Foursquare Gospel Church Ijedodo

22/12/2024

22/12/2024

25/09/2021

Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Proverbs 17:28 NLT

Yoruba
Kódà aláìgbọ́n máa ń dàbí ọlọ́gbọ́n bí ó bá dákẹ́ àti bí olóye bí ó bá fètèmétè.
Òwe 17:28 YCB

Igbo
Ọbuná onye uche-ya b͕agọrọ ab͕agọ, mb͕e ọ nāb͕a, anāgu ya n'onye mara ihe: Onye nēkpuchi eb͕ub͕ere-ọnu-ya abua bu onye-nghọta.
ILU 17:28 IGBOB

Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

26/08/2020

FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH IJEODODO
CENTRE OF CELEBRATION
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY August 25, 2020

WILL CHRISTIANS BE JUDGED?
(Text: 1 Corinthians 3: 1-15 Romans 14:10 -12; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

Will Christians be judged? Yes, all Christians will be judged. Every believer is
subject to a three-fold judgment which covers his past, present and future life:

(1) As a SINNER: this judgment is PAST – look at John 5:24.
(2) As a SON: this judgment is PRESENT – look at 1 Corinthians 11:28,31,32.
(3) As a STEWARD: this judgment is FUTURE – look at Romans 14:10.

The moment anyone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, God saves him (Acts 16:30-
31; Romans 10:9-10). No one deserves to be saved, and no one can do anything
to merit salvation. Salvation is all of grace (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5), and is
given fully and freely, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, to all who accept
Him. And because salvation is all of grace, when the Lord comes again, every
Christian will be translated into His presence to be with Him for ever (1
Thessalonians 4:17-18). But there are different kinds of Christians: faithful and
unfaithful (Matthew 25:21); spiritual and carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1); diligent and
careless (Ephesians 5:15-17). What does it matter, then, as to the kind of
Christians we are if when the Lord comes again we shall all be caught up anyway?
It matters very much, for:
“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10; 2
Corinthians 5:10), and there we shall “receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14), or
we shall “suffer loss” (1 Corinthians 3:15) according to the kind of Christians we
have been!
Christian, there is a great Examination Day coming – and you must live and work in
the light of that day if you would receive “a full reward” – look at 2 John 8. It makes
a tremendous difference what kind of a Christian you are. No believer will ever be
judged for his sins, for the sins of every believer have already been judged and
punished in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross (Romans 8:1). But
every believer will be judged concerning his life and service.

1. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ we shall appear
as we really are.
Down here we are never seen by each other as we really are; only God can see
our hearts – look at 1 Samuel 16:7, and compare 2 Corinthians 5:10. This latter
verse may be literally translated, “in our true characters.” In this connection, read
Acts 5:1-10. Then notice in 1 Corinthians 3:13 that the fire is to try the kind of work
we have rendered to the Lord – not the appearance of that work. In 1 Corinthians
4:5, we are told that the one thing which counts before God is reality, and that at the
Judgment Seat of Christ He will make manifest our motives and reward us
accordingly.

2. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ we shall have to
give an account of ourselves and of our services.
Romans 14:12 tells us this. There are no exceptions, for Paul says, “each of us…”;
and the account we shall give is of ourselves – not of others. It will be revealed
then:
(1) Whether we have sought to live for God’s glory – or for self-pleasing
(2 Corinthians 5:15).
(2) How we have used our time (John 9:4; Ephesians 5:16).
(3) How we have used our money, possessions, property (Matthew 6:19-21).
(4) Whether we have been concerned to seek and to save the lost (2 Corinthians
5:11).
(5) Whether we have been faithful in prayer (Luke 18:1).
(6) All the words we have spoken…(Matthew 12:36).
(7) Our attitude towards our brethren…(Romans 12:10; 14:10; Galatians 6:1;
1 Peter 5:5).
(8) Our work will have to be accounted for (1 Corinthians 3:13).

3. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, everything that
is worthless and empty will be burned up, and only that which can
stand the test of fire will remain.
Read 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, and notice the two kinds of materials:
(1) That which abides the testing of fire and which is purified by the fire (gold,
silver, precious stones).
(2) That which is easily burned up because it is worthless (wood, hay, stubble).
The life we live and the way we serve is one of two kinds – either that which
will stand the test of fire, or that which will not!

4. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, the purpose of
the Judge may not be to punish unfaithfulness, but to reward
faithfulness.
We will have to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ in order that He may
give honour, promotion and reward where it has been merited. Prize days at
school are held, not in order to punish those who have not done well, but in
order to reward those who have done well. How important it is for us to live
and labour in the power of the Holy Spirit in order that we may receive a reward
(1 Corinthians 3:14)! When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ:
(1) Some will hear the word of divine approval (Matthew 25:21-23).
(2) Some will receive promotion (Luke 19:17-19; Revelation 20:4).
(3) All of us may receive crowns. Look at:
(1) the incorruptible crown – for living a disciplined life (1 Corinthians 9:25).
(2) the crown of life – for enduring trials (James 1:12).
(3) the crown of rejoicing – for soul-winning service (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
(4) the crown of glory – for shepherding the flock (2 Peter 5:2-4).
(5) the crown of righteousness – for loving His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).
Now look at 2 John 8!

5. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, it will be too late
to wish we had been more faithful, zealous and careful in our service.
Now is the time to see to these things – look at 1 Corinthians 11:31; 1 John
2:18!
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in
the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

18/08/2020

FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH IJEODODO
CENTRE OF CELEBRATION
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY August 18, 2020

THE TWO-FOLD NATURE OF EVERY BELIEVER
(Text: Romans: 7: 15-25)

In our last study we saw the importance of being able to distinguish between our standing and our state, but now we shall emphasise the importance of recognising the two-fold nature of the believer. Many Christians become discouraged because they do not understand this doctrine. Every Christian experiences the truth and the reality of the dual nature within, but not every Christian understands the doctrine or the explanation of the experience. The subject may be stated as follows:-

(1) Every unbeliever has one nature only, the nature inherited from Adam. The Bible describes the unregenerate man as “The man without the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14) – man as he is by nature and apart from Christ.
(2) When an unbeliever believes and is born again, he receives a completely new nature. He received his old nature by his natural birth and through his union with Adam, but by his second birth he receives a new nature through his union with the last Adam, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Thus, he has two natures within – the old and the new.
(3) When we are born again we receive the new nature, but we do not lose the old nature. It is important to note this. While we are in the body we shall never lose the old Adamic nature; there will always be two natures within us – the old and the new.
(4) These two natures within every believer are the exact opposite of each other. One is wholly bad and the other is wholly good. (Galatians 5:17)

1. THE OLD NATURE
Every child born by human generation has the old nature, which in the New Testament is sometimes called the “old self”; it is also described as “the sinful nature” – look at Romans 6:6; 7:18; 8:8; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9.
(1) The old nature is Adam’s nature. God created Adam with a sinless nature. Then sin entered, and Adam fell and became spiritually dead and in bo***ge to Satan. The result? – look at Romans 5:12.
(2) The old nature, therefore, is an inherited nature. We receive our nature from our parents, who received theirs from their parents…so there is our family tree! Not one of us should be proud of our ancestry – compare John 3:6 with Psalm 51:5(a).
(3) The old nature is a fallen nature. God says this – look at Genesis ; 2:16-17; 3:12-24, and compare Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10,23.
(4) The old nature is wholly corrupt and evil. Look at Genesis 6:5, 11-12, and compare with Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23. See how the “old self” is described in Ephesians 4:22.
(5) The old nature is weak and frail. It is marked by infirmity, sorrow, weakness, sickness and death – look at Job 10:20; 14:1-2; Psalm 90:9-10; Isaiah 40:6-8.
(6) The old nature is unchangeable. We can do nothing to improve or change it; it can be educated or dressed up, but it is still evil and corrupt – look at Job 14:4, and compare Jeremiah 13:23.
(7) The old nature is condemned by God. God has pronounced the death sentence against our inherited evil nature – Romans 8:3.

