OD G is all mighty and all powerful. He is the sovereign Being. There is nothing that can make Him do whatever he doesn't want to do. God can choose to favour anyone He desires at any given time. He does whatever pleases Him and no one can challenge or question His judgements. However, because God is just, He most times considers certain things to justify His favour upon a man. Usually, God considers deeds that stand out in the life of the fellow, so that He can then bestow special honour and favour on the fellow which they otherwise wouldn't have experienced. In Acts 10:1-6, the bible talks about Cornelius who his deeds was able to attract God's attention. Cornelius lived in Caesarea which was the capital city of the Judea Region. He was a Roman soldier who was in charge of about 100 soldiers. He was a gentile, yet he was attracted to the worship of Yahweh, the God of the land he was sojourning. He had adopted the hours of prayers of the Jewish people; he was committed to giving alms to God's people; and he involved everyone in his household in all what he did. Even though God has sent Jesus who had died for the salvation of the world; and the apostles of Jesus were then involved in spreading the gospel. Cornelius then hadn't been informed about the way of salvation. God still took notice of Cornelius and decided to honour his deeds. An angel was sent by God to him to announce that his deeds of devotion and help had risen before God for action. To justify the intended honour upon Cornelius life, God had to arrange a path of redemption for him and his household. They were all empowered by the Holy Spirit and baptised into the body of Christ by Apostle Peter. They then became more honourable in the hands of Jehovah. In this month and beyond, God is calling all of us to deeds of honour. He wants us to demonstrate greater reverence to Him; be more devoted to His work and be more generous with our giving to His chosen people and humanity. In so doing, God will honour our deeds and grant us positions of higher honours in the society and even in eternity. M ANY times God makes promises years before He intends for them to happen. For example, Jesus coming was promised by God as far back as the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15) and subsequently by the Prophets (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7; Micah 5:2; etc.). The annunciation proper was later made to Mary by Angel Gabriel when God was ready to fulfil His plan (Lk. 1:26-38). As we were rounding up 2015, God began to tell me what He will do for us in 2016. Some of the things He said: - I have told you before that you will be a City that cannot be hidden; I will begin to fulfil FOR INDIVIDUALS 1 Some families will trace the beginning of their generational blessings to this year. 2. Some will receive help from unexpected sources. 3. Grateful hearts will have more causes to be grateful 4. For many, the pendulum of life will generally be on the upward swing 5. A chosen few will receive blessings so large they can hardly contain them FOR NIGERIA 1. Things are likely to get tougher, before they get better, but things will definitely get better before the year ends. 2. What He started last year, He will finish this year, provided we don’t rejoice too soon. INTERNATIONAL 1. Natural disasters, floods, fires, earthquakes, are likely to get progressively worse, until governments realize that these are part of divine judgement against those who have passed unholy laws. If governments will repent of disdaining Christ and His church, He will help them win the fight against terrorism. 2. A major war will be averted this year 3. A new sexually transmitted diseases will surface. By Pastor E.A Adeboye, RCCG General Overseer this promise to you from 2016. - Your light shall no longer be hidden anymore. - This will be your year of exclamations of wonders that will be very audible and well perceived. - Your name shall begin to ring pleasing bells where it matters from now on. - You have been doing your assignment quietly, but I will noise your fame abroad from this year. - As nine symbolizes finality of numbers, my final comment to you at this stage is that I am pleased with you. - You have been weighed and found just. In tough and easy times, you have stood firm. Therefore, I will open the doors of the world to you. - You have passed the test of faithfulness after nine years of steadfastness. Now it's your time to be revealed and shown forth. - The Angel of my presence will introduce you to people you will never have been able to speak to. I am particularly expectant for what God has in store for us in 2016, I am very persuaded that it shall be our most successful and impactful year yet in our history as a group. RCCG EFA LEEDS 2016 PROPHECY - OUR YEAR OF “THE ANNUNCIATION” RCCG 2016 PROPHECY Pastor E.A. & Pastor (Mrs) FOLU ADEBOYE, GENERAL OVERSEER, RCCG Workers’ Trg. Teens & Children Departmental Meeting - 09:40am Adult Sunday School - 10:15am Call To Worship -11:00AM Praise & Worship Liberty Prayers Special Number Offering Announcements Tithes Closing Prayers & Benediction - 13:00pm ONOUR H comes when one enjoys high regard or one is greatly esteemed in life. Honour is good. Honour is godly: God receives and bestows honour. God wants us His people to be people of honour. Sadly many of us live and die without attaining to the honour or to the level at which God had envisaged for us. Generally honour can come in three ways: - By birth. People can be born into honour, which is not a surprise. The descendants of: royals, the clergy, the wealthy and even the academia can enter into honour they have not worked for. E.g Queen, Ophni & Phinehas, students of Socrates, Gamaliel, etc. Very few are privileged to be in this category. The downward side to this honour is that it can be easily misused. - By cheating. It is possible for people to bribe or pay their way into honour. Especially in developing, world many people are called honourable gentlemen who have used money or some other dubious means to attain that position. E.g. Politicians, public officers, etc. Adonijah in Israel combined by birth & by cheating. - By doing a honourable deed. This is the easy and the most remarkable way to enter into honour. Deed of honour confers position of honour on those who did it. It is by performing a feat that is more than ordinary, this will enable one to be considered for accolade of honour. Anyone can enjoy this E.g. Medal of honour in the military - it is an awarded for personal act of valour above and beyond the call of duty given by the Commander in chief of Armed Forces. There were many instances in the bible where people devoted themselves to deeds of honour and were able to receive rewards that put them into position of honour: For many years, the Ark of the covenant was dwelling in the tent in a village in Israel, so when David became the King and finished his city, he thought it would be a good thing to bring the Ark of God into a befitting place in his city. II Sam. 6:1-11, the bible says David's men used oxen driven cart to draw the Ark, which stumbled along the way, Uzzah that quickly stretched out his hand to stabilise the Ark was struck dead by God instantly! David became very fearful and displeased that he had to look for an alternative place for the Ark to rest. Obededom name then came up and the Ark was taken there. What a deed of honour he embarked upon. He sacrificed his life and that of his family to host the Ark and removed shame from Jehovah's emblem. He did not decline for safety as his wife or his children might touch it and die. His honourable service paid off greatly. In three months, it was reported to David that God had blessed Obededom household exceedingly. Throughout his life, Obededom was a blessed man. He had 8 sons; 62 grandsons; all of who were special in the service of God (I Chro. 26:4-8). By Pastor Samuel OBAFAIYE The Best Way To Become A Man Or A Woman of Honour Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve; Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves, Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves, Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows, Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze; By and by the harvest, and the labor ended, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Refrain Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master, Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves; When our weeping's over, He will bid us welcome, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Refrain Continued on Page 5 CONGREGATIONAL HYMN TRANSPORT TO CHURCH? EMAIL:- [email protected] Call: 07958688444 APRIL 2016 THEME - DEEDS AND REWARDS OF HONOUR (Acts 10:1-4) SERMON ORDER OF SERVICE BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES