Sometimes I ponder,
At other times I wonder,
Over the depth of this love,
A love I'm sure can only be from above,
A love that loved a mess like me,
A love that loved a wretch like me,
A love that loved me for me,
And set my soul free,
It's a love so deep, a love so true,

A love it is that goes beyond man's limitation,
Cuts across the boundaries of race and ethnic restrictions,
A love that loves you regardless of your dirty pasts,
A love that can heal you regarldess of your painful pasts,
A love that is unending, unconditional, and uncompromising,
A love so true and deep, it doesn't stop calling,
On you to come to it and embrace it,
So please run to this love, so you don't regret it,
It's arms are ever open to receive you,
Just the way you are and transform you,
It's a love so deep, a love so true,

I'm not talking Eros love,
Neither do I speak of Filial love,
I'm talking of Agape love,
A sacrificial kind of love,
A love ready to give it all up for your soul,
A love that cares for your soul,
And it's not jugmental of you,
Just come to it just as you are, yes even you,
It's the love of JESUS CHRIST.
A love that suffered that you will not,
Took the pains of your sin and my sins, so we will not,
He died that you may live,
Resurrected that you will be justified, and live,
A life of righteousness, holiness and purity,
Not a life of sadness, hurt, bitterness and depravity,
Please run to this love so deep, and so true,
The love of JESUS CHRIST.
He is waiting. The choice is yours.
Peace.

No matter the pain,

You have to trust the lord for gain in the midst of the pain...

John is a born again Christian who goes to church every Sunday. He is a worker in the church, always smiles at everyone in church and is zealous for the work of God. He has been a member of the Evangelistic Outreach Renewal Empowerment New Breed Church for a deacade. As a matter of fact, he is one of the key members of the church. But for the past one month, John had not been to church. So, members of his department decided to pay him a visit after church one beautuiful Sunday afternoon when the sun was blazing hot with pacifying gusty winds. On getting to his apartment in Hyattsville, Maryland, members of his church meet John having a good time with his smoking, beer-drinking and thrash-talking neighbors. As it turned out John was not left out in the "good time." On seeing his church members, John embarrassed, put out his neighbors and received his church members. After a 30-minute conversation, John revealed to his church members that he was tired of the Christian life of patience, endurance, long-suffering and waiting for God's time. He was used to life on the fast-lane. His nick name used to Johnny Fast lane. As it turned out, John had been looking up to God for a contract which was taking too long to come through for him. This contract had the potential of changing his life and career forever. It was the dream contract of every one in his field. This contract was the reason John came to church every Sunday, served in the ushering department, attended all church programs including the Vigils. But after 10 years of waiting for a contract which God was taking long to give him, John decided it was time to call it quits withh the church life. John had an agenda-he was a PAGAN WORSHIPPER. Sad, but such is the story of many Christians today.

The practice of worshipping God for the purpose of what one can get from Him is known as PAGAN WORSHIP. As sad as John's story is and as quickly as many Christians would be to cast judgment on him, his story is true for many Christians today. We dress-up every Sunday, look-good in our latest designer clothes accessorized by designer bags and scarfs. We serve in multiple departments, smile at everybody, shout the loudest and jump the highest simply because we are trying to get a husband (for the sisters). We look all sharp in our Gucci suits and Prada shoes, looking sharp in our Steve Madden shades, as we toil and labor in the lord's vineyard. They call us brother Peter, brother Marcus and the likes, but we know that brother Peter and brother Marcus is only going be here until he is united with sister Rosemary or sister Jennifer. We are known as the sister who is always there when you need her. The one who doesn't mind staying out very late at night, leaving her husband alone at home, just because she is at church either praying or singing or serving in one way or the other. These days, she has convinced her husband to come to church with her. He too has joined the church workforce. But together, they are looking for one thing: a child of their own. So, now each and every one of us go to church, do all the work we do for God, simply because we need something or somethings from him. So, we have become increasingly selfish, not showing the true love that God talks about, because we are too busy trying to get things and stuffs from God-whom we have made our Santa Clause. Feel free to disagree with me on this one, but if this is the state of today's church haven't we become or a gradually becoming a congregation, a conglomerate and a body of PAGAN WORSHIPPERS. No wonder our impact is no longer felt, becuase if the lord doesn't do it for me, I can't join the evangelism department or go out to witness, because my joy is tied to what God gives me. What joy is there to witness if God doesn't give me what I want. Sunday has therefore become the greatest gathering of PAGAN WORSHIPPERS. We all serve God with an ulterior motive. Where are we headed from here? What is the solution? How can we as a church bring back the fire of and passion for the Kingdom to our hearts and churches? Someone please take me back to the time when men would still shout hallelujah and win souls with zero cents in their account. Take me back to the time when believers didn't care if they had food to eat or clothes to wear, all they sought after was the Kingdom. Their personal needs didn't matter. PLEASE TAKE ME BACK!