2. THE NEW NATURE
The moment we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we are born again and we receive a new nature. What is this nature like?
(1) The new nature is an entirely new nature. It is not the old nature improved or patched up – look at 2 Corinthians 5:17.
(2) The new nature is the divine nature. It is the very nature of God Himself – look at and compare John 1:12-13 (notice the last three words) with 2 Peter 1:3-4. This new nature within is the very life of the risen Lord who is upon the throne of God, and this life is imparted to us by the Holy Spirit.
(3) The new nature is a spiritual nature. Compare John 3:6 with 1 Corinthians 15:45-50.
(4) The new nature is absolutely holy. This must be so if it is the divine nature.
(5) The new nature cannot sin. What does 1 John 5:18 mean? It means: first, that one who is born again does not habitually sin; it also means that that which is born of God cannot sin – compare 1 John 3:9. Why do Christians sin, then? Because of the old nature!

3. THE CO-EXISTENCE OF THE OLD AND THE NEW NATURES
(1) Both natures co-exist in every believer. Within every Christian is “the old man” and “the new man”. The Bible does not teach, nor is it possible for anyone to experience, the eradication of the old nature. The old Adamic nature will be in us until the Lord comes and bestows upon us a body corresponding to our new nature (Philippians 3:20-21).
(2) Both natures are in constant opposition. Compare Romans 7:19-24 with Galatians 5:17.
(3) Both natures produce an entirely different kind of fruit. Look at Galatians 5:19-22, and notice “the acts of the sinful nature” (verse 19), and “the fruit of the Spirit” (verse 22).
(4) Both natures must be differently treated. Here is the way of victory over the old nature!:-
(1) The old nature must be starved; the new nature must be fed. Look at Romans 13:14. Read an evil book and you feed the old nature; read God’s Word and you feed the new nature.
(2) The old nature must be “put off”; the new nature must be “put on”. Look at Ephesians 4:22-24 – “put off” (verse 22), “put on” (verse 24); Colossians 3:8-10 – “put off” (verse 8), and “put on” (verse 10).
(3) The old nature must be counted as dead; the new nature as alive. Look at Romans 6:11, and compare Galatians 2:20. When Jesus died, in the purpose and estimate of God He put to death our old nature. Is our old nature, then, actually dead? No – but we are to reckon it so and treat “the old man” as dead and buried! In Romans 7:24-25 the writer cries out in despair, “Who will rescue me?” and he answers his own question, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Now look at and dwell deeply upon Romans 8:12-13.

God bless you all

13/08/2020

Topic : THE UNPARDONABLE SIN. (Matthew 12:30-42.)

WHAT IS THIS UNPARDONABLE SIN?

Let us answer this question negatively and positively.

1. It is not Lying. Untruthfulness is very common today, but this is not the unpardonable sin.

2. It is not Swearing and unclean talk. Thank God, there is forgiveness for this sin!

3. It is not Drunkenness. Many drunkards have been saved, and there is a full and free forgiveness for the alcoholic who will come to the Lord in penitence and trust in His redeeming blood for cleansing and forgiveness.

4. It is not any Sexual sin. Some sins are too horrible to be mentioned in this study of the Bible , but all of them may be forgiven if the guilty one will come to the Saviour.

5. It is not Theft. You remember Matthew and Zacchaeus were both thieves in the sense that they had to be dishonest in order to conduct their tax-gathering successfully, but they were both saved by the Lord Jesus – as multitudes of other “thieves and robbers” have been forgiven, cleansed and welcomed by Him.

6. It is not Blasphemy. Before his conversion Paul was a blasphemer – look at 1 Timothy 1:13, but how wonderfully he was saved!

7. Our God can forgive murderer. David was guilty of murder – look at 2 Samuel 11:15-17; 12:9; but he was forgiven, and he is now with Christ.

Beloved we are not making light of any of these sins, and many other sins committed by men, but what we are emphasising is that they are not, "the unpardonable sin"; and yet it must be said that if these sins are not forsaken, any one of them may lead to the unpardonable sin.

Any sin becomes unpardonable if the one who commits it refuses to confess and forsake it – Proverbs 28:13. All the above-mentioned sins may be forgiven.

What then is the sin against the Holy Ghost?

It is the Persistent, Wilful Rejection of the Holy Spirit's Testimony Concerning the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 12:3 tells us that “no one can say Jesus is the Lord’, except by the Holy Spirit.”
We are living in the dispensation of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit convinces men concerning the Person of Christ, the value of His Finished Work and of their need of Him as Saviour and Lord. It is therefore obvious that to reject the testimony of the Holy Spirit means that we place ourselves beyond the possibility of salvation. No one can be saved without the operation and activity of the Holy Spirit; no one can come to Christ unless He draws him (John 6:44). So, to reject the Holy Spirit’s testimony means to reject Christ, and that means to reject salvation, and when one has done that he has committed the unpardonable sin.

When anyone persists in rejecting the testimony of the Holy Spirit to the Person and power of the Lord Jesus, then he commits this sin. The unpardonable sin is committed when anyone persistently, consciously and wilfully:-

1. Resists the strivings of the Holy Spirit – look at Genesis 6:3.
2. Refuses to humble himself before the Lord – look at Exodus 10:3.
3. Refuses to be drawn to the Saviour – look at John 6:44.
4. Neglects God’s great salvation – look at Hebrews 2:3.
5. Hardens his heart against the voice of the Lord – look at Hebrews 3:7-8.

The unpardonable sin is not an isolated act; it is a persistent attitude. It is not the sin of ignorance; it is a sin against light (John 3:19). It is committed when the Holy Spirit reveals to us the Saviour and our need of Him, and when, seeing the Lord Jesus and being conscious of our need of Him, we refuse to trust Him and to make Him Lord and Saviour of our lives.

WHY IS THIS SIN UNPARDONABLE?

There must always be two parties to forgiveness – the forgiver and the forgiven one. This sin is unforgivable because it rejects forgiveness.

Look at this; A man was trapped at the top of a burning building, The Fire Brigade erected a net into which he could jump. They called to him to jump, but he refused. They told him that the net would hold him, but he replied that he did not wish to be saved. They shouted, “are you a fool! Jump!” – but he refused, and he died in the flames. That is the unpardonable sin.

Everyone who is not a Christian is in danger of Hell. Christ is the Rescuer. He has provided the “net” – the gospel, the way of salvation, and He appeals to everyone to trust Him to deliver them. If they refuse His salvation then they must die in their sins (John 8:21, 24), die unforgiven and unpardoned, and they must perish in the flames of His wrath.

But we thank God, no one need to commit the unpardonable sin, no one need to live without Christ or die without Him!

Even now the Holy Spirit pleads with every impenitent soul to come to the Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him as Saviour – look at Isaiah 1:18; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 12:25. The Lord’s gracious invitation is still sounding forth to all who have ears to hear and hearts to accept – look at Isaiah 55:6; Revelation 22:17!

You are blessed.

12/08/2020

Topic : OUR STANDING AND OUR STATE. Colossians 3: 1-17

Many Christians become discouraged in the early stages of their Christian life, and even lack the assurance of their salvation. Often this is because they do not understand the teaching of this study. It is most important that every believer should know the difference between his standing and his state; between his position and his condition. There are at least seven lines of truth expounded in God Word, all of which relate to the believer; they might be called “Things that differ” – and happy is the Christian who can distinguish these things! These are: (1) the difference between law and grace; (2) between faith and works; (3) between believers and professors; (4) between the old nature and the new nature; (5) between salvation and rewards; (6) between the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Judgment of the Great White Throne; (7) the difference between the believer’s standing and his state.

What do we mean by the believer’s standing and his state?

