GOD OF THE MOUNTAIN

TEXT: 1KINGS20:23-27

OCCASION: SUNDAY DEVOTIONAL SERMON

PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT: 

That God of the mountain is God that owns the valleys. He as God can lift from the valleys to the mountains. It does not matter how deep the valleys maybe.

INTRODUCTION:

 In this Sunday service, it is my sincere desire to lift your soul from every stupor wherein you're. This Topic becomes vital and imperative for me to share with you this period. This is because we are in the period global confusions, hunger, all kinds of deprivations,that urgently calls for our faith that undoubtedly beckons for divine intervention and attractions.

              

 DIVISIONS:

1. WHAT IS REALLY GOD'S MOUNTAIN?

 God's mountain is technically called the mountain of Jehovah or the mountain of the Lord. God's mountain is where His Laws reside, given and received. For example, mountains Horeb and Sinai (Exodus 3:1-10). From this passage, it is very clear that the God of the mountain is the commissioning God. He is the burning fire who mercifully did not consume the bush. God who turns the inadequacy of man to adequacy (Exodus 3:11, Jeremiah 1:6. He is God who deserves our services and worship (John4:24-25). 

   God's mountain is a camping ground for spiritual rest (Exodus 18:5,3:1$12). God's mountain is a mountain to be and it calls for enough spiritual preparation (1Kings19:5-8). God's mountain is a place of divine revelation and interaction with God. It is a place of divine communication and documentation (Exodus 34:28).

God's mountain is a place of divine transfiguration (Exodus 34:29-35,Matthew 17:2-5).

God's mountain depicts Got the mountain WHO is the one that owns the valleys, Sun and Moon. Sun represent the day and Moon represent the night. He owns both the day and night. No wonder, Horeb means sun and Sinai means moon (Exodus 19:1ff).

2. GREAT BLESSINGS ON GOD'S MOUNTAIN:

 

A. On God's mountain shall the springs out water to quench our thirst (Exodus 17:6, Psalm78:15, 1Cor10:4). Yes,it's a mountain of Jehovah's grace in action.

    

B. God's mountain is where a still small voice is heard. Of course, it is a directional voice (1Kings 19:5-8,Isaiah 30:21).

C. On God's mountain rests His glory and Revelation cum vision (Matthew 5:1, 23, Ezekiel  1:1-3, 8:3-4). Let us go to this mountain. It is better to be there than being in the valleys.

D. On the mountain of the Lord is our help sourced (psalm121:1-2).

3. PREREQUISITES FOR CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD:

 

A. Living and walking in uprightness -Psalm15:2.

B. Speak the Truth and take no bribe. Don't even give bribe (Isaiah 33:15,psalm119:37).

C. Be righteous and walk in righteousness (Isaiah 33:15-16).

D. Wash your hands and heart clean and pure (Psalm 24:4,Matthew 5:8).

E. Learn to condemn evil as it is and do no evil to anyone (Psalm15:4,Esther 3:2).

F. Do not engage yourself in backbiting, gossiping, peddling rumours, tail bearing and any act of spiritual hypocrisy that leads to spiritual dryness and stupor (Psalm15:3, Exodus 23:1, Leviticus 19:6, Matthew 26:59-60).

4. APPLICATION:

Brethren, there are joys on the mountain. Let us strive to climb up to the mountain of the Lord. Know that for you to get to the mountain of the Lord you must do the following preparations:

A. Engage yourself in complete detachment from the world's system. That does not mean that you're not in the world anymore, but that you're not of the world anymore (John 17:15, 1John 2:15-17, James 4:4).

B. Let the totality of your personality (Mind,Will, Emotion and Body ) be renewed  (Romans12:1-2, John3:3,5,7, Galatians 2:20).

C. Heed the solemn call of your Lord asking you come up hither (Revelation 4:1). Waste no time, do not delay, respect the urgency of time, for the time is short and shall soon be off. 

May the Lord of the mountain hold your hands and lift you to the mountain of glory and honour. Amen.

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This message came to you from God through Pastor Dr Jude O.D. Ekele, JP, Cert, Dcs, B.A Ed, B.A, M.A, DMin. The Apostolic church Nigeria, Ojo Alaba International Area Superintendent.

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HOPE AND FAITH IN THE MIDST OF CORONA VIRUS

I am glad and grateful to the living, all knowing, all seeing, all powerful and ever present God through His immaculate son, Jesus Christ the preserver and the savior of the world for keeping you and me safe in the midst of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic.

It is my candid desire to send this encouraging message to you all, knowing truly well that this is a global virus which is currently shaking the entire world, irrespective of the global technological and scientific prowess. The entire world is being intimidated, afflicted, inflicted, affected and devastated by the so-called Covid-19.

Like the time of Habakkuk which was a difficult time, a time of hopelessness, and a moment of lips quivering and trembled body, yet, he determined to rejoice in the Lord and had a very undeterred joy in the God of his salvation; making God his strength, asking God to make his feet like deer’s feet so as to walk on his high hills, (Habakkuk 3: 16-19).

In like manner, I write to encourage you in particular and the entire Christian world in general to develop an unflinching hope and faith in God’s ability to conquer the virus called Corona, without asking why and how long will God allow all these things to happen in the world.

Like the hymn of faith lyrically presented by Habakkuk (3: 17), we can equally with all sense of hope and faith say:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation (3:17-18).

I want you to know that although there is a sit down at home order from the government, although there is no money, no food, no liberty to go out and find ends meet, although there are deaths in the city, armed robbery rocking the nation’s boat, yet we will continue to trust the able God and continue to rejoice in him.

Remember that from time immemorial, shut down has been in existence, and it is for the safety, benefits and security of God’s people. It is meant for the refuge from contracting the virus; in the day of prophet Isaiah in chapter 26 verse 20, God instructed the prophet to prophesy and he prophesied as directed.

"Come my people enter your chamber (Rooms) and shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, For a little moment, until the indignation is past."

 And the prophet had narrated the specific reason for the indignation, predicament as in (Isaiah 26: 21), 

“For behold, the LORD comes out of HIS place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no, more cover her slain.”

Fellow Christians, this message becomes vital to us so as to examine our lives and amend our ways, turn to God for refuge and salvation.

The world is full of all sorts of wickedness such as bloodletting, ritualism, backstabbing, selfishness, idolatrous practices, moral decadence to mention but this few, so, these warrant God’s wrath on all unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-32). Let’s repent from all unrighteousness and turn to God of righteousness, and be sanctified unto Him. Having done that, we shall be able to stand protected, preserved and covered with the immaculate blood of our saviour Jesus Christ against the contractual scourge of Coronavirus, known as Covid-19.                  

              Remember God’s thoughts concerning you are not that of evil. Just make God your dwelling place, abide under the secret of the most high and His shadow. He remains the almighty and not the virus (Jeremiah 29: 11 and Psalm 91).

         Make sure you observe the precautionary measures that are put in place by the World Health Organization, (WHO), the NCDC and the Nigeria nation, particularly the hand washing, sanitizing and social distancing. Discard the myths and know that Covid-19 is deadly.

Stay at home, and stay safe prayerfully. Although, people are having the feeling that the Church is shutdown, which is wrong. It is rather the building that is shutdown temporarily, and not the Church. The Church is organism and not infrastructures.  

God bless you all.

THIS IS A MESSAGE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH, NIGERIA, OJO ALABA INTERNATIONAL AREA, LAGOS,

From the Area Superintendent, Pastor Dr. J.O.D. Ekele, JP, Cert, Dcs, BA.Ed, BA,MA,Dmin.