TEXT: Genesis 37:1-7, I Jn 1:8-9

REFERENCE: Genesis 37:8-9, 18-20, 31-36, 49:22

MINISTER:PASTOR GHANDI OLAOYE

As an introduction to this sermon, it is important to note that "whatever God has purposed, no man can stop it."(Pastor Olaoye). Sometimes however, we can become a hinderance to our dreams if we refuse to accept the ways of the lord. When we begin to live in ungodliness, unforgiveness, stubborness and a reprobate mind, we then become a roadblock on the way to our success. So through the hardness of our hearts, we can be a hinderance on the Pathway to our Glory. But if we remain in the plan of God for our lives, and sincerely live our lives for Him, we would encounter some roadblocks and challenges on our way to glory. This should not come as a surprise though, because it is all part of the process. Negative situations, painful ordeals, thorns and wounds of life are all compaions on the pathway to glory. But if we abide with the lord, we are sure to emerge victorious and fulfill God's purpose for our lives.

On the other hand however, we may fall into  sin in course of our walk with God. This should not deter us from fulfilling God's purpose for our lives, because all we need do is acknowledge that we have sinned, confess and forsake such sins. For God has promised to forgive us (I John 1:8-9). So all we have to do, is to remain faithful to God and keep His commandments. Let us not be a hinderance to our own success by our attitudes and lifestyles. It is important to always evaluate your relationship with God and makes sure you are always in right standing with Him. Make sure your spiritual life is right. Because when the spiritual life is settled, nothing can hinder us in the physical. Make sure your prayer life is right, make sure your personal altar with God is not messed with. Make sure the word of God still moves you; that you have not gotten to the point where you begin to question and doubt God's word. A point where you begin to ask questions like: Do I really need to pay my tithes? Do I really need to live a consecrated life? Or Can I stand on the ropes as far as my faith is concerned, with one leg in and one leg out? The scripture says let him that thinketh he stands, take heed lest he falls (I corinthians 10:12). Make sure you are always in right standing with God.

Moreso, for us to get to the pathway of greatness, we have to keep revisiting our dreams, visions and godly ambitions in order for them to come into manifestation. This is because time, siuations and circumstances can erode our dreams. Hence, we have to keep igniting our dreams, our visions and our goals in accordance with God's word. We need to get in the habit of revisiting our dreams. Revisiting our dreams in the place of prayer and meditation on God's word keeps us connected to those dreams and prevent us from swaying away into the wrong direction. Even when crisis come our way to try and pull us away from our purpose, we need to respond in the light of God's word. For "it is the crisis management that makes the difference." (Pastor Olaoye). So when crisis come our way, we have to be careful to deal with it in the light of God's word. For when we do, our victory and breakthrough is always assured.

Even in the mist of afflictions and attacks we must understand that "you can take my coat (afflict me, try to destroy my dreams), but you cannot take away my vision and dreams (Pastor Olaoye). This is because my vision is within me. So afflict the body, the external, but as long as the internal (my soul, my spirit) is right with God, it will not be afflicted or affected. So, you may go through pains, obstacles, difficulties and all. but if we stay true to God and His ways, such afflictions, pains and obstacles will eventually lead us to our destinies. Pain will always lead to gain if we stay true with God. Obstacles are a part of the process to fulfilling our dreams. We just have to remain faithful to God and regardless of what difficulties we encounter or what afflictions are meted out against us, we will still come into the place that God wants us to be.

In the book of Genesis chapter 37:33-35, we see Jacob grieving over his son, Joseph, whom he thought was dead. Like Jacob, we often times grieve over things that God is still working out for our favor and our own good. Jacob thought that Joseph, his son was dead. But what he did not know was that God had just launched him into his destiny. There are times when we cry and mourn over situations because we think the worst has happened. But on the contrary, God was actually working things out for our favor, in the "meanwhile." We just need to draw closer to God and begin to see things from His own perspective.

In conclusion, regardless of our many obstacles, trials, temptations, afflictions and sufferings, we need to keep growing spiritually, mentally and emotionally above our situations and cicumstances. Because, "If I keep on growing spiritually, I will not be at the same level with my enemies (walls, obtacles, hinderances, even the devil)-paraphrased-Pastor Olaoye.

STUDY QUESTION

WHAT DO YOU THIN ARE SOME OF THE POSSIBLE OBSTACLES ON YOUR PATH TO GLORY AND HOW CAN YOU DEAL WITH SUCH IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S WORD?