1. Our STANDING is what we are in Christ before God; our STATE is what we are in experience, in our walk, in the world, before others. By nature God sees us all “in Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:22); we are all linked by birth and blood to Adam, the federal head of the human race. But, when we were born again we were taken out of Adam (the head of the old creation), and placed in Christ (the head of the new creation), and we were therefore given a totally new standing – “in Christ”. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:17. Our standing, therefore, is all that we are in God’s reckoning by virtue of our union with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our standing in Christ is absolutely perfect; just as He is perfect, so God reckons us as perfect, because we believe in Him and belong to Him. But as to our state, how far from perfect that is! See in the following scriptures, 1 Cor 1 :1-2, Gal 5:1,7 Col 3:3,8,9 our standing and our state.
So far as his standing was concerned the Prodigal was a son; but so far as his state was concerned, he was in the far country – Luke 15:11-24.

2. Our STANDING will never change, it cannot improve or deteriorate, and it can never alter; our STATE is constantly changing, though it should be improving all the time. This is wonderful! Once we are born again (John 3:3), and baptised into Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), nothing can ever alter this – 2 Corinthians 5:17. Our standing is secure; our state is always changing. Sometimes we experience victory, and sometimes defeat; sometimes we experience joy, but sometimes gloom; sometimes we experience peace, and sometimes anxiety. Why? Because we have within us two natures – the old Adamic nature and the new divine nature.

3. Our salvation and our acceptance before God depend upon our STANDING, and not upon our STATE. Our salvation does not depend upon what we are in ourselves, but upon what Christ is and what He has done for us. We are saved (Acts 16:30-31), accepted (Ephesians 1:6), and justified (Romans 5:1), because we are “in Christ” (Ephesians 2:6-10) – and nothing can alter that (Romans 8:1). When God shut the door of the ark Noah and those with him were safe – not because of their state, but because God had placed them there and had shut the door. Thus, we are safe “in Christ”.

4. Every believer has exactly the same STANDING, though each has a different STATE. In God’s sight every believer is reckoned as a saint (Romans 1:7), and as already sanctified (Hebrews 10:10,14); but often we do not live like saints and do not live sanctified lives. This should humble us and exclude boasting. The state of Christians differs very much. Some are growing, some are still babes (2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 3:1)); some are spiritual, some are carnal (1 Corinthians 2:15; 3:4); some are disciplined, some are disobedient (Matthew 11:29; Galatians 5:7); some are surrendered, and some are unsurrendered (Romans 6:13; 2 Timothy 4:10); some are zealous, and some are lukewarm (Colossians 4:12; Revelation 3:15-16).

5. Our STANDING comes from the fact that we are partakers of the divine nature and have that new nature within; our STATE comes from the fact that we still possess the old nature. Look at John 3:6; Romans 7:18; Galatians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4. Although we receive a new nature when we are born again, we do not lose the old nature. (This we shall see in our next study).

6. All the blessings that have been bestowed upon us by virtue of our STANDING in Christ are ours to enjoy now in our experience. We have been “blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), and these blessings are ours to enjoy now. As to our standing, we are sons of God (John 1:12), heirs (Romans 8:17), justified (Romans 5:1), kings and priests (Revelation 1:5-6), and temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Now we are to live like sons, enjoy our riches, rejoice in our justification, go about like children of the King, and let the Holy Spirit preside over our bodies. In other words, we are to “possess our inheritance” (Obadiah 17).

7. While our STANDING and our STATE will never entirely correspond while we are in the body, God’s will is that there should be an increasing correspondence day by day. One day, when we see the Lord, our standing and our state will exactly correspond – Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2. In the meantime, we are to be transformed day by day, more and more into the likeness of our Lord, as indicated in 2 Corinthians 3:18.

03/04/2020

Verse Of The Day

Ezekiel 34:12
As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness

30/12/2018

Verse Of The Day

Ezekiel 34:12
As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

30/12/2018

Verse Of The Day
Ezekiel 34:12
As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

04/12/2018

You will never do what matter until u define what is matter; You will never live a meaningful life until you give meaning to life; You will never be free until you know the Truth.

You needed to know what you need; therefore what you need is JESUS. He is what matters, He is Life, He is the Truth.
Come to Him today and He will give your life meaning.
JESUS IS ALL YOU NEED TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE.