The Apostolic Church All Nations Centre Sermon Note

The Apostolic Church All Nations’ Centre Sermon Note Prepared and Presented by Edwin Bajomo April 2020

Overarching Theme: Do Not Wait For Something Good In God To Happen, Make it Happen 2

Introduction • The Bible is full of people who did not wait for something good in God to happen, but made good things happen. • One of God’s key attributes is that He is a good God. Hence, one can conclude that it is part of His nature to do good to people. • More importantly, Christians should see ourselves as instruments God wants to use to make good things happen. • The difference between those who make something good in God happen and those who don’t - is that those who make good things happen in God, believe that they can. Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 3

Targets of the message • This message is for Christians: • Who are ready to do and achieve more for God • Who want to go on a spiritual adventure with God • Who need to respond to the nudge of God’s Spirit. • Who want to make better use of what God has given to them and where He has placed them. Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 4

Sub-theme Take the initiative – Make something good happen 5

Text 1: Ephesians 2: 10 (EVS) • Ephesians 2: 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 6

Text 2: Ephesians 3: 20 (NASB) Ephesians 3: 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 7

Objectives i. Let us know that we should take the initiative to make good things in God happen ii. Encourage us that we are instruments of God to make something good happen Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 8

Take the initiative – Make something good happen • One of the ways that we make something good in God happen, is by taking the initiative. • By taking initiative we mean: - Having ability to know what needs to be done and take action. - Taking charge of situations that need attention. - Having the willingness to get things done and take responsibility. - Responding to the promptings of God Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 9

Biblical example of people who took the initiative - David - Initiative taken David fought Goliath Why he took the initiative What made him take the initiative God’s glory was at stake – The nation of Israel was reproached - 1 Samuel 17: 26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? ” David had confidence in God - 1 Samuel 17: 37 And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. ” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!” David knew what he had - 1 Samuel 17: 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my The army of the Lord was defied - 1 hand, and I will strike you down and cut off Samuel 17: 36 Your servant has struck down your head. And I will give the dead bodies of both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised the host of the Philistines this day to the birds Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, defied the armies of the living God. ” that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 1 Samuel 17: 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and He understood the realm the he was with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to operating - 1 Samuel 17: 47 and that all this you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the assembly may know that the LORD saves not God of the armies of Israel, whom you have with sword and spear. For the battle is the defied. LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand. ” Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 10

Biblical example of people who took the initiative - Esther - Initiative taken Esther Stopped the destruction of the Jewish race Why she took the initiative What made her take the initiative Potential destruction of the Jewish race - Believes she could do something Esther 3: 6 - But he disdained to lay hands on about the situation – Esther 4: 16 b -. . Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known Then I will go to the king, though it is to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought against the law, and if I perish, I perish. ” to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom - Believes she was strategically positioned to do something - Esther 4: 14 For if you keep silent at this time, God’s redemptive plan was in jeopardy – relief and deliverance will rise for the Haman said in Esther 3: 9 - If it please the king, Jews from another place, but you and let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I your father’s house will perish. And who will pay 10, 000 talents of silver into the hands knows whether you have not come to the of those who have charge of the king’s kingdom for such a time as this? ”¹⁵ Then business, that they may put it into the king’s Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, treasuries - Escalated the issue to spiritual realm The need for the Jewish people to defend – Esther 4: 16 a Go, gather all the Jews to themselves - Esther 8: 11 saying that the king be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my allowed the Jews who were in every city to behalf, and do not eat or drink for three gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people days, night or day. I and my young or province that might attack them, children and women will also fast as you do. women included, and to plunder their goods, 11 Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen

Biblical example of people who took the initiative - Apostle Paul - Initiative taken To preach the gospel to the gentiles Why he took the initiative Fulfilling the divine mandate – Matthew 24: 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Need for the gentiles to hear the gospel Ephesians 3: 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, Expansion of God’s kingdom – Ephesians 2: 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ What made him take the initiative He knows he is prepared for good works - Ephesians 2: 10. He had a sense of calling – Ephesians 3: 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. He knew what he had – Grace given to him to preach the gospel to the gentiles – Ephesians 3: 8 -9 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God He knew there is God’s power at work in him - Ephesians 3: 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power 12 Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative –that Make something good happen works within us.

Important fact about taking initiative to make something good happen Lessons from the Bible characters on taking initiative to make something good in God happen : 1. God uses ordinary people - 1 Samuel 16: 7 2. God has prepared us for good works – Ephesians 2: 10 3. God has given us what we need to take the initiative – Grace, gift and abilities, etc 4. God has strategically positioned us to do something good – Initiative taken based on the bigger picture 5. God’s power is at work in us – Ephesians 3: 20 6. There is a scope for making something good happen – God’s glory, God’s redemptive agenda, expansion of God’s kingdom and the betterment of humanity. Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 13

Important fact about taking initiative to make something good happen 7. Not easy to the take initiative to make something good in God happen It requires: • Taking the step of faith – David stepping out alone to fight Goliath. • Putting one’s life at risk - Esther 4: 11 - “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days. ” • Opposition – Paul had many oppositions. He was beaten and left for death in many instances. • Dealing with the voice of criticism and ridicule – David was ridicule by his brother and Goliath. Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 14

Conclusion • As we journey through life, there will be many opportunities presented to us to make something good happen in God, hence, let us take the initiative to make something good happen. • There are many examples of people in the Bible and in the world, that made something good happen, therefore, let us join them by taking the initiative to make something good happen. • The present situation creates great opportunities for us to make something good happen, let us take the initiative. Additionally, the future state of our communities, nation and the world after this pandemic will present us with many opportunities to make something good in God happen. Let us take the initiative to make something good happen. • • We are God’s instruments for making good things happen – LET US TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN. Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 15

Doxology • With the help of the Lord, we will come out of this pandemic stronger and fitter for the Master’s use and for His glory. • Jude 1: 24 - 25 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 to God our Saviour, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Edwin Bajomo – Take the initiative – Make something good happen 16