actions.
Let our forgiveness be practical.
Let our obedience be evident.
Let our lives preach even when our mouths are silent.

Be a practising Christian, not merely a mouthed Christian.

📖 James 1:22
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only."

May our lives continually reflect the Christ we profess. Amen.

— Ps S.A.O Afolabi ✨